School; recruiting; the Axis of Eating
So I'm in this machine learning class at Rice, and on Thursday we had to present our proposed projects. May I just say that, damn, I was on that day. I really enjoyed speaking to a mostly non-scientific audience. It made me think for the first time, seriously, that I might enjoy something like undergraduate teaching one day.
On to Friday. I spent the morning studying in the Coffee Corner. It's amazing how many people I run into when I leave the lab. Maybe I'll have to try to spend an hour working there a day or something. It's good, I think.
The less said about the test, the better. It wasn't the test I (or apparently anybody else) had prepared for: it was not much like the homework problems or the previous tests. Minor points from the lectures were major test questions, and major points were ignored entirely. Still, it wasn't a required class, so if I failed, it won't kill me. I might get bitched at by my PI or my committee, but I suppose there are worse things to deal with.
I took off with first year SCBMBer Oliver after the exam with the intention of starting the drinking early. We dropped by our respective dwellings to change and have the first beer of the evening. We proceeded to Woodrow's and began things in earnest with some of the other first years.
We picked the recruits up at the hotel and headed to Ninfa's (sweet, glorious Ninfa's), and I ordered up two of their fanciest margaritas (which were, strangely, mediocre) and a couple of flautas. One of the recruits was from Belgium and was going to go out with some of his countrymen at Baylor afterwards, so Oliver and I stuck around while he was waiting to be picked up. I had to more margaritas (the cheap ones, this time), and these were much better.
We joined up with the rest of the group at Woodrow's (and here I thought we would go some place interesting). Will was at the door, and he always seems to be able to tell when I've been drinking (apparently, it's the only time I look happy). Anup and Oliver had met a couple of U of H psychology (female) grad students when they were out the previous weekend and gotten friendly with them, so they joined us as well. I didn't drink nearly enough beer (though I was still going strong from the Ninfaritas) due to a full stomach, but I did what I could. Still, our bar tab was pathetically low.
After the recruits had dispersed, Anup, Oliver, their lady friends and I went to get food. Thanks to the guys, I now have a new resteraunt to add to my Axis of Eating (late-night eating, that is). In addition to Whataburger, Taco C/La Tapatia (actual choice depends on various factors), and Late Nite Pie, I now have the late-night Vietnamese glory of Mai's. Post-eating, Anup took his lady home, and Oliver and I took his lady back to her car in the village, where he obtained digits. Way to go, man.
May I just say, not having to drive was a beautiful, beautiful thing that I wish I could do more often. I didn't exactly cut loose (maybe I'll make Sabrina drive when we do our Waco shindig), but at least I got to drink four margaritas.
On to Friday. I spent the morning studying in the Coffee Corner. It's amazing how many people I run into when I leave the lab. Maybe I'll have to try to spend an hour working there a day or something. It's good, I think.
The less said about the test, the better. It wasn't the test I (or apparently anybody else) had prepared for: it was not much like the homework problems or the previous tests. Minor points from the lectures were major test questions, and major points were ignored entirely. Still, it wasn't a required class, so if I failed, it won't kill me. I might get bitched at by my PI or my committee, but I suppose there are worse things to deal with.
I took off with first year SCBMBer Oliver after the exam with the intention of starting the drinking early. We dropped by our respective dwellings to change and have the first beer of the evening. We proceeded to Woodrow's and began things in earnest with some of the other first years.
We picked the recruits up at the hotel and headed to Ninfa's (sweet, glorious Ninfa's), and I ordered up two of their fanciest margaritas (which were, strangely, mediocre) and a couple of flautas. One of the recruits was from Belgium and was going to go out with some of his countrymen at Baylor afterwards, so Oliver and I stuck around while he was waiting to be picked up. I had to more margaritas (the cheap ones, this time), and these were much better.
We joined up with the rest of the group at Woodrow's (and here I thought we would go some place interesting). Will was at the door, and he always seems to be able to tell when I've been drinking (apparently, it's the only time I look happy). Anup and Oliver had met a couple of U of H psychology (female) grad students when they were out the previous weekend and gotten friendly with them, so they joined us as well. I didn't drink nearly enough beer (though I was still going strong from the Ninfaritas) due to a full stomach, but I did what I could. Still, our bar tab was pathetically low.
After the recruits had dispersed, Anup, Oliver, their lady friends and I went to get food. Thanks to the guys, I now have a new resteraunt to add to my Axis of Eating (late-night eating, that is). In addition to Whataburger, Taco C/La Tapatia (actual choice depends on various factors), and Late Nite Pie, I now have the late-night Vietnamese glory of Mai's. Post-eating, Anup took his lady home, and Oliver and I took his lady back to her car in the village, where he obtained digits. Way to go, man.
May I just say, not having to drive was a beautiful, beautiful thing that I wish I could do more often. I didn't exactly cut loose (maybe I'll make Sabrina drive when we do our Waco shindig), but at least I got to drink four margaritas.
posted by L. Maxwell Ward at 8:15 PM
