I am giving out lab's presentation at the department retreat and submitting two meeting abstracts in September. [Abstract = summary of your presentation-to-be at the meeting.] So when a big international meeting announcement went out for a city nearby, I did not really think to submit an abstract. Three presentation, two students, and my own research seems like enough to juggle this fall...I want to break into this junior faculty thing slowly.
This big meeting is the type with physicians, politicians, biomedical researchers, basic science researchers, and who knows who else. It is the type of meeting I have not yet experienced, and my training grant will cover it, so I figured I would just attend. I am all for the assertion that if you are attending a meeting you should present, but even my PI was wishy-washy about this meeting while pointing out it would be a good experience. Apparently "my" grad student supervisee wants to present! He sent us an abstract draft from his visit home to TX three days before the deadline, only the mutant we use is from another lab and that PI should go on the abstract so we need her approval but then we got a vacation notice when she sent the abstract for approval and AHHHHH!!!!
Anyway. The abstract got submitted, but not before my PI and I discussed at length how much data to put in the abstract. We ultimately settled on combining the grad student and my research for a fuller picture, but minimal data in the abstract beyond what people could figure out on their own if they are so inclined to scientifically stalk the lab. This is because, as open and friendly as science is supposed to be, sometimes people maliciously scoop you. [Maliciously scoop = repeat your experiments/idea and publish the results before you in an intentional malicious manner.]
I did not worry about being maliciously scooped in grad school, mostly because my advisor was not known in the field in which I was doing my research so it was unlikely for someone to intentionally scoop her. My current PI is known in the field and has many close and, well, less close colleagues. I have told my grad student that if a scientist maliciously scoops me down the road and it causes a serious road block in my career, I would likely quit. I do not mean this lightly, and it would need to be the right combination of factors, but quitting and teaching at a private high school would likely make me at least as much money as a professor at a small liberal arts school and truly get me the summers off.
While my post doc lab is proving to be a good experience in many ways, learning to include enough information in an abstract and navigate the politics and collaborations and competitors of science will likely be some of the more useful skills.
Off to put the finishing touches on that retreat presentation...
31 August 2010
29 August 2010
Discipline
I do not think I have enough discipline for a career...in anything...
That may a bit of an overstatement, but I do have a hard time sticking to a plan to work, and it is even worse if I do not think about my weekend ahead of time and when I will do my work that needs to get done and when I will do other chores or errands (or watch TV or read a novel).
Take this weekend as an example. This coming week is our department retreat; I am giving the lab's talk at the retreat. This is the first time I have presented this research area and my more recent data to anyone outside our lab group. (I completely changed fields when I started my post-doc, so the subject area was totally new to me nine months ago.)
Now. One might think I had my presentation drafted a week ago to give myself time to practice it and do some reading (particularly the four review articles my PI just emailed out last week), but noooooo....I am procrastinating by checking my email and facebook obsessively. I washed my feather comforter because I found that it was mildewy in its bag, and that takes some attention to keep fluffing it. The sad thing is, I have received maybe a few emails all weekend and FB is pretty quiet, but at least my feather comforter is not stinky anymore.
I was thinking about this when I took a walk today (5 or 6 miles and 92 degrees out...not the most brilliant thing I did this weekend). I have no idea why mentally I am not "in it" a good portion of the time. I am not historically a procrastinator, but have found in recent months that I do things at the deadline instead of ahead of time. But my PI is laid back about stuff like this and the grant person in the department thanked me for getting all my stuff to her so quickly (one day early), so I have to wonder if my tendency to do things so slow is apparent to others. Feeling like everyone else thinks I work hard all the time just exacerbates my behavior.
I think this feeling that I cannot focus and finish a task in a specific sitting makes me feel worse because I think of the other things I could do in the meantime. It also does not help that if CF and I are doing work on weekends, he goes about his work the same way and will say he does not have anything to show for his 7 hours of stats work.
The times I am most focused and productive on computer-based work is when I go to a coffee shop. The only thing I can do besides my work there is drink coffee! Maybe that will always be the best place for me to work? Maybe I will have an office/coffee shop in my home someday, complete with espresso machine and a barista uniform for CF? :-)
UPDATE: I managed to completely cut my power adapter cord for my computer by shutting it in a recliner when I was putting the foot down. Awesome. Guess I should make sure to email myself the file for when my computer dies. :-( Did you know power adapters are something RIDICULOUS like $60??
