Like a waterfall in slow motion, Part One
2 years ago
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Moooo!
Just got some fun pictures from Lisa...Jocelynn is growing so fast! My sister says she cutting a tooth and is able to roll over both ways. My favorite picture is with the pumpkin, I love the attitude on her face!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Hate it, Love it
Hate it:
1. Cleaning up, then not being able to find a freakin thing.... it would help if i would organize my office, i know, but i can't find a school book and a new credit card and a few other important things that i would have been able to find if i wouldn't have cleaned up so well!!
2. Hanging things on the wall. After careful measuring by 3 people (yes it takes 2 ullevigs and a girvan) to hang up my curtains that i finally broke down and got after 4 years: they are crooked!!! And it's not like the living room curtains that are behind the couch, no, it has to be the curtains in the dinning room where it cannot hide! So I'm going to try to fix them soon, hopefully it won't take me another 4 years...I'm not sure i can take crooked curtains that long!
3. Wanted to work out, but being so tired, you couldn't even walk on the treadmill for 5 minutes, let alone 30 minutes. sigh
4. Being freakin bloated and tired. enough said....
Love it:
1. My new bamboo sheets! who would have thought bamboo could be so soft :) I decided to splurge on the new sheets because it's been 6.5 years and they are well worth the price.
2. Reading fiction books to relax. I really have enjoyed reading books lately, it's a great break from the real world that doesn't require too much brain power. Books I've read recently: the Rick Riordan series, Pride and Prejudice (finally!), and Janet Evanavich's 14th book, the Eragon series third book, Brisinger. i have great plans for reading the Twilight series, the Bone Collector series, more Jane Austin books and i have an urge to read some non-fiction biography's: Chelsey Handler, Obama, and others that seem funny or inspirational.
3. My laptop. It has been a recent addition, but I'm not sure how i lived without it. Nothing like watching TV and surfing the net...like now!
4. DVR!! I love fast forwarding through the commercials, i sometimes wait 30 minutes until after a show has started just so i can fast foward. If you don't have--get one, it will change your world!
My ending thought for tonight: Change is in the air!
1. Cleaning up, then not being able to find a freakin thing.... it would help if i would organize my office, i know, but i can't find a school book and a new credit card and a few other important things that i would have been able to find if i wouldn't have cleaned up so well!!
2. Hanging things on the wall. After careful measuring by 3 people (yes it takes 2 ullevigs and a girvan) to hang up my curtains that i finally broke down and got after 4 years: they are crooked!!! And it's not like the living room curtains that are behind the couch, no, it has to be the curtains in the dinning room where it cannot hide! So I'm going to try to fix them soon, hopefully it won't take me another 4 years...I'm not sure i can take crooked curtains that long!
3. Wanted to work out, but being so tired, you couldn't even walk on the treadmill for 5 minutes, let alone 30 minutes. sigh
4. Being freakin bloated and tired. enough said....
Love it:
1. My new bamboo sheets! who would have thought bamboo could be so soft :) I decided to splurge on the new sheets because it's been 6.5 years and they are well worth the price.
2. Reading fiction books to relax. I really have enjoyed reading books lately, it's a great break from the real world that doesn't require too much brain power. Books I've read recently: the Rick Riordan series, Pride and Prejudice (finally!), and Janet Evanavich's 14th book, the Eragon series third book, Brisinger. i have great plans for reading the Twilight series, the Bone Collector series, more Jane Austin books and i have an urge to read some non-fiction biography's: Chelsey Handler, Obama, and others that seem funny or inspirational.
3. My laptop. It has been a recent addition, but I'm not sure how i lived without it. Nothing like watching TV and surfing the net...like now!
4. DVR!! I love fast forwarding through the commercials, i sometimes wait 30 minutes until after a show has started just so i can fast foward. If you don't have--get one, it will change your world!
My ending thought for tonight: Change is in the air!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Contemplations: Scientific discovery or insanity, which comes first?
