the meeting of the GRA’s

So, today was a day much like any other I’ve had so far in town. But, around 2, we had a meeting of the state and local policy program graduate assistants, and the research staff & faculty around for the summer. During the intros, everyone went over their names, research activities, and areas of expertise. Kim mentioned that she felt underoccupied. Several introductions later, I busted out with a little geek humor, which went over like a lead weight, but, then Frank, one of the research guys, reminded me of something else, specifically, the conference on BRT and value pricing.

You see, a few days ago, not doing my reading on value pricing, but feeling like I knew what it was all about, I told Lee (the prof I’m supporting, also head of the state and local policy program) that I was feeling underoccupied. He latched onto this and suggested that I help arrange a small conference/workshop in September or October on the possibility of combining Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Value Pricing (toll-paying access to HOV lanes), and write a summary paper of the work done in these fields (not much, to date). Yowza! Ask and ye shall receive!

So, I related the story, with proper timing and emphasis. And got a big chuckle out of everyone present. I later got re-introduced, when Lee arrived from a meeting than ran pretty late, as “the computer guru”. *shrug*

It felt like the beginnings of the sort of social setting I get into. Casual dialogue, small group of people, intellectual focus. And it broke up. I felt down after that. and I are getting along quite well, given how long we’ve known one another, and the coziness of the quarters. I have very mixed feelings about moving into another place for 2 months, with people I likely won’t see again afterwards. Own room, yay! More short-term friends, boo. =( Hard to put down roots when there’s scant fertile soil available. Bit mopy, but it’ll pass I’m sure.

Adapting isn’t easy. And changing fields like I am isn’t exactly a zero-cost transaction either, but I think it’s being arranged about as easily as it can be. Maybe. *shrug*

I might have enjoyed another summer of slack (the summer and lived together), or at least half of a summer similarly occupied. Ah well.