tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60143862024-03-06T23:37:56.186-05:00Heavier ThingsAmbition. Neuroses. Non-Sequiturs. The ramblings of a delightfully anxious graduate student pursuing a life and a PhD.Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-46183847442280364802008-02-09T14:52:00.000-05:002008-02-09T15:06:43.315-05:00OMG WTF BBQ<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I can't remember the last time I was this social in my life.<br /><br />Oddly enough, I've managed to forge a new group of work-related friends who seem to be able to bring out the social party animal in me. Recently it's been party, after party, after ski outing, after love/sex week dirty trivia night. I'm now waking up hungover in the middle of the week, realizing I forgot to change the time on my alarm and thus have slept right through the weekly lab meeting. I'm really not complaining.<br /><br />Things are going really well with my PhD research: the results are exploding right now, and are looking very promising for a quickly up-coming publication. I know what I'm doing, I like what I'm doing, and I know there's always more experiments to come. I like going to conferences and networking, and I'm even starting to enjoy presenting (OMG WTF?).<br /><br />It wasn't too long ago where I was counting down the days to where I'd be finished with school and out into the real world. And while I'm still looking forward to actually making money, I've also found myself hoping these good times can keep on going. I like making my own schedule, I like that I'm productive and independent, and I like that I feel confident and comfortable. How things have changed.<br /><br />Some things have changed in the not-so-good way, but those issues are being worked out. And you always learn something from negative situations, either about yourself or about other people. I've done both - and in the long run, I'm glad of it.<br /><br />I have a lot of things to look forward to in the next wee while: club night tonight, ski trip soon, a friend from undergrad coming up from Waterloo to visit, a conference, a trip out to Calgary to see my brother and sister-in-law, and a trip somewhere this summer (either Peru/Chile or Scandinavia).<br /><br />Besides the fact that I still feel way too old, life is pretty good right now. I hope things are going well for the rest of you :)<br /><br />mwah!<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-63188446648985566622007-12-02T20:27:00.000-05:002007-12-02T20:44:45.484-05:00Continuum<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Shock of all shocks: I'm aliiiiiive! Blogless, but alive. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The typical explanation: busy with school (I'm now officially a PhD student and recently went to San Diego for the annual <a href="http://www.sfn.org">Society for Neuroscience</a> conference), busy with life, just busy busy busy. Except when I'm being lazy and sitting on my ass for an entire day (how I love Sundays).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Sad fact is I don't ever really think about posting anymore - and I sincerely doubt there's anyone who really cares. heh. (Except you, Andy!)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I will keep the blog up, maybe at some point I will feel the need to make more regular posts about something more interesting than my perpetual on-going quarter life crisis. But for now, I am saying hasta luego. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I hope you all are well!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">xoxo</span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-77653351667917758952007-06-29T10:51:00.000-04:002007-06-29T11:06:01.239-04:00Stop This Train<span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> So scared of getting older</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;"> I'm only good at being young</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> So I play the numbers game</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> To find a way to say that life has just begun.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span> Once in awhile, when it's good</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> It'll feel like it should</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> And they're all still around</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> And you're still safe and sound</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> And you don't miss a thing</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> Till you cry when you're driving away in the dark.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">Stop This Train</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> - John Mayer, Continuum<br /><br />Another year, another birthday past. I'm 24. I don't know how I got this old, but I know it scares me.<br /><br />For every entry</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> that I accomplish</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> on my my mentally constructed list of Things To Do Before I Die, at least 3 new entries are added. It just keeps growing and time keeps passing, and it leaves me dragging my fingernails through the dirt in a vain hope that I can slow it down and somehow stop time so I can relax and enjoy the moment.<br /><br />I like my life right now, I like where I am, and this is exactly why the sheer light-speed at which time passes is really starting to worry me. I'm still young, but time is running out on being able to enjoy being young.<br /><br />Summers off are already a thing of the past; the time for mini skirts and impromptu clubbing outings is rapidly passing by; the chances I will have to blow my savings and take time off for trips to Europe and South America and wherever else are running out. I'm too young to be old!