The delights of Pika-Pika photoshop in Japantown, San Francisco have been blogged about elsewhere, like here and here
I'm sorry, but I love my Pika-Pika set far too much not to share them with you!!! Of course, they are in a GIF. Everybody after 3, - 1-2-3:
oh GIF-off!
Enjoy!
Well the festive season is nearly upon us, and my goose is getting nice and fat. We wanted to go on an old train ride through the woods, but that was off so we had to settle for this instead - the santa cruz holiday lights train!! So we rode on the train through the city streets (with a hundred kids and their parents!!), sipped our hot spiced apple juice, sang christmas carols, and I made a little video.
I was once humiliated by a primary school teacher for saying "turn on the lampshade" rather than "turn the lampshade on" (he thought the former implied rotating whilst on top of the lampshade), so to him I say this: "I am the moon", and this: "TURN ON YOUR SPEAKERS" ha ha ha ha! (*manic grin*). Anyway, apologies in advance - I'm busy so it's a little rough and ready, and goes on a bit, but you get the jist. Happy holidays!!!!!!!
The Tech is a museum in San Jose, right next door to Silicon Valley. It's dedicated to technological advances. I must say! With The Tech and the Aquarium (see previous post) in the same weekend, I couldn't be more impressed. Ok, well we all know writing isn't my forte, so here are some cool pictures!!!
One good thing about the Tech is that as you go around, you can save stuff you do to a filespace online. Obviously, I loved it. Here's a webcam photo of my mum and I sitting at a computer uploading stuff onto our filespace (nice growwwl, mum!):
Ok, here's me and my mum at the Tech - 360-degree panoramics, in Cartesian and Polar coordinates! (I'm the one who looks like a gentleman scientist ;)
Next, views of a 3D laser scan of my head!!
That was my favourite bit. Here's us in an earthquake simulator (it was really violent, promise! That kid was glued to the floor):
Finally, here's a view of us in a thermal camera:
A fun day all round. Until next time ...
Last weekend was spent sightseeing with my mum, who was visiting all the way from Londonengland. On Sunday, I got in my zipcar and drove us south on Highway 1 to Monterey. At the end of Cannery Row, and countless souvenir shops selling stacks of Harley-Davidson and John Steinbeck memorabilia, sits the best aquarium I have ever been to - well recommended and everything an aquarium should be. Here's a little video I made of some of the tanklife on offer, so turn your speakers up and enjoy the relaxing fish and, my personal favourite, jellies!
Look out for more vids and photos from my weekend ... coming soon!
One thing Maria has taught me is the importance of tidy nostrils and ears. She is the Yoda of personal grooming, and I am her Luke. She wields a pair of tweezers like Yoda swings his light-sabre. She is a good teacher, and I have obediently taken her teachings on board.
Three things, however, impede my progress:
* I'm not very disciplined - I'm like a cartoon hose, turgid with water, and spraying all over the room. I will always avoid things I don't like, even and, maybe especially, when I know they're good for me.
* I can grow hair for England - lots of thick brown hair, especially on my face. I have shave-worthy hair on and in my ears and nose, on my forehead, and even on my tongue and eyes.
* I'm not bad with pain, but I cannot inflict it on myself.
It's been a couple of weeks since I last did my nose. I won't do my ears - I just can't face it. I'll howl and cry and I'm worried that my housemates will think I'm dying ...
Sigh, I've just added the 'Mangroomer essential nose and hair trimmer' into my amazon cart. When I click 'buy' my life will officially be over. You know I'm telling the truth because I just split an infinitive.
