from Rochester, NY

Uuurgh. Flights to the east coast are so hard. The waking up early, the inability to sleep on the airplanes, the rarified atmosphere.. I get sick everytime. And so here I am in some hotel cool enough to offer free DSL with a fever and chills... When I came to Boston the same thing happened.. I powered through it with regular dosages of my Israeli non-Aspirin fever reducers. I suppose I'll inquire with the front desk about their pharmaceutical supplies..

Other than that the trip has been good so far. Left home 06:02 on the BayPorter, got to Oakland 06:45, vegetated in the terminal for two hours. I ended up chatting with this guy who was on my flight for most of the time. He introduced himself as being from Wind River Systems, and he was shocked that I'd heard of the company. By the end of our conversation I felt like I could successfully ask him for a job. After the technical subjects our conversation turned to politics (he's another recovering Deaniac). Turns out he lives with his 'partner' Ted in manchester and he was adamant about wanting to get married, "none of this civil unions nonsense."

It was nice of University of Rochester to have the Syracuse Varsity Cheerleading Squad meet me at the gate in Rochester. (I also like how U of R noted specially that this hotel they're putting us up in has a heated indoor pool) Outside of security I found my uncle Pat and my grandfather waiting for me, and we went out for a big meal at an italian restaurant (fetuccini alfredo, red wine, tirimisu, cappuccino, mmm). By the end I was very eager to collapse in a nice comfy bed at the hotel.

It would be fun to go meet the other prospective grad students (hence 'pros') but I'm not really feeling up to it at the moment. We had good times when NEU put us up in the Collonnade Hotel in Boston.. five-oclock cocktails, bicycling around MIT with Kenny, playing in the Christian Scientists' fountain. Instead I will commence my search for ibuprofin.