Andrea and the Slumber Squad

Toasty!

Well, summer is upon we Cackalackians - Not too hot, but pretty humid and muggy. I'm proud to say that I have, for the most part, adapted to the Southern weather, although I must say it boggles the mind to imagine life before air conditioning. No wonder the south lost the war. That reminds me of some of those pseudo-scientific theories about climate and temperature being a primary determinant for cultural aggression and, consequently, development. Rather silly. But, I guess, maybe not entirely untrue.

By the way, my memory -- and Google -- tells me that "We" is the correct first-person plural personal pronoun for subjects, while "Us" is for objects (direct and otherwise). So, why do I hear learned people mis-use "Us" so frequently? Sigh. I really need to read some sort of remedial grammar book (I even own an excellent one, The Deluxe Transitive Vampire.)

Anyhoo, there is life news on the horizon. For the none of you out there reading, hold on for an announcement soon.

Cities and Suburbs

I surprise myself with my fondness for cities. I think often about the achy, regenerative, organic lives of metropolises. I guess that I find the idea of cities to be reaffirming, optimistic. It surprises and amazes that so many monkeys can climb over each other in close cohabitation without constant, bloody, conflict. It makes me proud to think that we can give each other the many concessions required to share space.

I reckon that there is no small share of naiveté in there, in my pining for a dream city of markets and parks and swirling energies. This is probably the same romantic impulse that moves longing for wilderness and forgotten spaces. It might even be the natural urge of a suburban child for the extremes that represent the exotic Other that feeds these kinds of thoughts.

Sigh. But Paris in springtime, summer in London, autumnal New York? The dreary alloy of urban winters and the hundred-thousand coffee shop hearths that string a city-dweller through long, cold, nights? Museums and memories and newness, nasty and nice? Decay and growth: The ecologies of economy and race and emotion, wrought in steel and stone and mayoral offices and free kitchens and lonely apartments? There is a very real, very important, way in which this is the human enterprise and there will always be a part of me that wants to participate.

U.S. Army dumped 64 million pounds of chemicals into the sea.

http://scienceblogs.com/deepseanews/2007/06/munitions_dumping_at_sea.php

Where to?

For some reason, Andi and I have both started thinking about the pending possible move quite a bit. A move, if it happens, would most likely unfold throughout late spring/early summer of next year. At this point, the top candidates for our next place to live include:

Portland - The earlier compromise, as it has strong potential for Andi's career, as well as great proximity to my family. On the downside, we're not too sure about the city and the relative value.

Seattle - My slight preference over Portland, as it's significantly better for my career, but it's also expensive and further away from my family.

Albuquerque - This is the new dark horse, based on a rumored job possibility, the closeness of some old friends, and the ability to easily drive to - and from - Colorado. Not really my first choice, but Andi prefers the climate and concept to the idea of the Northwest (not to misrepresent her commitment one way or the other -- this is all still in the concept-phase for us both, anyway).

Boulder / Denver - A return to the old homeland is also a potential move, although the job prospects are slightly more complicated for both Andi and me. Also, the relative expense-to-quality ratio is a somewhat hard pill to swallow. I really don't want to commute much, but that's going to be pretty much inevitable, wherever we end up.

Chapel Hill - Staying in this area is also a consideration. We like the climate, the cost is reasonable, the people are great and, honestly, this is now our home. There's also the ol' inertia factor.

London, Paris, New York, Syndey, Hong Kong - I have a long-simmering, unrequited, dream of living abroad (or at least in a big, cosmopolitan, city), but I doubt that's really very feasible. Between the expense, the logistics, the pets, and the job scene, it's just not in the cards, I fear.

The variables, of course, are many: Career, family, friends, sanity, excitement, difficulty, preference, etc. etc. The solution to some of these factors will reveal themselves in time, but others require a bit of reconnaissance, research, and reflection. This kind of thing would be easier if we just had tons of free time and disposable cash for some scouting travel (as well as amelioration of any end-point difficulties like, oh, expensive frickin' real estate).

Ruby Quartz Glasses Optional

24 hours post-Lasik and my vision is totally stable. Quite amazing technology. I suspect that my eyes are, generally, subject to extreme dryness, and I need to keep them well-lubricated during this recovery phase. And, no, that was probably not much more exciting for me to write than it was for you to read.