random bits

We finally had some warm weather so I was using my fossil rock to prop open the door. Of course the next morning I forgot it was there so I walked into it, ouch!

I had a decent week for data collection so I am very happy about that. I spent most of yesterday doing the very early but necessary sorting of each file. Today I'm doing some more insertions of timestamps, a never ending job!

We also did a fairly large lab procedure this week and our 2nd year grad student asked me at the end why our PI always had me help her do all the "real stuff" (ie. remaining sterile and actually doing part of the procedure rather than holding the flashlight, or handing over syringes etc). I said it was because she asked me too. Which is true but also because I have the most experience w/ this sort of thing and she can say, you do this half and ignore me, I'll work on this half over here. I've had practice doing some of the stuff we did and I anticipate what she needs next so doesn't have to ask me a over and over, get that, move there etc. Also, when she does ask for something I usually understand what it is, and don't ask, "what?" all the time. I didn't say all of that of course. He said he really wants to "take my spot" when I leave the lab next year. That's fine I'm glad he is interested, but in that case maybe he should have been there when we started at 1 pm, observing, helping, learning and not just showing up after 4 pm! Saying Wow, you were doing that?! (I did tell him what we were doing ahead of time, in advance so it wasn't like he didn't know it was going on)

quite sunday

I like working on Sunday's when no one else is in the lab. The quiet is lovely. I don't plan on working too long today though. I started some laundry and I should help E with the rest of it.

I don't have much else exciting news. I got to visit with a friend who was back in town yesterday, which was really nice and we went to a friend of a friend's BBQ last night so that was fun too! I felt a little out of place but they were friendly people so it worked out okay. I'm just so sleepy today even though I got to sleep in.

oh Spring where are you?

It is another day below 40 and rainy. I'm so cold inside. I wish it would warm up a little. I would really like to be able to put my pea coat and sweaters away for a bit.

Happy Easter! E and I went to see my parents for the holiday. We made our traditional pysanky eggs and relaxed. We brought back guitar hero again so my dad could play w/ us. He really has fun w/ it and he finally has newer tv, so it was even better! My mom is not really a fan but she was okay because of the craft stuff we were doing. Sunday after church and a big lunch, I played poker w/ my parents and three grandparents. Every round was a different kind, shadylady, 8 card clover wild fours, 7 hand hi,low, consec etc. It was a little confusing at first and I almost ran out of chips but then I got the hang of it and won a few hands. It was fun to watch my grandparents having fun. We all put in $0.50 to play so it was low stakes, but they took it pretty seriously.

Accepted!

Yay the paper I re-submitted was accepted! I'm happy that they took it!!!
Now I really need to force myself to get busy writing up a different set of data.

Spring cleaning!

I'm still around I've just been very busy. I had to give a talk to my department this week and I feel like it went pretty well overall. I got an email from on professor saying "Good Job!" so that made me really happy.

I spent tons of time coding, organizing, and analyzing data to trying to get ready for my talk so I had very little time for anything else. Data collection is slow and tedious and being in the lab is frustrating in the day to day. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time, get what I need and keep moving forward.

I also finally re-submitted a paper this week so I hope they accept it this time. I really do not want to re-read it again! Does anyone else get so sick of their own project by the end they don't think anyone will want to read it? That is what I sort of feel like, but I'm just hoping they take it so I don't have to think about it anymore.

Last weekend I drove south to visit an old friend to attend her bridal shower. I had a lot of fun and it was nice to get out of town. I felt a little awkward as a storm kept me there an extra day, and her family was there so I felt like I was crashing family time. But they were all super sweet and welcoming. We played games and went out for Mexican food, so it was almost like going home to see my own family :)

This weekend E and I attacked our living room and kitchen. We finally went through piles of stacked up paper work, old bills etc and cleaned them out. I also organized some of our entertainment area and we cleaned thoroughly. It is really nice to have a neat and tidy space, I wonder how long it will last? I went to the lab for a few hours and then we made paella and had a couple of guys over to watch the NCAA tournament.