Back East

I got most of it just right. I dropped off the dog, went to my usual parking lot at the Denver Airport, hopped the free shuttle and got off at the terminal, went through security with no problems, got something to eat for the plane, boarded an on-time flight to JFK, got my bag (which they gate checked for free because nowadays, everyone carries their luggage on board, it seems), took the train to Jamaica Station, NY, switched trains to take a train to Syosset, and was supposed to get the free shuttle provided by the lab I'm attending this training at.

Phew. I never saw the shuttle. Well, scratch that. I think I saw the shuttle leave, after waiting for 40 minutes. So I got a taxi. Best $9 I've spent on this trip so far. If you've ever been daunted by the prospect of traveling around NYC, I'd like to assure you that they've got the visitor thing down pat. It is easy, and when I even sorta kinda looked like I might have a question, someone came up to me and asked if I had a question. Now that I think about it, it was probably pretty obvious that I was from out of town. Still, though, I wouldn't hesitate to go to NYC on account of not knowing my way around.

But I'm on the north shore of Long Island, and I'm here to tell you there are a lot of big fancy houses in this area. You might take away the impression that there's lots of rich people, but it seems a lot of the 1% lives around here.

What a nice place, though. The site of my training is a non-profit research facility where people live and work. It's got a nerdy sort of feel to it and I confess I feel right at home. Maybe even a little on the hip side. I guess it's all relative. The original information said that the lodging was dorm style, two to a room, I thought. So I assumed (with a sigh) that I'd have to share a room with a stranger. Turns out, they have single-person rooms that share a bathroom. And I don't think there's anyone in the other room even. So no complaints on the housing. 

Oh, more nerdery. Outside the dorm I'm staying in is a large sculpture about protein transcription, shown below. The finished protein is to the left of the tree. I love this kind of stuff. 

Later

Well, I started this post over breakfast, and it's now the end of a long day. The training is on how to use the many (many, many, I have found out) online tools to examine DNA sequence data and sequenced genomes. I'm thankful for the binder of info they've given us, as it will take some time to digest. It's only 7:30 pm my time, but I'm going to turn in soon. Funny how that works. 

I wish (not surprisingly) that I had planned to stay tomorrow night instead of heading back home after the day's activities were done. Now that I think about it, I could have brought my stuff with me into the city and visited the natural history museum or the Met, as I think people call the art museum. I think they have lockers for travelers. I didn't want to incur the expense - well, have my boss incur the expense. So, long day, but I gain two hours going east to west.