tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25520340668834625442024-02-02T19:53:07.328-05:00Wondering AlbatrossAlbatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-77589326100976342512010-02-28T20:38:00.004-05:002010-02-28T20:47:58.877-05:00Consistency, or a lack thereof<div style="text-align: left;">For the past month or so, I have had very little stability as I have been in a state of flux and unknowing. Will I get the job I interviewed for and finally get to officially settle down and start a permanent life? Finally live together with the Grackle and all of our little fur faces and have a consistent life instead of the temporary one I’ve been in for most, if not all of my adult life?</div> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, although I don’t have official confirmation, I am 98% sure that isn’t happening. It has been pretty difficult to deal with and pretty depressing. All of my 1 out of 200 rejections are accepted almost as a given but to be 1 out of 5 and get rejected after they meet me, hear about my research and enjoy my sparking personality (to say nothing of my cute shoes) is getting me down about my prospects in academia altogether*</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In addition to the soul crushing job market, the snowstorms in my area and a faulty transmission in Grackle’s car have conspired to keep us apart for most of February. I was able to get home this weekend for the first time since Feb 3<sup>rd</sup>…. but am leaving for field-work on Friday so it will be at least 6 weeks till we see each other again. The whole point of taking a geographically close postdoc was so that we didn’t have to go 3 months without seeing each other!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Given all this, it doesn’t really seem like anything is consistent these days. Who knows what I will be working on come next year, where I might be in 18 months, if I will ever get a job, etc etc. But then as I contemplated just how much of a pity party my writing about continuity really was turning out to be, I thought about what it was we did this weekend.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We sat around our house and were <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">completely</b> boring. We watched sports and worked and played backgammon. The most exciting part of the trip was a visit to the antique mall where we found a three-faced dog planter (see below). Despite the snooze factor, the weekend was exactly like most weekends and has shown just how much consistency/continuity there can be in the mundane aspects of everyday life. This is actually quite comforting. The pets will always provide entertainment, Grackle will always do something sweet** and we will never get as much cleaning done as we plan.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>This perspective is helping me accept the results of this years job search and remember that nothing is really so bad. It is fine I didn’t get what I thought was the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">perfect</span> job and it is fine that weather and work and cars all seem to be working against me. The fundamental aspects of my life remain consistent and that is more than enough.</o:p></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_LQp6QqilYbTP77RrNHxAH40gOeY5vlrGmPgN_rEqxpu1eFU3OsrfeBJHoZxZMKyMFvQ07_3cwX-jmCcOdJvkAibl3bFnvdFqGzDAgPpvSZX_0-gEfI-5lfeF3xAE_Uqbd2zi32MJZI/s320/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443474587643072450" /> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*I know that on my first year on the market that I am very lucky to have even gotten an interview and am grateful for the experience. Also know that search committees make decisions for all sorts of reasons and it shouldn’t be taken personally. Rejection still stinks, though.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">**While out for dog food, he bought me an office chair so we can both sit comfortably while working/watching tv. </p> <!--EndFragment-->Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-75277639321072667292010-01-27T22:01:00.004-05:002010-01-27T22:26:15.382-05:00My new minionI have a new undergraduate to help keep me busy in these dark days of waiting. She has worked 3 days this week so far and I am beyond impressed. My previous student was awful. Didn't even know how to set up an Excel spreadsheet. I had to sit next to her every minute in the lab to keep her on task. She was uninterested, unengaged and I'm not sure why she was there. New student (I'll think of a name soon) picks up quick on data analysis, cares about what it is we are doing and wants to go to grad school someday. I could see her taking a major part of a project, doing the analysis and making it into a longer term project than just one semester. <div>After holding the last students hand through everything she did, I took a new approach with this student. We started small and she completed a small project in one day. Previous student would've taken 1.5 weeks! Now I am throwing things at her just to see how much she can handle. She is mastering everything well so far and I think we will actually be able to trust her to generate important data.