Sunday, October 10, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Happy Mike Dunn Day!
It is now an official holiday in my book! His memorial service is his official day. :)
Speaking of Stater love, why aren't you all signed up for the 75th? Are you non-signed up folks really not coming?!
Speaking of Stater love, why aren't you all signed up for the 75th? Are you non-signed up folks really not coming?!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Update on Memorial Service for Mike Dunn
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Mike's Memorial Service
Hi Stater Grads,
I found out this week that Mike's Memorial Service will be on Friday, October 8 at 4:00pm. Below is information that was in OSU Today:
Campus memorial service for J. Michael Dunn Oct. 8
A campus memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday (10/8) for J. Michael Dunn, director of Recreational Sports Learning and former director of the Department of Recreational Sports, who died Friday (7/23) after a short illness. More details will be shared nearer the date. Private family services will be held in Indiana in coming weeks.
--
I will be sure to post more information as details are set. It will most likely be in the Ohio Union. Mike never wanted the RPAC to become an event space, and if it were up to him, the gyms would have been used for Open Gym 24/7. Tracy thought it appropriate to have the service out of the RPAC to honor this request and to give the Rec Sports staff a chance to rememebr him rather than to plan to event.
ITSS... OH!
Katie
I found out this week that Mike's Memorial Service will be on Friday, October 8 at 4:00pm. Below is information that was in OSU Today:
Campus memorial service for J. Michael Dunn Oct. 8
A campus memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday (10/8) for J. Michael Dunn, director of Recreational Sports Learning and former director of the Department of Recreational Sports, who died Friday (7/23) after a short illness. More details will be shared nearer the date. Private family services will be held in Indiana in coming weeks.
--
I will be sure to post more information as details are set. It will most likely be in the Ohio Union. Mike never wanted the RPAC to become an event space, and if it were up to him, the gyms would have been used for Open Gym 24/7. Tracy thought it appropriate to have the service out of the RPAC to honor this request and to give the Rec Sports staff a chance to rememebr him rather than to plan to event.
ITSS... OH!
Katie
Friday, July 23, 2010
A Very Sad Day
Friends,
It is with deep sadness that I pass on the news that Mike passed away this morning. Tracy and Karen are currently organizing a counselor for the active Staters. Details will surely be coming, and I will do my best to pass them on. My hope is that I will be able to attend the funeral.
Mark
It is with deep sadness that I pass on the news that Mike passed away this morning. Tracy and Karen are currently organizing a counselor for the active Staters. Details will surely be coming, and I will do my best to pass them on. My hope is that I will be able to attend the funeral.
Mark
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Mike
Hey friends,
If the news about Mike has been as big of a shock for you as it has been for me, I'm sure you're still trying to swallow such a surreal reality. I spoke with Tracy and she said flowers would be lovely. So, upon getting more information about how long Mike will be at Riverside and where he'll be receiving hospice care, I'd like to see if anyone would be interested in going in on a larger flower arrangement or something along those lines. Clearly, Mike had a very meaningful role in each of our OSU experiences. I just thought it might be nice if we coordinated some way of communicating that to him.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Mark
If the news about Mike has been as big of a shock for you as it has been for me, I'm sure you're still trying to swallow such a surreal reality. I spoke with Tracy and she said flowers would be lovely. So, upon getting more information about how long Mike will be at Riverside and where he'll be receiving hospice care, I'd like to see if anyone would be interested in going in on a larger flower arrangement or something along those lines. Clearly, Mike had a very meaningful role in each of our OSU experiences. I just thought it might be nice if we coordinated some way of communicating that to him.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Mark
Sunday, July 11, 2010
New job, South 40, and football games
A quick update, since it’s been a long time and there a few pieces of good news to share…
Friday I completed the Edison Development Program with GE (done with 6 month rotations and internal classes), and tomorrow I start my off-program role working in refrigeration development. I now officially have my Six Sigma greenbelt (an exclusive club as 30 Rock fans can attest: http://www.nbc.com/30-rock/exclusives/donaghy-uncovered/2009/11/six-sigma/). I’ve been doubling up on classes Spring and this summer semester and plan to do the same this Fall to complete my masters in December. It’s been hellish, but will hopefully be worthwhile when I’m done.
