Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in apung's LiveJournal:

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Wednesday, June 13th, 2007
9:34 pm	Wahoo! Research getting there, getting closer; splices are getting closer and closer, and newer and newer things are being uncovered, and being put into action! Unfortunately, it's top secretive. Wahoo!@ (Comment on this)
Friday, September 29th, 2006
12:19 am	CRF (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, September 20th, 2006
2:42 pm	..Recently, I find that I've obtained an all-together new set of best friends. That's right. In fact, I have just one best friend, and we've been hanging out more and more as the semester progresses. That's right. I'm talking about the Library. ..ergh. I'm there so much anymore, it's replaced dinner, as well as some sleep; I dont see any other way around it, and it's nice to have a place to go and be able to just..get work done, instead of having constant distractions. Wendy and I went for a drive last night after I finished off some homework in Hale - we went driving around Manhattan, with the G blaring on the radio.. I really wish I could do that more often, but my best friend, Hale, doesnt really allow me much time to; so thanks for that, W. ..is it hard for anyone else to believe that midterms are just around the corner? this semester's goign way too fast - days are melting into nights, nights into days. Days into weeks, and weeks into months. ...I like cats, but I dont like kittys. I want a dog. An OR reading by MZD's been posted on YouTube - yay! Speaking of YouTube, my digital cam's been nagging at me to shoot some footage; that'll definately get done this weekend, so look forward to that! I'll notify when I post them. ...rather. they'll be posted. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 29th, 2006
8:46 am	(Comment on this)
Friday, August 25th, 2006
8:07 am	Optical Dreams Have you ever had one of those amazing dreams where you would just love for it to be true when you wake up, but then...you wake up? ...I just dreamed that Dr. Sorenson was selling me an optics table for $4.99; it was in equal-sized [rectangular] pieces, each wieghing in at 90 lbs. Then I woke up. Damnit. (Comment on this)
Thursday, August 24th, 2006
12:19 pm	Plasma Prostitution Hello, and happy update. W and I watched V for Vendetta the other night; aside from what I've said, I must admit, it's a decent movie - full of revolution, revoltion, retaliation, and hardly any blood - very enjoyable, though, as I then convinced my S.O. to dance the mocarena, which was simply hilarious! Speaking of significant others, W and I are planning on dinner + movie this sunday, which (I must admit), I'm looking forward to. Ergh...this semester's really gonna be a year of early mornings - I woke up today at 7:45 AM, and went and completed my annual physical for plasma donation; all went well, as i now weigh in at 176 lbs. (79.83 kg), and thus got $30 in cash, plus a little extra for ...being...neato. I'll also get an additional $5 next time i go for purchasing I-Cat tickets! Wahoo! Plenty of "ZLB Plasma Center" stories made today (4 in all), but I'll leave those for another time. At any rate, um...Pluto's no longer a planet...ergh. Video updates almost ready! Your future mission: Remember the Titans. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 16th, 2006
10:19 am	Dental Hunger Tuesday, 3 days after I get home from Boulder, I have a dentist appointment and a doctor's appointment on the same day. If that wasn't bad enough, the doctor prescribed me two drugs (instead of my old single drug), and the dentist told me that I had a couple cavities that needed to be filled. naturally, I was thinking on a time scale of Thanksgiving or so. ..no. He wanted me to come in today (Wednesday), to have some tiny cavities fixed before they got any worse. ..I hate my dentist. He's a crazy s.o.b. ...I really hate the shots taht they give you to numb your mouth, too. I mean...it might not be so bad, but then you have to listen to the grinding, cutting, sawing tools in your mouth, and it's not exactly like they're hitting anything but teeth (thank God). However, since the teeth are rigidly attached to your skull, it's kind of a hard thing to ignore. Ergh. At least i'm not W, getting a freaking staple yanked out of my head. Sadly enough, another day hanging out at home. If it doesnt rain, I may go swimming. If it does, I may go swimming. Either way, I still need to [attempt to] condense my stuff for college into at least 1 less box, as well as help my mother reorder some business forms. ...ergh. Off to do chores w/ a 1/2 numb mouth. (And ya know? That's another thing. I dont eat breakfast; I simply...dont. However, I can't eat or drink w/ half my mouth numb like this...it's really rather irritating, because I'm hungry. When I'm hungry, I crave food. I am hungry, but cannot have the food I crave. :: rant ::) (Comment on this)
