Hey everyone!
I'm completely estatic right now because I got to leave Organic Chemistry Lab early and I don't have to go on Wednesday. That is three hours of class that I get to skip. Wouldn't you be excited? Well the reason why I don't have to show up is because I found out the identity of my unknown substance. For anyone who cares, it was p-anisaldehyde or IUPAC naming 4-Methoxybenzaldehyde. It had quite a preferable smell. A little side note: aldehydes sometimes have nice aromas. Aldehydes are the scents of almond extract, cinnamon, and certain perfumes (mmmmmm!). Another thing, while I was waiting for an instructor to check my results, I started looking at Elisabet's (from Sweden) research on UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase. I haven't taken biochemistry yet, so some of the concepts are over my head. I understand the overall reaction because of my background in biology and organic chemistry. I haven't gotten into the research part yet, but I'm through most of the introduction.

Anyways, enough of that! I went on a bike ride this weekend. It was a lot of fun I rode out Sugar Bottom Road. I rode about 30 miles. It feels great to get out and ride anytime right now. The weather has been unusually warm lately. When was the last time that it was in the 70s during November? Not just one day also, it has been all week long! I also finished my single speed bike! It is really awesome. I finally borrowed the tools that I needed to take off the rear cassette from a friend in the University of Iowa Cycling Club. It was this little nut and a chain whip. I was pretty proud of myself because I had never done anything like that to a bike before. Overall, it was a fairly easy process. I found out that I extremely love working on bikes. I wish I knew how to do more. Well, I've posted a few photos of my single speed and my bike ride. Tonight my dad and I are going to Davenport to watch the City High football team take on the Davenport Assumption Knights. If they win this game, they will play again Friday night in the state semifinals at the UNI Dome.