As a recap, South 40 was a great time as always, although many of you were missed. Conroy and Joel made it up Friday night. I remember parts of the good times, most importantly my Mom icing Joel (If you don’t know what Bros Icing Bros is yet, please reference: http://www.icedyou.com/). Thanks to Megan for tolerating and corralling us. One of my sister’s friends puked Saturday, so for the first year in a long while, I wasn’t responsible for the biggest shit show... excluding Joel’s pre-party performance. Next year I have 2 weddings conflicting on that date, but my cousin’s reception is at Ole Zimm’s, so the party goes on!
In other news, I’m trying to figure out which football games to come back for. The ME alumni game is on Sept 11 against Miami - AWESOME - and Homecoming against Purdue is Oct 23 (I may have a wedding conflict). Drop me a note or comment if you’re planning on attending any games. I’m very excited about the upcoming 75th reunion- great things happen when you assemble this crew.
PS: We’re having a surprise 49 ¾ birthday surprise party for my dad this weekend. If anyone’s up for a party in Fremont, I’ll be there! I've perfected recipes for Manhattan and Long Island Iced Tea jello shots for the occasion.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
So I haven't heard from people in awhile
Hola Everyone,
I hope you are all having epic summers. I was just doing some Facebook creeping on younger members of Staters (1. I don't know 60% of the group now. 2. I should be doing my homework...) and it made me miss all of you terribly. I have been told more than once or five times in the last week that I am terrible at keeping in touch with friends, so I am making it my mission to reach out and say hello. So this is hello.
Just some updates on my life. I am in NYC right now (The Bronx) working at Fordham University. This was the school I wanted to go to for undergrad, and Mary Jo and Jim would not let me attend. So to get back at my parents, I am working here in the summer with less than 100 students on campus. Woohoo!!! Not really, but I am hoping to get a job here so hopefully they love me.
I am madly in love with New York and have been for quite some time. This stint has just reaffirmed my love affair. I have met a lot of new people through some friends from Miami, so it has been pretty great so far. Also, since May 14 I think I have drank 96% of the days on the calendar. My bank account and liver hate me.
I was in New Zealand and Australia from May 14-June 7. I want to live in New Zealand. It is gorgeous. The people are fantastic. We went with BGSU's College Personnel students and they hated us, but I loved each minute of the trip. Just to let you know, we stayed in hostels the entire time. Just think about that and think about me. I think you get it now. But anyways, the people are so nice and so sarcastic and so weird and I just want to go back. Also, koalas are mean and kangaroos are adorable. Just to let you know.
I work for the Fraternity and Sorority Life office at Miami, and many of you may have watched television, or read nationwide blogs and saw that the community is a hot mess right now. So that is a lot of fun. Especially when they "reassigned" our director. When I head back to Oxford in a couple of weeks, it is going to be a fun experience. Cannot wait!!!!
So I know you were all dying to hear about me. I am also dying to hear about all of you. Miss you all!!!
I hope you are all having epic summers. I was just doing some Facebook creeping on younger members of Staters (1. I don't know 60% of the group now. 2. I should be doing my homework...) and it made me miss all of you terribly. I have been told more than once or five times in the last week that I am terrible at keeping in touch with friends, so I am making it my mission to reach out and say hello. So this is hello.
Just some updates on my life. I am in NYC right now (The Bronx) working at Fordham University. This was the school I wanted to go to for undergrad, and Mary Jo and Jim would not let me attend. So to get back at my parents, I am working here in the summer with less than 100 students on campus. Woohoo!!! Not really, but I am hoping to get a job here so hopefully they love me.
I am madly in love with New York and have been for quite some time. This stint has just reaffirmed my love affair. I have met a lot of new people through some friends from Miami, so it has been pretty great so far. Also, since May 14 I think I have drank 96% of the days on the calendar. My bank account and liver hate me.
I was in New Zealand and Australia from May 14-June 7. I want to live in New Zealand. It is gorgeous. The people are fantastic. We went with BGSU's College Personnel students and they hated us, but I loved each minute of the trip. Just to let you know, we stayed in hostels the entire time. Just think about that and think about me. I think you get it now. But anyways, the people are so nice and so sarcastic and so weird and I just want to go back. Also, koalas are mean and kangaroos are adorable. Just to let you know.
