Rhythm and Gravy

…in which my sister kicks a little ass at the Coeur d’Alene Ironman triathlon.

There aren’t words to describe the inner strength my sister has found in the past year. I can’t remember ever being so proud of someone. Yesterday, Amy capped an incredible journey of perseverance with 140.6 miles in twelve hours, 20 minutes, and 19 seconds. She made it look easy and she smiled the whole way through. At mile 135 we watched a hundred people succumb to walking up the last hill before my sister chugged her way over it. This morning, she said she wasn’t even really sore.

I’ve posted my photos on flickr.

… in which our hero goes to Pittsburgh to pack it up/pack it in.

Last Wednesday morning found me on a flight back to the grad school stomping grounds, this time on a three-day mission to retrieve that pile of material balls-and-chain I affectionately call my “shit.” It took me three long days of packing, loading, and cleaning, but in between I enjoyed happy hours, dinners, and barbecues with some of the best friends an RI dropout could ever want. So thanks go to Dave, Nick, Kate, Loring, Matt, Steve, Marc, and Anne for making an otherwise tedious trip into a rockin’ good time.

I’m happy to say that my worldly possessions fit into 480 square feet (6ft x 8ft x10ft of trailer space). I’m also happy that my couch has gone on to support the fine, fine asses of one the nicest couples I know, and that my TV stand will help enable the viewing habits of the most dedicated fanboy organized sports have ever known.

After far too little sleep and just enough fun, I flew back to Seattle on Saturday to continue my end of June exxxtravaganza…

I’m a total sucker for lounge versions of 80s pop hits. And for Bruce Campbell.

I’m still not sure whether I made the decision, or if it was made for me, but it’s been made and it feels right: I’m staying in Seattle. I love it here; I’m happy to be back to my first love, engineering; and there’s nothing more important to me at this point in my life than supporting my family. It really was a no-brainer, but I can’t say that I’m leaving my Pittsburgh life behind without regrets. It will be hard to be across the country from some of my best friends in life.

So now it’s time to get moving on setting myself up here. I’ve spent this week dusting off the old resume and ironing my collared shirts for some interviews. Next month will be apartment hunting time. Then, I will proceed to take over the world. The first commenter gets Australia.

Saw Jonathan Coulton at the Tractor last night, and holy crap I haven’t enjoyed a show that much in years. We walked in just as he was starting up his acoustic version of “Baby Got Back,” ordered a couple of beers, and couldn’t drink them for laughing too hard. I tried, though. My new favorite beer to spew through my nose is Mac and Jack’s IPA.

I’d first heard of Jonathan Coulton when Dallas sent me a copy of “First of May” to help bring on the good weather last spring. Later, I saw him as a virtual zombie guest starring on the I’ll Clan’s Machinima show, “Tra5h Ta1k with Ill Will.” The zombie avatar being a reference to the extremely popular zombie-pop tune “Re Your Brains.”

Highlights of the show:

Code Monkey Code Monkey like Fritos Code Monkey like Tab and Mountain Dew Code Monkey very simple man With big warm fuzzy secret heart: Code Monkey like you.

Millionaire Girlfriend I will wait a lifetime if it takes that long I know she’s out there for I have heard her song In dreams she sings to me Her angel’s voice a symphony Is she in a garden or a meadow fair Does the dappled sunlight shine ribbons in her hair? Does she sit patiently smiling as she waits for me?

She’s my millionaire girlfriend and she’s my life Once I finally find her I’ll get permission from the wife We will all live in our castle high My beloved and my millionaire girlfriend and I.

Mandelbrot Set Mandelbrot Set you’re a Rorschach Test on fire You’re a day-glo pterodactyl You’re a heart-shaped box of springs and wire You’re one badass fucking fractal And you’re just in time to save the day Sweeping all our fears away You can change the world in a tiny way.

Looks like he’s playing some shows around Philly this month, for you easterners out there. Highly recommended.

If you rock the Mac, and you have an unhealthy habit for gear (backpacking, skiing, snowboarding, climbing, etc…) let me know, I’ve got some good work for you.

After a good weekend of the Park City life, skiing and partying in the hardy fashion, I’ve retreated to Helena and the placidity of family and work. I’ve got a new project I’ve been working on, with encouragement from Bryan and Michaele, and it’s keeping me occupied during my days at the Morning Light (best coffee in town), while chasing the Booperman in circles distracts me until bedtime. The sibling unit is keeping her head up, and I’m proud of how good a mommy and strong a woman she is. I’ll be here until Thursday, then it’s off to see what I can make happen in Seattle. Wish me the luck.

Wyoming was supposed to be easy. So I slept a little late this morning, indulged in a nice long breakfast with my aunt and uncle, and took my time getting on the road.

Jake’s 48th law of the American West: Wyoming is a lot of wonderful things, but it is never easy.

North to Cheyenne, the Wyoming wind wagered Colorado that it could toss a Honda Civic back to Nebraska. Failing that, and insulted that I would turn west, it determined to beat me down to 45mph in third gear. The worst part was the nausea as blowing snow turned a road trip into a boat ride on a vertiginous white sea.

But perseverance earned me a beautiful western sunset, which turned the snow purple and sped me to Utah. I’ve shacked up in Park City and am going in search of freshies tomorrow.

Revisited my alma mater today. Ten years on, the area has grown tremendously but the town and campus are mostly the same. Foss Drug, the Ace Hi, Woody’s Pizza, the Buffalo Rose — all still there. Mostly, I was happy to find the Golden City Brewery still selling their Red Ale, so I’m stocked up on that. Seeing Mines again brought back memories… (cue wavy blur flashback effect)…

I wish I had a barrel of rum and sugar three hundred pounds, The college bell to mix it in and clapper to stir it round. Like every honest fellow, I take my whisky clear, I’m a rambling wreck from Golden Tech, a helluva engineer. A helluva, helluva, helluva, helluva, helluva engineer, A helluva, helluva, helluva, helluva, helluva engineer, Like every honest fellow, I take my whisky clear, I’m a rambling wreck from Golden Tech, a helluva engineer. And if I had a daughter, I’d dress her up in green, I’d send her up to Boulder to Coach the football team, But if I had a son, sir, I’ll tell you what he’d do, He’d yell “To hell with Boulder,” like his daddy used to do. He’d yell “To hell with Boulder,” like his daddy used to do. He’d yell “To hell with Boulder,” like his daddy used to do. But if I had a son, sir, I’ll tell you what he’d do, He’d yell “To hell with Boulder,” like his daddy used to do. Now here we have the mining man, in either hand a gun. He’s not afraid of anything, and he’s never known to run. He dearly loves his whisky, and he dearly loves his beer, He’s a shooting, fighting, dynamiting mining engineer. A shooting, fighting, dynamiting mining engineer. A shooting, fighting, dynamiting mining engineer. He dearly loves his whisky, and he dearly loves his beer. He’s a shooting, fighting, dynamiting mining engineer.

Had me some tasty free-range, organic, shot by Nate, cooked by Laura elk brats for dinner, and stole some of Laura’s books for the road. I’ll be staying with my Aunt & Uncle for another day, but it should be said that Laura and Nate’s hospitality was worth the 1,000 mile drive and then some. So thanks for putting me up with me.