Matthew's Journal

I'm retiring the use of this software to run my journal and I've switched to Wordpress. The transition is still a work in progress, but, for the moment, you should use the URL millercommmatt.com/wordpress. Eventually, you'll just be able to use millercommamatt.com to view my journal, photos, and anything else I put up.

I know I'm a little late with a follow up list, but I figured better late than never.

A Dresser/Chest
I would like a new dresser for my bedroom. The one I have is too small for my needs. The drawers are too shallow and no longer slide very well. I would like a new dresser with deeper drawers (20" - 24+"). Four or more drawers would be nice. I don't need anything real fancy, just something functional.

Over the past few months, I've acquired a new addiction: Starbucks's Caffè Lattes. I'm a fan of coffee, but I've always wanted something just a little different out of it. Coffee is thin and slightly bitter. While cream and sugar go a long way to hide the aspects of coffee and I don't like while leaving the wonderful aroma and bold earthen flavors, it's a rare cup of coffee that satisfies me completely. That's not to say I wasn't a fan, but I knew that there was room for improvement.

A while back, I don't remember when exactly, I ordered a caffè latte on a whim while in Starbucks with my mom. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Caffè Lattes are a combination of espresso and steamed milk. Good espresso is rich and shouldn't taste burnt or bitter. The steamed milk provides a good creamy body and just enough natural sweetness that no additives are required to please my pallet. It's everything I've always wanted a cup of coffee to be.

Starbucks manages to trigger a wave of corporate dislike in many people. Some people feel that a cup of coffee shouldn't cost more than a dollar. I know Starbucks has it's reasons and motivations for pricing the way it does. I'll be the first to say that I'd like to pay less to feed my caffeine addiction and I would like to support local coffee shops who have to work very hard to stay in business in a very competitive market. However, I have yet to find a coffee shop near me that can make better espresso than Starbucks. The espresso from everywhere else I've tried tastes burnt and bitter. So, that means that I pay $3.70-ish for my lattes at the local Starbucks. Fortunately, my local Starbucks has very friendly and competent staff and always makes me happy.

This evening I tried something a little different than my usual Starbucks order. Instead of getting a Venti Caffè Latte, I got a Venti Caffè Breve. It's just like a latte, but made with steamed half-and-half instead of steamed milk. I was looking for a latte that was even creamier. I wasn't disappointed. However, a caffè breve is far more filling than a latte. I finished about half of my breve this evening and that was with a dedicated effort. I think I'll stick with my normal latte in the future. The breve was just too much. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a really filling hot beverage, the breve might just be the thing for you. Just be warned that it's not for calorie counters. I hear that they will make a similar beverage with steamed heavy whipping cream that weights in at 1800 calories for a Venti size. I'm willing to bet money that the resulting drink is spreadable and would taste good on toast.

So, the moral of the story is that I'm now addicted to Starbucks. I now know exactly why their logo has the mythical siren.

On April 1st, the Nu Sigma Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta and North Carolina State University celebrated its tenth year of existence. The chapter was established by our international headquarters in 1996. I joined the fraternity in the spring of 2001. The chapter gained full membership in Phi Gamma Delta April 6th, 2002.

The chapter hosted our annual pig dinner Saturday. It was good to see old friends and to meet new brothers. It make me feel good to see something that I worked so hard to build grow and to continue to enrich the lives of new young men. I gained a lot of friends and had a lot of valuable friends during my days as an undergraduate member. I like to think that my council as a graduate helps the current undergraduates to avoid a lot of the mistakes my brothers and I made as undergraduates. All, I know it that my chapter is at a better place know than when I first joined.

Seeing old friends is nice. I can explain why, but there aren’t many things more heart warming that catching up and swapping stories with buddies over a few pints. I just wish having my brothers around didn’t distract me from my graduate work so much. I mean, what would you do when faced with the choice of deciphering remote sensing algorithms or having a beer with a good friend you haven’t seen in a year? So, as you might imagine, I’m a little worried about falling behind on my work. But, as those who know me well can readily attest, I would have found a way to put off the work anyway. Oh well! Here’s to good friends and rapidly approaching deadlines. Cheers!

To my brothers: Perge!