# Chateau de la Tobler

## Saturday, April 19, 2008

### G'day to my family

So, May 2. I think that is a great day for celebration, not only because of a wedding but for other reasons in my life. Congrats to Alyson.
The dinner I did not like to eat was most likely meatloaf. It's the only thing that I can think of right now that I was never a big fan of growing up. Granted, as a nearly grown up teenager ready to start college I think I did eat what was made and I think I even started to enjoy that meal. Other then that I can't think of anything that I really hid from. Maybe I stopped liking the meatloaf after one time watching mom prepare it and thinking it was too weird that she used her hands to mix everything, which included a raw egg. Another reason to testify that I also have sensory issues since I could feel what it felt like without even feeling it and it disgusted me.
Next, I will tell you all the extra good thing that happened to me last Friday that mom alluded to. I was awarded a fellowship for the next year. Let me tell you a little of the build up to being offered this fellowship.
I first heard about less then 2 weeks ago, 3 days after the deadline on the flyer my advisor gave to me. My advisor told me he talked to one of the people in charge and that if I made contact quickly then I could still be considered for the fellowship. It includes tuition wavers and an extra $30,000 stipend for the year. (Only one year I found out later. No chance for a repeat the next year.) I would be expected to share my research with students in grade school. I would be assigned to a teacher in the valley and together we would teach. I would be at the school 2 days in the week and be expected to come up with at least 2 full lesson plans on relating my research to them. I also have to participate in a weekly seminar during the next main semester and take part in a 2 week introduction at the beginning of June. This is about $10,000 more then I am currently getting doing research by itself or being a TA. My advisor informed me that he is having difficulty securing grants to continue to pay for all us graduate students he has. If I got this fellowship then he would not have to worry about finding me and he will be less stressed over funding the rest in the group. I am glad to say again that I did get the fellowship. So that is the great news that has taken place in my life recently. A little more cash, which we hope does not go directly back into insurance, and a little less stress about where the funds are going to come from to pay my way here at ASU. If my advisor does not get more funding then I might have to TA my last year at ASU. Oh well. One year at a time.
Love you all tons. SKT

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