<br /><div>Now I just hope she doesn't get bored with the analysis and decide to leave! </div></div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-46239851441811812152010-01-24T19:32:00.003-05:002010-01-24T20:13:16.939-05:00perfect timing!Of course, I returned to the blog just in time to travel with no internet and unbloggable activities. Until I know more, I'll say that my interview is over. Also, wow. And finally, holy shit! <div><br /></div><div>Now I get to return to regular lab life and trying to keep myself busier than ever to get my mind off of the waiting game. If you click through, you might have noticed that none of my goals or tasks in the list on the right have changed. That is because none of them have actually been completed. Still. So it is time to do something about that. </div><div>In addition to the personal motivation, Ruby-throated Hummingbird (the postdoc advisor) has declared the next 6 weeks the time for "Manuscripts, manuscripts, manuscripts!!!" Even the grad students are all chirping away with this new mantra. Hopefully this will be productive and distracting enough to keep little ol' anxiety-ridden me in a sane state of mind... </div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-12775692663846639582010-01-16T13:05:00.003-05:002010-01-16T13:40:39.735-05:00Another tryI've been a busy little beaver but really miss blogging. So let's do this, blog! Here is a quick run down on my last 6 weeks...<div><ul><li>Thanksgiving was nice with Grackle and the pets but tinged with sadness due to good friends husband passing away that morning. </li><li>After the wake the following week, I cut my thumb very badly and ended up in the ER. It wasn't too serious but a real annoyance. Most lab work requires two working thumbs. Plus, I couldn't get it wet for 2 weeks so washing my hair and doing dishes were real adventures.</li><li>Went to the midwest for the holidays. Always nice to see family and friends. We were relaxed and happy because I had just found out that....</li><li>I got an interview for a tenure track position. It is coming up soon and seems too good to be true. I'd really love this position.</li><li>Been busy at work! I now have multiple major grants pending for more money than I can imagine. That jump from small student grants to big grants just happens- like magic- and I know funding rates and resubmissions and everything but just having it out there seems like a good accomplishment in itself. </li><li>I started running again with a goal of 100 miles by April 1. I'm at 16.3 so far. </li></ul><div><br /></div><div>Ok! All caught up! Back to regularly scheduled blogging!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div></div></div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-65377781805820528082009-11-25T10:38:00.004-05:002009-11-25T11:07:55.975-05:00Thanksgiving plans<div style="text-align: left;">With our families a 13 hour drive away, Grackle and I haven't been 'home' for Thanksgiving in about 5 years. Our second date was Thanksgiving dinner at a friends' house so we typically use it to celebrate our dating anniversary*.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The day is usually pretty relaxing. Grackle makes sure the kitchen is filled with good music so I can dance around while I cook, we eat our big meal (and usually too much pie), watch football and I usually do some crafting. It was after a particularly wine filled Thanksgiving meal that I decided to knit a cat sweater**...</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WLAtWs_S8gd0c02na4VoUt2gZ7Ov_vfEyA9MCO6i6l_JTgfwUocGxrP9QiaiRqBe6DF7YG1y-QmvaBLoUIoVBNWMoWs3gba4hgT_2W8o4re6ZbZ7kCa3lOlKUkN0M4_UY3cKBbK1xFA/s320/100_3477.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408070460556810626" /><div>Our menu is always filled with standards and Midwestern favorites: honey-brined Turkey breast, stuffing, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes. This year I am also making a butternut squash side dish, baking bread from scratch for the stuffing and trying out a <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/photo/Pumpkin-Pecan-Pie-with-Whiskey-Butter-Sauce-104141">new pie</a>. It is the first time I'm making pie crust from scratch. I doubt I'll knit anything crazy, as a friend has a baby on the way that needs a finished blanket. But I also have a strange desire to do some Origami...