Better pictures will come later.
Last night was the semi-official AAS after hours party. Held in Lance Armstrong’s SIX lounge on 4th street, the party promised good drinks, good times, and a chance to see your peers with their hair down. The party pretty much delivered, and thanks to the efforts of Gina, Jake, and the wonderful singing Emilie about 1000 astronomers of all levels – from baby undergrads to the most senior gray haired researchers – got their groove on.
This is actually a really important activity. It is extremely easy to get lost in our profession. We are people who spend vast amounts of time alone. We isolate ourselves on mountains in domes. We sit quiet behind our computers coding. When we collaborate we are intense, and passionate as we chase the numbers, the facts, the line of the curve and the dip of the spectra to the truth. But this does not make us friends. We are advised, and advisers, and colleagues.
And this type of event allows us to build friendships in an informal environment, where the older and sillier drag the younger and more scared onto the dance floor.
We were building community 1 cocktail at a time.
Seen on the dance floor at various times were Nick Scoville, Craig Wheeler, Kevin Marvel (sorta – he was on the edge of things helping us get tips for the wonderful DJ). In general, a flock of future gray hairs packed together in a seething blob of boogieing nerds. That I know of, nothing got too inappropriate (although there were a few interesting Public Displays of Affection between people who have known each other since grad school, and a few of us got some good giggles watching the Lindsey Lohan like behavior). I honestly think this was the best AAS after hours party I’ve been to.
See you in St Louis. Bring your groove and remember it always gets hot on the dance floor.
