As Far As I Can Tell

Yesterday was the culmination of many things and I still don’t have enough distance to evaluate how it all went. I’m in a class that is doing a research project in conjunction with Microsoft and they had a representative attend our first presentation. I wouldn’t describe it as a complete failure but it was far from a success. We need to step back, figure out what went wrong, and see how we can clarify things. We’ll learn from our mistakes but for this weekend at least I need to worry about catching up on the rest of my classes now that our presentation is over.

Also happening yesterday was Confluence, a career days event where we are able to meet with people from companies around the nation. In my case I’m looking for an internship this summer and spoke with Wall-to-Wall, IDEO, Adaptive Path, and Smart Design. I’d also wanted to talk with MAYA but those slots were taken. Thanks to everyone who took the time to talk with me about their company and my work.

In preparation for career days I updated my portfolio with a few new projects including something I did last semester. Check it out if you’re interested.

This weblog is five years old today. Happy birthday little webby log.

Five years ago today Meredith sent me an email, only the sixth one at the time, and oh so casually noted that it was Valentines Day… “so happy that.” Needing to respond in a manner befitting the ambiguity of a high-five I asked her if she realized that Saint Valentine was the patron saint of bee keepers as well as love. She hadn’t, but she did ask me out on our first date.

Happy Valentines Day in Morocco Mer.
Happy Valentines Day to everyone else too.
Thanks to Josh Franta for the awesome Law and Order card.

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As I perused old e-mails tonight I was reminded of how great Meredith’s subject lines are. Here are some from back in 2001; how could I not be won over?

Email subject lines:

• better than jumpsuits
• underground cougar fighting
• gleaming the tiger cube
• no, that rumbling is normal.
• but where is his mullet?
• an ocean of cats
• use more velcro
• the college mascot is a bong
• hippies are to antioch what cats are to sturgis
• too lazy for nachos
• beans over and open fire in a shanty town
• i want a helper monkey
• i’m shvitzing, oy vei
• i’m just going to buy a horse
• donkeys are the future
• because midget wrestling is always funny
• clogging at the reception
• i’m made of ribs!
• ahh la cyclomoteur pression
• my immune system is napping

Yesterday I saw Richard Buckner play at Club Cafe, my first time hearing him or being there. The place is set up for sit down shows where you can order food and drinks delivered to your table or cushy booth. I arrived at the same time R. Buckner did, just as the opening act was finishing. For a while I was the only person standing but eventually squeezed myself in-between two booths. He played without stopping, seamlessly transitioning between songs with instrumental bits. It created a hypnotic effect where three or four songs would go by without me realizing. In a way I liked it, but it also made me lose focus and my thoughts wandered off without applause to bring me back into the room.

This is actually a good month for shows in Pittsburgh. Yesterday was the first one I’ve been to since I moved but still to come are Telefon Tel Aviv, Prefuse 73, The Fiery Furnaces, and The Books.

On Thursday night Dan stopped in for dinner on his way to Richmond, VA to buy a share of a defunct moped shop. We only hung out for maybe 3 hours which was short but good; it kind of made it seem like he lived here. If anybody else is heading east Pittsburgh makes a nice pit stop.