Insanity:
According to Webster's on-line dictionary:
1: a deranged state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder (as schizophrenia)
2: such unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding as prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or as removes one from criminal or civil responsibility
3 a: extreme folly or unreasonableness b: something utterly foolish or unreasonable
Einstein defined it as: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Einstein's definition is what made me contemplate this idea when my friend Corinne brought it to my attention after I told her of my lab frustrations.
Sometime I feel insane, repeating the same experiment over and over hoping for different results, results that will lead to some great discovery. So my thought is what is going to occur first: my great scientific discovery or going insane. Right now I'm thinking insane......
Maybe you have to be insane to make a significant discovery, to have relentless perseverance and unwavering determination. Scientists may not be brilliant and creative, but just plain insane. Have you ever heard someone describe someone as "crazy smart"....I'm thinking that person deep down may be insane.
So, I may need to strive to insanity, to have the drive to keep on going when most would stop, to keep on repeating and repeating and repeating to hopefully one day have some pay off that will lead to my graduation. I think coming to terms with the insanity may bring me peace. Peace, knowing that someday all the work and repetition will pay off and that maybe I'm not crazy in the science world. Maybe becoming insane will mean I've made it, that I'm where I belong.
Let's hope. If not, I'll just be crazy.
How I end all of my experiments:
Key findings: Science discovery may require insanity for sheer perseverance
Conclusions: Insanity leads to scientific discovery and I'm on the road to insanity
Future plans: Repeat, Repeat, Repeat....and pray.
According to Webster's on-line dictionary:
1: a deranged state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder (as schizophrenia)
2: such unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding as prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or as removes one from criminal or civil responsibility
3 a: extreme folly or unreasonableness b: something utterly foolish or unreasonable
Einstein defined it as: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Einstein's definition is what made me contemplate this idea when my friend Corinne brought it to my attention after I told her of my lab frustrations.
Sometime I feel insane, repeating the same experiment over and over hoping for different results, results that will lead to some great discovery. So my thought is what is going to occur first: my great scientific discovery or going insane. Right now I'm thinking insane......
Maybe you have to be insane to make a significant discovery, to have relentless perseverance and unwavering determination. Scientists may not be brilliant and creative, but just plain insane. Have you ever heard someone describe someone as "crazy smart"....I'm thinking that person deep down may be insane.
So, I may need to strive to insanity, to have the drive to keep on going when most would stop, to keep on repeating and repeating and repeating to hopefully one day have some pay off that will lead to my graduation. I think coming to terms with the insanity may bring me peace. Peace, knowing that someday all the work and repetition will pay off and that maybe I'm not crazy in the science world. Maybe becoming insane will mean I've made it, that I'm where I belong.
Let's hope. If not, I'll just be crazy.
How I end all of my experiments:
Key findings: Science discovery may require insanity for sheer perseverance
Conclusions: Insanity leads to scientific discovery and I'm on the road to insanity
Future plans: Repeat, Repeat, Repeat....and pray.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Romance anyone?
Do know what's weird? Listening to an audio romance book in your car....
I got two Janet Evanovich romance novels on CD from a friend. There wasn't anything good on the radio one morning and so I popped the first CD in and now I'm hooked on the story. Today was the first "romance" scene....and I felt a bit weird listening to the lady impersonating the male and female voices saying some things... well, that made me blush. I had to look around to make sure no one was watching me listen .......
But I have to finish the story to find how they catch the killer, hopefully there won't be too many more "detailed" scenes...
Happy driving,
The blushing commuter
I got two Janet Evanovich romance novels on CD from a friend. There wasn't anything good on the radio one morning and so I popped the first CD in and now I'm hooked on the story. Today was the first "romance" scene....and I felt a bit weird listening to the lady impersonating the male and female voices saying some things... well, that made me blush. I had to look around to make sure no one was watching me listen .......
But I have to finish the story to find how they catch the killer, hopefully there won't be too many more "detailed" scenes...
Happy driving,
The blushing commuter
Friday, October 10, 2008
CHICAGO!
Chicago was breathtaking. Toby and I loved it and are planning on going back to see everything we missed this trip.
