75 minutes of Spin

Josh and I attend a spin class twice a week at the early hour of 6:30 AM. Those 45 minutes are killer, but I feel so proud of myself afterwards that I survived. Today was our last spin class for the summer (we have a month break until the fall classes start up). Today was a "special" 75-minute class...I burned 600 calories. It was crazy long, and I was just glad that I finished the 75 minutes and didn't die. Someone in class said that we need to make shirts that say, "I survived 75 minutes of spin class!"

Chemistry Quotes

I found some chemistry quotes today. I thought they were interesting.

It is disconcerting to reflect on the number of students we have flunked in chemistry for not knowing what we later found to be untrue.
- Weber, Science With a Smile, 1992

We know very little, and yet it is astonishing that we know so much, and still more astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power.
- Bertrand Russell

I remember when I was an undergrad, and my professor stopped talking right in the middle of his lecture on atomic orbital theory. Dr. Baxter said in effect, "When we get to Heaven, God could tell us that we had it all wrong about this stuff...of course you still will be tested over it." And then he continued lecturing. That thought always stuck with me. There's so much knowledge that we "think" we know and then find out later it was incorrect or not entirely true. Scientists can study down to subparticles, but we can't fully comprehend it all. We say, "Oh, it's just chaos after that." I think there's still order to it; we just aren't smart enough yet to figure it out.

Well, I just thought I would offer a little food for thought. It's things like this in science that confirm my faith in God. Everything is too complex to have just "come about."

Visit to Marlow

Back in June, I took a little road trip with my Aunt Sissie and Mamaw down to Marlow, Oklahoma. We met other family at my great-grandmother's (Nona) to help her move. It was a nice time catching up and visiting. I saw my great aunts and great uncles...and my great-great aunts and great-great uncles! What a crew!

Uncle Alf, Aunt Lorene, and Nona 

I tried to organize all of Nona's jewelry. 

Aunt Kaye, Uncle Bob V., Mamaw, Nona, and Aunt Lynn laughing 

Me and Aunt Sissie 

Mamaw and me 

Uncle Bob, Mamaw, Me, Aunt Sissie, and Nona 

This is what I wish I was doing right now..."skiing" or at least falling down a hill in the snow. It is SO HOT here...like I'm sure it is everywhere in the U.S. right now. It's 10:30 at night here, and the heat index is 99...what in the world??? 

These are some people I work with from my research lab...Alan, Zeid, and Sulaiman. In all my pictures I've ever taken with the research group or at a conference, I'm either chees'in it or I look especially nerdy. This one is a toss-up! 

Why I Love the OSU Library

So I'm writing my pre-proposal finally. I convinced my advisor it was a good idea..now it's time for my committee to be convinced. I've been in the library A LOT it seems here at school. Searching for articles. Looking for books. Writing up my idea. So here are things why I Heart the OSU library:

1. The coffee shop has the best chai lattes...ever.
2. When I'm having a problem locating or printing an article, any staff librarian is EXCITED to help me. I feel like a celebrity.
3. The staff here know me. Somebody told me the other day, "Do you live here?" Okay, so maybe I'm here A LOT, but at least the librarians notice.
4. If our library doesn't have it, they'll get it for you in no time.
5. There are many good places to work in the library. Quiet places. Places to take a quick nap with no interruptions. (hmm...That'll be my next entry...Why I Heart Naps...)

Top 10 Memorable Things at Camp This Year

1. My cabin. I had a great group of 5-6th grade girls. Everyone actually showered this year. Yay!
2. Mice. Every night for 4 days we had a little visitor, by the second night I was screaming with my girls on top of the bed. Our heroes killed the mouse on the 5th night.
3. My co-counselor Linda. She was easy to get along with and fun. She also gave me medicine at night so I wouldn't have to walk to the nurse's to get it in the dark.
4. Snake citings. People were seeing copperheads, and I saw the rattlesnake that Jeff killed with a stick.
5. Fishing. I actually caught a fish. Of course, I wasn't going to take it off the hook. One of Josh's campers did it for me.
6. Friday night party. The 4th-6th grade girls had a party in the mess hall. I just sat down and laughed at them - they were wound up. Bigtime. I think that's what happens when you chug 6 cups of Dr. Pepper at midnight. Yes, one of our girls did that.
7. Teaching. I got to teach the 6th grade and 10th grade girls. Very different audiences. Very different subjects. Ha!
8. Canteen. I ate at least one candy bar a day. The candy and pop got me through the days when the food was too gross to eat.
9. Fireworks. Fires. Fireworks landing right behind us. That excitement caused one of my girls to start crying. I was more worried that a snake was going to come up behind me.
10. Skits. Josh singing "I've Been Everywhere" and all the performances we had this year...Lighten Up, Summer Singers, and Phil's Gameshow.

Scientifically Chic

So there's this article I read that gives tips on how to decorate your kitchen scientifically. You can use test tubes for spices, salad dressings in volumetric flasks, or candles on watch glasses. I have a feeling Josh would veto this redecorating idea...
http://www.orangemagazine.com/article.php?aid=202

PDN (Public Display of Nerdiness)

Like in many nerdy departments, we have professors that talk to themselves in the hallways. Usually he or she is giving the day's lecture to themselves or trying to solve a research problem out loud. I don't find it odd anymore when I see it in my building. Of course, if you are in public, that's a whole other ballgame. I happen to drive by one of these professor's houses yesterday and saw him outside in his yard talking to himself and the cat. He was lecturing about chemistry in public! I think the cat's eyes were glazed over.

My 3rd Anniversary Mug

I just recieved my complimentary mug for being a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) for 3 years. I didn't get a mug the first year, and last year it broke in the mail. I'm suprised the mug survived the trip this year. It's in a thin styrofoam container with tape wrapped around it. Not the most sturdy packaging. My nerdy mug has the element lithium on it since it's the third element on the periodic table of elements. There's also some nice facts about lithium to read about on the mug. I must say, I'm very proud of my chemistry mug. I really don't have much chemistry parafernalia so it's kinda cool. I can't wait until next year's beryllium.

Josh and Newman 

Newman's Recovery

We picked Newman up today after his surgery. He's still in some pain, and his Frankenstein-looking leg is shaven with stiches going up his whole thigh. I'm glad the surgery is over, but he can't run or jump for 8 weeks! That is going to be hard for a bird dog! He's either in his kennel or on a leash inside or outside. Right now, he's sleeping a lot though so that's good I guess. Padme is cute; she tries to open the kennel up so Newman can play with her. She's probably lonely during the day.
I'm this bad with our dogs, I'm going to be a nervous wreck when I have kids and they get hurt! haha
Josh is seranading Newman now. Okay not really, but he is practicing his guitar in the living room where Newman's resting.

Music Mania

Friday night, Josh and his dad played their guitars and LaNette and me sang karokee. Josh is getting better and better at the guitar, but I still think my favorite part was when Josh sang "Redneck Woman" on karokee.

Jam session with Dennis and Josh