Holy crap, I'm in pain.
44.5/44 miles... and I'm feeling each little piece of that last half mile. Oooowwwwwiiiiieeee!
All errands that were to be done outside the apartment are now moved to Monday, and I'm going to spend the rest of the day lying down and doing homework. Will probably go to that football game with a few friends tonight.
So I saw Papa Yella again today. Twice. In the time it took me to get 2/3 of the way back across the loop (granted, I was going slower, I was on my 30something-ish mile) he'd passed by me twice...
WHO IS THIS GUY!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!!??!!?
and I couldn't just turn around and give chase because... well... I'm a wuss, and I hurt :(
But I went fast!!!!!!!!! I'm finally keeping pace with people on the course, and not slowing down as much up the hills. But I hurrrrrrrt!
Let me give you an example. I park on a hill just by the entrance to Lawther Dr. from Mockingbird, where there is a rather lovely parking lot with a picnic area with a view and one of those stone structures that provide shade while you eat (me no think of good word now for to describe). So my last half a kilometer is uphill, to my car. Its painful but fun. Well, I was pretty out of it, and looking down and kept thinking, "oh man, oh man... just another half a kilometer" and the hill started feeling really easy. I was peddling faster, and thinking, "Alright! I've got some energy left." And then I hit the wall.
... no really.
I had already climbed the hill, passed the parking lot, passed my car, and peddled on flat ground right into the picnic area, and into the wall (thinking I was still on the hill). Luckily I didn't hit it head on, but it clipped me on the shoulder, and I nearly went down. So the bike is fine, and luckily there were no witnesses. My body on the other hand is a bit pissed off at me. Yeah that was fun. Lesson for the day: keep your head up, and look where you're going (which I did, right up until that last half a kilometer).
After putting my bike up, I sat down on the grass and watched the cyclists and runners pass by on the path below. I was having trouble with a homework problem yesterday. It took me all morning, and most of my night to get it (though I finally did), and all the while I was wondering "what am I doing here? I'm going to fail, I don't belong here, why am I in Texas?" blah blah blah. Sitting on the hill, and realizing I had two more questions just like that one (that would probably take me as long) to do before Thursday, I realized: this is where I'm supposed to be, and I like it here. Not the path, not the trail, but Dallas, SMU, the department.
I could be in Montreal studying Hispanic culture, in the middle of a bunch of French Speakers. As good as the program was, I wouldn't be where I was supposed to be, and I wouldn't be happy with the program. I could be at KU getting a dead-end MA in the hopes that a blind department would throw me a bone and let me in the PhD program after a year. I could be studying with two of my (still) favorite professors: one who very well could be dead at any time, and the other who's interests seem to get further and further from what I want to do (he's more theoretical, I'm leaning more toward applied). I could be in Tulsa or Kansas City working a crap job for poor wage and struggling against all my other co-workers for a way to advance and "do what I want to do." I could be in Tulsa, or Kansas City and always have friends around to call and have fun with (all of whom I miss dearly). But I'd never make it to Buenos Aires or Tierra del Fuego on that. I'd never have a real chance to use my Spanish, and I'd never have a real chance to explore all the aspects of economics and math that I want to. And I wouldn't get the PhD... which I want.
I applied to SMU on a lark based on the off-hand suggestion of Prof. Mohammed (one of my favorite professor's) and my father's encouragement of that suggestion. And here I am in Dallas. Very few friends, very little to do but bike and study... and I'm happier than I've been since high school. Why on earth would I give this up now? I like the work (why else am I getting into the Lee Center at 9 AM to do homework?), I like the professors, I like the students... and I'm starting to adapt to "the bubble" of Highland Park.
For the next four to five years, this is where I'm supposed to be, and I'm going to fight (qualifying exams in march and April) to stay here.
So anyway... got a wedding to go to on Oct. 2 (WOOHOO!), might do this Ardmore bike trail with a friend of mine from OK over Fall break (70 miles), and I might have Larryville visitors during the KU fall break (both of whom are very welcome). Big semester. Lots o' studying left to do today. That and recovering... going to finish off the lasagna I made (microwaved) last night.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Well its Thursday, and that's my last day of classes, and my rest day on the bike.
Yesterday I finally upped my average speed for the 'brisk pace' up to 23 km/h, which is the target minimum for that pace. I'm happy about that. I felt pretty good up until about 2 in the afternoon when my body just crashed. I slept from 2 to 7, ate dinner and hung out, and then slept from about 11 PM to 8 AM.
