Elements used

For some strange reason my computer is having difficulty uploading an image I was going to use to help explain where I am useing what materials. I will try again tomorrow at a different computer. If I succeed then I will have a visual to help explain it all. If not I will attempt to explain it with plain words. For now, Keryn, yes, I was using Gold. We switch to a platinum film because it is smoother, atomically speaking. We also needed another film that can stay metallic, conductive, even at temperatures of 1200 C. we are using Ta but soon I hope to use Molybdenum. Love you all.

Kites and stuff

Samuel, I'm giggling over your troubles in the lab, but only because you fixed them. Thank goodness! But I'm giggling because I had a reputation in the Geology Dept--not just with cars and tires, but with equipment breaking JUST as I started to use it. The XRF was down for like three months, on and off, and it would work for other people's stuff (sometimes) and then stop working or start giving spurious results when my samples got put in--and often I wasn't the one putting the samples in! It just hated me. And the microprobe was in the same room, and it sometimes would act flaky around me--except it was a refurb from Russia, so it only cost the department $15000 instead of $30000, and some flakiness was expected.

But I'm super glad you fixed your pump, because it feels horrible to ruin something everyone else has to use, too. So you're going to use Ta instead of Pt--why Ta? Will the other Pt-group metals react with Si as well? And didn't you start with gold (or am I making things up)?

Telima is right about the cuteness of her babies. They are precious and funny. We went over to play the other day--in the backyard with Katy's new slide--and we had so much fun. It's nice to be over the stomach flu (mostly, as Mercy and Gideon still have very runny noses and croupy coughs), because even with pregnancy-nausea, I feel enough better to actually do things. It's a good thing, too, because Book Club (we're discussing "Number the Stars") is tonight at my house, and my house isn't really fit for people right now. So I have a lot to do today (which is why I'm sitting here writing on the internet. Procrastination, baby!).

Last night we went to the park to fly our new kite. Daddy and Ezra and Mercy had SO MUCH FUN--Gideon and I mostly just took pictures and sat and watched. Kites are a lot more fun then I remember from my childhood. Storms blew in yesterday afternoon and evening, and supposedly the temperature is supposed to go from 85 degrees yesterday to 48 degrees today. I don't know if I believe it, though. The sun is shining this morning, and it wasn't yesterday morning.

Not that you all care--how boring, talking about the weather! I love you all, though.

The awesomest brother in the bloggy world...

Samuel, thank you for trying so hard. I'm so sorry that I haven't posted in so long. I was sick and then my kids were sick, especially Katy, with the whole throwing up stomach flu thing. I check it every day and I always think "I need to post something..." and then one of my children will start screaming and I'll get distracted and never come back to it. But I love reading about your life. It sounds like you and Caren had some good talks! I'm so glad that Jenafer was able to be there to help you guys out with keeping your children at least relatively calm while you were speaking. It's so nice to have a sibling around to help out! I honestly don't know what I would do sometimes without Keryn so close.

I'm glad that everything worked out with your research and I hope that no more mishaps happen! It's so fascinating to me what you're doing. (Okay, I actually don't really understand what you're doing, but its fascinating to read about and the pictures are so cool!) I'm excited that you're getting faster internet, but I'm sad you have to pay for it. Tyler and I were talking this and we decided there just wasn't any way we could live without a fast internet connection, even if we could get a slower connection for free. Too much of what we do on a daily basis depends on the internet. But we definitely go without other things in order to pay for it.

