02/10/2005: "snow, what snow?"

I think that the man sitting in front of me on the train this morning had no nose. All I could hear is this “whoosing” that sounded as if there was a large hole that was inhaling and exhaling air.

I couldn’t bring myself to look and see what was causing the noise when I got off the train.

My Mother may be coming up this weekend, not really much to my chagrin, but I had already planned some stuff out – and now that’s up in the air too. Who knows, things may change by tomorrow, if not this afternoon. Now that the snowstorm is caput, she’s eager to bring up my deceased Grandfather’s couch that has been at my deceased step-grandmother’s house. She has to make sure that she can get the couch before the weekend and has to see if she can make it up here.

So I probably won’t know until she either shows up or doesn’t show up on Friday night.

I so didn’t want to come to work today – but I woke up this morning early to see if there was even a hint of snow that would make it easier for me to rationalize using a personal day and it was just rain. Plus it was like 36 degrees, so there wasn’t a chance it would be snow anytime soon.

Just goes to show you how screwed up weather forecasting has become. People rely so much on the computer models nowadays, I doubt most forecasters can look out the window, take stock of some readings and come up with their own forecast. No, now they just push buttons and when that doesn’t work – they have no idea. Just like any other technical field – people are learning how to use technology – they aren’t learning about their field. For example, it’s all well and good to be able to use GPS and total stations when surveying – but what happens when they break? You should be able to pull out a compass, some chains or tape, and maybe a transit and plane table and still be able to survey.

God damn, I sound like my old geology professor who would bitch endlessly about the dumbing down of education (he refused to teach us how to use any technology – even with mapping and stuff – it was all hands on and old fashioned). I guess he was right though.

I had a long discussion on the phone with my father this morning about some stuff that’s happening with our weekend place in the Catskills. I won’t go into details but there’s an easement on the property for public access and the state is trying to push for other uses and it’s going to be a big deal because they are ignoring the restrictions of the easement. So I was offering some pre-emptive advice and some advice on how to shake up support in state government (working in government for over 5 years now has taught me a thing or two). It also made me realize how much I’d rather not be doing what I’m doing now, but doing environmental law type stuff – or just otherwise being involved.

So I sent away for law school catalogs for the schools that offer evening classes here in Boston and I sent away for some more grad school information. I figure that would be a big change in my life – and if I don’t do it soon – it’ll just get harder and harder to go back..

Replies: 3 Comments

that would be "offer" not "over" programs...

jeff said @ 02/10/2005 03:40 PM EST

I was looking at Suffolk or New England – both over night programs that would make the entire process slightly less painful. I’ve got to schedule myself to take the LSAT first though.

jeff said @ 02/10/2005 03:37 PM EST

I hear you. I've become so dependent on technology that I have to double-check my work when I do simple division. And don't get me started on dividing (or multiplying) fractions. oy vey.

As for going back to school - good for you! I had friends go to Suffolk for their law degree at night - they seemed to like it.

Karl said @ 02/10/2005 01:53 PM EST

home
archives
email
about

JeffandMoe.Net

Frequent Reads

TheRhetoric
Shoemakerjones
rottenryan
bill and kent's place
E Tu Vivrai Nel Terrore
gregunderwater
Fridays Fishwrap
HomoKiddoSFO
thecorky.com
by the bayou
Cyberkenny
KungFu Kittens
Pablo-Honey-Monster

Fellow Bostonians

DesignerBlog
Look into the Abys
Jon
Matt's Bit of Space
Adventures in Gastronomy
chaosfactor

Blogroll Me!

More Reads

Margaret Cho
Liberal Oasis
Blogging to the Far Left
Dipdewdog
ryanstask
BentKid
leather egg
Journal of a Fallen Angel
DogPoet
Intertextual
This Time
Room Sixteen
sexisbad
Bradford

Help support this site (and me) by doing your Amazon shopping through this link. Every purchase helps out!