The econometrics teacher finally came in on Tuesday and we had our first class. It's actually not so much econometrics as math theory of statistics and probability. It's pretty much exactly the same thing I went through at KU with MATH 627 and 628, except compressed into only one semester. Same book even (although the edition has been updated). The macro and micro classes also seem to be going well. We'll see how the math class goes when we start on Monday.
I also hear that Ted Juhl (one of my all time favorite professor's at KU) got the Kemper Award. Way to go, Prof. Juhl! He deserves it.
I'm starting to recognize a few of the bikers and joggers early in the morning, and a new group of folks have turned up (aside from the "yellow jerseys" the "racers," the "joggers" and the "iPod jackasses"): the steroid users. That's right. Tiny heads, tiny shoulders, big bulging arms. It's disgusting really, even though it is funny to see these mis-shapen masses riding bikes and trying to look tough.
Still haven't found a church to go to. I guess it would help if I finally got to a service on Sunday.
The campus is extremely small. Dallas is a big town, but this is a small school. Lawrence was a small town but KU was very big. I could step outside of Wescoe at noon for a lunch break and watch hundreds of people pass by on a typical day of classes. Now when I step out of the Lee Center for a lunch break, I see... I dunno... Dozens. Maybe 300 to 400 if I get the right time and see the students going to and from the cafeterias. I must admit its unsettling me a little to see so few amounts of people on campus. But I guess I have to get used to it.
I'm finding some very sympathetic and friendly Spanish speakers who are willing to talk to me in Spanish. Hopefully they will let me continue to pester them :) I appreciated it greatly when one girl from Mexico and two guys from Guatemala helped me out with my Spanish. I miss the classes, I miss the literature. Still keeping up with "my stories" (the telenovelas) though. Inocente de Ti seems to be wrapping up, and getting into the seriously crazy plot twists.
Not much else going on really. Just biking, studying, reading, and trying to be social.
By the way: Pat Robertson is a jackass. Way to solidify the position of a crazy Latin American dictator, moron. Good job.
Yesterday I finally upped my average speed for the 'brisk pace' up to 23 km/h, which is the target minimum for that pace. I'm happy about that. I felt pretty good up until about 2 in the afternoon when my body just crashed. I slept from 2 to 7, ate dinner and hung out, and then slept from about 11 PM to 8 AM.
The econometrics teacher finally came in on Tuesday and we had our first class. It's actually not so much econometrics as math theory of statistics and probability. It's pretty much exactly the same thing I went through at KU with MATH 627 and 628, except compressed into only one semester. Same book even (although the edition has been updated). The macro and micro classes also seem to be going well. We'll see how the math class goes when we start on Monday.
I also hear that Ted Juhl (one of my all time favorite professor's at KU) got the Kemper Award. Way to go, Prof. Juhl! He deserves it.
I'm starting to recognize a few of the bikers and joggers early in the morning, and a new group of folks have turned up (aside from the "yellow jerseys" the "racers," the "joggers" and the "iPod jackasses"): the steroid users. That's right. Tiny heads, tiny shoulders, big bulging arms. It's disgusting really, even though it is funny to see these mis-shapen masses riding bikes and trying to look tough.
Still haven't found a church to go to. I guess it would help if I finally got to a service on Sunday.
The campus is extremely small. Dallas is a big town, but this is a small school. Lawrence was a small town but KU was very big. I could step outside of Wescoe at noon for a lunch break and watch hundreds of people pass by on a typical day of classes. Now when I step out of the Lee Center for a lunch break, I see... I dunno... Dozens. Maybe 300 to 400 if I get the right time and see the students going to and from the cafeterias. I must admit its unsettling me a little to see so few amounts of people on campus. But I guess I have to get used to it.
I'm finding some very sympathetic and friendly Spanish speakers who are willing to talk to me in Spanish. Hopefully they will let me continue to pester them :) I appreciated it greatly when one girl from Mexico and two guys from Guatemala helped me out with my Spanish. I miss the classes, I miss the literature. Still keeping up with "my stories" (the telenovelas) though. Inocente de Ti seems to be wrapping up, and getting into the seriously crazy plot twists.
Not much else going on really. Just biking, studying, reading, and trying to be social.
By the way: Pat Robertson is a jackass. Way to solidify the position of a crazy Latin American dictator, moron. Good job.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Well this weekend was certainly interesting.
First of all I would like to correct myself. The long ride was not 50 miles, it was 40 (of which I got through 38). Next week I'll be shooting for 44.