As for us...well, there isn't much happening here lately. Tyler's finished with Winter Semester now. He's working full-time for the spring and summer terms so that we can afford to send him back to school in the Fall. I don't know if I've told everyone this, but he's officially (and finally) changing his major from Civil Engineering to Computational Linguistics. (Don't ask me, I'm just the wife.) He has a new job in the Computers in the Humanities (CHum) department as a TA/web developer. And right now during spring term he's actually teaching a class for them (CHum 250 - Internet Publishing). He's also doing a LOT of side jobs, building websites for people mostly. He's very busy, but very happy. As for me, I'm staying busy raising our cute kiddos and being a Mary Kay lady. I'm not doing too much with MK right now, but I do have 1-2 classes a week and it gets me out of the house on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons. Which is nice. And Tyler is an angel to watch the kids for me while I basically go hang out with a bunch of other women for a couple of hours. It brings in just enough extra money that we aren't having to scrounge for money right now, which is also nice.

As for Katy and Jayson...well, they're just as cute as can be. Katy is entering the terrible twos stage, which is very trying sometimes. But she makes up for it when she cuddles with me or gives me a random kiss on the cheek. She still loves her Uh-Oh bear, taking him everywhere with her. She's growing up so fast, I can hardly believe it. It's like I can watch her grow right now. She gets taller and smarter every day. Jayson is also growing fast. He's rolling now, mostly from his back to his tummy, which makes him madder than anything. He's not so good at rolling back onto his back, which is funny, since that's technically the easier thing to do. He just gets stuck on his tummy and screams until I come flip him back over. He's also discovered his feet and he drools like a mad man. They are the sweetest kids and I love them to pieces. I feel like the luckiest mom in the whole world. And that's us right now! I love you all and I promise, Samuel, to post more often! Even if I have to wait for my kids to be in bed at night, I'll get better at this!

Knowledge

So, knowing that David and Amy almost never post, I still hope they read, and knowing that LaDale is still mourning over the loss of a loved one, and that Keryn is sick (AKA pregnant), and that Mom is extremely busy with her calling, and that Jenafer is also busy with her children, I thought I would let you all read about what happened to me in my research over the last few work days. On Thursday I discussed with my advisor that the platinum I was using at the start of my sample was not working the way I wanted it to work. I needed it to stay a nice conducting film and it reacted with the silicon in my sample to form a semi-metal, which is not nearly as conductive. After this discussion we concluded that a different metal is desired and so I was going to try tantalum. I started the process on Friday. During this trial run I needed a water pump fairly close to the vacuum pump I was using. Sadly enough, while we were cleaning the lab and rearranging everything, the tubing to the water pump broke and got the electrical parts wet and I shorted the system. This is not good as this pump is the bread and butter to all the other experiments in the lab, not just my own but everyones. So I spent the rest of Friday trying, unsuccessfully, to fit the wiring. We saw several sparks during my attempts to fix it and I blew a few breakers. We even called the company to see if they had a replacement. No such luck. This equipment is so old that they stopped making it and the only way they would have it is it was in their scrap pile. They didn't find it. On Monday I went into the lab and after 2 1/2 hours was able to get it to work. I didn't realize that the spark spread a layer of conductive carbon over everything and that was why it kept shorting the few attempts we made on Friday. So all is working and the worse I had is it only put me back 2 days. Still going forward. Love you all. SKT

P.S. I hope you all are reading and that you just don't have time to write a little about yourself or comment on what has been written. Sorry that my topics don't seem to stir the conversations. I'll keep posting until I find something that everyone feels they can and will comment on. Love you all.

Sunday talks - by Bathilda Bagshot

Maybe the reason I grouped a definite Potter world name with the title of Sunday Talks is because my lovely wife managed to quote Professor Snape in her talk on budgets. It was not a direct quote but it was mostly. Caren just changed the talk from the Dark arts to budgeting. Great quote.

After sacrament meeting was all done we received several compliments. One of the counselors to the bishop told us he never heard the chapel so quiet during the talks before. I told him it was because Kip fell asleep half way through my talk. I do think that we both did a good job. Hopefully this will be the trend with us. Married for 5 1/2 years and this is the first time we have been asked to talk in church. This should make us good for the next 5 1/2 years, right?

