Marecki on 16/4/2006 at 22:23
So the bosses have figured out it would be useful to send me over the big pond to do some serious work there for a while. Okay, fine, especially considering there is a very special person in LA I was about to come visit anyway (not to mention various TTLG people in the area :) ) and that would save me quite a lot of cash I would otherwise have to fork over myself. Time has passed and now it's ETD 150 hours and counting, then it's two weeks on Long Island flinging accelerated heavy ions at passing ships and then a bit over six months as a working guest of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Oops.
Okay, seriously. I'm really looking forward to this trip. On one hand, the aforementioned special person living in LA - it's a bit of a journey of course, but 500 kilometres is better than 9000... Then there is LBL itself, allegedly one of the most beautiful research facilities in the world. Finally, considering my local work environment has steadily been getting increasingly hostile, such a long break from it - not to mention that if I like it there and they like my work, I've got a chance of getting reinvited soon, for much longer period - will most likely have extremely positive impact on my productivity. Last but not least, I am so taking my paraglider there.
If you were looking for a point up here, I'm afraid there won't be any. I'm not trying to make a point here... I'm not fluke or the GBM either, when it comes to storytelling in English. I guess I'm just getting a bit jittery, since putting it bluntly I've got less than a week before getting head-first into the Land of Fatty Food (a side note - despite lots and lots of people claiming otherwise, my impression from my vist to New England in 1998 was that it is in fact possible to get good food in the States, except you've got to look for it. Any tips I could use while in Berkeley?) and Somewhat Weird People (and I'm not talking about Starr here ;) ). I mean, less than a week... Damn. And I don't even remember whether I actually promised AGWPT that I'd stab him in the face if I encountered him in RL or was just briefly entertaining the idea :angel:
And now, in true anime style (note: not taking jabs at Digimon here, don't think I've ever seen a single episode), a pseudophilosophical question which is supposed to sound deep and the viewer is supposed not to even try thinking what it actually means: if a girl propagates your gravitons through folded extra dimensions, is that considered flirting?
Starrfall on 17/4/2006 at 01:04
WHO'S LETTING YOU IN boy I tell you there's just no quality control these days I shall be writing my councilman
Anyways it's been raining all over the state pretty consistently so for christs sake bring an umbrella. It might be gone by the time you get here though.
San Rafael is a bit away from Berkeley, but you should go (
http://www.solfoodrestaurant.com/) here for lunch or something. (Owner is a second cousin. Haven't seen her in years but I like to help out the family you know)
edit: only if she says 'you know you liked it' later
Enchantermon on 17/4/2006 at 01:22
First of all, if you need a quick bite to eat but still want good food, find Subway. I don't know if you've ever had food from there, but it's
awesome! My personal favorite is the grilled chicken breast with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and American cheese on either Italian or Italian Herbs and Cheese bread. *drools*
Quote Posted by Marecki
And now, in true anime style (note: not taking jabs at Digimon here, don't think I've ever seen a single episode), a pseudophilosophical question which is supposed to sound deep and the viewer is supposed not to even try thinking what it actually means: if a girl propagates your gravitons through folded extra dimensions, is that considered flirting?
Yes. ;) But what does that have to do with anime?
theBlackman on 17/4/2006 at 01:47
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory I think that is. And San Rafael is only about 30 minutes across San Pablo bay via the 580 freeway.
Don't know about the food, but Marin County has its own attractions if you spend an afternoon or weekend day cruising around.
Of course, San Francisco is just across the bay also, but only about 10 minutes closer during commute hours. You can always take the BART trains to downtown though.
If you plan to drive down to Los Angeles to see your friend, be prepared for about 9 hours on the road. And if you fly down, better hope they have a car, or be prepared to rent one.
Meanwhile, I'll alert the border patrol about your pending arrival. We can't have just any TTLG'r that has a mind to to sneak in uninspected. :)
Low Moral Fiber on 17/4/2006 at 01:49
Awesome in italics, goddamnit Enchantermon don't ever change.
Fafhrd on 17/4/2006 at 02:01
drop a line when you're in the L.A. area. There are only two proper pubs there that I'm aware of and I could direct you to them/buy you and your special person drinks, or something.
tungsten on 17/4/2006 at 02:17
Sounds great! Enjoy some time outside the lab ;)
And I envy you for your qualifications - tons of jobs for beamline scientists (at least where I'd like to work).
DarkViper on 17/4/2006 at 03:02
Quote Posted by Enchantermon
My personal favorite is the grilled chicken breast with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and American cheese on either Italian or Italian Herbs and Cheese bread.
Pffft. You forgot the Ranch dressing. And everyone knows that particular sandwich tastes
awesome-er with Provolone cheese.
American Cheese = Hamburgers and eating straight from the Kraft individually-wrapped packages. Well, and pretty much everything else but your particular sandwich :ebil:
Fafhrd on 17/4/2006 at 03:18
wow, I hadn't even read that sandwich description. American cheese doesn't go anywhere NEAR chicken. Grilled cheese sandwiches and hamburgers (and only if the only condiments available for the hamburger are ketchup, mustard, or thousand island), and only if there's no swiss available.
aguywhoplaysthief on 17/4/2006 at 03:19
Quote Posted by Enchantermon
First of all, if you need a quick bite to eat but still want good food, find Subway. I don't know if you've ever had food from there, but it's
awesome! My personal favorite is the grilled chicken breast with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and American cheese on either Italian or Italian Herbs and Cheese bread. *drools*
Okay, this guy is wrong.
When I ate meat, Quizno's was where it was at. Quizno's beats the living shit out of Subway in every way. Get the Italian. It's got ham, pepperoni, salame, and something else, with red wine vinagrette.