<br /><br />With another birthday and the transfer to my PhD, it seems like I'm in the midst of a quarter-life crisis. Thankfully it is Canada Day weekend, so I can go to a barbecue and totally shitfaced with other people in a complete socially acceptable way!<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-38402357378443962612007-05-19T19:42:00.000-04:002007-05-19T19:59:47.161-04:00Ventura Highway<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">So with the novelty of facebook wearing off (after the utter weirdness of coming back into contact with people I haven't seen/heard from in 12+ years), summer is quickly approaching.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I'm also almost done with deadlines for this past scholastic year. Earlier this week I attended the Essence of Memory conference, partially organized by my supervisor. It brought together many important memory researchers from all over the world. I got the chance to present my research in a poster session, and met quite a few interesting people.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The man who co-discovered <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_potentiation">long-term potentiation</a> (the presumed biological substrate for memory), Timothy Bliss, actually sat at our table during the banquet dinner. It was a pretty surreal experience - the nerdier Neuroscience equivalent of meeting John Lennon or James Dean.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Next week I'm off to Toronto for the <a href="http://www.can-acn.org/Pub/Pub_Front.asp">Canadian Association for Neuroscience</a> conference. I'll be there for a week, going to more talks and also presenting my research again. I'll be meeting up with some friends from my undergrad while I'm there, so at least I'll have a little fun!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I also just finished writing my research paper that will transfer me to my PhD - I just have to make corrections and finally hand it in. Then it'll be official. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Busy busy busy. Another year gone. Another year closer to death. heh. Morbid much? At least it's sunny and warm, so it's hard to be </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">too</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> maudlin these days. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">And after the Toronto conference, I'm off to Cuba for a week - for beach, books, booze, and sleep. I can barely wait to get away! I hope all of you are doing well :)</span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-38030773663215626452007-04-20T15:45:00.000-04:002007-04-20T15:56:33.313-04:00I Succumbed<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So if y'all have been wondering where I've been and why I haven't posted in a month or so, there is a quite benign though slightly sad explanation (even though I highly doubt that anyone is sitting in a corner, crying and shivering, going through Jo-blog update withdrawal).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The explanation is this: I got sucked in to joining facebook.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That is all.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It is a monumentally effective time waster. If you haven't yet joined, be strong! Hold out if you actually have work that needs to get done!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">With that said, I'm now off to enjoy this spectacularly gorgeous warm and sunny weather - finally! Have a good weekend everyone :)<br /><br />I miss you! Help me...<br /></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-85849073348909034132007-03-29T19:46:00.000-04:002007-03-29T20:06:10.314-04:00Research<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So what is it that I do on a daily basis? Basically, this:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/438141224/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/438141224_94b779a287_m.jpg" alt="mycells" height="87" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The above is an example of one of my cells. All three of them are the same cell - to make an extremely complicated cellular/molecular story simple, I inject the DNA of the protein I want to study right into the nucleus of these sensory neurons (the nucleus is essentially that empty black space in the middle that you can see in the green picture). The DNA then gets translated into my protein, and is expressed in the cell. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Then I can manipulate various things and look at the results.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The DNA has this tag on it that makes it fluoresce in red under the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confocal_microscope">confocal microscope</a>. The green is a similarly tagged antibody that I use to look at some functions of the protein under various conditions. The last picture is a merge of red and green filters.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is a gorgeous example of the neurites (cell processes) that grew in culture from one particular experiment:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/438141222/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/438141222_caf811ed50_m.jpg" alt="neurites1" height="240" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you're bored already, I give you free and entirely understood permission to stop reading and/or let your eyes slowly glaze over as I so often do when my supervisor starts talking extensively over my head (which is a daily event).<br /><br />The protein that I study is an <span style="font-weight: bold;">atypical isoform of protein kinase C </span>(PKC). This is a model which partially explains the role my protein may have in memory processes:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/438141218/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/171/438141218_93d10fb319.jpg" alt="Facilitation1" height="300" width="350" /></a><br /><br />That little question mark in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">motor neuron</span> is thought to be the role of PKCs.<br /><br />So yeah, fun stuff isn't it? (Hey, I <span style="font-style: italic;">heard</span> that!)<br /></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-61789051565817221022007-03-20T19:41:00.000-04:002007-03-20T20:02:05.402-04:00The Alchemist<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As my creme brulee sits under the boiler, caramelizing the topping of a wee sprinkle of brown sugar, I thought I would blog about the book I'm reading right now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alchemist-Fable-About-Following-Dream/dp/0062502182">The Alchemist</a>, by <b>Paulo Coelho</b>, is actually more along the lines of a fairy tale: subtitled "A fable about following your dream</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">". It's quite short, and yet it is very full of those life-lessons that normally take people their entire lives to realize - let alone put into action.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It can be interpreted very religiously, but that's not a necessary interpretation. I'm actually enjoying it quite a bit, it reminds you to do all of those things that you often take for granted on a daily basis. The catch is, the "daily basis" </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >is</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> actually your life. The entirety of your existence culminates from the "daily basis".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What's even more interesting about this book, is I bought the copy I'm reading in a second hand bookstore. The woman who read it before me (I can only assume it was a woman due to the fairly effeminate hand writing) made numerous very insightful comments in the margins. It's been really affective to have these notes to go along with the story - instantly having someones personal thoughts and reactions to the very thing that you just read.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My favourite of these comments to date is "</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >It is always easier to go back to what is comfortable, because less space lies between what is comfortable and what is dreamed</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am really glad I picked up this book from the second hand store, having had absolutely no idea what it was about. I most definitely recommend it to any of you!</span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-70134570718725926322007-03-04T19:57:00.001-05:002007-03-08T20:09:20.997-05:00The Kitten<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/410670269/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/410670269_dc790fc491_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a> <span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/410670269/"><br /></a> </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> So my cat </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Ashes</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> has been at my apartment for the weekend.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My parents dropped her off on Thursday as they were supposed to leave on vacation to Alabama on Friday. We decided that instead of having someone come in to feed the cat, that she would spend the week at my place - so she wouldn't be too lonely and be with someone familiar. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But because of a big snow storm on Friday they had to cancel their trip, and they've since rescheduled to take a one week all inclusive to the Dominican Republic (again, bastards). They are now leaving on Wednesday, and thus sticking me with the cat for another week and a half.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Let me just say that it's so far been an effing hassle. Ashes was monumentally upset when she got here, having freaked out on the car ride over. She kept me up the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >whole</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> night, meowing and running around and jumping on my bed and dresser and shaking my mirror and poking me. At 4:45 am I had to lock my bedroom door and wear earplugs so as to not be kept awake any longer by her insistent meowing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">She's since mellowed a bit, having come out from under my bed (being covered in a fair amount of dust bunnies) and began eating. When my cat doesn't eat, you know there is something </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >seriously</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> wrong. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">She now sleeps through the night on the foot of my bed, but wakes me up at 5:45 am wanting to play. During the day, she likes to stay in my room - she'll sit in front of the mirror (vain thing) and meow constantly until I come see her. Freaking demanding little thing!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At least she's insanely adorable, and it's nice to have her around at the end of the day. I am powerless in face of her gravitational cuteness - oh, and I apologize for the baby voice... it's not my fault!Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-89356810207247638042007-02-18T14:35:00.000-05:002007-02-18T14:52:20.339-05:00Polish Overload<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">So my date with Match Boy went well. We went out for drinks at a quaint Scotch bar - though we both opted for beer. We got along well, had nice conversation, and generally enjoyed each other's company.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">With that said, there just didn't seem to be any spark/chemistry on my part. I didn't feel the excited nervousness that comes I like someone. Cliche or not, there was a very strong 'friend' vibe - it really felt like going out for drinks with a new friend.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">While there doesn't seem to be a romantic match, at least I might get a friend out of the deal! I'm going out for drinks with another guy, henceforth named Dr. Guy (he's a medical resident), on Tuesday. So we'll see how that goes!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">---</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">As for the topic - </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Polish Guy</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> has unfortunately and hilariously crawled back ever so briefly into my life.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I was out with my best friend yesterday doing some shopping before seeing the new Hugh Grant movie. We're down in one of the underground food courts, just sitting and having a chat. As we're getting up to leave, guess who strolls up to us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I instantly know it's Polish Guy, and start laughing in a "</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">god this is going to be bad, isn't it</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">" kind of way. He starts off asking something along the line of if my friend and I are "good smellers". I shit you not.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I look over at MC, and can tell she doesn't recognize him. And then I realize he doesn't recognize us! He then tries to tell us that he has two different colognes on his wrists, and wants us to choose the one we like best. He proceeds to shove his wrists in our faces.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The look of pure terror and disbelief on my friends face was hysterical. We both start to back away, just trying to get the hell away from this guy - while I'm frantically hoping he doesn't suddenly remember us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">As we're walking away, I tell my friend who it was, and we begin to talk about how randomly scary that was and if the "are you good smellers" line usually works on unsuspecting women.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Polish Guy is a whole new brand of completely and horrifying weirdness that I hope to never encounter again in my life. Blech!</span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-54433491453139108972007-02-14T14:18:00.000-05:002007-02-14T14:32:39.156-05:00Dreaded Presentations<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Last Thursday it was my turn to present my research to the group of PI's and their students at the Montreal Neurological Institute, where I work. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I had to give my first presentation last year, and if you remember, I was quite <a href="http://worldofjo.blogspot.com/2006/02/oh-shit-shitshitshitshit.html">absolutely and completely terrified</a> to do it. This year was a complete 180 degree change.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Recently, I've been feeling exponentially more confident in myself with regards to my research. Having had no background in biochem/molecular research going into the lab made for a very difficult, stressful, and self-esteem breaking experience. It took a really long time to learn the ropes and be able to confidently speak to others about what I'm doing. Last year I didn't sleep well for 2 months leading up to my MNI presentation and had frequent panic attacks.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This year I rocked it. I wasn't too nervous, had a lot more data to present, knew what I was talking about, and was able to answer the questions thrown my way. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Friday I have to give the same talk to the Psychology department as a requirement to fast-track through my Masters and right into my PhD without losing a year or having to do a candidacy exam.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I'm so glad and relieved that I finally feel comfortable and confident again. Who knows what it will be like next year, I might morph into one of those scary pretentious virulent grad students that the undergraduate community so fiercely fears. A girl can hope!</span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-7630446565827408152007-02-08T20:06:00.000-05:002007-02-02T18:21:37.829-05:00Hussy Alert!<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">So it turns out I have a speed dating match.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Match-Boy actually turned out to be the lucky guy I dashed off to after my horrifying encounter with Polish Guy. Thankfully he was much more pleasant. We've talked and decided to go out for drinks sometime next week, and I'm looking forward to it! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Interestingly enough, turns out I will also be going out with another guy I met recently - he's a friend of someone in my lab. We had met after a bunch of us from the lab went out for drinks one night after work, and we had been keeping in touch.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Looks like I'm turning into quite the hussy! We loves it!