I must admit, riding at White Park on Saturday is very different from riding at White Park during the week. Even early in the morning there are joggers all over the trails, and twice as many cyclists as are usually out. It certainly kept me on my toes.
On top of that "Papa Yella" was out in full form. For those of you don't know, Papa Yella is this huge, elderly black man who bikes at White Rock, and just absolutely HOSES EVERYONE! As I have stated before to friends and family, "I have found my Yoda!" If only I could catch up to him, and have him teach me his ways... He passed me after my 30th mile, and I tried to give chase, but dang... That guy can pedal. I was left in the dust. I'm pathetic I know.
It was quite beautiful though to see the moon falling over Dallas, and then see the sun rising reflected in the skyscrapers as I biked down the path. I took a break on my second time around the park and watched the moon descend for a few minutes, and thought, "You know... I could be here with somebody who wouldn't know how to appreciate this view." Another fine point of not being where I was last year. My last semester in Kansas, the moving across the US (from OK, to MA, back to OK, to WA, then to TX) all have taught me how to enjoy being alone. And better then that its taught me to take advantage of what little time I have with the people who are there. All this from the small appreciation to not hearing some one constantly complain about going for a walk, or the way something looks, or the way certain people act. It's refreshing to just appreciate.
Oh yes... and if you appreciate bird watching... White Rock is definitely the place. I recommend Saturdays.
I have met some very cool people down here who I enjoy being around (three to be exact: my friend from middle school, the daughter of my mom's old college roommate, and a friend I met through a friend of mine back in KS). Good for me, good for them. I'm trying to be more social and meet as many people as possible in order to find those few good people among groups to hang out with. That seems to be how it goes. The grad students in the department are all very school oriented, so I need to get out and just talk with people sometimes to clear my head.
Sadly, the dog of one of my friends died today. Her parents were out of town, and her friends weren't answering their cell phone so I was called to bury the dog. It was a sad thing, but I was actually alright with doing it. I know how hard it is to bury a pet, especially one that was around for so long (the little pug lasted 15 years), and to at least help by being "the outside person" who could bury the dog, and help clean things up was... Satisfying I guess. I felt helpful. I like helping people. I also felt that if something like this had happened, like if my dog had died at home, I would really appreciate some one coming in to help. So my friend bought me lunch for burying the dog. At one point she said, "you don't know how much I appreciate this" but I think I did know. Burying a pet is rough, and if it were my dog, I don't think I could've done it. Rest in peace, puppy.
Aside from that I've been meeting some people through my friend's friend down here, who all seem very nice. I think I will stop pursuing the Turk, as she seems completely obsessed with finding a research topic. No big deal. I will still continue to joke about it though. I think at this point, any dating I do would have to be light, easy, and LOW MAINTENANCE. I just need to push through this first year of the program and get things done. All the rest is secondary, and any girl who would give me grief just isn't worth the time (as I should have learned... Oh... Back in September).
Long day of studying tomorrow, seeing as I didn't get much done with all of this weeks activities (the ride, the bbq, hanging out with a friend, burying the dog, the group meeting, etc.). I got a lot of work done on Friday though (all of Macro, half of Stat), so the homework is light (the rest of Stat and Micro) and then studying (Math - need to make all my notes and formulas into notecards to study with).
First of all I would like to correct myself. The long ride was not 50 miles, it was 40 (of which I got through 38). Next week I'll be shooting for 44.
I must admit, riding at White Park on Saturday is very different from riding at White Park during the week. Even early in the morning there are joggers all over the trails, and twice as many cyclists as are usually out. It certainly kept me on my toes.
On top of that "Papa Yella" was out in full form. For those of you don't know, Papa Yella is this huge, elderly black man who bikes at White Rock, and just absolutely HOSES EVERYONE! As I have stated before to friends and family, "I have found my Yoda!" If only I could catch up to him, and have him teach me his ways... He passed me after my 30th mile, and I tried to give chase, but dang... That guy can pedal. I was left in the dust. I'm pathetic I know.
It was quite beautiful though to see the moon falling over Dallas, and then see the sun rising reflected in the skyscrapers as I biked down the path. I took a break on my second time around the park and watched the moon descend for a few minutes, and thought, "You know... I could be here with somebody who wouldn't know how to appreciate this view." Another fine point of not being where I was last year. My last semester in Kansas, the moving across the US (from OK, to MA, back to OK, to WA, then to TX) all have taught me how to enjoy being alone. And better then that its taught me to take advantage of what little time I have with the people who are there. All this from the small appreciation to not hearing some one constantly complain about going for a walk, or the way something looks, or the way certain people act. It's refreshing to just appreciate.
