I have had a lot of interactions in the past few days that make me wonder how good I would be at robbing a bank. Okay, so I have really been wondering how different I can really look from day to day and only just came up with the bank robbing idea now. But seriously, if I could rob a bank and get away with it, that would be a pretty good Plan B if grad school does not work out.
Anyway.
Saturday I went skiing with a group of people. I knew my friend, her husband, and another friend's husband/boyfriend/fiance (long story). Then there were four people (men, in the event you find their observation skills relevant to the story) who I have never met. When you ski, you try to stay all warm with hats and big coats and gloves and ski masks and you cover your mouth and nose if possible. You do not see a whole lot of the actual person with whom you are skiing. BUT, in addition to skiing together, we hung out getting ready and packing up without all that gear on, and we had dinner together when we got back to my friend's house.
Then, as I conveniently live about 0.3 miles from her house, I ran home to shower and change before the rest of her birthday festivities that night. THREE PEOPLE with whom I had spent a significant amount of time that day did not realize that I was the same person. One woman who had joined us for the dinner part introduced herself to me again, and I explained we had met 2 hours earlier (nicely, of course, because I thought it was funny); one guy talked to me for a good 20 minutes before I referred to skiing and he realized who I was; the third guy actually did realize I was me quickly. A little bit to their credit, I had blow-dried my hair and was wearing my glasses and was no longer wearing goggles...or a hat...or ski clothes that make me look twice my size.
I actually did not think much of it, as I had only just met these people. Tonight I went to a Dean of the College-sponsored faculty lecture. The Grad Dean, who I see nearly weekly and communicate with frequently due to my position in the graduate student government, did not recognize me at first, or for about 30 seconds following at first. She was like, "Oh! Jenny! I didn't even recognize you!"
Ummm...Why not? I did recently get a hair cut, but it is the same style that I have had for months; I am not wearing my glasses today; this woman sees me frequently. I should take pictures of me in different states and then poll my readers, but I do not have the time or energy tonight.
I guess chameleons change their skin color and blend in. Is there a creature that changes its appearance without necessarily blending in? Apparently, that is me.
31 March 2008
30 March 2008
A history of BFFs
Sparkling Red did a friend recap not too long ago. It always a bitter-sweet thing to think about where some friendships have or have not ended up. Here goes nothin' (with some modifications).
Best grade school girlfriend: She and I were INSEPARABLE in elementary school. In 6th grade, there were town-wide 6th-grade dances to start forging ties among the elementary school students who would all come together in middle school. I was really shy and did not make new friends then; I think she did. I still remember the first day of 7th grade. She did not talk to me. I had no idea why, but she seemed to have a new group of friends already on that first day. It was not until sometime in high school when we started even saying hi to each other in the hallway. I always feel sad about this for my 7th-grade self.
Best Middle-School and High-School girlfriends: One of my oldest friends is from 8th grade - we would braid each other's hair in science class. She and I have had our ups and downs, but always manage to reconnect just before the friendship seems like it is over for good. Although we do not talk frequently enough to know everything that goes on in each other's lives, I like to think we still share all the big stuff and are there for each other when we need to be. I also added a close friend a few years older than me in high school from concert band. Her son is my godson. Then there is one other friend I lost track of in high school when I started dating my boyfriend at the time. She and I drank together. :) My dad recently ran into her and her baby, got her email address for me, and now I need to make the time to reconnect with her.
Best University girlfriend: I do not know how to choose! The four women I lived with my senior year are probably the ones to whom I would turn first in a crisis and they are of course always there. Thanks, Molly, KHC, and Carolyn (and Dr. J if you check in once in a while). We'll call the fifth friend from college Zika. She and I had a falling out senior year but now live in the same city and it is nice to see her somewhat regularly.
The woman I met at my first post-Uni job: Well, I was a research tech for a couple of years before grad school. I am really grateful for all of the strong and intelligent women I met and am friends with from that time. That's how I know Danielle! :) There are also two of those women who I am still extremely grateful are in my life - I live with one of them and I used to live with the other.
Best girlfriend from grad school: Probably my lab mate. We got off to a rough start because I was used to being really independent, in control, and essentially coordinating a project as a tech. We are pretty good now! I am DREADING her graduation.
Worst girlfriend from grad school: I do not have any bad situations really, just some women I am closer to and some I am not.
Best grade school girlfriend: She and I were INSEPARABLE in elementary school. In 6th grade, there were town-wide 6th-grade dances to start forging ties among the elementary school students who would all come together in middle school. I was really shy and did not make new friends then; I think she did. I still remember the first day of 7th grade. She did not talk to me. I had no idea why, but she seemed to have a new group of friends already on that first day. It was not until sometime in high school when we started even saying hi to each other in the hallway. I always feel sad about this for my 7th-grade self.
Best Middle-School and High-School girlfriends: One of my oldest friends is from 8th grade - we would braid each other's hair in science class. She and I have had our ups and downs, but always manage to reconnect just before the friendship seems like it is over for good. Although we do not talk frequently enough to know everything that goes on in each other's lives, I like to think we still share all the big stuff and are there for each other when we need to be. I also added a close friend a few years older than me in high school from concert band. Her son is my godson. Then there is one other friend I lost track of in high school when I started dating my boyfriend at the time. She and I drank together. :) My dad recently ran into her and her baby, got her email address for me, and now I need to make the time to reconnect with her.
Best University girlfriend: I do not know how to choose! The four women I lived with my senior year are probably the ones to whom I would turn first in a crisis and they are of course always there. Thanks, Molly, KHC, and Carolyn (and Dr. J if you check in once in a while). We'll call the fifth friend from college Zika. She and I had a falling out senior year but now live in the same city and it is nice to see her somewhat regularly.
The woman I met at my first post-Uni job: Well, I was a research tech for a couple of years before grad school. I am really grateful for all of the strong and intelligent women I met and am friends with from that time. That's how I know Danielle! :) There are also two of those women who I am still extremely grateful are in my life - I live with one of them and I used to live with the other.
Best girlfriend from grad school: Probably my lab mate. We got off to a rough start because I was used to being really independent, in control, and essentially coordinating a project as a tech. We are pretty good now! I am DREADING her graduation.
Worst girlfriend from grad school: I do not have any bad situations really, just some women I am closer to and some I am not.
29 March 2008
Once a year
I only make it skiing about once a year right now. A friend convinced me I needed to go today, and I had not been this year. I am glad I skipped out on something else I thought I was obligated to do to ski instead. :)
28 March 2008
The 3 lists I have going
I have a planner that I go through periods of using a lot. When I am really busy, I do plan ahead in it for lab to use my time efficiently; I also write down what I have done that day in case I need to know.
In the front, I have three big sticky notes. They have lines and are great for keeping track of non-everyday things I want to do. I have been known to put grocery shopping on there just to cross it off though. One is for Lab, one is for student council stuff, and one is for Life.
My life list is the longest. Sad but true. One of the things on that list is to finish my photo album/scrap book from the year I spent in China. I have been back for almost SIX full years now. I was thinking if I got my butt in gear, I could do a page, scan it, and post it. I still have not gotten that far. Here are some fun pictures though. I did not have a digital camera at the time, but another teacher did and was really great about taking pictures of me and emailing them. This first one is me ordering one of the best street food snacks ever. It was a thin crepe-like pancake with an egg, a crunchy thing, scallions, and oyster sauce.
This is me in my qipao I had made. I also paid a lot of money to have it remade when I got back and it is gorgeous. I have only worn it once - to a friend's black tie "optional" wedding. The roses were given to me by a friend for my birthday. That blue top Nalgene I bought in Australia and has also been to Africa with me.
This is a picture of the street outside of our building with the big sandstorm that came through that year. I lived in Beijing and the sand made it all the way to Taiwan.
My roommate and her boyfriend are yelling at me because they started a movie and just stopped it for me and found out I'm posting and not sending a very important email. Gotta go!
In the front, I have three big sticky notes. They have lines and are great for keeping track of non-everyday things I want to do. I have been known to put grocery shopping on there just to cross it off though. One is for Lab, one is for student council stuff, and one is for Life.
My life list is the longest. Sad but true. One of the things on that list is to finish my photo album/scrap book from the year I spent in China. I have been back for almost SIX full years now. I was thinking if I got my butt in gear, I could do a page, scan it, and post it. I still have not gotten that far. Here are some fun pictures though. I did not have a digital camera at the time, but another teacher did and was really great about taking pictures of me and emailing them. This first one is me ordering one of the best street food snacks ever. It was a thin crepe-like pancake with an egg, a crunchy thing, scallions, and oyster sauce.
This is me in my qipao I had made. I also paid a lot of money to have it remade when I got back and it is gorgeous. I have only worn it once - to a friend's black tie "optional" wedding. The roses were given to me by a friend for my birthday. That blue top Nalgene I bought in Australia and has also been to Africa with me.
This is a picture of the street outside of our building with the big sandstorm that came through that year. I lived in Beijing and the sand made it all the way to Taiwan.
My roommate and her boyfriend are yelling at me because they started a movie and just stopped it for me and found out I'm posting and not sending a very important email. Gotta go!
27 March 2008
I guess I am social
I have told many friends recently about the following conversation I had with my Mom...
It is always curious to think about what people say when they talk about you. No matter who you are or what you do or how (un)important you think you are, someone talks about you.
Anyway. I guess my parents do not need to worry about me, per se, but it is not like I wouldn't rather have some partner or something to be social with. That does not make sense the way I wrote it. I have great friends. I like to hang out with them. Unfortunately I do not also have a special someone with whom I can hang out. [Or is that out with whom I can hang?]
I am social though. Let's take this week:
Monday: Spontaneous dinner and errand running with friend who I have not seen in a couple of months who lives literally less than half a mile away. She told me she loved my hair and that I looked like I've lost a ton of weight. I obviously love her.
Tuesday: Gym. Work tutoring drop-in hours.
Wednesday: Gym. Dinner out with two of my my former roommates.
Tonight: Dinner in with another former roommate (hi KHC!)
Tomorrow: Gym. Maybe drinks after work.
Saturday: Help out at grad student research symposium in the morning. Skiing with a group in the afternoon as part of the birthday celebration for the friend I saw Monday. Party following skiing.
Sunday: CLEAN, DO LAUNDRY, DO LOTS OF WORK
And there is one weekend in April that already looks like this: Dinner with parents, morning birthday party for niece (and sorta me), first-night barbecue seder that night (I've never been to one and I'm running out of chances!), bridal shower, marathon party. ALL IN ONE WEEKEND.
And I want to defend my dissertation in a year? I need to slow down on the social life.
Mom: We just want you to be happy.I guess it is true. I just wonder how it all came up in conversation. I am sure one or both parents expressed concern about my relationship status and general state of (un)happiness in grad school, and my sister assured them that I am fine. Which I am. But it is still weird to think they talk about me.
Me: I am happy right now.
Mom: I know. Your sister tells us not to worry about you, that you are very social.
It is always curious to think about what people say when they talk about you. No matter who you are or what you do or how (un)important you think you are, someone talks about you.
Anyway. I guess my parents do not need to worry about me, per se, but it is not like I wouldn't rather have some partner or something to be social with. That does not make sense the way I wrote it. I have great friends. I like to hang out with them. Unfortunately I do not also have a special someone with whom I can hang out. [Or is that out with whom I can hang?]
I am social though. Let's take this week:
Monday: Spontaneous dinner and errand running with friend who I have not seen in a couple of months who lives literally less than half a mile away. She told me she loved my hair and that I looked like I've lost a ton of weight. I obviously love her.
Tuesday: Gym. Work tutoring drop-in hours.
Wednesday: Gym. Dinner out with two of my my former roommates.
Tonight: Dinner in with another former roommate (hi KHC!)
Tomorrow: Gym. Maybe drinks after work.
Saturday: Help out at grad student research symposium in the morning. Skiing with a group in the afternoon as part of the birthday celebration for the friend I saw Monday. Party following skiing.
Sunday: CLEAN, DO LAUNDRY, DO LOTS OF WORK
And there is one weekend in April that already looks like this: Dinner with parents, morning birthday party for niece (and sorta me), first-night barbecue seder that night (I've never been to one and I'm running out of chances!), bridal shower, marathon party. ALL IN ONE WEEKEND.
And I want to defend my dissertation in a year? I need to slow down on the social life.
26 March 2008
Must not fail now
Sometimes at the end of the day I think, "Gosh, what can I possible post about now?" And I have no idea, but I have to post SOMETHING because I have to post every day, right? This is one of those times. Don't feel the need to comment! Seriously! I just had a great dinner with my current roommate (our third year together) and my former roommate (one year with she and her now fiance; my current roommate and I are both in her wedding). We had a great dinner (chicken, pear, and brie sandwich) and lots of catching up (which does not happen nearly enough) and I have already written off the gym because I want to start an experiment before my 9:00 Thursday morning meeting and I have to set up for the lab course I TA and it is after 10:00 already and...
...G'night.
...G'night.
25 March 2008
The New 'Do
Here is my new haircut immediately after blow-drying and hair-spraying. It flattens out a bit within a couple of hours. Somehow, I also managed to make myself look like a giant when I took the picture.
When I first cut my hair and could style it flipped out like this, I told Molly how it sucked that I had to put stuff in my hair and style it every day to make it look nice. She asked how long it took to do all that. 5 minutes. I should be glad it only takes 5 minutes to do. There is one woman at the gym who dries her hair then clips a very large round brush wrapped in the hair on the top of her head to cool while she does all her makeup; another woman dries her long wavy hair on low for a good 10 minutes with a big round brush to straighten it. I guess I am lucky.
When I first cut my hair and could style it flipped out like this, I told Molly how it sucked that I had to put stuff in my hair and style it every day to make it look nice. She asked how long it took to do all that. 5 minutes. I should be glad it only takes 5 minutes to do. There is one woman at the gym who dries her hair then clips a very large round brush wrapped in the hair on the top of her head to cool while she does all her makeup; another woman dries her long wavy hair on low for a good 10 minutes with a big round brush to straighten it. I guess I am lucky.
24 March 2008
What to do with my life?
I am not going to sit and go through all of my Plan Bs right now, but some of them are looking a little more appealing. I got a denial from the grant I applied to for the third time that would have allowed me to focus on my research and not have to be a teaching assistant again. This is so frustrating.
I know that people do not get funding all the time, especially now, but still. It is making academia look less and less enticing. I actually enjoy writing grants and doing the reading and thinking of ideas and putting it all together. Not if I will never be able to get funding. I also know that a lot of researchers are getting funding from the private sector, but grad students are certainly not trained to do that either.
Luckily, right after I got the letter, I hung out with a friend who is a post-doc right now and is so amazingly gung-ho about science it is frightening. She said I can not let this rejection discourage me. Whatever.
I know that people do not get funding all the time, especially now, but still. It is making academia look less and less enticing. I actually enjoy writing grants and doing the reading and thinking of ideas and putting it all together. Not if I will never be able to get funding. I also know that a lot of researchers are getting funding from the private sector, but grad students are certainly not trained to do that either.
Luckily, right after I got the letter, I hung out with a friend who is a post-doc right now and is so amazingly gung-ho about science it is frightening. She said I can not let this rejection discourage me. Whatever.
23 March 2008
Many things Easter.
My roommate and I started getting into the Easter spirit a couple of weeks ago. Then we started cat sitting and kept putting off decorating real eggs. Well, the kitty has been pretty good...mostly because he is usually like this so that he has the energy to wake me up at 4:00 A.M. for some lovin'.
NOTE: He totally knew I was there and had been looking at me. He understands what it is like to get woken up and apparently forgets how much it sucks when it comes to waking ME up.
My roommate really wanted to blow out some eggs and paint them. I swear this is her blowing out eggs, and not her nose, into a bowl. Really.
We painted them yesterday and will leave the forsythia up for another week. Here are two photos with the left-most eggs flipped so you can see both sides. The ones on the left are the ones that I did. My roommate painted the one on the far right to replace one she had made that broke last year that had the same picture. She bought acrylic lacquer to protect them a little this year, which is good because right after I finished the one with the bunny, it slipped, hit the table and cracked. :( Hopefully it will survive! 
Then I headed to my sister's, as my parents came down "for Easter." Really they wanted to go to a fish restaurant they like down here and are leaving for St. Martin in a week and wanted to see their grand kids. Dinner was fun (thanks to some silly putty). See!
That's my brother-in-law with a silly putty mustache and my niece displaying her distaste at the thought of him giving her a mustache. My nephew was cool with it though. 
And the Easter Bunny snuck in during the night, leaving two baskets full on the coffee table RIGHT NEXT to where I was sleeping! I didn't even wake up? AND he hid eggs all over. These are some of the goods he left for the kids.
The kids had made birdhouses when they stayed with my parents over the summer, so those were hung this morning.
I also stayed at my sister's for dinner. This was the first big dinner in their new house and she was very excited. She took pictures of the set table and I gave her a hard time. :)
There was no church for me this year. Although I do have a church I go to here, spending time with my family was more important. I also would rather find a church into whose demographic I fit better. Although I like the one I visit, it is a lot of young families and old wealthy people, and I have to find parking in a very busy area of the city. Last spring I was really good about going to church regularly as I did everything imaginable to get out of the funk I was in at the time. Now, I go to a long yoga class Sundays, and it is very relaxing. Right now I feel that as long as I have something like yoga that is for me, provides some quiet time, and makes me feel rejuvenated, I am good. I do look forward to "having" a church again at some point, because I do miss all the music!
I hope everyone had a great Easter or a wonderful Sunday! I'm off to cry through Home Makeover Extreme Edition with a glass of wine.
NOTE: He totally knew I was there and had been looking at me. He understands what it is like to get woken up and apparently forgets how much it sucks when it comes to waking ME up.My roommate really wanted to blow out some eggs and paint them. I swear this is her blowing out eggs, and not her nose, into a bowl. Really.
We painted them yesterday and will leave the forsythia up for another week. Here are two photos with the left-most eggs flipped so you can see both sides. The ones on the left are the ones that I did. My roommate painted the one on the far right to replace one she had made that broke last year that had the same picture. She bought acrylic lacquer to protect them a little this year, which is good because right after I finished the one with the bunny, it slipped, hit the table and cracked. :( Hopefully it will survive! 
Then I headed to my sister's, as my parents came down "for Easter." Really they wanted to go to a fish restaurant they like down here and are leaving for St. Martin in a week and wanted to see their grand kids. Dinner was fun (thanks to some silly putty). See!
That's my brother-in-law with a silly putty mustache and my niece displaying her distaste at the thought of him giving her a mustache. My nephew was cool with it though. 
And the Easter Bunny snuck in during the night, leaving two baskets full on the coffee table RIGHT NEXT to where I was sleeping! I didn't even wake up? AND he hid eggs all over. These are some of the goods he left for the kids.
The kids had made birdhouses when they stayed with my parents over the summer, so those were hung this morning.
I also stayed at my sister's for dinner. This was the first big dinner in their new house and she was very excited. She took pictures of the set table and I gave her a hard time. :)There was no church for me this year. Although I do have a church I go to here, spending time with my family was more important. I also would rather find a church into whose demographic I fit better. Although I like the one I visit, it is a lot of young families and old wealthy people, and I have to find parking in a very busy area of the city. Last spring I was really good about going to church regularly as I did everything imaginable to get out of the funk I was in at the time. Now, I go to a long yoga class Sundays, and it is very relaxing. Right now I feel that as long as I have something like yoga that is for me, provides some quiet time, and makes me feel rejuvenated, I am good. I do look forward to "having" a church again at some point, because I do miss all the music!
I hope everyone had a great Easter or a wonderful Sunday! I'm off to cry through Home Makeover Extreme Edition with a glass of wine.
22 March 2008
What a peep show!
My Dad shared this with the family a couple of weeks ago and I have seen it posted somewhere since then...
The Ultimate Peep Show
21 March 2008
Spring is so close...
I thought of Squirl when I saw these after parking my car this morning. I think this is the flower equivalent to a sun salutation in yoga, and the sun was out today!
So then when I went back to my car this afternoon, they looked like this. I obviously had to take another picture.
Other nice things from the past couple of days: visiting with my old lab and people I used to work with, a shared smile with an attractive man on the street, finding that I have lost almost 5 pounds more than the holiday weight I put on in December (I think I must have looked happy because of this and that is why the man smiled at me in the first place), riding public transportation (which I love because I do not have to do it every day anymore), a full sunny day (!), thinking about what wonderful weather this is for the maple sugar industry:), and, ummm, hair cut (I love it when someone else washes my hair and I love the woman who cuts my hair). I think that is it for now!
Happy Easter weekend if that is what you do!
So then when I went back to my car this afternoon, they looked like this. I obviously had to take another picture.
Other nice things from the past couple of days: visiting with my old lab and people I used to work with, a shared smile with an attractive man on the street, finding that I have lost almost 5 pounds more than the holiday weight I put on in December (I think I must have looked happy because of this and that is why the man smiled at me in the first place), riding public transportation (which I love because I do not have to do it every day anymore), a full sunny day (!), thinking about what wonderful weather this is for the maple sugar industry:), and, ummm, hair cut (I love it when someone else washes my hair and I love the woman who cuts my hair). I think that is it for now!Happy Easter weekend if that is what you do!
20 March 2008
On (regular old) blogging
The other day I wrote a little bit about science blogging after hearing a woman talk about the trials and tribulations and how to do it intelligently to get your point across and not give "the other side" an advantage and...Well, there were a couple of things that made me think about this blog, those I read, and how people use their blogs.
Like to have a successful blog, you do not have to post everyday, just frequently. So why am I posting every day? I dunno.
She also said that a successful blog has a low "lunch factor". Lunch factor is, most literally, writing about what you had for lunch. She thinks a high lunch factor makes for a bad blog because people do not care. I think it is very blog-worthy if your lunch is yummy, and you want to pass on a recipe! Plus a blog's lunch factor is completely subjective. Sometimes it is nice to read about other people's day - you can offer your thoughts, ideas, and support about things people do or are going through, know there are others out there going through what you are going through, etc. That little added support from anonymous and not so anonymous sources is great.
I do see her point though. If I had a PB&J on white bread for lunch, I probably would not write about it here.
Last, anonymity. It is an intriguing thing to think about when you have a blog. If you have any type of site meter, you can click on it and find out if anyone is currently reading, how many pages and for how long people read, and even see a world map with pin points of the locations from where people are reading. So if you are trying to be as anonymous as possible, are you really all that anonymous?
I sent an email to a bunch of people when I started this blog. A few people read regularly (thanks!) and many people completely forgot about the email (they do not know what they are missing!). I also use my real email address on other people's blogs when I post and it is required (so now you all can internet stalk me - have fun!). I guess I figure if I am giving my two cents and reading their blog regularly, do I really care if they have my last name? I already know that with relatively little information, I can be found online. I tried this a bunch when I was doing the internet dating thing. Once you find me and my last name, a lot of science stuff comes up, something with classmates .com and my high school. The Habitat picture from college no longer comes up (sad, because it was cute).
So from whom am I trying to stay anonymous? My family and undergrads with whom I have worked could probably not find this. My roommate outed me, but my sister has yet to bring it up again. Although I avoid it unless extremely bored or procrastinating, I do try not to do any blogging at work. But I do, and do not clear the history. We also have separate profiles on the lab computer, so I am not sure if people can see my history. If you are reading and know me and I did not tell you about the blog, let me know! I would be curious to know how you found it...Probably me being careless. Oh, well!
Like to have a successful blog, you do not have to post everyday, just frequently. So why am I posting every day? I dunno.
She also said that a successful blog has a low "lunch factor". Lunch factor is, most literally, writing about what you had for lunch. She thinks a high lunch factor makes for a bad blog because people do not care. I think it is very blog-worthy if your lunch is yummy, and you want to pass on a recipe! Plus a blog's lunch factor is completely subjective. Sometimes it is nice to read about other people's day - you can offer your thoughts, ideas, and support about things people do or are going through, know there are others out there going through what you are going through, etc. That little added support from anonymous and not so anonymous sources is great.
I do see her point though. If I had a PB&J on white bread for lunch, I probably would not write about it here.
Last, anonymity. It is an intriguing thing to think about when you have a blog. If you have any type of site meter, you can click on it and find out if anyone is currently reading, how many pages and for how long people read, and even see a world map with pin points of the locations from where people are reading. So if you are trying to be as anonymous as possible, are you really all that anonymous?
I sent an email to a bunch of people when I started this blog. A few people read regularly (thanks!) and many people completely forgot about the email (they do not know what they are missing!). I also use my real email address on other people's blogs when I post and it is required (so now you all can internet stalk me - have fun!). I guess I figure if I am giving my two cents and reading their blog regularly, do I really care if they have my last name? I already know that with relatively little information, I can be found online. I tried this a bunch when I was doing the internet dating thing. Once you find me and my last name, a lot of science stuff comes up, something with classmates .com and my high school. The Habitat picture from college no longer comes up (sad, because it was cute).
So from whom am I trying to stay anonymous? My family and undergrads with whom I have worked could probably not find this. My roommate outed me, but my sister has yet to bring it up again. Although I avoid it unless extremely bored or procrastinating, I do try not to do any blogging at work. But I do, and do not clear the history. We also have separate profiles on the lab computer, so I am not sure if people can see my history. If you are reading and know me and I did not tell you about the blog, let me know! I would be curious to know how you found it...Probably me being careless. Oh, well!
19 March 2008
Speaking of....
...porn. Okay, not porn, but good adult humor really.
I had this post all thought out about regular old blogging to follow yesterday's post, but that is not going to happen. Tonight was taco night. Taco night came with five adults, tacos, and three bottles of wine. Keep in mind, one of those adults did not have a sip of alcohol, and one of those adults also had a raspberry vodka and sprite before breaking into the wine. So basically four adults, three bottles of wine, and one vodka-sprite. We are all also grad students - four sharing an office, and my roommate. Good times.
Lots of adult humor. I've had a few drinks and the later conversation that I remember was talking about the validity of using sexual favors to coerce a partner into doing something they would otherwise tend not to do. I find no problem with this in some situations. I would not use sexual favors excessively, but if there was something I really wanted a partner to do with me, and the only reason he was opposed was general apathy, I could see myself coercing them with whatever means possible. Why not?
We also brought up the debate about inviting people to weddings out of obligation. If someone you felt you should invite, but did not want to because they have not done anything positive in your life, is gay, could you make up a fake excuse about older relatives who will be at the wedding thinking that is scandalous? Is this fair to the person in question? Should you feel obligated to invite someone in a higher position than you to your wedding? Then the subject of women kissing women came up. The boys were listening then, let me tell you.
K. Gotta get some sleep for step class at 7:30 in the morning. I may not make it though...
I had this post all thought out about regular old blogging to follow yesterday's post, but that is not going to happen. Tonight was taco night. Taco night came with five adults, tacos, and three bottles of wine. Keep in mind, one of those adults did not have a sip of alcohol, and one of those adults also had a raspberry vodka and sprite before breaking into the wine. So basically four adults, three bottles of wine, and one vodka-sprite. We are all also grad students - four sharing an office, and my roommate. Good times.
Lots of adult humor. I've had a few drinks and the later conversation that I remember was talking about the validity of using sexual favors to coerce a partner into doing something they would otherwise tend not to do. I find no problem with this in some situations. I would not use sexual favors excessively, but if there was something I really wanted a partner to do with me, and the only reason he was opposed was general apathy, I could see myself coercing them with whatever means possible. Why not?
We also brought up the debate about inviting people to weddings out of obligation. If someone you felt you should invite, but did not want to because they have not done anything positive in your life, is gay, could you make up a fake excuse about older relatives who will be at the wedding thinking that is scandalous? Is this fair to the person in question? Should you feel obligated to invite someone in a higher position than you to your wedding? Then the subject of women kissing women came up. The boys were listening then, let me tell you.
K. Gotta get some sleep for step class at 7:30 in the morning. I may not make it though...
18 March 2008
On (science) blogging
There are two journal clubs in my department at the same time. Usually I participate in the more molecular/physiology one. Last week the ecology-based one had a woman coming to talk about science blogging, so I went to that one. She has actually held a graduate seminar on science blogging. The introduction was a little basic for the grad students in the room, but I think it was good for the faculty who are trying to catch up with all this web 2.0 stuff. Lots of interesting things were brought up and discussed though.
In general, apparently people are slowly realizing that one way to educate the public is to not rely on the media, but to put the information out there themselves! I am more inclined to read everyday blogs and not seek out informational ones, but it really is a quick way to get information out there. One of the better blogs that scientists author that this woman introduced us to is realclimate. org. She went through what makes a successful blog, and hence this is a successful blog. Regular posting (but not necessarily daily); accessible to the public; number of trackbacks; number of commenters; ability to create a conversation with regular readers. This point about having a conversation with readers was a topic she kept coming back to. If readers feel a connection or listened to, they will keep coming back!
For a comparison, there is another science blog on which the author posts several times a day - Pharyngula at scienceblogs. I believe she said he had a 1,000,000 visit day in October and then removed his tracker, figuring he was reaching the general public.
The whole discussion brought up interesting points about how quickly blogging will become an everyday task. She knows of one P.I. (principle investigator) who requires her lab to have individual blogs and post regularly. She also keeps one. They use it to bounce ideas of others and trouble shoot and she can keep track of what everyone is doing. She apparently wants them to get used to the medium now, as it will be useful for their careers.
Some researchers have received grants to essentially make interactive blogs that are easy for the general public to use and scientifically accurate.
The good thing is that some people who are looking for scientific information will now turn to science blogs. If run by scientists, this is hopefully a good thing! In the woman's words (slightly paraphrased because I do not remember the exact words), "we're still well above politicians and prostitutes when it comes to trust," so these people will take the information from scientists rather than that which has been taken out of context by the media.
There are also non-scientists who aim to debunk scientific theories and therefore make their blogs appear more like the science ones. Then they interlink to other equally anti-science sites and it becomes a vicious cycle. Scary.
And blogs are ranked on a million and one places (probably). This woman introduced us to technorati. Their rankings are based on various things, but one of them is the number of trackbacks a site has. SO, if you regularly visit a site with which you disagree, do NOT link to it because that can boost its ranking! Especially if it is a well-visited site on a ranking site like technorati!
I asked if people are beginning to put blogs on things like grant applications if the blog is related to their area of research or career goals. She said that although they are becoming more widely used, and those who have received money to develop a blog of sorts certainly would, putting a science blog on your CV is not common practice yet. If you develop an educational blog that can be used as a tool and are applying for a related grant, then you might include it.
That was a whole bunch of random stuff on science blogging, but it is interesting to think about how blogs are transitioning into tools for disseminating information, emotionally and politically charged messages, and a way to network. They are not just a way to keep in touch with family and friends, make new friends, or find porn. (Seriously, browse blogger by hitting "next blog" at the top of my page and see how many pages you can go through before there are naked pictures. My guess, not that I have tried :) , is one to three sites.)
[I did not actually include links to any of the above mentioned sites, and even refrained from mentioning names of those not run by scientists, as it was a little scary to see how easy links and information is now made available through blogs...More on that tomorrow.]
In general, apparently people are slowly realizing that one way to educate the public is to not rely on the media, but to put the information out there themselves! I am more inclined to read everyday blogs and not seek out informational ones, but it really is a quick way to get information out there. One of the better blogs that scientists author that this woman introduced us to is realclimate. org. She went through what makes a successful blog, and hence this is a successful blog. Regular posting (but not necessarily daily); accessible to the public; number of trackbacks; number of commenters; ability to create a conversation with regular readers. This point about having a conversation with readers was a topic she kept coming back to. If readers feel a connection or listened to, they will keep coming back!
For a comparison, there is another science blog on which the author posts several times a day - Pharyngula at scienceblogs. I believe she said he had a 1,000,000 visit day in October and then removed his tracker, figuring he was reaching the general public.
The whole discussion brought up interesting points about how quickly blogging will become an everyday task. She knows of one P.I. (principle investigator) who requires her lab to have individual blogs and post regularly. She also keeps one. They use it to bounce ideas of others and trouble shoot and she can keep track of what everyone is doing. She apparently wants them to get used to the medium now, as it will be useful for their careers.
Some researchers have received grants to essentially make interactive blogs that are easy for the general public to use and scientifically accurate.
The good thing is that some people who are looking for scientific information will now turn to science blogs. If run by scientists, this is hopefully a good thing! In the woman's words (slightly paraphrased because I do not remember the exact words), "we're still well above politicians and prostitutes when it comes to trust," so these people will take the information from scientists rather than that which has been taken out of context by the media.
There are also non-scientists who aim to debunk scientific theories and therefore make their blogs appear more like the science ones. Then they interlink to other equally anti-science sites and it becomes a vicious cycle. Scary.
And blogs are ranked on a million and one places (probably). This woman introduced us to technorati. Their rankings are based on various things, but one of them is the number of trackbacks a site has. SO, if you regularly visit a site with which you disagree, do NOT link to it because that can boost its ranking! Especially if it is a well-visited site on a ranking site like technorati!
I asked if people are beginning to put blogs on things like grant applications if the blog is related to their area of research or career goals. She said that although they are becoming more widely used, and those who have received money to develop a blog of sorts certainly would, putting a science blog on your CV is not common practice yet. If you develop an educational blog that can be used as a tool and are applying for a related grant, then you might include it.
That was a whole bunch of random stuff on science blogging, but it is interesting to think about how blogs are transitioning into tools for disseminating information, emotionally and politically charged messages, and a way to network. They are not just a way to keep in touch with family and friends, make new friends, or find porn. (Seriously, browse blogger by hitting "next blog" at the top of my page and see how many pages you can go through before there are naked pictures. My guess, not that I have tried :) , is one to three sites.)
[I did not actually include links to any of the above mentioned sites, and even refrained from mentioning names of those not run by scientists, as it was a little scary to see how easy links and information is now made available through blogs...More on that tomorrow.]
17 March 2008
A picture tells a thousand words
Memes are always a fun way to be inspired to post I found this at Maxie's.
1. Go to www.photobucket.com
2. Type in your answer to the question in the “search” box
3. Use only the first page
4. Copy the html and paste for the answer.
1. What is your relationship status?
2. Who is your celebrity crush?
(Also my movie-star boyfriend)
3. Who is your favorite band?
(Also my musician boyfriend.)
4. What is your favorite movie?
(I'm on a Knocked Up kick right now. I think it's a great movie.)
5. What kind of pet do you have?
(Okay, technically "my" frogs are not pets. "Pet sitter" brought up weird stuff though.)
6. Where do you live?
(Huh.)
7. Where do you work?
(I guess some people think this is how science works.)
8. What do you look like?
(Julia Roberts was once cast as me in our funny quote book from college.)
9. What do you drive?
10. What's your favorite TV show?
11. Describe yourself.
(Ummmm....)
12. What's your name?
(The only picture that was not a person.)
13. Whats your favorite candy?
(Also my movie-star boyfriend)
3. Who is your favorite band?
(Also my musician boyfriend.)
4. What is your favorite movie?
(I'm on a Knocked Up kick right now. I think it's a great movie.)
5. What kind of pet do you have?
(Okay, technically "my" frogs are not pets. "Pet sitter" brought up weird stuff though.)
6. Where do you live?
(Huh.)
7. Where do you work?
(I guess some people think this is how science works.)
8. What do you look like?
(Julia Roberts was once cast as me in our funny quote book from college.)
9. What do you drive?
10. What's your favorite TV show?
11. Describe yourself.
(Ummmm....)
12. What's your name?
(The only picture that was not a person.)
13. Whats your favorite candy?
16 March 2008
Is this contagious?
My friend from high school and her family actually made it down this week! A few weeks ago, they did not make it because of weather and my godson was sick earlier in the week, so I was afraid they would not make it down again. I think all of the kids I know must be the cutest ones out there. My niece, my nephew. I mean, look at my godson!
But then again, all the pictures I see of little kids are cute. And all of my friends are having babies, and they are cute (I think 2 in the past six months?). And all of my friends who are pregnant (I think 3 right now?) are beautiful. Recently, an undergrad in the lab asked me if I have Baby Fever. I think the answer is yes. Maybe like the flu it will eventually pass?
But then again, all the pictures I see of little kids are cute. And all of my friends are having babies, and they are cute (I think 2 in the past six months?). And all of my friends who are pregnant (I think 3 right now?) are beautiful. Recently, an undergrad in the lab asked me if I have Baby Fever. I think the answer is yes. Maybe like the flu it will eventually pass?
15 March 2008
Being crafty and green
Last weekend I referred to a project I had started. My friend's wedding shower was today. She and I are in the same year in the PhD program I am in, but do VERY different research. I sit in a windowless basement lab all day; she heads to Africa to do her research. She and her fiance/husband have already been married in Africa where she was in the Peace Corps (this is a different friend from that one mentioned in yesterday's post), are having their American wedding next month, and will then have something in Germany (where her fiance/husband is from). They joke about how every vacation they go on now, they will have to have some sort of wedding ceremony. Anyway, she is very environmentally conscious and is try to be as green as possible for her wedding. For example, she planted a bunch of tulips for the wedding, paperwhites as back-ups, and if Mother Nature decides not to help her out with these flowers, than it just was not meant to be. (Her sister has said that she will run to the grocery store and buy flowers if all else fails.)
So her wedding shower was along those lines. It was a surprise shower and the couple is not registering anywhere. The planner asked that everyone carpool, bring a "green tip", and if you had received your invitation, to bring a couple of parts of it that were going to be reused. I made a bunch of reusable produce bags out of tulle to send along. I have company this weekend, so was not able to go to the shower. Hopefully they liked the gift! This is my work station. I do not uncover my sewing machine all that often, but am glad I did for this project. I made them one bag out of each of the colors I bought and gave her the website for the instructions. There are a few finished ones on the left.
Oh, yes. The ordeal surrounding these bags was that they require twine. Regular old kitchen cotton twine. You would think you could get this at a grocery store. I looked around, customer service tried to help. Nothing. I went to three more stores before I found it. I probably used up so much gas trying to find the twine to negate any benefit of having the bags in the first place.
The story/instructions to make these bags is here. I bookmarked this site at one point after finding it on another blog. I forget on whose blog I saw the instructions to make these bags, so please identify yourself! I now have enough tulle left for a bunch more bags. I plan to make them and give them to others I know will use them and put in that extra effort to not use a plastic bag. I did not get a chance to take a picture of the full set, so maybe I'll take a picture when I get through the rest of the fabric.
So her wedding shower was along those lines. It was a surprise shower and the couple is not registering anywhere. The planner asked that everyone carpool, bring a "green tip", and if you had received your invitation, to bring a couple of parts of it that were going to be reused. I made a bunch of reusable produce bags out of tulle to send along. I have company this weekend, so was not able to go to the shower. Hopefully they liked the gift! This is my work station. I do not uncover my sewing machine all that often, but am glad I did for this project. I made them one bag out of each of the colors I bought and gave her the website for the instructions. There are a few finished ones on the left.
Oh, yes. The ordeal surrounding these bags was that they require twine. Regular old kitchen cotton twine. You would think you could get this at a grocery store. I looked around, customer service tried to help. Nothing. I went to three more stores before I found it. I probably used up so much gas trying to find the twine to negate any benefit of having the bags in the first place.The story/instructions to make these bags is here. I bookmarked this site at one point after finding it on another blog. I forget on whose blog I saw the instructions to make these bags, so please identify yourself! I now have enough tulle left for a bunch more bags. I plan to make them and give them to others I know will use them and put in that extra effort to not use a plastic bag. I did not get a chance to take a picture of the full set, so maybe I'll take a picture when I get through the rest of the fabric.
14 March 2008
Around the world in a few rooms
Aurora recently wrote about her armchair travels, which is funny, because I had just gone around my house taking pictures of the things that are from different places I have been. Care to join me while I visit a couple of continents?
North America. I get a new photo of my alma mater's campus every year if I donate. This is the most recent one.
Australia: This is from my semester abroad and is called "Kangaroo Dreaming". In the top right and bottom left corners are water holes with kangaroo tracks; the middle is a campfire with men and a spear going from the top left to bottom right side; the black circles and connecting line in the bottom right represents running water.
Asia: I spent a school year right outside of Beijing teaching English. I spent a LOT of time while I was in there looking for the perfect set of the four seasons. I am a big fan of earth tones and found this set in Suzhou. I think that they are in order from spring to winter.
I also found this at a small market in China and got a similar one for my brother. I love the two dragons and the ball in the middle that they are facing.
And the other scroll I knew I wanted to get. I got this scroll in Beijing. This is the symbol for love and it hangs above my bed.
Africa: My best friend went into the Peace Corps after college and I visited her in Senegal. I actually did not bring home anything for my wall when I went, but she has since given me these two things. I did bring home a pounder, which you can see in this picture that is made of sand.
This painting is called "Les Epouses", which I think technically means spouses? Or does it mean wives? Anyway, she got it because it looks like two women friends together, and it reminded her of us.
When I went to France in high school, I was not thinking about getting something I could one day hang on the wall. I do have a couple of small prints that are packed away from that trip. I think that some day I will print out larger prints of my favorite travel photos to hang on the walls too.
I still have two continents to go. My Dad asked me sometime within the past couple of years if I wanted to go to Antarctica with him. Um, YES! He knows it is something my Mom would not be up for (she has MS and would much rather go to the Caribbean and sit on the beach to relax), and that I want to get to all of the continents. I think hitting South America and Antarctica with my Dad could be fun. Besides, he took Spanish in high school and could take a refresher course to get by because he owes me from the couple of weeks I kept him fed during our travels in China. :)
North America. I get a new photo of my alma mater's campus every year if I donate. This is the most recent one.
Australia: This is from my semester abroad and is called "Kangaroo Dreaming". In the top right and bottom left corners are water holes with kangaroo tracks; the middle is a campfire with men and a spear going from the top left to bottom right side; the black circles and connecting line in the bottom right represents running water.
Asia: I spent a school year right outside of Beijing teaching English. I spent a LOT of time while I was in there looking for the perfect set of the four seasons. I am a big fan of earth tones and found this set in Suzhou. I think that they are in order from spring to winter.
I also found this at a small market in China and got a similar one for my brother. I love the two dragons and the ball in the middle that they are facing.
And the other scroll I knew I wanted to get. I got this scroll in Beijing. This is the symbol for love and it hangs above my bed.
Africa: My best friend went into the Peace Corps after college and I visited her in Senegal. I actually did not bring home anything for my wall when I went, but she has since given me these two things. I did bring home a pounder, which you can see in this picture that is made of sand.
This painting is called "Les Epouses", which I think technically means spouses? Or does it mean wives? Anyway, she got it because it looks like two women friends together, and it reminded her of us.
When I went to France in high school, I was not thinking about getting something I could one day hang on the wall. I do have a couple of small prints that are packed away from that trip. I think that some day I will print out larger prints of my favorite travel photos to hang on the walls too.I still have two continents to go. My Dad asked me sometime within the past couple of years if I wanted to go to Antarctica with him. Um, YES! He knows it is something my Mom would not be up for (she has MS and would much rather go to the Caribbean and sit on the beach to relax), and that I want to get to all of the continents. I think hitting South America and Antarctica with my Dad could be fun. Besides, he took Spanish in high school and could take a refresher course to get by because he owes me from the couple of weeks I kept him fed during our travels in China. :)
13 March 2008
I suppose I shouldn't...
...drink one of these while I finish my grant.
But it tastes so good and it is already poured.
But it tastes so good and it is already poured.
11 March 2008
Stress relief
Two things that can relieve stress.
1. Your advisor leaving for vacation and returning in two and a half weeks. Unless this is how she left the order board. Then you get mad. Then you are even more grateful she will be gone for a while.
The background is that she has not really had funding for almost a year, and we are not really sure where the money comes from. Still some start-up from when she joined the department? Anyway. She makes this BIG HUGE deal about spending money, but I am not really sure what she expects us to do? Sit on our hands and stare at the wall? I have a dissertation to write?!
Whenever there are more than two or three things to order, she always puts the price up, as if we are literally dumping reagents down the drain and this will stop us. The grad student a year ahead of me and myself are both starting some new things (for the lab) and have to order a bunch of stuff that we have been holding out on. She knew we want to do these experiments. They will result in beautiful data. Her leaving for vacation was actually the push we needed to get her the information. We gave her our orders with prices on pieces of paper. After ordering when we had all left for the day, my advisor actually went through the trouble of writing all that stuff in red with the totals for us all to see. WE ALREADY KNEW WHAT IT ALL COST. The little "Priceless" statement at the bottom I wrote after she headed out for vacation. I am thinking of submitting the photo to this website.
2. This will always provide a little stress relief. I may just eat it all while she is gone. (I have to admit, the ex gave it to me before Valentine's Day. I still have all but a few squares of the pear one left.)
1. Your advisor leaving for vacation and returning in two and a half weeks. Unless this is how she left the order board. Then you get mad. Then you are even more grateful she will be gone for a while.
The background is that she has not really had funding for almost a year, and we are not really sure where the money comes from. Still some start-up from when she joined the department? Anyway. She makes this BIG HUGE deal about spending money, but I am not really sure what she expects us to do? Sit on our hands and stare at the wall? I have a dissertation to write?!Whenever there are more than two or three things to order, she always puts the price up, as if we are literally dumping reagents down the drain and this will stop us. The grad student a year ahead of me and myself are both starting some new things (for the lab) and have to order a bunch of stuff that we have been holding out on. She knew we want to do these experiments. They will result in beautiful data. Her leaving for vacation was actually the push we needed to get her the information. We gave her our orders with prices on pieces of paper. After ordering when we had all left for the day, my advisor actually went through the trouble of writing all that stuff in red with the totals for us all to see. WE ALREADY KNEW WHAT IT ALL COST. The little "Priceless" statement at the bottom I wrote after she headed out for vacation. I am thinking of submitting the photo to this website.