That may a bit of an overstatement, but I do have a hard time sticking to a plan to work, and it is even worse if I do not think about my weekend ahead of time and when I will do my work that needs to get done and when I will do other chores or errands (or watch TV or read a novel).
Take this weekend as an example. This coming week is our department retreat; I am giving the lab's talk at the retreat. This is the first time I have presented this research area and my more recent data to anyone outside our lab group. (I completely changed fields when I started my post-doc, so the subject area was totally new to me nine months ago.)
Now. One might think I had my presentation drafted a week ago to give myself time to practice it and do some reading (particularly the four review articles my PI just emailed out last week), but noooooo....I am procrastinating by checking my email and facebook obsessively. I washed my feather comforter because I found that it was mildewy in its bag, and that takes some attention to keep fluffing it. The sad thing is, I have received maybe a few emails all weekend and FB is pretty quiet, but at least my feather comforter is not stinky anymore.
I was thinking about this when I took a walk today (5 or 6 miles and 92 degrees out...not the most brilliant thing I did this weekend). I have no idea why mentally I am not "in it" a good portion of the time. I am not historically a procrastinator, but have found in recent months that I do things at the deadline instead of ahead of time. But my PI is laid back about stuff like this and the grant person in the department thanked me for getting all my stuff to her so quickly (one day early), so I have to wonder if my tendency to do things so slow is apparent to others. Feeling like everyone else thinks I work hard all the time just exacerbates my behavior.
I think this feeling that I cannot focus and finish a task in a specific sitting makes me feel worse because I think of the other things I could do in the meantime. It also does not help that if CF and I are doing work on weekends, he goes about his work the same way and will say he does not have anything to show for his 7 hours of stats work.
The times I am most focused and productive on computer-based work is when I go to a coffee shop. The only thing I can do besides my work there is drink coffee! Maybe that will always be the best place for me to work? Maybe I will have an office/coffee shop in my home someday, complete with espresso machine and a barista uniform for CF? :-)
UPDATE: I managed to completely cut my power adapter cord for my computer by shutting it in a recliner when I was putting the foot down. Awesome. Guess I should make sure to email myself the file for when my computer dies. :-( Did you know power adapters are something RIDICULOUS like $60??
Brick red
When I moved into my own apartment my last year of grad school, a fellow grad student picked this side table up on his walk to campus because he thought I might want it!
The finish on it looked like it had clearly been wet a lot, because it was bubbly/cracking. I always thought about refinishing it. Then I found red paint I really liked and was going to use on a dresser. I was clever and started small though. After the mini bookcase, I moved on to the table.
I sanded down the table a bit just to get the top smooth, used the primer tinted with the paint, and applied 3 coats and the verathane finish. I basically would do a coat or two of whatever step I was on when I got home from work. I had some help along the way too.
This is the finished product. I do like the color! While I am tempted to paint one of my dressers this color, I do not know if I have the dedication for multiple coats of paint on a dresser. Sanding, cleaning, staining, and sealing seems like fewer steps.
I did not really "stage" the table. I moved my living room around so it is on the end though. Makes getting at the power strip and hard drive "hidden" under there much easier! I also cheated a bit - that drawer pull in the first picture? I just took it out, did not fill the holes, and have that side facing the wall (there is no drawer in the table, sadly). I need to measure how far apart the holes are and get a pull I like better. :-)
25 August 2010
Sad
A few things that make me sad:
Thinking of older people who are alone. Used to think of my grandfather this way. Now I don't. I just feel sad about the other good old people who are alone.
The little kitty who was at my backdoor early (5:07, to be exact) Monday morning and earlier this evening. My cat was not too happy about it either time. Said little kitty ran away when I went to the door.
That my Mom is going through some beyond crappy stuff right now and is mostly physically, if not emotionally, alone, because my Dad has a job in another state and they mostly only see each other weekends.
That's all for now.
Thinking of older people who are alone. Used to think of my grandfather this way. Now I don't. I just feel sad about the other good old people who are alone.
The little kitty who was at my backdoor early (5:07, to be exact) Monday morning and earlier this evening. My cat was not too happy about it either time. Said little kitty ran away when I went to the door.
That my Mom is going through some beyond crappy stuff right now and is mostly physically, if not emotionally, alone, because my Dad has a job in another state and they mostly only see each other weekends.
That's all for now.