I also want to publicly thank my wonderful sister, Jenafer, for coming to sacrament meeting to help take care of our boys. Jen took a screaming Kip into the foyer right before we got the water. It seemed all Kip wanted was his mother. I say that because I went out with Adam after we got the water and Kip was still screaming and trying to get back in. Jenafer ended up keeping Kip in the foyer during Caren's talk. I was able to sit and watch Caren with Adam trying to convince me that he should be allowed to go up with his mom. As soon as Caren was done speaking and we started the rest hymn, Kip came storming in and immediately quieted down when Caren picked him up. He is a complete momma's boy. Adam tried to follow me up to the stage but Janafer kept him in his seat. Caren was still in the hall with Kip. Half way through my talk Caren came back in with a sleeping Kip. Again, Jen, thanks for your help.

After all was said and done Adam did not want to leave my side. He did not want to go to primary. Je told me he wanted to go home because he was sick. Caren and I ended up taking the boys home shortly after sacrament meeting ended. Adam did have a slight fever. So now we are home waiting for our home teachers to come over after church. I love you all.

Update from the house of vomit...I mean Ross

As if all-day-pregnancy sickness (I REFUSE to call it morning sickness. Whoever named it thus was mentally deranged) and exhaustion weren't enough, we have the stomach flu at our house. Yay! Mercy's vomiting, Gideon's vomiting, I'm vomiting--stomach flu on TOP of the other--Ezra's great but bouncing off the walls, poor thing. Thank heavens for Daddy, who cleans everything up multiple times. He had to go into work for a couple of meetings today, and we are counting the seconds till he can return. I have a saint for a husband (I know you already thought that for him volunteering to put up with me for the rest of eternity).

Sorry about the lack of updates. I'm barely holding it together right now. But, Samuel--I read about your huge good fortune and cheered for you! That's quite a nice deal! Congrats, and welcome to home based higher speed internet, as well.

Oh, and I generously shared the flu with Katy, so we may not hear from Telima anytime soon. Don't you all wish you lived near me, too?

Update from the house of Tobler

OK. So I know several of you could say the same thing in my title. For now I will say that I hope you do say the same as that would mean you are posting.

With the ending of the semester fast approaching, and my only final now behind me, yeah, I had another expectation to look towards with the end of this semester: no more free internet. In order to save as much money as possible, a fact I think we are all trying to do, Caren and I discovered that we could get free dial-up internet through ASU if my adviser requested it for me. He did and we have enjoyed the extremely slow, but free, internet access. I got an email earlier this semester telling me ASU is discontinuing this service as so few people use it. They also suggested several 'cheap' ways to connect to the internet. With the end looming ahead of us we decided to pay for the internet. We went for the slowest cable speed offered, which is over 10 times faster then our previous dial-up speed. Now we can 'surf' the 'net' without tying up our phone line. How exciting.

For other news: we were called Tuesday night by our bishop and asked to speak in church this coming Sunday. Our topic is 'budget.' Our bishop wanted us to make reference to the government check coming our way in May and that we should wisely not blow it all as soon as we get it. Seems like fun. If I remember I'll try to tell you how it was talking in church. This is first time Caren and I have been asked to talk in church since either of us returned from our missions. Talk to ya later. SKT

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

QOTW

So I guess it is my turn. I'll throw out this question to get the dialogs started again. What was you absolute worst dinner food? What was it, that when you realized Mom was making it, you wanted to run very, very far away? I will admit to a tie. The first, I don't know what it was called, and Mom never made it very often, but it had tomato soup, corn and pasta, and I HATED it! The second she made much more often and I never ate much on those nights, beefy green bean bake. I have never made it for my family.

Sorry I haven't been posting!

I really have no excuse other than laziness. But I do read it every day. I was just reading this article about a doctor who thinks that men should be banned from the delivery room. While some of what he says may be true, I just have to disagree with the general idea of the article. For example he says:

"A woman in labor needs to be in a private world where she doesn't have to think or talk. Yet, motivated by a desire to "share the experience", the man asks questions and offers words of reassurance and advice...For her, his presence is a hinderance, and a significant factor in why labours are...more likely to result in intervention than ever."

