Journal entries for August, 2006

I haven't been spending any time on the computer lately, so I thought I'd make a short post explaining what I've been up to. Andrés and my cousin Mia flew down last week for a visit, and then I had my last day of work on Sunday night. Since then I've been packing up my stuff, trying to sell my car, and spending time with Andrés and Mia. We've hung out with Michelle, Andrea, Isa, and Jose. Today I went back to "The Spot" with Andrés, Mia, and Michelle. The water was much higher and rougher, and there were two other guys there this time, so it wasn't the placid, relaxed, isolated experience that the first visit was. Still, it was a good time, and many pictures were taken.

Andrés and Mia leave on Sunday and Monday, respectively, and then I'll have two days to feverishly get the last of my stuff shipped up to New Orleans before I fly up myself on Thursday.

Natalia's class is doing that thing where you sell wrapping paper and peanut brittle and stuff to earn prizes. This morning she brought me the catalog to see if I wanted to buy anything. I pointed to one of the kids on the front cover and asked, "How much is that?"

She gave me a look that said, "Quit fooling around", and I retorted, "What? I need a personal slave!" Her expression grew horrified, and I looked down and realized the kid I was pointing at was black. Oh my. :) Damn you, blacks, for ruining a totally hilarious joke with your slavery!

There's a big debate about Windows vs. Linux, but I think most people versed in the issue acknowledge that Linux has obvious advantages over Windows — most notably security and stability (My Linux server at home had been up for about 180 days until the UPS failed during a power outage last week. We've got Linux machines at work with uptimes of 885 days). I don't think that most people who choose Windows do so because they actually believe Windows is superior to Linux in aspects like those — it's just that Linux's downsides (difficult to configure, more geeky knowledge needed, incompatibility with a lot of hardware due to no manufacturer support, etc.) are enough to outweigh its benefits.

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Speaking of Steve Vai (kind of), one song of his that I've always loved is The Audience Is Listening (7.6 MB MP3). It's such a fun song, and I think non-musicians can appreciate it too. Fun trivia fact: He tracked down his real eighth grade teacher to play the part in the song.

It's a really fun song to play along with on guitar too. I've always enjoyed sitting down with the CD and trying to keep up with him, but there's parts I always have to skip (like that fast syncopated clean part right at the beginning, and, oh, pretty much any part where there is guitar). As part of my little rediscovery of the instrument, I decided to learn the whole song. A bit ambitious, of course, but it's the same way I've gone about re-learning piano — I'd pick songs that were beyond my level (To Zanarkand, various Tori Amos songs) and just attack them slowly until I can play them. The results are usually not what I'd call "successful" — I don't think I've actually managed to learn the entirety of any of those songs — but I think it definitely does help somewhat, so it's worth trying.

I'm easily entertained, and so I probably don't make a very good writing critic. But sometimes you find an author that manages to consistently weave intriguing, thought-provoking narratives with believable characters, and tells you about those characters in a way that is itself entertaining. When you read such writers' work, it's immediately apparent that they are a "virtuoso", a class apart. Like a non-guitarist hearing Steve Vai play, you don't have to be aware of the technical details to be impressed by the performance.

Robert A. Heinlein is one of those writers. I read "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" several years ago, and liked it so much that I've reread it at least twice since then. I read Starship Troopers last year, which is almost entirely unrelated to the movie and is much better. Last week I picked up my third Heinlein book, "Stranger In A Strange Land", and as I'm working my way through it at a feverish pace I'm remembering once again what captivating stories he writes.

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I try my best to avoid making posts that just contain a link to some other website, but this blog entry was so great that I decided I must break my rule: Male workplace restroom etiquette leads to scientific breakthrough.

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In anticipation of living near Bryan and finally having someone to play music regularly with again, I pulled out and tuned up my electric guitar yesterday. I think it's been at least a year since I last played electric, and I had forgotten how enjoyable it is. I've lost the calluses on my fingers, so I was in pain after just a few minutes, but it was still enjoyable to play through some of the old songs I used to enjoy playing like Rush's YYZ and Dream Theater's Ytsejam.

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