Maybe it’s actually a truck, but for sure it’s my nearly new shiny black Ford Edge Sport.  If the black exterior and interior aren’t distinctive enough, the polished aluminum 22″ rims sure are (I actually had a guy at an intersection roll down his window and say “nice rims”).  All that aside, the thing that sold me on the Edge was the top of the line Microsoft based Sync Navigation system.  I’ve been using it now for several months and it is extremely intuitive and tightly integrated into the audio system and the rest of the car.  For instance, when I run low on gas, not only does the low fuel light come on, but the navigation system starts showing the nearest gas stations, including recent prices.  It’s a fantastic car; I’m satisfied.

Tags: Car, Ford

It’s a bit hard to believe I graduated ten years ago!  But then, in retrospect, a lot has happened in those ten years.  I got a Ph.D., lived in four different places, bought three houses, the list goes on.  In all of that, I still haven’t missed a reunion, so this year won’t be any different.

There is still a lot left to do.  I’m co-chairing two Reunions committees this year, Technology and P-Rade, and I need to get the final preparations done so things run smoothly.  I’ve been blessed with a great co-chair for each committee who have done more than their fair share of heavy lifting as we’re prepared - thanks Michael and Kenna!  It’s also time to get my own cowbell. I’ve been borrowing one from the band, but its been getting harder to get my hands on it.

Never the less, I’m ready! My beer jacket is clean and my ‘99 socks are good to go.  This may be the year for the tigershirt to come out again. We’ll see.

Tags: Princeton, Reunions

I just turned 32, and my wonderful friends wished me Happy Birthday (much thanks to Facebook and Verizon Wireless).  I did not, however get that age old question (no pun intended): “Do you feel different?”  Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t mind not hearing the question. For some 32 years, I haven’t felt any different on March 12 than I did on any other day.

This birthday, though, I felt different.  (It’s not because kens_age = 2^5.)  We had a safety meeting at work, and I saw a chart that had our environmental statistics since 1990.  The story was good - we’re going down year after year - but there were so many bars!  I notice things like how many bars are on a chart: too many makes the chart look crowded, and this one did.  All those bars, and I remember the year 1990, well, vaguely.

Could it be that I’ve now made the transition from young adult to middle age?

Tags: Birthday