ADVENTURES IN WORCESTER

[fbhjr]

The place that called me yesterday to set up a phone interview wanted a copy of my college transcript. They’re the first people to ask in 15 years, but I agreed I’d get one for them.
Going to the WPI website demonstrated to me that a school that specializes in engineering and technology doesn’t always use it themselves.
To get a transcript, you have to fill out a paper for and mail or fax it to the registrar. They will print it some time in the three days after they get the request, unless you pay extra where they’ll do it some time in the next day. Then, they’ll mail it to you. No, it is not available in any electronic form.
Deciding that it would be easier to go the 7 miles myself, I headed out to my nutty car.


Driving into Worcester I went past the place we lived for many years during and after college.


Then, I remembered why I never go back to WPI. There is almost no parking. There are about 10 “guest” spots and all were taken. All other places require a sticker and even in the rain there was a parking guard going around writing a ticket.
So, much like when in school, I had to look off campus for a place to stay.
I did drive by my old on campus place.


So, parking off campus, I had to walk across to get where I was going. I passed the place where I spent most of my days in college. No a classroom or lab. But, the student area between dorms.


The only real change I could see there was they have better chairs then we had in the 80’s.


I have always liked the old bridge across West Street.


The view down towards my old apartment looks much like it did 25 years ago.


The view the other way is quite different. When I went to school there West Street when all the way through the campus. Now, they’ve filled in the road and made a little park there with a fountain and everything.


Of course there are other big changes. There is a whole new building in the middle of the area I had expected to park.


As registration isn’t where it used to be, I had to go in there to ask for directions.
“You’re an alumni, aren’t you?” the kid at reception asked me.
“Yeah, how can you tell?”
“Alumni are always surprised to find this building in the parking lot.”
What could I say? He was 100% correct.

In addition to the building where there should be parking, it looked like the mechanical engineering building had been expanded quite a bit as well.


I could probably have found these things out if I read the alumni info they keep sending me. But, I never find it very interesting.

I filled out my forms and agreed to come back Monday for my transcript. (It left me wondering if they can’t send it electronically why they wanted my email. But I knew asking would not give me an answer I would like.)

Being almost noon, I set off across the city, through the tunnel and construction, to bring my wife lunch.


Being the birthplace of Robert Goddard there are always a lot of rocket things around the city. Not sure about moving companies, but why not?


At the parking garage I found the banana that had graced the wall of the garage gone and replaced with a salad bowl.


I didn’t think it was all that windy on the top of the garage, but my umbrella didn’t agree.


But, I got to my wife’s office and we had a nice lunch together.


(I was recognized as ‘The Noodleman’ at the Chinese restaurant. When I came in the woman behind the counter gave me a strange look. When I said the noodles in my order she got a big grin on her face and started nodding. When I got to “General Tzou’s chicken she looked up with a questioning look. “For my wife,” I said. She smiled and wrote it down.)

After lunch I went off to the bookstore. I was very surprised by something I found out about Linkedin. Now, I’ve been using the site to contact people I’ve worked with, look for jobs, etc.
But apparently it is Science Fiction!


At least the book on how to learn it in 10 minutes is in the SF section. I’m not sure if that helps me or not. I’m supposed to be designing new stuff, right? It could be SF stuff. Why not?
But, it still isn’t really what I expected.

While walking around Barnes & Noble, I got a call from an old boss of mine. He doesn’t have a job opening right now, but next month might have some contract work and that could turn into a full time job. So, that’s really good news. I’ve worked for this person at two companies, so hopefully it will work out.

One of the things on the form for my transcript was my old student number. So, I brought my old student ID’s with me. My wife said I should show them to show how much my face has changed since the 80’s.


The older one has all the registration stickers from when I was in school. The top center one was the summer term where I met my wife, so I was happy to see I still had that sticker on it.

When I got home I found a gift from saeble in the mail for the balloon I sent him.


It’s made from a kangaroo. I’ll let you guess what part...

Comments

[pallid-regina.livejournal.com]

A stroll down memory lane...

Those noodles look delicious

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

The noodles are very good. The dumplings from that place are very good as well.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Cool beans

Wow, you've been in that tunnel?? Wow...

It appears the Hawks realized you don't like bananas, but salad? Maybe they figured the noodle container looked like a salad :P