Elser Family BLOG
Monday, February 08, 2010
Hannah is doing a science project for school. Her question is "how long does it take for electricity to travel through a wire? well.. having a dad that has access to test equipment, and wire, helps! She has done just about everything, I have only explained to her how to measure with the oscilloscope, and how to connect the signal generator to the scope and wire to be measured. she has had to do everything else.. It was harder than I thought to explain the concept of "y axis on the scope is voltage, x axis is time"
how do you explain that the still image on the screen is actually a square wave that passes by over and over.. "but its not moving"..
And, the final measurement! the orange trace is the signal going into the wire (the lading edge of a square wave), and the cyan trace is the signal coming out of the other end of 1000feet of wire, 1.23 microseconds later.. neat huh?
The next thing she did was measure an unknown length of wire, and estimate how long is it, by how long it took the signal to pass through it. I am looking forward to seeing how the report actually turns out.
how do you explain that the still image on the screen is actually a square wave that passes by over and over.. "but its not moving"..
And, the final measurement! the orange trace is the signal going into the wire (the lading edge of a square wave), and the cyan trace is the signal coming out of the other end of 1000feet of wire, 1.23 microseconds later.. neat huh?
The next thing she did was measure an unknown length of wire, and estimate how long is it, by how long it took the signal to pass through it. I am looking forward to seeing how the report actually turns out.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
OK, I have been collecting up some pictures since the hard drive disaster. Here are some from the last couple months in no particular order. :)
First, the kids made a gingerbread house. they decorated, I did the infrastructure of making the house itself. they did a good job IMHO.
If you did not know, Hannah plays the bassoon. I think she chose it just to annoy her mother. Its an interesting instrument, but a pain to assemble every day.
And, Kath is officially a OTA. she not only graduated, (with honors) but she has passed the certifications, and I believe she just got registered in SC and GA. now all she needs is a job. :)
fancy sash there ehe?
Over the Christmas season, there is a forest walk called "lights of the south" where you go through the woods and look at all the decorations. It was fun.
Hey, I made it into a picture.
Do y'all remember doing this? I do.
Melinda does dance class.. This was before a recital.
And this is at the recital with her friend Raven.
I went with Melinda on a field trip to the Ruth Patrick science center. Its a really nice science center in Aiken SC.
Comparing density of similar sized minerals.
Rockwell playing Basket Ball! he is #13.
Building a wood block tower. I remember being his age and doing this. It was lots of fun. Yikes; that room in the background! what the.. I'm sure Kath is going to appreciate this picture.
First, the kids made a gingerbread house. they decorated, I did the infrastructure of making the house itself. they did a good job IMHO.
If you did not know, Hannah plays the bassoon. I think she chose it just to annoy her mother. Its an interesting instrument, but a pain to assemble every day.
And, Kath is officially a OTA. she not only graduated, (with honors) but she has passed the certifications, and I believe she just got registered in SC and GA. now all she needs is a job. :)
fancy sash there ehe?
Over the Christmas season, there is a forest walk called "lights of the south" where you go through the woods and look at all the decorations. It was fun.
Hey, I made it into a picture.
Do y'all remember doing this? I do.
Melinda does dance class.. This was before a recital.
And this is at the recital with her friend Raven.
I went with Melinda on a field trip to the Ruth Patrick science center. Its a really nice science center in Aiken SC.
Comparing density of similar sized minerals.
Rockwell playing Basket Ball! he is #13.
Building a wood block tower. I remember being his age and doing this. It was lots of fun. Yikes; that room in the background! what the.. I'm sure Kath is going to appreciate this picture.
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
I was just reading the mom blog entry about video games.. and all of her comments are from kids saying "VIDEO GAMES ARE NOT BAD blah blah"
No, they are not inherently bad. just like guns are not inherently bad...
The problem is abusing them is the norm, not the exception!!
I took Rockwell to the BMX park this weekend. Actually, I took all the kids to the BMX park.. they all rode their bikes and played and we raced. (I can beat them all, even with a 1/3 track lead.. we will see how long that will last! ha.)
I am posting this for one reason.
Man, I am so proud of my kids. They love doing stuff.
