How to Keep Fruit

Check out how the fruit is
scattered around. It really
works to keep the fungi from
setting in.

It's been a busy few weeks. I have at every given moment too many papers to read concerning my research. Some papers are about the history of a problem, and others are about past attempts at solutions to a problem. Some papers are over 700 pages long and detail specific methods for tackling a problem. In the same bin we have course work. In fact, the most appealing thing about my course work is that it actually relates to my research!

Finally, after five years of undergraduate I find a use for all that knowledge. It all finds a use, from making my understanding of a problem more solid, to good party chatter. Let me detail for you the usual going-ons in my day to day life.

I keep a small array of chow at home consisting mainly of rice, vegetables, cheap meat, herbs, and cheese. Occasionally, I find fruit and run the risk of mold forming.

I wake up at 7:40 and check my schedule for the day. If I can afford it, I sleep for a bit more. I finally make the short bike ride to the astronomy building, where I drop my bag off in my office and head up to the Kaiser Lounge for free coffee. It's a God send. Depending on the day I either tackle the reading that needs to be done, meetings to be attended, or lectures to sit.

There are always colloquiums, talks, symposiums, faculty parties, coffee breaks, birthday cakes, and other chances to postpone things that need doing. Beyond all that there is the need to socialize with non -astronomers, -physicists, or -mathematicians.

Fridays, after the weekly faculty party fraught with beer, snacks, and good conversation, I head to Music Club. It's a jam session with other Leiden musicians of all walks of style. It is usually too loud to hear yourself play and I'm slowly loosing passion in that weekly event. Apparently, acoustic jams are unheard of. Tuesday, Thursdays, and Sundays is Ju-Jitsu. It's woefully fun.