David Schmitter

Physics professor, juggler, husband, father. What else is there to say?

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

So, this is something I do… please consider donating to help those fighting the horribleness of cancer…

https://t.co/1sKdSdH2z8

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

There are more times in my life than you might think where I have to ask myself: Is this an appropriate time to dance?” Sadly for my neighbors and my dog the question is asked after the dancing has occurred. Luckily for my students and my career, it doesn’t happen in class often

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

In class today:

Me: Well, first look at your specific heat sheet. Hey, that should be a poem.

I then proceeded to start to solve the problem as a poem…. My students either missed it completely or were unfazed by this. I stopped after a few lines and went back to solving.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

After walking through the locker room to the pool for swimming lessons:

11-yo: Hey, we only saw one naked old person.
Me: I saw two!
11-yo: Well, that’s still pretty good.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

Walked across campus in a t-shirt and Mets cap and walked by several former students that definitely didn’t hate me (probably) and I was not recognized. Maybe my bow-ties are as powerful at identity concealment at Clark Kent’s glasses.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

Note: I say the words tour, tournament, and all variations of it incorrectly. My family has corrected me so much that I don’t know what is correct anymore. So, don’t judge me and know I am saying it three different ways in my head after I say it incorrectly.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

Sadly for my wife when we were expecting long ago I made name suggestions that were science related such as Linus (as in Pauling), Claude (as in Shannon), and Cobalt (as in the only element that would be an awesome name). Luckily for my children, my wife is smarter than I.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

Our 11-yo has my sense of humor which leads me to say to myself frequently “I’m not sure I’m prepared to deal with myself right now.”

He just smiles and waves when I say it outloud… just as I would do.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

@lynne_czech Wait, was that the weird one with the strange syntax or something.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

I got a new calculator for Christmas. Literally the same one I already have, just updated, but oh, it is so nice to use. I could on and on, but I’ll spare you.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

Wife: Are we fancy enough to go there?
Me: Sure
11-yo: No, we are all too humble.
Wife and I: (staring blankly)
11-yo: No offense.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

Absolutely loved Wonka. What a fun movie, really captured the spirit of the original.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

Well, it must be time to get back to work, I had my first dream of the new year where my dean told me I did a terrible scheduling job. Huzzah!

Note: My dean has never said such a thing and is super supportive, this is just my insecurity working overtime.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

Saw this at a local drive-thru window. So, am I supposed to just yell into the window: “Manager, I need a manager!!”

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

Me to 11-yo face-down in the snow: What are you doing?
Him: Trying to make a snow mold of my face.
Me: yeah, well, I’m about to make a mold of your butt with this snowball.
Him: Go ahead…
Me: (throwing snowball)

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

8-yo: My friend says that if you lose a tooth on your birthday you get a toy.
Me: Well, your friend must live in a different Tooth Fairy District.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

Used a bit of misdirection in diverting my 8-yo from freaking out by offering to teach him a card game this morning. I followed it up with some sleight of hand in making sure he won the last round.

Sometimes parenting takes a little magic it seems.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

Finally finished American Prometheus and wow, what a great book. Fascinating story.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

If you are walking down the hall carrying a Moon globe and aren’t singing “I’ve got the whole Moon in my hands…”, what are you even doing with your life.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

Talking to a student that I have never met but will be in my class next semester.

Me: Well, I don’t know what you have heard about me.
Future Student: Nothing good.

Nice way to end the semester.

[David Schmitter @PartialCyborg]

The men’s room near my office is well lit, but one of the lights is flickering at a ridiculous rate. It is now the closest I have ever been to a rave in my existence, at least as far as I’m aware.