November 17, 2004
Down and out in Flu-Land
I get seriously sick once every ~2 years by my calculations. The last time it happened, I was in a strange land and it was much worse. This hasn't been pleasant, though...hacking up my lungs every few minutes, even with the help of Robutussin. No head cold like usual, just chilling out in my lungs. I started feeling it Friday before leaving for our backpacking trip, but shrugged it off as something that would disappear. When I got back Sunday night, it was on.
So I've missed a lot of class, slept a ton, and gotten helpful folk remedies from David and Jithka (the Czech couple). She went out into the woods and picked some herbs for cold relief a few weeks ago, and gave me a generous helping, as well as some Bercherovka (traditional czech liquor, which I've never had before). It's like Jagermeister, only much spicier, tastes good for clearing out the lung and sinuses. And so I go to sleep again. I only hope this clears up before our scheduled kayaking trips this weekend...
| TrackBack你好 = ni hao = hello
Shoot me the Japanese to this e-mail!
Posted by: A-ron on December 3, 2004 04:56 PMPost a comment
Further back...
ArchivesFriends and Family
Search
Previous Trips...
-
Hiking Mount Whitney, 2007 
Spring Break in West Virginia, 2005
New Year's in Paris, 2003-2004
Coming to America, 2003
Protesting in Berlin, 2003
Prague Bier-Tour, 2002
Dresden, 2002
Recent Reading
![]()
Stealing the Network
I first bumped into the Stealing the Network series when reading the exploits of Joe Grand, one of the book's many hacker authors.
The 'Stealing the ...' series of books follows a rather disparate group of computer hackers as they help a former NSA spook (many of them unwittingly) gather the money he needs to retire.
The stories themselves are not fantastic fiction. The writing is uneven and choppy, the characters are stereotypical and not very well thought-out. What is fascinating about this book series is the technical accuracy of the exploits (at some points *too* accurate, with screen shots and step-by-step instructions).
It's a great series to read if you're a system administrator, or just getting into the wonderful field of computer security.
Rated 
by reid
on March 06, 2011
by reid
on March 06, 2011
![]()
Close to the Machine
Ellen Ullman is one of those authors that somehow avoided my radar. Until now...
Close to the Machine is less a book than a collection of loosely related personal anecdotes from Ellen's time as a very rare thing -- a successful female bisexual independent computer programming consultant.
In the course of her work and relationship life, she learns hard lessons about programming, running a business, being lonely, and loving the wrong people. I found it particularly poignant being a crypto-nerd with difficult times in relationships and a more-or-less NDA'd, secret work life.
This book is a must-read for anyone into running their own business, programming, or anyone dating a person that is a business-a-holic or programmer.
Rated 
by reid
on November 23, 2009
by reid
on November 23, 2009
![]()
The Long Trip Home
I had the joy of dining with the author in Florida. We went to a little Brazilian BBQ where he spoke with our waitstaff in (what I can only assume was) flawless Portugese.
Brian Wyllie spent 1969-1971 living in Brazil working for the Peace Corps. His recent book outlines his trip back to the United States via Bolivia, Peru, and the Carribean chain, by way of bus, train, and sailboat. The format comes spattered with observations from the modern day, and makes me think, "this must be what John McPhee's journal looks like."
The trip sounded like a fantastic one, but I was left wanting more detail...where did the gun (being snuck through customs in a variety of places, no doubt) come from? And how did Geneve's hair smell? Alas, we'll have to wait for another book to find the answers.
Rated by reid
on April 16, 2009
by reid
on April 16, 2009
你好!
Nice to see someone TOTALLY lurking my journal. I didn't realize you were into cycling. I'm starting to get into it, but I need some warmer clothes for the winter. Suggestions? I have half finger riding gloves, a helmet (obviously), bike shorts, etc. But nothing that could be considered winter attire.
我是汉语的学生. I'm going to China this coming summer to study more language. In the mean time, I'm finishing off pre-reqs so I can apply to grad school for my MEd. What's new in Reid world? You cousin has, by the way, fallen off the face of the earth.
Posted by: Aaron (Qryn) on December 3, 2004 10:14 AM