Meanwhile, in Wichita, KS:
The following is an email from our senior design group leader:
“This morning started off with a very beautiful day. The sun was shining and there was little to no wind. Initially we watched several teams make their first flights and enjoyed our time because there are a maximum of 5 flight attempts and we weren’t in a huge rush to take them.
Flight attempt number one:
Once we made it to the runway, we turned on the motor and the plane moved backward. This was the result of wires from the motor to the battery being switched after the final test flight. The fix took approximately 30 minutes to complete as well as a few other very minor problems that we encountered.
Flight attempt number two:
With the 20×15 propeller attached we attempted the delivery mission. The plane did not make the takeoff distance, and Steve was unable to maintain control of the airplane during the rollout and we sheared off the landing gear and broke a few formers forward of the battery pack. The propeller was also broken in the process. Repairs took approximately 45 minutes.
Flight attempt number three:
With the 24×12 propeller attached, we again attempted the delivery mission. We got off the ground in the allotted space, but Steve was expecting to be holding down elevator and pushed the plane back down onto the runway after the 75 ft mark. This invalidated that takeoff, but he landed the plane successfully and brought it around for a second takeoff. This time takeoff went very smoothly and Steve was able to complete two laps of the course. However there was a crosswind and the plane stalled as he brought it in for landing. The firewall broke off, the horizontal tail broke, the elevator and rudder came loose and there was other miscellaneous damage to the plane. We are about to begin repairs and we should be making our 4th attempt early in the morning.”
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!! Yeah, go plane!
In which I survive an earthquake…
T and I were woken up this morning at around 5:30 due to tremors from an earthquake that lasted about 20 seconds. An earthquake in Indiana??!! We got up and found two of T’s roommates also awake; one of them found, just a few minutes later, a site online that claimed it was an earthquake of a 5.2 magnitude. It wasn’t until later this morning (when normal ppl wake up) that I found a site that corroborated that info. Apparently it was an earthquake in West Salem, IL that was felt all over IN as well.
Beyond that excitement, there are a couple of other things going on as well. I am taking the GRE on Tuesday, so I’m studying a bit for that now. Also, I have another job opportunity that I am in the middle of applying for. It’s pretty cool, but I don’t want to get my hopes up yet. T is going to be gone most of the weekend for a Feild Traning exercise.
See you all later, hopefully soon. (May 10th, at least)
DBF Competition this Weekend!
Our senior design project culminates this weekend. The Design, Build, Fly competition in Wichita, Kansas is this weekend, April 18th-20th. Our team is leaving at noon tomorrow to drive down there. I’m not going because I need to work this weekend, but I’m feeling all the nervous butterflies that everyone else is, too. In fact, I’m kind of sick to my stomach. I hope my batteries don’t blow up, and I hope the stability issues on the plane are fixed, and I hope she flies beautifully and comes back in one piece so that we can show her off to the underclassmen and give them some pointers/help for their design project next year.
I never want to work with another battery pack as long as I live, either. There have been too many sparks, short circuits, weight issues, and hissing batteries. Everything should hypothetically work fine in the competition, though. 
Go batteries, go!
As for everything else: still working on finding a job; Tobin is doing GREAT; I’ll probably be working in TH until June 13th, when we have to be out of the rental house; and I think that’s it.
FE Tomorrow
We (almost all the seniors at Rose) have the FE exam tomorrow. It’s an 8 hour exam required for engineers to pass if they want to become professional engineers (basically). Our two houses will be headed to Rose at 7ish tomorrow morning.
Rough Times at Rose
Recently, there have been three separate car accidents involving four Rose-Hulman students, and two of those students have died (one had just graduated last November). The other two are seriously injured and are in hospitals recovering, both with head injuries as well as other injuries. Two of the students were on the football team and two were on the swimming team. It’s been a shock, considering that I don’t remember anything like this happening in all four years at Rose, and now in a span of seven weeks, four Rose kids have been in accidents. Although I was not close to any of the students involved in the accidents, many of my friends were and are having a tough time right now. Buses from Rose will be attending the funerals, taking any students who want to go. One of the funerals is in Indiana, and the other is in Texas.
Well, if you read the last post you know we had a not-so-successful first flight attempt in the old version of our DBF plane. We re-analyzed the plane and found that the tail setting angle, which had been calculated at 4 degrees, was built in the wrong direction. Basically, the tail was set 8 degrees off. This really affected the flight capabilities, allowing for take-off but not providing the moment needed to pull the nose down once the aircraft left the ground. Also, the plane was modeled in a simulator and, although it would now takeoff and fly in its unloaded configuration, it would not in the loaded configuration. So we made a change: biplane. Also, the area of the nose was so big that it reduced the effective area of the propeller quite a bit, so we made a change there as well. You can see the differences in tail setting angle, surface area of the nose, and added wing in the photo below:
The colorful tail and wing are not covered yet. Our second flight test will (hopefully) be tomorrow.