22 August 2010
Decor
A while back I gave a tour of my walls. When we went to Germany, CF's aunt let us (well, me, but I think that was just because I was the guest) pick from some prints she had. These are prints of paintings done by a German artist. One of his series is of the Stages of the Cross, and another is the Creation Story. I picked two out that I liked and CF and I both liked this one:
The Hebrew means "Earth" and the painting is depicting the Third Day of creation.
I really like the matting and framing I had done and wonder if I should have gone for the non-reflective glass. I liked the basic glass better at the store, but now that it is hanging on my wall, there is a lot of reflection. Oh, well. It goes along well with the color scheme I have going around the house! I finished painting the side table I have too, so stay tuned for that revealing.
I really like the matting and framing I had done and wonder if I should have gone for the non-reflective glass. I liked the basic glass better at the store, but now that it is hanging on my wall, there is a lot of reflection. Oh, well. It goes along well with the color scheme I have going around the house! I finished painting the side table I have too, so stay tuned for that revealing.
18 August 2010
Why are you here?
My grad school department did not have many upper level lab courses (or many lab courses in general) for pre-med undergraduates to get their lab requirements in for med school admissions. On top of that, working on an independent project or having a faculty with whom you work can help get into med school (or any post-bachelor's program, but my school had a LOT of pre-med students).
In grad school I directly trained 3 undergrads, two of whom wanted to go to med school, the other went to grad school. Since starting my post-doc I have worked with one undergrad who wants to go to med school, a recent grad who got into one med school where he did not want to go (WHY APPLY THERE?!) so he's killing time for a year and re-applying, and one first-year grad student.
Three of the four pre-meds with whom I have worked are clearly not mentally present when they are in lab. They are distracted by their cell phones (while others may use them but are not distracted), come in late, do not seem to learn how to trouble shoot after weeks or months of me asking leading questions and giving suggestions, make excuses, and are excessively "apologetic" and "appreciative" (which I attribute to not feeling or being a member of a research team).
When my undergrad was apologetic after being late A LOT this past semester, I finally stopped him and laid it on the line. I actually told him that he needs to be respectful of my time. I told him that while I understand that working in a lab and doing a senior project will help students get into medical school, if that is the only reason he is in lab he is wasting my time. I told him I want him to feel like the project is his and to own it. Was I too blunt?
I am almost to the same point with the recent grad who is killing a year to reapply to med school. I am supposed to be helping him with a technique, but I am not directly supervising his project (the P.I. and lab manager are). As a result, I do not feel that I need to manage his time or progress. So when something did not work last week and he told me he would be out on Friday, I pointed out that he cannot knowingly continue with something that is unlikely to work or provide any answer just because he will be out on Friday and wants something to show for his time. If it was something on my project, I might have told him to start over and I would finish what he did not get to. (Luckily my rotating grad student is performing the same technique successfully for my project; I just cannot figure out what they are doing differently aside from caring.) Today I stuck around for a tenth hour in lab so I could be there when he made a decision to continue or not at the same point in the experiment that we had the conversation last week.
Anyway, the whole point of my rambling is that when I have my own lab I will attempt to figure out why a prospective student wants to be in the lab. If they tell me it is because they think my research topic is "interesting", they will not be invited to join. I find people who say things are "interesting" are not truly interested in those things. Many med students have a familial connection to a disease that truly does drive them to go to med school. While this makes for generic grad school essays, it is a MUCH better reason to do research than just to get into med school. If they tell me they are trying to make their med school application stronger and would really like the opportunity to work on a research project, I would likely have them join the lab because we would at least have a mutual understanding of expectations!
How I distinguish between prospective students being well prepared for the question and truly having an interest in my research, however, is going to be a learned skill.
Oh, yes. The fourth pre-med who was amazing? Well, after high school, she immigrated to the U.S. from a third world country, learned English, got an associates degree, transferred to a private liberal arts school, and paid her own way through all that. I think she had more life experience and appreciation for her hard work than the other three.
In grad school I directly trained 3 undergrads, two of whom wanted to go to med school, the other went to grad school. Since starting my post-doc I have worked with one undergrad who wants to go to med school, a recent grad who got into one med school where he did not want to go (WHY APPLY THERE?!) so he's killing time for a year and re-applying, and one first-year grad student.
