Simple ramblings

Update

2007-05-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

For those of you that don't already know. I am going to get married. :) Any more details you should email me. :) I just thought I'd share my happy news.

Prayer Request

2007-03-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

My niece is having problems - not sure how major it is but when she swallows every so often some food will go into her lungs. This makes her congested, she has had Dr. appointments and will have more probably. Please keep her and my family in your prayers. I hope it gets better and God heals her without her having to have any surgery.

update

2007-03-09T22:44:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd let people know I'm still here. Nothing much is new. Still working. Still commuting. Still getting sick but not that bad. Still dating Donoven. It is actually getting close to being a year. :).

I have the cutest niece ever. She is almost 3 months old. I know some people might argue about the cutest but it's my opinion.

All for now.

I'm an aunt!

2006-12-26T20:41:00.000-08:00

My brother and his wife have a baby girl :) I get to see her next week!

Electricity

2006-12-26T20:25:00.000-08:00

You may have heard about the big wind storm in my area. We lost power at our apartment early Friday morning and didn't get it back till the following Thurs. Morning. It was not fun. The first few days were ok. Stayed at my boyfriends house - he lives with his aunt and they had a warm fire place. His cousin and husband and Donoven and I slept in the living room where the fire place was. Was livable for a while. Fortunately another cousin of Donovens still had power and let us come over and take showers and charge our phones. I need to get a car charger for my new phone still. Donoven got power back at his place before me so that was nice even though I didn't have power at least I could stay where there was some and it was warm. I don't like living in an area where the power company services so many people there were more than a million out of power. The worst thing was the people that died due to carbon monoxide poisoning - mostly immigrants that didn't speak or read English well so they didn't know the dangers of using generators or charcoal grills inside. But now people have power back except for a few that evidently need repairs made to their houses not the powerlines coming in.

Happy Thanksgiving

2006-11-23T11:27:00.000-08:00

I am thankful it is thanksgiving. :) Even though I only get today off its a nice break in the week. Tomorrow being 'black Friday' traffic should only be slow around the mall exits. So it doesn't bother me too much to have to work. I could have used my floating holiday but left that day open for others to use - they need it more than me. I'm going to be sneaky and use mine the day after new years when I was already planning on being gone. Saves me an extra paid vacation day.

Hope everyone enjoys their thanksgiving and has lots of left over Turkey for yummy sandwiches.

long time

2006-11-09T20:01:00.000-08:00

Yes it has been a long time. Since my last post I have done some cool stuff. I went to a Mariners game. The home opener of the Seahawks. Now I just have to go to a Sonics game and I will have gone to all of them. But would still be more interested in going to a Blazers game.

As far as recent news we have had record rain and it has flooded areas around here. Right now it's died down but suposed to come back. Hope it doesn't get too bad traffic sucks when it rains too much.

Healthy again and almost 'normal'

2006-07-29T22:31:00.000-07:00

So two weeks ago Friday I finally was feeling better but didn't go to work. I got up around 10 and noticed spots on my forearms. Not too much latter I noticed them pretty much all over me. My roommate said it looked like a rash so I figured it was probably an allergic reaction to the antibiotic I was on. I called the clinic and they told me to stop taking it (Duh) and to go to the ER if I had problems breathing. My mouth and upper lip swelled a bit. I took some antihistimine seemed to help a bit with the swelling but not much. The next day I was worse so ended up going to a clinic again. They gave me a shot and put me on steroids. It helped with the swelling. But even now I still have some spots on my belly and back.

Next thing I might get my tonsils out. I keep getting told that I need to get them out. Considering I was sick with swollen tonsils for almost two weeks I am leaning towards getting them out. Not looking forward to it though. Will see how things go. Right now I'm happy to be healthy again despite some spots.

Sick

2006-07-06T14:59:00.000-07:00

I have tonsillitis... I came home early on Monday and haven't been back to work since. I had gone to the Doctors on Friday afternoon and was prescribed Antibiotics for the swelling in my tonsils come Sunday I was only getting worse went to the ER and they just upped my Penicillian prescription and gave me a popsicle. So Monday after surviving half a day at work I left to go home. Got some herbal remodies that the natropath at my work suggested. That didn't help so Wed. I made an appointment with another doctor. They figured that since the antibiotics weren't helping I for sure didn't have strep or else I would have been feeling better by then. So they gave me a couple of shots (stronger antibiotic and steriods - for swelling) and sent me on to an ear, nose and throat specialist. He said that I probably had viral tonsilitis other wise antibiotics would have helped me. and if I wanted I could get my tonsils out but he suggested waiting and if I get this again then to get them out. (I heard that before back in the first years of high school) So for now no surgery. Maybe if I get sick again soon...

So I've been sitting at home all day watching first season of Friends. Might get through the whole season by the end of the week. Not planing on getting back to work till Monday at the soonest. I don't want to spread my fun to other people.

A what? I've never heard of it.

2006-04-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

That is the most common thing I hear when I tell people what my new car is. A Yaris. I did feel a bit rushed as far as picking it out since my camry was going through about a quart of oil a day (70 miles). Over all I think I got a good deal (someone else could have gotten better - oh well). Maybe someday I'll end up with someone who will buy my cars for me... hehe. Anyway thats my news for now.

Car update

2006-04-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

My car is evil. If I was to do anything to it, it would need the engine rebuilt... more $ than I want to put into it. Looking at getting something new. Something with good gas mileage - seriously considering a Yaris... Test drove a couple today. Will talk money with them soon. Keep this in your prayers :).

Car issues

2006-03-30T20:32:00.000-08:00

For a while now I've noticed oil spots where I park at work. Last week I noticed my oil light blink on for a split second when I went up a hill. Ended up being 3 quarts low. NOT good. So now I have an appointment to get it looked at. Hopefully it won't be serious but will just have to wait and see. So don't be surprised if you see more posts on my car. Makes me consider getting something new or newer. I was looking at hybrids on the internet when my parents were here - my dad thinks they are still too new to be trusted. A girl at work today suggested a Yaris (its a Toyota), I hadn't heard of them. Its not a hybrid but it gets good gas mileage. Looked at their specs tonight - small car but kinda cute. I don't like the hatch back though at least not from the pics. I think the sedan is better looking than the Prius I think they are ugly... although mostly just the back end. If I had unlimited funds I think I'd go for a Honda Civic hybrid. They look more normal. Of course if I had unlimited funds I wouldn't care about gas mileage :).

In other news. At work they mentioned research again. Will see if and when it gets implemented but now I know I am one of the chosen to be rotated in when it starts (this is impressive when you factor in that I am a newbie and not everyone is getting rotated in at least not at this point). Will keep you posted as things develop.

Thai Go

2006-03-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

There is a good Thai place in the Northgate mall (relatively close to where I work). I stoped there on my way home but didn't eat till I got home. I had Red Curry chicken and fried rice and some other type of chicken. The curry spilt out of the container into the plastic bag I am so thankful for that bad. Otherwise my car would permanetly smell like curry. I like Thai food. MMMM even have left overs for tomorrows lunch.

Completely connected

2006-02-15T22:10:00.000-08:00

My (our - Sarah and I) friend is here visiting - he is actually moving up here to Tacoma. Tonight we went to bestbuy and got a router and he hooked it up for us. So now I am completely connected to the internet and our connection is secure.
Keith if I had read your message earlier I probably would have taken you up on it but oh well... gotta spend my money on something I guess. :)

Now I can spend countless hours on my laptop where ever I want (with in range). I can waste time on the computer while watching tv even.

It is past my bedtime - but wanted to share my good news.

Post Super Bowl Depression

2006-02-09T21:43:00.000-08:00

So most people in Seattle are probably getting over their post Super Bowl depression. I had some and I know I did my share of yelling during the game (both at the players to 'go' and the refs to 'stop'). Was fun to watch it with a bunch of people all routing for the Hawks (although I know one is really a Patriots fan but they suck so...). I say they will do it next year. Matt Hasselbeck said he will do whatever it takes. Hopefully the owner Paul Allen will do the right thing about keeping key players. I'm sure he has enough money to keep them... Alexander for one, and Jurevicius another. There are a couple others but I'd be sad to see them go. My friend Melissa (with whom I watched most of the games with this season) and I want to get Tubbs jerseys. He's a defensive tackle - we mostly like him because of his name. I just looked at his stats and realized that I'm older than him. That doesn't make me feel young. :P

We have internet although my computer has yet to be connected - my roommate has a router but am thinking about getting a wireless one - any one have any input?

