The Artful Scientist

Cape Cod Weekend Escapade

Kris — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:37:05 +0000

After 18 graduate hours down, another semester, two conferences, my first conference paper, Katie joining me up in Mass., and tons of other milestones for my life, it’s nice to sit back and just relax, reflecting on all that has happened.

On the last weekend in April, the weather went from 30 degrees to 85 degrees for a magical couple of days. Me and Katie capitalized on this and ran a 2 day random trip to the east coast of Massachusetts, to check out all of the hype around Cape Cod. The map below shows our roundabout route from Worcester to Plymouth, Sandwich, Provincetown, South Yarborough, New Bedford, Newport, Jamestown, Wickford, and back home.

To sum it up, it was amazing! Some pictures from the trip show the highlights! To view the full album, click here.

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From Cape Cod Weekend Escapade

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Not So Green Hill Park

Kris — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:47:19 +0000

At Green Hill Park a mile or so from my house, where the hills are more white than green.

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A Snowy Walk to Lunch

Kris — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:41:15 +0000

This is me walking the 1.5 block walk home from school for a good warm lunch. The sky dumped another foot of snow on me this past Tuesday. I slipped quite a few times this day, and I fully expect to eat it big on the ice one day… still waiting.

The snowfall has doubly exceeded the usual amount to welcome me in my first winter up here. It falls peacefully yet drains my soul of motivation. Must. Keep. Going.

Enjoy.

Link to complete album

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Festival Hill in Round Top, TX

Kris — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:00:44 +0000

Some pictures from a cool experience in January when stumbling through Round Top, TX at a place called Festival Hill:

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From Round Top Church

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Don’t let the sun go down on your grievances

Kris — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 07:56:25 +0000

There’s a song that I listen to by Daniel Johnston called Don’t let the sun go down on your grievances

Whenever I listen to it, I am reminded of my grandfather, Jesus Gonzales, born 1908. It paraphrases something that he knew, something deep. It was to clear your mind of any toils or stress from the day that just passed you by. Jesus, or Apa, was married to Margarita Gonzales for many, many years, and he rubbed off on more people than I’ll ever know. He was one of the happiest men that I knew, in one of the happiest marriages I will ever know, ever.

He was a simple man who simply loved life. That feeling and mission I can certainly share with him. He told me to never go to bed angry, at anything. This is before computers, before we began to live in a life surrounded by computers and overwhelming days. He was never too busy for anybody, including you and me.

So I paraphrase him, as Apa wouldn’t mind, and say not to let the sun go down on your grievances. Sleep well, tell the one you love that you love them, and breathe in all the we have. Thanks Apa. I miss the days where I would go “fishing” and hunt for the raisins in my Quaker Oats oatmeal.

You knew exactly how to live life, and we all learned from you to pass it on and on.

Don’t let the sun go down own your grievances:

Don’t let the sun go down on your grievances
Respect love of the heart over lust of the flesh
Do yourself a favor: become your own savior
And don’t let the sun go down on your grievances
And when you wake up in the morning
You’ll have a brand new feeling
And you’ll find yourself healing
So don’t let the sun go down on your grievances

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2009 reeks of great potential

Kris — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:19:21 +0000

Everything is well up here in Worcester, Mass. Had a bit of car troubles to welcome me back but everything is in order again. The walks in the snow are amazing and I’m still not tired of it, even though the cold screwed up my car in the first place, I almost busted my butt plenty of times walking to the store, and it sucked working under my car lying on the ice. But it’s a peaceful time. The calm before the storm, before school starts up.

Katie moves up here in three weeks, and then begins our amazing journey into the future guided by God. I can feel 2009 about to explode with all of the amazing potential energy busting at the seams. I’m so excited for each and every day of it! Always remember to take time to chill out despite the noise going on around you. Sit in the silence, walk around the block, eat dinner with a stranger. Life is good.

And as the above comic shows, most of the time we already know exactly what to do, but we lack the motivation to do so and forget how much daily actions and daily practice counts.

P.S. Kill your television.

Here’s to 2009!

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Old Overholt, yes.

