Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)

Yes, my peeps, I have arrived in Phoenix, I have investigated the surroundings and am settled into my room on the 19th floor of the Hyatt Regency hotel. My room has a great view of the city, and of the ~~Sierra Nevada~~ Mountains in the distance, which are currently obscured by a layer of smog. My earlier trepidations about the meeting have somewhat abated, thanks to some anti-anxiety medications that were given to me by my doctors, and now I am drinking a chai, courtesy of Starbux, which is across the street.

Besides its humongous rooms (by NYC standards), perhaps the greatest feature of this hotel are its great glass elevators, which make me feel almost like Charlie in Mr. Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

For those of you who are curious, neither John nor PZ are here yet, the slackers, so I don’t have anyone to pester until 3pm, which is when everyone can check in for the meeting itself.

Two things annoyed me about my trip here; first, my seat on the plane had feces on it, so I had to sit on a blanket all the way here from NYC. ewwww! And second, the security woman who inspected my duffle bag single-handedly made every blouse of mine, that I had meticulously ironed and carefully folded, into a mass of wrinkles. I could choke her, that wench.

For those of you who are curious, the weather here is surprisingly mild; it feels like a spring day in NYC, in fact. Actually, that’s exactly how the weather in NYC feels right now, too.

Comments

#1 Terry Harding
January 3, 2007

Actually, the Sierra Nevadas are in California. The Phoenix area is part of the basin and range province and has a lot of mountains, big and small popping up from an otherwise pretty flat plain. From where you are, the distant mountains to the north are probably the Bradshaws. Off to the east, you can see the Superstitions. That medium sized group of mountains to the south are South Mountain, which is America’s largest city park and has great hiking if you end up with any time.

Enjoy.
#2 John Lynch
January 3, 2007

Smog …. we prefer to say “thermal inversion” Some of the worst air in the country, we have, come winter. It will be chilly enough in the evenings (tho mild by eastern standards).

I wont be around until probably five or sixish.
#3 GrrlScientist
January 3, 2007

well, hurry up! i am bored! i wanna hang out with you and PZ!
#4 Rob Knop
January 3, 2007

FECES on the airplane seat? Yuck-a-ruck! Is that for real?

And, feel good that you’ve done your part (by sacrificing all that ironing) to keeping us safe from Terrorism. Or something. Or maybe it’s the TSA jobs program. I forget.

-Rob
#5 Kevin
January 3, 2007

Anti-anxiety meds are the … ok, given what was on your seat, bad slang.

Either way, don’t leave home without ‘em, I know I don’t!
#6 Carl Manaster
January 4, 2007

When my friend Mike’s mom came from Denver to visit him in Phoenix for the first time, he drove her around a bit and asked, “Which way are we facing, Mom?” Since the mountains were in front of her, she said, “West”. “Nope; North; this is Phoenix.” Then another wander, the question again, another guess (North), another correction. I believe he managed to get every point of the compass, and she never got it right. He’s a nice guy, mostly.
#7 llewelly
January 5, 2007

FECES on the airplane seat? Yuck-a-ruck! Is that for real?

Apparently, there are some people who need anti-anxiety meds on airplanes, but don’t get them.