The calm before the storm

I am trying to get back on a schedule that includes going to the gym. With few people at work, I do not feel the pressure to be there by 8:00 (plus, there is plenty of parking any time of day!), so I eased myself back into my gym going by getting there at 7:30 instead of the usual 6:30. This morning I got there early for the last hatha yoga class that the instructor I love will be teaching Wednesday mornings. She is moving and apparently does not want to get up super early to teach the class. Whatever. ;-) No one else came this morning I had a private yoga class this morning, which was a nice way to end the year of Wednesday morning yoga with her!

Anyway. The whole reason I was posting is because I am afraid. This week was QUIET at the gym. Look out though, because New Year's resolutions start tomorrow. I will have to start getting there at 6:15 just to get a machine.

Happy New Year! Hope you all have a great night whether it is crazy or calm, and whether you are up until day break or in bed by 9:00.

Late to my own interview

So, I have been really bad about blogging in general, both posting and consistently reading and commenting on other blogs. I saw this interview meme over at Spark's and thought, "Gosh. THAT would get me to post." I asked Spark to interview me and then never posted. Oiy. Here it is though, Spark's questions and my answers.

Question 1#

What's the most spectacular story you've ever heard about something that happened in the lab where you do your research?

Research-wise? My friend recently found her protein of interest! Sounds scary, huh? But really, she "had to" find this, according to our esteemed advisor, in order to graduate. So YAYAYAY!

Question #2

What are you most looking forward to in the New Year?

Hmmm...I am looking forward to starting something new. Hopefully I will finish up this whole PhD thing this summer and start a new job...closer to Cheerios Farmer (CF...I would stop explaining who he is, except I post so infrequently that I am afraid people will forget) if I am lucky. I think the new year is going to FLY by.

Question #3

What's your least favourite part of the holiday season?

Spark, did you mean 'favorite'? Just kidding. Really, it is being with family. Christmas morning is HUGE in our house. Our stockings are filled to ridiculousness and there are piles under them. Never mind all of the presents under the tree. The fun of it all is being together for all of the excitement, though, and relaxing and eating and hanging out all day together. Sadly, because of the snow in the Pacific Northwest, my brother did not make out East despite the fact that the flight he had a ticket for took off. LUCKILY, he and his girlfriend are coming in a couple of weeks (his Christmas present to her), so I will still get to hang out with him soon. I also love the holiday music, snow when it comes, and those who seem to be in a good mood just because.

Question #4

Do you have any New Years' resolutions for 2009?

Nope. Maybe it should be to get a job? :-) Closer to CF?

Question #5

If you could pick any gift for yourself for Christmas, regardless of the cost, what would it be? (Condition: it has to be a gift that someone could actually go and get for you, not an intangible like "world peace").

I am going to go with a trip to South America and Antarctica. I saw the National Geographic organized trips edition of their magazine. I think the one to S. America and Antarctica ran about $15,000. I will be happy to get you my address, social security number and sign away my first born child (okay, maybe my second so I can keep this first) if you are willing to buy this for me.

According to the rules I must link back to the post I got this from.

If you want to be interviewed....
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” (And your e-mail address, please.)
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

The holiday season

With the start of Chanukah, I thought it would be appropriate to share this song:

Now excuse me if I'm not being reverent
But I was hoping for a miracle
to hold me, wash me
Save me from my righteous
doubt as I watch helpless
And everybody sings
If it's Chanukah or Kwanza
Solstice, harvest or December twenty-fifth
Peace on earth to everyone
And abundance to everyone you're with

The randomness

I am home alone and not being distracted. My kitty is staying with a friend for the next week so that I do not have to worry about her while I am at my parents' house!

I could be wrapping, cleaning or doing work. Instead I am posting.

What have I been up to lately? Trying to cram a semester's worth of experiments into two weeks while our first big snowstorm dumps a foot of snow, and now rain, on us. Good times. I started a new experiment, twice; I repeated two different experiments and scored them (although one was crappy so I will have to do it again); I FINALLY finished all of my holiday shopping (today); I sent out some Christmas cards; I had a meeting with my advisor*; I cleaned the lab (as I tend to do every four to six months when it gets filthy); I did other peoples' lab jobs; I reported a steam leak in the wall of the lab three days in a row (if we are lucky, facilities will open the wall and find asbestos tomorrow!!!).

I have not started my presentation for a conference right after the new year; I have not emailed an updated budget for a fellowship I got for lab supplies within the school; I have not wrapped all of the presents; I have not cleaned; I have not done laundry; I have not looked up scientists who may be at the meeting, namely one with whom I would LOVE to do a post-doc; I have not returned my friend's phone call from earlier today because my phone is charging; I have not eaten dinner and I am starving.

Off to cook dinner...call, clean, work...

Ashamed to say

We got our first big snow storm Friday through today. I shoveled my car out Saturday to get the majority of the snow removed and then walked to work. This morning, I had to shovel a bit more, moved my car and REALLY cleaned it out.

Then, I put a garbage can where I had parked and shoveled to save my spot.

This is my sixth winter with a car here, and I have never done that before. Parking seems like a hot commodity on my road though, and I can not 'afford' to lose it, not having a driveway and all this year.

If all the older members of my street are entitled to their parking spot, then so am I!

Christmas ornaments

We always had a "family" Christmas tree growing up. As pretty as color coordinated trees are, I still have a preference for colored lights, the mylar silver tinsel, handmade ornaments and ornaments from various trips. As I have traveled, I have followed my parents' example and brought home ornaments and others have given me ornaments too. Here are some from my tree:

This Santa is made from ash from Mt. St. Helens. This one is from the last trip to Disney World.
This wooden one is from a set of angels my old roommate brought back from Germany for me.
This is one my grandmother had given me that had been my great-grandmother's. You can't really tell, but the yarn it is tied to even looks old.
I got this Ortiz ornament as a gift...
...and this New England Patriot's football snowman too.
This tin boot is from a tinsmith at old San Diego.
This blue and white one is one of a few my brother brought back from the Netherlands for me. The red one in the back has a piece of tinsel-garland in it and was also one of my great-grandmother's. The twisted metal thing in front of the red ornament is "victorian tinsel". Much less messy than the mylar stuff and you can reuse it! I think my Mom got it from the Vermont Country Store if you are interested.
This is my newest edition. One of the grad students in my lab loves giving Christmas presents, and she made personalized ones this year. The little quote at the bottom is because she will bring in two McD's hashbrowns, and I will pretend to resist the offer. I always end up eating it.
Do you have any favorite decorations for the holiday(s) you celebrate this time of year?