CIDER

I'm in Santa Barbara now for the CIDER workshop. Was a bit nervous about coming at all what with the fire, and the 36-week pregnant wife, but a colleague really wanted me to come. The fire's contained now, and since I traveled by car, I can return at a moment's notice if need be (assuming 1 moment = 4 hours). This is a 7-week workshop, but I'm only here for the first week for obvious reasons. They're putting us up in some apartments that are used for student housing during the school year. Furnished, minimally equipped, but better for a long stay than a hotel. Each apt. is designed to house four undergrads, but there's no more than two of us in each. And this week, most of us are the only occupant of our respective apt. And free wireless.

There's only eight of us here so far. We all met up in one of the other apartments, and it turns out we all knew most of the other participants already. We arranged to take it in turns to cook for the whole lot. Looks like I'm on for Wednesday. Problem is cooking vessels. Each apartment has the same small skillet and pot. So, unlimited numbers of small implements, but no large ones. Might want to pick up some foil.

Tomorrow we head onto the UCSB campus, where they have supposedly supplied each of us with an office and computing facilities. This may actually be a nicer work environment than my actual job.