Kris — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:15:43 +0000

Katie found this for me. Learn yourself some Overholt history and more about Abraham Lincoln’s favorite drink and Abraham Overholt’s favorite drink to make. This explains a lot. Fantastic.

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Back in TX

Kris — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:33:53 +0000

It’s good to be back home in Texas. Mexican food, country music, great restaurants, Shiner Bock, good friends and family! Oh, and the 70 degree weather is a nice bonus as well. Katie switched climates and is now in Oregon for Christmas, skiing and with the family. I’m here for the holiday taking care of the kitties and soon to be in good ol’ San Antonio to take in the new year.

As my pop said this morning as we ate some great breakfast plates at a taqueria this morning for $3.95, life in Maine in the summer and Mexico in the winter would be a great thing.

It’s also good to just… relax. After a long and great semester of good work. It’s good to see everyone again, as if I never left 5 months ago… even Saxophone bum dressed as Santa! God bless Texas!

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The cold wind is here

Kris — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 00:26:07 +0000

Here comes this weather that is very foreign to me!

A good day was had talking with the president of a big conglomerate corporation and tons of cheese. Tim Ferriss totally has it down with talking to big CEOs, they are like the hot chicks of the business and job world – i.e. everyone is afraid to talk to them straight and never does, therefore they love to have some informal talk with you and wil remember you always. Also, free beer on campus is cool (hooray private schools without state school regulations)!

Which reminds me, I used to have this statement written in a marker right above my bed when I would wake up in the morning: “Your intention creates your reality.” And I have it on my fridge now. Same idea. It’s true, eh.

Two years ago I quit my job to follow my dream, and each day it gets better and better. It’s amazing what the human mind can do with the help of God. This is exactly what I wanted and there is so much more good to come.

An excellent time was had here as well with my mom visiting Worcester for a week:

And Katie came to visit for a different week as well. We all had a blast here with deliciously cheap happy-hour seafood, bone-chilling temperatures, bland Dominican food in Massachusetts, nuns racing through the park, endless drives along the cliffy coast, and just plain being together. It had been a few months since I saw Katie, and it made it that much better. Many good times were had and many more million to come.

15 days ’til I return to the big Texas. I really miss the people, but not so much the place.

I guess Texas is the home of my heart and Massachusetts is the home of my brain. The two can coexist in harmony you know:

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Humorous happenings from the WPI Police Log

Kris — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:26:00 +0000

Everyone enjoys the stories from police logs, ranging from loose chickens in some towns to even sillier things in others. Sure, crime is serious, but thanks to making police logs public, much humor is to be found. Here are a few of my favorites fom the WPI campus police log.

Saturday, November 8, 2:04 am: Male on Boynton St. who appears to be intoxicated. (Hmm, checks timestamp, yep, got ‘em!)

Saturday, November 8, 3:17 pm: Officer speaks to young kids skateboarding in the East Hall parking garage, advising them to move along. (Classic, need I say more?)

Sunday, November 8, 12:02 am: Caller reports group of students playing with fire in a can in West St. parking lot. Officer dispatched, individuals advised. (Advised of what? The joys of playing with fire?! It wasn’t me I swear!)

Sunday, November 9, 1:00 am: Pumpkin thrown at SNAP van from balcony on West St. Officers check, find smashed pumpkin, no people on balcony. (Pumpkin taken into custody.)

Sunday, November 9, 1:53 am: Caller reports female playing music and singing out of her window in Founders. Female is very loud and keeping students awake. Officer dispatched, locates student; singer advised to be mindful of other students. (Ahh, I was hoping he would join in! We need more public singing!)

Sunday, November 9, 3:27 pm: Feces found on floor of Morgan Hall restroom. Custodian en route. (It is the only room with a drain.)

Tuesday, November 11, 2:10 am: Caller reports having vomited in Stoddard A. (What a nice guy; classy. Would love to hear the call.)

And there you have a window into my world at WPI. Leaping pumpkins, public singers, and bodily fluids fill the police log. Now laugh along with me, lest you be advised to move along, you damn kids!

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