Three of the four pre-meds with whom I have worked are clearly not mentally present when they are in lab. They are distracted by their cell phones (while others may use them but are not distracted), come in late, do not seem to learn how to trouble shoot after weeks or months of me asking leading questions and giving suggestions, make excuses, and are excessively "apologetic" and "appreciative" (which I attribute to not feeling or being a member of a research team).
When my undergrad was apologetic after being late A LOT this past semester, I finally stopped him and laid it on the line. I actually told him that he needs to be respectful of my time. I told him that while I understand that working in a lab and doing a senior project will help students get into medical school, if that is the only reason he is in lab he is wasting my time. I told him I want him to feel like the project is his and to own it. Was I too blunt?
I am almost to the same point with the recent grad who is killing a year to reapply to med school. I am supposed to be helping him with a technique, but I am not directly supervising his project (the P.I. and lab manager are). As a result, I do not feel that I need to manage his time or progress. So when something did not work last week and he told me he would be out on Friday, I pointed out that he cannot knowingly continue with something that is unlikely to work or provide any answer just because he will be out on Friday and wants something to show for his time. If it was something on my project, I might have told him to start over and I would finish what he did not get to. (Luckily my rotating grad student is performing the same technique successfully for my project; I just cannot figure out what they are doing differently aside from caring.) Today I stuck around for a tenth hour in lab so I could be there when he made a decision to continue or not at the same point in the experiment that we had the conversation last week.
Anyway, the whole point of my rambling is that when I have my own lab I will attempt to figure out why a prospective student wants to be in the lab. If they tell me it is because they think my research topic is "interesting", they will not be invited to join. I find people who say things are "interesting" are not truly interested in those things. Many med students have a familial connection to a disease that truly does drive them to go to med school. While this makes for generic grad school essays, it is a MUCH better reason to do research than just to get into med school. If they tell me they are trying to make their med school application stronger and would really like the opportunity to work on a research project, I would likely have them join the lab because we would at least have a mutual understanding of expectations!
How I distinguish between prospective students being well prepared for the question and truly having an interest in my research, however, is going to be a learned skill.
Oh, yes. The fourth pre-med who was amazing? Well, after high school, she immigrated to the U.S. from a third world country, learned English, got an associates degree, transferred to a private liberal arts school, and paid her own way through all that. I think she had more life experience and appreciation for her hard work than the other three.
16 August 2010
THE year
You know how people usually end up with a year with lots of weddings? So far this year is that year for me with a whopping four weddings (two college friends, a childhood friend, and a coworker). I have been thinking a lot about how etiquette "rules" work and how to approach each of these weddings (only one of which I am attending). Now for random points about each wedding that are related to etiquette.
The coworker is in his early twenties. He and his now wife are just finished or finishing their college degrees, both working to pay the bills while taking classes, and really nice (not that being nice is important to etiquette "rules", I just needed another descriptor). He watched my cat when I went on vacation this summer. I actually do not know if or where they were registered and gave them money. Where they are in life, I can imagine that money helps with lots of stuff, like the rent and bills, or to help cover their honeymoon, which I think is an important and wonderful way to embark on a new phase of your life with someone. Actually, this situation did not raise any confusion with me except that I did not go. One other coworker went. CF was not on the invitation, nor was "Jenski & guest". To be honest, this probably impacted my decision to not go. In the end, I really could have gone. Was it wrong that I did not go?
The childhood friend was getting married back East, and it just was not feasible for me to travel for that wedding. A real shame because it was like a mini neighborhood reunion with wonderful people. I sent them a check too, as it was easier than calling the local kitchen store where they registered to purchase something or give them a gift card (yay, supporting local businesses!). They have still not cashed the check almost two months later, but then again are more gainfully employed than the coworker.
I am in one of my college friend's wedding. The bridesmaids (minus one, tear) recently got together for some good (clean) East Coast fun. (See photo on left. I do not have a photo of her lobster wearing her engagement ring, but trust me, it is funny.) She, much like another friend whose wedding I was in, picked flexible affordable options and great color for our dresses (see my choice to the right).
I do not know if it is in etiquette books, but I think that being considerate of your attendants in this way is good. If I was asked to be in a wedding and then the dress I had to wear was $500 and/or hideous, could I back out of the wedding? Now, I know one friend chose a dress that we were more likely to wear again over one she liked more for her image of her wedding because the one she did not pick was too bridesmaids-y and unlikely to be work again. I did wear the bridesmaids dress she chose to another wedding, so that was nice. Given my previous wedding experiences (all three I have been in - my sister's and two friends), I think it speaks to the reasonable type of people I know or am related to that they think of what they want their wedding to look like and also good options for their friends.