Other than that I have been working. Gotta keep the money coming in :). Starting in March - at latest the 11th I'm going to be starting at 7 rather than 7:30. A lot of the work is in the afternoon and since in the winter I don't want to work late on Fridays because of the Sabbath I will have the early morning shift. I think this will work out nicer. I think the traffic going both to and from work will be a bit lighter. I have yet to find out for sure. Although I did leave a bit early on Monday (or was it Tuesday?) to see if it made a difference (I think it did). Will eventually see if leaving 1/2 hour earlier will make a difference in my commute time going home. I am guessing it will. I am also guessing I will only have to leave 15 minutes earlier than I do now because when I leave on time I get to work ~15 minutes early. I'm turning into an early bird like my dad but I think if I had my choice I'd be a night owl like my mom. Go figure.

I'm still alive

2006-01-26T18:51:00.000-08:00

I haven't been connected to the internet in a while - well actually was on Sunday - but since then I've not been able to get my 'free' connection. So now I'm at the library. I have no excuse for not posting before that... who ever was donating the wireless connection had it on most of the time so I was able to connect but possibly they are gone. We (roommate and I) are hoping to get our own connection soon. Will see how that goes.

Oh hey - Who is going to the Super Bowl? Oh yeah! SEAHAWKS. Woo hoo. It is going to be a good game. Hawks are considered the underdogs - I think they will win. There is a lot of hoopla going on here in the area. I'm sure there is in Pittsburgh too. One of the radio stations I listen to made a song (tune is a song by the Gorillas) and it keeps getting requested. If any one wants to hear it (although it has added bits now - says mix 92.5 in the song where normally it wouldn't) its at http://mix925.com/morning.asp something to waste time with. :)

So that's it for now.

Close to Work

2005-12-08T21:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday and today I discovered three things close to work that I didn't know were there before. Yesterday I heard a radio commercial for a Christian book store it said it was on Aurora Ave (Street one block over from where I work) in Shoreline (just up the road from where I work). So after work I decided to drive up the road a ways see if I saw it and if not then just go home. Well I drove up maybe 4 blocks and saw a Joann. I stopped to see if they had some scrapbook paper my friend was looking for. As soon as I parked and got out I saw that the Christian book store was next door to Joanns! Along the way I also spotted a Taco Bell I didn't know there was one that close to work so that made me happy too. The third place I am excited about is the Post office. Just a couple blocks up. Now if I need to get something in the mail quickly I know where I can go after work. Will be nice when I mail packages which I need to do seeing as I won't see my grandparents for Christmas. And I might get ambitious and send some goodies to people :).

Seahawks

2005-12-05T21:25:00.000-08:00

Being born and raised in OR and not having any pro sports team except the Blazers to cheer for, I'm enjoying cheering for the Seahawks. Friends that have lived here for a long time tell me not to get too excited. I know how that goes from cheering on the Blazers who always seemed to make it to the play offs and then choke. But the Seahawks seem to be doing really good. (Just note I won't start cheering for the Sonics over the Blazers.) Tonight if any one doesn't know and is curious. The Seahawks just beat Philadelphia Eagles 42-0. I only watched the first 2 and a half quarters attentively. After that it was a given they were going to win. I have a friend Melissa that lives down the way, we have been watching the games together – she is the one telling me that they will probably eventually choke… But none the less Go Seahawks!

Snow

2005-12-01T21:59:00.000-08:00

Yep it snowed in Seattle. They news kept saying it was going to and now it came true. About 10:30 it started and never quit by the time I left work. Was pretty but cold and made for a long commute. (Although I-5 was clear, just wet.) Looking forward to tomorrow - ice?

Car

2005-11-16T19:26:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful I don't live in Seattle. I just registered my car for less than 80. If I lived in Seattle it would be over 200 I think. They had a sticker tax for the monorail. Although after the last elections the monorail will never come to life. Voters turned it down. Even though it is not going to be built people living in Seattle will still have the higher tab price for the next couple of years until the debt is paid off. So now I have WA plates. I won't look like an outsider anymore. My license plate cover is still the one that came with my car. Has a CA dealer name on it. I didn't take it off - actually purposefully put it back on when I changed my plates. Maybe someday I'll get something cool but for now I would rather have that than a naked license plate. Now I'll just have to come up with a way to memorize my plates. :)

Slow reading and traffic

2005-11-02T20:10:00.000-08:00

I am almost done with the biography of Rosiland Franklin I mentioned earlier... Considering I have only been reading during my breaks at work I'm making decent progress. One thing I read in there was about how she asked some people in the US on one of her visits a question that was on one of the standardized tests in where she grew up... what are the next two letters in the sequence ottffss... I looked at the answer on the bottom of the page and felt stupid. Do any of you know it? Maybe I just didn't think hard enough?

Work is still going well. Traffic varies, we've been getting rain recently and people have short memories of how to drive in the rain. So the first day it rains there are lots of accidents. Then if it rains for a few days everything is fine. Then it will stop raining and rain a few days later and repeat the cycle. It gets annoying. One good thing about the rain is that we are getting snow in the mountains. Will see if I get out to go skiing but I like the option.

Quick update

2005-10-12T21:52:00.000-07:00

I am still working and am fortunate to find that I don't dread going to work. Maybe there could be a potential of it, but if things go the way the head of the lab is planning I doubt it will happen. The plan is to once everyone gets settled in all the various tasks that once of us will get loaned out to the research guy to work with him. I am excited about it. Now the research I'm sure will be different from the type I did in grad school but I think it will still be enjoyable. (Social side of work I think I now know the majority of peoples ethnicity, China, Japan, Korea, Pakistan and one from India that left recently, then a few of us non specific Caucasians... this isn't important just interesting to me.)

Other than work - I won tickets to see a sneak peak of Wallis and Gromit last week. It was funny. I carved a pumpkin. (I should get a digital camera so I can take pictures and post them...) I bought a bed that should be here tomorrow. (Yea no more air mattress, although it is pretty comfy.)

So now that I'm settled in work and living I think it's time for people to come visit me :).

New Schedule

2005-09-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

Today I had to be to work by 7:30. I made it by 7:15 - took me just about an hour. I wasn't sure how it would work with the traffic that time of the morning. I don't see why so many people go to work that early. Usually the first part of I-5 is clear and it doesn't slow till Boeing field. Well evidently traffic is in different areas that early in the morning. As soon as I got on I-5 it was packed. It kept moving but never that fast. Was happy to know it still only took me an hour. I think I will definitely have to check into the bus system. Quite sure I'd save money - no gas... I will have to wait a little while - till I get paid. Which will happen this week! Planning on going to Spaghetti Factory to celebrate on Friday. Two good things about my schedule are that I get home by 5 or so, and I get to see my roommate when she takes her lunch/supper in the evening. My previous schedule did not allow that. I'd get home ~7:15 and she would already have had lunch.

Today I leaned a bit about the first steps in the process of coating the plates with proteins. We had to weigh protein from different foods. If you have ever had to deal with weighing powders and the fun part of static - that's what I got to deal with. It seemed really bad today too. Maybe it will be better tomorrow. Basic process from what I understand so far is that we purify the protein then determine how much is there using the Lowery method. Then based on that we make solutions to the optimal concentration to be put in the wells of plates so that they can then be used for testing whether or not someone's serum contains antibodies for those proteins.
One bad thing is that they do this about once a year and evidently who ever did it last year didn't note when the finished off a bottle of protein so we are missing quite a few and will have to wait for them to come in. We can continue on with other ones but if they don't come in in a timely manner t won't be a good thing. We only have about 2 months worth of proteins to coat plates. We are keeping good track of which ones are low or used up this time. :) My supervisor thinks it will take us a month to get it all done so going by what she says we should be fine.

