07.20.08
Posted in Life Updates, Random at 9:41 am by Anthony
This month’s Cream City Flickr Photowalk took us a little off the beaten path for a short exploration of a bit of Milwaukee that most people don’t ordinarily see. The rain ended in time to keep our equipment dry and the clouds stayed thick enough to provide nice, even lighting in the open (with some nice directed light in certain areas).
I know I’m well and truly late to the iPhone game (I stopped caring about being an early adopter a long time ago), but I couldn’t help but be a little amused at the iPhone user subgroup within our cadre of Cream City Flickreenos. Truth be told, the iPhone is far and away the best pocketable device for showing off photos, so it’s only natural that a lot of us have them.
[Oh yeah... I decided to screw Direct Fulfillment and try my luck at the Apple Store. So, last Thursday, I removed my employee discount (to allow activation at the Apple Store) and then went to Mayfair. Incredibly enough, after a half-hour of waiting in line (and another half-hour of activation pains), I walked out with a 16 GB black iPhone 3G. I then put back my employee discount on the line. There were still complications--namely that my iPhone data plan was not actually added and I had to fix that with customer service--but it's been a blast so far.]
Speaking of the iPhone, I’ve been spending too much time browsing the App Store. Thankfully I think I’ve walked through all the store has to offer to date and snagged everything that I think is vaguely useful (and free–I’ll wait a bit on the purchases). One app has caught my attention–Twinkle. It’s a Twitter app that leverages the location services of the iPhone to create a virtual community of local users whose updates you can browse through. The level of connectivity it provides through this simple feature is pretty impressive, I must admit–it was enough to make me actually get a Twitter account. The level of activity in Milwaukee is decent, but I can only imagine what it is like in a larger area like Chicago or New York.
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07.06.08
Posted in Life Updates, Musings, school at 4:38 pm by Anthony
As I begin to execute parts of my exit strategy from my current job (engineer) to points unknown (med school), I thought I might start to chronicle on this site my journey out of the desert.
It all started with an informational session at Northwestern University for their pre-medicine professional development program–well, to be really honest I guess it started back when I was still applying for the job I have right now. I was pretty up-front then when I said I intended to stay only for a couple of years before transitioning to med school. Now…it’s been five years (six since graduating) and I figure I’ve put in my time (woot–three weeks of vacation!) and can move on now. Only problem is those pesky prerequisite courses I need to get into med school, and the question of whether my undergraduate credits still apply. (Do I really need to take physics all over again? I aced it back in college, and I’ll do fine it if I have to take it again… but that would be such a waste of time and money.) So I figured the program at Northwestern was the best option as it is structured and offers guidance for a career-changer like me.
Knowing that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel (for this stage of my life, at least) and seeing that light have an effect on one’s outlook in life. Admittedly, I’ve gotten myself into a comfortable rut, but I could definitely do without corporate politics and the general malaise that accompanies life in an office. Were the years I’ve spent working a waste? I don’t think so. I think I’ve grown and matured a lot since I started and has given me a bit of perspective. But I can’t help but think… when I finish my prerequisites, I’ll be close to 30, then in my mid-30s when I finish med school… a part of me thinks that that seems so… old. (I know it’s not necessarily old, but still.) Shouldn’t I be settling down and raising a family by then? It’s trains of thought like that that give me pause as to whether I should be doing this at all, but deep down I am confident this is for the best.
So, here I am today, in the middle of taking a biology course at Northwestern (I’m a student again! Haha. STUDENT DISCOUNTS, BITCHES.) and trying to juggle work at the same time. Challenging? Definitely. The long commute from WI makes things interesting (and makes me question whether I shouldn’t just quit my job right now and move to Chicago) and is a strain on my wallet, to be sure. I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to pull this off without too much financial hurt.
If nothing else, the trips to Evanston have infused a part of my weekly routine with the environmental stimulation you can only get in a big metropolitan area. And it’s made me remember how much I miss living in a big city.
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05.12.08
Posted in Life Updates at 8:52 pm by Anthony
Lots of things to catch up on. I haven’t had much motivation to post or take pictures, but anyway:
February saw a lot of snow and a lot of driving to McHenry. Auntie Mench checked into the hospital at the beginning of the month presenting symptoms of high blood pressure. Her heart was found to be in bad shape and underwent a quadruple bypass and repair of her mitral valve.
The surgery was successful, but she developed complications post-op and unfortunately spent the next few weeks on life support in the intensive care unit before it was clear that the likelihood of her recovery was slim to nonexistent. The clock turned past midnight on the morning of March 3; life support was terminated and soon afterward she passed onto the next life, having spent a scant 70 years on this earth. I try not to dwell on the unfortunate turn of events because it is not her death but her life that is important–but it’s hard to shake the regrets and the guilt of not having spent more time with her.
Life continued in the meantime–February saw a trip to the Chicago Auto Show with the Chicago MINI Motoring Club to check out the new MINI Cooper Clubman and some other very cool cars, and the beginning of March saw a mini-road trip to the Dells to rendezvous with the MINIs Motoring Against Cancer banner.
On the way to Chicago to be with the family before the funeral, the MINI struck an unholy pothole, trashing a rim and rendering Radcliffe immobile until I could find a replacement. I took the opportunity to put some new non-runflat tires on… so far, so good.
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02.02.08
Posted in Life Updates at 9:14 pm by Anthony
Catching up on recent events, part 2:
Despite the 0-degree weather (and even worse wind chill), the Cream City Flickrites braved the elements for a stroll down Brady Street. After starting off from The Nomad with a couple of pints for faux warmth, the daring photographers snapped up images of the streetscape heading west towards the Brady Street Pharmacy, for a snack, hot beverages, fogged-up optics… and a truly fabulous spur-of-the-moment tour of the upstairs Astor Theater space by owner Jim Searles.
The walk concluded with beverages at the Hi-Hat. Hopefully next month’s walk will be in better weather–but I will not be there due to commitments for the Jessup.
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Posted in Life Updates at 8:57 pm by Anthony
Catching up on recent events, part 1…
The IMSA Alumni Association held a gathering on January 12th at Jake Melnick’s in Chicago. Alumni had a chance to mingle with old classmates, fellow survivors, staff and Academy administration, including the new VP of Advancement, Suzyn Price, and the new Academy President, Max McGee.
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12.17.07
Posted in Life Updates at 10:44 pm by Anthony
Saturday saw some intrepid Cream City Flickr photogs brave the snow for a visit to the Mitchell Park Domes. Then it was off to TGI Friday’s at Miller Park for some brew and food–and an awesome opportunity to tour the park thanks to a couple of very accommodating staff! (Domes pictures here; Miller Park pictures soon to come.)
In other news, I seem to be having difficulties figuring out what my next move career/life-wise. I think this is causing much consternation with the management. It would be easier if I were absolutely tired of my current position… but I’ve somehow worked myself into something of a niche (rut) that I’m having trouble mentally extricating myself from. I’m having trouble coming up with the determination to just… leave. (Not that it would be any easier later.)
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