Hey, it's been a while.

Sorry 'bout that guys, hectic week of wrapping everything up... either that or I was lazy. Anywho This last week of research was pretty neat, we actually attempted to measure our samples via resonance raman. Its a neat way to read the vibrational modes of a chemical signal, instead of carefully raising the level of the vibrational quanta from the Highest Occupied state to the Lowest Unoccupied state using an infrared source, we blast it with a laser and record how the molecule relaxes. In short, we fired a high powered laser!!! it was so powerful, that it actually burned holes into our cuvettes (sample chambers). At first we didn't get a signal, but once we fine tuned everything and calibrated the instrument (using acetonitrile) we took saturated solutions of pyrazole, and for some reason, we didn't get a signal. However, when we used a solid sample, we acquired a pretty good spectrum. With our hopes up, we took our salts and attempted to get a spectra... however, the laser burned through our samples, but not the cuvette. We believe that this was because the sample absorbs color quite well (we used the Cu(II) pyrazole salt, the dark-purple one), and since it aborbs light so well, concentrated light actually scorched our sample. CRAZY!

Besides that, we created a poster (and by we, I mean Steve Miller) and we are ready for the Fall semester research symposium. Also, I found out that this research project may actually count toward my ACS Major (WHOO!).

I moved out today as well, and am chilling out with my family at the moment. For dinner my brother Jeff made these AWESOME Philly Cheesesteaks. Tender, well-spiced meat, delicious gooey cheese, and peppers and onions sauteed to perfection. It was to die for. Tomorrow night, I'm hanging out with Kiki and Trevor, watching the Red Bull Fluutag, seeing the Aquatennial and spending the night at the Brooklyn Park Hilton. Good Times.

Stay Classy,

Matt