Tomorrow

2005-09-08T21:52:00.000-07:00

There is a white bored in the lab that you are supposed to look at first thing everyday. Since I'm still in training I haven't looked at it first thing because the person training me tells me what to do. So there is not need to look to see what it might say for me to do. Well I did look at the bored this afternoon and say my name and the other new girls name on it. :) Was just informing people that tomorrow we would take over pipetting when we got to work. Thought it was cool that I was on there and my name was spelled right.

Other than tomorrow - what happened today? Nothing to horribly exciting did learn more about the automated process. Got to change fluids and check to make sure it was running properly. That the liquid was being dispensed properly and the washers were working right. (This is one machine that is used http://www.mtxlsi.com/multidrop.htm its pretty cool.) Still have lots to learn. :)

Second Day

2005-09-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

Today went better. No mistakes. :). We learned about the automated system that runs tests. I don't know everything about it yet but some... It's good experience to have.

I tried a new way to get to I-5 today. I think it is a faster/shorter route. But traffic was evil going through Seattle due to an earlier accident involving a Semi. It almost made me late to work. Was glad it didn't.

So far the only thing I'm not enjoying about work is that I am not supposed to wear jeans to work. I have plenty pairs of khaki pants but feel like I'm wearing the same thing over every day (strange that I don't feel that way when I wear jeans every day). I think I might have to make a trip to Old Navy :).

First Day

2005-09-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

Today was my first day at work. My schedule for the next two weeks is 10am-6:30pm. Although today we ('we' being me and the other girl they hired at the same time as me) didn't finish till 8:30 but we will get to leave early on Friday :). After that I will soon be changed to an early schedule so that come time for the sun to set early I will be off early on Fridays (7:30-4 I think...). Not sure on the specifics but they are willing to work with me from what I've gathered.

Anyway what did I do today? Well first we went over a huge hand book. Had a lot of info, some on safety, some on ELISA (the procedure they use to test for presence of antibodies against food allergens), HIPAA (confidentiality stuff), and general allergy information along with some scientific papers. After that we had a half hour lunch. Then we got to practice pipetting water into 384 well plates. I'm used to messing with 96 well plates it is quite a bit different (Volume of a well in a 96 well plate is 370 ul, in a 384 it is 100 ul so it is a lot smaller). We got to use a nifty pipette... one plunger but it has a row of 16 tips. Were told accuracy is more important than speed... still need more practice.

We got another break - ended up getting 45 minutes - went to talk to head person about tax papers and what not... but they weren't ready so we went to Starbucks and then came back (I really shouldn't have had coffee... I'm not really tired yet... that's bad I need to go to sleep so I can get up tomorrow and not fell groggy just think what will happen when I have to be ready to leave by 6:30 to get to work in time... yuck.). Talked to the head lady about the tax papers and the employee handbook then went back to work.

We then got to dilute patient serum in buffer to be used for tests tomorrow. I hope they all turn out good. I messed up a couple of times but caught it. Was told by the person training me that it was good that I caught it, but I still felt stupid for making stupid mistakes. But all in all guess it wasn't that bad... I am going back tomorrow so couldn't have done that bad. :).

So work environment is nice. People seem nice. Person who started with me seems nice. Although for some reason she reminds me of a girl I went to school with in GP - just because of her build, height, and hair length/style. This job definately seems like something I will enjoy.

Visit from the parents and resulting chaos

2005-09-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

My parents came up to visit and bring the rest of my stuff from 'home'. It was good to see them even though they weren't here that long. My dad helped me put shelves in one of box type cupboards and my mom bought me a house warming gift at Wal-Mart, spice rack/lazy Susanne with two shelves. It is nice having my stuff back but I actually sent some back with them. I have limited space living in an apt. with a roommate. If I had my own place I'd be fine - set up shelves in the living room with my crap, or be able to take over all the closets. As it is I think we will be fighting for room in the storage closet off of our deck. :). I am trying to get my stuff put away quickly as my roommate will be bringing her stuff up in a couple of weeks. The living room is strewn with my stuff. I can't believe how many school papers I still have - did I really think I'd need to go back and reference old papers? It was fun looking through them but I think it is time to get rid of them. Time to get back to the mess.

Library

2005-08-31T15:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went and got a library card at the local Auburn Library. The cool thing is that now that I am a 'metropolitan' area there are way more books/movies/what have you that are possible for me to check out. One book I got is a biography on Rosalind Franklin, I saw it at B&N before and wanted it but couldn't rationalize buying it. I need to go back to B&N to remind myself as to what books I was interested in reading. Then go to the library and get them (or request them). All the libraries in King County (the Seattle metro area) are connected so even if my library doesn't have it I can reserve it and will be able to pick it up in Auburn when it comes in. I was also happy to see they had a lot of books on CD (I have a cd player in my car) so now have the option of listening to books while commuting to and from work. I am not sure how much I will do that but I'm happy to know it is an option.

One simple but cool thing about my library card is that I got a choice of 6+ cards to chose from. Each had a different color/picture on them. I never knew of libraries to do that (at least that I remember). I know at home they have just one type and no pretty picture. The one I chose isn't a particular pretty color but I liked the picture the best than the others.

Less than a week till I start work!

No more job hunting?

2005-08-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

I was offered and accepted a position in Seattle as a Lab Tech. This isn't the type of research position I was originally looking for but it will give me good experience and will be plenty enough to pay the bills. I don't start till the 6th of next month so have a few days to kill some time. Will probably start having dreams about showing up to work late or messing up their lab by accident. There is a 30 probationary period when I start so if it is something I don't like it won't be a problem getting out. Or on the other side they can get rid of me... :(. I like the first idea better. There is the one job I applied for in person that I would take over this one in a heartbeat. So job hunting is mostly done. I will still keep my eyes open until I decide I like the work at this one. If it turns out to be something I hate I will continue my job hunting.

Job hunting (to the max... sure...)

2005-08-18T15:15:00.000-07:00

Well I am once again jobless (as of a while ago...) but I have a job interview tomorrow. It is in Seattle and I figured if I'm going to go all the way to Seattle I might as well make good use of my trip. So I'm planning on stopping by another place, that has new positions open, to apply in person. I've applied online for a few jobs before but maybe this will make them take me more seriously. It gives me an opportunity to give cover letters (also means I need to write cover letters Yuck) whereas before I did not send any because of their online application format. So maybe that will also be helpful.

So that is my updated.

Rejection

2005-07-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

I will not be working at PNNL. Although I got the nicest rejection email so far. The guy said he would keep my resume/application for further positions as they open up, and that he'd send them to other department there with a note saying they should strongly consider me. So there may yet be hope. Right now I am just going to keep working counting Bivalves and see where that leads.

I am curious to know whether or not you all think I should reply to the rejection email or not.

Nothing much

2005-07-06T21:29:00.000-07:00

Well I'm still counting bivalves and echinoderms but thought I'd say I'm still alive. I am looking into getting an apartment with my friend Sarah who lives here. Will see what happens with that. I keep hoping someone will call or email me and offer me a job. Then I will know that I can afford rent in the future or not, or if I'll even be here or not.

I have emailed people and not gotten any responses. (People I interviewed with.) I am paranoid my emails didn't go through. One I sent a follow up to but its too soon to expect a reply. I'm hoping that person is just on vacation.

After coming back from WW after my PNNL interview I got sick. Missed a day and a half of work. I still have a lingering cough but nothing near as bad as it was a couple days ago. I haven't felt bad since Sunday so know the end of the cough is near. No other news.

I am a guest

2005-06-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

I have a guest room here at PNNL. Just being here makes me want to stay. The room is nice - just like a hotel room - a nice one with a kitchenette. I even have a complementary breakfast which I am excited about - I already ate the bagel, I don't think I will be hungry enought to eat it tomorrow allong with the oatmeal and apple juice. Other nice thing is that there is even an ironing board and iron. The bathroom is nice too has a tub. I could live in this room. Especially since it has internet and a tv and vcr. I looked at all the info for people who stay here longer than one night - they have videos you can check out at the office and there is an exercise room (you have to sign a waver and get codes and since I got here after office hours no good to me...). This would be a cool place to live especially if they kept replensishing my breakfast :). Ok I know it is a guest room but still...

So I will update after my interview but not sure how quickly. I have to check out of my room before my interview and am not sure when I will get internet access. Thank you all for your prayers. :).

