Tejon Ranch

Factoid: The US interstates are arranged numerically increasing West-to-East (5 in the West, 55 in the middle, 95 in the East) and South-to-North (10 in the South, 90 in the North).

In California we have the 5, the westernmost of the great Interstates and a staple of Californian transportation. Less scenic than it's coastal cousin it makes the route between Los Angeles and the San Francisco area as fast as possible if slightly dull.

The Grapevine serves as a clear and mountainous separator between the Central Valley and the Los Angeles Area. It's a tough climb for any car, particularly from the North. Just before the climb is the mother of all rest stops, Tejon Ranch, home to every major fast food joint (including In-n-Out) and gas station enterprise.

I'm heading south to hang with the family, see some old friends, and ideally, work. Next week my advisor is heading out of town and so there isn't much reason for me to go into the Lab except for the joy of sitting in a noisy office. In truth my productivity at the office has been slacking off recently and I've found that I both better enjoy my work and get more done out in the yard or at a cafe. I hope to find that this remains true in an entirely different town although I have my doubts - family and old friends have a way of diverting one's attention.

Really though this is amazing. I am in no way restricted to work in a particular location. Indeed with a combination of ssh and my phone's ability to tether its data connection to my computer I'm discovering that I can seamlessly work almost anywhere.

And so I sit now at McDonalds, pretending to drink the small soft drink I just purchased, writing up some ideas on spectral network generation (and apparently blogging). I'm working here until 7pm or so until the traffic in LA dies down and admits passage through its maddening traffic.

Also, this post is the first that I've decided to advertise in any way. There are others here if you care to look but I should warn you that you're unlikely to find all (any) of them particularly interesting.