Conclusion of Summer 2014

My blogging has been brief and cursory for the most part. I'd like summarize my summer for completeness sake.

When I left Leiden, I was leaving an alternate summer behind. I could have stayed and had a blast of a summer there. Instead I chose a blast from the past. I idled away my time in several places this summer. Most of the time I spent at my wilderness home, a quaint abode nestled in the arboreal forest of La Cloche Mountains. My father, having recently become retired has been renovating the place, beginning with the kitchen. While he worked on this during the days, I spent my time sitting by the water with my toes in the sand, strumming a guitar, and delving into my thesis. The thesis, by the way, may be found here. I recorded some of the music I made, and you can check it out:

It took longer than I estimated to finish the thesis due to the fact I'm a confessed perfectionist. Every two weeks, or so, I'd wistfully travel to Toronto, where I developed a few new connections, and engaged in social experiments. Most fun were the Wednesday night swing dances, and ice cream. Occasionally, the sun would be warm enough for the beaches. I enjoyed Asian food; oh so unavailable in Leiden. Few and far between were my visits to Ingersoll, where I was raised, and where my parents still have a house. The few hours I spent there, I played my collection of guitars vigorously.

I spent the summer continuously playing with my investments, learning how to apply pattern recognition, and learning something new daily. I admit I may be going crazy, but I think I can heuristically model a simple brain.

After my last trip to Toronto I decided I would spend the rest of my time at my wilderness home with my father, and Abby, my dog. There's really nothing like it, spending that quality time. We built a drafting table for my sister from a picture, coming up with the plans ourselves. The table, from oak, normally goes for $1000 plus shipping. The amount of work that goes into it sure qualifies this. We actually are open to commissions, if you'd like something similar in your house. Price open, depending on the material. This one is ash, though cherry would be possible, and beautiful.

The material is ash with wood oil to bring out the grains and keep it's natural colour. The lower beam is nicely chamfered (rounded) making it a comfortable place to rest ones feet, while they are seated on a high stool. This enables one to easily lean on the relatively high table top and work for hours with good posture. Here the drawer handles haven't yet been put on, or the table lamp that goes at the top.

The side cabinet holds slots, artfully carved, ideal for storing artwork. The table is completely dismantlable via break-down bolt joints, which makes transporting this big piece of furniture easy-peaaasy. That is the real gem in this piece. The internal design we chose is such that the construction is sturdy, yet unencumbered with too much wood.

Another view.

Now, with this project finished, my father is off to bring my sisters to school (along with the drafting table). I am spending the week with Abby, and Jackson (an evil cat, who I love) at the wilderness home. Two weeks, until I take flight again, and I must yet visit Toronto one last time. Summer, will you end?

What's next, a huge list of things awaits me in Europe. Not least of my concerns will be finding a new place to live again, and a new research project.

Lake Topaz is a lake up in La Cloche Mountains. It is surrounded by massive walls of quartz, and it's quite beautiful, warm, and clear. There are no fish to shit in it, and no algae to cloud the water. Those two people way down there are my sister and her boyfriend.