Sunday, August 13th, 2006
1:45 pm	Flattened & Flattered Hrm. So I'm back in Kansas...a few obvious differences (all of which i expected) are starting to hit hard: (a) in CO., there USED to be mountains right outside my window; now, there's just...flat. (b) People are normal here...they think logically, they eat meat. (see previous posts for understanding). (c) Family. I'm really really glad to be home, and it's been nice. Upon returning to Atown, the family decided to order a pizza, and cold beer was also supplied. ...After returning from church this morning, my mom offered to buy doughnuts (which never happens), and tonight we're planning on going to Kobe's to eat dinner. It's odd...2 days after I return home, everyone's leaving it, including the brother. My brother is goin' back to KSU tomorrow (monday), but I was looking forwad to spendin' some time & hanging out at home before we both had to return. Z moved into our house in Mtown. Wow...1:31 PM. It's been a busy morning: (a) wake up at 7:00 go to the 8:00 mass, (b) weed-eat a neighbor's front & back yard, (c) help my bro. out w/ his iPod, (d) Helped my mom sort out clothes (dirty & clean), and starting to get ready for going back to KSU on friday. The weather's really...hot., As we speak, weather.com says it's 99 deg. (F) in Andover, KS; that wouldnt bother me, except that only 8 measly hours away, it's 78 deg. (F) ... ARGHHGH! Oh well..no more mountains, no more [serious] hiking, no more laser jockying (for another week). Oh well...the research was really fun, and the presentation went really well. That, and getting back to Mtown means that I'll finally be able to set up my online server so that I can post my new pictures online. YAY! ....my brain is tired, so I'm gonna go read up on some Optics, trying to start getting an idea for a future masters thesis research project. Raw Hide! (Comment on this)
Thursday, August 10th, 2006
1:17 pm	Family Tonight ...for those of you who know me, you know that I'm not one to miss home, I'm not one to miss family, hell...I'm not one to miss my friends. However, I'm really looking forward to seeing my mother & brother tonight -they're driving in from KS tonight, so they can go to my research presentation tomorrow morning. ....Speaking of presentations, (and I'm sorry if this whole, "Things that Irritate Aaron" is getting old, but it'll be over in a few days..), today was the first morning of presentations. As you can guess, RockClimber & Vegetarian were...rather..um.. "HEY, NOTICE ME"ish. ...RockClimber made his [rather novice] presentation today, and he did it in a fashion such that...he couuldnt just do it normally, as asked ...no, no, no...that would make too much sense; he did it in a fashion such as to attract all attention - laughter, mostly. I mean...presentations with humor are always good to hold the audience's attention, but...when you're just trying to make EVERYTHIGN into a joke (which you can't do with NMR), it gets irritating...quickly. However, I'm simply going to play off his sorry attempt at humor, as a sort of...compensation...for his severe lack of knowledge over what he was presenting. ...then there's Vegetarian. ...Vegetarian (who didnt present today), sat in the seats like the rest of us. However, towards the end of the morning, he simply got up, and went to the back of the room, and sat on the tables. ...by himeself... ...I guess it wouldnt be so bad, but whenever he moved, he made a noise. ...I realize how petty & stupid this sounds, but when every 5 seconds there's a *CRAEEEEEeeaaaaaAAAAkkkkKK* coming from the back of the room? You kinda just...wanna beat someone (to be particular, the person who was causing the creaking)... I mean...dont get me wrong - not ALL Vegetarians are bad. Take V2, for instance - I'm not one for meeting people online (or talkign to strangers online), but