Being new to my company, new to microscopy, and new to purchasing, I have been given a tremendous responsibility by my company. I'll be deciding on which electron microscope to purchase by next Friday. Over the past six months, I've travelled all over the country looking at microscope vendors, EDS vendors, and workshops trying to cram as much information as possible into my tiny brain.
So far, after gathering my notes, I have learned that I did a horrific job on comparing images from vendor to vendor. In a SEM (scanning electron microscope), there are a lot of things that can affect your image and how well it is in focus. You can have different accelerating voltages, pressure environments, working distance, spot size, and magnification, etc etc. If you are going to compare a vendor's instrument to another vendor's instrument, these conditions all need to be the same for each sample.
Let me repeat: take the SAME samples and test them in the exact same environments. Like your own personal little recipe. I wish I had figured this out BEFORE I sat down and started to realize what a dumbass I am. Either way, I was lucky enough to capture a few images in the same environment of each sample. Thank God.
And don't be fooled by the best dinner. Although, the seafood in Massachusetts was a lot better than in Portland. But the asparagus....right, microscope. Not food.
Sometimes, I have to take a shower at work while one of my co-workers rips off my clothes. This isn't sexy. This is chemicals.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Make or Break month
The beginning of each new year seems to be filled with hope and aspirations. Resolutions to fight off a few bad habits, lose some pounds, have more sex, try new things, ya know...spring cleaning for your mind, body, and soul. All of these are great aspirations and something that mostly we'd really like to succeed in doing. We wouldn't have made the resolution without that hope, right?
So it seems pretty sad that before the end of January (fuggadebout February), 8 out of 10 people will have already failed with their resolution(s)*. I'm not one of those people that make resolutions very often (I'm Catholic, so lent is so close to New Year's that I feel like I'm already making enough sacrifices so will you get off my back already?) so I can only speculate as to why people fail at their resolutions.
Maybe they don't have the right support network, or deciding to quit smoking cold turkey was not the best decision especially when you're so irritated that the cat just stepped in front of you while you were walking that you punted it down the hallway and laughed when it slid five feet into a door (my Nanny did this and this is one of the funniest memories that I have of her. I like cats, people, but this was funny.). Perhaps you didn't have the highest hopes of actually achieving your weight loss goal because that damn Snickers bar is just way too yummy (I completely agree with you on this one). Whatever the reason the resolution failed, I believe it is partly not your fault.
Nature is completely trying to fuck you over.
Up here in the northern hemisphere, it's cold. Winter kinda sucks. The daylight is short and people just can't drive in the snow, which is so stupidly frustrating. I get depressed because the kids are stuck in the house and after awhile, the smell of Play-Do gets to be nauseating and the choo-choos running around in circles drive me a little bonkers. I am just not that creative to keep my kids busy without shuttling them outside and running off the insane amount of energy that they possess. So what do I turn to to keep my head on straight? A Snickers bar. Something to help release some dopamine so I won't go psycho bitch mom on my kids. How the hell am I supposed to give up something that can make me happy when there is nothing else in the winter time that can do it? I'm already depressed and you want to take away my Snickers?!
Oh, and you want to work on your relationship with your spouse/significant other, etc? Pfft, good luck with that one! Divorce, separation and breakups are at their peak in January (for the northern hemisphere - coincidence? I think not). What do we turn to when the breakups happen? A Snickers bar! (guys, insert whatever other vice you have here - smoking, eating, drinking, shopping, sexing it up...although that might be one way to achieve the 'have more sex' resolution)
We're doomed to fail! Ah, the misery!
Fuck you, New Year's resolutions. If we made resolutions in May with more sunshine and flowers, maybe we'd all be a size six and be wearing that string bikini with toned thighs. Yeah, right.
Give me my goddamn Snickers bar.
*This is unofficial; this estimate is of a general consensus to a lot of unofficial statistics out there.
So it seems pretty sad that before the end of January (fuggadebout February), 8 out of 10 people will have already failed with their resolution(s)*. I'm not one of those people that make resolutions very often (I'm Catholic, so lent is so close to New Year's that I feel like I'm already making enough sacrifices so will you get off my back already?) so I can only speculate as to why people fail at their resolutions.
