Active

Today was a very active day for me.

I woke up around 9 today, and headed to the office right away.  I knew that I wanted to get there earlier than noon, just so I can get more work in.  Today's work consisted of working withe NetBeans to set up compilers and CPLEX, learning more about CPLEX, and reading code examples.  I also had a small project of setting up a C and C++ compiler to work with Netbeans, because the CPLEX network flow example is a C program.  As usual, I took ten times longer than the normal CS student, learning a lot along the way. Time flies by when you are yelling at your computer inside your head.

In between, I took time out for a large brunch, not looking at food prices any more because I have too much money on my card.  I also had a chance to meet up with Adib for some coffee.  He is leaving in less than 48 hours - leaving for good.  It was fun hanging out with him for a bit, talking about his day and the stress of moving.  An all-around fun person to talk to.  Adib is a photographer, and a good one at that.  He really likes to take panoramas, and he took several outside of the EPS (Engineeing and physical sciences) building. I sneaked into this picture with a stern face; the EPS building is right behind me.

Click for a larger view

I kept on working until around 5:30.  That is when I received a text from Refah, the Baha'i youth that lives near me.  A group of people were going to a bar to have some drinks, and I was invited to go and not drink with him.  So I biked to his place, from which, after some tea, we left on our bikes toward the Bozeman Brewery Company (I know the acronym was BBC, but the C may be something else).  It was past Main street, which is about a mile north of campus.  There was a blue-grass band playing there, and it was very loud. I saw some of the friends a second time, and some I met for the first time. 

Then, Refah informed us of a movie night that was taking place later in the day.  Roshan, who was the only person left at the time, decided he had too much work to do, and headed home.  So the two of us went to this interesting building to find the movie night event.  Outside, we met some people who were just leaving the place, headed to enjoy the nice weather.  The main entrance was locked so we found our way through another door.  This place looked like a building under reconstruction that was abandoned a few years ago.  There was a drawing on a wall, and at the bottom of the stairs large pieces of random building material.  The movie night was in the basement of the building.  This place was full of color, with something covering every wall - murals, paintings, photographs, etc.  It was later that I learned that there are free art classes there every other Wednesday.  Of course I am interested in that!

There was a total of six people there.  This was due mostly to the very nice weather today, no one wanted to stay inside for .  The first movie that was just playing as we entered was about a tribe that does wale hunting.  Then we watched a long movie that consisted of many short silent films.  There were many "special effects" and many funny tricks.  Most were in black and while, while some of them were hand painted.  It was all from the same director.  A lot of cheesy things like magicians making things disappear, people with floating heads, a man falling down because his chair disappears the last minute ... such corny (yet very cool knowing it was when film was in its infancy) effects.  Mostly, they were humorous films.  Great for dubbing over, and having fun with. 

I made sure to be back to the dorms by 9:30 for insanity.  It seemed my tires were a little flat, and that is why I had to work so hard to bike back (all a slow uphill climb).  I did end up putting air in my tires at Refah's place (Roskie's pump was broken -figures!).  It seemed The girls were looking for me to do it earlier because of quiet hour at 10 on weekdays, but didn't have my number.  They kindly waited for me, and we went ahead and did it at our normal time.  After all that biking and pumping air, I was already tired.  But that just meant a rather pathetic workout during Insanity.  It really is insane. Alicia was there again, pushing Maggie and I to do better  - "just five more! you can do it!".  It is good to have her back. 

Normally this would be the end of my night, but it was really just beginning ...

As we finished up insanity, Eric came up to our pod and was asking around if anyone wanted to go to the sports bar across the street with him.  If there is opportunity to be with people, I am there.  Maggie and Alicia decided that the workout would be the end of their knight.  But I decided to join the group after freshening up.  I was very hungry, but by the time I reached and decided to order food, their kitchen had shut down - it closed at 10:30 and I was asking at 10:45.  I decided to ask Refah to join us, but he was unreachable.  And so, hungry and tired, I just went back to Roskie, leaving the three guys to enjoy themselves.  I decided to maybe just eat in the morning.

