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/blaise-thompson-letters/2014/index.html | 122 +++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 122 insertions(+) create mode 100644 memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2014/index.html (limited to 'memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2014/index.html') diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2014/index.html b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2014/index.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..07c95d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2014/index.html @@ -0,0 +1,122 @@ + + + + + + 2014 winter solstice letter + + + + +

2014 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, 2014. +In addition to this html version, you can also download the letter as sent: PDF. +

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Winter Solstice Greetings - 2014

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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. +

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+For a long time I've wanted to start a tradition of sending out yearly letters. +In this, the 25th year of my life, I've finally gotten around to doing it. +I'm inspired by my mother, who has been sending out letters since the 80s. +It's a wonderful way to keep in contact, and it serves as a great personal record. +It may seem anachronistic now that we have email and social media, but keeping it a physical letter just feels good. +Please let me know if your address changes (email is probably best) so I can send you letters in future years. +

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+I'm now a fourth year Analytical Chemistry graduate student at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. +I do research in the lab of John Wright. +We do ultrafast, multidimensional spectroscopy of solar materials. +I'm involved in many projects, but mainly I'm working on BiVO4 and PbSe quantum dots. +I'll continue this research for another one to two years. +After that? I'm not too sure yet. +Grad school has been very fun for me, I really enjoy working in this field and the people that I interact with are all fantastic. +John in particular is a great mentor personally and scientifically. +

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+As a vacation this year mom and I went out to California by car, primarily to visit bay area relatives. +It was an all-around stellar experience. +Driving from Wisconsin to California takes a long time, but the geography is stunningly beautiful. +Highlights included clouds in Nebraska, Big Trees, Yosemite, and the Bonneville salt flats. +The bay area itself was also beautiful, of course. +It's crazy to realize that I haven't been out to see that side of the family since Grandma Betty's funeral in 2005. +Will have to make a concerted effort to go out west more often. +Perhaps I'll have to swallow my pride and get on a plane. +

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+Our family cat, Untzag, died unexpectedly in October of this year. +She was run over by a car. +Vehrzheen, the family dog, is geriatric and probably not long for this world. +2015 will probably be the first year in my life without a family dog or cat. +Ridgeback, my turtle, is still going strong. +

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+Madison continues to be a great city for me. +I take advantage of it less then I should. +I'm going out to eat and grab drinks more in recent months. +The folk community here is very active, and I was able to dance weekly for most of the year. +I've been taking a break from contradance over the last several months, but plan to dance again come January. +I was able to see Yelle and Of Montreal in the same month this fall. +Both were absolutely fantastic live. +

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+Have a great new year. +

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+Blaise J Thompson
+509 N Lake St. Apt 408
+Madison Wisconsin 53703
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+blaise@untzag.com +

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