This has nothing to do with anything, but my uncle just sent me a video by Corning called A Day Made of Glass. I thought it was cool.
Watch it here.
Showing posts with label geek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label geek. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Ta-Daaaaaah!
Three years really is too long to have the same blog look, isn't it? I mean, everyone & everything needs a good sprucing up after 3 years, right. So here it is.
Big thanks to Amy for the inspiration. When she changed her template to add bigger pictures and videos, I emailed her to ask her how? How did you do that? And she kindly sent me a long, detailed explanation via her husband to edit the code. Great! I'll get right on that!
Ummm, maybe not.
The idea of sitting down to learn & re-learn my rusty & very limited html code skillz was a little daunting. When I was whining about this to my friend Tabatha, who also recently reworked her own blog, she said Hey, I'm bored. Why don't I see what I can do! And that's what she did. She did this all. So a huge, HUGE thank you to her! ::smoooooch::
Obviously I'm not done. I still have to change everything in the sidebar ---->
And find a site to host my bigger pictures. But in the meantime, I am a happy, happycamper blogger.
Thanks girls!
More blog posts to come. I'm trying to catch up, Mom. I swear!
Big thanks to Amy for the inspiration. When she changed her template to add bigger pictures and videos, I emailed her to ask her how? How did you do that? And she kindly sent me a long, detailed explanation via her husband to edit the code. Great! I'll get right on that!
Ummm, maybe not.
The idea of sitting down to learn & re-learn my rusty & very limited html code skillz was a little daunting. When I was whining about this to my friend Tabatha, who also recently reworked her own blog, she said Hey, I'm bored. Why don't I see what I can do! And that's what she did. She did this all. So a huge, HUGE thank you to her! ::smoooooch::
Obviously I'm not done. I still have to change everything in the sidebar ---->
And find a site to host my bigger pictures. But in the meantime, I am a happy, happy
Thanks girls!
More blog posts to come. I'm trying to catch up, Mom. I swear!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
An Excuse to Use Power Tools
(FYI - Still here. Still no babies. Still monstrously huge. Ugh.
And now back to our regularly scheduled blog post...)
Due to some unplanned changes in our original nice, calming nursery furniture and decor ideas (thanks to the lovely McGee), it's become necessary to inject a bit more color in there to round everything out. You'll see what I mean when I finally post pictures of the nursery, and I promise I will. But not until I can thoroughly impress you (maybe - or you might find it hideous) with the finished product. :)
To add color, I decided that paper lanterns were the way to go. But in my usual quest to make life just that little bit more challenging and complicated, I decided I'd make a mobile for the lanterns rather than just stick them to the ceiling as most sane people would choose to do. It was a fun, little project and it gave me my first opportunity ever to use power tools. Now I ask you, what's not to love?
Ingredients:
Paper lanterns of various sizes & colors
3-ft long 1/2-inch diameter wooden dowels (I only used 2)
nylon-coated stainless steel wire
crimping beads
wire cutters
pliers
sand paper
drill with a teeny-tiny drill bit
hacksaw (oooh yeah, baby!)
1. I found it helpful to sketch out a plan for my mobile and break up the construction of each portion into smaller pieces. I also found it most useful to construct it from the bottom-up, if that makes sense. I would assemble the smaller pieces and slowly add them together to make a bigger piece. Then that bigger piece would be added to the main dowel to make up the whole. If you try this yourself, you'll soon see what I mean...
2. First, take a wooden dowel and drill two holes, leaving enough space between each to accommodate for the circumferences of the lanterns you'll be using in this small section. You don't want the hanging lanterns to touch each other after assembled.
2. Use the hacksaw to cut the dowel so that each drilled hole is on the ends. (Check out my poor, swollen hand!)
3. You'll want to use sandpaper to smooth the ends of the wooden dowel because it'll be nasty and splintery after the cut - not the best for babies.
4. Next you'll play with the wire and cut out appropriate lengths to create your mobile design. Use the crimping beads and pliers to create little loops on the ends. These loops will be attached to the the metallic C-shaped bit inside the lanterns.