There are so many nose and ear hair trimmers I had to narrow my search down to which one had the best name. As a bonus, the 'mangroomer' even has had a lot of satisfied customers, it seems. Here's a couple of examples (my emphases):
Hubby says that his is nearly as good as his old one. Yes, the occasional pulled nose hair, but not enough tug to pull them out or cause tears (bellydancegoddess, miami)
It is funny to be discussing nose hair, but all men eventually have to deal with it. I have had literally over 5 to 6 different kinds of nose trimmers and this is by far the best (devon, puerto rico)
This is a great little trimmer. It's not that cheap plastic type. This is actually quite sturdy. It also has a rotating head which is the ONLY kind to get. The rest are junk. We love ours! Thanks! (Muff, Michigan)
I had a Panasonic trimmer which was cheaply constructed. It was painful to use this since it pulled the hair everytime. So I stopped using it for few months and after that, it stopped working. Junk! I looked at this Mangroomer for several months on and off, but did not bother to buy it. But finally I purchased this item with other item so I can get free shipping. This item is realy good (thebuyer)
There's 16 posts on this product. Each post has been rated as 'helpful' or 'unhelpful' by between 4 and 38 people. Who bothers to take the time out with this sort of thing? Well, I certainly will when I finally receive my mangroomer!
Amazon is a great little website - it recommends me things, which I dutifully buy to reward its cleverness. It's cheap, and has everything at a touch of a button. Yet it also tells you what a loser you are. It just doesn't let you forget mistakes in your browsing history. I bought a beanbag recently, so now its recommending me loads of kids toys. I looked at lentils, and now it recommends me everything from books on sustainable living to yoga mats to the bible.
But the best thing about Amazon is the social commentary inside the 'customers who bought this item also bought' section. Customers who bought the mangroomer essential hair and nose trimmer also bought:
* do-it-yourself electric back hair shaver
* 'too fat to fish' by artie lange
* weight loss pills
* 'the incredible hulk' DVD
* heart rate monitor
* grand theft auto IV
* 5lb tubs of weight-gain whey powder
* 'fasta pasta the microwave cooker'
* Bubba the Love Sponge presents 'Bubba Raw' Vol 1
This is the company I now keep, as I approach my 27th birthday
POSTSCRIPT
Don't mistake my mood (blues). A man doesn't videotape his own demise.
Hey there, I worked out how to rip a video off youtube.com, and add your own soundtrack to it. Home karaoke!
Warning - the following is utter rubbish and for educational purposes only. Please discard once viewed and never speak of it again
See? If you want to know how, click here
And this is the 2nd slideshow. Enjoy yourselves!
Hey there not much to report so a slideshow (1 of 2) instead of random stuff, using my new favourite toy - 'convert' (if you want to know the technical details, click here)
I picked from the tree of life, and I picked a plum.
I've made some changes to the way I blog.
I thought that my, erm, technical posts were probably better suited to another blog. Introducing the Zesty Blogisty !!!! This now contains my blogs on geeky stuff, and this is where I will continue to post on topics of a more technical nature.
The Daily Daniel will contain all other stuff
Thanks for listening
Just a quickie - I just love this photo I took of a mural down at the boardwalk, and I wanted to share it.
It's just so naff, for one - everyone is so ridiculously out of proportion with each other and themselves.
The way they look like they're being sucked into the pavement is genius - a bit like being trapped under the end of the escalator in railway stations and shopping centres, but in a 'hey that'll be fun' way.
The comical 'extra hand' at the side - the mind boggles as to how that person got there, the daredevil, the knave!
Oh, and the guy at the back - what, is this how he relaxes? Was he born on a rollercoaster? Or does he just know he's not going anywhere!
I just love this place. Can't wait to start earning money, making lists and hanging out with Jack Black and the boys ;)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A fully paid-up member of the governator state
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sunsets are amazing here
Don't believe me? Here's just a couple of examples from this week:
I sent an email with an attachment of a data plot I had made. When a reply came back with the image embedded in the email, I discovered (to my horror) that in the figure's title, I had spelt the word 'count' without an 'o'
I got a bike. I had broken it within a couple of hours by cycling up a steep hill, reaching the top, and changing gear without pedalling, snapping the chain in half
I went to a sandwich shop. There wasn't so much a queue as a pile of people obtaining sandwiches in random order. No-one seemed to be queuing, or ordering, just receiving. I thought that there must have been a rush of orders just before I walked in, and they wouldn't take any more orders - including mine - until they had cleared the backlog. No-one looked friendly enough to ask, and those who did were either on their mobile phones, or chatting with friends. I stood and waited and watched. As soon as people who came in after me started to receive sandwiches, I said to the man next to me "well, this is just ridiculous!" and I left the shop. Later I recounted my story to a colleague ... how was I to know they only took telephone orders?
