Thunder of Wade

the year of the cat

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On November 3, 2009

In Uncategorized


Hello.

Kitty.
ZOMBIE!
Was it awesome? You better believe it. I had a really great time on campus and everyone really enjoyed my visits. The best part was the elevators. The doors open, someone is waiting – looking down as they text. They look up, see me, and have a freak-out moment. Awesome!
My feet hurt part of the day and my calves are still sore as I write this – but the long walk across campus was worth it. I made people’s day and made some new friends. For those that I didn’t get to see – here are some details:
[Intro] – [Photos] – [the making of]
Thanks to Casey for some great shots and to everyone who had as much fun as I did. That’s really why I keep doing this – taking a day off and just visiting people on campus is a great way to celebrate one of my favorite holidays. Happy (belated) Halloween everyone!

teleportation, orange

By

On October 28, 2009

In food, humor, science

I almost teleported again today. I was on my way up campus to swim and the walk – what with the occasionally pain in my knee – had me ever so slightly daunted. I remember thinking… “what if I could just…?” and then I felt a strange stillness come over me. As though my molecules were slowing down and getting ready for something. My breathing stilled and I think if I’d stopped walking and found a moment between heart-beats, a little concentration would have sent me 3 blocks closer to my destination. I didn’t stop walking and my breathing went back to normal, but it was a near thing, I think.

Note that I said “teleported again”. I’m pretty sure I’ve teleported before, though it was many years ago. I was in high school and the house we were living in at the time was in a somewhat wooded area. It was a fall afternoon, cool, but bright sunshine. We were heading somewhere and I left the house via the side door. There was a single concrete step down to the pavement level and as I stepped down I saw something out of the corner of my eye, right up against the step that I had just cleared.
There wasn’t even time for my brain to register “snake” and I was already all the way across the very wide driveway. Witnesses to the event were amazed at my speed – I’m certain that my feet didn’t touch the ground and pretty sure that I didn’t actually exist in that in-between space. Instinctive teleportation is the only real answer.
The snake was harmless and my dad took it down the hill and across the road. We saw some shed snakeskin later on around the place, but never saw the snake again.
In other news… all the lines at the student union for food were very long today. So, I opted on just getting some snacks. 2 packs of cheese and peanut butter crackers. 1 bag of cheddar and bacon potato skins. 1 bottle of orange tangerine LifeWater.
All orange foods. Very strange.

spooky

By

On October 27, 2009

In costume, movie

I’ve been getting into the Halloween spirit early this year. I got my costume done a couple weeks ago and I’ve had some time to relax a little and get ready for the big day. Last week, I went with some friends and saw Paranormal Activity. There were some nice jump out at you moments, but the camera and the lack of like-able characters detracted from the flick.

I also worked on some jack-o-lanterns – as evidenced above. My room-mate designed the one on the right, but I did all the carving and scooping of the innards. I also roasted some pumpkin seeds, but they didn’t turn out as well as I would have liked.
I helped my room-mate with his costume as well and we got to wear them to an early Halloween party. And everyone had a blast! Almost everyone was in costume and there was lots of food and great conversations. My room-mate won first prize and I got second. We contributed this year since we’ve won a lot in year’s past and I think that should have taken us out of the running this time around. Got some nice gift cards out of it though.
I’m taking this Friday off for my campus walk around – don’t want work to get in the way of the fun.

thunder of wade

By

On October 23, 2009

In blog, name, tattoo

This is the I Ching symbol for Thunder or Shock. Or the “arousing shock of thunder”. It’s part of a divination system with coin flips that can help predict the future. I’m not sure I buy into that as much as I do fortune cookies, but it’s a neat little symbol for the very essence of surprise. I always tell people that I don’t like being surprised, but that’s really to prevent them from trying to do it on purpose. The accidental surprise? That’s golden.
So, I got this as a tattoo on my inner left wrist. A location that – should I need to – I can cover with a watchband. A reminder that the best parts of life are surprises.
When I was growing up, I went by my middle name – Wade. I think there was some concern that people would mispronounce my last name even more if Anthony got shortened to the very Italian sounding Tony. So, instead of Anthony – I was Wade.
When I got into college, the process of sorting that out with people and especially my professors got to be a pain and I decided to start using Anthony. This created a dichotomy – my family and friends from my youth call me Wade and my my co-workers and adult friends call me Anthony. My parents never really got used to the switch – my Mom still introduces me to people as Anthony and then in the next breathe she’ll say to me -“Wade, where’s your sister?”
I’ve always believed that people don’t really change – that they just become more of themselves as they get older. There are exceptions to this, but I don’t think it would hurt to start bringing back a little more of my Wade. I’ve added it back into my signature file in my email – and for a geek that’s a huge deal – and I’ve added it to the title of this blog.
What does it all mean? Sort of a surprise at changing back into an older mindset? Eh, I don’t really know. The names I first tried for this new blog were all taken and I settled on this one. I like it, but I don’t entirely understand it. Which I think is just as well.
If anyone asks, just tell them it’s a variation on the band “Fountains of Wayne”.

