Thursday, March 27th, 2008
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9:11 am - Donors needed
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I haven't posted for what? A year? Two? Woops.
I was all set to enjoy my constitutional day this morning. I am totally taking the entire day off just because. It feels delicious. I truly need this. But then I came across this and felt ridiculously selfish:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DYUFB542Iak
Please watch it. Its about trying to get people onto the bone marrow donor list. I started crying within about 20 seconds. Really, you should totally get onto the list. I am going to as soon as I can get my ass up to Denver where the nearest center is. All the info about donating is at
http://www.marrow.org
current mood:  determined
current music: If I had a million dollars
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(comment on this)
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Tuesday, November 6th, 2007
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1:38 pm - holiday fun!
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I just saw this the other day and it looks like a blast. Its an ornament swap where you make 8-10 ornaments, send them off to random people, and get 8-10 back. I soooo don't have time for it this year, but I signed up anyway. I am already making them up in my head.
Holiday Ornament Swap
current mood:  creative
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(comment on this)
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Thursday, September 6th, 2007
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12:27 pm - Sci Fi character
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This amuses me to no end.
Which SF character are you?
Susan Ivanova
Fiercely dedicated to bringing an end to corruption and exploitation, you are a strong-willed and courageous force of light.
Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova is God.
current mood:  pleased
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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Monday, July 2nd, 2007
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9:56 am
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I have had a pretty productive weekend. I tend to put things off until I absolutely HAVE to do them, and I/we managed to get quite a bit done this weekend. We had someone come by to give an estimate on tree trimming ($500 for the dead branches/trees out back, and $630 for the pruning out font). I primed a door that has been unpainted for about a year and a half. Nick and I replaced the light bulbs in the yard lights, and also all of the other dead bulbs around the house. I cleaned the bathroom. And we got material to fix the door jam that is a little too tight and the laundry room door that broke. I still have to get someone to come to fix the window that our housemate broke, and replace some minor hardware in the downstairs bath. But once that is done, the place will be ready for the new tenants. I just need to figure out how/when to get the rugs shampooed.
current mood: accomplished
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(comment on this)
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Thursday, June 28th, 2007
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9:51 am - Bang head here
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When I signed on with my advisor for my PhD, it was on the provision that I get a new computer because the one I was using was, well, its a pentium II, 'nuf said. So in January I got a brand-spanking-new computer. It took the IT guy, about 2 weeks to partition the drives and format it with red hat. That was a little long, but hey, he's a busy guy right? Well about 2 weeks after that it starts funking out on me. It will randomly log me out of the session I am in, killing all of my simulations that have been going for the last few days and making me lose all of that work. So have the IT guy look at it. 2 weeks later, he can't figure out what it is so he reformats it and gives it back. Same problem a week later. This goes on for about 3 months. Before I leave for a conference at the end of may, I tell him to wipe it, send it back and get me a new one because there are obvious problems (other than the logging out) and it isn't worth dealing with any more. I get back a week later, and lo and behold, its still sitting on his desk, and he hasn't touched it. Sigh. So after my advisor yells at him, it turns out that they will just keep it for parts and order a new one. That was 3 weeks ago. I find out today that no one has ordered it. Yup, that's right. 5 months after I have been promised a new computer, and I still have the pentium II. To give you an idea, when I type, this thing is about 2 lines behind for spitting out the letters.
I am pissed. What do I have to do around here to get a running computer!!
GAHHHH
current mood:  cranky
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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Saturday, April 14th, 2007
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7:42 pm - change
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Friday, March 30th, 2007
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8:04 am - crafty goodness
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Thursday, January 25th, 2007
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8:20 am - sing hallelujah
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I did it, its over. Yesterday I learned that I passed my written comprehensive exam. I don't have my score yet, so I don't know how well I did, but at this point, I don't really care. The important thing is that I NEVER have to go through that again. Taking it twice is taking it two times too many. This past year has been difficult, and this past month has been horrible. And now it is done. over. finished. I am so happy to be getting on with my life. I can now focus on more important things than a stupid test like friends, family, and relationships. Its a good feeling. I had a dark cloud hanging over my head for so long, I forget what it feels like not to have it. The odd part is that I don't feel like singing and dancing for joy. I just feel like letting out a long sigh or relief. Maybe it just hasn't hit me yet. Maybe I need to get good and drunk for the excitement to come out. Or maybe I just never want to think about it again. Whatever the case may be, I can do it. I am free. Now all I have to do is 2-3 more years of research and I am done with school altogether and I will be "Dr. Boo" as Nick calls it. That can't be too difficult right? :)
current mood:  relieved
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(3 comments | comment on this)
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Saturday, January 13th, 2007
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3:04 am
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Friday, January 12th, 2007
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7:03 am - here goes...
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The test begins in 2 hours and ends 8 hours afer that. Wish me luck! Heavy drinking to follow.