I work for the Fraternity and Sorority Life office at Miami, and many of you may have watched television, or read nationwide blogs and saw that the community is a hot mess right now. So that is a lot of fun. Especially when they "reassigned" our director. When I head back to Oxford in a couple of weeks, it is going to be a fun experience. Cannot wait!!!!
So I know you were all dying to hear about me. I am also dying to hear about all of you. Miss you all!!!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Fred Beekman
Hi Stater friends,
I was working on something for the 75th, and I came across a photo of Fred Beekman from a long time ago that I wanted to share. It's crazy to see what people looked like over 30 years ago!
ITSS!
Katie
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Brick Society??
Hey Class of 2009,
Remember that we bought a brick? Please let me know ASAP if you want to go to the Brick Society event as a representative for Class of 2009. If no one does, I'll just have Hans find some babies to go on our behalf.
Members of the Brick Society,
After much anticipation, the opening of the new Ohio Union is finally here! Set to open its doors on March 29, 2010, the Ohio Union will once again be a place where leadership skills are honed, campus changing projects are initiated, and lifelong friends are made. Because your organization/class has purchased a brick, we are excited to welcome you and up to three other members from your organization/class to the Brick Society reception at the new Ohio Union, where you will get to see the building and the magnificent two-story student organization space housing the lounge where the bricks are displayed. This will be held on May 7, 2010 from 5:00-7:00pm and will serve light refreshments. Please RSVP to Jaimie Horning at jhorning@studentlife.osu.edu by April 23, 2010 with the names of those who are able to join us. We thank you for commitment to the Ohio Union and the investment you have made to inspire future student leaders for years to come.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
One more thing...
It appears as if a blank email sent, just click the link to go to the site to see my post.
One more p.s. Anyone coming to the last frontier this summer with Jon? Without Jon?
Hey
If I can come from Alaska to Emeyer's wedding, then RJ is required to come from California.
See you all in a few weeks!!
p.s. This is a secret from my family - next time you're in da Ridge, don't tell them I'm coming home.
Friday, February 26, 2010
RIP Fred
To make sure you all got this message (in case you opted out of the listserv)
Friends and Colleagues:
I received a telephone call from Fred Beekman’s daughter, Linda, this morning letting me know that Fred had passed away earlier this morning. As details are being put together in the next couple of days related to a memorial service we will make certain and get the word out to as many as possible. I would ask that you make certain and contact others that you know that would be interested in hearing of Fred’s passing.
I know that you will all keep Fred and his family in your thoughts and prayers. He has meant so much to so many over the full 89 years of his life.
Thank you.
J.Michael
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Crazy Adventures of Maggie Sweeney
So I have not had a good Miami Student Story in awhile, but I feel that this one needs to be shared.
In my classes we have been discussing Millenial students (aka all of us) and how to deal with them. One of the big things is about helicopter parents. I immediately identified Mary Jo Sweeney as a fantastic helicopter parent. Many of you may have heard my embarrassing stories of my mother and my love/embarrassed for my life stories about her. Well, I thought I had the crazy mother. And then I met Mrs. Missing Girl.
So I was supposed to be meeting one of my professors (Peter Magolda, for those Student Affairs people) for a 9:15am meeting on a Friday morning. Since I am never on time for anything in my life, of course at 8:50am I am brushing my teeth and running around before I have to make the fifteen minute walk to his office. I am a little scared of this professor, so I did not want to be late. As I am trying to finish brushing my teeth, with my music turned up obnoxiously loud (haha residents) I hear a frantic banging at my front door. I turn down the music, turn off the water, and go to the front door. I hear sobbing and I hear the sound walking away. I open the door, and I see a tiny woman come running back to my door. She is sobbing and her words are pretty much unintelligible. I try to get her to calm down, and she tells me that her daughter is missing. She tells me her name, and her room, and I decide to let her upstairs to see if she can find her daughter. Mind you, in order to get access to our building, you either have to be a resident or be in one of the sororities that have a suite within our building. I notice that she has a Miami student ID, so I have figured out how she actually got into the building. I escort her upstairs.