:)

2005-06-21T21:14:00.000-07:00

So egg counting is going well. The head lab guy made a comment to me the other day that I didn’t need another job I could just stay there. Was a nice thought at first, I don’t think I could do this permanently. As it is my eyes are getting tired. I have been taking more breaks during the day rather than just be there 8 straight hours using my two 15 minute breaks as lunch. If I was to count eggs half the time I might be able to last longer, but still longing for a research assistant position. Speaking of which my interview at PNNL is this Friday from 8:15 – 1pm (the last hour is lunch). Any and every one – please give me some advise – this is the biggest interview I will have gone through. I am leaving here on Thursday and staying in their guest facilities that night so I will get to be alone with my thoughts – yippie. I would appreciate all of your prayers, I know I will be praying :). Maybe this is the position God had in mind for me all along or maybe it is the one I am in now – I just pray His way is clear so I don’t mess it up.

Four days down

2005-06-15T18:01:00.000-07:00

I am enjoying working. It is a lot of microscope work but I they have me label test tubes and cups and fill out paper work to give me a break from it once in a while. The two things I've been counting are eggs - one is for bivalves - such as mussels, the other are sea urchin eggs. They are testing water quality for different places and such and use these as indicators of pollutants. From what I learned today in there weekly meeting that I was invited to - these are typical species they use in tests like this. I haven't looked online at all to see how common... All the people that are there are really nice so that makes the job even better. The only bad thing so far is that yesterday there was a car accident between here and there (the trip is just about 10 miles) on the freeway just before I was to get of the one I was on and onto I5. Well I got to work 40 minutes late. I was not happy. I am glad I had my cell phone - was able to call the temp place and they called in for me, so no one was upset when I got to work that late. Traffic is evil. :)

Temp Job

2005-06-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

I was considering putting off posting anything till after my first day at work but I want to remember how happy I am right now - if the job turns out to suck I may need to come back to this.

So anyway. I have a temp job at a bio-testing place in Tacoma - not sure I should post the name of the place although how many people read this? I don't know much about what I will be doing. I was told I will be using a microscope and that I will be counting larva. I honestly can not imagine looking in a microscope for 8 hours. My eyes can get tired after looking for 2 hours... FOCUS on excitedness. I will be useful and I will earn money!

I just learned an interesting tidbit from my mother. My grandfather used to count wireworms in sugar beets for 50Â¢ an hour when he was at WW. (Related [barely]- I just learned that I don't have a cents symbol on my keyboard...) I have no clue what wireworms are or why he counted them but still interesting, I will be doing something similar to what my grandfather did - fortunately my pay will be a lot more.

Job hunting in WA

2005-05-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

I have been applying all over via the internet to places around Seattle. I actually got an email today from one I had applied for. Evidently my contact phone # was not accurate and the person couldn't get a hold of me, so they wrote me an email. I am planning on calling the person tomorrow (by their first name I'm not sure if they are a male or female).

I am beginning to relent to the fact I will have to commute to where ever I work. Especially if I room with my friend here. Then today on the radio I heard about the bad effects of spending a lot of time commuting and getting stuck in traffic. I can at least use the information to compromise getting an apartment half way between our places of work.

Walla Walla

2005-05-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

I am currently in Walla Walla at Starbucks. Yippie for free wireless! Although it means that it is pretty packed with studying people we were fortunate enough to get a couple of tables. (I am here with my friend Caren - who I am staying with.) She is working on her proposal for her Masters work - her research is continuing the research I did for mine. I am excited and hope it works out not just for her benefit but also I will then know my hybridomas were good.

Yesterday I went to Rooks Park with a bunch of friends and played volley ball with some other people there at the park. Was lots of fun - I miss being around lots of people and being able to do things like that. I will have to make new friends where ever I end up - so I can play with them :). I Know lots of places that have nights where people can go play volley ball - I'm not that great but would be fun to find a fun team to play on (rather than one were people want to win).

I'm in WW till Thur. then headed to Seattle. Then I am going to find a job. I'm determined. :)

One Less Wasp

2005-04-29T21:32:00.000-07:00

Our sliding glass door is having issues opening and closing. I found that if I open it from the back side down at the bottom it opens a bit easier. Well this evening I went to let Bo in and kneeled down to open the door and felt a sharp pain in the top of my foot on the bone that kinda sticks out below my big toe. My first thought was that there was a needle on the floor that stuck into me. I stood up and looked at my foot and saw (what I have now determined to be) a wasp. It was stuck in me pretty well not sure how I got it off me think just by shaking my foot – was shocking to see it there. It hurt – like I said it felt like a needle sticking in my foot. It feels fine now (two hours later), although can feel it ache a little when I think about it. I wish I had a digital camera to post a picture of it. Although I cut off its head because it was still moving. Before today I couldn’t remember the last time I was stung by something. Definitely makes me happy that I’m not allergic to their stings.

This web site shows picture of a wasp looks pretty much exactly like the one that stung me. http://www.pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/bees_and_wasps.htm

Three times in three days

2005-04-28T01:06:00.000-07:00

Monday I was headed to Wal-Mart, I was just to the Post office (Some one may know the area I'm talking about so I'm being semi specific) on F street and I heard an ambulance siren behind me - I went through intersection on 6th street then pulled over... it passed me and kept going. Tues. I was in the same place but a bit further on F and headed up 7th. I turned on 7th didn't stop and pull over because the Ambulance was a ways away and had no clue which way it was going... It ended up turning on to 7th behind me, I pulled over and it went on it's way. At this point I thought it was a bit odd that this happened two days in a row. Well... as by the title - it happened again today. Was headed towards Wal-Mart again. Although this time I pulled over before it passed 6th street. All this makes me think I should see if someone is following me. :)

(For clarification and my defense, I did not block the ambulance I pulled over before it got close to me.)

Pi guy

2005-04-28T00:33:00.000-07:00

David Tammet was on Letterman last night (Wed.). Pretty cool... http://www.pi-world-ranking-list.com/lists/details/tammet.html

(I need to learn how to put a link in...)

Diploma

2005-04-20T14:28:00.000-07:00

I finally recieved my Diploma in the mail today. I am excited - I was begining to think I might have to call someone about it but now I don't have to. WW also sent a mini diploma that is laminated - it is cute - should carry it around with me but my wallet is pretty full already.

Day with the Grandparents

2005-04-12T23:58:00.000-07:00

Once a month my mom goes up to my grandparents (her parents) house and takes them to town for medical appointments (if necessary) and to go shopping. Since I've been home I haven't gone with her for various reasons but this time I did. Was fun despite having to get up early (for me) in the morning. Well what we did today - took my grandparents to town my Grandpa had a doctors apt. it didn't last long the rest of us waited in the car. Then we went to the grocery store I helped my grandma while shopping (got plastic bags for veggies - they were VERY high were not put there for people like her - she can't reach up very high not to mention that she isn't that tall... I did look around and see other ones lower but not as visible as the ones up high.... anyway...) I also helped her spot things she was looking for and got eggs for her while she was talking to people she knew that happened to be in the store too. We went to Bi-Mart also although only my Grandpa went in - it was his lucky # he won a free single use camera :). Went to a couple other stores. All in all was fun - it's good my mom lives close enough to visit also my uncle lives just down the road. The Grandparents are getting old and if any DMV was to renew either one of their license I'd be scared... Although they do currently both have legal ones. I just hope they really have realized they should not drive and should let others drive them - they are out in the middle of know where though - the family is hoping they will all of a sudden agree to move to town... well should stop rambling I could go on for a while am in a mood to write but wouldn't be anything exciting. So... yeah

Calling

2005-04-06T23:59:00.000-07:00

By the prodding of my friend I stayed with in Portland/Vancouver I called one of the places I interviewed with. I called last Wed. exactly 2 weeks after my interview (plus a few hours). Ended up leaving a voice mail. Well I finally got a call back on Monday - they are still interviewing. Was informed I wouldn't hear anything for another 30 days - yeah - that's what they said. So... guess I'll just have to wait to hear from that job - but still gonna apply for jobs if I find other places to apply at. I am appreciative that the place called back and didn't leave my hanging especially if it's gonna still be that long.

(I think 'gonna' should be a word. I also think 'kinda' should be a word too.)

