Princeton, NJ
5:47 PM
Another busy day in Jersey. I woke up after a great nights sleep and did some emails. My email system is delayed because it is now all web based. I had an interview at 10:45 and made the five minute drive. I was greeted by a mean sounding dog, Wallace. He turned out to be a baby. He wanted to be petted the whole time I was there. I think he was a chocoalte lab. Very cool.
I was interiewing an OR Nurse, Janice. She had some great insight into the field and some interesting stories to tell. She’s the kind of person that likes fast paced action. An operating room is where she liked to work.
From there I came back to the house. Jeanette, my next interview was here, but we decided I’d come to her house at 12:30. I arrived on time and we went outside. I did both interviews outside today. It was goregous here. It maybe was 70. It was sunny with a slight breeze. Sitting in the sun with shorts, sandals, and a short sleeved shirt was great. Jeanette is a court reporter. She is not a journalist stationed at the court house. She is the person in front of the judge taking down all of the words being said. She’s got the quick fingers and the ability to process all of that legal stuff. She’s done some awesome things with her job. I did not expect to hear all of the things she’s done. You wouldn’t think it, but that field is growing and in my eyes, very cool.
After that I walked back to Ginny’s. We had lunch and then Michael and I went back to Comp USA. I couldn’t wait for a call so I went down there. They hadn’t looked at it. A different guy said it should be saved, but who knows. I may be in NYC without my computer. Michael and I then headed to Princeton. I wanted to walk around and see what that was all about. He was a gracious tour guide. He is into history and rattled off a few facts during the drive. He told me about Einstein being at Princeton, and the guy from the Beautiful Mind movie, and that we were near where Orson Wells said the matrians landed in War of the Worlds. I can’t remember the name now though.
We parked and walked. We were parked on a main street with shops and restaraunts. Across the street was the campus. I was surprised that there was not a Princeton University sign. We entered through what looked like a pretty famous gate. We found a map and made our way through campus down to the hockey rink (Michael has played there) and to the football field. It is a beautiful campus with huge, old stone buildings. We ran into a guy from Michael’s high school who will be starting in the fall. He told us where to go.
I’m not sure if I mentioned or not, but Michael will be a senior in high school. I’m not sure how happy this 17 year old is to have to be tour guide for this 29 year old unemployed guy writing a book, but it’s been a lot of fun. We’ve talked a lot about his high school and what kids are like now. We’ve talked about his hockey, he’s pretty good. And we’ve talked about college. He’s a great kid who seems to have a solid head on his shoulders. It’s been a pleasure to be around a high schooler who does not fit the mold of what older people think high schoolers are about. And I know he’s not one of the kids that old people think are cool and kids do not. I am guessing he is respected in both areas and that is hard to do.
I took some pics of Princeton and got a shot at Nassau Hall. We walked in the entrance and it had all of the students who had been killed in any war. It was a big list: the wars and the students.
We then went to Michael’s high school. It is huge and relatively new. It was built 8 years ago. It was a little bit after 4 on a Friday and we weren’t sure if we could get in, but we found a door that was open. He showed me all around. The gym is huge, with 3 full size courts in it. There are 3 cafeterias, a huge weight room, and numerous musical rooms. He says they are known for their theater programs. Maybe tops in the nation. He plays hockey and volleyball. I bet he has some pressure on him, as Bryan (his older brother) is still the leading scorer in county history. He says the team should be OK this year, but they lost some good seniors.
I walked up and down the 3 floors of the school. It’s newer than mine and has a lot more features. As we walked around, I realized it may be newer and bigger, but it’s not that much different than mine. The desks are the same. The lockers are the same size. There are still classrooms, teachers and students. It may be 12 years, but it’s still the same. Kids are kids. They want to learn and do good. There is a lot more trouble now and they have to grow up earlier, but it’s still the same. It was good for me to see the school and hang with Michael.
We’re headed to dinner tonight at Uncle Walt and Aunt Sherrie. I’ve met them before and their sons, Justin and Doug, when they came to Rochester. I had a good time with them. We went golfing and they ended up calling me Happy Gilmore. Not because of my long drives or my swing, but because I got mad out there. Anyway, were off to that.
A good day, although the CPU still weighs in on the mind.