Cambridge is a pretty funky town.

That's what I've decided recently. It has street performers, it has hecklers like those from the third world - except selling bank accounts, and it has a vibrant air to it that draws from more cultures than I expected. It also has a lot of runners. Most of them seem to be recreational, although I probably haven't yet found the spots where the Harvard XC team work out. Today, the rain broke for the first time in 4 days. I awoke to a sunshine filling my room reminiscent of California. On my short little run today, I passed over 50 other runners enjoying the cloudless blue sky. While it lacked the humidity of MD - enough so for the sky to be blue - you couldn't quite feel the wind rippling across your body, cooling as it spirals around your legs and arms. I think that's something I won't ever quite get here. But for now, today was pretty nice.

8/24/2010 - 4.5 miles (time unknown) in the heavy rain. Ran south along JFK to the river, across to the Harvard athletic facilities. Ran by the large and industrial looking stadium and around some deserted and water logged fields before returning. Stopped at a small park on the N side, but it's too small for workouts. Reminded me of miserable east coast winter runs where I zone out and dream about being fast the whole time. CCB orientation was today. I think I'm the only person going to work in the physics department with funding from chemistry in my year. A little awkward, until my host G2 (Chem Ph.D. student in the Walsworth group[physics]) explained to me that it wasn't so bad at all and that it's win win for both sides.

8/25/2010 - Forced Day off. GSAS orientation today, in the pouring rain. Felt rather collegiate and scholarly. Went to the HMC and found journals from 1979 with my Dad's name all over it. Kinda neat.

8/26/2010 - First blue sky sighting since I left Pasadena. Nice 40 or so minute run along the Charles heading towards MIT. Was pushing a bit too much. Didn't quite make it to MIT but turning around at a nice vista of the river. The grass there isn't that bad, even the use trail is arroyo quality. It lacks, however, mountains, dry western air, coyotes, and techers.