I'm taking Physics II (electricity and magnetism, also with a lab) this Summer at UT, and today's lecture fried my brain. It was a pretty intense class, most of it devoted to giving a qualitative explanation as to why circuits work at a microscopic/quantum level, followed by some esoteric equations and mathematical relations that went whoosh right over my head. By the end of class, my brain decided to call it quits for the day, and punched out as I left the classroom. (Also, it just so happens that my prof also taught my dad, and they're good friends. But that's another story.)
Today's lab.
I had an appointment with an apartment realtor almost immediately after class, so I hiked back to base and went straight to my car. I had seen where I needed to go on Google Maps before I left for class, so I figured it wouldn't be hard to find the place.
I was wrong. I'll spare the irrelevant details, but suffice it to say, class had indeed left me braindead. I eventually ended up at the place quite a few minutes late, but it turned out not to be a big deal. But being late meant that my day was about to get extremely... interesting. Timing is everything.
So we got into Steve's (the realtor) black car, which was pretty much an oven after sitting out in the near 100-degree sun. Somehow, it didn't bother me much. Apparently walking to class to back in record-breaking heat every weekday got me used to it. But I digress.
Steve showed me the first place, which was nicer than I expected. As we got out of the car at the second place, though, some guy asked us if he could have some help crossing the street. We walked over, curious, and it turned out to be a blind guy. And he was using a PVC pipe instead of a cane, apparently because some idiots in West Campus broke it. As we got close, he jokingly said "Guys, am I black? I need to know." It kind of took us by surprise, and it was funny in an edgy way, but it tipped us off that this guy was pretty lively, though also a bit odd. He introduced himself (I forgot his name) and shook our hands (it was just a tiny bit awkward). He then asked us where he was, we told him, and then he asked us how close we were to where he was headed. One thing led to another, and asked if he could possibly get a ride there. He seemed really nice and sincere through the whole thing. Steve looked really pensive for a few moments and then said yes, but first he had to show me the apartment.
When we got back, he was a little bit surprised that we kept our word. We went to the car, drove back to him, and he had a little trouble finding the back door handle. He had a cigarette, though, so Steve made him put it out first.
On to the third property. As we got out of the car, Steve told the blind guy that he could stay in the car or come with us. He came with us. He needed to hold on to my shoulder, though, so I walked slowly and let him know if there were steps or anything. About that time I was thought "Is this really happening? How in the HECK did I get in this situation?" When we got inside, he kept making comments about how nice the place looked, and how he admired the carpet, etc. His dry humor didn't work as well the second time around. It was also at this time that it became apparent that he was a bit more eccentric than we originally thought. So I guided him back to the car and we were off again.
Now things got even more interesting. As we headed to drop the guy off at the predetermined location, he changed his mind and asks if we can drop him off somewhere else. Later, he changed his mind again. I don't know why Steve didn't just kick him out at the first place. That's what was agreed on. But we had done this much, so what the heck. For the next while, we drove around as Steve made some phone calls. Blind dude asked if he could make a call, too. In the middle of it all, we talked and at one point he was elaborating on his cane situation. Turned out he can get a free ride to the government agency that sells 'em, but they cost $24. So then I took this video:
At the beginning, I was looking for his PVC stick but couldn't find it.
I ended up giving him all the cash I had, $22. I never give money to hobos, but I'm a sucker for poor disabled people. And this guy was pretty desperate, he said he hadn't eaten for days. Though he does receive welfare, his check was several days away, and he was pretty lost without his walking stick.
After that, we finally dropped him off and continued looking at apartments.
When I got back to my place, I needed a beer. Badly. So I found one in the cabinet and chilled it in the freezer. As I was drinking it, I just sat there, digesting the events of my day. I'm not too fond of beer, but, wow, was that satisfying. Then I downed some food (I hadn't eaten all day, and it was around 5:00) and took a sorely-needed nap. For the rest of the day, I just stayed inside and never seriously considered working out, though that was the original plan.
Austin is weird, indeed.
Bonus: I took this the other day on my way to class. This was across the street from campus:
