Stuffed Mushrooms, Steak, and King Crab

That's what Jenny got for her dinner birthday today (I won't have any time to make dinner tomorrow). She really liked the King Crab Legs. I marinated the top sirloin steak in 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 c Worcestershire sauce, 1 clove of garlic, 1 green onion, two teaspoons pepper, and 2 teaspoons salt. The mushroom recipe was from Better Homes and Gardens. The crab legs were already cooked, but I put butter and parsley and a minced green onion on them (cracked open shell). We also had salad and asparagus. It was yummy.

The good news this week is that Dr. Gaufin can't find any evidence at all of any tumors in the recent MRI's Jenny had taken. She will have another set take at the end of May and if those are clear too, then we don't have to get another for a year after that. It is a big relief to be so far out from the last surgery and have no recurring tumors. It is a big blessing - thanks to everyone's faith and prayers in our behalf and that of the doctor.

So, our little shrimp morphed into an apple this week - about 4 1/2 inches and a few ounces. It is exciting to see Jenny's belly expand (little by little). This last week, she was lying in bed and felt something flutter inside her. It was very exciting. I think it was trying to get her attention because she describes it like someone tapping you on the shoulder (or belly lining in this case) very lightly a few times. Maybe it was having a craving for ice cream, but she didn't comply.

Here are our Halloween pictures. Yes, they are a bit late getting out, but you do what you can.


This last week I spent running the reactor at school as the other graduate student is out of town visiting plant locations of companies that want to pay him lots of money to work for them. That means that I fill up a bucket of ice and carry it across campus everyday (leading to sudden onset sore back and shoulders). The ice is used on the product stream leaving the reactor to trap out any water that was formed in the reaction (it interferes with the instrument readings if it is left in the system). I haven't discussed any Thanksgiving plans with the other graduate student yet, but neither has he talked to me and it is really his reaction, not mine, that is going on, so I will inform him that I am out of town starting Wednesday.

School is still busy, but not nearly as bad as before. I am still trying to be there everyday by 7:30 or 8:00 AM and I usually don't leave until after 5:30. My professor and I are working on preparing a publication (for a journal) and we are submitting a paper to be given at a conference in New Orleans next April. If we get it, he or I will give a 30-45 minute presentation on the work I have been doing since March. I will most likely present the same information at another conference a month or so earlier. The paper is on a reactor design model code that I have helped develop. There are some 30-50 different user inputs and the code tells you how long your reactor has to be in order to meet your criteria (and whether or not you can expect it to blow up). The reaction is the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (turning carbon monoxide and hydrogen in to diesel fuel and gassoline - its like turning coal into gas for your car).

SHRIMP

Jenny and I have exciting news. An alien shrimp thing has been growing in Jenny's abdomen (her weekly email told us it is about the size of a shrimp). It is due to pop out around May 9th. We are SOOOO excited. It is great to finally start our family. We can't wait to be parents. We will continue to post updates on our progress.

Alaskan Cruise

This last week was spent with my family on a cruise to Alaska. It was a lot of fun. All of my brothers and sisters were there with my parents which was nice since it has really been 4 years since we were together (Skyler left on his mission to Croatia before Seth returned from his in Brazil - but only by 2-3 months). We stayed up late most nights, ate more than was good for us, and played a few games.

We stopped in a couple of cities (Ketchikan & Juneau), an island (Icy Straights), and saw the Hubbard Glacier. The glacier was really neat - I didn't know those colors of blue existed outside of a Crayola box.

Icy Straights (village of Hoonah), we went down the world's longest zip line (just opened this year). It was a thrilling 90 seconds of beautiful forest scenery down a 1.2 mile line that droppes 1300 feet (at no time do you feel like you are free falling).

We saw the Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan and window shopped in both cities. We collected all of the free promotional gems, etc. you get just for going in the shops and had fun not spending any money.

Also during the cruise, there is an on-board art auction. I enjoyed just looking at the pieces and learning about the artists. I won the raffle for a supposed $500 piece of art not once, but twice during the cruise (there were 3 auctions). The first piece was painted by Krasnyansky and is entitled Street of Old Prague.

The second was painted by Tarkay and is entitled Blissful Moments.

We like the Krasnyansky a lot better than the Tarkay, but Jenny is not ready to give it up to ebay yet. Also, she fell in love with a Bellet entitled "Le Pianista" which is currently going for about $2,350 - $4,000. The auctioneer wanted us to buy on the spot and offered it for us at $2,200. When we said we didn't have it, he responded "that is what credit is for." I told him him if it was worth owning, then it was worth saving up for. I guess Jenny has a savings goal now.

Pirates of Penzance

Evan's stake produced a lovely version of this Gilbert and Sullivan favorite. It is highly endorsed by Kyle & Jenny. We enjoyed it thoroughly and everyone agreed that Evan's was the best performance in the musical. The director took some small liberties with the comedy, but it was all in good taste and fun. Click here to download a 30 MB *.mp4 (mpeg4 for ipods) video clip of Evans performance (runtime: 4 min 30 sec). You will need the mp4 codec to view it in Windows Media Player.


If you want to see a performance, you have 3 days left. The musical is performed in the cultural hall of the:

400 N. 700 W. Chapel in Provo
Admission is free
The doors open at 7:00 PM and the musical begins at 7:30 PM.



Evan grew out his beard and had to get a temporary waiver from BYU. After the performance, one lady was about to take a picture when she said "Wait - those are real!" and she had to give his chops a tug.

