Who doesn't like Mondays?

I don't have much to say, which I count as good news, but I like to post on Monday as a way of indicating that I made it through the weekend without going crazy. Actually, there is something to relate from this weekend and it has to do with Friday's. Does anyone remember what I was saying about trying to get fired? Well I think I've shot myself in the foot with regards to that plan. The Big Boss came in on Sunday and events transpired in the strangest manner: well. He only spent about half an hour in the store and left without any ranting or raving. What's worse is that not only did I not get myself fired but I actually made him laugh. So I guess I have to do this the hard way and find a more interesting job like everyone else.

Oh here's another story. I hadn't run into [former landlord] Dave Zamansky for a whole week and a half when, out of thin air, I heard him call my name as we passed on opposite sides of Main Street in Durham last Thursday. We caught up a little bit with the usual chit-chat then assured each other than we would run into each other soon. Neither of us was made a liar, for a mere two hours passed before I found him again crossing my path, at which point we engaged in round two of catch-up - probing for trivial answers to all the little questions we didn't think to ask the first time (an added feature of this meeting was that I got to wave through the window of the Writing Center to his wife, Jennifer who, we both determined, didn't recognize me). Again, we vowed to meet up soon. Sure enough, as I sat down for dinner in the dining hall, there was my pal Dave with a plate of food, crossing from the opposite direction to take his seat and hanging around just long enough to nab some of my spicy fries (for which I can't blame him). Finally, I left campus ultimately to drive home, but first to stop into a Power Vote meeting taking place in the office just off of the school grounds. Cars coming from my left stopped and I got halfway out into the street before I had to pause so as not to get run over by...

...Dave Zamansky. I haven't seen him since.

Today was a string of minor successes (defined as any non-failure), including calculus class, a meeting with my calc professor during his office hours and a meeting with the [graduate] physics TA during the office hours that she was covering for our professor. Amanda is the TA's name and the bulk of my questions for her concerned how she came to settle on her current research focus, which is materials science or surface physics. Her answers were general but reassuring because she affirmed my hope that it takes all four years to find that focus and that (perhaps more relevant to recent developments) it's okay to take research positions in one field without committing to indefinitely to that field. As usual, I expect that answer but was glad to actually hear it. 

Unfortunately for the Power Vote folks, I've had a tough time scheduling time for that group but I also haven't made any promises I can't keep. They and I know that it's volunteer work and I have made my priorities clear. 

We had a Moses Irons gig at the Oriental Delight on Friday and it went as well this time as it did the first. I think it's just so comfortable that we relax and play better in turn. The good food helps.