Alumni Weekend

2005-03-28T23:59:00.000-08:00

So this next weekend is alumni weekend at Milo - they are celebrating 50 years... that seems to be the focus of the weekend which in itself is ok but my brother's 10 year is this year too - if I was that class and if it does turn out that the normally honored classes are over looked I'd not be pleased. But from what I saw from the schedule it probably won't be much different from a normal alumni weekend - still time for classes to visit and they still have certain class photos. So since it is my brothers 10 year reunion he along with his wife are coming for the weekend. Should be cool but does mean I'll have to sleep in a different room. I could try to clean out my old room enough to get to the bed but.... So will probably sleep on the couch for a few nights.

A while ago - month or so - my mom warned me about having to vacate the 'guest' room but my response was that I hoped to be somewhere working by then. Well... didn't happen. I looked for more jobs today and applied for a few. woo hoo it's like playing the lottery except cheaper.

Update

2005-03-24T00:21:00.000-08:00

Nothing much to report. Although after an email from Alodia realized I didn't say that I got my jeans - they fit :) not exactly what I was hoping for - thin material but for the price I am happy. Still waiting to hear from Portland. I did get an email the other day I'm guessing it was meant for another girl who was going to interview with the people I interviewed with first. I wrote back saying I think they sent it to the wrong email address. Hope everything worked out - she could need the job more than I do.

I've been making cookies recently - last two batches have been banana chocolate chip. Pretty good. Next will make some sort of ginger snap because there is molasses sitting on the counter telling me to use it. MMM they sound good to me now. well it's too late to make any now and besides we have Easter candy and still have other cookies - maybe next week.

Portland

2005-03-17T23:56:00.000-08:00

I had an interview scheduled for Wed. this week in Portland. On my way up on Tue. I got a call from another place in Portland area calling to arrange travel to Portland - so said I was heading there and would be in town the next couple of days if that would work. The person I'm guessing human resource person said they'd check with the guy I'd be interviewing with and see if that would work and would give me a call back. Well the next morning I got a call at 8:30 from the same lady saying the guy could meat with me anytime that morning - well I hadn't gotten ready yet so picked the latest time available (10:30) (It doesn't take me that long to get ready but also had to drive a ways since I was staying with a friend who lives in Vancouver.). Well I met with the main guy I'd be working under (if offered the job) then with the head administrator (I think) of that section of the office as well as the receptionist. Then the main guy showed me around the labs and introduced me to the two people I'd be working with (again if I got the job) and then they took me out to eat. Was a good interview I was quite - not unusual but makes me wonder if they'd think differently about highering or not highering me because of that.

The second interview was at 2. (On the way to my friends I stopped and tried to find where it was - found the general area but no real good way of getting there or more so getting back on the free way so did a lot of back tracking and what not - good way to waste gas.) Since I had eaten and didn't have too much time to waste I decided just to go to my next interview. I followed other directions that I had - these were for going south where my others were going north. South worked so much better. I was there more than an hour early - this job was up around OHSU but at the VA. There are pull outs along the windy road so I just pulled into one and sat listening to music for about an hour. I drove up and parked and reached the place about 15 min. early - figured I'd have to wait but the person saw me right away. Interview was ok.

So between the two I'd definitely take the first job if the offered it - second not so much. I felt the opposite way before I went to either place. Odd how the feeling of the lab will change your mind. So I am again going to play the fun waiting game. I am praying whether or not I'm offered either job that I know what to do. I've been with out a job for a while now and am hoping I will get hired eventually - some one has gotta want me right? So please pray something works out - although I am trying not to be closed to things rather praying I know what God wants me to do and where he wants me to go. One of my mom's employers said when she looked for a job she'd pray something to the effect "I'm too dense to know what to do so hit me over the head with what decision I should make." That’s how I feel too
Coolest thing about the trip - staying at my friends place. We were best friends from the middle of 1st grade pretty much till 8th grade and still friends through 10th but then I went away to Milo and we didn’t keep in close touch. So a lot of the time with her we reminisced about our childhood and filled each other in on where people (who we went to grade school with) were, who was married, and fun stuff like that. If I do end up in Portland area would be cool to hang out with her again haven’t like that in YEARS.

Jean hunting

2005-03-06T22:52:00.000-08:00

I have two pair of blue jeans from Old Navy that I like a lot. I don't like jean shopping and never seem to find jeans that fit me right - so when I do find some I get the same kinds over and over. Well Old Navy stopped making the jeans I like :( (well not entirely true - they have the same cut but with thinner material - I don't believe jeans should be made out of thin material). I decided to search ebay for my beloved jeans and found a couple of pairs that appeared to be the same as what I have. I bid on one pair and won! 1.99 + 4.00 shipping on practically new jeans. Now will have to see for sure they are what I'm expecting when I get them but if so woo hoo for cheap jeans from ebay. Not sure I will bid on the second pair - the price is the same but shipping is more and not sure the condition is as good. I'm pleased I found one pair at least :).

All in one day

2005-03-03T15:18:00.000-08:00

I got rejected for the job in Reno. Suppose I should put it positively and say some one else was offered the position – I now know I won’t have to work in a quiet laboratory. Well at least not that one – maybe the one I end up in will be quite too.

Now I have a new prospect in Portland – I had a short phone interview and was told about the position and was asked if I would be interested in visiting the facilities. So on to step two of this new prospect. So now I will be contacted in a week or so to set a time for the visit.

Distraction

2005-03-01T22:27:00.000-08:00

I honestly don’t know that I’ve posted about this before if so – oops if not – I at least thought about it. :) There is a show on the Comedy channel called Distraction. It’s a game show where the contestants have to deal with odd situations while answering questions. I’ve watched three or four episodes – it’s rather disturbing but funny. An example of an odd situation – they had to put rubber bands on their faces – around their heads while answering questions. The person who ended up with the most rubber bands around their head/face got 5 extra points – pretty much automatically securing their spot in the next round. The person with the fewest points was eliminated from the round. It starts with 4 people - the last person wins something – tonight it was a new Ford Mustang. There is a catch though – in order to get the prize in pristine condition the contestant had to answer 4 questions correctly. For every question they got wrong one of the other contestants did something to the car – smash headlights, pour paint on it, smash windshield, or key the car. Tonight the guy got 2 out of 4 questions right – had paint poured on the car and the windshield smashed. Very interesting show… although I don’t think I’d want to be on it.

Yet another interview

2005-02-28T20:11:00.000-08:00

Thursday I will have another interview for a new position in Portland. I hope one of these positions will work out - possibly soon? I like to think of my self as a patient person but I'm definitely tired of not working.

Had fun house/animal sitting - except for the dog smelling bad some of the time - he smelled like manure, but at least it wasn't the whole time. I know dogs eat nasty stuff but was still disgusted every time he snuck over to the manure pile and took a bite. From watching the horses I learned I still want one. Big surprise. I know I at least want to start riding lessons again when I get a job. (See I'm positive - when not if :))

Sitting

2005-02-25T10:01:00.000-08:00

I am house/horse/dog sitting for some people this weekend. It's the first time I've done this where I actually stay at the house and the first time I've horse sat (sit set? what ever...). The house is really nice and they have dish network :). I also got permission to use dial up from the house to - so I have all the amenities of home - except they don't get animal planet :( and I haven't connected over 28.8 Kbps where at home I can get 52. Life goes on. So taking care of the horses is not bad - I want one or two :). Although I know it wouldn't be as easy having to go pick up pucky in the rain. But other than that all I have to do is feed them and open and close the fences twice a day. I did get up earlier than I usually do although thanks to the time schedule of Keith and Jen I had gotten back to a more normal persons schedule. I just hope the horses and dog keep being normal and nothing goes wrong. This afternoon I'll see if I can't get them to come back up to the barn so I can groom them. :) I live horse dirt under my fingernails.

Result of job interview and my trip to Reno

2005-02-22T23:30:00.000-08:00

I made it to Reno faster than I expected and am glad I left later than I had been planning since I ended seeing Jen driving home and got in behind her and followed her partway through town to her home. Helped me not to miss a turn :).
I had my interview the next day. It started with a math quiz consisting of two questions. One – if each thing weighs a certain amount how many do you need to make a total weight of ##lbs. Wasn’t bad at all – the second was a bit more complicated – to variables but I was able to get the right answer at least :). The actual interview was a bit nerve racking at first but then not that bad… and ended up talking to a second person – a head person, who from what I could tell, would be the person I’d work under if I was to get the job. They showed me around the lab – it’s a cool lab. One of many cool things is that they buy pre-made polyacrylamide gels. That’s just spiffy in my opinion. So all in all the interview went well – will just have to wait and see if they like me enough for another one.
Fun things in Reno – met friends of friends – had fun playing games. Went geochaching for the first time. I now want to do more – some one want to buy me a gps and whatever else I might need? Went with Jen to Circus Circus and we won enough tickets with two quarters to get a fish magnet for Keith. Watched two acts – one a motor cycle act where they drive around in a round metal cage and can go upside down. It was COOL. Then there was a dog act it was cute and funny – should say the dogs were cute not the guy that trained the dogs. Ended up staying longer than I had originally planned but I’m not complaining – good to see friends ;) just hope if I need a place to stay again they won’t say no cause I might never leave.

Chocolate Mousse

2005-02-14T23:18:00.000-08:00

I made chocolate Mousse for the first time today as a dessert for Valentines Day. I put some in chocolate shells I made by spreading melted chocolate on the sides of foil lined muffin tins. The shells turned out to be a bit too thick - if I was to do it again I'd try to make it thinner maybe by doing a couple of very thin layers. Other than that it didn't turn out too bad - also got raspberries to put on top tasted yummy although I know I ate too much.

I think they should make buy cheap candy holidays. After Halloween, Christmas, etc. I think I'll go and see what I can find tomorrow. Although not sure which store would be that great - in WW Shop-Ko was usually the best bet but I'm not sure which would be here. Everyone go and buy something tomorrow cheap candy tastes better :).

Because of Valentine's Day

2005-02-13T22:43:00.000-08:00

I've been watching the Food network quite a bit today and last night because they are having chocolate as the main theme in the programs because of Valentine's Day (at least thats what I think). Right now they have Iron Chef America. There are two chefs an Iron Chef (one that has already proven their ability to cook) and a challenger, they then create a number of dishes with a key ingredient in a limited time. Then they have judges taste them and score them at the end during the judging the chef has to defend the dishes if the judge has a problem with the dish, it kinda reminds me of my defense. The chefs have to incorporate a key or a couple key ingredients into all of the dishes. This one they have chocolate (of course) and coconut as the key ingredients. The dishes are not all deserts - it's weird to think of having chocolate in main course type of meals. Earlier today they showed chocolate pasta - that is just weird. One of the chefs had a chocolate pasta in this show too. A different type of show I was watching had top chocolate things across the US one was about a chocolate lovers weekend at a place in New Hampshire. People can go there and learn new recipes using chocolate - all were desert dishes it looked like it would be a fun thing to do. Watching these shows make me want to cook - deserts at least :).
The iron Chef won. 50 to 45

This week

2005-02-11T23:46:00.000-08:00

This week I accomplished a couple of little things in my room - well the one I'm cleaning out. I've been staying in the 'guest room'. Well I packed my books - mostly horse books that I read growing up that I don't want to get rid of. If I ever meet a little horse crazy girl I might pass some on... but for now I'll keep them. One other thing I did was go through stuffed animals I had and got rid of ones that didn't have any significance. A cool thing was that my old school is collecting Teddy Bears to pass out to nursing home residents for Valentines Day so I got to contribute :). The last thing I did of significance was to put in new contact paper in my dresser drawers. The old stuff had a white back ground with the pictures in green yellow and brown - good late 70's early 80's colors. The picture in the big drawers was of a little girl and flowers and a basket of puppies and there was a turtle too. The little drawers were 'Zoo' type animals - elephant and lion - I don't remember what else. Maybe I should have taken a picture. Oh well to late now. Unless I want to dig through trash.... nope.

I now have an interview at a place in Reno... I get to go on a trip :) and get out of GP for a bit.

Skeptical

2005-02-05T01:12:00.000-08:00

My mom got an email about a hippo adopting a tortoise as its mother. It had a couple of pictures attached. I was skeptical due to other impressive pictures I've seen. Well lo and behold its true well they are at least friends. There are lots of news sites that have the info and maybe I'm just slow in learning about it.... http://www.nbc30.com/news/4062304/detail.html

Fewwww

2005-01-31T13:38:00.000-08:00

Phone interview is done. I feel it went well especially since he said he would talk to my references and if they had good things to say then he'd contact me so I can go up there and meet him personally, and also meet the other people that work in the lab. So I get to wait - yippie. Well right now I am just focusing on the fact that he is still interested. The position itself sounds good to me. The work though tedious is interesting to me. The funding is part of a plan with the goal to get Oregon higher up in the Biotech world. There is limited funding thus limited pay but honestly if I can afford somewhere to sleep and food to eat money for bills and gas expenses then I am ok with that. So that is what is happening with me. :)

No traveling

2005-01-28T22:16:00.000-08:00

Well my interview has been changed to a phone interview due to the interviewer finding out I'm about 4 hours away. I was willing to go up there but a phone interview for the first (if more than one) one should work well. I had another call today from another Researcher I sent my resume to - didn't go well. Although I did learn from it. He suggested brushing up on calculating skill (i.e. figuring out how much solution to add to make a certain concentration). He said his lab was fast paced and was afraid I would get trampled... he talked like it was fast paced after hanging up I felt all flustered. During our conversation he asked me to do a calculation of a concentration I wasn't quite able to do it I know if I see what I'm supposed to do then apply my numbers I'm find I just need to make sure I know how to apply them. The guy said not to feel bad that most didn't get all the way through either. There were other questions dealing with non math things that I knew the answers to - seemed to impress him that way but yet he felt working for him would be a better second job than first. So the fact that he didn't flat out say you suck made me happy. So on Monday about 12 noon say a little prayer for me that the interview goes well and if this is where I'm to go that it works out if not - well that I don't get frustrated and depressed. I'm sure there is something out there for me just don't know where. :)

Closest thing yet

2005-01-26T23:49:00.000-08:00

I got another call today. This time from a different person in Portland, I had sent my resume in a week ago and it evidently got buried but the guy who is head of the lab called to see if I was still available. I said yes and he asked if it would too difficult to go to Portland and of course I said no. So he said he'd have his secretary call me and schedule a time for an interview. Well that was earlier today - secretary hasn't called yet so am thinking tomorrow she will. Which means I should go to bed now so I can get up early in case she calls early so I can be awake and alert when I talk to her. :) Yippie! A real interview. Crap! An interview... well no way around it.

Job search continues

2005-01-26T00:57:00.000-08:00

Well one of my prospects is no longer... The job in Portland has turned out to be a no go... The position requires weekend work - I was straight forward from the beginning of my beliefs and that I would not work on the Sabbath. The researcher said it was workable but now it turns out he doesn't think it would work which I understand and am happy to have closure on the position so I don't have to think about it anymore. Still waiting on the LLU position... keep checking their web site for postings think I should email the researcher down there soon.
When one door closes... my window might be the call I got today from a technical recruiting agency - I applied for one position with the company and got a call although after talking with a very nice woman about the job I applied for it is not what would be of interest to me as other positions that are often available. She said she will keep looking and keep in contact. She also gave me info to contact her and maybe this will be what I'm looking for. A lot of what she sees is actually in Seattle area...

In other news I have begun to clean out my room. I have a lot of junk. I am a pack rat although have gotten a bit better recently. The more I move the more apt I am to throw things away. Although there are still things I don't need and don't 'play' with that I am keeping but I am significantly decreasing the amount I keep. After I go through everything I should go through it again and throw more away if I can. I have papers from high school that were fun to look at but do I really want to keep them to look at them again in a few years? I really don't know. Probably not... I did throw most away though. Anyone want charcoal and graphite drawing pencils? I don't remember why I ever got them and don't remember using them... also if anyone wants any old Horse Illustrated and Practical Horseman magazines I have quite a few that I am not going to lug around with me where ever I go... anyway time for me to sleep

Job hunting

2005-01-12T01:11:00.000-08:00

I currently have two possible leads for a job. One in Portland the other in Loma Linda. I've had more communication with the researcher in Portland but am not getting my hopes up because the job was just posted on Monday and today is Tuesday. I was asked what salary I would expect and gave a reply - it was acceptable now I'm wondering if I should have said I wanted more. Well with all this thinking of jobs I have been looking online at apartments. I am getting anxious and should probably just be patient and not worry about anything till I actually get offered a job or at least till I have an official interview.

