And so little time to say it. I have two totally different topics I feel like discussing today. They're SO widely different that I think I'll split them into two posts. First, I'd like to get some gripes off my chest in the form of a letter.


Dear Clemson Undergraduates,

Welcome back! In your absence, it seems that you have forgotten a few basic items. Since life has gone on as normal here, allow me to remind you of a few things.

First, use the crosswalks. They were invented for the sole purpose of helping you to NOT DIE. In order for them to function properly, you must use them. While we're discussing crossing the street, let's mention that it isn't the brightest idea to step out without looking, particularly if you have headphones on. I'm not that much older than you, but I feel like I should warn you: you aren't invincible. If you and my car were in a cage match, my car would win. So would all of your fellow classmates' trucks.

Second, slow down. Neither Clemson Avenue nor 93 have been replaced with the Autobahn. Your parents who will probably have to pay your tickets, would appreciate it if you remember this. So would the pedestrians.

Third, be quiet. Actually, I don't even care that you are loud. It's your timing and your topics. Just try to remember that when, at 2am, you decide to loudly break up with your significant other in the parking lot of the Lutheran church, we hear you. Sometimes we even watch you. We don't really want to hear "oh please take me back baby, I promise I won't make out with another guy while drunk again" at all, let alone in the middle of the night.

Fourth, be aware. Please realize that you are not the only human on the planet. I know the shopping carts at Wal-Mart are large, but so are their aisles. Please quit taking up more space than your little over-tanned person actually needs. You aren't that big.

Now, if you can just remember this, we can live in peaceful harmony here in Clemson. You'll thank me when you turn prematurely crotchety like me.

Laura

nanoparticles and electron microscopes and other fancy words

I got an e-mail this morning that made me decide to share a bit about what I do. Most of you know I do work in materials. Some of you know that it's optics and nanoparticles. So here you go. I'm pretty pumped about this picture.

What you're looking at is an image of nanoparticles. A whole heck of a lot of nanoparticles. I recently made a sample of yttrium fluoride nanoparticles and fired them in an attempt to convert them to yttrium oxide. To make sure it worked, we dolloped some powder onto a blob of super glue, mounted that in resin, and polished it. Then, I stuck it in a scope down the hall, where we have one of the best university-run electron microscope facilities in the country, and determined that yes, I have done what I wanted to do. And, in the process, I got this sweet picture of my nanoparticles. Don't go sharing this around, though it's nothing new. I just thought I'd share it with my family (though I apparently have non-family readers too). These particles will eventually be incorporated into optical systems and all sorts of cool stuff. 

In addition to this lovely photo, I have a few slide shows for you! The first is from May, when we went to the wedding of some friends from church, and then to the beach, of course.



The second slide show is from our trip to Atlanta this weekend, we went to the Georgia Aquarium and the Braves game with David and Eric and Nick and 2 of David's friends. A fun time was had by all. Except for when the Braves lost to the Brewers (the Brewers. Seriously? does anyone even care about them?).



That's it and that's all. Off to accomplish something with my life!

Laura's Travels

About 2 summers ago, I set a goal of visiting all of the US National Parks. I have a great respect for the National Park Service and their efforts to preserve the natural wonders of America, and I think it's a pity that more people don't appreciate them. So I set a goal. In that summer alone, I visited 5 national parks. Since then, my visits have tapered off to nill, but that doesn't change my goal. So here's a quick review of places I've been and haven't been and all that nonsense.

Alphabetically speaking, I've hit the Grand Canyon...

The Grand Tetons...

The Smokies (GREAT Smoky Mountains)...

Mount Rainier...

Yellowstone...

And Zion...

In addition to these, there is one with questionable boundaries and a lack of controlled entrance, so I may or may not have been to it. The interestate goes directly through Petrified Forest and that's about as much of the place as I need to see. I saw petrified wood, and yeah. Here's a statue made of petrified wood...

There are 58 official National Parks. As of the time I looked up this list. I figure I'll save the national forests and historic sites and stuff like that for another day. For now, I'll stick to my goal of discovering America the Beautiful. I think my next goal will be Acadia, up in Maine. Or maybe Congaree, which is apparently in South Carolina. Go figure. I kinda always thought that SC got jilted.

Granted, there are several parks that I will most likely never make it to. American Samoa, Denali, Dry Tortuga, Gates of the Arctic, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, and Wrangell-St. Elias are all a bit unreachable, being distant islands or in Alaska. But a girl can try, right? So yeah. One of these days, I'll at least get the 48 reachable ones. And also reach my goal of backpacking the Grand Canyon. I can train for it by packing in all of the other national parks. Ooh! Good plan!

Back to work. And by work, I mean checking on a furnace and making a paper chain to count down to the release of Harry Potter. woo!