Brides Rock

NOTE: Laura's post is below about this event is below. It is better than mine, and I highly recommend it.

So, as Laura has so eloquently described, we went to her best friend’s wedding over the weekend. I learned several things:

1. Brides = awesome. I have heard rumors that a beast referred to as “bridezilla” exists, but I have yet to meet one in my extensive interactions with brides (two). It made me really happy to see how excited Rachel was and it reminded me a little of my own wedding. In fact, I think I must have projected my wedding onto her wedding a little bit, making me more emotional than usual. As I was following Rachel and Laura around, I got to thinking about how great it was that they met way back in the day – I’m sure my wife would be a much different person if she hadn’t been influenced by Rachel. I’m pretty thankful that Rachel has helped to shape Laura’s life, and Laura hers.
2. People are more likely to talk to you if you carry around a small white bag with beads and such sewn onto it. Somehow I was given the job of “carrier,” and I am pretty sure I carried everything except for jets. Most of it I delivered in a timely manner, however Rachel’s personal purse I carried through most of the evening. Most people commented on how well it matched my suit. I was pretty much the talk of the evening. Rachel was jealous.
3. Best wedding tip: Have your wedding reception/ceremony/dinner/fiesta/safari in a venue that is already decorated and has some type of a staff to take care of “stuff.” It worked well with both of our weddings, and I can’t recommend it more. The last thing you want to be worrying about on your wedding day is whether the white paper mache cupids that you hired your 12-year old nephew to craft for the wedding match each other. No decorating = more wedding fun.
4. Rachel’s family = awesome
5. I enjoy “meat on a stick” appetizers more than “vegetable in a roll” appetizers.

I can tell that the quality of my items is fast decreasing, so I will abstain from any further rumination. Congrats Rachel and Ning!

Rachel's and Ning's wedding

On Saturday, my friend Rachel got married! Rachel and I have been good friends for a long time (eleven years, I think), ever since that eventful day in 7th grade when we decided to work together on a book report in English class. I think Rachel is one of the most wonderful people I know, and I’m so glad that she was able to find someone equally wonderful to be her husband (you’re cool, Ning).

Dan and I were both able to drive to Cleveland for the weekend and be there for the ceremony and reception. It was so nice to be with Dan for three days straight….I rarely get that wonderful luxury now that he’s so busy in grad school.

I did Rachel’s hair for the wedding. It was pretty scary doing her hair for such an important day, but I think we were both pleased with the results. Rachel was such a beautiful bride! And, Ning was quite handsome, as well. I’m so excited for both of them.



The wedding and reception were held at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, and everything about the night was lovely….the beautiful flowers, the string quartet, the yummy food, the old friends from high school and Rachel’s family that I got to see, and the adorably-in-love bride and groom.



I loved getting to see my old friends from high school and get to catch up on what’s happened since then. It’s hard to believe it’s been five years already. And, I also enjoyed meeting Rachel’s friend from college, Stephanie. Here are all of us with Rachel:

Chris, Jen, Rachel, Dani, me, Stephanie

I had a wonderful weekend and wish Rachel and Ning a long and happy life together!

For more pictures of Rachel and Ning’s wedding, click here:
http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=17808888#/album.php?aid=2270260&id=17808888

Linear epoxides = better than cyclohexene oxide

So, I'm probably not going to talk too often on this blog about chemistry, but I have been feeling a little frustrated with my chemistry as of late. Just last week, I decided to go back to terminal epoxides as my test substrate, rather than disubstituted epoxides. To my surprise, somthing actually happened - new peaks in the GC trace! Although I probably don't have product yet, at least I have reactivity. It is quite depressing to run screens and screens, only to see marginal conversion to nothing. One screen with new peaks = greatly increased morale. And that is good.

Dumplings

My friend, Amy, is a wonderful Chinese cook. She invited some of us girls from work to her house this weekend and taught us how to make dumplings. They were really yummy!

some uncooked dumplings



boiling and frying



Amy cooking some veggies to go with our dumplings

the final product

Me, Monique, Jennifer, Amy, Monica

Becky, Monique, Jennifer, Amy, Monica

A new way to blog

So, after a fair amount of thought, I decided to use blogger as my main blogging program with links to my main website. Why the change? Blogger.com is simply better for blogging. Comments and navigation aren't so cumbersome, it is easy to link to other blogs, I can customize it more (notice the increase in orange) and it can be edited from anywhere. Using iWeb, you can only edit the blog (and website, for that matter) from a single computer. Since I leave this computer at work during the week, it makes it difficult for Laura to do any blogging. Now she will have no excuse for not blogging.

However, I think iWeb does a better job of hosting pictures, videos, and content pages. So I plan to use both in synergy. So check both from time to time. I have links back and forth and will try to mention changes or additions as they happen. Happy early fathers day!