I got in Friday at 5:00 and after taking an 1 hour cab ride from the airport to downtown we finally checked into our hotel, which was 1 block off of Michigan Ave (Magnificent Mile). The hotel was nice, but the lobby was a little crazy...it was very retro, with neon lights and crazy accessories, techno music playing in the background, and two gay clerks at the desk. I was wondering what type of hotel I booked-it was a Marriott-who would of thought they would have designed their lobby like a gay bar...Toby was a bit worried, but our room was a normal hotel room. That night we went walking down Michigan Ave and had some deep dish pizza a Giordano's. We had to wait about an hour, but it was worth it, sharing a Greek salad, appetizer, and a cheesy, meaty deep dish pizza. Toby and I could not even eat half of a small!!
Saturday was busy busy, but awesome. We started at 8:00 am out walking down Michigan Ave to Lake Michigan where tons of people were out waking and jogging. I loved the contrast between the city skyline and the lake. We then got to see the grand opening the American Girl store and walked around. I had one of these dolls growing up, so it was good to reminisce and see all the new things they had out for little girls (made me want to have one of my own...). We then took the Chicago Double Decker tour which was well worth the $60(for both of us). We got commentary of the architecture and city history while they drove us to various spots around the city. We were allowed to get off at any stop and walk around and just catch another bus. We ended up doing this tour from 9-5. We saw the Sears's Tower, Millennium Park (loved the cloud!), Theater District (where we had the Chicago dog!), the Art Museum, Soldier's Field, Navy Pier, Lake Michigan, Chicago River, and of course the Magnificent Mile. One of my favorite parts of Chicago was all the buildings, the architecture was beautiful and I loved the contrast of different styles. My favorite buildings were the Chicago Tribune building, the wave building, and Marina City building (corn). I loved walking everywhere, everything seemed so close and so accessible. We ended up picking up tickets to see Wicked that night (Toby's great spontaneous idea!), so we made a quick pit stop at the hotel to drop off our stuff and change and then off to dinner! We ate more deep dish pizza at Due's and it was of course delicious, Toby and I still were unable to finish a small even without appetizers! We then walked our way down to the Oriental Theater and saw Wicked. We both loved it! Then we walked back to our hotel, finally getting to rest at 11:00 pm. It was a perfect day in Chicago.
Sunday morning we only had time to walk down Michigan Ave to the Chicago River where I took yet again more pictures. We then had to head to the airport and leave Chicago behind. In our next trip we plan to hit the Museums (art, aquarium, planetarium, and field museums) and to actually make it up the Sears building, walk through Grants Park, take the Double Decker ethnic tour of Greek town, Little Italy, and China Town, and an architectural tour. We still have a lot to see!
I loved Chicago and can't wait to go back! Check out my flickr site and facebook (you don't have to have an account to see and there are more pictures on that site!)for my pictures!
I got in Friday at 5:00 and after taking an 1 hour cab ride from the airport to downtown we finally checked into our hotel, which was 1 block off of Michigan Ave (Magnificent Mile). The hotel was nice, but the lobby was a little crazy...it was very retro, with neon lights and crazy accessories, techno music playing in the background, and two gay clerks at the desk. I was wondering what type of hotel I booked-it was a Marriott-who would of thought they would have designed their lobby like a gay bar...Toby was a bit worried, but our room was a normal hotel room. That night we went walking down Michigan Ave and had some deep dish pizza a Giordano's. We had to wait about an hour, but it was worth it, sharing a Greek salad, appetizer, and a cheesy, meaty deep dish pizza. Toby and I could not even eat half of a small!!