At work I needed access to a secure ftp server, so made the necessary enquiries and got myself a username and password on the system. It didn't work. I tried again, several times, and no joy. I called an IT technician - we went through different possibilities - firewalls, admin permissions, different sftp software, command line sftp - you name it. The 2nd technician called a 3rd, and the afternoon rolled on. Eventually we realised that the only possible thing was that - yep, you guessed it - I had been typing my password incorrectly.
Ok I'm going now, I'll try not to break anything as I press 'publish'
Since I've been in Santa Cruz, full-time, for a full week I thought I'd better snap to it and produce some sort of idea for you - in a manageable time - what the place is like, in the form of moving pictures. Usually these things involve edited footage with nice transitions, subtitles, titles, effects and a soundtrack...
... erm, well it has a soundtrack!
Sights recorded my me yesterday on my wander around town. Sounds recorded by Brothers and Sisters ('California (in the fall)'). Muxed by mencoder. Enjoy y'all!
Hey I just came across a mexican metal outfit called 'six beer band' - great name, great look! And no, I have nothing better to do.
Stay heavy,
Craig's List is a great website for people looking to buy and sell stuff locally, find events, courses, jobs etc, and chat on topics in forums. I've been looking at my local craigs list most days since I arrived. It is the only resource I needed for house hunting, and now I'm looking for some furniture, its the place to check out second hand stuff, yard sales.
It started in San Francisco, and has now gone international, such is its popularity. Clever Craig. Boy, you're such a clever boy. But tonight i'm not here to praise, I'm here to mock. Sorry, share some delightful and quintessentially American stuff and turns of phrase I found on a quick trawl of Craig's rather long list this evening. There's loads and I couldnt print them - here's just a few examples from a few categories (my emphasises and captions) .
This country is just so funny. There are hundreds more like this (Mike, maybe we should put our heads together and make a yahoo pipe to filter funny stuff out of craigs list?) , so if you have time to waste ... Enjoy!
****************************************************************************
1) "Never you mind, Brandine! You just go back to birthin' that baby."
In: For sale - cars and trucks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I got pretty drunk and rolled my 94' eagle talon the night before last. the roof and windshield are hammered also front right cv joint and tie rod are gone.it turns over fine, interior is ok, engine is good and registration is current. I like the car but dont have time to fix it. the cars sitting on its wheels in a good spot but your gonna need a flatbed or car trailor. call me at 831-706-0228 and dont waste my time the cars been rolled and it looks like it so dont be picky.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
****************************************************************************
***********************************************************************
2) "Hi giggly hey neighbourino!"
In: Community - general
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello, hi. My husband lost his job two weeks ago due to the economy. He has been looking everywhere and no one is hiring currently. He is literally applying for any position available in his field of work. I was hoping that all of you reading this could add us to your prayers. If you could spread the word to anyone you know that would keep us in their prayers and thoughts we would be eternally grateful. I know I do not know you and you do not know me. I believe with all of my being that you can make a difference in our hearts and lives by adding us to your thoughts, prayers, intentions, meditations, and well wishes. Please.
With Much Love and Hope,
The Agresti Family
-------------------------------------------------------
************************************************************
***********************************************************
3) Like, so, erm, oh my god! He was like, so totally awesome!
In: rants and raves
--------------------------------------------
I'm just a bored dude. Send me some pics!
