Life in the West

With the death of a computer and the reluctance to break down and purchase a new one, I have finally found time during an hour-long library reserved computer-time to post something. Yay.

The summer was busy with trips to CA, NYC, Boston, South Carolina, and Washington, along with the move across the country. California is awesome. I wake up most days thinking "I can't believe I live here." I live in a little cottage in the Berkeley Hills with a view of SF Bay through a window in a back room which I will hopefully take advantage of once the sun stops making the room mad-hot in the afternoons.

Work has been quite design-like. It's pretty cool to see real, huge versions of what we created in design. Within a week of my working there my mentor and office-mate became my boss. There's a guy who looks like Hunter, and my office is right next to a louder version of Angela from The Office. Everyone seems impressed that we finished ChemE in 4 years (I guess it usually takes longer at western schools?) There are lots of young people at work and we've gone out together a few times now. Drinking with co-workers is a risky (though very fun) thing, especially when your boss is present.

For my third week of work my boss sent me to a Intro to Refining course in, oh yes, Ponca City, Oklahoma. I encourage all of you who have an opportunity to visit this place to reject without contemplation. Unfortunately this is where my computer decided to die, leaving me stranded in the middle of no-where with really no contact with the real world. But what nearly made the whole trip worthwhile was the fact that the course was taught by none other than Dr. Gary of Gary and Handwerk, for those of you who used Petroleum Refining: Technology and Economics for design (ahem Coker Distillate). He is extremely knowledgeable and it was an honor to be in his class (I got him to autograph my book.) however the man is 87 years old. A three day class about petroleum refining taught by an 87 year old man. In Oklahoma. Yes, I was pleased to get back home.

My time is nearly up. I hope all of you are surviving the real world all right.
I miss you all,
Alison