Saturday was busy busy, but awesome. We started at 8:00 am out walking down Michigan Ave to Lake Michigan where tons of people were out waking and jogging. I loved the contrast between the city skyline and the lake. We then got to see the grand opening the American Girl store and walked around. I had one of these dolls growing up, so it was good to reminisce and see all the new things they had out for little girls (made me want to have one of my own...). We then took the Chicago Double Decker tour which was well worth the $60(for both of us). We got commentary of the architecture and city history while they drove us to various spots around the city. We were allowed to get off at any stop and walk around and just catch another bus. We ended up doing this tour from 9-5. We saw the Sears's Tower, Millennium Park (loved the cloud!), Theater District (where we had the Chicago dog!), the Art Museum, Soldier's Field, Navy Pier, Lake Michigan, Chicago River, and of course the Magnificent Mile. One of my favorite parts of Chicago was all the buildings, the architecture was beautiful and I loved the contrast of different styles. My favorite buildings were the Chicago Tribune building, the wave building, and Marina City building (corn). I loved walking everywhere, everything seemed so close and so accessible. We ended up picking up tickets to see Wicked that night (Toby's great spontaneous idea!), so we made a quick pit stop at the hotel to drop off our stuff and change and then off to dinner! We ate more deep dish pizza at Due's and it was of course delicious, Toby and I still were unable to finish a small even without appetizers! We then walked our way down to the Oriental Theater and saw Wicked. We both loved it! Then we walked back to our hotel, finally getting to rest at 11:00 pm. It was a perfect day in Chicago.
Sunday morning we only had time to walk down Michigan Ave to the Chicago River where I took yet again more pictures. We then had to head to the airport and leave Chicago behind. In our next trip we plan to hit the Museums (art, aquarium, planetarium, and field museums) and to actually make it up the Sears building, walk through Grants Park, take the Double Decker ethnic tour of Greek town, Little Italy, and China Town, and an architectural tour. We still have a lot to see!
I loved Chicago and can't wait to go back! Check out my flickr site and facebook (you don't have to have an account to see and there are more pictures on that site!)for my pictures!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Bloggin it up
So i thought I'd be better at this blogging thing, at least more regular about it, but it hasn't worked out that way. Here's how it usually goes: on the drive home i think about my day and some days I think...I'm going to blog about this. I think about how I'm going to set up my blogs and what I'm going to say and then i get home....and it never happens. I need my thoughts to be transcribed to a digital media so i can just upload to my blog....
So I'm bloggin it up tonight! Katlynn is sleeping, I've got a Bacardi mojito at my side, and a movie on the tele and I'm ready to blog!
I thought i would fill in the blanks since my last blog around June with the significant events since then (excluding my parenting experiences as in my previous blog: "You can call my Mama Ullevig").
July...
was consumed with grant writing. My mentor wanted me to apply for a NIH (National Institutes of Health) predoctoral grant-which is great opportunity for me to get my research funded and would put me a good position to find a nice job when i got done. All fine in dandy but I learned some things about grant writing:
1. It sucks.
2. It sucks up all my free time.
3. It sucks all the energy I might have to do anything else.
4. It sucks. More than anything I've done before.
So that was my July. I'll let you know if I get it! All that sucking may pay off....no pun, no pun at all....
August...
i got a vacation! I visited Lisa and Jocelynn with my Mom the second week of August and it was a much needed break from July. I got to spend lots time with the baby :) and relaxing and reading. It was great. See some pictures of that trip below:
September...
school starts...ugh. It's not going too bad, i have class Mon and Fri morning and then i have to tutor medical students taking biochemistry every other 6 weeks. No to bad. the rest of the time I'm in lab working my butt of to ensure I'm going to be done in 4 years!!!
Lisa also visited with the baby this month and it was great. She had changed so much just since the time I'm saw her in August. More pics below:
The future:
October is going to be exciting. I start off going to Chicago with Toby for the weekend. He is going for the week for work training and then I'm meeting up with him. I've never been to Chicago, but I can't wait even if it's only for a weekend! We're planning going to Fright Fest with Katlynn and Sam, hopefully also getting her for Halloween to take her trick or treating! Also going to attend the jewelry party in Austin at Ellen's new place and I'm going to try to swing in a trip into Ikea :) Toby is expected to get a large raise and I've already got plans for the money!
The rest of the Fall is going to be consumed with dissertation committees, and Free radical meeting in Indianapolis (why couldn't it be someplace cool?) and end of semester school crap. So I'm going to relax in October and brace for the end of the semester and keep my nose to the grind stone until December. We found out this at Lisa's last visit that she is coming in December moving in with my parents while Scott is deployed to Afghanistan until August. We're excited to have her and Jocelyn and sad to see Scott go. So Spring will be filled with Jocelyn!