<br /><br />I'll keep you all posted ;)<br /></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-5308002639702216002007-02-01T16:17:00.000-05:002007-02-01T16:38:06.875-05:00My Speed Dating Experience<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Since my little world of graduate neuroscience research is fairly limited, I recently decided to participate in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speeddating">Speed Dating</a> event that was hosted by the graduate students' society at my University.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I figured it would be a good way to meet some new people, be able to check 'Speed Dating' off my list of Things-To-Do-Before-I-Die, and I would at least get a good story out of it. My best friend and I signed up together, so we would be able to cling to each other for emotional/moral support (and have it look slightly less pathetic when recounting the story).<br /><br />The night actually ended up being a lot of fun - and I of course have an amusing story to tell you all.<br /><br />There was 20 guys and 20 girls who turned up, all grad students - mostly in science related fields. The majority of the guys were from physics, which makes sense if you think of the male/female ratio in that field.<br /><br />Most, with one very hilarious exception, were really nice guys. Some were really funny, some were pretty cute, some were painfully geeky, some were fairly awkward, and one was nutsycoocoo. This diamond in the rough has henceforth been labeled as <span style="font-style: italic;">Polish Guy</span>.<br /><br />This particular event was structured so the women moved from table to table, with the guys staying seated. You had 2 minutes to chat, and then moved on to the next table. If you were interested, you make a little check in the person's box and if you both checked each other's off, you get emailed the other's email address.<br /><br />As I'm moving over to Polish Guy's table, already suspiciously eyeing his protruding chest hair from the top of his unbuttoned shirt with quintessential gold chain, I realize this is going to be 2 minutes too long.<br /><br />He first eyes me up, from top to bottom, makes an approving/demeaning "oohh" noise, and immediately checks my box on his list. At this point all I'm thinking is <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">'Fuck'</span></span>.<br /><br />One of the first things he says, after this horrifying initial display, is to comment on how young I look. He even went as far to estimate my age at 7 years old. I smile in return, trying to pass it off as a joke and not think about any pedophiliac tendencies, and make a sarcastic comment about offensive first impressions.<br /><br />The next thing I know, he's telling me to look at his chest as an answer to the question "Interesting accent, where are you from?". He promptly takes this glorious opportunity to openly stare at my chest for a good few seconds. Apparently, his gold chain had a pendant which read 'POLAND' - his country of origin. Needless to say, I wasn't about to try to locate this pendant in his peek-a-boo chest hair.<br /><br />I also remember him asking me whether I like to be on top. I honestly can't recall exactly why this came up (psychological defence mechanism?), but I'm pretty sure there is no logical reason to explain any of this.<br /><br />Finally, the bell rings - indicating it is time to switch tables. I thank the god of all this is holy and good, and practically knock over my chair in an attempt to get away from this dude as fast as humanly possible. Not only do I <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> check off his box, but I completely scratch out his number just to ensure that my information doesn't accidentally get sent to him.<br /><br />I then spend the following 2 minutes talking to the next guy about how scary Polish Guy was.<br /><br />At the end of the night, my friend and I compare stories - apparently she had a similar experience with Polish Guy. This made me feel better, and less singularly dirty. We now both have an amusing story to share about the perils of speed dating.<br /><br />All in all, despite the Polish horror that ensued, I'm glad I decided to do it. We'll be notified of any potential matches in the next few days, so we'll see what will come of it :) I had a good time, and at least is makes for an amusing run-on blog post!<br /><br /><u>Listening to</u>: <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Sweet Escape</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Gwen Stefani</span><br /></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-35572789670346700082007-01-25T20:24:00.000-05:002007-01-25T20:53:11.574-05:00The Crypt Keeper<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I am getting far too old far too fast.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This past week-end I was invited up to a friends cottage at Mont-Tremblant, a mountain ski resort about 2 hours north of the city. I used to ski there a lot when I was younger, but I sadly haven't gotten to chance in recent years. While I didn't end up skiing last week-end, I did enjoy sitting by the fire, reading, watching movies, wandering through the little town, and playing board games.<br /><br />Now how does this segue into my geriatricness?<br /><br />Well, Friday night my friend and I decided to head on in to the village and go dancing at one of their small and rather cozy clubs. We shared a bottle of wine, bundled up against the freezing cold and gusting wind, and walked down to the bar. Upon getting carded at the door (immediately a bad sign), we both quickly realized a very sad truth:<br /><br />The average age of the club-patrons had to be around 19 years old.<br /><br />During the course of the night, I got chatted up by a few boys - most of which thought I was 18 years old. One of them, at 19 himself, didn't know what a grad student was - "<span style="font-style: italic;">graduating from what?