8/15/07: Bright racing star

[davidlevine]

Word count: 59580 | Since last entry: 264 | Days until retirement: 47

Back from Armadillocon. A good time, spent hanging out mostly with West Coast and East Coast friends rather than Texans. Had breakfast with jaylake, who later showed us the Freshman Moon and skunked me in pool; had lunch, ice cream, and yarn shopping with madrobins; had a fine dinner with sdn and klages in a restaurant with a view of the bats, if they had ever appeared. We also had good BBQ at the airport both coming and going. At the convention itself I spent most of my time hanging out in the convivial space between function rooms, chatting with whoever came by (which included suricattus and Patty Wells WINOLJ). Hanging out with klages was a special treat. Who else could cause three people to burst into song: "There is nothing like my brain / Nothing in the world / There is nothing you can name / That is anything like my brain..."

Last Japanese class tonight, and the final program schedule for the Worldcon has been posted (I see they gave me a kaffeeklatsch). I so do not feel suffificently prepared for this trip. I'm sure we'll be fine.

Saw Endeavour and the ISS tonight, a bright racing star visible for just a couple of minutes from our back yard. Very cool. Kate said "it moves so deliberately!"

Comments

[crazysoph.livejournal.com]

Consumed with jealousy. Consumed, I say.

Crazy(and leaving you to guess exactly why, but it has to do with 日本語を習うについて……)Soph

Re: Endeavor/ISS

[jeffsoesbe.livejournal.com]

I was in Portland Wednesday, saw the info in the paper about how they'd be visible, and watched carefully from the hotel parking lot. Never saw em. I'm not sure if there was too much light pollution, or if I was just looking in the wrong place. Bummer.

Re: Endeavor/ISS

[davidlevine]

We saw the first pass (9:15) but not the second (10:45). Looking at the orbital track afterward, I think the Oregonian might have been incorrect about where to look for the second pass -- they said it would be going from west to northeast but I actually think it was somewhere off to the south. It was really bright -- we saw it easily from our backyard although we are located just 4 miles from downtown -- but pretty close to the horizon, so it could easily have been blocked by buildings or trees.

[davidlevine]

It's not too hard to guess. I'm really sorry you can't come, given all the study you've done.

What's "unitsuite"? (Hmm... in romaji it looks like "unit suite" but I'm sure that's not what you meant...)

[crazysoph.livejournal.com]

Actually the う goes with the kanji before it - 習う means 'to learn' (pronunciation narau) Then you get について which is a standard chunk of sounds to say 'concerning', or 'about'.

I'm really glad of your sympathy. However, despite the study, I feel so unready, it's not funny. (And I have to re-sit exams, which are in about... 10 days.) So I have my peace with the situation. Mostly. *wan grin* What I probably need (and won't get for the foreseeable future) is a good solid stay of 3-6 weeks, with some supportive language course to help structure my study, but otherwise just immerse myself in the language somewhere people are unlikely to have even rudimentary English.

Crazy(and given certain historical quirks, my usual stratety of returning an English utterance with one in Dutch might well backfire in Japan... certain parts, anyway)Soph

[callyperry.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad you're going to be at Worldcon! I don't feel ready, either. I did the Pimsleur CDs, and a class at UMass, so I know a strange combination of things appropriate to businessmen or undergraduates. Red wine or white? What's your major? The preparation for tomorrow's meeting is not done. Is your husband with you? How about my place? How old is your daddy? Did you clean your room?

I think I'd feel more ready if we had a seating assignment for the flight out. And tickets to the Yokohama Bay Stars game on the 29th.

Ready or not, I'm really psyched!