Mini-"vacation"

Ahhhh...Nothing like leaving work and knowing you will not be back for a week! I leave for a conference Sunday and will likely be taking a break from the blog (unless I come up with something creative or whatever). What will I do on my mini-vacation/conference week? Meet well known people in a field in which I am interested, go hiking and kayaking if the weather permits. This conference schedule is not PACKED FULL like others I have been to. We have 2 1/2 hours of free time every afternoon. It is supposed to be 75 and overcast, which is fine with me because Boston will be 90 and sunny!

My goal for the week is to talk to scientists outside of the members of my old lab. There are actually a few people who work in a similar study system, so that is good. I have not been successful in finding people who necessarily do the techniques I do, but that is okay. There are a couple of scientist whose labs are in the Portland, OR area where I would consider moving. I am so excited! I should also practice my poster spiel. I also still have about 7 or 8 papers I want to read before the conference. I also have to pack and run errands. I also want to get to the gym. AHHH! I think I'll just get some sleep and get up and do work tomorrow like a regular work day, even if I am not at work. Why did I waste so much time this week?

[As a positive aside, my labmate apparently had a good mentor-mentee conversation with our advisor?! I guess she has her moments when she is not all wrapped up in other things. My labmate's comment was, "I guess better late than never, right?" Here's hopin'.]