I can only speak from my own experiences, but I'm fairly certain that the only reason there wasn't "intervention" at either one of my births, but especially at Jayson's, was because Tyler was there, keeping me breathing and from passing out. I wasn't in control of my own mind enough to be able to keep myself breathing and I'm not sure that I would have listened to anyone else. Anyway, it's sort of an interesting read, even if I don't agree with most of what he says.

Ok, I feel old!!!!!!!!!

I got a new visiting teaching route last week. A new companion and new sisters. I called my companion and waited to hear back from her and, when it took a few days, went ahead and made contact with our sisters. Roxanna finally called me back and we discussed getting together a half hour before our first appointment to chat and get to know each other a little. She has only been in the ward for three months and her only child is five months old, so we had never met before. She came over and we chatted for a while. She is a convert, two years now, and had never been visiting teaching before. Anyway, during our conversation, I discovered that she is from Hurricane. "Oh, I have an Aunt and Uncle in Hurricane, the Wasdons." She thought for a minute, "Would that be Joe?" Surprise! She was in high school with my cousin, small world and all that! Now, here comes the old part. Joe, unless my memory is really bad, is the youngest of Dawn and Gary's six children. I am older than all six of those kids, and my new visiting teaching companion was BEHIND Joe in school be one year! Now, I am feeling ANCIENT!

re: Everything

I am also sorry that I have not been on the blog lately. I read it but because my computer has issues with my wireless I have to go into the other room to post. However that is not the case any more because....drum roll....I bought a new lap top. I got fed up with my dell's issues with my wireless and I went to Best Buy and bought a new HP lap top. I brought it home and plugged it in and turned it on. I found the internet spot to put in the pass word and guess what ?? IT WORKS!!! I have not had a single issue with not being able to get on line. I love it.
Jen - Samuel is right. Just another talk with Benjamin is all that is neccesary at this time.
Samuel - Congratulations on all the things in your life that are good. (I didn't want to say too much because I think you want to tell the others about it.)
Telima - I finally looked at the B & B. It is wonderful. Have Fun!
Keryn - I'm sorry. I rally am. I know what it's like. I just want you to know that this to will pass. Maybe not until Awesome is born but it will pass. (Jenafer was like Ezra. She would run for her life because she would throw up if I was.)
I don't have anything to say to LaDale because I know that with her computer broken she is not able to get on as much. And I talk to David and Amy quite often.

I got a Wedding announcement for Alyson Pulsipher yesterday. She is getting married on May 2nd to John William Sessions in the Jordan River Temple.

I agree that JK Rowling is right to sue. All the stuff on the internet was just publicity for her but no one was making money off of it. Now however, someone is trying to cash in on her work. She is right to be concerned about that. I would feel the same way.

TTFN Love you

I'm Here, I really am!

Oh, dear. I am a bad bad person. Not only have I been AWOL from writing on the blog, I've been AWOL from even reading it. I'm so sorry. I have only one thing to say about my shocking lack of participation:

EARLY PREGNANCY SUCKS.

Sorry about the language. I don't remember being this miserable last time, which is probably why I am pregnant again--forgetfulness helps. I have been sick as a dog, exhausted, grumpy (which I'm sure my little family appreciates), and generally whiny. A lovely combination. I'm only 10.5 weeks along, and let me tell you, if I don't start feeling SOME better SOON, little Awesome may be our last baby.

There. Now that the rest of you have gotten to hear my self-pitying story, how are you?

Jenafer, how's the bathroom? And your nerves? At least Jeff's car is fixed, that's great!

Samuel, that is the awesomest thing--your picture AND your accomplishment. Not bad--it must feel good to get at least some good results. Is it a little annoying to work with such little tiny stuff, though? And is your lab a "Clean" lab? Do you get to wear pretty white booties and lab coats and gloves and hats? If so, please post a picture soonest. Thanks.

