beautiful days

The sun is coming out.

Despite all that has happened, I still believe people are good at heart
- Anne Frank

Yesterday, Sarah Boschung and her mom took me and Alicia out to dinner. It was such a lovely evening and we shared a delicious meal of local fish and veggies at Ivy Inn. Our fellow patrons were celebrating "Cousin Luke's" birthday and they all had beautiful voices. We ended up spending the latter part of the evening enjoying their music and company. We even stood and sang the National Anthem together. Patriotism still exists!

Today, I had no cash and walked into Cville coffee. A kind stranger heard me ask about the nearest ATM and then just offered to buy whatever I wanted for me! She bought me a smoothie, what kindness!

So, with Anne Frank, my pessimism subsides today. It gives way to happy thoughts (and my Masters Qualifying Exam.)

overheard

girl#1: "...elliptical..."
girl #2: "Oh, you're so good, I need to get on that."
girl#1: "I'll make you get up in the morning and go to the gym"
girl #2: "Gosh, beach week is coming up and I need a hot bod"
girl#1: "Oh, you won't be in shape by then"


oh yuck

anyways.
I am in the midst of accepting a job offer. It's in Alexandria, for Innovatech, Inc.
Really, this is a huge blessing, considering the unemployment rates in our nation. PTL!
So, in the course of that past several days, I have had to have several very serious confrontational conversations, including that with married guy in my class, and with my future employer. Feeling grown up.

principal

Remember in elementary school, they taught you the difference between principal and principle. It was pure propaganda: the principal of the school is your PAL! Principles are probably more important and ought to be held dearly, didn't get a fun trick.
the word Principal comes back to haunt me!
Principal can also be used as an adjective.
Principal Component Analysis.
I don't really understand what this means in application. But, didn't you hear? Statistics is all about theory at UVA anyways!

> print(summary(R.prc,loadings=T,scores=T))
Importance of components:
Comp.1 Comp.2 Comp.3 Comp.4 Comp.5
Standard deviation 2.182863 0.38849296 0.215406149 0.105260061 0.0412688656
Proportion of Variance 0.957767 0.03033704 0.009326595 0.002227071 0.0003423355
Cumulative Proportion 0.957767 0.98810400 0.997430593 0.999657664 1.0000000000

Loadings:
Comp.1 Comp.2 Comp.3 Comp.4 Comp.5
FL -0.452 -0.138 0.531 0.697
RW -0.428 0.898
CL -0.453 -0.268 -0.310 -0.792
CW -0.451 -0.181 -0.653 0.575
BD -0.451 -0.264 0.443 -0.707 0.176

Principal components, you are not my friend.

war

America used to be better at this ...

and men were better looking, more manly... men were men.

the view from my window

I woke up this morning to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. As I lay on my back, waking up my muscles and my brain, I smelled mom's french toast and then some fresh bacon.

I wish I brought my camera home for Easter so I could share the true beauty of these dogwoods in my backyard. Maybe you can come visit instead. We'll go kayaking.

867-5309

It's so frustrating when a guy says

I'll call you some time.

The phrase is always better left unsaid.
What does it really mean?
Who plans such things anyways?
Why not, "It was nice getting to know you better. But that will be all."?
Ok, maybe that's hurtfully straight-forward. But seriously, if you don't want to call, then don't. But certainly do not say you will call if you do not intend to in the first place.

I sat next to a painful first date in Mudhouse today. I think the man must have been a professor because he was talking about nothing for a very long time and he seemed to think he was very right about everything. She was a surgeon. At the end of several discourses, he put the ball in her court and said she can contact him if she wants to see him again. Interesting option, Mr. Boring Professor. She said he knows how to reach her,too. oh! ball back on his side! What will the outcome be???

Happy Food

You know where Fellini's is? On 2nd St. off of the Downtown Mall? Well, just across the street is the best treasure of Charlottesville. No, I don't live there ;) hahahahha
Nicola's Veggies!!!!!


Sarah Boschung and I finally went there yesterday and relished the delicious salad concoctions that owner and chef, Dragana Katalina-Sun, created. Sarah Yates and I stopped today, after our delightful run on the Rivanna trail. More deliciousness- fresh soup!
Also, if you go there, which I really hope you do, try the truffles! They are so natural yet soooooo tasty!!!!!!

If you want to be healthy and don't know how to start, I recommend you start right there on 2nd St!!!
Oh! And she'll be at the Downtown Farmers Market Saturdays... mmmmmm