It's getting kind of boring

The work is nice and I've read and studied a lot of cool stuff but life in general here is a bit boring and obviously lonely. I've met a few people in the lab but nothing that makes me start enjoying the life. I miss my kids, my wife, my house, the shower in my house!!! Everything actually. I guess it's a question of time an I'll get used to it. At least I have started new activities not related to work such as this blog. But tomorrow everything will be the same. If at least the secretary in the lab could prepare my letter, I could then join the gym. Tomorrow I'll have to lie and say that due to medical (knee) I have to exercise every day. Let's see if it works.

This is going to be hard...

... but I like it!!!

Just finished reading the first paper Prof. B gave me. Wow!!! This is going to be hard. The paper has more information in 3 pages (paper from Nature) that most of my papers have in 15. It's dense... really dense! I'll read a related one now but first I need some coffee. I think I'll have to read this same paper another couple of times today. 

More lab photos

I've managed to get the photos from iPhone without loading iTunes. I didn't want to loose the music I have in the iPhone. My iTunes library is in the HD at home. 

But anyway, here are some more pictures from the lab. The first two photos are from the conference area while they last is from the entrance of the lab. Note that the entrance contains pictures of the cover of the Nature and Science journals with works from people here in the lab. 

At Cambridge Common

I forgot to talk about what happened at Cambridge Common, this nice bar I went on Friday. I went with an Italian friend and after a couple of beers I had one that had "with hint of Licorice". I confess that I heard about Licorice a few times but I really didn't know (I still don't) what it is and what it looks like. Anyway, I've asked the girl serving what licorice was and she and the italian didn't believe that I didn't know what it was. I've asked them what it taste/smell like and the whole thing began. 

She said it smelled like "Sambuca" which is a italian spirit that I know and I've had in the past. Luigi (the Italian) almost when nuts saying that licorice has nothing to do with Sambuca and that he knew very well since his region of Italy produces Sambuca and also licorice. It was funny because the girl was very upset with the Luigi because she thought he was a bit rude and that he was shouting... but Italian do shout, this is what they do best right? The discussion didn't end there because the girls almost went on the entire bar asking everyone else, doing a poll or something, if Sambuca smelled like licorice. To simplify things, Luigi asked for a Sambuca so that I could see (or smell) it. For me, Sambuca smells like anise which meant that Luigi was happy and the girl serving us not. Eventually she agreed that it was anise but told me to buy some twizzlers to which I said I would. However, I don't like candy so it is unlikely I will but next time Kalil or Adele have a twizzlers I'll make sure I'll smell it. 

For now, I still don't know what licorice actually is.... I'll check Wikipedia. 

Homemade sub

Talked to Sarah and she just had Quiznos. I didn't but I've made my own sub with chicken, mortadela and cheese. The so called "mortachicken with cheese". I had to walk on a lot of snow. Here is the picture from the university (just outside my building).

More snow

This morning I woke and saw that we had snow the whole evening. This means that it is going to be hard again to get to the T Station unless people cleaned their sidewalks. But today is Sunday and I doubt they will do it. We had probably something like 5 inches.

I think I'll go to the lab and eat something around there. I will buy a baguette and ham and make a sandwich. It's cheaper this way and fresher than the subs they sell in the supermarket. I'm looking forward to the Spring because I can walk to the markets and buy fruits and such. But Spring is still a long way away.

Water music

The concert just ended. Very nice indeed!! :) The water music from Handel was really good. I'm glad I came. I didn't remember how nice a live classical concert actually was.

Found the wine!

The talk was excellent and I wished Kalil was here with me to listen to the music professor explain the history behind the music that will be played. It does provide a better perspective of what will hear. Another good news was that I found the bar. :)

BSO but no wine

I arrived a bit early here for the presentation of the BSO. My hope was to watch the talk they have before the presentation but also maybe drink a glass of wine. No wine here! The place is actually nice however my seat is so close that I feel I'm setting under the orchestra. Actually if one of the musicians on my side decide to fart it will go almost in my face. I hope they had a good lunch. LOL. I see that there was a reason for ticket to the cheapest. You always get what you pay for. I should have known.

Man vs Woman: The Differences

A colleague here showed me a video from Italy about the differences between Man and Woman. It is quite clever actually. Here is the video.

In fact, this director makes some very interesting cartoons. This other one is a comparison between Italy and the rest of Europe. The same video could be applicable to Brazil. They only had to change the flag from Italy to Brazil.



If you want to see more, just search for Bruno Bozzetto on YouTube or go to his website.

Here is just one more about how to drive  (not)  :-)

T on the weekend

I don't know what is going on here but the T today is really really busy. I never got it like that. Maybe there is something going on in the city and I'm just not aware of. Anyway, I'm on my way to work.

Slow day

I'm happy Sarah got the car fixed. Today I'll take a bit easy. I'm having lunch at the Indian restaurant close to the house. After I'll go to work and later tonight go to the BSO.

Never again!

OMG! This was cold. I'm home now but I'm not sure I'll do this again.  First it isn't as close as I thought and second it is colder than I thought. At least I saved $10 and not all is lost. Tomorrow I can use that money to go to a restaurant. I'm about to fall asleep. Good night. Talk to you in the morning. Sarah please no more flat tires. LOL.

Cold is here....

I'm going to try to walk now on -17C for about half a hour. I think I'll  be okay. I'll tell you tomorrow.

Cambridge common

Im here drinking a Opa Opa Ipa in this bar. It's actually quite nice. Good food and good beer. Maybe I'll come here again some other day.

Giving up on the gym

I'm not going to try to join this gym no longer. It is frustrating. People here in the lab do not put this as priority (obviously) and the people at the Marino center (gym) couldn't care less. I'll see if I find another place to go.

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Since I'm going to rest a bit tomorrow, I'm going to the BSO concert tomorrow (Saturday). It was a bit expensive even for the cheapest ticket but I don't intend to be there all the time. I had to pay $47 for the ticket. The BSO is said to be one of the best in the USA. The program will include Mozart and Handel. I'll post tomorrow about the experience.

Joe vs CNN

Very nice from Rick Sanchez to take on Joe the assh...  Here is the youtube video. Joe is now a war correspondent. Can you believe this? We'll just have to wait and see what happens to Joe the "war correspondent". 

Professor?

I'm reading Carl Sagan's Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. What a book!!! If you'd like to learn more about critical thinking, you must get it. Funny is that he talks about people that don't do anything but love to call themselves "professor". He talks about a guy that bought a telescope placed on his backyard and became a sensation because he called himself professor and has claimed to be in contact with Aliens. 

What is even funnier is that I have one of these in my life now. The landlord of my house is "professor". It's amazing, he teaches guitar on the back of the house and decided that he is a professor and that his shed on the back is a college of music. Can you believe this?! My brain has a problem understanding this type of attitude, maybe it is because I am a college professor (a real one I hope) and get no joy of the title. Titles is giving based on accomplishments, right? And they are supposed to be self-satisfying not really something you freely publicize. I learned now that there must be something wrong with a person when he/she answers the cell phone: "Hello, this is Prof. A...". Eraldo and I already knew one guy at FIT who does this but at least he is a professor. My landlord is far from being one.

I miss Kalil

Obviously I miss everyone but I'm working now with my iPod and some guy just played No Surprised on the piano... let me check his name... Christopher O'Riley. And I just had that felling that I really miss waking up with Kalil playing the Piano. I miss him... :(  BTW Kalil keep playing!!!