As we are going upstairs, she tells me what is going on. Apparently, she had been there since Monday to help her daughter drop all and force add all of her classes. Mind you, this is week three of the semester, and the date to drop/add classes past about a four days ago. So, this mother came down, got a hotel room, and went to every class with her daughter that week, talked to the professors, and convinced them to let her daughter into the class. The mother goes on to tell me that this is very normal to her, and her daughter just needs some encouragement. As all of this is going on, she is also texting and calling different people. She is talking to her older daughter, whose ID she currently is holding, and they are giving each other updates. They talk about a "Timmy" who may be a person the missing daughter happens to be with. The mother gets a phone call from Patrick, who I deduct to be the ex-boyfriend of missing girl. Patrick has no idea where she is, the last time he saw her was Wednesday night, and "she might be sleeping with that slimeball Timmy." I can hear all of this on the phone. The mother thanks him for his services.
At this time, Mom tells me that the reason she knows missing girl happens to be missing is because she was supposed to call mom at 7:15 am. When she did not receive a call, mom went to the 8am class to see if she was there. The daughter never showed, and the professor said he had never seen her. That is when mama comes to find me.
We get to the room where missing girl happens to reside, and of course she is not in there. Her roommates look at us as if we have six heads because 1. their RD is banging on their door at 9am on a Friday and they were at a huge Sig Chi party the night before so they were totally gone last night and 2. there is a crazy mother banging on their door, calling the two ladies by the wrong names (which was just funny.) These ladies were good sports, and said, oh, well she had Patrick over the other night, I bet she is over there with him. Mother reports that Patrick has not seen her, and asks if they know about Timmy. At this time, the mother gets a phone call from a friend of missing girl, and friend gives mom the phone number of the infamous Timmy. Mother cannot figure out text messaging, but friend told her that texting is the only way to get a hold of Timmy. Mother then tells me that Timmy is on the wrong track in his life. He had dropped out of Miami last semester, was living in Cincinnati, and came up to work at Skippers, an uptown bar, as a bouncer. Mother lets me know that she really values higher education. She then tells me that her daughter also works at Skippers, and met Timmy there. I am standing there, knowing that I am going to be late for my meeting with my professor and wondering why the hell I took this job.
Roommates tell mom that they do not know Timmy, and the last time they saw missing girl, she was making out with a Sig Chi. Mother looks like she is going to have a heart attack. With perfect timing, the phone rings, and it is Timmy. He informs mom that he has not seen daughter since Tuesday night, when she accidentally called him Patrick while they were out together. He said he has only been hooking up with missing girl, and isn't her boyfriend, and shouldn't have to keep tabs on her. He says "talk to that douchebag Patrick" or "go to Sig Chi. They will know where she is." Again, this is all over the phone. The mother, speaking to a kid she does not know whatsoever about her daughter. Who seems kinda slutty. Mother says thank you, and Timmy says "No problem Ma'am. Have a great day!" (In a cheery voice. At this point, I kinda want to meet Timmy.)
At this time, Mom asks me if I can help get missing girl on the right track. I offer to give her the number of the Counseling Center and her Academic Advisor and the MUPD non emergency line. Mom says ok, asks for my number, and runs out of the building.
Later that day, I finally figure out who missing girl happens to be. And she is not my favorite resident. I may have questioned her intelligence once or twice last semester. I see her roommates later in the day, and say, did missing girl come back? They roll their eyes, says she hooks up with a different guy every Thursday, and mom should just back off. I shake my head and say goodbye.
So this is just a snapshot (yes a really long and winded one, but I have to tell the whole story) of my life at Miami. I am now the co-advisor for IFC, and the guys keep me sane. Except when they go to a conference this past weekend, and get caught drinking. Where OSU won a national recruitment award. I realize I might have downgraded a bit... nonetheless, I kinda love it.
Miss all of you!
In my classes we have been discussing Millenial students (aka all of us) and how to deal with them. One of the big things is about helicopter parents. I immediately identified Mary Jo Sweeney as a fantastic helicopter parent. Many of you may have heard my embarrassing stories of my mother and my love/embarrassed for my life stories about her. Well, I thought I had the crazy mother. And then I met Mrs. Missing Girl.