last post, new blog

By

On October 23, 2009

In Uncategorized

I haven’t blogged in a bit – but this time I actually have a reason other than “nothing going on” or “lazy”.

I got “called onto the carpet” about some of my recent posts. It was suggested that I wasn’t presenting people in a good light.
My first thought was… well… duh. If you do something stupid or annoying (frequently the same thing) either to me or in my presence, you’re going in the blog. In a way, I was also using the blog as a bit of therapy – working through some issues and getting things off my chest. And thereby calming down a bit.
And though I stand by everything I’ve said in this blog over the years – maybe ranting and writing therapy isn’t really doing me any good. There’s been a lot of humor here as well, but the perhaps a fresh start is the way to go. A new blog, maybe more focused on the projects I do and the positive things in going on, is the better way to go. I may even try to use this for my website and will eventually move the content over from there.
I recently saw a post on another blog that talked about some WWII posters that said, “Keep Calm and Carry On” and compared it to some newer sayings of “Breathe Deep and Let Go of Things” and “Get Excited and Make Things”.
I like all of those sayings – I’ve even printed them out and stuck them up in my cubicle – and I think that’s the collective philosophy of where I want to go.
So.
Approximately Equal To is closing up shop. Join me over on my new blog: Thunder of Wade
later…

Black eyed susan

By

On October 23, 2009

In flower, origami

That seems like a really horrible name for a flower, doesn’t it? Sounds like some kind of domestic abuse situation among flora. I was actually going for a sunflower on these, but it couldn’t find the right paper for the center.
A few years ago, I made a shadow box for my grandmother of an origami sun with a blue sky. It was a Christmas present – thought it might brighten up a winter’s day. She really liked it and hung it in her kitchen.
Over the summer, one of my aunts asked if I would make one for her as well. I considered it for a while, but had some qualms about duplicating a gift like that. Then my grandmother moved in with my aunt and uncle – and took the sun box with her. Which made a duplicate seem even less appropriate.
I thought about this for a bit, then bought a new empty shadow box and got some green grass paper for a background and some bright yellow – and made four of these flowers in a box for my aunt. She has four children so it seemed fitting.
I presented this wrapped package to her recently and she said “I bet I know what this is!”. She was mostly right, but the flowers surprised her. We had a laugh when I told her she was holding it upside down.
Grandma has since moved to a nursing home – I’m not sure if the sun picture went with her as well. In any case, I got one of my pending origami requests covered.

calmed, costume, car, clear

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On October 12, 2009

In Uncategorized

Well, my inability to sustain a particular mood for any significant length of time seems to be serving me well – I’m already in a slightly better mood.

I’ve helped a few people, got out on campus for a short walk, and hey! I’m getting a free lunch today. So, not all bad.
I’ve still got some underlying cranky to deal with – but I’m used to that.
So.
The costume construction went very well over the weekend. I applied a new skill set and some new tools – and even the prototyping went well the first time around. I’ll work on it more tonight – and I’m even documenting it as I go along. Not obsessively, but since this is new stuff for me I’ll want to show off a bit.
I also got to go for another ride in my room-mate’s 1970 Caddy. It’s… interesting. For one thing, it’s freaking huge. There’s no comparing it to modern cars – the scale it entirely different. The seat belts are a little strange – they have two separate buckles that make you feel like you’re getting ready to blasted into orbit. The ride… my room-mate says it’s like riding on a cloud, but I would describe it more like a mostly calm lake. There is a slight bouncing motion that is akin to gentle waves. Not unpleasant, but different.
Finally, I’ve got a piece of transparent plastic with me today – prefolded into a traditional crane and then unfolded. I’m going to take this with me when I swim today and refold it underwater. Not for any particular reason other than that I’m pretty sure I can. The prefolding is necessary because of the material. I could easy fold a crane from paper while holding my breath – but the plastic is too difficult to crease and will need a head-start.
Okay… back to work…

awake

By

On October 12, 2009

In Uncategorized

I had a pretty good weekend – read some books, worked on my costume, played some games, watched a movie. Last night I decided to end on a good note and put myself to bed early (8:45) so I’d be rested and ready for the week.

