CATS

I'm thinking about getting a cat in a few months
and I just found these kitten photos on petfinder.com

OMG I want one


























On an un-related note, I love this photo of some dude with a million pots:

I guess I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff...

Last night I went to a BBQ party at my buddy Tim's place, and one of their friends was having band practice that night. His band ended up coming over and giving a little performance for us - it was great, but there was one song that was really fantastic. I started listening to the lyrics and was thinking "Wow, this is just such a romantic song! you can really sense that the person who wrote this was so in love... " When they finished the tune I asked who it was (thinking it was probably some indie rock band I hadnt heard of or something) and it turns out that the lead singer had written it. A few hours earlier he had told me that in a few weeks he and his girlfriend were moving in together... I've got to say, she's a lucky girl!

so sweet

PUZZLZ

and.... this is why I love Thom.

this just came into my gmail inbox:

from Thomas Rutford Covert
to [friends, family, and anyone who helped]

date		Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 12:16 AM
subject		puzzle completion event!

Attention puzzle solvers:

On this fantastic evening, Riva, Rose, and I completed the puzzle! It
was a glorious event. As a reminder, we started this bad boy on
December 24, 2007. Took us a bit over 6 months to complete.

The completed puzzle is available for viewings by appointment on
weeknights and weekends. To whet your appetites, please refer to the
pictures below.

http://picasaweb.google.com/rbakal/FinishingThePuzzle

Sincerely.

Thomas R.

PS - if I forgot anyone who either worked on this puzzle or gave us
puzzle solvers emotional support during the journey, please let me
know!

after telling me a story about her dream this morning...

"Thanks, Brain - you make the night so fun!"
-Kelsey

NEW POTTERY!!! makes me happy :)

I had made these bowls back in February but had been agonizing for MONTHS over exactly how to glaze them... when I got back into the studio Monday for the first time after all my travel, I finally decided. And I couldnt be happier. I have a bit of a crush on this set of bowls, I have to say.

Set of 4 Squared Bowls
Black ebony clay; mint creme glaze with randy's red accents on rim; each bowl 5.25" diameter and 2.5" tall. Wheel thrown and altered.

These used a new type of clay that I had bought on my own because it has this amazing dark ebony color. When it is wet, it looks like a deep rust red, and it had a great smooth texture while still holding body VERY well.

I made this set on the wheel just like normal bowls, but then when they were still pretty wet I used wooden paddles to square off the sides a bit. This was a new technique for me but I had seen some of the advanced studio people doing it.

Glazing was a HUGE challenge because glazes react differently to different types of clay - I did a set of 12 test tiles of various glazes and glaze combos, and most of them came through very dark (as to be expected on black clay.) However, the mint creme glaze seemed to form a beautiful texture. I love how it made the brown and green speckling and then shows the downward drips in a more pure green.

Far and away, these are my favorite pieces so far in my pottery study.

Personal Celtics Impact

I suppose it's great and all that the Celtics one the Champtionship... but it has resulted in helicopter and small-plane noise in the air above me for the last two and a half days. I hope those news-people and Cessna-advertisers get what they're looking for!

Go Celts

Back to the STUDIO OMG YAY

Monday I finally got back into the pottery studio.

it was pretty freaking awesome.

I mostly just unpacked all my old clay and tools, and of course spent time catching up with my peeps there (i.e. the studio managers and the studio elders who spend all day there since they are retired.) I did throw a couple pieces, and was happy to see I hadnt lost my touch, generally speaking.

I also brought back in a piece I had gotten out of the kiln just before my travels - it is one of the best pieces I've made so far, a very large pitcher in green and blue. However, a small crack formed on the handle and I'm afraid it is going to break... so I put a little more glaze over the crack and put it back in the kiln, and am hoping that the melting of the glaze/glass re-sets the crack. *Praying to the kiln gods.*

I also played flute last night for the first time in about 8 months... it was kind of scary how little has changed. Sure, I cant articulate super-fast notes as well, but besides that I sound essentially the same as I used to. yay! I'm playing in the MIT Summer Philharmonic again this year... will post the concert date (in August) when I have it

RIP Tim Russert, 1950-2008

Sad news today - Tim Russert, host of Meet the Press, died today at the young age of 58. As a total MTP junkie, I have to say he will be dearly missed.

