Last week's laboratory report:

So anyways...Last week my first laboratory report was due in Instrumental Methods. I spent quite a bit of time formatting, typing, graphing and calculating to come up with what I thought was a Nobel prize winning 8 page report. Over last weekend, our professor spent a lot of his own time reviewing and grading our reports and made a lot of constructive comments on the paper. This brings us to Monday morning. As I walked into the classroom, the professor says "I've got a big problem with your report". So, the first thing I think is that I really screwed it up. Then he proceeds to pull my report out of his backpack as it is dripping profusely with coffee. Apparently, the lid to his thermos came off on his bike ride to class. He felt sooooo bad, but all I could do was start laughing. Really, I could care less because I can print out another copy. I felt bad for him because he spent a lot of time grading these on a weekend, and most of the comments have bled off the pages. But, as most people know me, I can't leave well enough alone. I have been having a field day with this. I started by constantly reminding him where his coffee cup is and also walking up to the front desk to move stacks of paper away from his cup. The coup-de-grace was this morning when I handed in the second lab report that was due. This report was another masterpiece, but I hermetically sealed it in a one gallon Ziploc bag before turning it in. I knew that it could have gone the wrong direction, but it didn't, and I really made his day.

You Matter.

I was browsing around some of the science sites tonight and got captivated by one of the hubble telescope galleries. Just imagine, peering into an almost infinitely minute sliver of the sky, then seeing what looks like millions of stars. In actuality, these are galaxies! Each blob and spec is billions of stars. Click on the picture to see more detail and be amazed more than ever that you matter!

Treehouse update

Ok, it's not finished, but it's far enough along to show and tell. The treeHOUSE is appx 7'x9', and has 6'-3" ceilings. The 4 roof trusses used are 12' from tip to tip and will have green ribbed steel roofing applied once I figure out how to get it up there (which will match the house). I found 3 miniature windows that were display models at Fleet Farm in Hudson, and have two 14" barn 4 light windows. The siding will be stained red to match the house. The support system is bolted with slots to allow the trees to move where they need to in the wind without destroying the treehouse. There is a trapdoor in the floor to get inside. I plan on insulating and weather-proofing so that we can use it year round. The thoughts of electricity and lighting have also been bounced around. Why not.

Comet 17P Holmes

I heard about this comet a couple of weeks ago, but it was only observable by high power telescopes, because by the naked eye it was just a spec. The other day something neat happened: the core had an explosion, which forced a large cloud of dust and vapor around it larger than Jupiter. So, now, you can see it with the naked eye, and even better with binoculars. The kids and I went out last night and found it right away. If you know where the constellation Perseus is, look to the left of his leg, or use this map. This is in the Northeast sky just after total darkness. Photo courtesy Philippe Boeuf.

I think this is what A-manda meant

Kids in the hall - I miss these guys

F...ing Deer.

I've been driving (legally) for over 20 years. Up until last October, I had never hit a deer. I watch for deer as if they are on every road around here. Because the damn things are. We were on our way into church in October and took out the front end of our Bravada with a deer. Luckily we were insured. (defn. of Insured: Gambling a recurring amount to wager that you will hit a deer, while the insurance company takes your money to use it to bet that you will not. You still lose.)

This morning, I was fortunate enough to have a deer poop on my windshield. Of course, a few things happened immediately before this astounding event.

1. deer races from thick dense brush into the path of my Saturn.
2. Saturn breaks 3 of the deers legs and disembowels the deer.
3. Saturn continues to move underneath the deer, propelling it onto my windshield.
4. aformentioned deer poops.

I need to find another car or find a hood, windshield, and fender for this one. But I'm ok. The deer is not. I still win.

Summer's (almost) over

The dreaded Labor Day weekend has passed, which marks the unofficial end of summer. The schools are all open as of tomorrow (if not before). It seems like it goes so fast, but did it really? I have to stop and list what has gone down over the last three months so I'm not so depressed that winter is coming (just think, snow in less than two months). So here we go:

• Graduation from Stout
• Trip to Colorado to see my brother
• Trip to House on the Rock/In-laws in Milwaukee
• Church Campout at Chetek
• 12 yr anniversary
• Trip to Big Top Chatauqua/Bayfield and Madeline Island
• Swimming at Wakanda/Geocaching/Picnicking
• Trip to my Aunt & Uncles 25th anniversary in Ripon
• Cooking out / friends / etc...
• Cucumber Fest in Boyceville
• etc...

If I'm missing a couple, you get the point.

Greatest show on Earth...

Last Wednesday, Anne and I left after lunch to head up North, drop the kids at my parents, then kept driving up to Bayfield. We had tickets to see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones up at Big Top Chatauqua. If you haven't heard of Bela, he is one of the top three banjo players in the country, aside from Steve Martin(click this one). Alone, he tends to play traditional bluegrass and even true classical music, but with the Flecktones, there is a mix of genres that can't be described. Click on the Flecktones link above to listen and watch them. These are pictures I took during the show. After the concert was done, we took the car on the last ferry out to Madeline Island to stay at the Island Inn. On Thursday, we bummed around the island until we left for the mainland. After staying in Bayfield Thursday night, we got up in the morning and went picking berries then on to a wonderful 5 star breakfast at the Rittenhouse Inn. After buying more trinket souvenir crap, we stopped at Newago's Fish Market on the way out of town for some fish spread and smoked whitefish. I now have a year's supply of mercury flowing through my blood.

So true, so true