</span>" Two of them needed their friends to approach me for them. Funniest of all, one got <span style="font-style: italic;">his</span> friend to tell <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> friend to tell <span style="font-style: italic;">me</span> that he was interested. heh. Oh how I had forgotten what it was like to be in high school!<br /><br />I guess there's a slight silver lining to my aging cloud: though I'm old, at least I look young. Almost too young, as someone the other day in the elevator in my building told me I looked 14. I can't seem to win!<br /><br />As for this weekend, I get to see my brother and his (<span style="font-style: italic;">squeal!</span>) fiancee! whee! They're coming into town, and I can't wait to go bridesmaid dress shopping!<br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-13256900400707797552007-01-07T10:12:00.000-05:002007-01-07T10:29:43.648-05:00Spam Me<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I get the weirdest spam in my gmail account. It's only a couple here and there, but not the typical Viagra or newsletter type spam that we are all well accustomed to deleting without a second thought.<br /><br />No, the spam <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> get goes a little something like this:<br /><br /></span><span id="_user_SidneysEfrighten@tennesseeanytime.org" style="color: rgb(0, 104, 28); font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Everett Byrd </span></span><span id="_user_SidneysEfrighten@tennesseeanytime.org" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">SidneysEfrighten@tennesseeanytime.org</span><span id="_user_SidneysEfrighten@tennesseeanytime.org" style="color: rgb(0, 104, 28); font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><sidneysefrighten@tennesseeanytime.org></sidneysefrighten@tennesseeanytime.org></span><br /></span><div style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >Dare to be gorgeous and unique. But don't ever be cryptic or otherwise unfathomable. Make it unforgettably great.</span></div> <div style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Computer Networks (2003) A customer beams with joy, and the canyon living with a briar patch leaves; however, a soggy chestnut seeks an earring about the cab driver.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and<br /><br /></span><span id="_user_DominickwAus@stressrelease.com" style="color: rgb(0, 104, 28);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">Domingo Cain DominickwAus@stressrelease.com</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >It doesnt matter, Paul, he told himself again and again in those last few days before the Royal coughed up first its t and then its e, the damned thing is almost done. And she heard it - low, painful scraping sounds in the earth - not the sounds of a burrowing animal, these; these were the sounds of fingers scraping helplessly on wood.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It's a sad day indeed when I miss the comfortable usuality of sensical Viagra spam!<br /><br />---<br /><br />In other news: the boyfriend and I broke up yesterday. It's sucky and I'm a little sad, but it is for the best. We had been coasting along for a while without things really going anywhere, so it was time to move on. I deserve better, and I'm looking forward to dating again. I have missed that butterfly excitement of those first few dates - it's such an enjoyably awkward feeling that I always miss when things start to get comfortable.<br /><br />So with a new year is a new break with new opportunities. I'm glad I can honestly say that I'm looking forward to it!<br /></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-68794211872495717302007-01-01T14:59:00.000-05:002007-01-01T15:13:09.523-05:00Another Year<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">And so we move into 2007.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year's, and that at least some of you are joining me in hang-over recovery land. Here's to another year - hopefully just as good, if not better, than the last!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Cheers!</span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-46796997577095754992006-12-17T16:52:00.000-05:002006-12-17T17:23:05.343-05:00Bacon, Eggs, Porn<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/312271964/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/140/325261073_c275463704_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a> <span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/312271964/"><br /></a> </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Got to love random drunken shopping lists people leave on my blackboard following a widly successful Christmas party, which ended up lasting till the wee hours of this morning.<br /><br />All the fun, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/325260792/">laughs</a>, booze, food, insults, poker, and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/325261155/">Cranium</a> were well worth the excessive 2 hour hung-over clean up job I had to do this afternoon. However, I do wish I had known what a mess 15 people in various states of intoxication would manage to make in a one bedroom apartment, oi vey!<br /><br />Despite the scathing looks I received from fellow tenants in the elevator as I brought down a couple of bags filled with empty booze bottles, the party was a complete blast and a terrific way to kick off the holiday season. I'm off to my parents' house tomorrow for the week, time to relax and take it easy with the family.