May the Lights Be With You

Announcer: "...and the crowd goes wild! Bailey, you just made it to school in record time! How did you do it?"

Bailey: "Oh, you just gotta know how to work the lights. If they are all green, then, you know, you're going to make it there... quickly."

Announcer: "That is just fascinating! What a way to start the day!"

I love... (part 11)

I love the number 2 (and even painted a picture with that theme).
I love browsing books in bookstores or online.
I love mindless puzzle video/computer games.

Today will be the definition of a long day.

1. Woke up to the surprise of snow! 
2. Did I think today will be a good day?
3. Yes.
4. I got to the MLC early so I decided to push the 2 in. of slush off the porch. 
5. Did I remember to unlock the door before going outside?
6. No.
7. Did I go outside without any of my stuff (including phone with important numbers and keys)? 
8. Yes.
9. Did the door shut behind me?
10. Yes.
11. Did I have to run to my office and figure out how to get back in? 
12. Yes. 
13. Did I have to wait outside in the snowy cold for security to get the job done? 
14. Yes.

It is now 11 am and I am finally warm.

Feelin' Nostalgic Are We?

The other day my nostalgia was triggered. It happens. I thought it might be fun to list some of my triggers and ask all the readers to leave at least one as a comment. I may add to this list as I think of more.

• The taste of a doughnut on a moving day.
• The smell of a dewy softball field.
• The sound Belle and Sebastian while cooking or doing dishes with David.
• The smell of sawdust.

I love... (part 10)

I love avocado.
I love my new Bodum coffee press.
I love eating with chopsticks.

Defend Thy Thesis or Else!

"Why is it called a 'defense'? Are they going to attack?" ~ Frank


My paper doesn't have a title yet because we reorganized the paper and it has a new focus. It is about Carter surfaces, virtual knots, and the genus problem.

The whole idea of presenting my work in front of professors stresses me out even though most of my audience will be people who care about me and want me to succeed. I also think that half of the audience will get lost after the second slide (which is a good thing, because people who don't get it usually don't ask hard questions).

My thesis (master's in mathematics) defense is scheduled for April 7, 2010. If you are in the Boise area (or not), then you are welcome to come! I love support from friends and family. You may now leave me well wishes and encouragement. :)

Quotes from Class

More math class quotes by same professor:


"You can also play with these things quietly in your room."


"I feel like I'm kicking a dead horse now."


(He walks to other part of the chalkboard.) "Let me do this on scratch paper."


"What now? There are probably a bunch of definitions and horrible lemmas I don't even want to prove."