Kathi might have a different story, being with them more during the day, but my kids have no interest in video games. or Cable. (OK, I did hear a grumble, just recently, about cable.)
It's just not a real subject in our house. How great is that? I know it wont last forever, and perhaps it shouldn't even, but I am so happy we have even gotten this far.
I love my kids.
They are the best.
Hey, I'm allowed my opinion. (smile)
No, they are not inherently bad. just like guns are not inherently bad...
The problem is abusing them is the norm, not the exception!!
I took Rockwell to the BMX park this weekend. Actually, I took all the kids to the BMX park.. they all rode their bikes and played and we raced. (I can beat them all, even with a 1/3 track lead.. we will see how long that will last! ha.)
I am posting this for one reason.
Man, I am so proud of my kids. They love doing stuff.
Kathi might have a different story, being with them more during the day, but my kids have no interest in video games. or Cable. (OK, I did hear a grumble, just recently, about cable.)
It's just not a real subject in our house. How great is that? I know it wont last forever, and perhaps it shouldn't even, but I am so happy we have even gotten this far.
I love my kids.
They are the best.
Hey, I'm allowed my opinion. (smile)
Thursday, December 31, 2009
This is far and away the longest I have gone without a post... If I did not post tonight, it would be the first time in 5 years I would not have posted a whole month.
Its mostly because I have been preoccupied and a little depressed.. and the fact that I formatted my hard drive that had two years worth of mydocs files on them really made it worse. not really because I formatted it it, as much as I had not simply backed the mydocs file up on DVD in forever. what on earth was I thinking? its not like its difficult, and its not like I don't know better. It was just stupid. I DID have all of my pictures backed up, so that is a consolation.
And I could probably post a hundred pictures that I have taken since the last post.. The kids in the Christmas pageant at church, Melinda's dance recital, the North Augusta Christmas parade, Christmas.. and a dozen other things I have already forgotten.
As many good things that have happened in the 00's (all related to the kids) I am still glad they are over. Mostly for political reasons.
How about I just list some things I am thankful for. Like Melinda not having a bad burn, The All of us being healthy, the kids doing great in school, Me still having a job, Kathi doing great in school, living in my little town that I like, A new democratic president, The stock market going most of my retirement back (smile).
There are a lot more things to be thankful for than that. But it will do for now.
Sorry for the delay in posting. I go though phases I guess.
Happy New Year! See you in TWENTY TEN.
Love, Ed and Family.
Its mostly because I have been preoccupied and a little depressed.. and the fact that I formatted my hard drive that had two years worth of mydocs files on them really made it worse. not really because I formatted it it, as much as I had not simply backed the mydocs file up on DVD in forever. what on earth was I thinking? its not like its difficult, and its not like I don't know better. It was just stupid. I DID have all of my pictures backed up, so that is a consolation.
And I could probably post a hundred pictures that I have taken since the last post.. The kids in the Christmas pageant at church, Melinda's dance recital, the North Augusta Christmas parade, Christmas.. and a dozen other things I have already forgotten.
As many good things that have happened in the 00's (all related to the kids) I am still glad they are over. Mostly for political reasons.
How about I just list some things I am thankful for. Like Melinda not having a bad burn, The All of us being healthy, the kids doing great in school, Me still having a job, Kathi doing great in school, living in my little town that I like, A new democratic president, The stock market going most of my retirement back (smile).
There are a lot more things to be thankful for than that. But it will do for now.
Sorry for the delay in posting. I go though phases I guess.
Happy New Year! See you in TWENTY TEN.
Love, Ed and Family.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Holloween Costumes!
And somehow, I managed to not take a picture of them standing together.
Jeesh.
SO, I have edited out some dark pictures.. Here is Rockwell: He was a "Ninja Power ranger" Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of him with the mask on. sorry. :(
And here is Hannah.. Hmm, I don't really know what she is.. A ghoul of some type. I have to tell you that mask was creeping me out the whole night. Its just a plain silver mask.. but it was creepy!
Here is Melinda the Cat being surprised by a trick.
And here she is earlier in the day at the North Augusta jack-o-lantern Jubilee as "The Mummy's Mommy" It was Her original creation.. I wish I was more creative and could have helped her more on the costume.. The Mummy's Mommy's Mommy did a good job on making the Mummy Baby, but it needed more to win. We will win next year Melinda.