HA!
At midnight, my room-mate woke me up – needing to talk. A few months ago, a friend of his was on trial for the murder of his own uncle and ending up hanging himself in his jail cell before the trial ended. We’ve talked about this before and I’ve suggested a variety of ways of dealing with how this is affecting him. Apparently, it’s still bothering him and he decided that it couldn’t wait until this afternoon to discuss – he needed to discuss it right then.
Now, if you were to approach someone that knows me and ask – “is it a good idea to try and engage Anthony in a deep conversation at midnight – on a freaking school night after he’s already been asleep for 3 hours?!” Their answer should be “no”
And my room-mate knows this – but we still had a discussion for an hour.
Finally, exhausted from covering the same ground and from generally still being tired, I tell him that I’ve got nothing left. No insights or deeper truths.
And then he’s cranky and dismissive at me! Because I wasn’t willing to help. (grrrrrr)
Strangely enough, I’m wide awake. So, I go downstairs, check my email and do a little work – then use the bath room and do a little reading. I also find out what I’m pretty sure prompted the discussion and you can bet I’ll be bringing that shit up with him. It’s now almost 2 am when I head back upstairs. I can hear him snoring and I resist the urge to wake him up and make him do algebra problems.
It takes me a while to fall asleep and when I do, I have a horrific nightmare. Think “The Shining” + “The Grudge” + “The Ring” + “Poltergeist”…. staring Dakota Fanning.
So, this morning – surprisingly enough – I’m seriously cranky. Woe be it to anyone that pesters me today. The vampire stake is at hand and I’ve got a list of cleverly written insults that I’m itching to try out. I promise to try and not be mean to people today – but I make no guarantees.
For the record – the only time it’s appropriate to ever wake me up in the middle of the night is if something or someone is currently on fire. And only if I’m in a position to do something about it.
Otherwise, please, just let me sleep.
Wish the people that I work with today good luck – they’ll need it to deal with me.
later…

law

By

On October 9, 2009

In Uncategorized

On my way past the student union today I saw 4 police cars parked near the building and several officers standing around. In a few moments, 2 more officers came out escorting a guy carrying a skateboard. The officers opened the back door of one of the cars and the guy got in. No cuffs, no fuss, no resistance, no commentary. Seemed a little over-kill given that it was just one very calm guy. Not sure if it was even an arrest. Weird.

We had a slightly closer encounter with the UAPD yesterday. One of the officers escorted one of my colleagues in to clean out his desk before escorting him back out. A little while later our boss called us into his office for an update. Pretty much all we know is that he won’t be back and that we are not allowed to let him in the building. Everything else is pure speculation. Dunno if we’ll ever get the real story on this one.
Hmmm… think I should change this to a “not-quite-a-crime” blotter?
Three more hours to go today – really really looking forward to getting out of here today. Not that I have a big weekend planned, but still…
later…

chase, lunch

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On October 8, 2009

In Uncategorized

On the ride back from the awesome lunch burritos – we saw a high speed car chase on Market street. A police car was following a clearly out-matched van – and was in turn followed by a number of other verticals. No idea what was going on with that, but we kept an ear out in case they looped around. Also, not sure if I’ve mentioned this, but I no longer have to place my order at Chipotle. As I walk up to the counter, the highly efficient and friendly staff begins to prepare my order. Without any prompting from me, they complete the burrito and I only need to give a heartfelt thank-you before paying for my food. Yeah, if someone wanted to poison me it would be pretty easy to figure out what I’m eating in advance, but there are benefits to being predictable.

Also in the news… lunch is on again, this time for Monday. We’ll see how this goes – I’m hoping it doesn’t get canceled again. Though I personally think that would be pretty funny and wildly ironic.
Got a meeting in a few… later…

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