5. Take a quick break to coo over kitty adorable-ness.
6. The looped end of the wire will be used to hang the lanterns. With the other end of the wire, insert it through the drilled hole in the wooden dowel and loop the wire around the dowel a few times. Use a crimping bead to attach the loose end of the wire to the part of the wire hanging down from the dowel. (Hope that makes sense...)
7. After you've attached lanterns to each side of the dowel, you'll need to find the point along the middle stretch of the dowel where, when suspended from that point, each side is balanced so that the dowel will hang horizontally. This was the trickiest part for me (and I messed up on my first try). What I found most effective was using the tip of a ballpoint pen, moving it along the bottom of the dowel until each side was balanced with the dowel hanging horizontally. (This was too hard to photograph, but below you'll see a piece of wooden dowel with lanterns attached to each side and another hole drilled between them.)
8. This hole was secured as described in step 6 (inserting the wire through the hole, wrapping the wire around the dowel a few times and securing it with a crimping bead). With the other end of the wire, attach this smaller piece to the main dowel that runs along the entire top of the mobile. Secure this smaller piece to the main dowel in the same way as above.
9. Continue to attach each smaller pieces to the main dowel, making sure that when each smaller piece twists and turns, the lanterns won't bump into each other. Here's all the pieces assembled.
10. All that's left to do is add a hook to the top of the main dowel, making sure again to choose a location where, when suspended, the main dowel will hang horizontally. I plan on using a thicker wire (and bigger drill bit) for this as it needs to support quite a bit of weight.
And voilà! My bright, colorful paper lantern mobile!
I'll get Greg to insert a hook into the ceiling in the nursery so that this mobile will stretch over both cribs and give the babes something cheerful to stare at while they're stuck in their cribs.
After that, all we really need are the curtains and our nursery will be done. Finally! Can't wait to share. But let me warn you now that all that color above is just a small sampling of the BURST of color you'll find. Prepare yourselves accordingly.
And now back to our regularly scheduled blog post...)
Due to some unplanned changes in our original nice, calming nursery furniture and decor ideas (thanks to the lovely McGee), it's become necessary to inject a bit more color in there to round everything out. You'll see what I mean when I finally post pictures of the nursery, and I promise I will. But not until I can thoroughly impress you (maybe - or you might find it hideous) with the finished product. :)
To add color, I decided that paper lanterns were the way to go. But in my usual quest to make life just that little bit more challenging and complicated, I decided I'd make a mobile for the lanterns rather than just stick them to the ceiling as most sane people would choose to do. It was a fun, little project and it gave me my first opportunity ever to use power tools. Now I ask you, what's not to love?
Ingredients:
Paper lanterns of various sizes & colors
3-ft long 1/2-inch diameter wooden dowels (I only used 2)
nylon-coated stainless steel wire
crimping beads
wire cutters
pliers
sand paper
drill with a teeny-tiny drill bit
hacksaw (oooh yeah, baby!)
1. I found it helpful to sketch out a plan for my mobile and break up the construction of each portion into smaller pieces. I also found it most useful to construct it from the bottom-up, if that makes sense. I would assemble the smaller pieces and slowly add them together to make a bigger piece. Then that bigger piece would be added to the main dowel to make up the whole. If you try this yourself, you'll soon see what I mean...
2. First, take a wooden dowel and drill two holes, leaving enough space between each to accommodate for the circumferences of the lanterns you'll be using in this small section. You don't want the hanging lanterns to touch each other after assembled.
2. Use the hacksaw to cut the dowel so that each drilled hole is on the ends. (Check out my poor, swollen hand!)
3. You'll want to use sandpaper to smooth the ends of the wooden dowel because it'll be nasty and splintery after the cut - not the best for babies.
4. Next you'll play with the wire and cut out appropriate lengths to create your mobile design. Use the crimping beads and pliers to create little loops on the ends. These loops will be attached to the the metallic C-shaped bit inside the lanterns.
5. Take a quick break to coo over kitty adorable-ness.
6. The looped end of the wire will be used to hang the lanterns. With the other end of the wire, insert it through the drilled hole in the wooden dowel and loop the wire around the dowel a few times. Use a crimping bead to attach the loose end of the wire to the part of the wire hanging down from the dowel. (Hope that makes sense...)