-------------------------------------
*********************************************************
******************************************************
4) Radiant sunbeam leopards in the mystical dharma karma hummm (*ting!*)
In: community - events
----------------------------------------
Friday, Nov. 7
Location: Dragondale, Boulder Creek, CA
(Directions will be given to those who have pre-registered)
7-10pm
$35
In Feri it is often said that everything begins, and ends, with Sex. But what does that mean? Sex is so much more than simply how bodies touch. In this class we will explore what the nature of sex is for our souls, and begin to raise our awareness of the sensual nature of our own energy-bodies. We will then invoke the Twins in their various aspects to join with us in sensual ecstasy so that we can partake of their Holy Lust. Learn how to raise and control sexual energy and use it for healing, for alignment, and for spellwork.
-------------------------------------------------------
********************************************************
*******************************************************
5) Sweaty brilliance
In: personals - men seeking women
-----------------------------------------------------
I've been down in South-bay working, building, perfecting my resources, my means, to answer the questions conjured within my dreams. Where? what? when? why? Who is this "I". What's His plan? His dreams?. THE PLAN is creation. Put simply, create an opportunity, an opportunity to share, thoughts, ideas, feelings, motions, and space. I seek another. Some South-Bay Hottie to join my festive path. Celebrate this state (alive and breathing). Explore this world all over, its flowers, it's fauna, its people, their rituals. Take it in write it down,, record, film, process it in our minds and then; EXPRESS. For All, for One, for NONE,
Expression for me lies in symbols on paper. It also is recorded visions, Sites, and sounds. "Audio-visual stimuli" created/composed/directed so as to stir a feeling, image, or thought in another mind. A catalyst for shared experience. The experience rendered being more vivid and detailed than written fiction. Yet, the audience's pro-active role in the creative process makes the experience more personal or intimate than traditional films and screen plays.
I am an intelligent, sensitive, thoughtful, not very patient, strong, independent, open-minded, hedonistic, quick witted person. I like to laugh and play outside under the sun its sweaty brilliance. I also prowl the night for festivities including cocktails, music, film, and other general fanfare, frequently in a club, bar, or at my dome house overlooking Monterey Bay in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
I'm seldom swayed by mere "convention," rather I tend to disrupt the stagnant and conventional, especially when the mere fact of their existence, has become the sole underpinning to secure it within the foundations of society.
So' Is there a Woman, A South-Bay Hottie, with an adventuresome heart, and an intellectual head. One that can think on her own, figure her actions and words free of the threats and chains of the norm. Strong willed, she must be, to act upon beliefs. She must have affinities for hedonistic festivities, and passion for the celebration of life. Where is my South Bay Hottie?
------------------------------------
****************************************************
**************************************************
6) "Ian, you put a greased naked woman on all fours, with a dog collar around her neck and a leash, and a man's arm extended out up to here holding the leash, and pushing a black glove in her face to sniff it - you don't find that offensive? You don't find that sexist?"
In: community - musicians
-------------------------------------------
We are a brutal death metal band out of Santa Cruz (practice in Los Gatos sometimes). We are seeking a very BRUTAL BRUTAL BRUTAL singer for our rising band. Even though we have a decent amount of songs, we dont have any music recorded yet, but we're working on it. Until then go to www.myspace.com/octopusvolcano and check out our influences and outlook on the world. 420 friendly, very easygoing, open-minded, but serious about our music. Any interest send an e-mail with a little info about yourself+ any Mp3s you may have of yourself. Stay heavy
OV
-----------------------------------------------------------
*******************************************************
****************************************************
7) “Hey motorcycle mama you gonna marry me? ha, ha”
In: for sale - clothes and accessories
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SUEDE LEATHER CHAPS,size 12 light tan color. zipper on legs. like new only been worn a couple times.$100.
--------------------------------------------------------------
**********************************************************
************************************************
8) You want ferret, I kill you!