So I was supposed to be meeting one of my professors (Peter Magolda, for those Student Affairs people) for a 9:15am meeting on a Friday morning. Since I am never on time for anything in my life, of course at 8:50am I am brushing my teeth and running around before I have to make the fifteen minute walk to his office. I am a little scared of this professor, so I did not want to be late. As I am trying to finish brushing my teeth, with my music turned up obnoxiously loud (haha residents) I hear a frantic banging at my front door. I turn down the music, turn off the water, and go to the front door. I hear sobbing and I hear the sound walking away. I open the door, and I see a tiny woman come running back to my door. She is sobbing and her words are pretty much unintelligible. I try to get her to calm down, and she tells me that her daughter is missing. She tells me her name, and her room, and I decide to let her upstairs to see if she can find her daughter. Mind you, in order to get access to our building, you either have to be a resident or be in one of the sororities that have a suite within our building. I notice that she has a Miami student ID, so I have figured out how she actually got into the building. I escort her upstairs.
As we are going upstairs, she tells me what is going on. Apparently, she had been there since Monday to help her daughter drop all and force add all of her classes. Mind you, this is week three of the semester, and the date to drop/add classes past about a four days ago. So, this mother came down, got a hotel room, and went to every class with her daughter that week, talked to the professors, and convinced them to let her daughter into the class. The mother goes on to tell me that this is very normal to her, and her daughter just needs some encouragement. As all of this is going on, she is also texting and calling different people. She is talking to her older daughter, whose ID she currently is holding, and they are giving each other updates. They talk about a "Timmy" who may be a person the missing daughter happens to be with. The mother gets a phone call from Patrick, who I deduct to be the ex-boyfriend of missing girl. Patrick has no idea where she is, the last time he saw her was Wednesday night, and "she might be sleeping with that slimeball Timmy." I can hear all of this on the phone. The mother thanks him for his services.
At this time, Mom tells me that the reason she knows missing girl happens to be missing is because she was supposed to call mom at 7:15 am. When she did not receive a call, mom went to the 8am class to see if she was there. The daughter never showed, and the professor said he had never seen her. That is when mama comes to find me.
We get to the room where missing girl happens to reside, and of course she is not in there. Her roommates look at us as if we have six heads because 1. their RD is banging on their door at 9am on a Friday and they were at a huge Sig Chi party the night before so they were totally gone last night and 2. there is a crazy mother banging on their door, calling the two ladies by the wrong names (which was just funny.) These ladies were good sports, and said, oh, well she had Patrick over the other night, I bet she is over there with him. Mother reports that Patrick has not seen her, and asks if they know about Timmy. At this time, the mother gets a phone call from a friend of missing girl, and friend gives mom the phone number of the infamous Timmy. Mother cannot figure out text messaging, but friend told her that texting is the only way to get a hold of Timmy. Mother then tells me that Timmy is on the wrong track in his life. He had dropped out of Miami last semester, was living in Cincinnati, and came up to work at Skippers, an uptown bar, as a bouncer. Mother lets me know that she really values higher education. She then tells me that her daughter also works at Skippers, and met Timmy there. I am standing there, knowing that I am going to be late for my meeting with my professor and wondering why the hell I took this job.
Roommates tell mom that they do not know Timmy, and the last time they saw missing girl, she was making out with a Sig Chi. Mother looks like she is going to have a heart attack. With perfect timing, the phone rings, and it is Timmy. He informs mom that he has not seen daughter since Tuesday night, when she accidentally called him Patrick while they were out together. He said he has only been hooking up with missing girl, and isn't her boyfriend, and shouldn't have to keep tabs on her. He says "talk to that douchebag Patrick" or "go to Sig Chi. They will know where she is." Again, this is all over the phone. The mother, speaking to a kid she does not know whatsoever about her daughter. Who seems kinda slutty. Mother says thank you, and Timmy says "No problem Ma'am. Have a great day!" (In a cheery voice. At this point, I kinda want to meet Timmy.)
At this time, Mom asks me if I can help get missing girl on the right track. I offer to give her the number of the Counseling Center and her Academic Advisor and the MUPD non emergency line. Mom says ok, asks for my number, and runs out of the building.