7. After you've attached lanterns to each side of the dowel, you'll need to find the point along the middle stretch of the dowel where, when suspended from that point, each side is balanced so that the dowel will hang horizontally. This was the trickiest part for me (and I messed up on my first try). What I found most effective was using the tip of a ballpoint pen, moving it along the bottom of the dowel until each side was balanced with the dowel hanging horizontally. (This was too hard to photograph, but below you'll see a piece of wooden dowel with lanterns attached to each side and another hole drilled between them.)
8. This hole was secured as described in step 6 (inserting the wire through the hole, wrapping the wire around the dowel a few times and securing it with a crimping bead). With the other end of the wire, attach this smaller piece to the main dowel that runs along the entire top of the mobile. Secure this smaller piece to the main dowel in the same way as above.
9. Continue to attach each smaller pieces to the main dowel, making sure that when each smaller piece twists and turns, the lanterns won't bump into each other. Here's all the pieces assembled.
10. All that's left to do is add a hook to the top of the main dowel, making sure again to choose a location where, when suspended, the main dowel will hang horizontally. I plan on using a thicker wire (and bigger drill bit) for this as it needs to support quite a bit of weight. And voilà! My bright, colorful paper lantern mobile!
I'll get Greg to insert a hook into the ceiling in the nursery so that this mobile will stretch over both cribs and give the babes something cheerful to stare at while they're stuck in their cribs.
After that, all we really need are the curtains and our nursery will be done. Finally! Can't wait to share. But let me warn you now that all that color above is just a small sampling of the BURST of color you'll find. Prepare yourselves accordingly.
Friday, April 17, 2009
My New Mommy Mobile!
I kinda love it! Correction, I really love it!!
This is our brand new 2009 Subaru Outback. It's got a lot more power than my baby Geo Prizm. So much so that I was speeding along I-35 on the way home without realizing it. In my Geo, I didn't really need to look at the speedometer. I could pretty much tell how fast I was going by the sounds of the groaning motor. Not so much with this car.
I'm also amazed by all the stuff... When I got the Geo back in 1997, nothing came standard, except maybe power steering. Air conditioning was an add-on. With the Subaru, I get power locks and windows - what a concept- and cruise control, an alarm system, CD player, Ipod jack, what else... I don't even know. I'm drunk with the add-ons. :)
Poor Greg is so very, very jealous because this is primarily my car since I'll be with the boys for a while. But he's promised to pay me back one day by buying himself a super-sweet midlife-crisis car. I don't think he's joking.
Anyway, we both love it, and I can already tell life will be much easier with this car once those two little babes are here. Hallelujah for that!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Our First Baby Shower
Greg works at this great company, full of young, happy people. And a few of the girls wanted to throw us a baby shower. So nice!
I headed up there today for the potluck lunch to find their break room decked out in blue everything - table clothes, balloons, streamers, confetti. It was pretty cool.
Me with the hostesses, Dilek, Lauren & Rebecca
Look at this uber-cute spread! There was so much food. This is just a small section of it.
Admiring Rebecca's cake-making skillz
Seriously. Take a look at this thing! She made everything herself, including these super-cute fondant duckies & umbrellas. I'm so impressed!
And this diaper cake was made by the girl friend of one of Greg's co-workers. She's due to pop with their little girl on Friday. Not only is it adorable, but it is chock-full of all kinds of little goodies.
Peeps, enjoying their food. It was delish!
Greg and I with our hostesses!
(psst - Rebecca, the one in red, has lost 105 pounds using Weight Watchers. One hundred and five pounds! Doesn't she look fabulous!)
It was so much fun & I am so touched by everyone's generosity. They pooled money & Lauren spent two hours at Babies R Us last night decking us out with both of our infant car seats, a changing pad, many crib sheets, burp clothes, and tons of nursery thingies. Plus, there's still a gift card left over. It's just so generous & thoughtful that I don't even know what to say.
I headed up there today for the potluck lunch to find their break room decked out in blue everything - table clothes, balloons, streamers, confetti. It was pretty cool.
