Mood:  not sure

Sitting in the Tucson Airport waiting to fly back to the snowy cold of Boston. 7 AM flight, which meant getting picked-up at 4:45 AM. You can view my breakfast here. We made great time in the shuttle, as there was no traffic - arriving at the airport at 5:21. Sadly, no javelina T-shirts at the gift shop - the girls will have to wait. On the plus side, my upgrade to first class did go through for Tucson to O'Hare. That should provide some comfort and easier exit with I have to sprint to my next flight.

Catch you all soon. I hope that everyone's new year is starting off well.  

Mood:  caffeinated

Last night, while driving home from the MFA's firstfriday event with Jess, we got into a discussion of the devastation that a collision with speeding T car can impart to a  automobile, bike, person, etc. (Owing to the fact that while driving home, a T ran a red light, nearly broadsiding my car as I crossed Comm Ave.) Jess commented on momentum, and I said, "Yes, one-half MV squared." Jess responded, "Isn't momentum mass times velocity?" "No, I thought it was one-half MV squared," replied I, the former mechanical engineer.

After a quick search on Wikipedia, momentum is, indeed, mass multiplied by velocity. It's kinetic energy that's 1/2 mass times velocity squared. So, while we're both right - Jess on the definition of momentum, and me with the extra energy derived from motion that's imparted in a collision, I'm wondering if my basic confusion on this explains my test scores in dynamic systems...and, at the same time, reconfirms the wiseness of my decision to move out of mechanical engineering into marketing, then product management. A lot of lives have thus been saved. I'm pretty sure that everyone owes me a big, "Thanks for knowing enough to get your dumb ass out of that line of work before you designed any bridges or buildings that might have collapsed on us."

I'll be accepting contributions and drinks at your leisure. 

Mood:  on fire

In Tucson for about 10 days. Helping out Mom, as she continues to rehab from her foot surgery. She's got another 9-10 weeks with a cast on her right leg. So, I'm taking care of some house things, and making sure she's comfy - and getting a few spins around the 'hood in her wheelchair. She can't put any weight on her right foot, so she can't get up and out much. It's a hassle, but she's in great spirits and knows that this period of discomfort will be well spent once she's able to get back to walking, hopefully pain free.

It's sunny, cloudless, low 90s, breezy, and, yes, dry, here. Summer continues for moi.

Speaking of family, my pal Rafael, who's been a near brother at times, is a fantastic artist - both graphic and tattoo (he did my Ice Shark tat). For a look at some of his new illustrations, check out his blog sketchbook. Good stuff.