solstice

Ah, school is over now, for a little bit. I wish I had more time to relax here in Rochester, but it looks like I'm flying home tomorrow. How is Christmas already upon us? Rochester is very pretty all covered in a thin layer of snow, and I'm enjoying the deliciously cold and clear weather. Sitting at Java's and talking or reading, looking out at the snow covered streets and the trees full of Christmas lights, it feels like Rochester is a secret not yet discovered by Rochesterians. I would like to just camp out at the cafe and read my books, but that would be too easy of course. Upcoming adventures: to Orange County tomorrow, then Mexico for about a week, then out to Eastern Washington to hack on a gravitational wave sensor, then back to Rochester on the 17th.

I don't know any of my grades yet, and I'm pretty happy with that situation. Deadlines and grades and all that seem so ridiculous by this point. Obviously I'm here because I want to learn physics—it seems so silly to have to learn it in such a regimented style. I'd much prefer a sort of "correspondence"/self-paced style, working through material and moving on as I figure things out, finding books and articles as needed, consulting with knowledgeable people when I think I've figured something out/get stuck. I'm going to try to learn some stat mech over the winter break; I checked out an old (1969) copy of Charles Kittel's Thermal Physics from the library here but would be interested in any other recommendations. I'm also very pleased to have received a copy of Howard Georgi's Lie Algebras in Particle Physics in the mail today, and I'm looking forward to working through it.