Atlanta update

Work-wise... my objectives here were to go over my project's progress in 2005, assess whether we were on track, discuss what design changes would be needed, and make plans for the summer field tests on Devon Island. All accomplished... decided on a new software executive (Conditional Reasoning Language, or CRL-based ), installed the drill itself in a lab highbay at Georgia Tech, and decided that we need diamond-coated coring bits to handle harder rocks embedded in the permafrost. GT gets to run hands-on tests with the drill for a couple of months, then it comes to NASA-Ames for a few months before we ship it to Resolute.

Two colleagues (HC and EB) as well as the GT grad student working on the drill have been introduced to Southern cuisine, with free backrubs by the proprietor (at Mary Mac's Tea Room), Thursday night. I instead joined the intensely-focussed and cute klrmn at a Midtown tapas cafe used sometimes by Atlanta-area poly gatherings (13th and Crescent). Interesting Hispano-Asian creations... but it worked. Yum. And excellent company. :) Afterwards, I rushed to the airport and met patgreene and the kids, arriving.

Yesterday, after finishing business, I went home and relaxed with my parents and Pat and the kids... after dinner, Pat and I went to Buckhead for dessert and coffee to plan our remaining Christmas shopping. Then drove around downtown and the Centennial Olympic Park area to look at lights... got caught in traffic leaving the new huge aquarium, built next door. I thought of karenbynight...

So far, the political clashes at home here have been kept to a minimum... I mostly smile and politely disagree, and only absorb it in small batches to avoid reacting. No full-blown arguments, despite lots of potential fodder yesterday (given domestic spying, Patriot Act, anti-torture amendment, etc). Better to stick to sports or technology discussions... ;)

easier, in some ways

As the nominal "holiday" season moves into its more-intense mode... not just shopping and secular consumerism, but various spiritual or philosophical observances... in some ways, being on the road is easier than being at home, in that I'm not caught in-between the social and spiritual. Good friends are hosting pagan events... Yule or Solstice... today and next Tuesday. Many of my local SF-area friends are likely to be at one or both of these... if I were home they'd be unlikely to accompany me to a Christmas service, so I'd feel funny about joining their observances likewise as a non-participant guest. Even certain local parties with pagan overtones leave me feeling a bit uneasy at times, and I generally miss those that are tied to specific dates or observances. Meanwhile, even at our home church (St. Timothy's Episcopal, in Mountain View) I'm viewed there as an outsider, somewhat suspect because of my other relationships (and not allowed to serve in volunteer roles).

Last year, we stayed in CA and it felt a bit divisive or isolating around this time, for me. This year, that isn't an option... more a matter of deciding which local church to attend as visitors on Christmas. Easier, if still rather disconnected from friends and community.