Congratulations, Evan - it was masterfully done.

The Brown

So, in case some of you have missed it, my custom message on Google Talk for the last 2-3 years has reflected my progress in karate. In other words Kyle, The Green = Green Belt. Kyle, The Blue = Blue Belt.

I am pleased to announce that I have changed my custom message to . . .

- drum roll -

The Brown

Grading and practices these last couple of weeks have been really good. I didn't feel ready to grade up, so I was very surprised when the instructor announced my name (all lower belts are told when they are ready to grade, but brown and above just get surprised).

For those of you who don't know, in Shotokai Karate, Brown Belt is the last student grade/first instructor grade (I am now qualified to teach karate). After Brown comes 1st Black and then up to 5th Black (5th is the highest rank). Jenny is almost as excited for me as I am to see my progress.

Chemical Engineering Annual Review

PhD students are required to give an Annual Review of their progress each year before August. Mine first review was today (a bit late, but they are forgiving). It went well and there was really only 1 question that I didn't know how to respond to. I am happy to report a "Saticefactory" rating (the best they give) meaning that they will continue to pay my stipend and tuition and allow me to do research.

For those of you who don't know or are still not clear about my research, I am studying the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. It is the chemical process of turning CO and H2 gas into Diesel Fuel, gassoline, and waxes. Through this process, you can turn coal or biomass into fuel for your vehicle.

The US and China are understandably very interested in this process as it means domestic sources of fuel for the military and less dependence on foreign stability. In light of that . . . Jenny and I might be on our way to China in about a year from now! I contacted a professor in China who offered me $2,000/month to do Fischer-Tropsch research with his group. He said all I need to do is come up with a research objective and a time-table and they would fund all of the research. We are very excited about the prospect as are my professors. It will be a lot of fun if it works out.

So, how about Christmas in China next year, Brunners?

BookWise

I am so excited about BookWise that I have to share it with you. First of all, please visit the following websites as they explain BookWise so much better than I can:
bookwiseopportunity.blogspot.com
www.mybookwise.com/kmbrunner/
http://www.winninginthemargins.com/ (use the passkey: kmb)
If you are as excited about BookWise as I am and would like to get started today, Join Now or use the link located on my BookWise site above and click on "Join Now." It is a simple application and process. My associate ID is 107662. Enroll as a New Associate, input some information, choose a default book category, and you are ready to develop a new stream of residual income.

BookWise, the most intelligent home-based business in the world, was started in January 2007 by Richard Paul Evans (author of the Christmas Box) and Robert G. Allen (real estate millionaire and best selling author). It is a fantastic new way to run a business focused on promoting wealth and literacy through books. The first 10% of company profits is given away to carefully selected charities to promote world literacy.

BookWise is destined to become a household name. The founders of BookWise want to make it the largest network marketing company in the world and they have a plan to make it happen by giving back 10 times the value of each purchase. Each month, BookWise associates get:
1. Their choice of 1 hardcover book from the 300 books on the BookWise Catalog
2. A free ebook, usually from a new author
3. A free audiobook (like Steven Covey's "7 Habits" and Robert Allen's "The Road to Wealth")
4. 40-50% discount on additional books from the Catalog
5. BookWise monthly newsletter to keep them up to date
6. Free speed reading lesson from the best program in the world
7. Weekly AuthorWise webcast in which associates talk to bestselling authors
8. Monthly TaxWin training on preparing taxes especially for a home business
9. Weekly WealthWin coaching on increasing wealth - taught by Evans & Allen
10. Weekly PresidentWise training to become the president of your business
11. Monthly AccelerateWise personal training by Dan Coughlin
12. Business tools given as part of your welcome package
13. Incentive trips for highly qualified associates
14. The best compensation plan in the industry!
15. New benefits added every month
16. BookWise Better Life Garuntee: If after 12 months as an active BookWise Associate you feel your life has not been improved, BookWise will refund 100% of your monthly $35 fees (you keep all of your books) - No hassle. Risk free.

So, what do you have to pay to receive all of these incredible benefits?
$40 one time sign-up fee
$35+$5 shh monthly fee
But if you tell me that this blog influenced your decision to sign up, I will send you a check for $35 to cover your first monthly fee! (send me an email at the time of your sign-up: kyle.brunner@gmail.com)

How does the compensation plan work for you?
The BookWise compensation plan is based on a 5 wide by 9 deep unilevel matrix.
There are 6 ways to make money:
1. $35 signing bonus for each person you enroll in BookWise
2. Commission as a percent of sales volume at each level up to 9 levels of your organization
3. Matching Commission - you match the commission of the 5 people directly below you
4. Preferred Customer Commissions - 10% of your prefered customer's purchases
5. Retail Sales - You purchase books at 40-50% discount and are able to resale them
6. 1% Commissions on additional book purchases by people you sign up
To receive commissions on the first 8 levels of your organization, you must qualify by personally enrolling 3 people. To receive commissions on the 9th level, you must personally enroll 9 people. There is no qualification necessary to receive the signing bonus for enrolling new associates.

BookWise is an inheritable business and makes no restrictions on associates with regard to belonging to any other business or organization. Your business can be passed on to your children or on to your favorite charity, providing an income stream that will continue indefinitely.