And, as we all know what this is.. the annual right of "organizing and trading the candy treasure haul!" "candy corn!? Give it to Dad, he will eat it!"
Earlier this week, Melinda was the official narrator of her class play! She did a great job of talking loudly. If not a little fast.
And somehow, I managed to not take a picture of them standing together.
Jeesh.
SO, I have edited out some dark pictures.. Here is Rockwell: He was a "Ninja Power ranger" Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of him with the mask on. sorry. :(
And here is Hannah.. Hmm, I don't really know what she is.. A ghoul of some type. I have to tell you that mask was creeping me out the whole night. Its just a plain silver mask.. but it was creepy!
Here is Melinda the Cat being surprised by a trick.
And here she is earlier in the day at the North Augusta jack-o-lantern Jubilee as "The Mummy's Mommy" It was Her original creation.. I wish I was more creative and could have helped her more on the costume.. The Mummy's Mommy's Mommy did a good job on making the Mummy Baby, but it needed more to win. We will win next year Melinda.
And, as we all know what this is.. the annual right of "organizing and trading the candy treasure haul!" "candy corn!? Give it to Dad, he will eat it!"
Earlier this week, Melinda was the official narrator of her class play! She did a great job of talking loudly. If not a little fast.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
This was taken about a month ago.. we all went to eat breakfast at school together.
I was working in the yard, and some little boy comes up to me and says "my mother said you are making too much noise!" I asked what their name was or where they lived, but they wouldnt tell me.. And then they ran away.
And then melinda came out and asked me who I was talking to. I said "some little boy" and she asked what his name was, so I tod her I asked, but he wouldnt tell me.
A little later after this, the boy came back, and he said his name was Chris, and that I better stop making noise, or I will be in trouble.
I chased him away.
We took a bike ride to the waterfall again, It's amazing this little fall is within a bike ride from our house. neat.
Rckwell found a baby snapping turtle while we were at the falls.. hmmm, where's momma!?
I finanlly got my "free" popcorn machine put together and working! (Hint: after buying the parts I needed to get it working, it wasnt "free" anymore) Its really cool, and works amazingly well, but,.. I dont know what I am going to do with it. its not like I need a popcorn machine. (?) This picture is Melinda and I popping our first batch.
I was working in the yard, and some little boy comes up to me and says "my mother said you are making too much noise!" I asked what their name was or where they lived, but they wouldnt tell me.. And then they ran away.
And then melinda came out and asked me who I was talking to. I said "some little boy" and she asked what his name was, so I tod her I asked, but he wouldnt tell me.
A little later after this, the boy came back, and he said his name was Chris, and that I better stop making noise, or I will be in trouble.
I chased him away.
We took a bike ride to the waterfall again, It's amazing this little fall is within a bike ride from our house. neat.
Rckwell found a baby snapping turtle while we were at the falls.. hmmm, where's momma!?
I finanlly got my "free" popcorn machine put together and working! (Hint: after buying the parts I needed to get it working, it wasnt "free" anymore) Its really cool, and works amazingly well, but,.. I dont know what I am going to do with it. its not like I need a popcorn machine. (?) This picture is Melinda and I popping our first batch.
Monday, September 14, 2009
We had "Rally Day" at the Luther Point at the lake. It was old fashioned fun. (you can click on all these for a larger photo.)
At this point, Pastor had the Kids gather some water from the lake. His sermon was about baptism. The kids took the buckets around to the parishioners, and we made the sign of the cross with wet fingers on our foreheads.
This is actually setting up for the service..
Here we are singing some hymns while facing that beautiful lake scene.. You will have to suffer through my singing in most of it, since i am close to the mic! But its sort of fun all the same. We really should do more events like this at the lake.
At this point, Pastor had the Kids gather some water from the lake. His sermon was about baptism. The kids took the buckets around to the parishioners, and we made the sign of the cross with wet fingers on our foreheads.
This is actually setting up for the service..
Here we are singing some hymns while facing that beautiful lake scene.. You will have to suffer through my singing in most of it, since i am close to the mic! But its sort of fun all the same. We really should do more events like this at the lake.
