First Day of Work

Hi, sorry it has been awhile.

Today was my first day at Prometheus Energy. It went well. I met people... there are going to be 8 or 9 summer interns who are all about my age, and I think there are 6 of us now (more coming in June). I was shown around and saw the warehouse where they build things, etc. Very interesting stuff, and really a very good company. They seem to have strong values and are building toward what I consider to be a noble goal (renewable energy from waste gas).
I am learning about active magnetic regenerative refrigeration, and then I will be numerically solving partial differential equations to test some ideas out, I think. It is all exciting, though I have a LOT to learn yet.

As many of you already know and I am relearning, working for 9 hours with a 45 min to hour long commute on each end of the day doesn't leave much time for anything else if I want to get enough sleep to make it through the next day. And since I am training for the marathon this October (for which I am officially registered), I have to run or cross train every evening. One thing that is VERY lucky is that Mom and Elroy make dinner a lot of the time (though I will certainly help out... mostly with dishes). I clearly need to learn how to get by on less sleep if I want to do anything else with my life besides work and running!

Leading the blind...

I have to take a shuttle from U Maryland to the College Park metro, which is nice and free. I have noticed recently that if I get on the shuttle almost immediately after my last class, two blind people are usually on the shuttle also. I have also noticed that the older guy gets along pretty well and the younger girl probably does too, but she usually has people around helping her. People often help the guy too. One time I helped the girl make her way onto the shuttle (her dog doesn't seem to help her a whole lot). Today a girl was there and helped her get on the shuttle, but then must have had something else to do and didn't get on the shuttle. A lot of times when the blind girl (her name is Olivia) gets on the shuttle, people considerately move out of the way so that she can sit right in front in the (aptly named) disabled sitting. Today everyone just kind of looked at her. So, she slowly made her way down the shuttle, feeling the seats. One girl moved out of the way, but SILENTLY, so Olivia had no way of knowing that someone was moving for her. She finally sat down next to a guy (who also didn't attempt to help her). Yes, you are right, I didn't do anything either, but I was at the back of the bus. I was getting ready to help her when she sat down. Then, people were getting off the shuttle at the metro and everyone just passed right by her. One girl stopped and admired her dog, but didn't offer to help. Now one thought I might have had was that she has probably been blind for awhile and can take care of herself, maybe would even RATHER take care of herself. But she was clearly bumbling around hoping for someone to help her out.
Anyway, I went back and helped her and we had a nice conversation on the metro ride till she went off her way.
Now, I understand fence-sitting all too well. I can see both sides of every situation quite well, and often have a tough time committing to one side. I consider this situation to be a type of fence-sitting because people weren't being rude by any means, but weren't willing to speak up and do anything to help. BUT, when a person is literally in front of you and needs help, I can't imagine that your first thought isn't to help them.

Anyone Out There?

Well. I don't even really know if people read this anymore, or if they ever did, but especially now since I have been bad about updating it.

Anyway, perhaps I will write for myself. Not sure why, but perhaps I will.

So. These are the last two weeks of classes, with my first final next Thursday. Then I have one at 8am on Saturday, and then on the following Wednesday. I would like to emphasize the one at 8 am on Saturday morning. That is mean for anyone, but in particular for me since I will have to leave my place around 6:45am to safely get there in time. Ack.

Jen moved out last Wednesday into her own cute little studio in Foggy Bottom. I look forward to how she will decorate it because she is so good at things like that. It is already cute with these really nice sheets on her bed. It has inspired me to have nicer looking household things... but, I am about to move, so all this inspiration will have to be put on hold until next fall. And by then it will be gone.

David visited this weekend and it was lots of fun. We toured lots and went to a number of places I hadn't been, or at least hadn't been for 10 years. We went to the American History museum, the Archives, and other places. All the basics plus some bonuses. It was great to catch up and talk about stuff. Really just stuff. I have noticed that I really like talking with my Whitman friends. I don't know whether it is because I know them better than other people I end up talking with, but in any case, Whitties are really smart and good for discussing things with. I find it very enjoyable and I think I am finding that people in general don't have that skill. Whitties also tend to be nicer and more considerate. But I'm not biased or anything.


On another note, marathon training started yesterday. It's not like I was sitting on my butt until yesterday, but it is a definite change in mentality for me. Previously, I would try to run regularly and mostly succeed, but with no specific goal in mind other than health, etc. Now, I have a training schedule and I am hoping to follow it religiously. At least I have so far (2 days)! Oh, the marathon I am training for is the Marine Corps Marathon, October 29th. It will be my first marathon, though I have many years of running and what they call ultra running under my belt. Ooo, I sound hardcore.