Hello from AbSciCon 2004! They have a couple of computers here for checking email, but I can't seem to log on to EMMA. Oh well. I thought I'd give a blog-out instead. I love you Kelly!!!

I could also buy some artwork from Plaid. Who knows how much that would cost. I could also use this money to subsidize some of the cost of the new TV I bought in January.

In other news, I leave for the Astrobiology conference (or AbSciCon2004) tomorrow. I have a lot of nervous energy, and a lot of little tasks to take care of. Wish me luck on my poster session!

I forgot that I also need a new battery for my laptop.

• Gateway replacement Li-ion battery = $130
  
• Gateway replacement NiMH battery = $50 (may not work with my laptop)
  

I've been trying to figure out what to get with my tax refund. First I thought of TiVo, but I don't get HBO, so I wouldn't really be recording all that much. Then I thought of a wireless router and/or PC card for my laptop. There's a nice combo at Fry's Electronics. That's a good deal with the rebate, but that ends today. Then I thought of some TV/VCR/DVD combo for my bedroom, so I can watch the Simpsons while Kelly sleeps (a constant source of conflict with us), but why buy some bulky ugly piece of electronics when I can get a nice looking LCD TV. I like the 15" one's at Circuit City and the one offered by Dell. Unfortunately, that would be a little too expensive, because I would want it to have a VGA input as well (so I could use it as a computer moniter as well as a TV). I also thought of maybe buying a new wristwatch or another cable modem to have internet downstairs in my apartment.

Or maybe I should just save my money for a rainy day.

So, in summary:

• TiVo = $150 w/ rebate
  
• Netgear wireless router = $120 ($70 w/ rebate)
  
• Net gear wireless-G router = $65 ($45 w/ rebate)
  
• D-link wireless-G PC card = $40 w/ rebate
  
• TV/VCR or TV/DVD combo = $100 - $170
  
• Magnavox 15" LCD TV = $420
  
• Audiovox 15" LCD TV = $450
  
• Dell 17" LCD TV = $700
  
• wristwatch = $50 - $100
  
• Motorola cable modem = $60 w/ rebate
  

My poster is finished (for now). I'm waiting to see what Tom thinks of it, and then I'll get it printed out. I think everything else is taken care of for my conference. I guess all I need to do now is make sure minerallogy is taken care of when I'm gone.

Kelly's brother is getting married today. I'm happy for them. They seem to go well together. I wish them all the luck and happiness in the world (and a whole bunch of puppies too!).

Welcome to Spring Break y'all! I hope yours will be more relaxing than mine. At least I don't have a conference this year (LPSC is always over spring break). I just have a conference two weeks from now, so I need to get ready for it. Besides that, Kelly's brother is getting married. I'll have plenty of fun, though.

Do you want to know what happens in 2036? Ask John Titor. He went back to his future, so he's not around anymore. On the website you can see pictures of his time machine. By the way, his earliest prediction is the beginning of a civil war in the US in 2005.

finally, a weekend when I didn't have to grade a bunch of mineralogy homework/labs/quizzes. Well, it's over now! Time to get back to work!

Here's the Simpsons quiz of the day:

When he witnesses Apu's infidelity in "The Sweetest Apu" (DABF14), it causes Homer to do what?

A. Vomit with rage
B. Walk home backward
C. Feel all lumpy inside
D. Poke his eyeballs

Oh Man, I'm so tired!

Today we did the solid solutions lab in mineralogy, with the melting of the NaCl and KCl and all that. Chaos ensued, and it was pretty funny.

I'm very busy right now, but while I remember, I wanted to post the source of those hilarious Quizno's commercials. We Like the Moon!