<br /><br />If I don't get around to blogging before Christmas, I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday :)<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/325261206/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/143/325261206_96b960b920_m.jpg" alt="XMasParty06 015" height="160" width="240" /></a></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-1165095736814130892006-12-02T16:42:00.000-05:002006-12-02T20:37:36.290-05:00My Gorgeous Sexy Brain<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/312271964/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/312271964_71d65970b3_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a> <span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/312271964/"><br /></a> </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yep, that's </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >MY BRAIN</span>. <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />I finally got the pictures back from my fMRI scan - this obviously being the anatomical MRI, not the functional scan itself.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I took this picture as a screenshot from the program that I was given to view my brain. You can pull the crossbar (which you can vaguely see in purple here) to move through different sections and views of the brain.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I have to admit that I am thoroughly in love with my brain. It's so pretty. Look at all the sexy structures! Can you name some of them that you see here? I can!</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Corpus callosum</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Pons</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Brain stem</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Cerebellum</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Pituitary gland</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Hypothalamus/Thalamus</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Oh we loves it!<br /><br /><u><span style="font-weight: bold;">Side note</span></u>: <span style="font-style: italic;">I just realized that I've been blogging here for just over 3 years. Holy crap, that's a lot of blogging. It's pretty funny to look back through the archives and skim through the last 3 years of my life - I didn't really appreciate how much has happened and how much has changed.</span><br /></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-1164399041755568562006-11-24T14:54:00.000-05:002006-11-24T15:24:28.256-05:00Grad Student Chuztpah<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As time goes on, I seem to be falling more and more into the dreadful stereotypes of a typical grad student.</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ramen noodles are making more frequent appearances in my pathetically packed lunches </span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I seem to have a fierce disdain for most undergrads (with a few exceptions - those that work in my lab are cool) </span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My relationship with my supervisor mainly consists of me feeling inadequate and confused<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My future research goals are piling up without making much progress on the projects I'm working on now </span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm getting seriously impatient about how slowly it takes to get results </span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I can't function without a few cups of coffee a day </span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The number of talks I have to give and conferences I have to go to keeps going up</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The resulting anxiety about these talks and conferences doesn't seem to dissipate</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Guilt has become an inherent feature of relaxation </span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In other words, <a href="http://www.phdcomics.com">PhD Comics</a> is basically starting to look too much like my life. heh.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><center><div style="text-align: left;"><center><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/305145706/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/111/305145706_34da64146b_m.jpg" width="240" height="104" alt="phdcom1" /></a></span><br /></center></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />At least I do seem to go out and get drunk more often than the PhD comics characters, but I'm not sure that that's necessarily the marker of normalcy that I should cling to. Ahh well, off to the bar tonight!<br /></div></center></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-1163969715439410122006-11-19T15:37:00.000-05:002006-11-19T16:05:10.876-05:00Horoscope Me<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've recently started reading my daily horoscope.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />I don't know why, or really how it started, but lately I seem to be doing it rather compulsively. I attribute it in part to being bored in the lab and trying to find something half decently interesting to surf for on the net during my coffee breaks.<br /><br />The most recent horoscope had this to say:<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"</span></span><span class="featuretxt" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">On the weekend of the 17th, put your emotions, schedules and plans on hold and count on disruptions, frustrating discussions and annoying relatives who are determined to test the limits of your patience.</span>"<br /><br />It creeps me out when they're so crazy accurate.<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span class="featuretxt" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Non-sequitur</span>: got to love this <a href="http://bitchphd.blogspot.com/2006/11/why-i-hate-my-child.html">post</a> by <span style="font-weight: bold;">BitchPhD</span>. Oh how it amuses!