</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope everybody (if there is anybody still around reading this) has a wonderful Thanksgiving! </div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>*Despite being married we still celebrate this in addition to our wedding anniversary. I'm not one to get rid of celebrations.</div><div>**turns out, cats really do not like wearing sweaters.</div></div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-3046785478618671512009-11-24T10:48:00.004-05:002009-11-24T11:38:35.872-05:00Dr for a yearSaturday was the first anniversary of defending my dissertation.<div><br /></div><div>This milestone seems pretty unreal but also worth mentioning. I never had any expectations that finishing my degree would translate into anything meaningful in my day to day life and it hasn't. Even in my daily life doing science. Compared to the last year or so of grad school, my first year as a postdoc has been more challenging intellectually and I've become more convinced than ever that I really know very, very little. </div><div>This isn't surprising given that I made a pretty big leap in subfield between grad school and postdoc. And I know that my degree gave the experiences and knowledge necessary to be able to forge ahead in these new areas. </div><div>But still, there is some sort of dark humor in that getting the phd establishes me as an expert of some sort in what I worked on but my postdoc requires that I become incredibly comfortable acknowledging my vast intellectual shortcomings in the new field.</div><div><br /></div><div>At least it gave me a good excuse to cook a fancy dinner!</div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-33739928708743354822009-11-21T10:45:00.003-05:002009-11-21T11:12:15.321-05:00Ball dropped, again.Alright! 21 days into InaDWriMo 09 and I have yet to update. It might not turn out so well this year. But things are still getting done- just different things! <div>The official update on projects:</div><div> 1) Decent progress made. I've got 1700 words or about 5 pages of...stuff. Hopefully by Sunday night it will be in some sort of readable form since I am sending it to Rt-H at that point. It is really similar to a proposal that was funded a few years ago and I am struggling to make mine different at least in wording and structure. The best argument is x, y and z. But I have that other grant, which also sets it up as x, y and z. I feel like I am copying but there is no other way to say it! </div><div>5) Since this is the same as 1, I have made 1700 words of progress! Woo!</div><div>2 and 3) Haven't touched them. </div><div>4) Also haven't touched but should get to it this week. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, what HAVE I been doing? There was another writing task that didn't make my list. A revision of 'paper with too many authors.' I am first author on this thing but my PhD advisor wrote it and is last/corresponding author. It is a weird situation but he doesn't want to be first and out of all of us, I had invested most in it. I get the paper, thinking that I would have to add a couple references and that would be it. Nope. It took over a week of re-writing to make sense of some new data that he added and negotiate how to say many of my critical comments in a way that will hurt no ones feelings. 'Paper with too many authors' indeed. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also started working on a new project to get preliminary data for my grants. It has been so long that I forgot the voodoo that is bench work. It is really cool when it works though! I also gave an invited seminar (more on this later), spent a weekend doing awesome-physical-activity in a wild and wonderful state, applied for a bunch of jobs and am now working from PhD Town home for the rest of the month. Writing is always better when surrounded by pets, right?</div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-28524170276009972302009-11-03T21:11:00.004-05:002009-11-03T21:39:54.955-05:00Writing Month returns!That's right it is InaDWriMo 2009! <a href="http://whatis-wrong-withyou.blogspot.com/2008/12/inadwrimo-2008-winners.html">Last year was pretty awesome</a> and it helped me graduate in time to start my pretty, pretty postdoc.<div><br /></div><div>This year, I am going to </div><div>1) write a fellowship proposal- Due Dec. 1. and is 10 or so pages.</div><div>2) revise chapter 1 of my dissertation for publication- yikes! After writing it last year it is still not out. Been submitted and rejected once. Gotta get this baby out again this month!</div><div>3) revise chapter 2 of my dissertation for publication- Needs a few things- a new graph, an new spin and some references. Should be a gimmie!