Is the opposite of homeless homefull? Right now, I am officially living in 3 different places in 3 different countries. I am certainly not homeless. I have telephone numbers, bank accounts, transit passes and things to do in Vilnius, Stockholm and San Francisco.
It is great to be in San Francisco, even though it is only a short visit. There are already flowers blooming on the back deck. The sun is providing me with some vitamin D, and the city seems cleaner and greener after the December rains. The reconstruction on Castro Street is complete, and the wider sidewalks make it more pleasant to walk around the neighborhood. I still think it would have been better to simply make it a pedestrian zone, with no cars.
This week one of my Master’s students, Allison Nelson, delivered her thesis talk about her research on the migratory connectivity of Hermit thrushes. You can see a video about her work and read about it here. The best part of being a professor is seeing students develop into scientists with successful important research projects. The worst part about being a professor is writing grants and raising money for the research; something that I am doing this week.
The Berkeley Symphony had an interesting program with some difficult music last week. After that concert, I don’t think I can play bassoon for a week. First up was Thomas Ades’ “Asyla”, with a lot of rhythmic complexity. Then came Tchaikovsky’s 6th symphony, the “Pathetique”, which is notoriously difficult for the bassoons. Here is the review, and I agree completely that the orchestra is sounding better than ever under Joana Carneiro’s baton.
Rainbow grocery continues to astound me with its selection of all things vegetarian. The vegan cheese world is taking off, and I got some nice ones yesterday. Also rhubarb strawberry pie, and chocolate peanut butter coconut milk ice cream. I lose weight when I am not in San Francisco. There are all kinds of new restaurants and they seem full all the time. I like watching all the bicyclists with their different colored bicycle tires in the Mission. Pretty soon the birds will return and it will be spring.