Me with the hostesses, Dilek, Lauren & Rebecca
Look at this uber-cute spread! There was so much food. This is just a small section of it.
Admiring Rebecca's cake-making skillz
Seriously. Take a look at this thing! She made everything herself, including these super-cute fondant duckies & umbrellas. I'm so impressed!
And this diaper cake was made by the girl friend of one of Greg's co-workers. She's due to pop with their little girl on Friday. Not only is it adorable, but it is chock-full of all kinds of little goodies.
Peeps, enjoying their food. It was delish!
Greg and I with our hostesses!(psst - Rebecca, the one in red, has lost 105 pounds using Weight Watchers. One hundred and five pounds! Doesn't she look fabulous!)
It was so much fun & I am so touched by everyone's generosity. They pooled money & Lauren spent two hours at Babies R Us last night decking us out with both of our infant car seats, a changing pad, many crib sheets, burp clothes, and tons of nursery thingies. Plus, there's still a gift card left over. It's just so generous & thoughtful that I don't even know what to say.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE!!!
Monday, April 13, 2009
So... I Think We Just Bought a New Car...
A 2009 Subaru Outback!
Right now we both drive little sedans, and when I say little, I'm talking about my baby 1995 Geo Prizm.
::sigh::
I love that car. I really do. It has been so good to me and has withstood my particular brand of vehicular neglect like a true champ. It's 14 years old with a cracked windshield, hail damage and slightly peeling paint. And I still love that car. It probably has a good 100K miles in it if I wanted to give it a shot.
But the simple fact of the matter is that even if I managed to fit two car seats in the back seat and not kill my back schlepping two babies in and out of there multiple times a day, there's no way I'd be able to fit all the accompanying crap that two babies require. Just a double stroller alone would involve an open trunk, lots of rope, and much praying. Ghetto-tastic! So we came to the realization that it's time to upgrade.
Right away Greg wanted the Outback. Fine, but I thought we should also check out other options as well. So through much painful pleading and debate, I finally convinced him to also give the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CRV a shot. Greg is adamantly, vehemently, pig-headedly anti-SUV so you better believe that was a struggle! But I broke him down to at least consider the other two options.
Our plan was to test drive them all this week-end and then sit on it for a few weeks while we made decisions and haggled prices. Well, we test drove both a manual and an automatic Subaru. Then we hit Toyota for the RAV4. Next we had a horrible experience with the salesperson at the Round Rock Honda dealership. If you're ever there, and a gruff woman named Sophia starts talking to you, RUN AWAY. She was a nightmare! Greg and I are still pissed about it. I want to write a complaint letter to the sales manager, but I just don't know if anyone would care... Whatever.
Anyway, I personally had a slight preference for the RAV4, but not enough to make up for a $3,000+ difference in price. Greg's been on the phone all day with both Toyota and Subaru. Poor Toyota just can't compete with Subaru's cash back and 2.9% financing right now so we're done. Our "three week wait" turned into a 3-day wait. Easy as that!
We sign all the paperwork on Thursday morning, and I get to drive away with my brand new mommy mobile! I've never owned a new car in my life! I have to admit I'm excited, guys!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Dissertating
This is what a miserable grad student looks like.
Please note the aforementioned double chin...
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Please Note
My darling Gregory apparently read my blog from England this morning and takes objection to my reference of him as "neurotic". While I don't feel his description properly captures the true level of obsessive-compulsive tendencies involved, he asks that you please replace the word "neurotic" with the term "task-oriented" when reading past posts.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Apologies
I have been seriously slacking on my blog duties lately. Sorry, Ewa!
I am attempting to do some catching up now, but to tide you over, I leave with this scrumptious tidbit.
Greg seriously proud of his rock star parking - right on the corner of 6th across from Opal Divine's. This never happens in Austin.
I am attempting to do some catching up now, but to tide you over, I leave with this scrumptious tidbit.
Greg seriously proud of his rock star parking - right on the corner of 6th across from Opal Divine's. This never happens in Austin.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Tease
Just got this email from the Chairman's office that was sent out to all the grad students in my department:
date: Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 3:27 PM
subject: Free (Good) Coffee! Hooray!