Maybe they don't have the right support network, or deciding to quit smoking cold turkey was not the best decision especially when you're so irritated that the cat just stepped in front of you while you were walking that you punted it down the hallway and laughed when it slid five feet into a door (my Nanny did this and this is one of the funniest memories that I have of her. I like cats, people, but this was funny.). Perhaps you didn't have the highest hopes of actually achieving your weight loss goal because that damn Snickers bar is just way too yummy (I completely agree with you on this one). Whatever the reason the resolution failed, I believe it is partly not your fault.
Nature is completely trying to fuck you over.
Up here in the northern hemisphere, it's cold. Winter kinda sucks. The daylight is short and people just can't drive in the snow, which is so stupidly frustrating. I get depressed because the kids are stuck in the house and after awhile, the smell of Play-Do gets to be nauseating and the choo-choos running around in circles drive me a little bonkers. I am just not that creative to keep my kids busy without shuttling them outside and running off the insane amount of energy that they possess. So what do I turn to to keep my head on straight? A Snickers bar. Something to help release some dopamine so I won't go psycho bitch mom on my kids. How the hell am I supposed to give up something that can make me happy when there is nothing else in the winter time that can do it? I'm already depressed and you want to take away my Snickers?!
Oh, and you want to work on your relationship with your spouse/significant other, etc? Pfft, good luck with that one! Divorce, separation and breakups are at their peak in January (for the northern hemisphere - coincidence? I think not). What do we turn to when the breakups happen? A Snickers bar! (guys, insert whatever other vice you have here - smoking, eating, drinking, shopping, sexing it up...although that might be one way to achieve the 'have more sex' resolution)
We're doomed to fail! Ah, the misery!
Fuck you, New Year's resolutions. If we made resolutions in May with more sunshine and flowers, maybe we'd all be a size six and be wearing that string bikini with toned thighs. Yeah, right.
Give me my goddamn Snickers bar.
*This is unofficial; this estimate is of a general consensus to a lot of unofficial statistics out there.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Scanning Electron Microscope Picture
This is my idea of photography.
I took this picture ('captured this image' is the technical phrase) with a scanning electron microscope. This microscope is not the one you have in your high school lab. For instance, this particle has been magnified 15,000 times its original size.
It's chemically oxidized zinc. We think the round particle in the center is atomized zinc. They melt the zinc, blow it up into the air with nitrogen and while cooling, it turns into a very round shape. This semi-spherical particle may be one that was not milled and so retained its shape.
This picture was taken with a Hitachi S-3400-N instrument. It's probably the one that we will be buying. Maybe.
Friday, January 14, 2011
My Etsy
For those of you out there that are unaware of the crafty side of the world, there is a website called ETSY. Etsy is a terrific place to sell or buy handmade or vintage items. If you have something unique to share to the world, put it on etsy. They have nearly everything crafty and old. Some of the people are frickin' creative. Someone recently told me about a sperm necklace that they found on there...different, but creative. Can't find what you're looking for? You can post a listing on Alchemy and people will bid on your listing to make it for you. Most of the shops, like mine, do lots of custom work. You want pink minky instead of orange to go with that ivory satin? Done. Lime green with black? Giraffe and Zebra? Done, Done, Done.
Anyway, I started a shop on etsy called SewChem. I can pretty much make anything that involves some type of needle and thread. Note: I also knit. I know! Watch out, World!
Let me start off by being honest with you. I am not a professional seamstress. I love making things and spending time on doing this. If no money is to be made in this shop, I could care less. I LOVE sewing. I want to make people happy and I want people to see that behind my uber nerdy persona, my lab coat, and safety glasses, I have a fun-flowing creative streak that makes me the happiest person in the world.
How did this all start? Let me explain...
My mom was a 4-H agent for agriculture. We live in Kentucky, people. We like agriculture. It's what we do. Right, so in 4-H, you learn to do everything. Farm, raise sheep (we did), sew, draw, paint, cook...typical day to day stuff that was awesome. If there was a workshop being held, you better believe I was there doing it. Mom was super supportive of us. Especially when it came to sewing.
