Yesterday was a weird and wonderful run. We started much later than usual, at 6:15. That meant that, by the end, we were running in the dark, which we'd never done before in this journey. It was kind of nice, I must say. Although the battery on my bike light was dead, so the bike ride back home was a bit scary.
Also, last night was "Full Moon on the Quad", perhaps Stanford's weirdest and sketchiest traditions. Just a few short blog entries ago we ran on the freshman move-in day, and I welcomed my former students. Now, just a few weeks later, they're making out with people in public.
Our first stop was up the golf course hill to the Observatory, which is a building that gives you a great view. It was just about sunset, and we climbed up the several flights of stairs to get to the top. The sunset view was beautiful, and Ira suggested we pause and take a photo to post on the blog. I refused; if you want to see it yourself, you'll have to run up the hill like we did. Here's a picture of the funky observatory, though. I think it kind of looks like a big tree house.
We then ran to Old Union, where we had to run through the Quad, and noticed the setup for "Full Moon on the Quad." There were lights, a sound system, a check in station, and barricades. Very different than when we were students. Oh, and it was getting dark by now, and Ira stepped off a curb at the Quad and hurt himself a bit. Old Union is right across from the Bookstore, and it's an administration building and used to a great frisbee golf hole.
Next was the Organic Chemistry building. We actually had to bring out the map on the iPhone here, as we weren't quite sure exactly what building it was. It was almost totally dark by now, and this building is set in a bit behind the Keck Science building. It is not the most impressive looking building, actually, and we had to run all the way around it to find the sign that says "Organic Chemistry." The building looks almost like a trailer.
We had a weird stop next: the map says "Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) Clinic" under the list of buildings, but it isn't actually labelled on the map. It says the building is at "C-5", but when you go to "C-5" on the map, there isn't such a labelled building at all. I remembered that is is somewhere off Welch Road, but I wasn't sure exactly where. We ran through the hospital and ran down Welch Road (totally dark by now) and happened to find the building. We were deep in conversation talking about human resources and trying to stay far enough apart so we wouldn't run into each other, and I was happy to see a sign that says "Otolaryngology." Ira didn't even see it, either because it was dark or because the conversation was so interesting.
We had one last place to go, which was on our way home. It's called Owen House, and it is right by Hillel, Haas Center, and those buildings close to home. We were tired by then (and did I mention it was dark?) and I got mixed up and thought it was on the other side of the street. Weirdly, Ira knew where this building was, because it has to do with his housing. He didn't know it was called Owen House, though.
One other funny anecdote: Sometimes when we're running, we run past other runners and ask each other "Do you think they are faster or slower than we are?" On this run, the entire Stanford cross country team came flying by us, no shirts and long legs. Without me saying anything, Ira said "They're faster."
Distance: 6.2 miles (121.6 total)
Also, last night was "Full Moon on the Quad", perhaps Stanford's weirdest and sketchiest traditions. Just a few short blog entries ago we ran on the freshman move-in day, and I welcomed my former students. Now, just a few weeks later, they're making out with people in public.
Our first stop was up the golf course hill to the Observatory, which is a building that gives you a great view. It was just about sunset, and we climbed up the several flights of stairs to get to the top. The sunset view was beautiful, and Ira suggested we pause and take a photo to post on the blog. I refused; if you want to see it yourself, you'll have to run up the hill like we did. Here's a picture of the funky observatory, though. I think it kind of looks like a big tree house.
Next was the Old Chemistry Building, which has been surrounded by chain link fence for several years now. It probably is one of the oldest buildings on campus, along with the Quad, and it looks sort of like a cool castle. Or, as Ira called it, an old high school from last century. We didn't actually touch it, of course, but we saw the sign that said "Department of Chemistry." Except that a big piece of plywood was covering up part of it, so it kind of looked like "mistry", which made it look like the "Ministry of Magic" and reminded me of Hogwarts.
Next was the Organic Chemistry building. We actually had to bring out the map on the iPhone here, as we weren't quite sure exactly what building it was. It was almost totally dark by now, and this building is set in a bit behind the Keck Science building. It is not the most impressive looking building, actually, and we had to run all the way around it to find the sign that says "Organic Chemistry." The building looks almost like a trailer.
We had a weird stop next: the map says "Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) Clinic" under the list of buildings, but it isn't actually labelled on the map. It says the building is at "C-5", but when you go to "C-5" on the map, there isn't such a labelled building at all. I remembered that is is somewhere off Welch Road, but I wasn't sure exactly where. We ran through the hospital and ran down Welch Road (totally dark by now) and happened to find the building. We were deep in conversation talking about human resources and trying to stay far enough apart so we wouldn't run into each other, and I was happy to see a sign that says "Otolaryngology." Ira didn't even see it, either because it was dark or because the conversation was so interesting.
We had one last place to go, which was on our way home. It's called Owen House, and it is right by Hillel, Haas Center, and those buildings close to home. We were tired by then (and did I mention it was dark?) and I got mixed up and thought it was on the other side of the street. Weirdly, Ira knew where this building was, because it has to do with his housing. He didn't know it was called Owen House, though.
One other funny anecdote: Sometimes when we're running, we run past other runners and ask each other "Do you think they are faster or slower than we are?" On this run, the entire Stanford cross country team came flying by us, no shirts and long legs. Without me saying anything, Ira said "They're faster."
Distance: 6.2 miles (121.6 total)
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