Just call me Mama Ullevig (no i'm not pregnant!!)
So as most of you know, Josh (Toby's brother) moved in with us at the end of June. We were giving him an opportunity to live bill free and get his "stuff" together for a "couple" of months. So in this deal we decided to get our niece every other weekend for Josh's custody for many reasons among which to give her a chance to see our side of the family more than a couple of times a year. Toby and I spend most of the weekend she is here with her because Josh works at night and sleeps during the say so we have a test run as parents to a three year old.....which is challenging to say the least. We have had to take on more of a parent role...I've abandoned the thought that i could be "fun aunt Sarah".... I am definitely not! It doesn't help she's at a tough age that needs a lot of discipline, so we have become the disciplinarians....only if she listens, if we are lucky. i love hearing "get out of my face", "leave me alone, get out of my life", and my favorite "I don't have to listen to your because you're not my mom (dad)"....sigh....
But I've had my true test this weekend, that not only proves how much I love the little girl, not only to put up with her attitude every other weekend, but to have her in my house with the constant abuse of my authority...
Katlynn has lice and has had it for awhile. I'll let it sink in...
If your like me, your head is already itching at the thought, but the feeling still doesn't go away after the second lice treatment.
So the story starts at 6:30pm Friday when I'm pulling in the drive way, just getting home from work and Lori (Katlynn's mom) calls and says she on her way to drop off Katlynn. I grab the car seat from the garage and head on my way, still on the phone with Lori. She says "did Josh tell you about Katlynn?" I say no. Oh, she has lice and needs treatment this weekend and has had it for awhile off and on and they haven't been able to get rid of it. I'm thinking in my head...should i tell her never mind, we don't want licey Katlynn? And why in the hell weren't we told this a long time ago, like the first time she had it? But i bite my tongue and pick buggy Katlynn up. Lori and i go shopping at Walmart to buy lice treatment along with new brushes and lice spray. There in the store I get to see my first lice in Katlynn's hair. She then tells me Katlynn has had this little problem for a month.....
Scratch, scratch, scratch...
We treated her Friday night. Toby and I examined each other like gorillas in the wild and we were lice free! Saturday we washed all sheets, comforters, and pillows that may have come into contact with her during her visits. I'm still in the process of washing pillows....
Scratch, scratch, scratch...
We did our second treatment tonight although they say it's not necessary, i say it's necessary. Toby and I again inspected each other and we seem to be okay. So far so good. Although the instructions with the medication say we should inspect for 10 days!!! I might be washing my sheets, comforter, and pillows daily..... And cutting my hair if i come down with the lice infiltration....
Scratch, scratch, scratch....
So to change the subject....
Besides having the experience of having a 3 year old twice a month, I fondly called Josh our teenage son. He has a mind of his own, is living off us for free, doesn't listen to our advice, and we bought a car for him. Yeah, Toby and i are getting our experience in child rearing for a wide range of ages. I'm forseeing his "couple" months turning into a year....I'm taking bets if anyone is interested....
So just call me Mama Ullevig, I think I've earned the title...
But I've had my true test this weekend, that not only proves how much I love the little girl, not only to put up with her attitude every other weekend, but to have her in my house with the constant abuse of my authority...
Katlynn has lice and has had it for awhile. I'll let it sink in...
If your like me, your head is already itching at the thought, but the feeling still doesn't go away after the second lice treatment.
So the story starts at 6:30pm Friday when I'm pulling in the drive way, just getting home from work and Lori (Katlynn's mom) calls and says she on her way to drop off Katlynn. I grab the car seat from the garage and head on my way, still on the phone with Lori. She says "did Josh tell you about Katlynn?" I say no. Oh, she has lice and needs treatment this weekend and has had it for awhile off and on and they haven't been able to get rid of it. I'm thinking in my head...should i tell her never mind, we don't want licey Katlynn? And why in the hell weren't we told this a long time ago, like the first time she had it? But i bite my tongue and pick buggy Katlynn up. Lori and i go shopping at Walmart to buy lice treatment along with new brushes and lice spray. There in the store I get to see my first lice in Katlynn's hair. She then tells me Katlynn has had this little problem for a month.....