</div><div>4) write first major postdoc paper- I am working on analyses right now but that shouldn't keep me from getting the methods, and intro done! </div><div>5) write small grant- this will be very similar to the fellowship proposal so shouldn't be too big a thing</div><div><br /></div><div>Even though it is the 3rd, I haven't done much. A page of #4. Hopefully I will rock some of this out the rest of this week!</div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-46309718977327483302009-10-25T20:34:00.005-04:002009-10-25T21:34:53.068-04:00Also in my absenceA few other things that happened when I was gone: <div><ul><li>I cut my hair. Probably about 10 inches off and above my shoulders for the first time since my first year of grad school. I had a serious case of hipster-hair and needed some new (although belated) postdoc hair. Of course, it has been 2 (+) months and I haven't had it re-cut but I want to keep it short and sassy for a while! </li></ul><ul><li>I started getting into awesome-physical-activity in a more serious way, getting all my own gear and making a commitment to a year of partaking in the fun. A-P-A really requires a lot of focus and thus, is worthwhile pursuing while I am in Postdoc City. Often I come home from lab, eat and open my computer to work some more. Now at least there are a few hours every few days that I am completely away from the computer and restricted from even thinking about work. It is good for non-work related life difficulties as well. Working through my A-P-A related goals helps keep me positive despite missing the Grackle and Company. Plus, my guns* are as sweet as ever! </li></ul><ul><li>I got a Mac. It was time to finally make the switch and time to have an apple in the family. The switch itself is still underway. Two important programs are missing from the new machine and I need to secure them asap. Other than that, I love the design and how it works. Luckily, my MS lab was mac and I use them currently in my lab so I am familiar with the finer points of using these things. My machine is great! </li></ul><ul><li>I got an iPhone. Continuing with the materialistic theme, this phone is amazing. I'm still in the honeymoon phase and hope that I don't continue to be that obnoxious girl with her phone. Or at least I hope I stop being self conscious about it. The best thing yet- I use it to take notes during seminars and lab meetings. My handwriting is atrocious and it is so nice to be able to make sense of my notes post meeting!</li></ul><div><br /></div><div>*'Please stop referring to your arms as guns'</div></div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-64089724759187008532009-10-14T21:00:00.006-04:002009-10-15T23:26:14.396-04:00Questioning your researchToday one of the senior grad students in my lab asked me if, when I was a grad student, I ever felt like my research was crap and questioned if the hours, weeks, years of effort put into the research was really worth it. <div>Obviously she doesn't read any blogs. </div><div>My answer was a resounding yes. Having not yet published my dissertation, I'm still half convinced that it isn't good enough! Anyway, I tried to reassure her that pretty much all grad students question their decisions and research at one time or another. Even the confident, brilliant, successful ones (I'm lucky to count some of them as my friends). At this point, another grad student, a 2nd year who is just starting to figure out his research plan, skeptically asked, 'Everybody? So you think I will too?' </div><div>Seriously, does no one read blogs?</div><div>My answer was, again, a resounding yes and that it would probably be when he and his fiance want to start a family but he has 2 field seasons left that will require long trips and long hours in the lab with no weekends off. The look on his face told me I nailed it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Having dealt with impostor syndrome, questioning my research and thinking it is crap is pretty second nature to me. I want to know what these students are doing to get through grad school without second guessing themselves! </div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-15756890893347568062009-10-13T22:00:00.004-04:002009-10-13T22:40:48.090-04:00Moving forward!Today, I finished a major step of my data analysis for the first project I have been working on for my postdoc. I've avoided the temptation of graphing out the data as I was analyzing it to avoid having to re-do it and get an incomplete (or wrong) picture of what is going on. The first glimpse of what my numbers are and how they are falling out with my treatments was awesome. Totally hot science! Getting through this tedious task helps me really feel like I am moving forward with my project as well. Finally!<div>Of course, moving forward = finishing something = moving on to something else. This final step is all wrapped up in its own little ball of strife, but we'll get into that next time...I got up ridiculously early to bake a pie this morning for a dinner party and need more sleep.