I have a real life… I realized recently that my “chronicle” life looks quite, well, anecdotal, trivial, and superficial. My life, however, is not. As a matter of fact, I have a good share of drama, sadness, wrestling with tough issues, victory, and defeat. But, in respect to those involved in these things, and also because I’m not sure I’m ready to reveal to the world all my deepest emotions and intentions, I do not include many of these things. Now, if you are a friend of mine, you may perhaps know of the bigger issues anyway… Just an aside.

Well, for the first time since I began college, I believe I can say I’m truly happy where I am academically. Every quarter up until this one has been fraught with trying to catch up, and poor performance in one area or another. But looking back, this quarter has been quite good - I’ve stayed caught up and started early on stuff. But can my life be satisfied just going along fine? Ha. I also have not had interpersonal problems at Stanford, which was nice. Well, apparently things can’t just plain be pleasant, as some of that drama I mentioned before has made a mess of things, and in several situations things have gone wrong. Ah well, such is the stuff of life, and I only hope I can avoid causing pain to anyone else besides myself in the future.

I witnessed one of the most violent scenes I have seen in person the other day. Considering the scene, I have probably been pretty sheltered from violence in the past. I was tossing grapes at a fellow dorm member, Zaid, and, figuring he would outdo my poor tosses, he wound up for a huge fastball… Well, the blazing grape was about 15 degrees off, and impacted an innocent bystander right in the eye (fortunately covered by glasses). The force of the blast sent grape shrapnel flying, but luckily no one else was injured. Jeremy, however, needed to wash his eye out, and may suffer from an aversion to grape products for years.

You know, people say that patience is a virtue, and that cleanliness is next to godliness. But what if you are all out of clean clothes, and you can either butt in and get a washer, or have to wait til tomorrow? Then, either you’d be godly but lack virtue, or be virtuous but definitely ungodly. So take a hint from me: Be nice. People may not appreciate your smell, but they will apprecite you, and you are more important than your smell (usually).

I overheard (not intentionally, she was loud) one half of a conversation the other day that literally smelled of self-honesty - the kind you don’t want to be chatting about loudly in the coffee shop. “Well, I was doing my multiplication tables by the time I was two and a half..” (Ok, bright girl, maybe not too humble…) “You know, I don’t really care about a very large set of people.” (hmm… The guy she’s talking to notices I’m paying attention and gives me a humored smile.) “People say I’m altruistic …” (got a little quieter, as I think she heard me snickering.) ” … kind of like Mother Theresa … but no …” Well, Mother Theresa can rest in peace.

I managed to get quite a bit done on the job Thursday - rewriting “Save Tonight” by Eagle-Eye Cherry to fit in with a MedIT networking theme, eating some fine chocolates in the dark of a network closet, and speaking about a trip to France whilst networking. Notice they all involved networking- I wouldn’t be working if they didn’t. Yeva and I always manage to make the ho-hum routine of cables and packets humor-filled and fun.

Speaking of France, I need to go obtain a passport now, as I plan to go in only 8 weeks, and passports can take 6 or more… And with OUR postoffice, that may be extended to 13 years or so.

Quote of the week:

Ed to Amol: “Not your feet, your feet taste good.”

Let that quote inspire you to greatness…