Momma told me about a new workshop that her office was holding about sewing clothes. During this workshop, they would, of course, promote other workshops, summer camps, etc. But near the end of the hour, they said something about 'fashion show' and 'limousine'. What?! My little ears were at full attention. A limo? Hell, yeah! After listening in rapture, I found out that I would have to sew three ensembles of clothing for myself and model them. We would compete in a district, county and then state competition depending on how well we did at the previous show. And we would get to ride in a limo to the state competition!
After about a week, with the huge help of my mom, we had everything done. The first piece was a mid-calf dress, A-line, broad tank top style. It zipped up the back (my first zipper experience!) and the fabric...oh my GAWD! Let my 4th grade words explain this to you (exactly as I wrote them down and had them announced as I pranced up and down the runway):
"Megan's first piece is a long dress without sleeves. She chose a light cotton fabric. She describes the color as a purple lightning storm with flecks of blue...a storm across her body."
Seriously? I fucking wrote that. Hilarious!
My next piece was even better. It was a shorts and halter top outfit with matching head band. The shorts were elastic waist. The shirt (gorgeous!) tied twice in the back. Imagine two sideways letters V's (kinda like this <>) with the touching pieces tied together. My back was exposed and I felt like the sexiest fourth grader on the planet. The fabric, another weird choice by my young self, was a tan background littered with pictures of needles, bobbins, thread, and other assorted sewing things.
My last outfit was pretty normal. It was pink shorts, a white shirt and a pink vest with a matching head band. The buttons were pretty cool (green and yellow and blue) on the vest and my mom bought me some special pink shoes to match everything. My sisters wore that outfit after I grew out of it. (My youngest sister would be wearing it now, too, if she wasn't a size 16*.)
I was in my height of glory walking the catwalk. I won first place (against teenagers, people!) and went on to the district competition, where I got second place. First and second place went to state! I still got to ride in a fucking limo! Awesome!
Before the state competition, we had Glamour Shots taken in all of our outfits. They fed us McDonalds and then rode us in the limo to the competition. I stuck my head out of the roof over the Ohio River. I got yelled at, but I was the youngest person there, so I didn't get in too much trouble. (Suckers!)
Again, I pranced around and did my walking, but by now, the excitement was over. I got my limo ride and I was happy. I got an honorable mention, and my mom was beyond proud. She still is. She keeps those Glamour Shots of me on her sewing table and we love to talk about those outfits.
Obviously, I'm still riding that high from my first sewing experience. My more recent experiences with sewing have never been detrimental enough to keep me from trudging on. I sincerely enjoy sewing, the goods and the bads. Although that whole poking-the-shit-out-of-my-fingers-with-a-needle thing does suck.
If only I could like my kids that much.
Just kidding! Etsy Shop HERE!
*Side note: I do not hate heavy people. I've been there. I understand. I'm just saying that she's TEN YEARS OLD and she can't fit in my maternity clothes. She's the sweetest and smartest girl ever, but she can't fit in my maternity clothes. Did I say she can't fit in my maternity clothes? 'Cause she can't.
Anyway, I started a shop on etsy called SewChem. I can pretty much make anything that involves some type of needle and thread. Note: I also knit. I know! Watch out, World!
Let me start off by being honest with you. I am not a professional seamstress. I love making things and spending time on doing this. If no money is to be made in this shop, I could care less. I LOVE sewing. I want to make people happy and I want people to see that behind my uber nerdy persona, my lab coat, and safety glasses, I have a fun-flowing creative streak that makes me the happiest person in the world.
How did this all start? Let me explain...
My mom was a 4-H agent for agriculture. We live in Kentucky, people. We like agriculture. It's what we do. Right, so in 4-H, you learn to do everything. Farm, raise sheep (we did), sew, draw, paint, cook...typical day to day stuff that was awesome. If there was a workshop being held, you better believe I was there doing it. Mom was super supportive of us. Especially when it came to sewing.
