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Obviously, I have not been writing much recently. There are a number of reasons for this. First, I needed a break from all the design thinking to remember how to function with the rest of the humans. It seems they don’t often talk about design or know what I’m talking about.

Second, I’ve had a lot to do in the way of preparing for my move to San Francisco and Nokia. I moved out of my apartment and will be leaving Pittsburgh in a few days for a road trip that I haven’t completely planned yet. In general, I’m visiting a few folks in the east, then heading to the top of the country, hitting state and national parks along the way. Some stops include Geneva, New York; Vienna, Virginia; Charlottesville, Virginia; Great Smoky Mountains; Badlands; and Glacier National Park. I’ll eventually arrive in Mammoth Lakes around early August, where I’ll stay for a bit before heading to San Francisco. I’m doing this by myself and living in my car or a yet-to-be-purchased tent. I’m pretty excited for the adventure.

Finally, it’s been difficult to blog as I have not had a laptop since mid May when we had to return the ones the School of Design let us use during our time there. Not having a laptop has really cut down all the design reading that often inspired posts. Of course, not being in school and exposed to great teachers and peers has also had its impact. But I suspect I will pick up again when I start working.

Until then, don’t expect much from me unless I bite it and buy a laptop or make posts through my iPhone from the road.

I flew back from Baltimore today after day long days with a client. On the plane I read half of Everyware by Adam Greenfield, which I’m finding quite intriguing.

I found myself highlighting lots of text and using post-its jot to down ideas and bookmark pages for potential blog topics.

Also, I kept putting ubiquitous computing in context with an essay I’m writing for Adaptive Path (originally I said it would be about emotion, but I changed it). I’m not going to say what my current topic is because I’m not sure. But I do have 600 words!

For the next few days I’m living in the apartment of one of my coworkers. She and her boyfriend are fortunately house sitting. So I’m kind of house sitting their place, since my lease ended on July 31.

I’ve got two more days at Adaptive Path. Then I’m heading by train and bus to Yosemite, where my sister-in-law will pick me up and take me to Mammoth Lakes to stay with her and my brother, Matt, for a week. Matt’s working this weekend (rock climbing guide), which is why he can’t pick me up.

He and I may do an extended outdoors trip. I told him to plan something.

Then, on August 11, I fly back to Pittsburgh from Reno. On August 12, I’m driving to DC for UX Week, where I’ll hook up with the AP folks again.

I should be back in the burgh for good on August 17 (unless I head to Charlottesville, Virginia, where my youngest brother Jeff will have just moved).

After two days in Geneva, New York, I hit the road and drove down to northern Virginia to visit my friends Chris and Joanne. Three hundred and fifty-two miles. I left late in the day on Friday, and was kind of sleepy. So during the drive I had a coffee, Red Bull, and Starbucks Doubleshot.

I was pretty wired when I arrived, and immediately did a shot of whiskey with Chris and then had a beer. For some strange reason, Chris suggested we follow that with Ouzo.

I met Chris during my freshmen year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before I transferred to the University of Pittsburgh. That makes him one of my oldest friends, quite an accomplishment for me, because I tend to move around and lose touch with people.

He has a well-stocked liquor cabinet, which I appreciate.

We played tennis, which I haven?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t done for years, and went out to eat in Ballston. My goodness have they been building in Ballston. I almost didn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t recognize the place. Then we went out to some bar and got $10 martinis. Got to love DC area prices.

Today we went for a 16-mile bike ride. I really want a mountain bike.

Reconnecting with Former Teammates

I got to play pickup soccer with Paul in Geneva, which was cool and fun because we haven?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t played together since I left northern Virginia in 2003. He played on the team I managed in the Northern Virginia Soccer League, and took over management after I left. Our last season together, we won the premier division of the NVSL.

Yesterday I played with my former over-30 team, which I joined when I was 26 and left when I was 29, when I moved up to Pittsburgh. So this was the first time I played with them and was also legitimately over 30. I scored one goal and had a couple assists, and we won. So that was good.

It was also great to be so welcomed by a group of people and have them want to hang out with me and buy me beers. This is truly the way to win me over.

Speaking of Alcohol

Pennsylvania has retarded alcohol laws. I may have to write some letters, or start a campaign.

I love that in Virginia I can buy beer and wine in a grocery store. It makes much more sense to partner alcohol with food rather than make you feel like there?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s something wrong with you because you have to go to a special store to get some wine.

Further, six packs are more prominent than cases. I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t know what kind of logic Pennsylvania legislators used to make it easier and cheaper for you to buy a case of beer than it is to buy a six pack. Apparently, they want people to drink more.

Because beer and wine are cheaper down here, I stocked up.

Two weeks until classes begin, and I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m thinking I should go somewhere. But I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t have a lot of money, and I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t have anyone to travel with.

So I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m thinking about taking a road trip and visiting a few friends along the way. To make it more interesting, I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m considering camping here and there. However, I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t have a tent.

Next thing I know I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m looking at tents at REI. But what do I know about tents? So I call my brother, Matt, who just got back from a five-week backpacking and ice climbing adventure in Peru.

I tell him I want a tent for an unplanned road trip. But I want a good tent, one that I can take backpacking, and that sleeps two people, should I ever require it to sleep two people.

He advises I get the lightest tent I can. I recall a five-day hike we took along the Appalachian Trail from Maine to New Hampshire. I packed way too much, and paid dearly in sweat and exhaustion. Matt said at one point he looked back at me, and I looked like death.

?¢‚Ǩ?ìLight is good,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù I agree.

He says I should also check out Campmor. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìOh yeah,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù I say. I get their catalog.

But wait. I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t have money to buy at $200 tent, or gas, or food. I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m a graduate student. And I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m borrowing $35,000 for this year alone. And I have $50 in my checking account.

Still, the road is calling, and my mind moves numbers around, rationalizes, creates an acceptable logic. I will find a way to make up the cost, I tell myself.

Two weeks. Can I not afford to travel?

I have been told I brought the nice weather from Barcelona here to Amsterdam. Yesterday, I think it was actually nicer than Barcelona.

Amsterdam is a very stimulating city, on many levels. I have an excellent personal tour guide who has shown me a good deal of the city and all of its novelty in a single day?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùwhich was accomplished with much relaxation and a sense of whimsy. It’s a shame I leave tomorrow, because I would really like to spend more time here.

Given the dwindling time, I must be off!

This is day five of my stay in Barcelona. I haven?Ǭ¥t accessed the Internet or for three days. That?Ǭ¥s quite a record for me.

Naturally, the day I left one of my clients decided a feature needed to be available immediately. Six hours ahead, and with some help from support back home, a compromise was reached.

But since then, there have been no problems, which is good, because I haven?Ǭ¥t had much time to deal with them anyway.

Barcelona is a great city. I?Ǭ¥ve seen most of it via a tourist bus, and hopped off to see places that interest me. I?Ǭ¥m here with my friend Matt, who is still sleeping (it?Ǭ¥s 2:30 p.m.) from last night?Ǭ¥s activities.

Chances are, if you live on the east coast, we went to bed around the same time as you, if not later. Got to love clubs that don?Ǭ¥t get started until 3 a.m.

Well, I know this isn?Ǭ¥t long, but I must get back the vacationing. I need to return to the apartment and wake Matt up so we can hit the beach.