The Ramblings of Austgen

DISCLAIMER…this is going to be really long…all of my Colorado trip will be included.

So, I have returned to the wonderful world of the Dalton, after my lovly trip out west. Colorado is a truly beautiful place. For anyone who doesn’t know, I was out there for the Neural Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Regulation meeting that occurs every two or so years in Snowmass (about 10 miles north of Aspen). We meet for two three hour sessions a day for four days, then one session on the last. Each session is a different topic, and the speakers are the experts in the field. But, this is not completly science motivated (one can see that from the last post). We all got from 1 to 6 each day to just screw around. Sunday I went horseback riding on this massive beast named Lurch. Very old and temprimental, but I got him to work right. Went up the south side of the ski trails, and looked around. Monday we (me, my advisor, and other sciencey folk) hiked the northern rim trail of the Snowmass Vally…got more looking around. Tuesday I didn’t want to pay to go to the river trip (72ish dollars, and it was rather cold that day), so got in some good vegitating…then Wednesday, went south a bit to the Maroon Bells Recreational Area. There we hiked to crater lake, a wonderful bit of water. It’s in the valley between Pyramid Peak (14,018) and the Bells (14,100ish). The Maroon Bells, call as such cause they are maroon due to the rusting Iron ore in their rocks, are the most photographed peaks in the nation….killer. This area is criss-crossed with hiking and backpacking trails, so I am going to have to go back soon

Needed a paragraph there. Thurday I cut out of the final session early so I could go south back to Denver (rented a car and drove to Snowmass). That way, I was able to check out Independence and Tennessee Pass…and see the Continetial Divide…TWICE!!! Independence was the highest I got on the trip, aside from the plane. 12,095….the sun was shinning there, but with the wind, damn it was cold. Neat though to get the west side and east side from one bench….

Here is the reflective moment in our program. Like I said above, Colorado (aside from Denver) is a beutiful place. Unbelievably clean. Most of that is due to the fact that aside from the ski resorts (which are so pricy that they have to be clean to actract the rich folk), the rest of the land is National Forest. Way to go Goverment. Most of these mountains are only touched by the hands of God (through avalanches and mudslides….dangerous stuff). It also shows what men will do to get the gold. I saw a channel that was built 11 MILES (?!?!) to divert water to a mill to power the pumps in the shaft….and this was built on the side of the mountain…120 years ago….maddness.

Now for the negatives…all the fun stuff I did was at about 10,000 feet each time…so was out of breath and antsy….Nose was constantly running, and had wicked cotten mouth…all sure signs of Altitude sickness. There was NO humdity in the air, which caused some of my sickness, and dried my skin out something fierce (when I got out the terminal at KCI, and took that first breath of air, I could feel all the water in my lungs…man it felt good). That and everything was expensive (2.30 for GAS!?!). Still, it was worth it. I may get to go next year for a different meeting, it I can get a project working.

That really one of the best things about these little meetings. Listening to people talk, all these ideas sprout in the head about projects that could be done, or how to make your just that much better so you can get publised. And I get to hobnob with the giants of my field (really held back some hero worship). I can’t wait for the next meeting, which is in two years in Vermont….which is great, cause I’ve never been there either.

So, I took lots of pictures…will see if I can get some of them up here for yous to look at….

And I was really glad I got back so I could see the girl…man, I missed her.

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So, it’s been a while since I’ve written….because, I’m in Colorado. Here for the summer science meeting/vacation time….hard to really say what I’ve been doing, since I am fucking wasted……..one of the things we do on these trips is drink…a lot….bought one pitcher in three days….granted, this picther (of Red Hook ESB) was 14 fucking dollars, but I’m in a skiing town….(that is one hell of a sentence)…

Will write a lot more when I return to normal altitude, on Friday. Until then, I’ll enjoy the mountains, and you enjoy the grass….

END OF LINE………Bitches!!!!(see, i;m drunki)

Well, waiting for one of the rats to go under, so might get some thoughts in. Typing this with lyatex exam gloves on, so it feels kinda weird. Last nights game didn’t go over so well….sure, I got a hit, but I was pitching (our normal pitcher is at Glacier NP in Montana) and haven’t done so in over a year. And, with four or five walks and a whole lot of bloop hits, we lost 20-7 in 4 innings. There are two sad things that come out of this. The first is we CLOBBERED these guys last time. The second is that my ERA is a robust45.00….not going to make it to the show with those kinda numbers. But, big thanks to Dana of the Fabulous D Twins for coming out and subing for us…aided the team.