Everyone else--how are you? Please forgive me for being such a putz about staying in contact with you all--I love you and think of you often--just not when my head is in the toilet bowl, with Ezra and Mercy and Gideon all gathered 'round for some quality family time. (Mommy, are you throwing up, why does the baby make you sick? Mommy, I trow up too! Waaaaaaaaaah!) (In case you weren't sure, those were Ezra's words, then Mercy's, then Gideon's.)

Love you all!

Research

About all I can say is..."WOW!" I didn't really understand all of that, but it impressed me probably all out of proportion to reality.
Also, Samuel, does it feel like you and I are using the blog for a running dialog? Is anyone else out there? Someone please post soon!
The family and I have decided that we are going to Vegas over Memorial Day weekend. We haven't been in almost a year. I want to see David and Amy's new house and the remodeling that Mom has done.
By the way, Jeff's car is fixed and back on the road! Yay!

Research note

I wanted to share this with you all, even if you guys may or may not care about this. But I think you will at least be happy that I am happy about this. For over a year, off and on, I have been trying to get my nanowires (NWs) on my sample with a close to atomically sharp metallic film over them so that some of the wires are only partially covered and partially exposed still. Mind you, over a year. Here is a sample I made last Monday with this image made today. Notice the scale in the corner. Here is a NW partially covered by my edge, which I might add is pretty sharp. Just thought I would share. Still a long way from making measurements on these things. I can't make any measurements on this NW because my circuit is not complete. Stuff to do next in the lab. Love you all. SKT

Re: 'note'-worthy question

Jen,
This is a question that I have not even thought of because it never happened to me at that age. (I also hope this never happens to my boys at that age as well.) I wonder, does he feel the same way about her? I know there is a big age difference between 1st grade and 5th grade. Since I have no experience of this situation as a parent I can only try to recall my own thinking at that age. I do recall elementary school that 2 of my friends said they were boyfriend and girlfriend. I really don't think they knew what those terms meant. Aside from all that, I think another talk is in order to make sure he is on the same page as you. Maybe this is unprovoked and he doesn't want this kind of attention. Or maybe he is flirting and he doesn't know it. I'm not sure myself. I do know that repitition seems to work in the church and could easily be aplied here. Again, my advice is limited at best. Good luck. SKT

Question

So, what do you do when your 11 year old son brings home a note from a girl classmate that says "I love Ben" all over it? This same girl actually gave him a similar note in first grade and we all just thought it was cute but did have a discussion about when he could date or have a girlfriend. However, they are both older and reaching a touchy age. By the way, the note was opened and left on the floor in the loft, so I didn't invade anyone's privacy.

re: Potter

In theory, Samuel, I agree with you. I wouldn't buy this book. However, I have read all about this case, off and on for almost a year. Thier main case is that JK Rowlings didn't object to any of what these people and many others like it posted online and that is Encyclopedia is simply a compilation of what has already been posted online. JK replies that she didn't want to file a lawsuit over online forums because it is A) good publicity that costs her nothing, and B) a harmless way for fans to speculate and connect. I agree with JK all the way on all of her points. I also understand why she is hitting so hard on something that I kind of think is not worth the cost or trouble. If she lets these people get away with it, it sets the stage for many more of these type of things and that would hurt her.
By the way - yes the brownies were left in to long, they were crispy, but not altogether inetable.

Harry Potter

I would like to start out by saying,
Jen, I hope your brownies did not end up burned as a result of all that you posted about.