</div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-8673492654144949722009-10-05T19:16:00.005-04:002009-10-05T19:31:36.614-04:00HohumJust to make sure you know nothing has <i>really</i> changed around here today I worked from home (the real home in PhD-Town, not my apartment in Postdoc City) and planned to get a lot done. Including....<div>Finish getting old data</div><div>Start analyzing new data</div><div>Do laundry</div><div>Cook a nice, healthy dinner for the Grackle and I</div><div><br /></div><div>What I actually did...</div><div>Didn't really get dressed all day </div><div>Read journals/books about new-research area</div><div>Started catching up on blog reading</div><div>Analyzed a tiny bit of old data</div><div>Discovered we are out of fabric softener</div><div>Am now waiting for the Grackle to get home with pizza and beer. </div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-9867895531011486622009-10-04T11:04:00.005-04:002009-10-13T21:52:16.252-04:00An overdue congrats!During my blog absence, the Grackle successfully defended his dissertation proposal and advanced to candidacy! <div><br /></div><div>Due to the timing of things, I wasn't able to be around leading up to the defense, which sucked. I really wanted to be physically present to help support him by lessening his work load around the house and with our pets. He was able to keep the pets happy, the house clean enough, not resort to eating only pizza AND put together a fabulous proposal and presentation! </div><div><br /></div><div>Congrats Grackle! </div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-62871238099054098612009-10-04T10:25:00.004-04:002009-10-04T10:55:13.913-04:00back to bloggingSo, it has been a while hasn't it. My absence was much longer than planned but I think I am ready to get back.<div><br /></div><div>When I left, I had just returned from a conference. There was a big focus on my new work there and I didn't feel like I kept up or fit in or was well received whenever I tried to get my foot in the door or talk to bigwigs about my project. On top of that, I was in this competition and my talk didn't go very well. It was important for me to talk to some of the judges about my new work and I couldn't shake the feeling that they were judging me about everything. Because they were! Personally, it was a wonderful time catching up with good friends but professionally, eh. </div><div><br /></div><div>Upon returning, I went into the field. It was a productive trip with a lot of pressure. It was on a new system that Rt-H hadn't worked on before. New places to work, with a different combination of students. There was one major blowout, which was due to my own leadership failings. 10 hours in the field + 7 hours driving + no food = unhappy Albatross. I got pissed at the actions of one student and the other had a compete breakdown. We worked through things and moved on with the trip and the work once we returned, but one of the students is still harboring some resentment about it all which makes it hard to learn from our mistakes and move forward. </div><div><br /></div><div>After that trip (in July), with the students working away in the lab on our side project, I was supposed to visit to a lab for training related to the next portion of my project. This fell through and after a bit of floundering, I finally visited a different lab this past week to do the training. Things are starting to get back on track, some unbloggable situations have resolved themselves and life is becoming a bit more manageable again. </div><div><br /></div><div>While catching up on my 1000+ posts in my reader, please feel free to let me know major happenings that I've missed in the comments. If anyone is still here reading, that is!</div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-29535112714964454992009-07-02T22:05:00.004-04:002009-07-02T22:32:17.188-04:00Stopping byJust wanted to pop in to say that I am alive and well. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKTJH5_XE0tXU-nK5fgWlle0J1X5tq8_bicRiidwpnFRJ86_iKFBplEf548PHAQzgUW9YPyBMxMcMzLJIndzTEi2y6y-587nffo5l2vgR7aT8oXXj2dFiRD3zieKvK7fJvT7nbIb9esI/s1600-h/100_8398.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKTJH5_XE0tXU-nK5fgWlle0J1X5tq8_bicRiidwpnFRJ86_iKFBplEf548PHAQzgUW9YPyBMxMcMzLJIndzTEi2y6y-587nffo5l2vgR7aT8oXXj2dFiRD3zieKvK7fJvT7nbIb9esI/s320/100_8398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354049542188112274" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">I made it to exotic conference location and back and have been frantically preparing for the next stage of research and upcoming field excursion. We leave on Monday but the plans for my research have started falling though and so I might be in for a major project reassignment. All my time is spent trying to catch up on 3 bodies of literature because I need to act fast once we (or really just my PI) decide(s) what I will do. I've been feeling very, very imposter-y lately and the whole prospect of not having a project doesn't really help. </div><div style="text-align: left;">I tend not to blog when things aren't going well. Hopefully, I'll be back soon...