she's really cool. She's planning on going to Honduras here in October, and is a physics major out in NY (I think that's right..) I dont hate all vegetarians - I simply dislike the one living in my apartment. Other than that, I've found a meditational mantra to chant to myself, "2 more days. 2 more days. No more idiots, in 2 more days." Then back to Wichita, then to Manhattan; it seems like there're some people back in A-town that wanna see me when I get back, but I'm not too sure on that; I really wanna stay here in the research lab at NIST, and continue my work; however, I cannot do that. L is out here in the NIST program as well, but has actually managed to secure a [real] job at NIST. L's one of those people who you give a hard time whenever you can, but you really (ergh..not envy)...look up to. She's quite successful, and really intelligent - that, and getting a job at NIST in Boulder? I think she's living my dream. Oh well.. I'll be living my dream one day. Just give me 2 years. X (Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 9th, 2006
12:53 am	4 More Days. It turns out, the downside of having such great luck w/ the research, is knowing what you have to go 'home' to. ..my cocky-ass roomate, RockClimber is getting..well...really egotistical (Awgeezemargie, not a word!) ..he's starting to tell me um...:: cough cough :: ...what to wear, what to do, what I should/shouldn't say; I really cant complain, though. Pierres gone, so things are much cleaner, and a little more spacious. RockClimbers er.. girl of the house is still around, and still dykish as ever 3 days ago, I woke up in time to shower, change, eat, and get to work on time. Rather, I would have gotten to work on time, had it not taken a 25 minutes shower (literally). It doesnt bother me, its justif youre not meant to live w/ us, then stop living with ussame went for Pierre, but hes gone. I really wish she..er..it..wouldve followed him back to France. Odd to say, thoughVegetarian and I are starting to get along I dont know why it took us an entire summer, but I think we finally get each other now. ..its kinda nice knowing that theres only 1 person in my apartment I cant stand. He sleeps 10 ft. away from me, in the other room. I think Ive come down off my happiness high. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, August 7th, 2006
9:40 pm	Up & up & up ...So I keep wondering if any of this could possibly get any better.. - I'm in Boulder, CO. - Working at NIST, loving the research that I do - With a mentor who's chosen to add me as an author to his next publication - In a division that promised me funding to travel to Rochester, NY - ..I have a publication practically waiting for me back at my KSU research - My arab friend just called, and told me funding has been found to hire her onto my KSU research group - I received an e-mail from the leader of the Rochester Undergrad Forum, who told me that he "expects that (I) will be accepted." for the poster session in October ...!!! I cannot believe how lucky I've been. however, you can't have an "up" without a "down", so..I'm wondering if the 'down' was before this summer, or if it'll be after? I think it was before. At any rate, I'm ...freakin' stoked. My family's coming out this thursday night, and I'm giving my final NIST presentation on friday, and then I'll get to hang out w/ the family friday night, then probalby back home on saturday. Finally. Time to re-unite w/ the family, and I'll get to re-unite w/ my video cam. (which..i've been missing immensely). I'll update when I'm not high on happiness! INGA. (Comment on this)
Friday, August 4th, 2006
2:12 pm	My future plan: Upgraded ...Today I heard one of those comments that just...casually slips into typical conversation, but deserves much more attention than it was given when it was said - you know what I'm talking about. I was speaking with my mentor today about the future of his research, and he threw in the line, "Well, when I write this paper, I'm going to make you an author...". For those of you who aren't aware of the magnitude of this statement, let me emphasize (I'm not trying to be big-headed, simply..excited). ...In order to do this, let's make a simple comparison - my resume, around Christmas, with a about a year in between: Resume, End of Summer, 2005 - Construction - Subway - Panera Bread - 1 semester research (KSU) Resume, End of First Semester, 2006 - 3 semesters research (KSU) - 1 summer research (NIST) - 2 publications - 1 at KSU (first author) - 1 at NIST (co-author) ...heh...I never imagined going into research when I did...with who I did would ever go this far. That, and considering the two publications will be coming before I'm 21, and before I'm even a senior in College, ...(again, I'm not trying to show off, I'm just...floored by what's happened in just a year). I'm not gonna say I'm "golden" resume/application- wise, by any means. I'm just going to say that my resume may be a bit...stronger...than other resumes issued by others trying to get into the same program. Now comes the easy part...keeping my grades up. Edit: Luckily, as I've been told in the past, in the realm of being accepted into the Physics positions (at various levels & locations), is based more on research/experience, and less on bookwork / grades. That, and I've also heard that in grad school, they only look at a few things academically: GRE's (as long as I do well in Optics, I'll be doing fine), and the last 2 years of your Undergrad grades. However, I've heard those aren't that important at some locations. w00t for small comments like the aforementioned. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
11:27 pm	Things that piss me off: ROOMATES. ...here's a situation for all you math people out there. Our apt. can house 4 people, one in each room. They are: Vegetarian, A.M., RockClimber, and myself. A.M. has a house in LaFeyette, and doesnt live with us. (For those of you counting, 4 - 1 = 3). Then Pierre moved in. (3 + 1 = 4) Then RockClimber (...dumb mother fcker) tells S (a girl) that she can stay with us. RockClimber has a girlfriend. ...it is not S. ...um...RockClimber has 1 bed in his room. Nobody is sleeping on the floor. (Nonetheless, 4 + 1 = 5) THEN RockClimber decides to invite another friend to stay in our apt...this friend HAS HIS OWN APT. IN BOULDER. (5 + 1 = 6) ...Let me restate. This apt. can hold 4 people, it's supposed to be housing 3. ...am I the only one whom this situation would piss off (and is currently)?? (Comment on this)
9:05 pm	French Cheescake? Yes ma'am! I complain about Pierre, the French roomate - we all know that. However, Pierre worked his magic. I just got back from the Cheesecake Factory, where Vegetarian's mentor took Vegetarian, Pierre and I out to eat. Needless to say, ... Amazing. I ordered Pasta (namely becuase I thought it uncouth to order buffalo wings, even though my mouth watered for them). At any rate, Pierre got us the in for me to have a free dinner, and I'm...stuffed. Presentations are right around the corner here at NIST, and the scheduling's all cleaned up and done, so that's one less thing on my proverbial plate. I also found out (and this makes me really happy) that I get to take my lab notebook with me. Heh...I've started writing in it more, and actually caring about what I put in it, knowing that I wont have to recopy it. However, with the dawning of presentations also means I have to pseudo-confront my mentor about working there next summer, and also about getting a letter of recommendation for next year. I'm trying to feel out how he feels towards me, and I dont think it's bad at all. I think he knows that I actually do something, and I hope he'll have me back next semester. I can wait, but I can't. I want to know the answers, but I dont. ...kinda like getting grades back, except...you can't retake a summer of research to do better; once you burn a connection, it's gone. If, in the odd case that does happen, then I know there will always be Chex Mix, Sobe, and Wend...well...college. (Comment on this)
9:38 am	Masicism Tango ...2 more weeks until I leave Boulder, and I'm not sure what to think. For the first time this summer, my schedule seems very cyclical. Kansas (i.e. Wichita, Manhattan) would mean no more mountains, no more picturesque landscapes, no more photographic paradise, no more NIST (at least for now); on the other hand, it also means friends, family, home-cooked food, and not living in an apt. full of embiciles. Ah, the delights of home. Work is nding down, and it's not hard to tell - e-mails regarding final presentations & abstracts are being thrown around daily now, and though I cannot wait, I find it difficult to believe I'll get to see my family in a little over a week. I'm not one to be homesick, but there are some things you just need a shot of once in a while. Everything's turning topsy-turvy anyways: Vegetarian is starting to eat meat on a daily basis, RockClimber was trying to burn (yes, burn...as in..he heated up the screwdriver on his multi-use pocket knife, and was pressing it into his skin) to kill a "wart" on his finger...it brought back memories of The Boondock Saints' kitchen scene (sorry, couldnt find pic.) ...I guess there's something more I wanted to say, but it's simply not coming to mind. I'll be sure to edit when it does. (Comment on this)
