I have now launched the website for MP3 Generation, our church’s youth group. I think it’s pretty cool. The students can add their own videos and pictures to the site. There’s also forums for them to discuss things in and a cool resource list for the parents. I think it’s my best site yet. I hope that it’s at least the coolest youth group site in Lafayette.

Well, it has been a haircut week for this family!! Ruby got her hair cut on Monday. Her wispy front tuft was not only incredibly odd-looking, but it was starting to get in her eyes. When I put it in a bow, the bow seemed a little too tight and/or heavy. So…Ruby had her first hair-cut. Here it is:

Before:

After: (Such a CUTIE PIE!!)

Mommy was last to get her hair cut last night. I have been wanting to
cut my hair into this style for quite some time. I finally got the
nerve to do it! ( : I love it. Kim’s going to trim it up a little bit
more, and we’re going to change the color a little bit, too. Here it is:

On a different front, Ruby cut her first tooth last night! I should
have known something was up when she woke in the middle of the night.
She never does that anymore. It’s just the very tip, but boy is that
SHARP!! We took a picture. Hopefully you all can see it. ( :

And, here are some random cute pictures of our little girl:

“Um, Mommy, I’m not too sure about this mohawk thing.”

Ruby loves to laugh!!

Ruby has cute pajamas!!

( : ( : ( : ( : ( : ( :

For my Ph.D program I have to come up with an original research idea. Basically I have to come up with a very detailed plan of how I would go about researching a current topic or problem in chemistry. The key thing is that the idea is original and not some copy of what other people are doing. I had what I thought was a good idea, but I recently noticed one sentence in a paper that I was reading that mentioned this idea. The research group that proposed this one sentence idea has yet to publish any details about the work, so I’m wondering if I will be able to use it or not. I’m waiting for Dr. Cooks reply to see if I need to come up with a different idea.

In the meantime I’m reading like crazy trying to find some inspiration for another potential idea. I’ve found that I’m somewhat interested in fluorescence and nanotubes. However, my main problem is that it’s hard to find articles discussing “problems” that need to be solved. Most articles are describing how people have already solved problems. And most authors do as much as they can to minimize any problems mentioned in their papers.

I guess that I will keep reading and praying for inspiration. I have until mid-November to prepare all of this but I figure that I need a good 4-6 weeks to prepare all the details. Until then I’ll be working on coming up with some novel idea…unless Dr. Cooks says my first idea is acceptable…which I’m doubting.

We saw Jon McLaughlin for free at Tippecanoe Mall yesterday. It was some promotion for Simon Malls. He didn’t have his band with him, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. That guy’s definitely going to hit it big in the future.

I got a new hairstyle today…for the first time in over six years. I just got a two guard all over. I don’t think it looks half bad. We’re probably going to buy some $20 clippers so that we can save money on haircuts in the future. Thanks to Kim Pfeifer for the hair cut!

Another sermon video from Elston Family Church in Lafayette, IN.

My dad told me about this; it’s pretty cool. The coolest part is around 5:50.

Quick summary:

1. Lions take baby buffalo down.
2. Alligator tries to take baby buffalo from lions
3. Herd of buffalo comes back
4. Lion gets lit up by a buffalo
5. Lions run away like little wusses
6. Baby buffalo walks away!

I need a double cheese burger and hold the lettuce
Don’t be frontin son — no seeds on the bun
We be up in this drive through order for two
I gots a cravin’ fo’ a numba nine like my shoe
We need some chicken up in here, in this hizzle
For rizzle my mizzle, extra salt on da frizzle
Doctor pepper my brothah, another for ya motha
Double-double supah size and don’t forget the fries.
(Crispy)

Early this morning (August 11, 2007), Paul and Lynne (Lindsay’s employers) welcomed their second daughter into this world. Her name is Isabel Mia Owens. We got a chance to visit them briefly in the hospital this evening. They all seem to be doing well. I’m sure there will be more pictures on their blog in the near future.

On Saturday Ruby turned 6 months old. My…how the time has flown by. Here are some good recent pictures for you: