Robotic BBQ

Tonight, we were invited over to the home of one of the faculty Dan supports - Yoky Matsuoka (in the green above) - for a barbecue for her Robotics Lab. She's doing working to create a robotic, prosthetic arm that will be functionally and visually equivalent to a human arm, so that it will blend perfectly. Besides being brilliant, she's incredibly kind, friendly, generous, and supportive. When Dan has tough days at work, it's often a reassuring word from Yoky that helps him see the light at the end of the tunnel.



This Summer, her lab is full of folks of all ages - from middle school students spending 4 hours a day for a full week, to high school students doing Summer internships, undergraduates, graduate students, and post-docs (like our friend Ashish). The BBQ included a bit of each (minus the middle school kids), though Dan was the only staff.



Yoky shares our love of Hawai`i, and we were greeted with leis when we arrived, and the food (intentionally or not) had some definite island flair. I got myself a sweet bun and made a sandwich with some barbecued chicken, and had it with steamed rice, pasta salad, and a little grilled pineapple.



Yoky and her husband, Simon, provided all the food and most of the drinks, but Dan & I couldn't resist picking up some fried bananas to bring along.



Since I only knew a few people, and I get kinda shy in groups, I did what I usually do - found the pets and kids. Yoky & Simon's twin daughters and I spent a good part of the party making things out of colored duct tape - brought by one of the grad students. I made them each a crown and a necklace, and they returned the favor - so I ended up wearing a crown and necklace made of duct tape all night.