I want a carry-on bag that can fit my (large) laptop in an outside pocket for security checkpoints.  I got the timbuk2 Copilot but it isn't quite large enough.  I like the whole clamshell design for fitting things but really want that outside pocket.  A shame manufacturers don't list the dimensions.

It's interesting how different environments can lead to very different work styles just based on who is around.
While I usually work from Boston where I spend most of my time reading/writing specs, code, and interfacing with partners.
This past week I went out to the main office in San Francisco where I found very little time for that.  Most of my time was spent consulting with other team members on upcoming projects, providing background info, and otherwise answering questions.  I was, I'm sure, minute-for-minute about as busy as I usually am in Boston, but if you look at work done on paper much less productive.

I think both forms are pretty useful though the product is different.

I had an adventure today with a friend who noticed this blog post about a nearby highway interchange that never happened.  We found it and wandered... it's a bit bizarre walking along a highway-sized road complete with curbs with nobody on it and no possible connection for cars to get there.

For most of the past year my job has involved working to integrate with POS vendors so my company's product can work in restaurants they're installed in.  Something new and different happened this week though - a potential vendor, in integration discussions volunteered to do the integration from their end!  It's an interesting difference being the one whose technology is sought after now.

Most every year thus far in my life, Christmas has been spent with my parents and brother.  Our tradition (as I'm sure is true for many others) is to go to the movies and then eat at a Chinese buffet (two of the only things open that day).  This year, for the first time, I'll be spending the day with my partner and family elsewhere.  What will they do for the day?  It should be an adventure.

Last night I went to an event which drew people from largely one broad MIT-related social circle (of which I knew the majority of members) as well as people from the host's other circles who I didn't know.  The new-to-meet people were interesting and exciting but I discovered that conversation involving both sets felt unbalanced.  For any subject with context normal to the MIT crowd, that context had to be re-explained to the others.  While some subjects are always exciting and everybody can pitch in with the explanation and enjoy getting to tell the story, others are more mundane and only really useful for background, leaving those who already know bored.  Are there nice neutral topics where this doesn't come up?  The weather?

This past week I was on a trip to DC for a few days for work.  On Wednesday we wrapped up well earlier than any of our flights back so we were left looking for a place we could work from with wifi.  Conveniently, we were all flying out of Dulles and I've always wanted to go to Air and Space Udvar-Hazy at Dulles.  It was rather unsurprisingly awesome.  We set up shop for a few hours in the cafe with free wifi and worked from there.  After doing a bit, I went with my coworker Bill and wandered through the huge hanger that is the museum.  I got to see the Concorde, Blackbird, Enterprise (shuttle), and the Enola Gay.  Definitely an interesting place to work from for an afternoon!

All too often lately I've been taking trips elsewhere on the East Coast or further out West by plane.  As we take off and land I always look to spot MIT and my house.  At one point I actually identified where I live down to the building, which I was pretty proud of.
On Monday, though, Josh offered to take me up with him flying to see Boston from the air.  It was a quick trip - less than an hour in and back - but we got to circle MIT at around 2K feet (Logan was really nice about it) and I got some pictures.  What fun!

Apparently I really care about being connected to the Internet.  I somehow ended up on a bus home for only two and a half hours rather than the scheduled four.  This bus also had an added bonus: WiFi.  Sadly, while I could associate from my pocket tablet to the bus it wouldn't route out.  I discovered this only an hour from home but rather than wait I went and tethered my phone.  My need to read messages was just that strong!  Except nobody was online, it being the day before Christmas.  I wonder why I did it...

In various classes at MIT I've written design proposals for projects.  Now, going into the real world there seem to be RFPs as the equivalent.  Are they really the same or is there a different focus?