Oh yes... and if you appreciate bird watching... White Rock is definitely the place. I recommend Saturdays.
I have met some very cool people down here who I enjoy being around (three to be exact: my friend from middle school, the daughter of my mom's old college roommate, and a friend I met through a friend of mine back in KS). Good for me, good for them. I'm trying to be more social and meet as many people as possible in order to find those few good people among groups to hang out with. That seems to be how it goes. The grad students in the department are all very school oriented, so I need to get out and just talk with people sometimes to clear my head.
Sadly, the dog of one of my friends died today. Her parents were out of town, and her friends weren't answering their cell phone so I was called to bury the dog. It was a sad thing, but I was actually alright with doing it. I know how hard it is to bury a pet, especially one that was around for so long (the little pug lasted 15 years), and to at least help by being "the outside person" who could bury the dog, and help clean things up was... Satisfying I guess. I felt helpful. I like helping people. I also felt that if something like this had happened, like if my dog had died at home, I would really appreciate some one coming in to help. So my friend bought me lunch for burying the dog. At one point she said, "you don't know how much I appreciate this" but I think I did know. Burying a pet is rough, and if it were my dog, I don't think I could've done it. Rest in peace, puppy.
Aside from that I've been meeting some people through my friend's friend down here, who all seem very nice. I think I will stop pursuing the Turk, as she seems completely obsessed with finding a research topic. No big deal. I will still continue to joke about it though. I think at this point, any dating I do would have to be light, easy, and LOW MAINTENANCE. I just need to push through this first year of the program and get things done. All the rest is secondary, and any girl who would give me grief just isn't worth the time (as I should have learned... Oh... Back in September).
Long day of studying tomorrow, seeing as I didn't get much done with all of this weeks activities (the ride, the bbq, hanging out with a friend, burying the dog, the group meeting, etc.). I got a lot of work done on Friday though (all of Macro, half of Stat), so the homework is light (the rest of Stat and Micro) and then studying (Math - need to make all my notes and formulas into notecards to study with).
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Just got through my first day of classes for the Economics graduate program. One day down... at least four more years to go. Everyone in the program seems to be very nice. I'm espescially liking the math focus of the program. Its going to be a rough year, but I need to get the math and the theory down before I can do any good out there.
I seem to be haunted by the Ottoman Empire these days. That is to say... Turks. Espescially Turkish girls. My last year in undergraduate I met two very lovely Turkish girls. One however could not speak English very well, and the other was... well... she had her own "Quijote" thing going. Vaya con dios, doña Turca: perhaps our paths will meet again. Until then, please stop stealing soccer balls from the poor Brazilians.
But seriously, I met a very cute girl at orientation from Turkey. Seems rather nice, and doesn't seem like the type of person who would go down a child's slide about thrity times in a row for no apparent reason. I'm beginning to think though that the Ottoman Empire is out to get me somehow. They took Cervantes' hand (at Lepanto, as legend has it)... perhaps they're after me now. Hm.... or maybe I'm paranoid.
Finished up most of my homework this afternoon, and might head down to an acoustic jazz show for an hour or two to relax. Plus its free, from what I hear... if its not... then I come home and listen to my stereo. Maybe go back to the carrel and do some work. See a pretty Turk. Life is good.
Today was my rest day for the bicycle, so I went to a Yoga class in the morning to try and stretch out. Godawful music, only three other people there, and I discovered that I not only can't stretch, but I have no balance. On the other hand, my legs feel ten times better and I'm seriously considering going back next week.
As far as the bike status goes, I started training for the century this Monday with an easy paced ride of 10 miles (though I only made 9, no thanks to the fact that I made bad calculations in my head from km to miles). Then on Tuesday I went 15 miles instead of 12 (thanks again to my poor metric conversions). Wednesday I decided to work out the calculations with a calculator, and actually hit the exact goal for the day of 14 miles (a tenth of a mile over but... eh). All of this done between 7:00 AM and 8:15ish. Not bad. I'm amazed I can still get up that early and function well for the rest of the day. In fact I think I function better. I'm a little ticked at the traffic all the way back from White Rock Lake, but such is Dallas. Tomorow I'm supposed to ride 12 miles, and Saturday is my first long ride (50 miles... ouch). I'm a little discouraged due to the fact that I can't break more than 14 mph on my average speed. At that pace I would finish the century in 7 hours, not counting rests. Yeah. So once I get the distances down I need to focus on speed. The target average speed for this month is 12.5-15 mph, and I'll try and up it next month. Of course the big bike news is that I cleaned my chain and replaced my brakes ALL BY MYSELF! YAY! I'M A BIG BOY NOW! ... okay that's just creepy. Yeah, now I need to figure out how to change a tire while on the road and then I'm pretty much set.
