It's been a while since my last diary entry. Here's a bunch of random stuff.
More money: I found out on Monday that, for the summer only, I can get my fellowship supplemented up to a higher level. I'll still be doing the same things as usual, so it's like free money.
New computers: Yes, plural. My research group is buying me a laptop, plus a desktop machine for my apartment. My ThinkPad T30 1.8 GHz with 1 GB RAM, 40 GB HDD, DVD/CD-RW, built-in wireless, and more should be showing up next week sometime. The desktops aren't fully specced out yet, but I'm sure they'll be nice, too.
Going home sometime in September. Maybe the second or third week? I'm planning to hang out with all my friends, go to the Renaissance Festival, maybe fence a little. Should be fun.
Went to the post office this week and found out that postal rates are going up again at the end of the month. I wouldn't even have known if I hadn't come close to running out of stamps. Maybe if I read a newspaper occasionally, or followed online sites other than blogs, I'd find out about this stuff.
Finally finished reading The Future of Ideas. Now I'm going through a bunch of C++ books. Also reading Empire Builders by Ben Bova.
I'm feeling good these days. I got a lot of exercise this week: taekwondo on Monday and Wednesday, hiking with Tal on Tuesday, and today I actually went running, a couple of miles in all I think. Much as I hate running, it's a good way to build up endurance. Next week I'm planning to start up fencing again.
I'd hoped that Stanford in summer would be more exciting than Michigan State in summer. It isn't. No one is around, the coffee house where I like to hang out closes at 8 pm, and there's nothing really going on. None of my favorite distractions, like Saturday night movies or Flicks, are still running. I need to find a hobby that involves other people.