Hoping things shape up...

I have a feeling that I am going to hear back from more schools this week. I am still really excited about Buffalo. The not being funded worries me a bit, and I don't want to assume I am going there because if I don't get funding, I won't be able to go. While being accepted feels great, I wonder just what the outcome would have been had I not been a TA for Jennifer this last semester. She put in a lot of good words with a lot of people there, including Professor Dyson with whom I primarily will be working. As I said, I am very happy to be accepted and I am sure I can succeed in the program, but part of me wonders just how things would have turned out without my connections. The program has taken a lot of former UA students, so maybe I would have been fine. Maybe not. This thought is driving me a tad crazy. Especially when I didn't get funding right away. Did just barely make the cut with someone trusted vouching for me? Ah! I'm okay. This is why I am excited to hear what other programs think of my application. Of course there are so many factors that go into this type of decision, the others' decisions may not tell the whole story. As usual I'm just wondering if I am/seem good enough. It doesn't help with so many other successful people in the program (Jon offered funding for 5 years to Stanford, Luke being accepted to Chicago and visiting Yale, Drew accepted by Cincinnati, visiting Duke, and being 1 or 2 away from being accepted by Michigan). It must be hard for Justin not hearing anything, but I know he will get into a great school. He is very good at what he does.

This weekend went by really quickly. Alex and I were out late Friday. We went to see Matt's band, Stareater, at Plush. They were pretty good, and he plays the drums well. Andrea met up with us, so that was awesome. A band from Austin (is this a sign for good news? Probably not) called Octopus Project played, and they were a lot of fun and really impressive. There was some fine theremin playing. All the members were incredibly talented, often changing instruments between songs. Overall it was a great show. Before and in between bands was also really cool because people from the department happened to be there because they had just finished up their quals and comps this week. I figured they might be there because of last year, but as far as I knew for sure only Auld Dubliner was planned.

After the show Matt, Alex, Andrea, and I went to the Shot in the Dark Cafe on Broadway. It took a long time for the food to come out, but the place was so much better than the Grill it is amazing. I can't believe people choose to go to that douche-hole over a great little place. I'm sure it has to do with the Grill's location and its image. The food at Shot in the Dark was really good too. I should remember clearly since I didn't have one drink. During the wait for food and while eating we all looked at Trivial Pursuit questions from a version from the 80s. Some of the things we knew/reasoned were pretty awesome, but overall we did not know much of what was on the cards. Afterward we walked back to the cars and went home. During the walk there was some good bitching about Tucson urban planning.

Saturday I got up after 2.5-3 hours of sleep and taught both adult classes and the kids. Alex and I relaxed and then went on a walk with Bryan. The weather was windy and a little cold with lots of clouds. "It looked like the end of the world" out there. Alex and I ate Brushfire BBQ (we still have a problem with liking food too much). Then we went to the B-Line for desert. Alex had the phenomenal blueberry pie warmed with ice cream. I had the pot de creme which was very tasty despite how fool I was. We decided against a movie because we were tired and my terrible coughing illness. I had to take a ricola when we got home and was falling asleep while sucking on it.

Today I ran the adult quickstart tournament. Alex played and did very well. She has great potential for the game. If she keeps it up, she could be a solid 3.0/3.5 player in no time. I just want her to have fun, meet new people, be active, and want to play. I am trying to do the same with tennis. After a week of exercising, I am feeling better. I really should keep it up, and I am excited for the tennis league season coming up. After the tournament, Alex and I walked around the track with Andrea. We then went to OPG and used the fifty/50 card for another great success. The food was pretty good, and I have leftovers for tomorrow. All for 50% off.

I really need to finalize the Greg Tour of Tucson. I have almost all the restaurants decided. Now I must communicate this information better with others.