As for the other college friend whose bachelor party I recently referenced, I was not in his main circle of friends in college but we have stayed in touch and seen each other over the years. One of my best friends and I were invited, but the wedding involves air travel and stay and coincides with a weekend I will have family in town; it was not, therefore, an option to go for both reasons. If my friend and I could both go, it would have been a good time and interesting (but I would not anticipate FUNFUNFUN) to see his other friends from college. Plus, given his and my history, I really would have wanted CF to come with me (and CF was invited).
I feel a little bad not going. This friend once told me about his ex's wedding he went to because he knew she would be upset if he did not go. I emailed him to tell him why I was not going to make it and he said he would miss seeing me and meeting CF and knowing him he really means it. I am torn on the wedding gift for them. I certainly would not purchase the girly travel kit they registered for and could do the practical place setting. Because I do not really know his fiancee, I am inclined towards their alternative "registry": donating to foundation in honor of his former teammate who committed suicide. They clearly made that an option because it is meaningful to them; does it matter if my inclination to do so is because I feel it is more a gift for him than for them? Really, I think my dilemma with what to give them is more a reflection of my college tendency to over analyze life and think I should go with the foundation donation. THEN, though, there is no where in the link to say why you are donating. So do I mention it in a card so they know I donated in their names?
In other news, I dreamt this morning that CF proposed to me. I dreamt two friends (who were my roommates, are now married, and whose wedding I was in) visited me while I was at my parents' house. For some reason I sorta knew in my dream, CF was coming over later. He was delayed and I was going to leave and head home (I guess in my dream we all lived within driving distance?), leaving my friends with my parents. Then he rushed in the door with a funny look on his face and I told him I was still going to head home and he could stay (not in an angry way), and I turned around and he was on one knee proposing and everyone there knew this was going to happen but me. When CF sent me a text earlier telling me he dreamt he was a relief pitcher for the Tigers, I did not mention my dream, just asked if he saved the game in his dream. :-)
The coworker is in his early twenties. He and his now wife are just finished or finishing their college degrees, both working to pay the bills while taking classes, and really nice (not that being nice is important to etiquette "rules", I just needed another descriptor). He watched my cat when I went on vacation this summer. I actually do not know if or where they were registered and gave them money. Where they are in life, I can imagine that money helps with lots of stuff, like the rent and bills, or to help cover their honeymoon, which I think is an important and wonderful way to embark on a new phase of your life with someone. Actually, this situation did not raise any confusion with me except that I did not go. One other coworker went. CF was not on the invitation, nor was "Jenski & guest". To be honest, this probably impacted my decision to not go. In the end, I really could have gone. Was it wrong that I did not go?
The childhood friend was getting married back East, and it just was not feasible for me to travel for that wedding. A real shame because it was like a mini neighborhood reunion with wonderful people. I sent them a check too, as it was easier than calling the local kitchen store where they registered to purchase something or give them a gift card (yay, supporting local businesses!). They have still not cashed the check almost two months later, but then again are more gainfully employed than the coworker.
I am in one of my college friend's wedding. The bridesmaids (minus one, tear) recently got together for some good (clean) East Coast fun. (See photo on left. I do not have a photo of her lobster wearing her engagement ring, but trust me, it is funny.) She, much like another friend whose wedding I was in, picked flexible affordable options and great color for our dresses (see my choice to the right).I do not know if it is in etiquette books, but I think that being considerate of your attendants in this way is good. If I was asked to be in a wedding and then the dress I had to wear was $500 and/or hideous, could I back out of the wedding? Now, I know one friend chose a dress that we were more likely to wear again over one she liked more for her image of her wedding because the one she did not pick was too bridesmaids-y and unlikely to be work again. I did wear the bridesmaids dress she chose to another wedding, so that was nice. Given my previous wedding experiences (all three I have been in - my sister's and two friends), I think it speaks to the reasonable type of people I know or am related to that they think of what they want their wedding to look like and also good options for their friends.