Looking at apartments it is apparent that having a roommate would be much cheaper. But I'm not sure I really want to deal with the fun things that come up - I have found I get really protective and anal when it comes to people using my kitchen type things... I don't know if this is a new type thing or if I just didn't have anything to be protective of before but yeah... The major downfall of not having a roommate besides money is that it can be lonely being by yourself. Maybe I should get a pet - a cat or a bird - dogs require one to take them outside or have a yard not up for that much activity or paying that much rent. One type of pet I have had previously but now would not consider is a rodent... due to my masters research. I wonder if you have to pay a deposit for a bird... that might be a good option.

A lake I want to dive

2005-01-07T23:00:00.000-08:00

Its kinda odd to be thinking of diving while its snowing outside but I am. There is a lake in Oregon called Clear lake that has claimed visibility of 300 feet. It is also ranked the as the #9 inland dive in the US. I want to go diving there... there is old trees and cool underground terrain to see. One site that had info on diving there the water was 41-46 F which isn't unbearable considering I did my checkout dives in November on the Washington coast, although from another quick search temperature was probably around 48 F. I still think diving Clear lake would be cool - literally :)
Anyone wanna come with me? In the summer maybe? Might have to just make my dad go with me.

Sheets

2005-01-05T01:27:00.000-08:00

I dislike making beds. Making a twin bed isn't so bad but I've been sleeping in the guest/computer room on I think a double bed (don't think it is a queen...) I washed the sheets yesterday and instead of making the bed as soon as the sheets were dry I waited till I was ready to get in bed. So of course I'm tired and just want to sleep. It's easy to figure out which was the bottom sheet goes on for a twin but this one - no... I tried one way and it wouldn't fit well so thought I turned it right to try again but evidently didn't. So tried again but still couldn't get it. There is an egg crate on top of the normal mattress so I took that off to see if it would work better but still had problems so tried turning it one more time and it worked well... so well that I thought I should put back the egg crate so I did and voi la it worked. Evil sheets. I was watching Oprah the other day and she said she likes her sheets changed every three days. I'm glad I'm not her house keeper. Wonder if she would change them that often if she had to do it herself - although I'm not sure maybe she does...

I think I call things evil too much.

Just cause I'm thinking of it - Sarah if you read this did you know Kevin G. works at KLDR?

yeah

2004-12-31T23:18:00.000-08:00

This last year has been good - stressful at times but stress ended in accomplishments - finished research, classes, and defense. I am also proud of my high score for the medium difficulty in spider solitaire. This next year I hope to finally win a game on the difficult setting. Although things aren't clear at the moment I hope to soon have a job so I can be a productive part of society. Will just have to wait and see how long it takes till that happens. Another change this year is in getting a new car - I still miss my Mazda at times but that's ok. At least my car runs - at least most of the time... Will have to wait and see as to what other changes are going to happen - maybe a new state? Maybe not. Maybe I will go live in the mountains and learn to talk to the wolves - ha ha. well enough speculation. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Rain can be evil

2004-12-30T23:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday evening it started to pour here. Well then today I learned that a car out in the pouring rain can cause it not to want to start. It would turn over and almost wanted to catch but wouldn't quite make it. So I gave up and went back in the house. Luckily my dad came home about 1/2 hour later and got it to start. Said it was probably just too wet from the rain. Did anyone know rain could do that? Wonder if it would with all cars or my car is just special enough that that can happen.

I feel like I am getting old. I strained a muscle or tendon or something in my neck just by bending over the 'right' way with a towel on my head. Unfortunately this was the morning before driving back to GP. I am just now getting back to normal can still feel a bit of pain when I turn my head. At Thanksgiving my dad had a pulled tendon in his lower back but at least his was initiated by lifting weights. Ah oh well.

Oh on the way back to GP we stopped at a little gas station/gift shop about twenty minutes outside of burns because I had to pee. My dad went in and looked around the gift shop place he called me over after I came out of the bathroom and showed me a cool coffee table. Well it wouldn't be a very functional coffee table but it was cool. It was a wood triangle and on top was a triangle cut rock probably 6 inches deep and in it were three fossil snail type shells and I think two spike type shells (I think they were shells) also. The rock was kinda rough but the shells were polished and really pretty would be cool to have but I don't think I'd want it... especially if it meant paying for it - they had a small single trilobite fossil for $120 didn't look for a price on the table.

I did a quick google search and I think the snail type shell were ammonites, but still not sure about the other things.

Starbucks

2004-12-26T22:24:00.000-08:00

Today I went with my brother and sister-in-law to Cost-co with agreement that we would stop at Starbucks so I could use my gift card (at least part of it) I got from my friend. Because it might be a while till I finish it unless I by a mug or something but I tend to use them for drinks - imagine that... because since I'm going to be home for a while the closest Starbucks is a half an hour away and I don't plan on going there often... Anyway we stopped on the way back home and I ordered my usual a tall soy caramel macchiato and went to pay with my gift card and the girl asked if there was anything else I could use to pay - their computer system or something like that for them was down and they couldn't process payments with gift cards - guessing it was because of the amount of people using them that day - another worker walked by and said they went down at ~10 and the corporate office said they'd be back up in about an hour and scoffed because it was at this time after 2. So I couldn't even use my gift card - sad. Later I thought I should have said I didn't have any other way of paying - try to see if I could get it for free.. :) too bad I don't think that way cause who knows may have worked.

Will see

2004-12-13T13:28:00.000-08:00

So I'm still stuck on the topic of my defense. I have everything turned in and the director of graduate studies turned in my completion of degree last Friday. I found out that waiting a half hour is not a big deal between them asking questions and deciding if you are to pass. One of the teachers asked how it went afterwards and I told him - he kinda burst my bubble by saying the first 10 min or so aren't even spent talking about me. Oh well.

Guess I'm not stuck completely - I am not really having fun trying to find a job. One of my friends suggested a mail order husband then could make him work... nah. Feels like I am experiencing deja vu - finished my bachelors in Dec, now finished Masters in Dec. Looking for a job - going back home for a while. Hope it doesn't last too long.

Christmas is coming soon will be good to spend time with family.

Ta Da!

2004-12-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

Well yesterday I started typing the proceedings of my defense but then did something to make it all disappear so will have to do it again.

My presentation went well - had friends close to the front supporting me by - telling me not to flash people (was playing with my shirt - nervous fiddling - before it was time to start) and holding up a little sign that only I could see that said rat killer. Funny things helped relieve tension and thankfully not heard or seen by others... I was nervous in the beginning of the talk but got better as it went although still used the two handed laser pointer technique to keep it from flying all over the screen. Questions went ok - my major prof actually helped answer a couple which made me feel as if it was cheating but it helped me out. After questions people told me I did well got advice from one of the prof's not on my committee - said to take a deep breath before I went in to the defense part and to pause for a couple of seconds before each question to let panic fade. We started with prayer then my major prof (mp) said they would go around the table and ask questions. She reserved the right for the first question - she had told me what she was going to ask ahead of time so that I could make sure to know the answer and get a good start to it all... after her question the next committee member asked and easy one since hers was difficult - evidently not knowing her practice of telling people the first question they will be asked. So easy question good - next question was ok - I don't remember what it was... each committee has three bio people a mp and to others then one out side observer that makes sure they don't gang up on me. He didn't ask many questions but did ask a couple that were good. The second or third one he said he thought that if he could explain my work then that would mean he could understand it. So he tried to explain it to his JV basket ball students (think they are high schoolers). They evidently got upset by animals getting killed - and they wanted to know if they all go used/killed. The answer to his question was yes - all except one was used for screening. They kept going for about an hour some questions I knew the answer to others I didn't but wasn't feeling too horrible. They also made comments here and there about my thesis - no one objected to anything of significance so that was ok. They kicked me out of the room told me to leave but don't go to far. My friend who defended this summer only had to wait ~5 min. So in talking to her said that the longer I wait the more I should get nervous? she said maybe... so I was waiting and it had been about 10 min... then one of my friends stopped by and talked for about 5 min then I waited more. After he left I got really nervous but then after about a total of 25 min my mp came back and said "Let me be the first to congratulate you." Which was a relief went back down to the room and they all said congratulations - my outside observer said "should we clap?" and started clapping others joined - he said thank you for asking him I think it was cool he liked being part of it. At the end my mp and I made an appointment to meat the next Friday (today) to go over little things they suggested needed to be changed. After that I felt drained but I lived through the process - I then told people the happy news and eventually went home and sat. While my roommate kept saying how happy she was - she acted way more happy than me I just didn't have the mental capacity to be that happy. Too much for one day. But now it's over and I only have a few things to change - less than 42 ;) probably less than 20. Well depends on how you count anyway that's the whole story for the most part :).