</div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-60669232920295851152009-06-10T22:06:00.005-04:002009-06-10T22:50:58.625-04:00Great non-weekendAlthough my weekend was spent working, I made up for it by having some fun this week. After taking care of a bunch of paperwork for my upcoming conference, Grackle and I went to go see a band. I've wanted to see them for years as they are one of my favorites but it just never happened because they are always sold out. Well, the Grackle finally called in the big favor and got us tickets to the show as he used to live with the drummer. They hadn't seen each other in 15 years, but it was like only days had passed. <div>It was a great show...followed by an awkward afterparty...which we left to go to a basement bar... where I drank lots of fantastic tequila...resulting in a whole lot of dancing....next thing we knew it was 3am. I really enjoy knowing that people in hip bands are no better dancers than scientists! </div><div>The following day, we nursed hangovers and did a bunch of touristy things in Postdoc City . It was so relaxing to just hang out with Grackle and not think about the lab. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, that was when I got the text message from my PI......</div><div>"Funded!!!!"</div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-35856205431211767682009-06-04T23:38:00.002-04:002009-06-04T23:47:02.069-04:00Bad ideaThis morning, as I was grinding coffee beans, I got fed up with my extra shaggy, eye-covering bangs. I decided I must cut them. That. Very. Moment. <div><br /></div><div>It worked out well except for the big section I missed that ended up being an inch longer than the rest of my bangs. It was fine. The section was sort of on the side and blended in to the rest of my hair. Plus, the only lab member who would hassle me about it is on vacation this week. </div><div>It drove me nuts all day though! </div><div>Now, I want to fix them but I already drank a glass of wine. I guess I should wait till tomorrow morning. Post coffee.<br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-36865905617867468812009-05-31T10:55:00.004-04:002009-06-04T23:38:52.652-04:00Conference competition<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'm going to a conference next </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">month. This conference is one of my favorites, but I haven't been to it in 2 years. It is always a great group of people. Plus, this year it is in a fabulous, exotic location. <br /><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This year, I am com</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">peting in the best student talk competition. I've done this sort of thing before and have enjoyed it. One side effect is that the talk itself is better. Being comfortable giving talks is an asset but that also means that sometimes I don't practice or prepare as much as I should. When I know that there is more on the line- being judged, being in a special session, money (!)- I prepare and practice a lot more. Depending on the meeting, participating in these competitions can also give you leverage for networking. If there are limited numbers of students, either through an application process or just because few bother to apply, there is a greater chance someone important might take notice of your name, see your talk or be more receptive to your intellectual advances later. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My ex-advisor thinks I am all cutthroat about winning because I've done these competitions. Maybe he doesn't realize that I put my participation in them on my cv! I admit, there were a couple conferences where I was all about winning, but I was required to go to these and really just wanted some prize money to offset the cost of travel. This upcoming one is the last one I will do as a student and at this point in time, I am really in it for the game instead of the prize. That doesn't mean I'm not going to work my ass off to give a good talk. But I will be happy knowing that I've done my best and will value the indirect benefits (like the networking) and experiance more than a prize. </span></span></div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-41694765237063794992009-05-30T10:14:00.003-04:002009-05-30T10:58:55.169-04:00Beautiful weekendIt looks like it is going to be a beautiful weekend...that I am going to spend working. I am on track to finish one task (my data) before the Monday deadline but I have slacked on the other (my writing). Trading this beautiful weekend for my time at home the past few weeks is easy and completely worthwhile. Plus, most of the people I know in Postdoc City are travelling this weekend so I won't even be tempted with fun distractions. <div>The only question left is where to work? My options...</div><div><br /></div><div>1) Apartment. Not much natural light, but it is quiet, comfortable and I have a fully stocked kitchen. Plus crafty distractions if I need a break!</div><div>2) Lab/office. My chair sucks but it is open and airy with giant windows. It should be quiet (no one else in my lab comes in on weekends) and being on the campus network will help with easy access to papers. The major drawback is well, it is the lab and I'm there most days. </div><div>3) Elsewhere! I don't have a go-to coffee shop in Postdoc City yet and it might be time to find one! Of course, I might spend more time finding one, trying to get there, getting lost and then enjoying it than actually, um, working. </div><div><br /></div><div>Any other suggestions for where to write on days like this? </div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-80790439735466110562009-05-26T20:08:00.004-04:002009-05-26T20:27:11.291-04:00Anniversary!<div>We are celebrating our two year anniversary today! Always the science geeks, here were our centerpieces...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaPM-tUfengJa9VnFJhcruSbBYB5KNp429y5bHxzWurM9BBPHfEi6IgPYp26hGPx5OyupCUPwgQc-WQp3OnnAU3zCJUYoMXofH1PzJ2dasKaSgjxxDqkHMLo306iWAAm8DI1cvFwbqKA/s1600-h/beakers+great+view.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaPM-tUfengJa9VnFJhcruSbBYB5KNp429y5bHxzWurM9BBPHfEi6IgPYp26hGPx5OyupCUPwgQc-WQp3OnnAU3zCJUYoMXofH1PzJ2dasKaSgjxxDqkHMLo306iWAAm8DI1cvFwbqKA/s320/beakers+great+view.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340290182814728434" /></a>It has been a wonderful 2 weeks at home and I am sad to head back to Postdoc City tomorrow morning....Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-81791210079863838082009-05-23T21:46:00.005-04:002009-05-25T11:58:18.036-04:00Coming out of the fogI guess I have been suffering a hooding hangover. It went well and it was nice to see ex-advisor for a few hours. He couldn't put his own hood on beforehand and put mine on upside down. Better than backwards at least! While it was good to take part in the ceremony, it was a little weird. Like a bridal shower. I'd encourage others to go to it, but I didn't get the tingly I'm-really-a-Dr-now feelings from it that I was set up for. There was free-flowing champagne afterwards though which was a lot of fun. It made me really miss my old lab. Well, part of it anyway.<div><br /></div><div>After my Mom went back home, I got down to work. It is really more likely that I am suffering from a data hangover. The analysis I'm doing is intensive and mind numbing. It is going about half as fast as I planned. Working from home is great, but after 5 hours of analysis I can not even see straight! Still, spending time in my own house with the pets and being all domestic-like with dinner ready when Grackle gets home from the lab has been lovely. It feels like a break but I am still getting more done than I would in the lab! </div><div><br /></div><div>Both Grackle and I are coming under the gun and have to prepare data for conferences that are within a month. Today, he is at the lab and I am analysing. It isn't all work around here though. We are headed to the drive in tonight! Yay! I hope everyone is having a good holiday! </div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-54893224437289107392009-05-16T11:37:00.004-04:002009-05-16T11:43:02.519-04:00New kicksI tried to talk myself out of getting anything new to wear to hooding. I made a cute, new skirt (with lemons on it- so summery!) but then didn't have a non-t-shirt top to go with it. A t-shirt seems a little casual for hooding and sooooo my mom talked me into getting a new dress (it is prefect for 2 weddings this summer too). I also got some new kicks since no one will see the dress anyway! <div>I am in love with them....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryHs7J5DX7ZJw5j4UAkfwMEg5hqM5X3LKVMlWPK9g8TVkxInQWXgFbprYx7aR8ggDFBvMWzUPFLUF1VxY1SAk38jROGVM28hOtp4XjDl9cnT1ZBGCwEJ85bjAE6EkUjzLIptIBZBBUkU/s1600-h/grad+shoes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryHs7J5DX7ZJw5j4UAkfwMEg5hqM5X3LKVMlWPK9g8TVkxInQWXgFbprYx7aR8ggDFBvMWzUPFLUF1VxY1SAk38jROGVM28hOtp4XjDl9cnT1ZBGCwEJ85bjAE6EkUjzLIptIBZBBUkU/s320/grad+shoes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336447259369725586" /></a><div><br /></div></div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-82669613582593169652009-05-14T15:03:00.005-04:002009-05-14T15:20:31.778-04:00Most expensive outfit ever<div>The semester is wrapping up at Postdoc U. The rotation students are finished, my undergrad had her last day and the normal services (like the coffee place) are starting to decrease their hours and will soon be shut down for summer. Except for the lack of coffee, Postdoc U seems like it will be a nice place for the summer. I'm forming a writing date group and am looking forward to finishing up current data and starting new projects. It is all going so fast!