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(comment on this)
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Tuesday, January 9th, 2007
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11:47 am - gggghhhhuuunnnn
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I feel like I just hit my study limit for my life. Not for the day, not for the exam, for life. I look at my notes now and I can't concentrate. Equations are out of the question. I have a list of things that I still need to study and all I can think at them is 'pfffff whatever'. This is probably not the best place to be right now considering the test isn't until friday. I have 3 whole days to make sure I know everything and right now I really couldn't care less. Good thing this exam doesn't mean much, I mean, its not like its quals or anything. Oh right, it is...well crap.
current mood:  worried
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(comment on this)
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Friday, December 29th, 2006
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7:08 pm - pictures!
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Saturday, December 2nd, 2006
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7:50 pm - Eavesdropping
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Overheard on the bus earlier this week:
"Mommy is this a dream?"
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(comment on this)
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Monday, November 27th, 2006
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4:58 pm - Threadless
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Sunday, November 5th, 2006
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10:22 am
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I woke up this morning and within 45 minutes I had
-booked plane tickets for christmas
-updated my united milage plus account (they still had bryn mawr as my address)
-registered for AGU meeting in San Fran
-booked hotel for AGU meeting in San Fran
-Activated my new credit card
-lowered my apr by 7%
-fed my dog
Not bad for a sunday morning at 8 am
current mood: productive
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Thursday, October 12th, 2006
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7:18 pm - thank fucking god
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Its over. I think it went well and apparently my committee did too. Unanimously voted to pass me and were very close to high-passing me. That means that I pass and that I may still high-pass if the rest of the faculty agree to it at the faculty meeting next wednesday. I'm happy with that. Really, I just want to shove this in the face of certain faculty members who will remain un-named who said I couldn't do it. SUCK IT DOWN BITCHES!
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(3 comments | comment on this)
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4:05 pm - count down has gone into hours
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I am ready. I have been ready for days. Does that keep the butterflies in my stomach from throwing up? No. Stupid butterflies.
current mood:  stressed
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(comment on this)
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Sunday, October 8th, 2006
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11:21 am - Waiting
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Day: Thursday October 12
Time: 1:45
Place: Duane Physics D-142
Thing: CME initiation through MHD kink instability - comps 2 (masters) defense. 1/2 hour of talking, 1/2 hour of grilling, 1/2 hour of waiting
After: High tea at the teahouse
Me: Really freaking stressed
Abstract: We present initial results from a quasi-Lagrangian simulation of kink-unstable flux ropes. The kink instability has been studied as a solar coronal mass ejection (CME) initiator since the 1960's. This instability has been observed to occur simultaneously with CMEs, but observational evidence is not sufficient to determine if it is the cause of the eruption or if it occurs after onset. Numerical simulations exist which explore this relationship, and many of them have found that flux ropes twisted beyond a critical threshold that exist in the corona will expand and eventually erupt. It has not yet been determined whether the expansion is due to a pure kink instability. All of the simulations thus far have included the effects of magnetic reconnection through numerical diffusion, but because this diffusion is a purely numerical effect, it is difficult to determine the physics that are actually occurring in the environment of the corona. This research presents a study on the kink instability in the complete lack of reconnection - the first step to understanding the role of reconnection in kink-unstable flux ropes. We have found that flux ropes twisted above a critical value expand rapidly, which we have interpreted as an eruption. Nevertheless, we have only found evidence of the kink instability if the simulation includes a substantial overlying arcade magnetic field. Those simulations with little or no arcade field do expand, but do not display the characteristic writhing motion of the central flux rope.
current mood:  nervous
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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Thursday, July 6th, 2006
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7:41 am - Ann Daudert
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I knew a wonderful woman. She was the heart and soul of the physics department at BMC, who also happened to be the secretary. Peter B once called her "she who must be obeyed". She started in 1976 and I cannot even begin to think of the place without her. I got a phone call yesterday from a friend who gave me the news. I am saddened by her absence from the world, but mostly I am glad that I was able to know her and grow to be her friend. The official announcement came with a short but thoughtful message from Peter. His last sentence was that to some she was Bryn Mawr. I have been thinking about that phrase all night. At first I thought it only referred to her with regards to the department and running things, but I realized that she was the epitome of a Bryn Mawr girl. She was strong, organized, a little bossy, and everyone looked up to and admired her. But she was a loving and caring person who always had time for the students, whether to hear them moan about this or that, share juicy bits of gossip, or just to be a friend.
Thank you Ann for being a part of my life. We miss you and wish you luck and happiness on your travels. Goodbye and peace be with you.
current mood:  sad
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Friday, June 2nd, 2006
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7:53 pm - Vegetable head
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Ok, so I know this sounds a little odd, but I remember seeing a painting or drawing of a vegetable head when I was a kid. I want to find it again because I really loved it. It was a picture of the face of a kindly man who was made of vegetables. Lots of little ones, not one big watermelon for a head or anything. Relatively flat, not trying to be 3-d I think. If I remember correctly it had a white background. If any of you know what I am taking about let me know. The closest I can think is that is might have been in "on Market Street" and A-z picture book for kids by Lobel, but I don't have a copy with me. Yes I know I am very odd.
current mood: frustrated
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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laureleen's journal
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