Hello All~
We have some delicious hot Starbucks in our office up for grabs, complete with sugar and cream. Help yourselves.
And then this:
date: Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 3:44 PM
subject: Coffee is Gone!
Unless someone wants a big cup of cream.
I appreciate that they're willing to share, but I'm starting to think this is some kind of fun game for them. Kinda like teasing animals at the zoo. Throw out promises of free food to grad students and see how fast they desperately come running to collect on the goods. Maybe we're part of some sociology experiment. So far the only parameters being tested - as far as I can tell - is the bait. They've tried it with doughnuts, cookies, sandwiches, and now coffee.
FYI, so far doughnuts have the fastest clearance kinetics.
date: Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 3:27 PM
subject: Free (Good) Coffee! Hooray!
Hello All~
We have some delicious hot Starbucks in our office up for grabs, complete with sugar and cream. Help yourselves.
And then this:
date: Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 3:44 PM
subject: Coffee is Gone!
Unless someone wants a big cup of cream.
I appreciate that they're willing to share, but I'm starting to think this is some kind of fun game for them. Kinda like teasing animals at the zoo. Throw out promises of free food to grad students and see how fast they desperately come running to collect on the goods. Maybe we're part of some sociology experiment. So far the only parameters being tested - as far as I can tell - is the bait. They've tried it with doughnuts, cookies, sandwiches, and now coffee.
FYI, so far doughnuts have the fastest clearance kinetics.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Um... Come Again?
HOLY. CRAP.
Greg and I just came back from the mailbox. Two seconds after we walk through the door, Greg says I need to see something. He turns to me and proudly displays a letter he received from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
It is an official letter of clearance, stating that he has been "approved to transport, ship, receive or possess explosive materials."
Um.... yeeeaaaaahhhh...
Greg and I just came back from the mailbox. Two seconds after we walk through the door, Greg says I need to see something. He turns to me and proudly displays a letter he received from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
It is an official letter of clearance, stating that he has been "approved to transport, ship, receive or possess explosive materials."
Um.... yeeeaaaaahhhh...
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Women, Know Your Limits!
Its been a dark couple of days for me and grad school. But that's all the more motivation to get the hell out! Ugh.
While I'm fighting the panic, I leave you with this public service announcement.
While I'm fighting the panic, I leave you with this public service announcement.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Know What's Beautiful?
Attending a scientific talk given by your friend when he manages to drop the words "shit" and "butt ugly" into a seminar room full of profs and grad students. It wouldn't be a Gunther talk without that kind of authenticity. :)
Since he'skidnapped occupied with his old boss and other nerdy grad students tonight, I'm hitting the mall and buying two pairs of Levi 501's - long and skinny - for him. He already got the new boots yesterday. By the time he flies back to Madrid tomorrow, his supplies should be well stocked for another couple of years.
And on a completely different note, I've managed to neglect this blog for 3 weeks now. So sorry. We've been inundated with guests and parties. It will be my mission in life to complete some mass back-logs in the next few days. Patience, grasshopper.
Since he's
And on a completely different note, I've managed to neglect this blog for 3 weeks now. So sorry. We've been inundated with guests and parties. It will be my mission in life to complete some mass back-logs in the next few days. Patience, grasshopper.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Greg's 15 Minutes of Geek Fame
Remember when Greg had pro pictures taken for work?
Well, his photo, along with those of several other coworkers, made it into the new company booklet that will be distributed at meetings and conferences. His cute, little face will be making the rounds all over the U.S.!
And that same photo is also going to run in a full-page ad in the Journal of Toxicology!
Click on the image to see a larger version.
And sorry for the censorship.
It's not like it'd be hard to track down this ad or the company
but had to do it for some semblance of retaining privacy.
Is it ridiculous that I'm so excited?