Later that day, I finally figure out who missing girl happens to be. And she is not my favorite resident. I may have questioned her intelligence once or twice last semester. I see her roommates later in the day, and say, did missing girl come back? They roll their eyes, says she hooks up with a different guy every Thursday, and mom should just back off. I shake my head and say goodbye.
So this is just a snapshot (yes a really long and winded one, but I have to tell the whole story) of my life at Miami. I am now the co-advisor for IFC, and the guys keep me sane. Except when they go to a conference this past weekend, and get caught drinking. Where OSU won a national recruitment award. I realize I might have downgraded a bit... nonetheless, I kinda love it.
Miss all of you!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Batteries and Beerlympics (the last part so read it all)
Hi friends,
I hope all is well in your respective lives. I haven't written in here for a while, so I figured I should.
The best way to start things off is with an embarrassing story about myself. I haven't been drinking a ton lately which depresses me somewhat. My roommate can't really go out much because he is on crutches from ankle surgery. He doesn't really want to get drunk on crutches because he thinks he'll fall over. I think that would be hilarious. Anyways, I went out with some people from my department: one first year girl who could be described as a dumb bitch by Krajny and her old roomies, a Michigan grad and some of his buddies. After midnight or so, me and the Michigan guy decided we were drunk enough to actually go try and dance with some ladies. I noticed a cute girl dancing by herself a few feet away so I go up and attempt to chat. Here is how it goes:
Me: A pretty girl like you shouldn't be dancing by yourself......what are you drinking there?
Me internally: wtf kind of opening line is that? I suck at this.
Girl: a gin and tonic
Me: oh cool I have a vodka tonic.........do you want some?
Me internally: that is easily the creepiest response you could have had. now she thinks you want to roofy her.
Girl: uhh why would I want some of yours when I have a drink right here?
Me: good point
I think we danced for like 30 seconds and then she walked away. Epic fail.
Second, here is a fantastic youtube clip from Axe. I have no idea how they got Jaime Pressley to do this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bevJr3Ra84Q
Third, life udpate. So I'm in the middle of my semester down here, and it's a little bit busier than I expected. I'm taking 2 classes, one of which is a little difficult. I am also TA'ing an undergrad class, which has been interesting. As an undergrad I always assumed the grad students knew and understood everything. I now know that is not true, at least in my case. The class is called trasnport phenomenon, which basically means modeling heat, mass, and momentum transport. If you want to know more, I can tell you all about it some other time. I have office hours for 2 hours and run a 2 hour recitation, where I call on students to come down and put their homework solutions on the projector to explain to the class. Other than that, I just have to proctor and grade the midterms. I've gotten some good feedback so far, but that may just be because the kids like me better than the other TA, Ming Pan, because I can speak clear English. The other aspect of the job is to try to avoid being creepy towards the attractive sophomore girls in the class. My roommate and I joked that it was going to happen and then bam, first person in my office hours is a smoking red head-fml.
Over Christmas break, I finally got my research adviser situation figured out. I'll be working for a professor in the mechanical engineering department (but still getting a chemical engineering degree) to try to make advanced materials for cathodes in batteries. The goal is to give the batteries better storage capacity and lifetime performance to improve the economic viability of alternative energy sources. The batteries would hold power generated from sources like wind and solar to be used when the sun doesn't shine or the wind doesn't blow. I haven't really gotten started yet in the lab yet. I just follow people around and try to learn what they are doing. I will be working with an undergrad and a postdoc on the project. The research group webpage is here: http://www.me.utexas.edu/~manthiram/ If you look at the people section, you can see that the group is very international, with domestic students being in the minority, so that'll be something to get used to.
I've got some fun weekends coming up, which I'm excited about. At the end of February, we have our recruitment weekend for the students admitted this year. Basically we pitch the department to them and then get them really drunk at night. It's a vicious/wonderful cycle. The week after that Dreami is coming to visit. My dad is not coming, just Dreami. I have no idea how I'm going to entertain here for multiple days, but frankly I'm afraid. On a Dreami-related sidenote, she got a Facebook account. I know she's going to ask to be my friend, which means I'll have to censor pictures now. The week after that, Jon and Justin are coming down, so hopefully they'll be some drunken shenanigans to share after that. It's also the start of South by Southwest that weekend, so we'll have to scope out the free things to do during that. Then a couple of weeks after that Rachel (a former Stater) is going to San Antonio with her parents, so they're going to come up here for an afternoon I think.