Scratch, scratch, scratch...
We treated her Friday night. Toby and I examined each other like gorillas in the wild and we were lice free! Saturday we washed all sheets, comforters, and pillows that may have come into contact with her during her visits. I'm still in the process of washing pillows....
Scratch, scratch, scratch...
We did our second treatment tonight although they say it's not necessary, i say it's necessary. Toby and I again inspected each other and we seem to be okay. So far so good. Although the instructions with the medication say we should inspect for 10 days!!! I might be washing my sheets, comforter, and pillows daily..... And cutting my hair if i come down with the lice infiltration....
Scratch, scratch, scratch....
So to change the subject....
Besides having the experience of having a 3 year old twice a month, I fondly called Josh our teenage son. He has a mind of his own, is living off us for free, doesn't listen to our advice, and we bought a car for him. Yeah, Toby and i are getting our experience in child rearing for a wide range of ages. I'm forseeing his "couple" months turning into a year....I'm taking bets if anyone is interested....
So just call me Mama Ullevig, I think I've earned the title...
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Trip to OG
The last trip to OG was sure memorable....we celebrated Carilee and Meghan's new job like we were 21....well maybe 25, but definitely not 28!!!!
Friday night was spent dancing at Club Robbins, Saturday chillin at the beach and watching movies, and then finished it up with a trip to the Aquarium Sunday.
The only thing that could have been better about this weekend was having Schwenk there, the missing person in our posse! We might have to have a replay and break in her new house with Club Shumate!
Below are some highlights of Club Robbins that I can't resist posting.....Love you Meghan and Colleen!! (the audio is bad--my only excuse is tequila)
Check out pictures of this weekend at my flicker site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23257648@N00/
Friday night was spent dancing at Club Robbins, Saturday chillin at the beach and watching movies, and then finished it up with a trip to the Aquarium Sunday.
The only thing that could have been better about this weekend was having Schwenk there, the missing person in our posse! We might have to have a replay and break in her new house with Club Shumate!
Below are some highlights of Club Robbins that I can't resist posting.....Love you Meghan and Colleen!! (the audio is bad--my only excuse is tequila)
Check out pictures of this weekend at my flicker site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23257648@N00/
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Fun with Bobie and Sarah
We had Katlynn this weekend and it was a lot of fun, but also exhausting--that 3 year old had so much energy, we went to the park, had ice cream, went downtown and road the river boat, had a water gun fight and more....it was a busy weekend! Here are some of my favorite pictures!
SeeSaw! Josh and I were on the other end!
Just the girls!
Just the girls!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
10 year flashback
So.....I went to my 10 year high school reunion this Saturday and there are a few things I realized.... (besides that I'm freakin old....)
1. I'm so glad I'm not in high school anymore.
I realized the person I used to be with these people is not who I am now. I used to be shy, withdrawn, and unsure of myself and I still feel like I can be those things occasionally, but for the most part I feel like I know who I am and I'm not afraid to be that person, which is a great feeling.
2. A big %&#$ hurricane can make any situation fun!
This reunion would have been a little dull if it weren't for the alcohol that made everyone look great, made me feel like I looked great, encouraged dancing and socialization even with people I didn't know! WooHoo--go rum! (hopefully I'll have some great drunk pictures soon...)
3. I have great friends and a great husband.
I realized that the friends I've kept along the years are the best ever and I don't need to go to a reunion to see who I've missed out on, but to see what I do have right now. This reunion would have been dull, even with the alcohol if it wasn't for Sarah and Rachael--they were the best part of the reunion!
There were some people that I enjoyed talking to and catching up with, even exchanged numbers with an old friend and we're going to meet up for dinner soon, so all in all it was a good night.