Job update: the company that I was excited about that I interviewed with over break will probably not be giving me a job offer since they decided to give an offer to another candidate first. I’m upset about it because it feels like discrimination. They asked me how long T would be stationed in the area, and their response to my answer was the only negative aspect of the whole interview. I’m currenlty looking at other opportunities. On the positive side, we found a house we want to rent and we are looking into applying for it.
A Few Long Days Later…
The time I have spent on DBF has increased significantly in the past few days. After a superlong work day on Tuesday (that included a fireworks show when the battery wires got crossed – one fuse down) and a few more hours on Wednesday, our plane was ready for a taxi/flight test! Here’s a picture of her, skin on and ready to go, and the inside of the fuselage with some wiring (that hooks up my motor and prop to m
y batteries!!).
!!! Way to go, team!
Change of Pace
Just wanted a new post on here. There’s not much new to say; I am working at night and doing schoolwork all the other times. Our senior design project is planning on flying next week, our first trial flight. Our first machine design exam is tomorrow, so I need to review for that. Otherwise, I am just applying for jobs and attempting to keep the dishes from piling up. Hope to see some of you soon. Have a great Easter weekend!
It’s been a frustrating week so far, and it’s only Tuesday. I find out how much more I have to learn every day, and it doesn’t quite seem fair. Once, back in youth group at Inland Manor, Mr. Elwood told us all about when he went to college (also at Rose, although it was Rose Polytechnic back then). He said that when he first went to school, he thought he knew everything. After each year, he got slightly dumber. He said by the time he graduated, he thought he knew nothing. Well, that’s about where I’m at right now, and he was right on track.
I got called in to work today, so I’m headed to work in a few minutes. It’s also Andy’s birthday, and he is coming to the restaurant to celebrate, so hopefully I will get a few minutes off to sit with the group and say hi, since I was supposed to sit and eat with them.
I hope it stops raining, it’s going to be a nasty walk!
Gun Shoot
Tobin and I went to the Rose open gun shoot on Saturday. It was so fun! I got to shoot a handgun (45) and watched Tobin shoot a 9 mm handgun. We spent a lot of time with the shotguns. I tried a 20g and a 12g. With the 20, I actually hit a few of the clay birdies!!! I was surprised and very excited. The 12 was heavier and I did more damage to my shoulder than the clay birdies, that’s for sure. Then I got to shoot a rifle. It was called a 30-06, which I have no idea what that means, but it was HUGE. I had to prop it on bags and sit to shoot it. It only took four rounds in the clip, but that was plenty. The bullets were so big! It sounded like a cannon to me, but then again I haven’t heard very many guns before. Anyways, four shots was more than enough for my shoulder. I had no idea if I hit the targets or not; I had everything lined up in the scope, but after I pulled the trigger I just tried to stay in my seat and make sure the gun didn’t jump off the bags, so I never saw anything happen to the targets. The other rifles I shot were the 22′s, and those are fun little guys. I shot at little rubber rabbits hanging by their ears, lol! It was a lot easier to hit a target with those lighter guns. All in all, it was really fun and I can’t wait to shoot again! I’ll update more another time. Later!
License
I got a new driver’s license today! My new name/address is on it. The BMV people looked really confused when they realized T and I live at different addresses. I didn’t try to explain it to them. Takes too long. Anyways, the license looks totally different than my old one (and it’s pink on the top!). Does anyone know if the new licenses are blue for boys and pink for girls, or are they all pink on the top?
I’m running in a race with Em on May 10th….fun stuff! I really should start training for it. I don’t think I’ll be setting any records in this race, I just want to finish and have some fun with Em waaaay up north. Hope you see you all soon!
Mysterious Diseases
My car is on the fritz again. 
It doesn’t like to start for some reason or another. Hopefully it will start when the weather gets warmer. Oh and a piece of the front bumper removed itself partially from the rest of the bumper and drags on the ground when the car decides to start. So I need to cut that off too. Phooey.
BUT on the bright side, it will be warmer soon(ish) and I can ride a bike to Rose and walk to work. Good thing Kroger’s within walking distance too!
AND I sorta have an interview down South when Tobin and I head there for spring break. Ain’t it great?!
Learning Arabic 101
Had my first lesson in Arabic today. Wow, it’s going to be tough, that’s for sure. Rosetta Stone uses an immersion approach to learning languages, and I’m feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment. I knew absolutely nothing about Arabic and by the end of lesson one I was just guessing randomly. I’ll be going over that lesson again when my brain doesn’t hurt as much. It’s really a neat program and I am excited to use it and to learn a new language, but I have a feeling the first few weeks will cause headaches. Once I can get past the initial not-knowing-anything feeling, I think it will get a lot better. Oh and all of the letters look the same, isn’t that fun?
