James Mack's Weblog

Unfortunately, this post is photo-free, because I'm at work without access to my library. I may be present here at work, but my mind has already taken off to another place and time. Tomorrow at noon, I leave for Florida for 5 days of fun with good people, and more importantly, to experience an Atlas V rocket blasting off on its 9 year journey to Pluto. I'm going to bring my camera and take plenty of photos, and hope to have a story to tell when I return.

The past week has seen quite a flurry of activity surrounding SDC here at LASP, due largely to the efforts of our new EPO staff getting attention from the local media. On Tuesday, a reporter from the Daily Camera stopped by to interview the team for an article for the Sunday paper. On Wednesday, CBS channel 4 news came by to get some video for a short story on Wednesday night, along with a longer one slated to air the day of the launch. I'm feeling slightly famous and important, and the pride in my accomplishments has unexpectedly swelled.

Keep an eye on the news. You just might see me.

I can't claim to be the originator of the title of this posting; it belongs to the project manager for the CIPS instrument, Mark Lankton, who used it in reference to "Habemus Papam" ("We Have a Pope!"), the exclamation when a new Pope has been ordained. Peeping through the cleanroom window this morning, I saw the fruits of our labor over the past few years, standing upon its handling fixture. I'm not sure if it's beautiful, it actually looks like it's been through a lot and come out somewhat haggared, but it finally has a shape and an identity that existed only in our imaginations before. To be honest, I'm only faintly moved by it, having been stripped of ownership in its design and construction, though I do appreciate its significance to the team and to the lab.

Something that did move me, however, was the scene when I made the right turn from the bike path onto the gravel utility road on my way to work this morning. Looking westward, I was confronted with an intense rainbow set starkly against an inky black sky. The photo fails to capture the image in my mind, staring at the blackness where the foothills used to be, beguiled by the strip of color spread across the landscape, and stopping for just a moment to appreciate the serendipity.

Today marked my first useful escapade with the B.O.B. bicycle trailer my parents had given me for Christmas, after I had mentioned my uneasiness with driving my car 3-5 blocks to get my groceries each week. Not surprisingly, it turns out that using a bicycle trailer to replace a car is neither practical nor economical. Instead, using a trailer on a bicycle exemplifies the quixotic nature of Boulder and its inhabitants; doing something which belies better sense in the name of an honorable cause. And after my maiden ferry of vittles from Whole Foods to my home without gasoline power, I feel like I've found something good.

It's no accident that I framed the photo of my B.O.B. along with my car. It's my favorite "My other car is..." bumper sticker equivalent. I've never been a bike lover because I think cars are evil. For me, cars are intrinsically fascinating, an homage to inventiveness, excitement, and curiosity. I guess I feel like they're even a bit sacred, and using them for such trivial tasks as hauling an armload of groceries a few blocks betrays their true worth. So my car sits in the garage, reserved for twisty roads on Sunday mornings, full throttle benders on an open highway, and closing the gap to distant places.

It's a new year, an arbitrary landmark where we inevitably evaluate where we've been and where we're going. I don't make new resolutions this time of year, because I'm always making resolutions, and don't need an added burden at any point of the year. Right now, my mind turns to music, as it often does, and the soundtrack playing consists largely of Josh Joplin (who I really wish would tour again), with "Hard Year" and "Mr. New Year's Day", along R.E.M.'s "Bad Day". I guess that might be a bit melodramatic, probably a fleeting ruse, but I feel like the last year and a half has been a bit rough on me.

On the positive side, however, I went to Bill's New Year's party last night, which seemed like the first time in ages that we had gotten together to do something. I had a good time, not being a complete stranger due to a large contingent of paintball associates, along with some interesting new people to talk with. And I feel like it's a step towards making sure the next year isn't quite like those prior.

And now, for some song lyrics.

Josh Joplin-Hard Year

The sky is the color of white hot iron
The sun is long over due
The snow is falling, hopeless and perfect
And I am waiting for you
CHORUS: A new afterthought, a stupid idea
I stayed home all day, and wished you were here
It's been a hard year

No one is safe in a country of spies
The landlord is taking down names
This building is broken, it's windows are worthless
And no one ever complains
CHORUS

BRIDGE: The inks spots of birds shifting in flight
A long afternoon turns to night
And I see the sun through a crack in the sky
And just like that it all passes by
It's been a hard year

The front page pictures are already old
The dishes sit in the sink
Seven long days spent in bed
And I haven't slept a wink
CHORUS