My interest in meteorology probably stemmed from my moving with my family to New
Orleans, Louisiana when I was 11 (1973). New Orleans gets many intense thunderstorms
during the year (which I greatly enjoy experiencing!!), and is generally a warm, humid
place, but can on occasion get very cold in the winter. (I remember one February morning
when it was 16 degrees Fahrenheit, which for people who live in the northern U.S. is not
anything too significant, but for New Orleans is absolutely frigid!!) It was the variety
of weather that interested me and prompted me to learn about the causes of the different
types of weather. I have always been amazed by the destructive power of weather, and I
think it is neat that though all the people in the world live in different places and
have many differences among the way they live, they all, on everyday of their lives, have
some interaction with weather!
My Family and I
I am 34 years old (though I often don't think I am that old!).I have been married for
nine years. I have three children: a seven-year-old daughter in second grade, a four-year
old son, and a 7-month old son. We live near San Jose, California. I enjoy working on my
research, playing with my kids, working on my house with my wife, and playing soccer,
among other activities. I recently had knee surgery because I injured my knee playing
soccer last spring. One advantage of doing the type of work I do is that while I was on
crutches, I was still able to come to my office and work. My job does not require much
carrying or walking, except carrying my books and lunch to and from my car, and
periodically walking to the 'treat room' (as my daughter calls it) to get a soft drink or
candy bar.
My family and I recently enjoyed watching the lunar eclipse which occurred. We
gathered with our neighbors, drank hot chocolate, and watched the moon disappear (or at
least darken) as it entered the Earth's shadow, and then brighten as it reemerged from
the shadow. Being the children of a meteorologist/planetary scientist, my kids get
subjected to being dragged out into the rainy or starry sky to view yet another 'neat'
thing that I want them to see. Sometimes they think it is cool (watching the space
shuttle fly overhead; seeing a thunderstorm, which is quite rare where we live) and
sometimes it is 'boring' (comet Hyakutake, which they could not see well).
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