The One with Apologies and Agilent

So... my computer is on the fritz.  Hence, no recent blog updates.  Sorry.  There's the apology.  I was doing so well there for a while because I made a bunch of posts and scheduled them to publish once a day.  Genius!!  Right now my monitor will only stay on for 7-15 minutes however which is not long enough to do much of anything.  Hopefully we can get it fixed soon but I thought I'd tell you all about something super exciting that I can't believe I haven't posted earlier!!

I know I've already told a few people but I also wanted to write this down for memory's sake.  Back in July Justin was invited to give a talk at Agilent, a chemical company in San Jose, CA.  Awesome!!  I have never heard of a grad student being invited to do anything like this.  A woman who is in charge of a research group at this CA location heard about Justin's research which is similar to her own work.  Not only did they pay for him to fly out and give a talk but they've offered to help fund some of Justin's research, like sending samples and what-not.  Seriously, this is super cool!  So Justin flew out on a Tuesday and was supposed to be back the next afternoon but after his talk they asked him if he could stay longer!  He must have really impressed them :)  He ended up meeting with the guy who oversees the entire San Jose location who said they would be very interested in interviewing Justin for a job as he gets closer to graduating!!  Woot!!  San Jose is in the Bay Area and if you recall from our first anniversary trip to San Francisco, I love that place!!  I'm still excited about this!  My husband is amazing!!!!  It's good to know that other people recognize this as well :)

Oh and speaking of anniversaries, I never posted about out trip to Lake Tahoe this year.  When my monitor gets fixed and I can see the pictures on a screen again I'll be sure to get that one done.  Tahoe is gorgeous!!

The One with the Summer Update

I'm trying to put some other posts in along with all these "Things" that are mostly text.  The best thing about blogs are the pictures!  So here are some random shots of our summer.

This is how Justin and I compromise.  I hate cooking!  I mean, really hate it.  So we eat bean burros a lot.  Or Justin helps me in the kitchen.  I do the prep work and he stands at the stove.  Here we are making arroz chaufa for dinner.  If you haven't tried it yet, it's in the family cookbook!!  And it's delicious :)

He cooks!  He cleans!  Well he tries to clean.  I'm super picky.  He's still perfect :)

Earlier this summer Justin wasn't feeling very well.  For like a month.  I was surprised he never felt up to biking so I went out by myself.  Apparently this is a bad idea.  I fell.  Twice.  These took a long time to heal.

When Justin felt up to it we went on a super long bike ride with his dad.  Unfortunately the first half of the trail was washed out or super soft, meaning you couldn't get traction.  This is the dirtiest I've ever been on a bike ride.  Check out the scar on my left leg and you can see just how dusty we got.

Oh yeah, and this is my white trash helmet.  Last summer I endoed (flipped over my handlebars, you know- end over end) on the Wasatch Crest and broke the little snap that holds the visor on your helmet.  My initial jimmy-rigging didn't last very long but thankfully I crochet in the car on the way to the bike trails.  Yarn fixes everything!!

The first week I was in charge of a mutual activity all by myself I did what I know best (well, maybe second best.  I actually have a degree in chemistry but not crafting).  We tied a baby blanket for the former YW pres who was expecting her first baby.  We dropped it off one Sunday after church.  Poor Melissa; she looks like she's about to pop in the picture but she went another month before Ivy came out weighing just 2 ounces shy of 10 pounds!!  That's her first baby- ouch!!

Me, Melissa, Camilla and Sophia

Two members of my research group successfully defended their theses at the beginning of summer (What?  There's a light at the end of this tunnel?).  We celebrated with a group hike and potluck.  Hoping we have one of these for me soon :)

Annie (Aixiang), Jennifer, her daughter (wait for it) Josephine, Cara, Becca, Patrick and Justin

Josie, Jennifer (advisor), Mariella, Justin (grad), Cindy (grad), Annie (grad), Jong-Won (PhD), Cara (grad), Becca (undergrad), Patrick (PhD)

The One with Thing 7

What is your dream job, and why?

I thought I’d answer this with a list of things I wanted to be “when I grew up.”  When I was in elementary school I thought smart people became medical doctors and since my teachers all thought I was so smart that’s what I should be.  Then I read a book about a child psychologist and thought that sounded pretty cool.  I was 9.  In high school I loved CSI and wanted to do forensics plus autopsies.

http://screenrant.com/csi-crime-scene-investigation-premiere-brusimm-3940/

You still have to go to med school for that.  Too long, no thanks.  Then I took chemistry and knew what field I really wanted to go into.

That's actually me behind the smoke.  This was a magic show put on by the Chemistry Club at U of A, Oct. 2004.  It's magnesium metal burning between two blocks of dry ice.

After tutoring and teaching throughout undergrad and grad school now I’m 100% certain that being a professor would be the most fulfilling career.  My real dream is just to be a lecturer and not run a research group so that I can make a decent salary and basically only work part time.  I wouldn’t mind eventually coaching a volleyball team on the side or at least returning to officiating but only if I’m still able to spend a decent amount of time with my kids.

The One with Thing 6

What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

Well I am a grad student so I could pick a few things.  Graduate level tests, oral presentations in front of a committee of faculty members, etc. while serving as RS president and planning a wedding.  Yeah, that was crazy and probably the most exhausting thing I’ve ever done.

The hardest thing I’ve been through emotionally would have to be watching the decline of my oldest brother.  I used to really look up to Dave.  He’s ten years older than me and when I was little he would let me ride around in his truck and take me to Dairy Queen.  I thought he was so handsome and the coolest guy ever.  Of course I now realize that a lot of those cherished memories were his attempts to pick up girls using his adorable little sister.  Funny thing is, it worked.  Often.  Especially at Disneyland which I didn’t mind because I got to ride all the big kid rides.  When I was 11 though the rose colored glasses broke and the past 17 years(!) now have been pretty tough.  Dave has made some pretty bad decisions and it’s hard watching someone you love do that to their self.  It’s even harder watching your parents suffer because of the decisions of their child and the effects it has on your family as a whole.  There have been a few times when I thought he was going to change but I guess rock bottom is still a little further down. 

The One with Thing 5

What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now? 

Justin, Justin, Justin, Justin & Justin :)

Also, the prospect of being a Dr. before Christmas

which means I can take an extended Christmas vacation in AZ to spend time with my family.

The thought of Justin and I starting our own family soon.  Anybody noticing a trend here, yes we are really talking about it.  A lot.

And peanut butter M&Ms.