geodynamo

Time to buckle up

2006-12-11T23:53:04Z

I have been working somewhat hard on getting stuff done on my dissertation, but now I am entering the home stretch. This means I must work even harder to get it all in order. I will be working for the next four weeks, over the entire holiday season to get this done. I figure from this point on I must write 2 pages a day for the next 60 days to get almost everything done. At that point I will be mostly edits and just waiting for the final data from the last experiment. Mid-February will be the final draft which I must get out to my committee. Then the defense. Wish me luck.

Experiment #5

2006-11-29T13:25:43Z

It has been a long time since I have posted. I have been unbelievably busy but that is no excuse. Anyway, I got experiment #5 going late on Monday night. It looks as though things will be going well as yesterday I already had good results. Finished some calculations on the 4th experment and am now plotting the results.

cranking along

2006-11-13T13:41:19Z

Experiment #4 is moving along at a nice pace. Hopefully finishing up right around Thanksgiving, which should give me a nice break over the holiday. I don't want to have to be taking samples all holiday. Even though this will be the case over the Christmas holiday. Still lots of writing to do. Get to work!!!

Experiment #4 started

2006-11-09T13:25:19Z

Finally finished experiment #3 and started #4. It did not take me as long as I thought to get it up and running, but I got it done last night. Now I am just monitoring it and taking samples every 12 hours. This one should go much quicker as I am using much larger glass beads and my permeability is 3 order of magnitude greater. It is progressing much faster already. Stay tuned.

experiment #3

2006-10-23T16:42:19Z

Well, my experiment is STILL running. I'm waiting for it to get close to stationary values in the reservoirs before I break it down, but it is still going at this point. I hope the next few runs with larger glass beads will allow it to progress much faster. At this rate, I will graduate in 2010 ;-(

ouch

2006-10-23T16:36:57Z

Ugh, I hate it when I do this. I slept funny last week, ended up with a kink in my neck, shoulder and back, then went and worked out on it, felt worse, then went and slept funny again. I woke up basically unable to move. I hate my bed. I decided right there and then I was going to get a new one (if you saw it you would tell me to get a new one). I don't know how many girls, and not to mention my roommate, have told me to get a new bed. I finally listened to this one and went out and spent quite a bit of money on a new one. It is just great! I have one of the most restful nights last night. Well worth it, why didn't I do this earlier? My back is feeling much better also;-)

slug

2006-10-15T14:09:23Z

I have been feeling like a slug this week. I have not made it to the gym since I had to fly up for the funeral last weekend. I need to get to the gym today or go for a run. One or the other, I have to do something. I need to get back into my high protein, low fat diet and workout regimen. This will be key for me to get productive in the lab this week also.

need to get more done

2006-10-14T18:04:45Z

Man, I need to get really productive here the next few weeks. I have been slacking a bit and feel like a heel about it. I need to get my act together and get stuff done. Back at the lab now getting stuff written and figured out so that I can be HYPERPRODUCTIVE the next few weeks. If no one hears from me it is because I am working hard. Diving is on hold, girls are mostly on hold.

good news

2006-10-11T16:34:53Z

Finally, a successful experiment. I was worried about having to leave town as I thought I would have lost all my experimental data, but thankfully a few people at the lab pitched in to take samples while I was away. Now I have good data, I have a successful experiment and no loss of time on that end. Still much to make up as far as writing and reading goes, but I can make that up.

What is your life path number?

2006-10-06T20:14:12Z

Your Life Path Number is 8

Your purpose in life is to help others succeed

You are both a natural leader and a natural success. You are also a great judge of character.
You have a head for business and finance. You know how to make money.
A great visionary, you can see gold where other people see nothing.

In love, you are very generous - with gifts, time, and guidance.

You love to inspire people, but it can be frustrating when they don't understand your vision.
Great success comes easily for you. But so does great failure, as you are very reckless.
You are confident, and sometimes this confidence borders on arrogance.

What Is Your Life Path Number?

What sign shouldn't you date?

2006-10-06T20:10:25Z

Never Date a Cancer

Clingy, emotional, and very private - it's hard to escape a Cancer's clutches.
And while Cancer will want to know everything about you, they're anything but open in return.

Instead try dating: Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, or Aquarius

What Sign Shouldn't You Date?

Too funny, my mother is a cancer !!

need more sleep

2006-10-05T14:49:21Z

I have been burning the midnight oil lately and I've got to tell you, I AM TIRED!!! I need to get more sleep. I am taking the day off from the gym, the experiment got underway at 22:00 last night. Took at measurement at 04:00 this morning and another at 10:00. Now that it is running, I need to start on a report for a client and edit more writing on my dissertation. And I need to sleep more, starting today. Now I need Java, lots of it.

experiment #3

2006-10-04T22:25:13Z

In the process of getting experiment #3 going as of right now. Had to stop to eat something. I am very tired, didn't get much sleep last night :-) Set up everything on the apparatus, now filling the test section, 3 more hours until it I get it done and I can start. Another long, long day. Oh, yeah, rocked on shoulders at the gym today, maybe that is another reason I am a bit tired.

long busy day

2006-10-04T02:53:18Z

My day was quite long. I didn't get much sleep as I was hanging out with a friend who just got back into town. We stayed up late talking and shooting the shit. Got up early, but unfortunately not in time for my normal workout. I made it to the lab, got a bunch of progress made on my next experiment and some of the theory, then threw together a quick presentation for my major professor's class, which I gave at 15:00. After that I hit the gym for a quick leg workout and then it was back to the lab for some more apparatus preparation. Met the new guy who will be working for me this afternoon, cool guy, I think he'll work out just fine on the field projects. Met my girl and we went dancing this evening, finally getting to learn some real moves. Ate, showered, washing clothes. Long day!

gym

2006-10-02T16:19:14Z

Well I had another great workout today. That is the second in a row. I have changed my diet recently, now eating more protein, less carbs and less fat. I did splurge on a few sweets last week before bearing down on the new caloric intake regime. All workouts for the next 6 weeks will be heavy weight, low reps to pack on a few pounds of muscle. Had to do this in order to regain a few pounds I lost as fat. I lost 13 pounds in about 4 months, so if I can put on about 5 pounds of muscle, that will put be at about 178 -180 lbs, which I feel is about right for my height. Also I will be getting a body fat calculation next week sometime to see how far I have progressed. I am guessing I am in the 9-11% range, I'd like to get back down to 6%. I have been at 4% before, but think that is too lean, I am shooting for 6-8% as that is a good balance, especially for my age.

*I have been on a Rush fixation the past few days, don't know why*

What's your power color?

2006-09-30T17:56:33Z

Your Power Color Is Indigo

At Your Highest:
You are on a fast track to success - and others believe in you.

At Your Lowest:
You require a lot of attention and praise.

In Love:
You see people as how you want them to be, not as how they are.

How You're Attractive:
You're dramatic flair makes others see you as mysterious and romantic.

Your Eternal Question:
"Does This Work Into My Future Plans?"

What's Your Power Color?

salsa tonight :-)

2006-09-28T22:02:32Z

Just got up, got a shower and feeling much better. Oh, I have not been getting enough sleep lately at all ;-) Anyway, got a call from my new girl and she wants to go dancing. Yeah! I can't wait. It is so much fun!!

field day

2006-09-28T21:55:36Z

Today was another field day. It was actually great weather today, not too hot, but still a day working in the field is a long hot day. No matter, most everything went alright, but some other field personnel who have been collecting alternative samples using our tubing, keep cutting it and our automatic sampler then misses samples due to cut or broken or misplaced tubing. That can be frustrating as we are always in the field and these people only go to the field every couple months. Talk about inconsiderate and rude. I hate when people think its all about them, and have no consideration for others. Nothing but selfish. Anyway, took Io out, he had a great time and of course got all wet and stinky, I love my dog! Got back and unloaded the truck, now I need a quick cat nap.

quick workout and dissertation

2006-09-26T21:40:44Z

Man, I have had a good day, not that productive, but it is setting up to be awesome. Got a good late afternoon leg workout, much too many squats, but I will deal with that tomorrow (sore for sure). I have been making good progress on my dissertation the past few days, sorted out a bunch of equations, wrote another 3 pages, edits about 20 and rewrote about 4. Tomorrow will be nothing but writing and editing, with the end of the tunnel in sight. A few more days and the progress report will be complete and ready for my major professor. That will be a huge weight off my back.

wow

2006-09-26T21:34:09Z

I have had some of the best days this year. The past few days have been just absolutely fabulous. No doubt about it. Life is really good right now. It is just amazing the way things work out, I am in just utter amazement.

ant workout

2006-09-21T17:54:14Z

Today in the gym just rocked! I felt tired, but was very strong. I love it when that happens, my mind thinks I can't lift than much, but my body can do it. I just rocked my chest today hard. If felt great!! I am almost at my all time maximum on bench press again. Just 40 lbs shy of 315. I was able to do two unassisted reps at 275. That is just over 100 lbs more than I weigh. I love feeling like an ant :-) Hit abs fairly hard as well. Getting much leaner week by week.

awesome gift from amazing friend

2006-09-18T20:41:00Z

This weekend a great friend of mine gave me a huge gift. She set me up with something that has been very much lacking in my life for sometime. MUSIC!! I had gone through some dark places on the road back and it definitely was a very long, long strange trip. But I have an awesome variety of stuff now. I feel this will help me get really productive on some things that I have been wanting to put together for some time. Big, life changing projects that will allow me to start expressing some of the magic within my soul. Also, it can't help being plugged in when I am writing my dissertation.

A great example was the day of field work yesterday. It was warm, extremely humid and rained for a better part of the day. Having music in the truck in between downpours, downloading data, collecting samples and regular field maintenance was completely awesome. Even my dog Io loved it. He was the happiest dog yesterday. He got to go swimming, play in the mud and dirt and sand. Now he is a stinky, filthy mess. Dogs rule!!

So, to that amazing friend, you get full credit for my increasing appreciation for all genres and artists. You have no idea what this has meant to me. Thanks so much ;-)

field day

2006-09-18T11:19:04Z

Field day today with my roommate. Hope the rain stays away. Taking Io with us, he needs to get out and run. Now that the heat is subsiding, he should be feeling better. I need coffee :-)

project complete

2006-09-15T22:49:44Z

Finally got last edits done on one of our reports. Went down to meet the client and review the report with them and the land owner. Negotiated access for diving anytime I want!!!! And only for me and those that dive with me!!! YEAH!!!! Dropped off the three copies with color prints and received a big fat check. Life is good right now. Diving tomorrow.....doesn't get better than this.

going my way

2006-09-15T13:55:49Z

So this morning I got the final copy of a report finished and printed for the client. I have to meet them sometime this afternoon for a debriefing session. Hopefully I'll get paid today as well. Just binding the report and preparing other notes at this time. Workout went good, hit chest today. Lost my headache halfway through my warm-up ride. Glad that is gone. Off to mix gas for dives this weekend at Wakulla.