One cool thing is a keyboard applique provided in the package. I have Arabic letters and symbols on my keyboard now! I don’t know how to use them, what they mean, or how to switch my keyboard function to Arabic, but that will come later. Right now it just looks cool.
I’ll let you all know as I improve. Maybe soon I’ll just chatter away in Arabic. Maybe. At least the numbers are the same.
Final Quarter
Check out the last post to see how the honeymoon went. It was fun, wish there were lots of honeymoons in life.
So, I have a slightly easier quarter ahead of me, and I needed a hobby. I decided to learn Arabic, and ordered the software which should be arriving tomorrow or the day after. Super excited! I will also be finishing up my senior design project and taking two light classes at Rose as well as doing work study, my restaurant job, and looking for a full-time job down South.
We are still wrapping some wedding things up, but TY notes are almost all out and we have most of our returns done. We just have to purchase needed household items but will probably wait until we move to do that. We will mostly be getting necessary things, but there is a certain TV we both fell in love with that might get purchased as well. Maybe.
Now Tobin and I are getting adjusted to married life in separate houses, and we’re looking forward to the day when we’ll have our own place together.
The Bolton Honeymoon
Hi everyone! We made it back from our little escape to Indy. What a fun few days! We headed to a little B&B on the north side of Indy for three nights, and we chose a loft room that had its own kitchenette. Here is the front of our little inn, and the next picture is of our room.
Two More Days
I am done with finals forever! This was my last final of my senior year and, hopefully, my life. YAY!! I calculated what I would need to get on the final to pass the class, and it was less than a zero…however, I do need to get a passing grade on the final in order to pass the class, so I did need to make sure I passed this test. We’ll find out some time next week, but I’m not too worried.
I have parts in for my senior design project, batteries and propellers. The motor should come after break in that first week of classes. I’m going to start working more hours at Ricks and I can come in earlier now that I finish classes at 11 M-Th.
Can’t believe I’ll be married next quarter. I’m so excited. Just need to do a little shopping and a little packing and a little decorating and then I’m ready for the big day. My car might be fixed too! Dad’s replacing parts as we speak. Alright, I better wrap things up, my chauffeur should be getting out of his final in a couple minutes. Later!
Eek
Time is eating away at my days…I only have four left! One more final to take and lots more things to get done for the wedding. Eek.
Oh and my car decided to die yesterday. Perrrfect.
Some Random News
Here’s one that’s a bit belated. I think Tobin liked his gift:
Also, on February 14th, 2008, we officially used the red plate for the first time. I made a cake (pumpkin cake with cheesecake filling and icing) and cut it into a heart.
Seven more days!!
February 15th, 2008
I can remember ten years ago, when I was at church, and my new baby brother was being born back at home. We went out to lunch with a lady from church (my three siblings and I), and when we came back, we were greeted at the door and told to come back and see our new brother!
I can remember holding him for the first time. Until that time, I had only held dolls that were that small, but he was so warm and heavy and alive and absolutely adorable. He was the little brother I had prayed for, and now he was in my arms!
Zachary, I love you, boy; thanks for ten great years! By the way, you make me feel really old. I’m so glad you have grown so tall and strong. And you’re so cool! Baseball, football, basketball, running, and all of those video games you like so much…you’re an awesome little brother, and I can’t wait to see you in a week. Love you!
9 days
Last minute stuff is getting done! There are lots of last minute things to do, but they will probably have to wait until the weekend. This week, I had two presentations (one for our senior design project) and three papers due (one for senior design, one for aero design, and one for the ME lab project), and next week I have a take-home final and Design test to finish.
We finally got the propulsions system ordered for the senior design aircraft! That’s a huge load off my shoulders, and next quarter we will start building/wiring/testing. We fly 4 weeks into the next quarter. Hypothetically.
I get married in nine days! Oh, and happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
Nineteen WOW
I totally know I told y’all I’m not updating until after the wedding…but I have this countdown running on my homepage, and it says 19 days!! That’s SO CLOSE! I’m very excited and so happy, and all I can think of are how many things I have to get done before 19 days is up. Yikes.
New news: I have a job now! I’m working at a local bbq smokehouse, and it will be my first day today. I told no one to come by, but I think they’re coming anyway. Poo. Anyways, I’m hoping to still get the days off I need to get off before the wedding. Like this Tuesday is the volleyball banquet, Sunday is Tobin’s grandma/grandpa’s 50th anniversary event, and next Sunday is the private shower for my wedding. I would really like to attend. We’ll see, hopefully Rick is cool with letting me have those days. Oh, and I’d really like the 23rd and the next few days off, too. Sheesh. Ridiculous. I’m gonna get fired before I even start! At least he knows I’m only part time for the first few weeks.
Well, time to study a bit before I go work out. Later!
Short update
I am busy. Busy. Busy. I will update more after the wedding.