Rat one is still not asleep….this is going to take longer than I want it too…Start moving tomorrow. Really happy, cause my cracked out neighbor is now insisting that part of our driveway is actually hers…RJ (present roomie) says its his, which I believe him, due to his living there for four years. Not something I want to be around for. Now I’m trying to plan out how to get all of my stuff over then in as few trips as possible, without using anything other than my car and Jason’s truck…

I got a girlfriend…words will not amply desribe her…I could try gutteral phrases, but those are to difficult to type

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I want some sweet corn…now…

My shoulder doesn’t hurt as much, but there’s a lingering pain that tells me it ain’t over yet…

Three days until I start moving…thank the maker

I haven’t slept alone in about two weeks…this is getting cool

One-lined random thoughts can be better then complete paragraphs…

I am going to Colorado at the end of the month….just the flying part that I have to worry about…

Can’t think of a new song for the list…need to do some looking around…

Man, I’m glad it’s not Monday anymore…

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Softball, I have decided, will lead to my death…or more pain. Last night’s game was good, we won, mainly due to intelligent baserunning. Glad that we didn’t have an 11th hour colapse like normal. As for myself, I faired well…1-2, with a single, RBI, and reached on a odd call….hit this roper down the thirdbase line, that the third basewoman caught, but dropped for some reason. It was hit really hard, and I would have given me a hit (so now 2-3). Here’s the pain part. While grabbing a ball deep in the hole, had to really get something on it to make it to first. Well, I got it there, but in the process, heard my rotator cuff in my shoulder crunch a few times. That ended my day at third, and spent the rest of the game playing catcher. Which I rather enjoy anyway.

The next song for the list is from Luckyboys Confusion, “Do You Miss Me”, from Throwing the Game. This song is also found on an EP that was released some time ago. Also known as the Killians tune, it tells of a man who’s girl left him “to find a another man”, but who is now wishing she hadn’t made that move. Basically, the man is lost without the girl, turning to beer, but also is mocking the state of the girl, as he has his friends and a keg a killian’s. Plus, there’s a really cool piano intro.

To further enlighten yourself on these songs, go to lyrics.com or azlyrics.com to see what’s being said….may make your interpretation better.

I’ve also been smitten…go figure

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Despite my best efforts to avoid artsy shit, I have found that many different emotions and situations can be expressed by certain songs. And, with the explosion in record companies and the ability for any Tom, Dick, or Harry to put out a CD, there is now almost a song for every occasion, along with a color. So, I’ve decided to start listing songs that can be used to describe break-ups. Be those amicable (sp?), intentional, or otherwise, there is problably a tune out there that can describe it (if not, write one, and then you may be on MTV). I encourge everyone to add to the list, and send this to other people, so that the libary can grow. The rules are simple. Just name the song, the artist, and the album in which it appears. Also, provide a short decription of why this is a good break-up song, or what type of song.

So, here’s the first. The song is “Counting the Days” by Goldfinger, found on their Stomping Ground LP, from 2000. Basically, the song describes how a man/woman has ruined a relationship because a stupid shit, and now thinks of that lost one in everything that there hear/see…longing to tell them what they feel, knowing that there’s no opertunity to do so. Love lost from ill decisions.

The second song is so much the oppisite. “Suffocate” from Cold’s Year of the Spider LP is more the anger that is felt…no, just read the lyrics…this is pure rage. You hate what your ex did, said or was…then this is your tune…

Please, add your own to the list, comment on those on the list, or not…

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SO….I had a good weekend. Mainly, it wasn’t here. Decided to go east to the homeland of Southern Indiana to visit some of my remaining family. And as usual, eat entirly to much good food (spare-ribs, biscuts and gravy, sausage, pork chops, and SWEET CORN!!!). Also played 18 holes of golf, and surprisingly, my drives and long irons were great, but my short game went all to hell….but that’s what happends when you don’t play for about three years. Then…we blew up shit….about $400 dollars in mortars, and other gunpowder infused things…manage to keep all of my extremides, and my hearing…

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In my last offering, I mentioned, if ever so lightly, my unwilliness to write certain things. These are mainly those that I would not want someone to see sometime down the line. Of course, I don’t hold this to anyone but me. I guess that when you write something in here, it can be taken out of context if its read, say, 6 months later by someone how doesn’t really know a lot about you in the first place. Maybe I’ll just put disclaimers on those posts…or not. I would always encourge individuals that come here to read anything they want, but if you have a question, or don’t understand, leave a comment….better to know then to walk blindly through the night…

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Ah…it’s Thurday, time for the weekly softball stuff….had another rough one yesterday. At the sixth inning, the other team remembered how to hit, and we ended up losing 14-13. We did play fairly well as a team, and I faired ok, going 1-2 with a triple, RBI, and two runs scored. I also want to thank the Fabulous D twins for coming out and watching us play, though not much of me (with to many guys on the roster, someone always has to sit…this week, I was that feller, so only played three innings). I also managed to take a funny hop off the brace, and now have the seams of the ball sratched into my inner thigh.

I am also excited about this weekend….going to suprise some family and go to Southern Indiana for the 4th. Haven’t seen them since my brother’s wedding a few years ago, so this should be fun…That, and it’s redneck land, so I get to blow up a lot of shit….may be missing some fingers upon my return.

Also, glad that you’re all giving me comments. Of course, I may have to resort to trying to sell Beth the Younger every time, but really, if you think about it…she should garner a fine price on the open market. (Need coffee….got coffee) Maybe Steph the Taller as well….maybe I can get 4 or 5 camels for each of them….

Lastly, you may have noticed that I’m trying to get some links set-up on the side. If you notice that I’m missing someone, please let me know and I’ll put ‘er up there….it does bring me to a quick aside….with writing some of these items, one must question what to put….I don’t want to put in to many things, so folk garner this idea of who I am from my writing (which sometimes, shows I’m utter illiterate). I fine line that needs to be maintained…enough for now…

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