We have more to report, some happy, some sad, in what has transpired in Randall Land 2008. For those of you brave enough, read on.

Ashley in search of a real job! Ashley is still living in Austin and is presently holding down two jobs, though neither are worthy of her skill and talents. We (her parents) are trying to help and encourage anyone who happens upon this to consider what job opportunities might exist for her. If you have an idea for a job for Ashley please contact John. We are hoping of course that by time that you are reading this, she has already found an exciting and worthwhile career. In addition to dealing with the unwashed public on a regular basis (in the aforementioned less than ideal jobs) and job hunting, Ashley took a trip to Guadalajara Mexico. The picture is one of Ashley in Mexico. Ashley is also harboring critters. In particular, two flesh and furniture shredding cats: Gwen and Cinto. Anyone visiting her apartment should be warned.

Ian in College! Ian is now a college dude and a Frat Rat at that! He is a freshman at the University of North Texas (where his Grandmother Vee got her degree). He is studying Kinesiology and did well his first semester managing all As and Bs. He lives in Kerr Hall with a bunch of other crazy young people which means that he fits right in. Shown to the right is his dorm room and which also serves as proof that he is John's son. Ian is an Associate (a PC term meaning 'Pledge') for Lamda Chi Alpha and ran for and was elected the Safety Officer for his fraternity. This means among other things that he will need to give an STD awareness lecture to his brothers. Ian has kept up with his art. At least he has had to because his mother insisted on his doing an abstract painting for her new office. The image below in Patrice's section is the result of this demand.

Patrice ponders her forth career: Patrice, unlike John, was never a professional student. Her first career back in Houston was as a chemical engineer working for Shell in one of the world's largest (and smelliest) chemical refineries. Her second career was as a scientific programmer working for an astrophysicist tracking satellites and working for the Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars) and thus brought an end to the evil Soviet Empire. Then came her third, most dangerous career and greatest challenge, raising Ian and Ashley, and surviving their teenage years. Having completed this task and gotten them out of the house, she is trying to decide what's next? While she is doing that, she became a project manager and got John to finish the cabinet work in her office. "He has been working on it for over a year!" she explained. Not content to take a strictly supervisory role, she also became a stone cutter and mosaic artist and has designed and almost completed a top for the desk in her new office. She also demanded an abstract painting from Ian to hang above her desk. A photograph of the untitled acrylic on canvas piece is shown on the left.

John stays busy:

Since John started work for Zyvex more than 7 years ago, he has been trying to develop Atomically Precise Manufacturing technology. However, until the company trifurcated in 2007, he was busy trying to help commercialize carbon nanotube materials, nanomanipulation instrumentation, and microassembly. For the past year and a half he has been able to concentrate on this goal and has met with some success. Zyvex now has a State and Federal funded program to develop Atomically Precise Manufacturing. John pulled this off only because of the support of his boss Jim Von Ehr, his talented co-workers, and the intervention of superwoman ShaChelle Manning. The Program is fairly well funded with a large and really talented team including some very well respected scientists, engineers, and go-to folks at the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of North Texas, the University of Illinois, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Central Florida, the National Institute of Standards and Technolgy, General Dynamics, Vought Aircraft, Integrated Circuit Scanning Probe Instruments, and the North Texas Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization. Zyvex Labs also has collaborators working in this area in Singapore, London, and Sydney Australia. The scary part is that now that John has such a strong team and resources, that he better make this happen.

Somewhere between work and art, John has been running Micrograph Contests for two major Nanofabrication conferences, the EIPBN and the MNE. Many years of amazing micrograph can be seen at EIPBN uGraphs and MNE uGraphs. John put together a CD of some of his favorites. If you would like a copy you only have to ask.

John has also kept a few hobbies, he trys to run 5 miles three times a week, has continued to work with the artist Christian Seidler who is using the robotic system John built to make spectacular oil paintings, and John has continued in his efforts to learn to play the saxophone. If you are a major glutton for punishment you can listen to an original piece of music by John played by John and his instructor Pete Branham:Saxophone Duet

Pet Report: We are sad to say that our faithful 13 year old puppy, Max is no longer with us. He is now chasing squirrels in Doggy Heaven. Having our children leave the house, has made it seem all the more empty now that Max is gone. Patrice points out that she saw Max a lot more often than she saw John. Max remained active, if somewhat slowed, up to the last week of his life. He constantly followed Patrice around the house and always positioned himself to protect her. He was a happy dog.

The Relativity Report:
Stepchinskis: Anita, Patrice's mom, we are sad to report, is still in a nursing home. Eddie, Patrice's dad is still living at home and seems to be doing quite well after a hip operation. Brother Nigel, wife Rhonda, and kids Caitlin(17) and Kyle(14) are all doing well in Houston, as are brother Patrick, wife Erica, and kids Leanne(15), and Alan(12). All of the Stepchinskis were in harms way during hurricane Ike, but we are happy to say entirely escaped harm and property loss. Eddie was without power for over two weeks. Ironically, he used to work for Houston Lighting and Power repairing downed power lines.
Randalls: John's Mom, Vee is still alive and well, in Houston. Brother Mike is living with Vee. Mike's daughter Kalli(20) has completed a degree in cosmetology and is starting her career. Mike's son Cody(17) is still in high school in Minnesota. Sister Cindy and Skip live in leisure in Houston. Skip closed down his Motorcycle Shop last year and Cindy after more than 20 years closed down Gym USA and sold her building. Cindy's daughter Shelly graduated from Baylor and moved to Chicago where her husband Matt is attending law school and she works for Ricoh selling "business solutions". Kelsie is going to college and working in a day care center.

The Life of Bill Randall Randall John's father, died on December 9, 2008 just a few days after his 89th Birthday. Following his wishes there was not a funeral but a festive gathering. A memorial service/Party was held at John's sister Cindy's house in Houston. More than 100 people showed up. To say that he was an accomplished man borders on understatement. Most notably, he founded and ran a company, The Randall Corporation that revolutionized the way natural gas processing plants were built and the way that they operated. Natural gas processing plants built by his company are currently operating all over the world. He was extremely generous to all of his employees. Everyone, down to the guys that swept the shop floor, were part of a profit sharing program. He was also generous with friends and family and contributed to the college education of a dozen or more people. He was a character. If you wish to read a Eulogy that was written about him, follow this link. The picture below was taken at the party at Cindy's House.

Bill Randall's Wife, children and their spouses, and grandchildern.

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