In: community - pets
-------------------------------------------------------
Ferret Legalization
Important News – California ferret enthusiasts are about to file an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) with the state of California. No one thought we could get the funds but we have. Governor Schwarzenegger cited a lack of an EIR when he vetoed a ferret amnesty bill in 2004. This removes the last known hurdle that the Department of Fish and Game has put in our path.
----------------------------------------------------
*******************************************************
*******************************************************
9) "The defect in that one is bleach. Yessssssssss!"
In: community - general
---------------------------------------------------
The reasons for staying alive are at below:
* to dream for sweet days
* to cross the bridge that leads to sweet days---finding the bridge and crossing the bridge is the hardest part.
* to live in the sweet days, in the sweet earth, filled with green and God's creation and all God's created beauties
* to feel, to smell, to experience the sweet days that cannot be experienced NOW.
I love life; however, as i do not have a job, I am very depressed and worried. However, I hope and dream for better days, where I again have jobs. For that reason, I am working to get a job: applying for job and doing all the necessities so that I get a job, as much as I can, in my down time.
I understand when that people said, in Craigslist, that he wants to die. Life seems very painful when one does not get what he should. He thinks---"others got...wy can't I?"
Some people get easily eaither they are more qualified or it is just luck. However, if one just stick with his plan and be patient that he/she will see and experience and live God's given sweet life, and most probably he/she will win and will go there. Note: please pardon for bad grammar and spelling.
--------------------------------------------------
*************************************************
You will know by now that Barack Obama has been elected president of the United States. Naturally, I'm thrilled, relieved and, having just watched his acceptance speech to more than a million people standing in a freezing square in Chicago, even a little touched. It feels, like everything here, at least for the moment, just like a movie. Oh look, there's the gifted, young, and black president of the united states (played by Denzel Washington) hugging his young family and strolling into the white-house, high-fiving everyone as he goes.
I finally moved to Santa Cruz on Sunday, after spending the past 2 weeks with my sister in San Francisco, and commuting down when necessary. I am living in what my housemate termed as 'probably the most liberal town in the U.S'. The mood here couldn't be more pro-democrat, pro-Obama. People at work and home have talked of nothing else. It really has been an amazing experience to be here as a ridiculous 21-month long election campaign finally came to an end. Whatever you may say about the american political system - and i'm guessing a lot of that would be negative and i'd say you're quite right - at least it capable of turning itself on its head, which is exactly what has happened tonight. Obama didnt just win - he nailed it, and good on him. Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way and if Barack had lost it really would have ended a remarkable run of luck i've had of late ...
Having only been here 2 days naturally I dont know many people yet. Walking home from work, I thought it'd be a shame to miss out on the action - it wouldnt be the same watching tv on my laptop in my room. So i decided to pop into the local community centre. It wasnt the most glamourous location, it must be said, but there was a good crowd of about 40-50 people, a mix of ages and all very-much pro-democrat. A few I spoke to were gay, and had mixed feelings about the night - of course they were pleased obama won, but disappointed that the state of california voted to revoke the right for same-sex marriages. There was even a fellow Brit there - top bloke, and didnt sound at all like he'd been living here for 44 years, so there's hope for me yet!
The crowd were liberal and intelligent. The sense of relief was heavy, the tears and hugs flowing. There was very little flag-waving, no national anthem singing, no over-patriotic rubbish, and little hyperbole. There was food and drink laid on for everyone. The crowd politely clapped at McCain's oven speech, and danced/laughed/wept at Obama's. After the speeches everyone went home. I couldnt think of a better place to spend election night '08.
I've never seen anything like this. A falcon swooped to just a couple of metres away from me, pinning and decapitating a pigeon in one swift move. Brilliant! It then, with no fear despite it being broad daylight and lots of people milling around a busy pavement, spent the next couple of minutes removing the prey's feathers before carrying it away. It was such a beautiful bird, and i was lucky enough to take a snap of it
A sealion swimming just off the wharf
Santa Cruz town beach - boardwalk in the background
Santa Cruz, Cowell beach, and a bit of the wharf, from a boat (USGS boat 'Stavely') about 1/2 mile out
October is a good time of year here - it hasn't got cold yet, and the summer fogs are over. I think October and April-May are the best times of year for weather.