Full CNN article

A cool part time gig, and my fingers are looking weird

So my job search is going ok... slow but steady. It's tough to find jobs in what I want to do (product management) and amazingly easy to find jobs in what i DONT want to do (marketing analytics.) Several times now I've applied for a product job only to get a call from that company saying "actually how about this analytics job??" WTF. It's ok though, I'm definitely making progress.

However, in the meantime, I am going to be working for a friend helping with her startup company. Just part time for the summer, but it's SUPER cool - they are building green, pre-fab homes. Umm, can you say UP MY ALLEY? I'm going to be doing a lot of random stuff for them, which is more than fine - it's something exciting to do, I'll learn a lot about green building and environmental stuff, and I'll get paid enough to cover my rent for the summer (read: give more financial breathing room while I keep searching for a full time job.) I'll post the company website once it's up.

In TMI (Too Much Information) news... it looks like my exzema has formed a new branch in the form of dyshidrosis. So my fingers and feet are starting to look a little funny. Not NEARLY as bad as any pictures of it you can find on the web, so I dont look like a monster... yet.

my trip to europe reinvigorated my love for Nutella

soooooooooooooooo delicious

D*mn Tall

Tonight I was watching a show on Discovery Health called "World's Tallest People." Apparently less than 1% of the female population is taller than 5'10". And if a woman is >5'10", she can be a member of the American Tall Association.


I am TOTALLY getting measured tomorrow to see if I qualify :) If I do then I get to compete in the Miss Tall International competition!!!!!!


They also talked about the difficulties tall women have in terms of findint men who are willing to date them, since men have "such fragile egos" and often are intimidated by tall women. NOW THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR.


Also makes me think I shouldnt have worn those 4" heels to Blair's wedding yesterday.... OOPS. You may notice... in ALL of these pictures I am slouching, or leaning on one hip, or some how ducking to some extent. Sorry fellas. Maybe I should take the perspective of one woman on that TV show who happened to be 6'8" and 3/4" - "It's not my fault that everyone else is so little!"






on on a more important note:
BEST WISHES TO LINDSAY AND BLAIR. Beautiful wedding yesterday... such happy kids! You two are one of my favorite couples on the planet. You are both such amazing people and deserve only the best- which, it seems, you have each found :)

I ran 8 miles today

I AM A MACHINE

personal best. I had two goals - 1) to actually FINISH 8 miles, and 1) to do it in 10-minute-miles, or 1 hr 20 minutes.
Not only did I finish (and feel like I was going to collapse,) but I did it in... drum roll... 1:19:58. F* YEAH.

and now... the robot must rest.

Ahh, these wonderful fish in the sea!

A few days ago I went up on match.com - why not? it's fun, I've had success on it before, and I have a little bit of time on my hands.

Yesterday I got a wink from ... well... this guy.

User Name: [censored]

Photo: So sadly, I can not post it, but suffice it to day that he was only wearing boxer shorts (that were low enough to see... his natural hair color,) was facing a mirror, making a peace/gang symbol with one hand while using his camera phone to take the picture with the other hand.

About Me:

Well I'm [censored] from Boston :D I'm 23 yr old... I work alot trying to pay off debt lol meaning school casue i just got my BS in computer science :D also i have a company that i take care off too :D now that i am getting older lol ;) I feel so old but anyways back to the subject i am here to find that special good that can treat me right and that i don't have to worrie that she be unfaithly or cheating on me... I am one woman man that is faithful and honesty... I want a woman that i can work out thing if we get into a fight or for something stupid :D Someone that can help me and spend there life with me thru life together. Someone that i can call my own not someone eles... Someone to hold and to love... Someone that can treat me right and respect me also 50/50 in the relationship. There more and more lol but if you get to know me or spend enought time with me you will see that i am special and far different from the rest...

for fun:

You know what that is a good question lol what do i like to do for fun...Well let me see i hang out with friends and try to make new friend too :D I work out and enjoy my time at work casue I'm the Boss hehe... I like to race and go do out door stuff

my job:

I am the Boss of all my jobs :D

favorite hot spots:

Well this can be a trick question lol my fav part is going back to visit my home town in Cambodian and other fun place too... My goal is to travel around the world and to grow old with someone special and live life to the fullest.

favorite things:

My fav thing in the world is Technology becasue i use it every day lol like my cell phone or my laptop... I enjoy working with computers and other tech thing... You can call me a geek or something lol but this geek is all about the money hehe :D

last read:

In this subject i don't have anything but i would like to say that I been good in the past and looking for that special caring and loving woman to be apart of my life... My name is [censored]

SOUL MATE. enough said.