Sunday, July 14, 2024
By:
To begin the week, I worked from ACP, where I finally figured out what redshift range I should be constrained to in order to have the best chance of detecting Lyman-alpha and CIII] emissions. I updated some old code, took a break to lose in bananagrams, and celebrated my productivity with one too many chocolates from the office candy bowl. That evening, the interns had a wine and Bachelorette watch party night. Having never seen the Bachelorette (or Bachelor) before, I have a few questions. Is the bachelorette always such a boring person? Who encouraged these dudes to go with some of the gags they did (hospital gown with no underwear? balloons like in the movie Up? awful puns that even my dad wouldn’t make?)? Why would anyone marry any person who of their own free will elects to go on this show? I think I’d simply leave. That being said, wine helped and it was a fun time.
Tuesday I worked from home, where I continued to make progress on my plotting code. Afterwards I grabbed coffee (I’m lying, I had a cinnamon roll the size of my face) with a friend from my on-campus job during the school year. I took a brief walk with other friends from school before joining the interns for trivia night. The “Spy Kids” as we were known (much to Charlotte’s chagrin) did not do so hot, but I maintain that millennials take trivia way too seriously and that it’s not our fault they have nothing else going on.
The next day I was supposed to head into STScI in Baltimore, but last minute was allowed to work from ACP instead. I got pretty much all of my plots made that I wanted, plus a few more (you know, just casually bending matplotlib to my will). We had a lunch and learn with Dr. Matt Wright, who gave some great advice about grad school and post-grad plans. Safe to say I am still filled with an existential dread for the future, but have at least a few more resources to draw on as counters. My meeting with Dr. Kumari was virtual and quite long, but she gave me a ton of great pointers and I think I’ve roughly got my work cut out for me for the last few weeks of the program. The evening wound down with movie night: Cars 2, cause several interns needed to see Finn McMissile in action firsthand.
Thursday I worked from home because my brother, Brady, came to visit this weekend and his flight landed that day. After grabbing him from the airport, I tried to focus on my work (fairly unsuccessfully I might add) while he watched How I Met Your Mother. Once I’d finally gotten enough work done, he and I went out for happy hour and some time by the pool for a solid debrief of what I’ve missed since I’ve been home. A post drinks nap and then a quick dinner later, the interns came over for some beerio kart, rage cage (if you know you know), and some Just Dance. Charles was weirdly pretty good at it and now that we know what he’s capable of, we’ve demanded he whip out some of those moves next time we hit the club.
The workweek ended with another day at the ACP offices, this time with Brady in tow. While I worked, he explored the office and now has a better inventory of the snack closets than I do (dude for real eats so much). Post-work happy hour with the interns, Brady, and my friend from school, Chris, was a great way to destress at the end of the week. With some McDonald’s to fuel us and spur us onward, we once again convened, this time for a night out in Georgetown.
Saturday my brother and I went out for breakfast before I had to drop him at the airport for his return home. It was really great having him here and I definitely miss him (and the rest of my fam, dog included of course). I hit the grocery store with Kaden, Charles, and Chris (wherein I challenged Kaden to a shopping cart race, which he cheated at by the way). A quick swim later felt great, but Jenna’s buffalo chicken dip afterwards was even better. Following more wine and more Just Dance (Charles was finally stripped of his undefeated streak), Kai, Kaden, Charles, Reidyn, and I had a somber conversation about what feels like the imminent collapse of our country. USA! USA! USA!
The week ended spectacularly with a group trip to the beach. While Johnny still isn’t waterproof following his appendectomy (which also means he can’t play spikeball, RIP our overpowered duo), everyone had a great time enjoying the sun and the surf regardless. On the list of people who almost drowned me in various water games: Charlotte, Reidyn, Kaden, Jenna, and Charles. Be advised, they remain dangerous, at large and may knee you in the face and/or crotch (I’m looking at you Charlotte and Kaden). On the general list of inanimate things that almost killed me: the behemoth Safeway sandwich I got for $8. Fears I would choke on the beach were greatly (though not completely) exaggerated and I managed to power through long enough to beat Jenna and Chris, and Reidyn and Charlotte in spikeball with Kaden’s help. To close out the day we watched Forrest Gump, and “that’s all I have to say about that”.
The end is drawing near here and I’m kinda mad about it. Here are some lessons I’m taking into week 8: 1.) time flies when you’re surrounded by great physicists, 2.) watch your back on beach days, even from friends, and 3.) little brothers grow up, even if you try to ignore it.
Jaden Sicotte