Momma told me about a new workshop that her office was holding about sewing clothes. During this workshop, they would, of course, promote other workshops, summer camps, etc. But near the end of the hour, they said something about 'fashion show' and 'limousine'. What?! My little ears were at full attention. A limo? Hell, yeah! After listening in rapture, I found out that I would have to sew three ensembles of clothing for myself and model them. We would compete in a district, county and then state competition depending on how well we did at the previous show. And we would get to ride in a limo to the state competition!
After about a week, with the huge help of my mom, we had everything done. The first piece was a mid-calf dress, A-line, broad tank top style. It zipped up the back (my first zipper experience!) and the fabric...oh my GAWD! Let my 4th grade words explain this to you (exactly as I wrote them down and had them announced as I pranced up and down the runway):
"Megan's first piece is a long dress without sleeves. She chose a light cotton fabric. She describes the color as a purple lightning storm with flecks of blue...a storm across her body."
Seriously? I fucking wrote that. Hilarious!
My next piece was even better. It was a shorts and halter top outfit with matching head band. The shorts were elastic waist. The shirt (gorgeous!) tied twice in the back. Imagine two sideways letters V's (kinda like this <>) with the touching pieces tied together. My back was exposed and I felt like the sexiest fourth grader on the planet. The fabric, another weird choice by my young self, was a tan background littered with pictures of needles, bobbins, thread, and other assorted sewing things.
My last outfit was pretty normal. It was pink shorts, a white shirt and a pink vest with a matching head band. The buttons were pretty cool (green and yellow and blue) on the vest and my mom bought me some special pink shoes to match everything. My sisters wore that outfit after I grew out of it. (My youngest sister would be wearing it now, too, if she wasn't a size 16*.)
I was in my height of glory walking the catwalk. I won first place (against teenagers, people!) and went on to the district competition, where I got second place. First and second place went to state! I still got to ride in a fucking limo! Awesome!
Before the state competition, we had Glamour Shots taken in all of our outfits. They fed us McDonalds and then rode us in the limo to the competition. I stuck my head out of the roof over the Ohio River. I got yelled at, but I was the youngest person there, so I didn't get in too much trouble. (Suckers!)
Again, I pranced around and did my walking, but by now, the excitement was over. I got my limo ride and I was happy. I got an honorable mention, and my mom was beyond proud. She still is. She keeps those Glamour Shots of me on her sewing table and we love to talk about those outfits.
Obviously, I'm still riding that high from my first sewing experience. My more recent experiences with sewing have never been detrimental enough to keep me from trudging on. I sincerely enjoy sewing, the goods and the bads. Although that whole poking-the-shit-out-of-my-fingers-with-a-needle thing does suck.
If only I could like my kids that much.
Just kidding! Etsy Shop HERE!
*Side note: I do not hate heavy people. I've been there. I understand. I'm just saying that she's TEN YEARS OLD and she can't fit in my maternity clothes. She's the sweetest and smartest girl ever, but she can't fit in my maternity clothes. Did I say she can't fit in my maternity clothes? 'Cause she can't.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Super Nerds
I have to admit that I am a nerd. I like to talk about compositions and orientations of fatty acids. I have a favorite solvent. I wear a lab coat and safety goggles when I cook (that's chemistry, too, doncha know). However, I am not even close to a super nerd and I can prove this because you cannot see my socks when I walk.
In the beginning of November, I attended a scanning electron microscope workshop dealing with mainly trace analysis and x-ray analysis and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Very interesting, very cool, but usually boring to outsiders. (Even my science teacher mother spaced out, although this is usually a normal occurence for my ADD mom.) I am not kidding and I shit you not, when I say that, out of the 55 people in the room, I was one of only eight women, definitely the only woman under the age of 40, and probably the only one that did not 'ooh' and 'ahh' over the awesome new idea for an EDS analyzer. Fuck, I wasn't even sure what the hell EDS was.
Anyway, we had to break for lunch because all of the super nerds' brains needed nourishment. While walking down the hallway, I noticed one very distinct thing - white ankle socks. They were everywhere!
