SAGEEP 08...

Philadelphia.... wow.

I never expected SAGEEP (Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering & Environmental Problems - but you already knew that) to be that much fun. Myself, a certain Mr. Strine-Zuroski and a certain Mr. Gonzalez all departed for the nation's first capitol this past Sunday afternoon. It's amazing that we were able to pack that much learning and that much drinking into the same day for three days straight.

Not going to go into too much detail, but here's a brief rundown on the trip. The geophysical aspect of the trip went pretty well. Got to put some faces to names on people that I've had dealings with over the phone and via email, I sat in on some interesting lecture series (some of which were way over my head) and I got to check out some new equipment that hopefully I can get my hands on sometime soon. The food and drink aspect of the trip though, was quite easily equally enjoyable. We hit up a few really chill bars including the oldest one in the city http://www.mcgillins.com/. The best had to be a bar in Old City Phila that had $2 drinks and shots from 5-7. They had 40 beers on tap including a bunch of micros from Philly that we were more than happy to indulge in. It's quite amazing that I was able to spend $68 in an hour and a half there on Tuesday afternoon. Yesssss.... Don't even say anything Mom. Sometimes there's certain things in life that you just have to do.

Another highlight was the sushi place we ate at everyday for lunch., RAW Sushi & Sake Lounge. http://www.rawlounge.net/ Not only was the sushi chronic, but the bathroom was crazy as well. You pee against the wall while a stream of water pours down it, and on the wall is some wild picture of some samurai chick holding a huge sword. Sort of weird peeing against a wall on the feet of some lady. Then the sink was one of those flat sinks that has no bowl, the water just hits the marble and flows off... really cool. I want one for my house.

Some other trip highlights have to have been checking out equipment on the lawn down by Independence Hall, having the ex-mayor John Street throw me the "Black Power" fist as he hopped in some ladies car, having Collin and Victor think that John Street was actually the Rev. Al Sharpton, laughing when Collin thought he had finally seen a dead person, meeting the infamous J. Nich., watching Vic fight falling asleep on various surfaces... none of which were his bed, watching a vegetarian eat a Philly cheesesteak and figuring out my children's future names. Soy & Ooo (pronounced more like eww).

Good trip. Now it's time to finish preparations for Bulgaria.

Oh and still no Harley.