Hm... wonder if any of the other first-years want to join me in this crazy endeavor... I wonder if the Turk has a bike... ah, life is good.
See... this is what happens when I don't have my bass to kill time with. TV just doesn't cut it anymore.
Speaking of my bass... I miss it. The low grumbling E espescially. I miss my bow. I miss playing music...
I also miss my family very much, and hope they're having a good time on their respective coasts.
Yes. The Economics class, the Turk joke (and it is a joke, mind you, I just find the whole situation funny), the bike, the bass... a good first post. Enjoy the day.
Reading:
"Clandestine in Chile" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (based on interviews of the Chilean film director Miguel Littin).
Listening to:
"Illinoise" by Sufjan Stephens.
I seem to be haunted by the Ottoman Empire these days. That is to say... Turks. Espescially Turkish girls. My last year in undergraduate I met two very lovely Turkish girls. One however could not speak English very well, and the other was... well... she had her own "Quijote" thing going. Vaya con dios, doña Turca: perhaps our paths will meet again. Until then, please stop stealing soccer balls from the poor Brazilians.
But seriously, I met a very cute girl at orientation from Turkey. Seems rather nice, and doesn't seem like the type of person who would go down a child's slide about thrity times in a row for no apparent reason. I'm beginning to think though that the Ottoman Empire is out to get me somehow. They took Cervantes' hand (at Lepanto, as legend has it)... perhaps they're after me now. Hm.... or maybe I'm paranoid.
Finished up most of my homework this afternoon, and might head down to an acoustic jazz show for an hour or two to relax. Plus its free, from what I hear... if its not... then I come home and listen to my stereo. Maybe go back to the carrel and do some work. See a pretty Turk. Life is good.
Today was my rest day for the bicycle, so I went to a Yoga class in the morning to try and stretch out. Godawful music, only three other people there, and I discovered that I not only can't stretch, but I have no balance. On the other hand, my legs feel ten times better and I'm seriously considering going back next week.
As far as the bike status goes, I started training for the century this Monday with an easy paced ride of 10 miles (though I only made 9, no thanks to the fact that I made bad calculations in my head from km to miles). Then on Tuesday I went 15 miles instead of 12 (thanks again to my poor metric conversions). Wednesday I decided to work out the calculations with a calculator, and actually hit the exact goal for the day of 14 miles (a tenth of a mile over but... eh). All of this done between 7:00 AM and 8:15ish. Not bad. I'm amazed I can still get up that early and function well for the rest of the day. In fact I think I function better. I'm a little ticked at the traffic all the way back from White Rock Lake, but such is Dallas. Tomorow I'm supposed to ride 12 miles, and Saturday is my first long ride (50 miles... ouch). I'm a little discouraged due to the fact that I can't break more than 14 mph on my average speed. At that pace I would finish the century in 7 hours, not counting rests. Yeah. So once I get the distances down I need to focus on speed. The target average speed for this month is 12.5-15 mph, and I'll try and up it next month. Of course the big bike news is that I cleaned my chain and replaced my brakes ALL BY MYSELF! YAY! I'M A BIG BOY NOW! ... okay that's just creepy. Yeah, now I need to figure out how to change a tire while on the road and then I'm pretty much set.
Hm... wonder if any of the other first-years want to join me in this crazy endeavor... I wonder if the Turk has a bike... ah, life is good.
See... this is what happens when I don't have my bass to kill time with. TV just doesn't cut it anymore.
Speaking of my bass... I miss it. The low grumbling E espescially. I miss my bow. I miss playing music...
I also miss my family very much, and hope they're having a good time on their respective coasts.
Yes. The Economics class, the Turk joke (and it is a joke, mind you, I just find the whole situation funny), the bike, the bass... a good first post. Enjoy the day.
Reading:
"Clandestine in Chile" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (based on interviews of the Chilean film director Miguel Littin).
Listening to:
"Illinoise" by Sufjan Stephens.
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