Finally, I emailed Jho, Gerbetz, Rapien, and Salmon Suz to get beerlympics going again this year. They checked with other groups and selected Friday, April 16th as the day, which is the day before Emeyer's wedding. This is fantastic news because hopefully lots of us will be back in town for that wonderful occasion. Clearly we will be welcome at this event, so I plan on going already. Hopefully some of you guys can make it/want to make it.
I think that's it for me. Sorry f0r another long post. I like to ramble. Keep on posting guys so we can stay in touch. Adios all.
-James
I hope all is well in your respective lives. I haven't written in here for a while, so I figured I should.
The best way to start things off is with an embarrassing story about myself. I haven't been drinking a ton lately which depresses me somewhat. My roommate can't really go out much because he is on crutches from ankle surgery. He doesn't really want to get drunk on crutches because he thinks he'll fall over. I think that would be hilarious. Anyways, I went out with some people from my department: one first year girl who could be described as a dumb bitch by Krajny and her old roomies, a Michigan grad and some of his buddies. After midnight or so, me and the Michigan guy decided we were drunk enough to actually go try and dance with some ladies. I noticed a cute girl dancing by herself a few feet away so I go up and attempt to chat. Here is how it goes:
Me: A pretty girl like you shouldn't be dancing by yourself......what are you drinking there?
Me internally: wtf kind of opening line is that? I suck at this.
Girl: a gin and tonic
Me: oh cool I have a vodka tonic.........do you want some?
Me internally: that is easily the creepiest response you could have had. now she thinks you want to roofy her.
Girl: uhh why would I want some of yours when I have a drink right here?
Me: good point
I think we danced for like 30 seconds and then she walked away. Epic fail.
Second, here is a fantastic youtube clip from Axe. I have no idea how they got Jaime Pressley to do this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bevJr3Ra84Q
Third, life udpate. So I'm in the middle of my semester down here, and it's a little bit busier than I expected. I'm taking 2 classes, one of which is a little difficult. I am also TA'ing an undergrad class, which has been interesting. As an undergrad I always assumed the grad students knew and understood everything. I now know that is not true, at least in my case. The class is called trasnport phenomenon, which basically means modeling heat, mass, and momentum transport. If you want to know more, I can tell you all about it some other time. I have office hours for 2 hours and run a 2 hour recitation, where I call on students to come down and put their homework solutions on the projector to explain to the class. Other than that, I just have to proctor and grade the midterms. I've gotten some good feedback so far, but that may just be because the kids like me better than the other TA, Ming Pan, because I can speak clear English. The other aspect of the job is to try to avoid being creepy towards the attractive sophomore girls in the class. My roommate and I joked that it was going to happen and then bam, first person in my office hours is a smoking red head-fml.
Over Christmas break, I finally got my research adviser situation figured out. I'll be working for a professor in the mechanical engineering department (but still getting a chemical engineering degree) to try to make advanced materials for cathodes in batteries. The goal is to give the batteries better storage capacity and lifetime performance to improve the economic viability of alternative energy sources. The batteries would hold power generated from sources like wind and solar to be used when the sun doesn't shine or the wind doesn't blow. I haven't really gotten started yet in the lab yet. I just follow people around and try to learn what they are doing. I will be working with an undergrad and a postdoc on the project. The research group webpage is here: http://www.me.utexas.edu/~manthiram/ If you look at the people section, you can see that the group is very international, with domestic students being in the minority, so that'll be something to get used to.
I've got some fun weekends coming up, which I'm excited about. At the end of February, we have our recruitment weekend for the students admitted this year. Basically we pitch the department to them and then get them really drunk at night. It's a vicious/wonderful cycle. The week after that Dreami is coming to visit. My dad is not coming, just Dreami. I have no idea how I'm going to entertain here for multiple days, but frankly I'm afraid. On a Dreami-related sidenote, she got a Facebook account. I know she's going to ask to be my friend, which means I'll have to censor pictures now. The week after that, Jon and Justin are coming down, so hopefully they'll be some drunken shenanigans to share after that. It's also the start of South by Southwest that weekend, so we'll have to scope out the free things to do during that. Then a couple of weeks after that Rachel (a former Stater) is going to San Antonio with her parents, so they're going to come up here for an afternoon I think.