2. This will always provide a little stress relief. I may just eat it all while she is gone. (I have to admit, the ex gave it to me before Valentine's Day. I still have all but a few squares of the pear one left.)
10 March 2008
Fun traditions
Although my roommate may not classify herself as Christian because of her upbringing in the now former East Germany, it amazes me the extent to which major Christian holidays are observed. Easter, for example is a HUGE doing, albeit in a slightly secular manner. This is how we have started getting ready for Easter.
Usually they mix forsythia and pussy willow, but quickly looking around, pussy willow is not to be found easily and she already had the faux-forsythia.
She also bought this cool kit with clay eggs and water color paints. This is the egg that I painted (the picture was already drawn on it). 
How much do you think the kitty we will be watching will love those hanging things? We have plans to blow out eggs and paint on the real thing too.
Plus she sent her niece in Germany lots of fun stuff...and the Cadbury mini-eggs were on sale and she had a coupon, so we have some staying here in the States with us.
I also bought myself tulips the other day. Maybe not always associated with Easter, but certainly spring. I like 'em!
Usually they mix forsythia and pussy willow, but quickly looking around, pussy willow is not to be found easily and she already had the faux-forsythia.
She also bought this cool kit with clay eggs and water color paints. This is the egg that I painted (the picture was already drawn on it). 
How much do you think the kitty we will be watching will love those hanging things? We have plans to blow out eggs and paint on the real thing too.Plus she sent her niece in Germany lots of fun stuff...and the Cadbury mini-eggs were on sale and she had a coupon, so we have some staying here in the States with us.
I also bought myself tulips the other day. Maybe not always associated with Easter, but certainly spring. I like 'em!
09 March 2008
Just chillin'
I had a nice low key easy weekend and have nothing prepared to present to class...I mean nothing exciting to blog about. I stopped by work both days, ran some errands, got out and saw KHC perform (she is a great actress - missed her calling), started a project that I will maybe have pictures of and tell the story of tomorrow (there were a few difficulties), made peanut soup again (with chicken and carrots added this time - it would be good with tofu too), went to the gym, cleaned the kitchen, started getting ready for Easter (Oooo...that would make a good post too!), caught up on a bit of email (but not enough), lost an hour of sleep with that whole time change thing, and, um, I think that is about it!
So I guess this was just a big teaser of posts to come. It is getting late and I need to get my act together for tomorrow. The nice thing is that I did not rush to do anything this weekend. I had a lot that had to be done last week and I was on the rebound. Now I am refreshed to start a new week and be productive!
So I guess this was just a big teaser of posts to come. It is getting late and I need to get my act together for tomorrow. The nice thing is that I did not rush to do anything this weekend. I had a lot that had to be done last week and I was on the rebound. Now I am refreshed to start a new week and be productive!
08 March 2008
Way to interrupt my sleep
In general I am a very good sleeper. I have been through periods of stress when I have really awful dreams and am tired all the time.
A few months after the ex and I broke up, he was still trying to convince me that we should get back together and it was my niece's and my birthday party.
Anyway, that spring I was having all these horrible dreams. The worst, and the only one I remember now, was my nephew falling and hitting his head on cement and going in and out of consciousness. I was next to him continuously talking to him and trying to get him to focus on me and stay conscious until help came. There was another one in which I think I was being chased or something and I woke up essentially screaming (although it sounded like a weird muffled sleep scream).
I really tried hard to figure out why I was having these dreams. It occurred to me that every single one of them ended with me trying desperately to get someone to listen to me. I had one or two more significantly less awful dreams along the same lines, but they stopped after I really thought about why I was having them.
Last week, while I was stressing out about department seminar, a (3-page) grant, tutoring, and probably other stuff, I dreamt I killed someone. I do not recall ever having a dream like this. I still can not figure out who it was. It was a man. I did it in a home I was familiar with but in which I did not live, and I hung him up on a coat hook on a door to be found and went around cleaning my fingerprints. I do not even remember how I killed him. I figured someone would find him. I woke up after I realized no one would find him and I would have to pretend to find him and call 911. Ick.
Yesterday my long week was over, so hopefully I will not have any more dreams like that. I am still curious why I had it though. My because subconsciously I think my advisor is manly?
Let me preface this next part with the fact that I do live in a quiet neighborhood, but it is a very close suburb to the city. Last night I woke up to yelling on our street (several weeks ago there was a drug bust!). I heard my roommates boyfriend get up to check it out (he is a police officer), and it slowly tapered off. Then police lights went zooming down the street, but they did not stop. If I am having bad dreams, I do not need real life weird stuff waking me up in the night!
I did have an interesting dream about kissing one of my office mates last night. But as we ducked into a random room in the hall to do so, he hit his head hard on the door jam. So it did not last long because he had to go get ice. Then I woke up. I think this dream is because I told Molly the other day that I totally have a friend crush on him. Good times.
K. Off to start my day. I have a project this weekend...
A few months after the ex and I broke up, he was still trying to convince me that we should get back together and it was my niece's and my birthday party.
Anyway, that spring I was having all these horrible dreams. The worst, and the only one I remember now, was my nephew falling and hitting his head on cement and going in and out of consciousness. I was next to him continuously talking to him and trying to get him to focus on me and stay conscious until help came. There was another one in which I think I was being chased or something and I woke up essentially screaming (although it sounded like a weird muffled sleep scream).
I really tried hard to figure out why I was having these dreams. It occurred to me that every single one of them ended with me trying desperately to get someone to listen to me. I had one or two more significantly less awful dreams along the same lines, but they stopped after I really thought about why I was having them.
Last week, while I was stressing out about department seminar, a (3-page) grant, tutoring, and probably other stuff, I dreamt I killed someone. I do not recall ever having a dream like this. I still can not figure out who it was. It was a man. I did it in a home I was familiar with but in which I did not live, and I hung him up on a coat hook on a door to be found and went around cleaning my fingerprints. I do not even remember how I killed him. I figured someone would find him. I woke up after I realized no one would find him and I would have to pretend to find him and call 911. Ick.
Yesterday my long week was over, so hopefully I will not have any more dreams like that. I am still curious why I had it though. My because subconsciously I think my advisor is manly?
Let me preface this next part with the fact that I do live in a quiet neighborhood, but it is a very close suburb to the city. Last night I woke up to yelling on our street (several weeks ago there was a drug bust!). I heard my roommates boyfriend get up to check it out (he is a police officer), and it slowly tapered off. Then police lights went zooming down the street, but they did not stop. If I am having bad dreams, I do not need real life weird stuff waking me up in the night!
I did have an interesting dream about kissing one of my office mates last night. But as we ducked into a random room in the hall to do so, he hit his head hard on the door jam. So it did not last long because he had to go get ice. Then I woke up. I think this dream is because I told Molly the other day that I totally have a friend crush on him. Good times.
K. Off to start my day. I have a project this weekend...
07 March 2008
Curious
I just went back to shampoo and conditioner I used a while back. The bottles are different shapes, fine. BUT there is 500mL of shampoo and only 400mL of conditioner.
If you were going to sell shampoo and conditioner, would you sell them in containers of equal volume or not?
Just askin'.
If you were going to sell shampoo and conditioner, would you sell them in containers of equal volume or not?
Just askin'.