But as I reached Roskie, I heard from Refah.  That is when I was able to tell him about the group of us at the bar and if he wanted to join.  He was up for it.  Then I asked if it was alright that I tell the group about the hiking trip to Mount Blackmore.  He again said, "of course".  The date is not set yet, but it will be before Friday.  I am sure everyone will want to go too.  It is a very high peak always covered in snow, and it should be very exciting.  Finally, I made the mistake of asking a generous person if there was any food places open.  The answer was nothing nearby, and was followed by an invitation over for some pasta.  I did taarof, as I don't want to be a burden of any sort.  I only realized this after denying that I was doing taarof, when accused of it.  But the insisting and the stomach growls were enough to push me to a yes.  The plan being that I would eat, and we would go join the group at the bar.

Refah made some pasta (pronounced past-ah), and I enjoyed it immensely.  I met his roommate, Merlin.  He was a cool dude too.  It turned out that the bar was closing, so we invited the guys - Eric, Sabina, and Kevin - to come join us for pasta.  But they decided not to come, and get to bed.  Among the discussion, Refah told me of the Canadian Mr. Rogers - Mr. Dressup and the Tickle Trunk.  Just the name had me laughing for the longest time, and I briefly saw an episode.  It is real!

Before heading out, Refah showed me around his small apartment.  In his room, from the ceiling, hung a thin cardboard square that looked like it was torn the bottom.  Naturally, the question of its purpose was posed.  It turns out it is for boxing - for punching so much that it falls apart.  Before I realized it was happening, I was getting a boxing lesson.  He gave me a wrap for my wrist, told me how to stand, and showed me the one-jab, the one-two punch, the one-two-three punch, and the double  jab.  I practiced different punches, making sure I keep good form.  Then a little bit on avoiding punches and and some footwork.  It was hard to be in a protective stance and relax at the same time.  I had never ever attempted boxing, so it was brand new to me.  And it is hard.

There was not much else to the tour.  Plus, I really had to get home.  It was already getting to be very late Time flies by when you are having fun (e.g. boxing a piece of paper).  I borrowed Refah's headlamp for the ride home.  He called it the Bozeman bow-tie, because people wear them around their necks all the time.  Biking is a major method of transportation here.  I will need to return it as soon as I can.  It helped a lot, because there was no moonlight to light my way.  Roskie is about 2 blocks away, one block having no street lamps,  but still no problem getting home.  And from what I understand, it is a very safe and small town.  I should just watch my back like I do anywhere (like Milwaukee).

And still, my night has yet to end!  I was bent on doing laundry today, and I went ahead and did it as I wrote this post.  It's 3:25 and counting, and I will probably sleep at 4:30.  No worries, though.  In the last 4 years, I have never had a steady sleep or eating schedule, so staying up late doesn't phase me too much.  I've been doing it all of last week, making sure the posts were done.  Such is my college life.

When I reached home, one of the emails I saw was a friend of mine asking me to describe the view from out my window.  I composed a reply to him that I would like to share here, as I feel it is relevant to the topic of this blog.


The View From My Dorm Room

From my window, I see a part of heaven.
Below my feet spans a wide field of the greenest grass there is.
Then there are the trees, springing up from the ground,
Reaching up to my level, looking me in the eye;
Their trunks solid, and their branches flexible.
Leaves dancing in the ever-blowing wind.
With the back drop of snow-capped mountains.
The blue sky and white clouds that can't seem to reach us;
The mountains keep them at an admirable distance.

In the day, the entire scene is lit,
With patches of shade where the small clouds dance.
At times, the only thing not covered are the mountains,
And that is when they shine their best.
But that is nothing compared to the red-orange hue at sunset,
That covers the trees, but more vividly
The mountains and the far clouds.

At night, aside from the lights from windows,
The sky is clear and full of stars,
Twinkling an invitation to stare at them forever.
Though my window screen doesn't allow for me to enjoy this part,
It is as much a part of the beauty as anything else.

The sunrise is early and the sunset is late,
The rays of the sun stronger, and warmer,
At the higher latitude and altitude.
The wind - cool and refreshing
The spirits - full of joy and kindness.

I love it here.