These crazy nerds were wearing Urkel pants!
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
During lunch, I came to another, more mathematically centered conclusion: A person's IQ is exponentially correlative to how much ankle is visible. My ankles are never visible (and not just because I am short and cannot find pants that don't need to be hemmed at least two inches) so therefore, my IQ is not that high.
It was awesome. Epic. Hilarious. Who can concentrate on something so important as an EDS or SEM when you can create a mathematical equation to relate nerdiness to physical appearances?
In the beginning of November, I attended a scanning electron microscope workshop dealing with mainly trace analysis and x-ray analysis and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Very interesting, very cool, but usually boring to outsiders. (Even my science teacher mother spaced out, although this is usually a normal occurence for my ADD mom.) I am not kidding and I shit you not, when I say that, out of the 55 people in the room, I was one of only eight women, definitely the only woman under the age of 40, and probably the only one that did not 'ooh' and 'ahh' over the awesome new idea for an EDS analyzer. Fuck, I wasn't even sure what the hell EDS was.
Anyway, we had to break for lunch because all of the super nerds' brains needed nourishment. While walking down the hallway, I noticed one very distinct thing - white ankle socks. They were everywhere!
These crazy nerds were wearing Urkel pants!
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
During lunch, I came to another, more mathematically centered conclusion: A person's IQ is exponentially correlative to how much ankle is visible. My ankles are never visible (and not just because I am short and cannot find pants that don't need to be hemmed at least two inches) so therefore, my IQ is not that high.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Buy my blankets so I can take a nice vacation!
I've had this idea in the back of my head for a few months. It started like a little kernel and then my brain was a microwave and popped it up to the front lobes last week.
"Megan! Look at me! Embrace me, love me, eat me!"
And now I am.
After much planning about prices, items, shipping and materials, I have decided to open my own little internet shop. On etsy.com.
My shop will be called SewChem. (I'm a chemist, people. I am not that creative verbally. Let's talk about some fatty acids and hydrocarbons and then I'll get wordy.)
My items? Minky satin blankets, diaper pouches, knitted slippers, and unique purses. The purses will range from cute diaper bag removable ones to cute and spunky pleated ones. I will also try to make placemat purses and totes, but I will see how those go. Who knows?
So...why in the world would I want to do this? Why, when I have a full-time job, laundry, a stupid house, two cute little kids, and a mildly lazy husband?
Because I love it. I absolutely love doing this. I have never been happier when I am making these items. Seam ripping crappy stitches? Love it. Cutting fabric and measuring? Love it. Witnessing an idea in my head come to life? LOVE IT! My husband definitely loves this because one, we're making some extra money, and two, I'm happier. Happy wife = happy husband! Win, win, win!
As soon as I finish the pieces, set up the shop, and get going, it will be awesome!
Aaagh! I want to take a week vacation to sew everything. Pictures. Remind me about pictures.
"Megan! Look at me! Embrace me, love me, eat me!"
And now I am.
After much planning about prices, items, shipping and materials, I have decided to open my own little internet shop. On etsy.com.
My shop will be called SewChem. (I'm a chemist, people. I am not that creative verbally. Let's talk about some fatty acids and hydrocarbons and then I'll get wordy.)
My items? Minky satin blankets, diaper pouches, knitted slippers, and unique purses. The purses will range from cute diaper bag removable ones to cute and spunky pleated ones. I will also try to make placemat purses and totes, but I will see how those go. Who knows?
So...why in the world would I want to do this? Why, when I have a full-time job, laundry, a stupid house, two cute little kids, and a mildly lazy husband?
Because I love it. I absolutely love doing this. I have never been happier when I am making these items. Seam ripping crappy stitches? Love it. Cutting fabric and measuring? Love it. Witnessing an idea in my head come to life? LOVE IT! My husband definitely loves this because one, we're making some extra money, and two, I'm happier. Happy wife = happy husband! Win, win, win!
As soon as I finish the pieces, set up the shop, and get going, it will be awesome!
Aaagh! I want to take a week vacation to sew everything. Pictures. Remind me about pictures.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
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