Today's word
verdure \VUR-jur\, noun:Green; greenness; freshness of vegetation; as, the verdure of the meadows in June
http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2008/06/17.html
"The grass is always more verdure on the other side" haha
1. I'm so glad I'm not in high school anymore.
I realized the person I used to be with these people is not who I am now. I used to be shy, withdrawn, and unsure of myself and I still feel like I can be those things occasionally, but for the most part I feel like I know who I am and I'm not afraid to be that person, which is a great feeling.
2. A big %&#$ hurricane can make any situation fun!
This reunion would have been a little dull if it weren't for the alcohol that made everyone look great, made me feel like I looked great, encouraged dancing and socialization even with people I didn't know! WooHoo--go rum! (hopefully I'll have some great drunk pictures soon...)
3. I have great friends and a great husband.
I realized that the friends I've kept along the years are the best ever and I don't need to go to a reunion to see who I've missed out on, but to see what I do have right now. This reunion would have been dull, even with the alcohol if it wasn't for Sarah and Rachael--they were the best part of the reunion!
There were some people that I enjoyed talking to and catching up with, even exchanged numbers with an old friend and we're going to meet up for dinner soon, so all in all it was a good night.
Today's word
verdure \VUR-jur\, noun:Green; greenness; freshness of vegetation; as, the verdure of the meadows in June
http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2008/06/17.html
"The grass is always more verdure on the other side" haha
Monday, June 2, 2008
May Reflections
So May was a crazy busy month that put my brain and skills to the test. There are some key things I learned about myself and also somethings that hopefully will enlighten you all.
1. Dry ice burns like a mother....
I'm sure your thinking....duh, don't you know dry ice burns? Why yes i do, but you really don't get the full understanding until you actually burn yourself...which i did. Sad thing, i was really trying to be careful, i had gloves on, was digging through it with a metal spatula, trying to get to the goodies inside (lab supplies..of course) and didn't realized that while i was digging, my arm was getting burned-my arm below the gloves. To add insult to injury, i possibly may have overreacted to the severity of my burn (you're surprised right?!?) , but the Chinese research assistant reassured me it was fine, while he applied antiseptic and bandages to my cold, burnt arm. To my defense it did burn and sting for the next couple of hours and i had to wear jacket that day so no one would ask about my band aids. Good news though, my arm is fine and I just have a tiny mark to show for it that fades more each day. Hopefully this will be the last of my lab injuries....
2. The last 4 weeks of school is to working out like oil is to water
I was so proud of myself in March/April time--i was biking riding, running on the tread mill, kept up with my working out....I even road in my first biking event: the Fiesta Wildflower Ride http://www.fiestawildflower.com/ and road 25 miles in 2 hrs, 6 mins, a new record for me! Well the end of April, school got the best of me and my regular work out routine went out the window. I am still trying to get back into it, with a 20 mile ride with Colleen and Jeff 2 weekends ago--I survived it , but barely! So I"m hoping to get back into the game soon....very soon....
3. Maybe having a kid won't be soo bad....
After vicariously living through my sister having a baby and seeing that she survived and all is well, maybe better than well, i might be changing my mind about the whole baby thing....we'll see.
4. Negative feedback doesn't motivate me, it just upsets me
I am much better with constructive criticism....and i think there is a big difference. I got some feedback on one of my assignments that rubbed me the wrong way, i know this is my first year of graduate school and there is no way I'm going to be great at everything i do, i realize this, really i do, sometimes I'm too hard on myself. But i really don't like feeling like i let someone down, and trust me, i let myself down enough because i didn't do as well as a should have. I know they wanted me to take this feedback and learn from it and motivate me to do better, but it really didn't. But i did feel better after i approached them and asked for more feedback and talked to them face to face where i was told "it was good." Oh well, I'm just going to chalk it up to a first year blunder, and the fact that i tried my best is enough for me.
So I decided to end each blog with with a new vocabulary word, because for a PhD candidate my vocabulary sucks! So we'll all learn to be eloquent and use impressive words together!
http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2008/06/10.html
surfeit \SUR-fit\, noun:1. An excessive amount or supply.2. Overindulgence, as in food or drink.3. Disgust caused by overindulgence or excess.
transitive verb:1. To feed or supply to excess.