As for the other college friend whose bachelor party I recently referenced, I was not in his main circle of friends in college but we have stayed in touch and seen each other over the years. One of my best friends and I were invited, but the wedding involves air travel and stay and coincides with a weekend I will have family in town; it was not, therefore, an option to go for both reasons. If my friend and I could both go, it would have been a good time and interesting (but I would not anticipate FUNFUNFUN) to see his other friends from college. Plus, given his and my history, I really would have wanted CF to come with me (and CF was invited).
I feel a little bad not going. This friend once told me about his ex's wedding he went to because he knew she would be upset if he did not go. I emailed him to tell him why I was not going to make it and he said he would miss seeing me and meeting CF and knowing him he really means it. I am torn on the wedding gift for them. I certainly would not purchase the girly travel kit they registered for and could do the practical place setting. Because I do not really know his fiancee, I am inclined towards their alternative "registry": donating to foundation in honor of his former teammate who committed suicide. They clearly made that an option because it is meaningful to them; does it matter if my inclination to do so is because I feel it is more a gift for him than for them? Really, I think my dilemma with what to give them is more a reflection of my college tendency to over analyze life and think I should go with the foundation donation. THEN, though, there is no where in the link to say why you are donating. So do I mention it in a card so they know I donated in their names?
In other news, I dreamt this morning that CF proposed to me. I dreamt two friends (who were my roommates, are now married, and whose wedding I was in) visited me while I was at my parents' house. For some reason I sorta knew in my dream, CF was coming over later. He was delayed and I was going to leave and head home (I guess in my dream we all lived within driving distance?), leaving my friends with my parents. Then he rushed in the door with a funny look on his face and I told him I was still going to head home and he could stay (not in an angry way), and I turned around and he was on one knee proposing and everyone there knew this was going to happen but me. When CF sent me a text earlier telling me he dreamt he was a relief pitcher for the Tigers, I did not mention my dream, just asked if he saved the game in his dream. :-)
15 August 2010
Hot out of the oven
flour: one cup white flour, 2/3 cup wheat flour, 2 tablespoons flax meal
oil: a splash of oil and a little extra yogurt (could be why they stick to the muffin papers?)
more than a cup of berries :-)
K. My Sunday breakfast is over. Time for another 6 mile walk to prepare for this, blueberry picking, Sunday paper buying and reading, painting, and some scientific paper reading...although the dark storm clouds that have moved in over the past 10 minutes might have other plans for me.
14 August 2010
Rough life
My cat has a rough life. She used to be able to curl up in my feather comforter after I took it off the bed.
I did not want her knitting on it though, so I packed it up.
After CF was here for a couple of days in a row, I came home, pet the cat, and then she sat and looked at the door. I figure she was wondering where that other person was?
I needed more yoga in my life, and did not pick my mat up right away. The cat practiced final relaxation pose, and I will say she looks pretty good at it.
She has a bad habit of knitting on the carpet. Today when she did it, I yelled at her and then put her scratch pad that she likes right where she had been going at the carpet. Apparently she decided she would show me...
...what she was showing me, I do not know. Maybe that she can curl up in a little area and then give me a dirty look?
After CF was here for a couple of days in a row, I came home, pet the cat, and then she sat and looked at the door. I figure she was wondering where that other person was?
13 August 2010
Whassup?
I have been doing all sorts of stuff and thinking about all sorts of things to post about thanks to life and NPR. For now, I'll bombard you with what I have been doing that is not all work or thought-provoking. It is Friday and my brain is tired after all.
Earlier in the summer my strawberries came in the thin wood quarts instead of the green papery ones that fall apart. I felt like I should do something with them, so I tried out the paint I bought intending it for furniture and then found useful spots for them.
Lessons I learned from painting this: it is difficult to cover white primer with a dark paint. I will totally tint the primer next time. Definitely use a real brush, not a foam brush, for painting. I learned this early enough for coat two of the paint, but ended up with four coats to evenly-ish cover the white primer.
I have also been making fun stuff in the kitchen. When I was working on my grant, I made some tea with flowers (I think maybe hibiscus) that my friend brought me back YEARS ago from the Peace Corps in Africa.
I made it iced and drank it while working on my grant.
I also made refrigerator pickles. You just mix all the stuff in a jar and let it sit for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator. No need to boil water and seal the jars. I love these jars, and will likely get more at some point for storing kitchen stuff.
For the first time I have eye insurance and it covers a pair of glasses a year. So I finally got some prescription sunglasses. I feel fancy because they are a designer I have heard of. They make such a difference driving in the sun, and I am sure I will be happy to have them come winter with the sun reflecting off the snow.