It is the journal used by the bulk of customers in the forensic market, but honestly, how many people are we talking about here? When you think about the tiny fraction of a fraction of people in this world who are scientists and then how many of those actually read the journals and then how many of them actually read this particular journal... We're talking about a teeny-tiny population, but STILL! This means his cute, little face is going global, baby! :)
Well, his photo, along with those of several other coworkers, made it into the new company booklet that will be distributed at meetings and conferences. His cute, little face will be making the rounds all over the U.S.!
And that same photo is also going to run in a full-page ad in the Journal of Toxicology!
Click on the image to see a larger version. And sorry for the censorship.
It's not like it'd be hard to track down this ad or the company
but had to do it for some semblance of retaining privacy.
Is it ridiculous that I'm so excited?
It is the journal used by the bulk of customers in the forensic market, but honestly, how many people are we talking about here? When you think about the tiny fraction of a fraction of people in this world who are scientists and then how many of those actually read the journals and then how many of them actually read this particular journal... We're talking about a teeny-tiny population, but STILL! This means his cute, little face is going global, baby! :)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
What IS That?!?
Another downside to working in a chemistry building: the intermittent smells of death and fart.
Right now a potent waft of the latter is making its way through our labs. We have no idea where it's coming from or where it's going. We just want it to move along, never to return again.
Personally, I blame the organic kids down the hall - possibly a nasty trick but more likely some unfortunate soul forced into research requiring a sulfurous compound that not even the venting of the chemical hoods can contain. I don't know whether to hate him or pity him.
No. Pity, definitely pity. Off to steal a few breaths of fresh air...
Right now a potent waft of the latter is making its way through our labs. We have no idea where it's coming from or where it's going. We just want it to move along, never to return again.
Personally, I blame the organic kids down the hall - possibly a nasty trick but more likely some unfortunate soul forced into research requiring a sulfurous compound that not even the venting of the chemical hoods can contain. I don't know whether to hate him or pity him.
No. Pity, definitely pity. Off to steal a few breaths of fresh air...
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Where the Hell is Matt?
I stole this from my friend Katie's mom's blog.
Because it just makes me very very happy. :)
World peace and cultural understanding through really crap dancing... Love it!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Will Work For Donuts
I just got this email from our department secretary:
date: Fri, Jun 20, 2008 at 3:36 PM
subject: Donuts in graduate office
Hello All!
We have some donuts from Shipley's in the graduate office, about 2 1/2 doz., free for the taking...."first come, first served!"
Penny
Exactly five minutes later, I get this:
date: Fri, Jun 20, 2008 at 3:41 PM
subject: Donuts are all gone!!
Sorry. You graduate students should be "track stars!"
Penny
Bunch of scavengers! Ha ha!
p.s. In case you were wondering, I did not partake. ::giving myself a pat on the back::
date: Fri, Jun 20, 2008 at 3:36 PM
subject: Donuts in graduate office
Hello All!
We have some donuts from Shipley's in the graduate office, about 2 1/2 doz., free for the taking...."first come, first served!"
Penny
Exactly five minutes later, I get this:
date: Fri, Jun 20, 2008 at 3:41 PM
subject: Donuts are all gone!!
Sorry. You graduate students should be "track stars!"
Penny
Bunch of scavengers! Ha ha!
p.s. In case you were wondering, I did not partake. ::giving myself a pat on the back::
Friday, June 6, 2008
Bureaucracy...
You know one of the great things about being a scientific researcher at a big educational institution?
Spending 60 minutes of your life reading over a powerpoint presentation addressing the hazards involved in work you've been conducting for the past 7+ years.
Spending 60 minutes of your life reading over a powerpoint presentation addressing the hazards involved in work you've been conducting for the past 7+ years.
- It's a little late, isn't it?
- Most of this is pretty intuitive.
- By now, I think we've all got the hang to taking care of business safely and effectively without a remedial tutorial, thankyouverymuch.
- What could be condensed to 15 minutes worth of information is dragged out to 60 minutes for what I suspect is a raging case of boredom. And on a completely related topic, why is everyone so stinkin' long-winded?
- I'm a lucky one. Because I procrastinated, I can take the course on-line whereas others have had to sign up for and then sit through a 2-hour talk.
- Don't mind me. I'm just a bitter grad student with too much to do and too little time to do it...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)