"My lack of working out and surfeit amount of sweets last week did not help my weight maintenance plan!" and oh was this so true.......
1. Dry ice burns like a mother....
I'm sure your thinking....duh, don't you know dry ice burns? Why yes i do, but you really don't get the full understanding until you actually burn yourself...which i did. Sad thing, i was really trying to be careful, i had gloves on, was digging through it with a metal spatula, trying to get to the goodies inside (lab supplies..of course) and didn't realized that while i was digging, my arm was getting burned-my arm below the gloves. To add insult to injury, i possibly may have overreacted to the severity of my burn (you're surprised right?!?) , but the Chinese research assistant reassured me it was fine, while he applied antiseptic and bandages to my cold, burnt arm. To my defense it did burn and sting for the next couple of hours and i had to wear jacket that day so no one would ask about my band aids. Good news though, my arm is fine and I just have a tiny mark to show for it that fades more each day. Hopefully this will be the last of my lab injuries....
2. The last 4 weeks of school is to working out like oil is to water
I was so proud of myself in March/April time--i was biking riding, running on the tread mill, kept up with my working out....I even road in my first biking event: the Fiesta Wildflower Ride http://www.fiestawildflower.com/ and road 25 miles in 2 hrs, 6 mins, a new record for me! Well the end of April, school got the best of me and my regular work out routine went out the window. I am still trying to get back into it, with a 20 mile ride with Colleen and Jeff 2 weekends ago--I survived it , but barely! So I"m hoping to get back into the game soon....very soon....
3. Maybe having a kid won't be soo bad....
After vicariously living through my sister having a baby and seeing that she survived and all is well, maybe better than well, i might be changing my mind about the whole baby thing....we'll see.
4. Negative feedback doesn't motivate me, it just upsets me
I am much better with constructive criticism....and i think there is a big difference. I got some feedback on one of my assignments that rubbed me the wrong way, i know this is my first year of graduate school and there is no way I'm going to be great at everything i do, i realize this, really i do, sometimes I'm too hard on myself. But i really don't like feeling like i let someone down, and trust me, i let myself down enough because i didn't do as well as a should have. I know they wanted me to take this feedback and learn from it and motivate me to do better, but it really didn't. But i did feel better after i approached them and asked for more feedback and talked to them face to face where i was told "it was good." Oh well, I'm just going to chalk it up to a first year blunder, and the fact that i tried my best is enough for me.
So I decided to end each blog with with a new vocabulary word, because for a PhD candidate my vocabulary sucks! So we'll all learn to be eloquent and use impressive words together!
http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2008/06/10.html
surfeit \SUR-fit\, noun:1. An excessive amount or supply.2. Overindulgence, as in food or drink.3. Disgust caused by overindulgence or excess.
transitive verb:1. To feed or supply to excess.
"My lack of working out and surfeit amount of sweets last week did not help my weight maintenance plan!" and oh was this so true.......
Weekend getaway
Here are some of my favorite pics from this weekend in San Clemente, California. Lisa, Scott, and baby are doing really well and Aunt Sarah got to help out and take the Sat morning 3:30-7:30 shift and the Sun morning 4:00-8:00 shift--just getting in some practice! See more pictures of baby Jocelyn at my flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/23257648@N00/.Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Oh BABY!!!
Great news for my first blog: I'm an aunt today! Lisa had her first baby a few hours ago, 8 pounds, 1 ounce, 20 inches long-Jocelyn Grace Smith. I spoke to her and she sounded great, said it was easier than she thought...if we could all be so lucky! I will post pictures soon. I am headed to California to visit this Friday and I can't wait!
So I've joined the world of blogging, and I've finally decided to start one to document my experience of going through a PhD program and to share some of my new great knowledge! So i will post again soon with some great words of wisdom...ha.
So I've joined the world of blogging, and I've finally decided to start one to document my experience of going through a PhD program and to share some of my new great knowledge! So i will post again soon with some great words of wisdom...ha.
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