Day 2[*]: A Day In The Life

[anarchist_nomad]

Greetings, Gentle Readers! I regret to inform you that today's journal entry promises to be relatively boring. After recent ups (i.e., BiCon) and downs (i.e., kidney stone), today was really just a fairly ordinary day in the life of your friendly neighborhood Nomad!

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Walked through Kensington Gardens on the way to work this morning, listening to Chess In Concert on my MP3 player. Still getting used to the various nuances of this version, like how some lines have been changed or re-allocated to different characters. As I approached the Southern side of the park, I realised that I was right near the Royal Albert Hall... where the soundtrack was recorded last year. That was a tad odd... especially since I am stiff wishing that I had become a fan of the musical before that concert took place! Ah well.

The other musical on my mind a lot of late is Sondheim's Into The Woods. cheshcat and I have a DVD of a staged performance at home, but I would really like to see it live again. It's such a brilliant show! I've seen it performed three times, but the last was in 2004 or 2005 so it has most definitely been awhile. Only problem is... I don't know anywhere that is producing it right now! Oi!

When I got to work, the usual chaos resumed. I can't believe that there are just over three weeks left before I head back to Japan for the next meeting. Collaboration meetings two months apart? What madness is this?? One of my students is on holiday this week, but I spent a good part of the day working with the other one.

Despite the crazy-busy atmosphere, I am rather excited about the upcoming Japan trip because, when the meeting at Tokai is over, I will be flying to the other side of the country to spend a week at Super-Kamiokande. In the world of experiment particle physics (and astrophysics), Super-K is my first and best love. Besides being a world class neutrino detector, the experiment is aesthetically quite beautiful. See here if you don't believe me! Working inside the tank in the Summer of 2001, I would sometimes marvel at how I was standing in a gorgeous and gigantic cup of water... situated underneath a mountain... located in the Japanese Alps... that happened to be a famous experiment. Cue up the sense of awe! In any case, I have not been in the Kamioka area since June 2003, so it will be quite good to return to this place where I have spent about two years of my life!

Meanwhile, I am currently riding the coach back to Oxford. This evening, there is a post-BiCon get together with folks who are local to Oxford[**]. Looking forward to it! I met many awesometacular people last weekend... and a surprising number of them live locally! Am quite excited about this and very happy to get to know them better! All of them are good fun to spend time with... and some of them are quite, quite cute! ;-D

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[*] Still not explaining this just yet. Longtime readers know what I'm talking about. To the rest, it shall be made clear shortly.

[**] For whatever definition of "local" works -- if you want to come here and are willing to do the transport, then come on over!

Comments

[tartful-dodger.livejournal.com]

Wear Stilts! Be Big in Japan!

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

*giggle* You think I'm turning Japanese? You really think so?

[tartful-dodger.livejournal.com]

If I ever get a chance to go to Japan the first thing I'd do would be to go to the Ghibli musuem and play on the giant lifesized catbus.

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! You're a Totoro fan, too! Yay!

I wish I'd known at BiCon -- we have a small Catbus inside of our car!

[tartful-dodger.livejournal.com]

*jaw drops*

An actual catbus?

I wish I'd known you and Chesh were, I'd have worn my cuddly totoro hoodie.

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Between Dec 1998 and Jun 2003, I lived half time in Japan. So I brought back loads of Catbuses (Catbi?) and Totoros for our friends. And, of course, for us, too! *grin*

I'd love to see your hoodie at some point. Have you seen xugglybug's?

[tartful-dodger.livejournal.com]

Yes, she got my friend to make her one after she'd seen me wearing mine.

Amy is an absolute goddess of steamstressyness.

:)

[uberredfraggle.livejournal.com]

See you soon!!!! Just waiting for our furthest 'local' to arrive o I can how them where to park. ;)

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Approaching Thornhill now! Should be there in about half an hour or so!!

*bounce*

[uberredfraggle.livejournal.com]

Still no sign of my lift but he did get stuck in traffic. Really looking forward to seeing everyone.

[uberredfraggle.livejournal.com]

Heard from him. He should be here soon so we won't be far behind you.

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Sounds good! Just crossed over the ring road, so I'll be there soon!

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

I hope your meet-up goes well! It was a really great idea, I thought.

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

I suspect that it will happen again at some point. Feel free to be an honorary Oxonian for an evening and join us when it does!

(Not like I've got an ulterior motive -- like enjoying hanging out with you -- or anything!)

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

:-) Thank you! That's mutual. But my time for travel is about to reduce even further next month :-(

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

And between Japan and the States, I will be gone from about Sep 20 to Oct 20 -- roughly half a month in each. But we'll make something happen sometime! I know we will!

(Besides, more Betrayal at House on the Hill is needed!!)

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

Clearly!

[uberredfraggle.livejournal.com]

At first I just invited two other local newbies for a drink to help the post bicon come down but then realised just how many locals we had so it got bigger. :D

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

Glad to see you back to your usual cheerfully frantic pace ;-)

Cue the "Twilight Zone" theme... an LJ-only (so far) friend of mine went to the hospital today with a kidney stone. And he lives in Chicago...