Now on to the topic that I am curious about your insights. Most of you are probably aware that J.K Rowling has filed a law suit again a publishing company, RDR, for preparing a book put together by a Harry Potter fan who in the creator, or something, of the website The Harry Potter Lexicon. Rowling simply says this is a case of copyright violation and wants the book removed from sale as she intends to make her own Potter Encyclopedia. I bring this all up because today started the trials. You most likely would have heard a few quotes, especially if you visit Mugglenet.com. My curiosity for you is if you agree with Rowling. I personally do agree with her. The author of this book in question seems to only be interested in a quick buck and not caring in the least if he crosses the border in how he gets it. When it comes to an all Potter book, I really have no interest in reading anything written by anybody who is not Rowling. The Potter world is her world and anything else is bogus if not coming from her or approved by her. She is and will always be the Potter authority, no matter what anybody else says. Now that I have wasted about 5 minutes of your day in reading this I will close. Until next time. SKT

My life

Sometimes I think my life should be used for one of those tradgies/comidies. Jeff's car is STILL acting up. It is ideling at 4500 rpms and you don't have to hit the gas pedal to accelerate. Needless to say, it is more than a little scary. The "good" news is our mechanic finally figured out what was wrong. There is an acceleration cable that is seperating. Unfortunatly, it is a dealer only, order only part, so Jeff is driving my car, again, to work this week. This means that I get to ride my bike back and forth to the school four times a day! Actually, I did manage to cut that to three times, but still! I also found out on Friday that I have to take a 20 hour class to be licenced to become a loan officer in Utah. I will find the time, Keryn, I promise it won't hold up your loan! Then, yesterday, I put the brownies in the oven around 6:00. Something told me to go upstairs. I usually won't leave the kitchen/familyroom area while I have something in the oven, it's to easy to forget and burn things. But I fugured I would talk to Jeff for a few minuets and head right back down. I was walking down the hall to the den when I heard water running in the kids bathroom. I knew that Erica, Lillian, Benjamin and Jacob anxiously awaiting brownies and ice cream, so that left Heather. I figured she was playing in the sink and so I opened the door to tell her the brownies would be finished soon. Well, there wasen't anyone in the bathroom. Just Ariel, floting in the sink, with it plugged up and the water running full blast overflowing the sink and creating a waterfall to the floor, I walked in just as the flood was reaching the carpet. Needless to say, I screamed, shut off the water, pulled the plug and grabbed the four towels that were sitting on the counter to try to stop the flow of water. Heather is now royally grounded. My bathroom is now dry again and we caught it before it got more than two inches of pad wet, so we're not even going to have to call in a flood restorer guy. Still, huge stress for both Jeff and me! Oh well, just shoot me now!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Telima!
I wish you a wonderful day, with perfect children and a spotless home, courtesy of your husband!

Re: Anniversary

Telima,
That looks like a great place for your celebration. The only time I have been in a B&B was on my honeymoon in Sacramento for 2 days. The place you linked to looks great. I do hope you and Tyler have a blast.

Other then that I want to say that I think it wierd to finish the semester at ASU while still in April. We finish at the end of April but still. As I think more I realize that there are finals going on during the first week of May. But not for me. My semester ends on April 25. Then the real fun starts. No more classes, no more TA. Just good old fasioned research. I hope all will go well. Love you all. SKT

Our 3rd Anniversary

I was telling Keryn and Mom about our plans for our 3rd anniversary today and Keryn said I should post about it. I am so, so, so excited! We decided that we wanted to do something special...no real reason, just because we wanted to. So, we're going to go to a Bed and Breakfast. We spent a long time online trying to find a place that looked really good. When we found this place, we knew it was the one we wanted to stay at. We're going to be there for 2 nights, May 9-11. Tyler's mom is coming up to watch our kids for us. I can't wait! I'm soooooo excited (in case you missed it when I said it before). Anyway, check it out. It's a gorgeous place...and we're staying in the Bridal Suite (I know, but the only other one that we wanted was already booked). And we're getting the $45 Anniversary package with it. It's going to be great.

Scary story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I read this today, scary stuff for anyone, especially if you have kids or work in a school!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080402/ap_on_re_us/children_s_plot;_ylt=AgGLnURnCYLcUxu5.pY0tHGs0NUE