Defense

2004-11-30T21:07:00.000-08:00

By this time tomorrow I should know what the out come of my defense is. It freaks me out (just a bit). I think the presentation should go ok - as long as I don't let myself get too nervous and freak out and forget what I am supposed to say and talk too fast. The part after that is what is nerve racking to me. Over an hour of questioning by my professors - people I am depending on to give good recommendations for when I look for a job. I feel like I should be cramming my head full of immunology terms and concepts but I don't think that would do any good. I do know my project well it's just other areas I am scared about.

So everyone tomorrow from 6-8 or 9 at the latest please pray that my brain works and that God will help me through this process without too much mental break down. I will appreciate every little prayer. :)

Two in a row

2004-11-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

Yeah I am working on my presentation just wanted to be annoyed for a min...

Briget Jones movie opened across the US today, BUT not in WW NOOOOO. I made plans with friends to go see it but now I can't because stupid theatre here in town is not showing it till next week. Grand Cinemas my patootie, nothing grand about it... well not true still a nice (albeit expensive-ish theatre). BRING BACK the cheap seats. Ok... so no diary movie for me not for a while at least maybe its a good thing - can concentrate on my presentation which again I need to go work on now.

All done ranting.....

The end is in sight and it's kinda scary

2004-11-12T10:52:00.000-08:00

All the copies of my thesis have been delivered to appropriate committee members. Now all I have to do is work on my presentation. Yeah - that's ALL I have to do (it is a bit of work though). It is scary to think I am almost done, but the defense process is more scary than the thought of being done and not knowing exactly what is next.

Every defense committee (at least for biology at this college) has an outside observer of the defense process - the line they sign on when it's all said and done says "Observer of the Process - Graduate Representative" - very technical title - :). I asked (well chose and my Major Professor was the one who's job it was to ask) a professor from the History dept. to be my outside person. I only had him for one class but he is a good teacher, cool guy,and smart and I also know he has some background/interest in biology from conversation during oral exam of the class I had from him. When I dropped off the his copy he was genuinely appreciative that I wanted him on my committee - that was just cool to me. I was happy that he accepted.

so now time to work on my presentation. :P

Jones Soda

2004-11-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

After logging off of my hotmail account I was looking at msn and saw the title for an article "Mashed potatoes & turkey in a bottle." I clicked on it out of curiosity and found it to be about Jones Soda. Evidently they have holiday flavors of soda (for the second year). I didn't know they had it before, but more interesting than that is what the flavors are. One which isn't surprising is Cranberry, but the others um yeah.... Turkey & Gravy, Mashed Potato & Butter, Green Bean Casserole, and Fruitcake (the last of which doesn't sound near as bad as the 'food' type items). I kinda find it disturbing but funny. These come in packages and there is a limited edition, I wonder how many people will actually taste them.

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, we have a winner.

2004-11-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Jen. There were quite a few more errors than 42 but no one guessed higher than her so she is now officially the winner and no more guesses will be accepted. There were approximately 66 corrections. As far as what Jen has won it has still yet to be determined. Any (inexpensive) suggestions?

Most of the errors were trivial a lot of commas and such. So things are still on track with getting done soon. My professor wants to look over it one more time then will hand copies to my committee members and will go from there.

Even closer

2004-11-02T09:49:00.000-08:00

My major professor now has a hard copy of my thesis. I am wondering how much she will find wrong with it. I know there is at least one thing - I forgot to write out the reference for one book. Other than that who knows... So any one want to venture a guess? Whoever guesses correctly (closest guess - if two guess with in the same # from the correct # I will draw a name or play rock, paper, scissors with someone to decide.) So, guess the number of corrections I will have to make when I get my thesis back and maybe you will win something (yet to be determined). (Amendment: I have a total of 35 pages this includes title page and abstract although abstract is not going to add because it is being edited separately this time. Total # of text ~17.5 plus 2.5 of protocol/appendix...

So now that my professor has my thesis to look over she said I can start on my power point presentation. Reading that made me get that nervous feeling in my stomach. I am not looking forward to being up in front of a lot of people talking about what I did although that isn't as scary as what will happen after that. 2-3 hours of questions from my committee AH! Scary VERY scary. Need to not think about that now though. Just get presentation down and go from there.

Because Palegreenhorse did

2004-10-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

My birthday was yesterday. I went out to eat for lunch but no singing there. I had two of my friends sing VERY loudly and off key (very bad sounds). This caught the attention of at least three others who then came and wished me happy birthday. In return for the bad singing and embarrassment I got a card for Starbucks :). MMMM free coffee.
I guess I did get have people sing to me at a restraint - on Friday. My roommate type person and her parents took me out to eat. (Compare that to the title mentions persons story, weird? ah... will ignore that.) It was a Mexican restaurant singing wasn't much better than my friends but they tried. I also got to wear a sombrero and have my picture taken. Lucky me, but what makes up for this all - free food (from the parents) AND free dessert - deep fried ice cream (from the restaurant). All in all not a bad deal. At least it wasn't like last year at Red Robin when they made me stand on the chair to get my sundae. Thats just cheap entertainment for everyone else...

Getting close

2004-10-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

I was chatting with my major professor yesterday about my thesis. It is getting close to being done. Who knows when I'll have my defense but at least I am beginning to see a bit of dim light shining down the end of the tunnel. Will still have formatting stuff to do after she says it is good. Will probably start working on it while waiting for her complete approval. Hope this final 'rush' can be done quickly then maybe I'll get a job. My mind just ran off thinking about when I might do my defense depending on when my committee members could meet... I should just go back to editing and not worry about anything else. OOO except lunch.

Thesis, candy, and oops better get busy

2004-10-22T10:54:00.000-07:00

When I write I have the innate ability to say things using very few words (although this tends to be limited to scholarly writing, things like this I can go on for lines and lines and not really notice although its not apparent yet :)). This has not been beneficial in adding to the length of my thesis. The other thing that doesn't help is my Professor telling me that one section doesn't need to be there but I should be ready to explain it when I do my defense. Yippie! At least it isn't anything that is too complicated. I have a bad feeling that the next time my professor revises my results/discussion section she will say it needs to be longer :P that does not make me happy, but will have to wait and see.

The candy jar is not empty yet. It is still over half full. I was feeling crappy earlier this week so I wasn't eating any but am feeling better so have been snacking this morning, kept saying when I got a purple one I wouldn't eat anymore. I got two but then just ate another one. Bad. I will not eat anymore or I will get sick.

My Professor is on my msn chat, came in handy this summer when she was in WW and I at Rosario. She just signed on and yesterday she was here in the department so am wondering if she is down the hall... hope she doesn't stop by I need to look busy ;). No I am getting stuff done this was just a little distraction.

Look at me, look at me!

2004-10-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

I can be special too. Although only if I keep this updated more than my other web journal I have somewhere.

Ok so am feeling like I should write something but more so on my thesis than here. So that's what I'm going to do. But wanted to write something for now.

I am using my friends office while I am finishing my thesis, she has a little candy dispenser. It brings joy to people who come to visit. Although usually it is people that know her. But today I was sitting at her desk (because that's where the network cable is) and a student saw it and gasped (more like ah but a happy one). So he walked up and took some. I just sat there and smiled at him, he said thank you and walked on. It was amusing to me.