Tryptophan Week

[aggienaut]

   The weekend before last (Nov 18-21 actually) I was at the AMWEST Model UN Conference in Las Vegas. My official report is here.


   Anyway, barely had I returned (Tues Nov 21), then I set off (the next day, Wednes Nov 22) to drive down south for Tryptophane Day. Fortunately most of my relatives were gathered at our cabin in the hills south of The Grapevine
   On the way down I found one of those secret truck gas stations I'd always wondered about (where trucks sneak off to to gas up). A 76 gas truck was refueling there despite the fact there was a 76 station on the other corner, which I found amusing. Then two nice white cars passed me on the freeway. The first thing I noticed was the tall antennas sticking out the top. They has "CA exempt" plates and the numbers "91" & "92" respectively in little digits on the bumper, but no other markings. Curious I edged up until I was alongside the back one. Looking over I see a police sargeant (with an armful of gold chevrons on his shoulder) staring back at me. Creeped out I quickly dropped behind him and waited for some unsuspecting vehicle to fly past.

   Thanksgiving was pleasant. Then on Friday I drove down to Mission Viejo where I recovered from the rustic life for a few hours before proceeding down to San Diego to hang out with the delightful Kristy Kristersson.
   On Saturday we (Kristy & I, & her parents) went to the San Diego Zoo, which was excellent as always. I saw some sort of mustelid I thought was really cool but can't remember the name. That evening we ate at this place Fred's in old town, where I had delicious calamari tacos.
   And on Sunday I drove the ten hours back up to Davis. Altogether I spent at least 20 hours driving, which is a pretty traumatizing thought. At least I had a lot of time to think about things ... mostly future prospective LJ entries and/or ideas for ASUCD ;)


Previously on Emosnail
   I still don't know what I'm going to do about the "year ago today" series - I liked it a lot but it was starting to take up too much space on every entry, and that makes the whole lj pretty recursive. Anyway while linking previous AMWEST entries I noticed there was a lot about the simmering drama in ASUCD three years ago...
   Three Years Ago Today: AMWEST 2003 - And several links to aggie which were broken by The Great URL Massacre
   Two Years Ago Last Week: My Impeachment in Retrospect - And I lead the charge against the corruption of the former Elections Committee, as part of the ongoing War on Wrong. Eventually the Schachter Elections Committee was axed and replaced by the Orwellians

Comments

[ashael.livejournal.com]

I know you're expecting me to ask, so... why tryptophan?

tryptophan

[emosnail.livejournal.com]

Though the wikipedia entry I linked to states that its effects are overrated, it is widely believed to be the primary cause of the drowsiness that is generally recognized to set in after consumption of a sumptuous thanksgiving meal.

Re: tryptophan

[ashael.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I was under the impression it is due to the blood concentrating in the abdomen. But, I shall have to check.

Re: tryptophan

[emosnail.livejournal.com]

Wikipedia says "Turkey is high in tryptophan, and is commonly credited with causing sleepiness after a meal, however this is largely a misconception. Turkey dinners are commonly large meals served with carbohydrates, fats, and alcohol in a relaxed atmosphere, all of which are bigger contributors to post-meal sleepiness than the tryptophan in turkey." and links that to a report from the Massachusettes Institute of Technology. I dunno though, because turkey makes me damn sleepy.

[pavel-lishin.livejournal.com]

I usually try to stay away from government cars and cars with strange markings. Last time I was in the south, we were following an 18-wheeler truck towing a flat-bed, with what looked like a big ice chest on the back, and marked with a lot of signs that strongly implied that the material inside was highly radioactive. We kept up with it for a bit, and I snapped some pictures, and then we passed it. About ten minutes later we were pulled over by a sheriff, and grilled on why the hell we were being so suspicious. Oh well.

[emosnail.livejournal.com]

Awhile ago Kristy saw a flatbed truck with some huge cylindrical object on it (covered so as to obscure any more specific identification), which was escorted by something like a dozen highway patrol cars and some government looking SUVs and things. I think it was a missile. Seriously.

[pavel-lishin.livejournal.com]

That's three flavors of awesome. I'd have taken pictures.

[emosnail.livejournal.com]

O= an icon other than "'no' dog!"

[pavel-lishin.livejournal.com]

I have several I use for comments sometimes.

[emosnail.livejournal.com]

I've always been tempted to create a "'yes' dog" icon..

[pavel-lishin.livejournal.com]

I've given it some thought.

[emosnail.livejournal.com]

hahaha