It's been an interesting day.

Not interesting in an earth-shaking or mind-befuddling way, but interesting in a very typical, steady and busy day.

No, not interesting enough to suddenly bring thoughts of bringing my long-dead blog back to life; somehow the need just arose all on its own- an impulse if you must.

So many changes have happened since I last posted- so many that to run through them all in a futile exercise to dust-off the cobwebs of stagnant time would be just that- futile.

The morning started with what has become an annoying trait of mine now-a-days, but at the same time, so cliched a beginning that it saddens me to have gone down that level. Yes, yes, I had to fight the annoying alarm of my mobile phone (oh all right CELL phone, America!). I find myself wondering how I ever had the will power and energy to get up at 5.00 a.m. in the past.

Living up to my cyber-generation's reputation, I woke up my laptop the first thing in the morning. Once I went through the expected time-wasting routine of checking e-mails, checking facebook and a quick stop to check on my virtual farm (maybe I'll write about my strange (and hopefully only) vice later), there was barely enough for morning ablutions.

With no time for breakfast, and cursing the chill of Raleigh I rushed to the bus stop only to give myself up with no resistance to the merciless winter wind for minutes which seemed to stretch to hours. Nevertheless, I made it in time for my physical therapy appointment at the Student Health Center. There, I was enlightened to the fact that my body is asymmetric and that my right shoulder level is lower than that on my left. Somethings just prove that ignorance is truly bliss.

An interesting hour and half later, after my hands and shoulders were tested and stretched to seek the cause of their chronic pain, I was released loaded with advice on ergonomics, exercise with a gratis gift of a therapeutic exercise band.

At least I hope it is free. Please don't let me down, GSSP! I can only be eternally grateful that my graduate school has provided me with a medical insurance that covers physical therapy 100%.

This would be a right moment for me to marvel that I am able to write so much about nothing after so long. Readability is another matter, but hey it's better than nothing, right!

The highlight of the day was a seminar conducted my the Graduate School as a part of its Preparing Future Leaders series. The guest speaker, Provost Jill Tiefenthaler of Wake Forest University had some unique insights and advice for those interested in academia. For one and a half hours she took us on her journey in the academic field, shared tidbits about how to be a better faculty member, take on leadership roles while maintaining the balance with one's personal life.

By the time Provost Tiefenthaler had taken her leave, I was late for Dr. Kim's class. One inspiring class to another, back to back. Despite my horror for calculus in high school and dubious efforts at mechanics in undergrad, I'm finding myself strangely drawn to the complex (well at this point in the semester, maybe not so complex) fundamental analysis of viscoelasticity of asphalt. Nerdy, huh? That's what I love about studying here in USA. The way teachers interact is just so different and one can feel the "educational eliteness" as Provost Tiefenthaler put it today, on the campus.

After the class, I spent some time scrubbing old cans off their remaining binder with mineral spirit and hefting heavy buckets of baghouse fines to the oven. Tomorrow I have to meet my advisor to create a game plan for the project.

Back home I satiated my hungry stomach which ate pittance since the morning and whiled away time, yes, you guessed it- in front of the laptop. Before I close this post, I am tempted to call it useless, but I won't.

Because it wasn't. Not to me. It has recorded my first ever recorded day in USA and given me hope that words may still flow out of me, given the chance.

Here's to another eventful day!