Earlier in the summer my strawberries came in the thin wood quarts instead of the green papery ones that fall apart. I felt like I should do something with them, so I tried out the paint I bought intending it for furniture and then found useful spots for them.
I have been looking for something to put my salt & pepper grinders in so they do not make a mess of the counter.
And all those travel games would be easier to dust around if I could move them en masse.
I like the red color, so I went ahead and tried it on a small piece of furniture. My bedroom furniture is on the list to redo, but a couple of the pieces I decided to stain. I think I will use the red on one of the dressers though. This was some inexpensive small shelf that I use as a nightstand now.
A little primer and paint later...
I have also been making fun stuff in the kitchen. When I was working on my grant, I made some tea with flowers (I think maybe hibiscus) that my friend brought me back YEARS ago from the Peace Corps in Africa.
I made it iced and drank it while working on my grant.
I also made refrigerator pickles. You just mix all the stuff in a jar and let it sit for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator. No need to boil water and seal the jars. I love these jars, and will likely get more at some point for storing kitchen stuff.
For the first time I have eye insurance and it covers a pair of glasses a year. So I finally got some prescription sunglasses. I feel fancy because they are a designer I have heard of. They make such a difference driving in the sun, and I am sure I will be happy to have them come winter with the sun reflecting off the snow.
03 August 2010
Signs
Two years ago today I met CF! We were both taking a class in MT. Funny thing was, I had been dating a Groomsman from my friends' wedding that the groomsman and I were both in. That lasted about a week or two after I got back because it took him that long to tell me he wasn't interested in continuing to date. (As an aside, he has the same first name as my friend's fiance, so we called him Boy #2. He quickly became #2 and sometimes just "poop" after that...which I apparently explained before.)
Enter CF, who I apparently called Dude at first (see previously linked explanation). He came to visit, I guess figuring he had unfinished business from MT. I went to visit, figuring, despite the long distance thing that I swore I would never do again, it was certainly worth a shot. Now we live a 30 minute drive apart, he came to Christmas with my fam, I went to Germany to visit his fam. All good fun. I would say everything has worked out quite nicely.
Other things worthy to note:
I looked at recently posted pictures of a bachelor's party. Not any old bachelor's party. (It was all clean woods and fishing fun.) The bachelor party of this guy I used to have more than a thing for whose wedding I am invited to but cannot attend this fall because there will be family in town. You know what I thought when I looked at the pictures? "Huh." Really. That's all I thought - "Huh."
I don't tuck in the foot of my bedding anymore. CF is tall and likes his feet out from under the covers.
When he cooks, I do dishes; when I cook, I do...oh, wait, nevermind. ;-) He'll do them eventually but I hate having a sink full of dirty dishes!
He still usually opens my car door first and points out when he "messes up".
When CF is here at night, I don't lock the windows. When CF isn't here I lock them and don't sleep well. (As an aside, this is a pretty safe place. My neighbors leave their screen-less windows wide open with a laptop sitting on the couch when they are not home. I am not saying that is smart, but they do it.)
Enter CF, who I apparently called Dude at first (see previously linked explanation). He came to visit, I guess figuring he had unfinished business from MT. I went to visit, figuring, despite the long distance thing that I swore I would never do again, it was certainly worth a shot. Now we live a 30 minute drive apart, he came to Christmas with my fam, I went to Germany to visit his fam. All good fun. I would say everything has worked out quite nicely.
Other things worthy to note:
I looked at recently posted pictures of a bachelor's party. Not any old bachelor's party. (It was all clean woods and fishing fun.) The bachelor party of this guy I used to have more than a thing for whose wedding I am invited to but cannot attend this fall because there will be family in town. You know what I thought when I looked at the pictures? "Huh." Really. That's all I thought - "Huh."
I don't tuck in the foot of my bedding anymore. CF is tall and likes his feet out from under the covers.
When he cooks, I do dishes; when I cook, I do...oh, wait, nevermind. ;-) He'll do them eventually but I hate having a sink full of dirty dishes!
He still usually opens my car door first and points out when he "messes up".
When CF is here at night, I don't lock the windows. When CF isn't here I lock them and don't sleep well. (As an aside, this is a pretty safe place. My neighbors leave their screen-less windows wide open with a laptop sitting on the couch when they are not home. I am not saying that is smart, but they do it.)
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