06 March 2008
One more day...[updated]
NaBloPoMo is doing lists for March. I was not blogging when the whole post-every-day-for-a-month thing first started. Only months after I started this blog, the whole post-every-day-for-a-year thing started and I jumped right in! Well, I am using the list theme today because I know there are things I still need to do tonight and my favorite bedtime has passed, my okay bedtime is fast approaching, and my much too late bedtime is looking likelier by the minute.
Things I've checked off today:
Step class (and the instructor was a sub and I am really sore already)
Joint lab meeting
Set up for TAing
Eat lunch
TA
Pre-read papers for tutoring
Tutor for 2 hours
Eat dinner
Make a few small changes to department seminar power point
Practice department seminar
Play Scrabulous
Post to my blog for the day (almost)
Look at the requirements for a grant to apply to
Think about starting said grant (that my advisor would like a draft of tomorrow)
Things still to do tonight:
[Got a chunk done by cutting and pasting] Finish draft of the grant my advisor would like tomorrow
Try not to think about the meeting I am going to have with my advisor 1 1/2 hours before my seminar about my ideas that she thinks are invalid
Write a list of all the stuff I want my advisor to order before she leaves for a three-week vacation
[I'll do this in my sleep] Think through the transitions in my department seminar again
[CHECK] Submit notes from the tutoring sessions so I can get paid
[CHECK, found a Word file that should suffice] Prepare notes to talk at the engineering accepted grad students open house
Preread the draft for my morning tutoring session
Figure out what I'm going to wear tomorrow
[CHECK, obviously] Obsessively check email while I should be doing all these other things
[CHECK, no luck] Facebook stalk the cute boys I tutored
Play more Scrabulous and maybe some Scramble (Gotta keep up with my games!)
[I'll just get up super early to do the rest...]
05 March 2008
Lyrics #17: My new favorite radio station
There is this radio station that one of the undergrads listened to in lab ALL THE TIME a few summers ago. I am not really sure why she got to listen to her radio station, except that we really did not want to listen to her complain about the other radio stations. I was flipping stations in my car the other day and it was playing a great song that reminds me of high school.
Are there any songs from 10-15 years ago that you can think of and really miss listening to?
I also like the morning DJs on another station. It is also alternative-y. One morning they were discussing whether or not they should play Candlebox on their station. They had approached their boss and he said no. So for an entire hour, they did not play a single song. They just talked about this, had people call in to vote, and played Candlebox in the background the entire time. I thought it was hilarious. Especially when they were talking about how their boss was probably so angry on his way to work in the car, that they hoped he didn't get into an accident or a speeding ticket or anything. I still laugh when I think about it.
And in the end we shall achieve in timeSince then I have been listening to this station ALL THE TIME again. They have definitely changed their playlist! Almost every song reminds me of the alternative station I listened to in high school. It makes me wish I had mp3s of all those songs.
The thing they call divine
When all the stars will smile for me
When all is well and well is all for all
And forever after
I think you're smart
You sweet thing
Tell me your name
I'm dying here
It's been a while
Since I've gone and f**ked things up just like i always do
It's been a while
But all that sh** seems to disappear when i'm with you
Want to put my tender heart in a blenderAnd even stuff that seems a little less alternative-y because eventually they play it on the pop stations.
Watch it spin around to a beautiful oblivion
Rendezvous then Im through with you
His dreams are like commercialsGood stuff. This station makes me realize how "alternative" music has changed.
But her dreams are picture perfect and
Our dreams are so related though they're often underestimated
Are there any songs from 10-15 years ago that you can think of and really miss listening to?
I also like the morning DJs on another station. It is also alternative-y. One morning they were discussing whether or not they should play Candlebox on their station. They had approached their boss and he said no. So for an entire hour, they did not play a single song. They just talked about this, had people call in to vote, and played Candlebox in the background the entire time. I thought it was hilarious. Especially when they were talking about how their boss was probably so angry on his way to work in the car, that they hoped he didn't get into an accident or a speeding ticket or anything. I still laugh when I think about it.
04 March 2008
A day in my life
I have taken it upon myself to use my camera excessively. These are not necessarily fantastic (although I do really like a couple of them), but in chronological order...
This is what I see first thing in the morning if I go to the gym. Actually, if I plan to go to the gym and decide not to go, I still see this, but then I roll over and go back to sleep. I use the radio setting. Alarm beeps scare me awake, and that is not pleasant.
This is across from the gym. While I stretch, I can see it out the window and it seemed very picturesque this morning with the blue sky, clouds and birds. I refrained from taking a picture from inside the gym, as I figured that would be frowned upon. This is from the street on my way to grab a coffee.
Half of the office I share with 11 other grad students. Those two coats are my lab mate's and mine. We are usually the only ones there until around 9-ish. Nice and quiet! It is very well equipped: multiple mini-fridges, microwave, coffee maker, coffee grinder, sink, coat hooks, plant, the best of the best PhD Comics next to the plant...
These are my girls!
I think this is the biggest female we have. Her body is about the size of my hand if my fingers are all together. She was nicknamed Bertha.
The girls' eggs (early neurula stage, if you wanted to know). Undergrads in the lab I TA are just using their digital camera down the microscope lens to take photos. I took their lead. Some day I'll get good photos of my favorite stage in development: the button (4-cell) stage. :)
We rewash the petri dishes we keep the frog embryos/tadpoles in. Very green, huh? :)
They grow up so fast! These are tadpoles feeding (about 3-weeks old). The big dark spots? Intestines. The little black dots? Eyes. The red spot between the intestine and eyes on that big one in the middle? The heart.
Really? this is better than snow? I don't like leaving work when it is dark. Nevermind dark and pouring rain!
Walking up my dry stairs to my apartment. The wall hanging on the door was quilted for me by a friend's mom.
Now I'm drinking wine and practicing my seminar presentation. No one needs to see a picture of that!
I am working on Flickr. My profile name is Jenski97. I will try to label photos there and try to start posting from there if I want to post this many pictures again. Probably won't get that far tonight though!
This is what I see first thing in the morning if I go to the gym. Actually, if I plan to go to the gym and decide not to go, I still see this, but then I roll over and go back to sleep. I use the radio setting. Alarm beeps scare me awake, and that is not pleasant.
This is across from the gym. While I stretch, I can see it out the window and it seemed very picturesque this morning with the blue sky, clouds and birds. I refrained from taking a picture from inside the gym, as I figured that would be frowned upon. This is from the street on my way to grab a coffee.
Half of the office I share with 11 other grad students. Those two coats are my lab mate's and mine. We are usually the only ones there until around 9-ish. Nice and quiet! It is very well equipped: multiple mini-fridges, microwave, coffee maker, coffee grinder, sink, coat hooks, plant, the best of the best PhD Comics next to the plant...
These are my girls!
I think this is the biggest female we have. Her body is about the size of my hand if my fingers are all together. She was nicknamed Bertha.
The girls' eggs (early neurula stage, if you wanted to know). Undergrads in the lab I TA are just using their digital camera down the microscope lens to take photos. I took their lead. Some day I'll get good photos of my favorite stage in development: the button (4-cell) stage. :)
We rewash the petri dishes we keep the frog embryos/tadpoles in. Very green, huh? :)
They grow up so fast! These are tadpoles feeding (about 3-weeks old). The big dark spots? Intestines. The little black dots? Eyes. The red spot between the intestine and eyes on that big one in the middle? The heart.
Really? this is better than snow? I don't like leaving work when it is dark. Nevermind dark and pouring rain!
Walking up my dry stairs to my apartment. The wall hanging on the door was quilted for me by a friend's mom.
Now I'm drinking wine and practicing my seminar presentation. No one needs to see a picture of that!I am working on Flickr. My profile name is Jenski97. I will try to label photos there and try to start posting from there if I want to post this many pictures again. Probably won't get that far tonight though!
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