Finally, I emailed Jho, Gerbetz, Rapien, and Salmon Suz to get beerlympics going again this year. They checked with other groups and selected Friday, April 16th as the day, which is the day before Emeyer's wedding. This is fantastic news because hopefully lots of us will be back in town for that wonderful occasion. Clearly we will be welcome at this event, so I plan on going already. Hopefully some of you guys can make it/want to make it.
I think that's it for me. Sorry f0r another long post. I like to ramble. Keep on posting guys so we can stay in touch. Adios all.
-James
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Snow?
While you all enjoy being snowed in down south, it's been in the 40's up here in Alaska. Haven't seen snow since early December.
But seriously... I miss snow.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Happy New Year!
I figured an update was in order before going back to work tomorrow morning…
I hope I'm done with my toughest semester of grad school following the fall- my 2 finals came the same week I had 3 presentations to upper management. I think everything went pretty well, but I’m still waiting on grades due to a state of Georgia furlough and holiday break. That wraps up my 3rd of 4 work rotations, and I got my first choice for next rotation working on Research and Development for ovens- exciting, I know!
There was time for a little fun too. For Halloween I was “The Todd” from Scrubs (thanks to James' idea), which provided the perfect excuse for suggestive jokes. My parents visited in November and we completed the Bourbon Trail before they invited a random Iowa girl to come watch the game at my house… I just got my commemorative t-shirt for sending in my stamped Bourbon passport!
Winter break was much needed chance to relax and see quite a few of you. The family is doing well. Scooter just got back from a service project in Mexico, and we helped Mom and Dad build a wall- the basement should be finished by this summer. My high school friends reunited, and the South 40 celebrated Uncle Larry’s birthday with a surprise Christmas party. I got caught up on Always Sunny in Philadelphia (can we please do a flip cup tourney in Philly sometime?), and started watching Glee and The League.
I’ll have a light load until mid-February and am looking forward to some Louisville visitors (let me know if you want to be one) and a possible trip to Austin. Toward the end of February I’ve got a training trip to Niskayuna, NY (just north of Albany), and am looking at doing a weekend in NYC, Boston, or Montreal.
To close in traditional fashion, I present a shit show New Year’s Eve: I woke up in my shirt and tie with no pants… my last memory of pre-gaming to Jersey Shore. In the morning I was asked if I remembered dancing in a circle of three shirtless guys. Must be a Stater thing?
I hope I'm done with my toughest semester of grad school following the fall- my 2 finals came the same week I had 3 presentations to upper management. I think everything went pretty well, but I’m still waiting on grades due to a state of Georgia furlough and holiday break. That wraps up my 3rd of 4 work rotations, and I got my first choice for next rotation working on Research and Development for ovens- exciting, I know!
There was time for a little fun too. For Halloween I was “The Todd” from Scrubs (thanks to James' idea), which provided the perfect excuse for suggestive jokes. My parents visited in November and we completed the Bourbon Trail before they invited a random Iowa girl to come watch the game at my house… I just got my commemorative t-shirt for sending in my stamped Bourbon passport!
Winter break was much needed chance to relax and see quite a few of you. The family is doing well. Scooter just got back from a service project in Mexico, and we helped Mom and Dad build a wall- the basement should be finished by this summer. My high school friends reunited, and the South 40 celebrated Uncle Larry’s birthday with a surprise Christmas party. I got caught up on Always Sunny in Philadelphia (can we please do a flip cup tourney in Philly sometime?), and started watching Glee and The League.
I’ll have a light load until mid-February and am looking forward to some Louisville visitors (let me know if you want to be one) and a possible trip to Austin. Toward the end of February I’ve got a training trip to Niskayuna, NY (just north of Albany), and am looking at doing a weekend in NYC, Boston, or Montreal.
To close in traditional fashion, I present a shit show New Year’s Eve: I woke up in my shirt and tie with no pants… my last memory of pre-gaming to Jersey Shore. In the morning I was asked if I remembered dancing in a circle of three shirtless guys. Must be a Stater thing?
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