These photos taken with my mobile phone, and stitched together using autostitch running on ubuntu linux with a windows emulator called wine
From top to bottom:
- the 'Jabba the Hutt' of the pumpkin world
- the TransAmerica pyramid, as seen through a very narrow lane
- the view from Russian Hill (Alcatraz island in the background)
See Mr Orange and Mr Brown (now famous) make their shapes on a sunny saturday in San Francisco. Enjoy! 
found on the corner of Laurent and and King streets, west side santa cruz
From top to bottom:
- downtown santa cruz street scene
- my new home (and sister, in foreground - got rid of my old sister he he!)
- UCSC entrance - this place is unBlieveably big!
From Top to Bottom:
- probably the most photographed bridge in the world
- my first dip in the Pacific (well, of this trip) - lovely and warm 14 degrees C
- Rodeo beach
- me cold on Rodeo beach, Marin Headland
- my 1st meal in america (mmm pancakes bacon banana and maple syrup, thanks Sister Delicious!)
- my plane
you see the panel on the right with twitter comments? they're my twitter comments. Sigh up to www.twitter.com and do the same and follow me. You get RSS feeds of all the garbage that comes out of my head. Go on! You DO need another excuse not to do any work!
I'm living near silicon valley now so I have to jump on every band wagon going (i've also got a netvibes page if you're interested). It's all the rage, ok? Next will be yahoo pipes and Dooplr (thanks Mike, you're my tech-guru)
Remember the film 'Coming to America' with Eddy Murphy? So do I ("The royal penis is clean, your Highness."), and that is precisely why I've had the signature and eponymous theme tune in my head since Friday. Why? Because I have come to America, and I live in America.
Currently, I am eating pistachio ice cream, and i'm living in San Francisco in my sister's apartment on 4th street somewhere near here
View Larger Map
I arrived on Friday 17th, 3pm local time. Yesterday I reacquainted myself with this great city, and today we went to Marin County Park, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. I took a dip in the sea here:
View Larger Map
Tomorrow, I'm visiting Santa Cruz for the first time. I need to touch base with the admin people at the university, and I have a couple of houses to look at. I'm getting the caltrain to san jose, then the bus down Highway 17 to santa cruz. The whole 70-mile journey will cost me less than $6 - public transport is so cheap here - the bus to marin cost $1.50 RETURN (the round trip is 3 hours - for 80 pence!!!)
I cannot wait, but wait I must, I must say ...
... more news soon
, or will, perhaps forever, but not necessarily, never know if you don’t … about santa crua, California
The university is pretty liberal. It’s a clothing optional university campus, and every year they have a ‘naked run’ with hundreds of participants (or particinopants he he). Up until only a few years ago, students were not graded and did not have to sit any exams
Santa Cruz was one of the first places where the medical use of marijuana was condoned. In 2003, the Santa Cruz City Council became the first City Council in the U.S. to denounce the Iraq War. It has a Democrat council, and is home to lots of liberal and humanitarian activist organisations
It’s the home of O’Neil surf clothing and Big Whoop. Several scenes from the 1987 film The Lost Boys (Michael?) were filmed at distinctive locations in Santa Cruz, including the boardwalk and Wharf.
Its 49% male; 82.7% 18 and over (including the highest percentage -17% being 25-34 years old); and 78% white (including 17% hispanic/latino). In short, I won’t really be an outsider
Santa Cruz has a Mediterranean climate (cool, wet winters and warm, mostly dry summers). Due to its proximity to Monterey Bay, fog is a common feature during the night and morning hours, especially in the summer. Right now, its 17 degrees Celsius (62 degrees Fahrenheit) and sunny with 78% humidity. There are an average of 65 days with measurable rain annually
So, for those who dont know, I'm going to be working as a post-doctoral research assistant in the Institute of Marine Sciences (http://ims.ucsc.edu/) at the University of California Santa Cruz (http://www.ucsc.edu/public/). My day-to-day tasks will be heping set up a long-term seafloor observatory with the good people of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in Santa Cruz (http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/). The science behind the project is improving understanding of sediment resuspension and ripples under waves, to inform better models of sediment transport and shoreline change.
ok?
