From 4b3ddc412f91bac90e502daf197334ad8b39c2c8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Blaise Thompson Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2021 10:52:11 -0600 Subject: recover letters --- memories/2018-solstice-letter/index.html | 105 ------------------------------- 1 file changed, 105 deletions(-) delete mode 100644 memories/2018-solstice-letter/index.html (limited to 'memories/2018-solstice-letter/index.html') diff --git a/memories/2018-solstice-letter/index.html b/memories/2018-solstice-letter/index.html deleted file mode 100644 index 158fb43..0000000 --- a/memories/2018-solstice-letter/index.html +++ /dev/null @@ -1,105 +0,0 @@ - - - - - - 2018 winter solstice letter - - - - -

2018 winter solstice letter

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-← back to memories list -

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-Blaise sent this letter to friends and family to celebrate the winter holiday season, 2018. -In addition to this html version, you can also download the letter as sent: PDF. -

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Winter Solstice Greetings - 2018

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-Hello to all my friends and family. -I hope that you are feeling peaceful, cozy, and happy in these winter months. -It's fairly warm here in Madison, but the bay near my apartment has already frozen over. -The last two weekends have been popular with ice fishers and skaters. -As finals week progresses the town slowly empties. -

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-This has been an important year for me professionally. -On April 23rd I successfully defended my dissertation, earning my doctorate in analytical chemistry. -See below a picture of me and my PhD adviser John Wright. -I am very lucky to have worked under John for seven short years. -John taught me a lot about being an independent thinker and communicator. -I was blessed to have my parents and good friend Tyler attend my graduation. -I "walked" with two other Wright Group friends---Kyle Czech and Jonathan Handali. -The ceremony that I attended (just for masters and doctorates) was huge---I'm still amazed at UW-Madison's size. -

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-Of course, the high of graduation is typically followed by the panic of trying to find a job. -On July 23rd I began working as an instrumentation technologist for the chemistry department. -This is a research support role where I work on solving technical challenges facing researchers throughout the department. -I am the supervisor of a "makerspace" where students and researchers can come work on instrument construction and repair. -We have specialized equipment and a large inventory of parts for purchase. -I take on a large variety of different jobs---everything from fixing humble hotplates and glassware drying ovens to designing custom oscillators for mass spectrometry. -The people that I work with on a daily basis are driven and kind---they have done a lot to help me overcome my lack of formal training in electrical engineering. -For me right now, this is a dream job. -

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-I've had several opportunities to travel this year. -A few weeks after graduation my friend Tyler was gracious enough to invite me to his home in New York for a 1.5 week vacation. -Highlights included eating at Di Fara Pizza, exploring Coney Island, and seeing The SpongeBob Musical on Broadway. -It was so fun to visit Tyler and see how far he has come since his own graduation. -I was also glad to visit my friend Felix at Yale during the same trip. -

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-In July I spent nine days in Iowa City with my parents. -After so long, I enjoyed spending such a long time at "home". -The barn construction project is going along beautifully, and I was able to help with some humble drywall work. -

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-Over the thanksgiving break I traveled to the west coast. -I flew into Las Vegas, where my parents picked me up for a quick 24-hour Death Valley experience. -We woke up early to watch the sunrise from Dante's View. -I hope to return to Death Valley for a longer trip some day. -Here I am standing on the floor of Badwater Basin---282 feet below sea level. -After leaving, we picked up Karaby and drove straight to Roseville, where we had thanksgiving dinner with the Trumbly & Decker Family. -It's so nice to connect with extended family after many years. -

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-Wishing you and yours a happy new year. Stay in touch! -

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-Blaise Jonathan Thompson
-725 W Washington Ave. Apt 306
-Madison, Wisconsin 53715
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-1-424-225-2493
-blaise@untzag.com
-http://blaise.zone -

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