Sunday, July 30th, 2006
5:09 am	5:09 AM, MTN As you can tell by the recent time stamps, I've decided to pull an all-nighter...and it's been pretty productive, but pretty discouraging. Thus far, I've: - Washed/Dried Clothes - Hung up clean clothes - Cleaned room - Made Bed - Gone through and separated/listed/totalled receipts. ..thats right. The last one got me really depressed. Damn. I feel like I've single-handedly funded the ENTIRE CITY OF BOULDER this summer. Hell..i didnt even bother to calculate a total on grocieries OR miscellaneous goods. ..hrm. Alright...off to read. ...Physics? Math? Oh, the choices! Edit: I've reached the point to where it feels like I have bugs crawling on me. YAY! (Comment on this)
2:55 am	2:55 AM, MTN 2:55 AM, and I just watched the second half of "The Big Labowski".. decent movie. I recently found that I may not be the only one going to Rochester - RockClimber may be going as well. I also found the research project at KSU (headed by Dana) has progressed nicely, getting near 0 dB loss splices of the fibers in the vacuum; half of me wonders how she did it, half of me wonders what I wasn't seeing, and the third half of me wonders if i'll be able to reproduce that when I get back. ...it's always nice to hear from W; we talk most every night; I look forward to getting back to KS, to get away from everyone out here in the NIST program...I just wanna get back to KSU. Like BParker, I'm ready for the summer to wind down, and start classes again...times like this, even the hippy-riddled Boulder seems like a good place to get away from. The mountains & scenery are beautiful, but I'd gladly sac. it for Manhattan, for home, for family. Besides that, it sucks not being able to earn hard cash (plasma), and not bein' able to see friends & family when you want. I think i may be through hiking for the summer, as i dont have a car, and cannot get out to Rocky Mtn. National Park. Thus, I'm stuck in my apt., reading up on physics,and eating my Mac. & Cheese. At 3:00 AM, I'm not ready to call it a night; hopefully the work of Dr. Penrose can help make my eyelids a bit heavier. I love physics, but reading it makes everyone tired. It's not boring, it's just...okay, well..maybe. Edit: badger badger badger badger badger badger badger badger (Comment on this)
Friday, July 28th, 2006
1:24 pm	My plan: Changed So much for the Gin & rum...er...at least the Rum part. I've recently recieved a few good pieces of news regarding my future in physics. The first came from my research advisor at KSU in a recent e-mail: "Dana has...done very well, although she's a little discouraged now that she can see she won't finish the project in the next week. We had a...problem...she figured that out... she's getting nearly lossless splices outside the chamber... It will be in a good situation when you come back, I think, and I hope we can write something up this fall." aka...I'm going to be able to have my first technical research paper written by Christmas, if all goes well, with the title of first author. Secondly, there is an annual undergrad reserach conference in Rochester, NY that I began speaking with my advisor about last year, but the costs for getting there would be...quite high. I thought at first that even if i pooled funding from NIST & KSU, I'd still have to pay a fair share; Recently, however, I've found that there's someone at NIST that will be willing to completely sponsor my trip to Rochester, NY - everything from room, food, travel to & from Rochester.. I never thought I'd get this lucky....a lot of the times when I look at where I am, and the opportunities I have in the field that I love, I feel like I dont deserve it for one reason or another; like I simply got really really lucky. At any rate, they are there - and I openly welcome them. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