</div><div><br /></div>I am back at the homestead (yay!) for my graduation ceremony this weekend. I am going to the hooding ceremony but not the actual commencement. It seems like a nice ceremony which is always followed by lots of champagne...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKE0WSea71qtAaFogYXZNPtK4J7YCNu9o97YcZcfwvKZK1Xcq4ZUZ05FKgKxuyD0a66i006IgkQhJu_FqfxI6roDNQaqwMq3D6wgd_jUbteCJC_P33-uLfsPjesrmjcmjf1MJVahKqJY/s1600-h/100_3991.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKE0WSea71qtAaFogYXZNPtK4J7YCNu9o97YcZcfwvKZK1Xcq4ZUZ05FKgKxuyD0a66i006IgkQhJu_FqfxI6roDNQaqwMq3D6wgd_jUbteCJC_P33-uLfsPjesrmjcmjf1MJVahKqJY/s320/100_3991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335760817330156210" /></a><div>My mom is flying in today and we are having a little party afterwards. Things have been so busy with the new lab that I haven't seen any of my school friends since February...<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I picked up my regalia this afternoon. They are just rentals but I hope to buy my own fancy set someday when I get a job and have my own students. Those things cost more than my rent! The day they are delivered, I am going to put on my wedding dress and my robes and just hang out around my house in the most expensive outfit I will ever wear. </div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-60565635838598105862009-05-10T11:21:00.003-04:002009-05-10T11:57:08.681-04:00Held hostageWhen I moved to Postdoc city, it was important for me to have a place where my pets would be welcome when Grackle had to travel for work. He is travelling this week so both cats and the dog are with me in my small apartment. Things seemed to be fine until the landpeople showed up this morning and now I am held hostage in my apartment. This is the first time that they have been here since the pets have been here and of course, they rang the doorbell and are very loud in the basement so the dog is going nuts. He is barking for the first time all week, whining, and running around. I was planning on going to lab and for a run but now as soon as I walk out the door the dog gets even louder and fairly annoying! When I was down in the basement with them, the landlady said that my dog must be clawing at the door. First, he is well trained and doesn't claw at doors. Second, he is 100 lbs and could break down the door if he wanted to. <div>So, here I sit, trying to keep my dog quiet and waiting for the landpeople to leave so that they don't freak out about noise or worse, come upstairs to see the zoo! Good thing I don't <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">have </span>to go to lab today...</div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2552034066883462544.post-70154530489342876212009-05-04T20:04:00.005-04:002009-05-07T15:09:55.299-04:00My non-worldWith my PI on maternity leave, the definition of my postdoc position as not-student and not-faculty has become obvious. Most of this come from intralab interactions. The students come to me to discuss experiments, get papers, ask questions, etc. instead of constantly emailing Rt-H.I even sign their time sheets! While it is great that I am getting a bit of mentoring experience, the fact that I am not faculty means that the students don't have to listen to me and have on a few occasions ignored my suggestions completely. Rt-H and I usually have the same suggestions so the students end up doing what I said anyways, but it is frustrating to be pestered by them all the time when they don't trust what I have to say. <div><br /><div>I'm also relied upon by Rt-H for experimental design assistance. Reading over a protocol, I found an error that would result in a fatal flaw in the design. After pointing this out to her and the students, there was a big email flurry to solve the issue. Since I am not the students doing the experiments, or the advisor I was not in on the solution. It took me two days to track down a student and get the story on the outcome.</div><div><br /></div><div>These things are just small annoyances really, but they make it clear that my position in the lab is very well, un-clear. Defining my place in the lab by all these things that I am not has got me me wondering exactly what I am in the lab...On a related note. Geez, grad students take up a lot of time!</div></div>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01514925011466117623noreply@blogger.com7