Oh, and the McHenry Library on the UCSC campus has computers on the entry-level floor which do not require a username or password, but these computers are theoretically for student use only.
... might be useful in the early days ...
Blues, you'll be interested in this.
Just found a cool set of pages on the Santa Cruz Wiki, about getting around with frugality and thrift
http://www.scruzwiki.org/Santa_Cruz_On_A_Dime
Highlights include:
Read more...
I am now the proud recipient of a shiny visa, and I have booked my flights. I fly on 17th September from London Heathrow Terminal 3, to San francisco International Airport, leaving at 11am and arriving at 2pm local time, which, I'm sure you'll agree, is all very civil. And at a savage price of 281 quid all-in!
Just spent the last couple of days driving a Transit van around Plymouth helping someone move. I'm shattered. I know I say it every time, but that is absoloootely the LAST time I haul a sofa up three flights of stairs!!
I'm off home to finally get some work done (still got so much to do!!!), and have a much-deserved bath. Leaving-party provisionally booked for 10th? October
Karen - see you stateside, baby. Will be great to see your smiling face after my gruelling non-stop Virgin Atlantic flight (jealous? - ha ha!!!)
The latest news is that, apparently, I CAN drive a hire car when I arrive (i can drive anything for up to 6 months without applying for a californian driving licenec, so I'm tempted to get a car straight away, but we'll see what you have planned first)
off i go! xx
Ha ha! I'm IN. IN!
Read more...My Fellow Californians:
Make sure you remind me to take a visit for scenic beach and steam train rides. It's in Felton. I must wear pink aprons, back and front.
Progress - the following tings are done (kiss me neck):
- got DS2019
- sevis fee paid
- visa forms filled and interview booked for friday
- domestic affairs organised (banks closed, addresses updated, direct debits ended, new glasses ordered, driving licence new photocard applied for)
- hard drives backed up, cleared, organised. Paper files organised. Office stuff packed and sifted and ready to be driven to london
- other stuff (god this list is pitiful - what the hell have i been doing then?)
Tings not done:
- graduated (this happens tuesday)
- booked flights (this happens after visa interview)
- place to live
- other stuff
Inspired by MaMaS and PaPaS
Erm, dan and maria were getting kinda itchy
i spent a lot of time in the sea
...working for a penny
working for nothing actually
Greasing on British Barclaycard
really low rent and keeping shaved is really hard
daniel's good vibrations and his imagination
and go on but think of the fees
and california dreaming is becoming a reality ...
... slowly
This is dedicated to the one I love
'Tis but a few weeks before I depart the shores of England, for a stint in the United States. I hope to have the time and discipline to document my move and stateside existence on these digital pages.
My due start date is Monday the 3rd November, so I have about 7 weeks to get from here to there and settled in. Peasy!
This week I have been getting my files together (making electronic copies of my paper, and boxing up the rest; getting all of my CDs onto a hard drive; throwing lots of stuff away, etc). I have already moved out of Professor Scott's house, and he has kindly allowed me to store some stuff there. Mercifully, I don't have a lot of stuff (i've always figured there's no point until I get my own place to live)
I should receive my DS2019 form on Monday, which marks the start of the administrative side of things - i need this before i fill in my visa application forms etc. Roll on!!
I still have understandably mixed feelings about it all - I'm excited about the science, and living in California, but I'm equally as scared!! However, since I have as many knowns as unknowns the equations are easy to solve - time unfolds, and knowledge accumulates, and fear dissipates. Again I day, peasy!
