Cup of Tea

The wonderful thing about a cup of tea is that it forces one to… slow… down…

Freedom

Discipline = Freedom

Fish Tank World

In the fish tank world, a good week is when no one dies.

A to B

There is more than one way to get from point A to Point B.

January Photo - Sulfur Factory

Sulfur Factory

January Photo - Expedition

Expedition

January Photo - Days End

Days End

Eyesight

What if eyesight is it just a virtual reality video game for someone other than yourself? You’re whole entire life would just be some game…

I wonder what would happen if they took off the virtual reality glasses…

Sleepless Nights?

Having trouble falling asleep this holiday season? Try reading my latest abstract entitled:

Laboratory analyses of Silicified LAYERs within the volcaniclastic unit of the Oligocene Brian Head Formation, SouthWestern Utah

The Brian Head Formation in southwestern Utah contains prominent silicified beds. In the Casto Canyon area, about 20 km north of Bryce Canyon, the beds are found within ~200 m thick sequence of volcaniclastic sandstone and mudstone, with thin discontinuous limestones of the upper Brian Head Formation. The sequence is primarily of fluvial origin; the limestones were deposited in freshwater wetland environments. Three types of silicified beds were recognized during field study: thin (mm-cm scale), thick (up to 3 m thick), and silicified organic mats. The thin units are typically sub-parallel to sandstone and mudstone beds, but many are fractures that cross-cut bedding. The thick beds typically are laterally discontinuous (<10 m, although one bed extends more than 100 m) and are associated with rhizoliths and limestone beds, which often have bioturbated and brecciated tops. Silicified mats are about a cm thick and consist of 1-2 mm dia. rhizoliths.

The four processes of silicification in continental settings are pedogenic, groundwater, hydrothermal and evaporite replacement. In order to understand the origin of the Brian Head silicified beds, petrographic and geochemical analyses were conducted.

The paragenetic sequence of mineral formation of the silicified layers is: 1) precipitation of micrite, 2) precipitation of spar and recrystallization of micrite into spar, 3) replacement of spar and micrite by chert and chalcedony. X-ray powder diffraction analyses confirm the calcite and quartz composition. The sequence is clearly seen within rhizoliths. Micrite root molds outline former roots. Spar filled root casts. The removal of spar through replacement by chert can be identified by the corroded boundaries and scalloped edges of spar root casts.

Rhizoliths, invertebrate bioturbation and breccias indicate pedogenesis of the palustral limestone beds, but carbon (δ¹³ C_PDB from 0 to -2) and oxygen (δ¹⁸ O_SMOW from 25 to 33) stable isotope analyses of the micrite and spar support precipitation from shallow groundwater of meteoric origin. Since silica replaces spar it is also likely to have a groundwater origin. The temperature of the silica-bearing fluid will be constrained by O-isotope analyses of the silica.

P.S. Merry Christmas

Marital Romance

Romance is (your husband) emptying the dishwasher.

H. Roy

Birthdays

As we count another birthday it serves as a reminder to also count the many wonderful things in life. We can count the number of sunrises and sunsets; starry nights and daytime cloudless skies. We can count the glasses of wine and sweet treats; places traveled and hours spent peacefully lounging on the couch. How many more times will we be able to count? Infinitely, I’m sure.

Parachutes

I have the belief that I can do anything as long I’m willing to put in the effort. Sure I may falter along the way but I persevere until the task is done right. There is, however, one thing that I’m not willing to try to figure out and that’s the packing of my own parachute. That is one thing that I’ll leave to the professionals.

December Photo - Taking Back What is Hers

Taking Back What is Hers

December Photo - Alaska

Alaska

December Photo - It's Christmas!

It's Christmas!

All is Fair in Lust and War (excerpt)

It had been two months since I had seen Rebecca. We only talked about once a week when we were apart, talking once a week allowed us to enjoy our college experience. I had a friend Bill that was constantly talking to his girlfriend from back home. We would be in the middle of playing beer pong and we’d have to stop the game or switch partners because he got a call. Bill would say, “Hang on a second.” Everyone would groan, grunt, swear, and roll their eyes. Before we could even make fun of him he’d already be in the corner talking softly to his girlfriend. “Hi. How are you? I’m good. What are you doing tonight? Who is going to be there? Wait who? Who’s [fill in guys name here]? Do I know him? I don’t remember that…” The conversation would escalate from there and pretty soon he’d be all pissed off and yelling. When he got off the phone we’d have to hear all about it. “Dude, she is hanging out with some guy Jared. I don’t know who the hell he is. I’m going to kick his ass.” Then someone would remind him that his girlfriend went to school at UVM and what was he going to do about it all the way down here in Connecticut. Bill was enraged by this point and picked a fight with who ever pissed him off the most. By that point I was already inside watching television. I vowed never to have that kind of relationship. Rebecca and I respected each others space and freedom. Seriously, what would you have done in Bill’s situation? Nothing was solved from his conversation. He simply got jealous, got angry, hung up on his girlfriend and what did that prove. That Bill and his girlfriend didn’t trust one another. Lack of trust, jealous, anger all leads to infidelity. It is the forbidden fruit. You can’t have it so you want it. Rebecca and I agreed whatever happens in college stays at college, just like Vegas, baby, Vegas.