I missed yesterday because what was destined to be an evening of work gave fate the slip and became a marathon pumpkin carving session in the pub. Halloween is such fun: tonight there is a band and plenty of silliness to spread from the seniors to the rest of the school. I heard that Lara Croft is going to be there. Good times.

posted at 9:08 PM - comments

The morning after. Nobody likes it. We're tired. They're tired. Everybody wants breakfast and to go back to that place. But what can you do? Vacation is over and now it is time to hop back in the locomotive and ride the Webb Express to Thanksgiving Break Station. It's a steep grade and the train is pretty full, but I am assured that we can make it if only we keep our eye on the prize.

posted at 10:54 PM - comments

Five glorious days at Walt Disney's World Resort....over too soon. After all that fun we are tired and ready for a break, but not ready for classes bright and early tomorrow morning. Our time was spent between SNAME and fun, with the entire weekend devoted to the latter - MGM, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hoop-de-Doo Revue, Pleasure Island, etc. The final conclusion is this: we're too cool for school and too dirty for Disney.

posted at 11:38 PM - comments

It sure felt like a Friday today, and when that final buzzer rang at 1:50 to signal the end of ethics, you've never seen a more jubilant bunch of seniors hit the bricks. Zero hour is 7 AM tomorrow morning, so tonight is packing time. Instead of packing and taking it easy after a relatively late night last night, Karyn and I rode with Prof. Hennings to the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island to help out with adding PowerPoint to their speakers' repertoire. The trip was a total success and a real eye-opener into a great organization. After dinner, I had hoops practice, which delayed packing and laundry even further. Outside of official SNAME preperations there are other events going on to get us warmed up - namely a Happy After Hours from 12 - 7 AM. Thank heavens for this welcome escape fom the Institute.

posted at 9:14 PM - comments

Orlando seems to slide farther and farther away the closer we get. A swamped day today that featured plenty of aggrevation: NA 7 lab attendace is now required to be in the classroom, an ME 6 project that makes Conrad seem very matter-of-fact, a poorly scheduled recruiting visit that interrupted basketball practice but was attended by just 6 juniors, and the frustration of a pair of sophomore boys who can't seem to get over how much fun it is to park out front. I lobbied especially hard with the powers that be to have the offenders towed, but to no avail. People don't know how glad they are that I am not in charge: how hard is it to follow a couple of truly simple rules? Not hard, but there is no reason to bother if no consequences are levied. In general I disagree with making examples out of people, but if the precedent is set that "you cannot afford to be parked out front" then people will not park out front. Maybe somebody in the pub knows what I am talking about and is worse at pool than me. I'll go check.

posted at 10:58 PM - comments

Somehow the Chamber party is the messiest event of the year. How does it happen? Every Chamber Sunday morning is a battle against the grimey leftovers from the night before. This year's party was a good time. Got to see about as much social drama as can take place at Webb - watch for flying sandals and keep your hands out of the lion cage. I'm willing to bet that the room with $400+ of hard A wins. Drunk people know how to cater to drunk people, and wings are not getting it done.

posted at 7:31 PM - comments

Skating was awesome! Well attended and enjoyable...I'm out of skating shape but had a blast. Afterwards about 10 Webbies went to the East Bay Diner for a post-midnight snack (or a bacon burger deluxe, root beer float, and cherry cheesecake meal for yours truly) and had some fantastic laughs. We didn't get back until 3, and, consequently, today started with a "Good afternoon!" as opposed to a "Good morning!" Events have included buying and chopping fruit for the soccer team, watching the soccer team lose a crushing 0-2 tally to Cooper Union in a game that should have been 3-1 for Webb, and prepping for tonight's Chamber Party. Oh oh oh and there has been some ship design as well.

posted at 9:24 PM - comments

Ship design and now ME6 will wear on into the night, but not as late as skating. Tonight is Webb's private party for 90 minutes on fresh ice - watch tomorrow's update for bumps and bruises. There has been a bit of a flare-up of 2001-ers on campus this weekend...who's the tool now, dayo19? Also, notice that this blog has been two days in the making? Computer crashes are scary stuff! I highly recommend everybody run out and back up their vitals stat.

posted at 6:54 PM - comments

Ship design hit today, almost as hard as the wrenching mistral that ripped the Sound and held trees at their breaking point all afternoon. With five days to go, we also got another big assignment, closing the noose ever tighter. But tomorrow is a new day, a day for the dentist and a day for ship design. A soccer game against Pratt was scheduled for this fine day, but they called to cancel at noon: not enough players. Wonder if there was just too much work hanging over their heads?

posted at 10:07 PM - comments

Three Days on the River in a Red Canoe it was not, but all 22 of us sure enjoyed the heck out of the rafting trip to West Virginia over fall break. The van rides were fun, the weather cooperated, the food was great, and the 6 hours on the river couldn't be topped. I was disrafted twice, which truly added to my enjoyment of the run. After a break that is such a good time, the school work seems a whole lot less fun.

posted at 10:50 PM - comments

Watched Deliverance this evening, just two days before our rafting trip in West Virginia. Scary stuff. In other news, a light day academically preceeding tomorrow, which is a day off for the seniors. Hopefully plenty will get done then.

posted at 12:57 AM - comments

Busy day on the ranch. Had quite a productive NA7 lab for three hours this morning, then focused on two more hours of class, attended basketball practice, and ventured to SUNY Old Westbury to watch the soccer team lose a tough one 0-2. This evening has been all about vibes homework and season premieres. Bartlett will run again, but Carol is backing down. Everyone has a Carol Vessey in their life, and Ed has been dealt a devastating blow by his. Hang in there, chief - she'll come around.

posted at 10:06 PM - comments

It was a strangely outside day. With a professor gone to Germany, the morning was laid back. The afternoon was spent outside: ethics on the terrace, a catnap on the terrace disguised as vibes homework time, playing saxophone on the back terrace. It was a glorious clear fall day, perfect for being not cooped up. Black angus burgers for lunch and my print arrived. It was a good day.

posted at 12:46 AM - comments

Some days fade away. Lost this one to laziness, taking care of business, enjoying the Oktoberfest street fair in Sea Cliff, and a tiny bit of meaningless ME 6. Kyle and I decided to join the leisure class, but I am not sure that I am cut out for it. Sometimes boredom is our only enemy and activity is only worth it if it cures boredom. So here we stand, blinded by the light.

posted at 12:44 AM - comments

A much better race today in what had been the shadows of the WTC at Liberty State Park. The rain came and went, but the Webb guys were still able to gather 13th of 24 teams, quite good considering we had two first-time runners. Oktoberfest this evening promises fun and relaxation after a blitz this evening and before a blitz tomorrow. The Cold War also takes place this evening: GO BLUE!

posted at 6:25 PM - comments

Cookies by mail today and a creme-puff academic day. Then, a spontaneously fun evening with a friend. "Close your eyes, give me your hand darling...do you feel my heart beating? Do you understand? Do you feel the same? Am I only dreaming? Is this burning an eternal flame?" - The Bangles rock, and on some days the trees open up and the forest stares you right in the face.

posted at 10:31 PM - comments

The week has simply flown. Last night's Zeien lecture, despite being somewhat of a disappointment in terms of speaker selection, was enjoyable. Practices and laziness have carried the days since last I blogged. Finally saw A Knight's Tale, which was predictable but enjoyable in presentation. School ups have been matched by school downs; par for Webb's courses.

posted at 3:00 PM - comments

Basketball 2001's inaugural practice this evening. Who can imagine a semester going faster? "Not I," said the cat. "Nor I," said the mouse. "I could," said the 84-year-old Professor who assigned our massive lines project this morning. Food was good today, though, and they turned the heat back on. Plus, after over a year of searching I was finally able to order Steam Turbine by Charles Sheeler to start what I envision to be a very unique collection of perfectionist / engineering / nautical art. Now all I need is some more wall space. Sounds like a great project for the weekend.

posted at 9:59 PM - comments