9:47 am	My life-long plan: Gin & Rum My life-long plan: Gin & Rum Drinking 5/7 bottle of Captain Morgan in a one night period, followed by a 6 hour hike on a mountain is a very bad idea. ...my roomate, RockClimber got back home yesterday after a 5-day vacation going to a wedding on the east coast. I'm just now seeing how nice, quiet, pleasant it was without him - besides..how often do i get to hear loud, egotistical, attention-whorish singing/gossip/laughing (CR? Remember HorseLaugh? ..multiply that by 15...you have ONE of my roomates.). How often do i get to hear that? Oh, yes...all summer. Happy note: Out here in Boulder, there're two main 'photographers' (i.e. ...people that do it as a serious hobby): myself & "N"...note: N's dad is a professional photographer, meaning that N has open invite to any/all equipment, advice, tips, pointers, etc., whereas I've taught myself. ..N sells his work (as I plan to, on my return to M-town).. I guess until now, I've always thought that N's work must be...amazing, or simply better than mine, from the way he talks about it. Last night, he showed me his pics., in a folder he called "Pics. to Sell"...I'm guessing these were the ones he was referring to. He's no better than myself. A step below it, if I had to say. I'm not being arrogant, I just...there's never a strong subject, no unique perspective, no emotion. A few of them are really good, but nothing that I myself could not pull off. I guess that gave me quite a boost in my photographic confidence. In other news, work's goign really well; we re-locked the lasers, and we're cooling...:: looks at data ::....oops! Nope! Sorry..we're now warming up the chambers, and collecting data - always a fun time. This means, then, that it's more long nights in the office, and more long days of reading about lithography, lasers, cavities, modes, etc. :: finishes lunch :: Edit: W - You will lose at Gin. It's inevitable. You know you will. (Comment on this)
Monday, July 24th, 2006
12:54 pm	Lucky enough to get lost, Lucky enough to Prosper Lucky enough to get lost, Lucky enough to Prosper Today was incredible. Note to self, note to others: When you have contacts & connections, USE THEM. ..take me, for instance. I'm in Boulder, doing research; I took the time out during an experiment (2 1/2 hours) to speak with one of the...um...'higher ups' in the building that I work in, regarding my future. Since I'll be a junior at KSU when I go back this semester, I have...connections that are much...stronger...than I previuosly thought. Due to the fact that everyone else out here in Boulder doing research is gonna be a senior this upcoming school year, I essentially have an extra year; add that to the fact that I already have 1 full year of research under me (and practically 1 summer).. Here's the royal flush, though - this post-doc that I talked to informed me that it was completely possible to do 1 of 3 options: (1) Go back to working at NIST in Boulder, CO. (which i wouldnt mind AT ALL), (2) I could remain at KSU, working with Dr., Corwin, (3) I could work at JILA in Boulder, CO., and get closer to the people at CU (where I wanna go to grad school), (4) I could apply for an internship at CU, or (5) I could remain working at KSU under Dr. Corwin, but collaborate with the peoples at NIST, to calibrate results taht we get at KSU. ...this last option is really interesting. I asked him how easy it would be for me to get back into working at NIST again next summer, and he basically said that with a year of research and a full summer at NIST, ..my letters of recommendation regarding the internship would be *quite* a bit higher than someone who's recommendation letters say, "Eh...he's a good kid. Got a B+ in Biology." ...I think he actually said (at one point), "Once you get your foot in the door [at NIST], ...you're in." ...I may not sound excited, but...I feel like the rest of my academic life (up until grad school) has just planned itself out. I never imagined any kind of collaboration between NIST & KSU, now KSU & JILA (which is also entirely possible). It's just ..really *really* nice to know that you have your foot in the door at somewhere like NIST, and that your track record regarding research can only get better. Compounded on top of that, I only have a few months until my first paper comes out, me being first author. Yeah..I'm stoked. I cannot believe I got this lucky. (Comment on this)