We're going to Virginia!

Today it's announced that I officially am going to join Virginia Tech's Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics in Blacksburg, Virginia. This is in the middle-left part of Virginia, a little closer to the West Virginia border than shown in this CNN map to the right. It's in the Appalachian mountains, less than 15 miles from the Appalachian Trail. It's very pretty.

An extra special bonus: they have cows there. And Toyota Tercels that look like cows. We hope to one day have our own chickens.

As the map shows, Virginia Tech is far from California. Not being one for a long commute, we'll be moving there. Not today, not tomorrow, but someday before classes start in August. Unless teleportation comes along and adjusts humanity's sense of distance and location.

We'll be closer to Washington DC, New York, and Barcelona, but further from many of our friends and family. Our distance from Texas will not change appreciably.

There is of course more to come on this subject as the days progress.

But for now, a final note. Mystery surrounds the Virgnia Tech mascot, a "Hokie". This is not to be confused with the word 'hokey', as in 'effusively or insincerely emotional'. In fact, no less than the ignorance-fighting power of the website The Straight Dope was needed to clarify what a Hokie is.