One week until my Michigan trip. Getting excited.

Went shopping yesterday for a nice dress to wear to the wedding, and we ended up at a wedding dress store.

"It is a wedding, right? That means I'm supposed to show up in a wedding dress?"

Then, my favorite quote of the day:
"I don't care what anyone says, I'm showing up to my wedding in a wedding dress."
"Trufax, Jayson. It's your wedding and you're the princess."

You granted my wishes, and so much more.

Happy Tau Day!

http://tauday.com/

In what at first seemed to be a joke, or a simple amusement to occupy several seconds of my time, turned into me reading this page from beginning to end, utterly fascinated by the time I was finished.

In plain language: pi is wrong!

For anyone who has ever done trig, or engineering, or physics, this article explains with crystal clarity why we should use "tau" instead of "pi" to define any relations that involve the circle ratio... and how much clearer everything becomes when you do.

This time will be different: I'm stronger now. I will be just fine.. and it's all thanks to you.

It's not often that I get spoiled, but this gift managed to bring out the girl in me. Thanks for making me feel like a princess Jayson :)

Here's to a new life. And a great one it will be. Eyes and mind open, unafraid. To whatever end may come.

"If you're scientifically literate, the world looks very different to you.. and that understanding empowers you."


When people ask me what I do for a living, it's always a struggle to answer. Do I say I'm a student? A Ph.D candidate? A mechanical engineer? A climate scientist?

All are true. But which answer I give can drastically change someone's opinion of me. Emotions and preconceptions factor greatly into how people react to my answer. For example, I tell older men that I'm a student, because saying I'm a mechanical engineer usually ends the conversation abruptly.

And I've never, ever told someone I just met that I'm a climate scientist. Why? Because so many emotions and preconceptions are tied to such a politically divided topic as climate change that I'm certain the reaction will be negative.

Even talking to good friends about climate science can surface some pretty strong emotions. People are so resistant to hearing something that conflicts with their view of the world. And when their sense of reality is challenged, they react with fear, even anger.

I'm proud to be a scientist. I'm proud of what insight of the world a scientific state of mind affords me. I'm not expecting everyone else to be a scientist too.. I just ask that people keep an open mind and listen to logic before their emotions.

You turned out to be just what I need, just when I needed it.

Posting from an airport kiosk! My internet cravings are bad enough that I was willing to pay the $5 for 20 minutes.. sad, huh?

My trip was amazing. Stories, pics, and random oddities will be posted here once I get back.

To the friends I made: much love.

To the friends I have missed for the last week: I'm almost home. :)

Thunderstorms!!!!! *happy squeal*
I'm getting excited about my Colorado trip tomorrow. It's helping take my mind off everything else, at least for now..