<br /></span></li></ul>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-1162934201628462342006-11-07T15:44:00.000-05:002006-11-07T16:16:41.896-05:00Women in Neuroscience<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I was flipping through the July issue of <a href="http://www.nature.com/neuro/index.html">Nature Neuroscience</a> when I came across a really interesting editorial on women in neuroscience. Seeing as I <span style="font-style: italic;">am</span> a woman in neuroscience, I didn't hesitate in reading through the piece (if you're interested, it's a one page article in <span style="font-style: italic;">July 2006, volume 9 number 7, p. 853</span>).<br /><br />It turns out that only 1 in 5 papers published in the journal have a female corresponding author. The editors were then interested in why this is: is it 'simply' because there are less women in neuroscience as a field, or is it reflecting a societal glass ceiling?<br /><br />In examining whether the author's gender correlated with their chances of publishing in NN, they found that "papers from female authors are sent for peer review and published in proportion to their representation among submission" - i.e the overall acceptance rates were statistically indistinguishable. <span style="font-weight: bold;">10.9% </span>of papers with female authors in comparison to <span style="font-weight: bold;">11.8% </span>with male authors were published.<br /><br />However, is still stands that there are gender disparities in the demographics of neuroscientists. For example, of 940 reviewers for the journal itself, only <span style="font-weight: bold;">16.2% </span>are female. In 2003, it was reported that <span style="font-weight: bold;">50%</span> of neuroscience graduates were female, but only <span style="font-weight: bold;">25%</span> of tenure-track faculty were female.<br /><br />What I also found pretty discouraging is that in 1999, MIT found that female faculty had lower salaries, less space and fewer recourses than men with equivalent accomplishments in the field. A big multivariate study done in 2004 found that gender differences in career success were entirely attributable to the differential effects of marriage and family on women and men.<br /><br />In other words, they found that having a family has a detrimental effect on women's careers, but not on men's careers.<br /><br />I don't know how to feel in reaction to these sorts of findings anymore. I feel angry. I feel sad. I feel discouraged. I feel powerless. And then at the same time, I feel like it's irrelevant to me and my life because I'm going to succeed in whatever it is I choose to do - it's just how my life works and has always worked.<br /><br />I just hope some of these numbers can help those girls and women who say "<span style="font-style: italic;">I'm not a feminist, but...</span>" see that they can't take what they have forgranted: we still have a very long way to go. </span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-1162416713416534322006-11-01T16:07:00.000-05:002006-11-01T16:31:53.436-05:00Stay Classy, Montreal<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/282729772/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/106/282729772_5f9acff94a_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a> <span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/282729772/"><br /></a> </span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> What's better than getting all skanked up for Halloween and taking drunken mirror pictures with your friends? Nothing, you say? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Well how about getting </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">so</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> drunk that you only stay for 30 minutes at the party you got all dressed up for because you start to get sick and get dragged home by your friend who then also gets sick?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Just another classy moment to add to my already lengthy </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Book of Shame</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">. At least we managed to have a fair bit of fun getting ready for the party, heh. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It's hard to believe that it's already November, I still can't reconcile myself with how fast the time flies. I just had my first academic-induced anxiety panic attack about how fast my Master's Thesis deadline is approaching. Even though I get older (crypt-keeper older), it's good to know that my neuroses are a tried and true constant in my life.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Well, I have one new constant to add: Hungarian Champagne = bad idea. No matter how tempted you may be, no matter how funny you might find the idea of Hungarian "Champagne", DO NOT SUCCUMB. You will regret it.<br /><br />Or at the very least, maybe it would be wiser to sip it gradually and not down half a bottle in 10 minutes. Either way.</span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-1161369993385387072006-10-20T14:39:00.000-04:002006-10-20T15:30:04.876-04:00Geek Overload<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/274125788/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/274125788_81a81cb7ce_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/274125788/"><br /></a> </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> This past week I was at the <a href="http://www.sfn.org/am2006">Society for Neuroscience</a> 2006 conference in Atlanta, Georgia. It's one of the biggest conferences in North America - this year there was around 30,000 Neuroscientists who attended.<br /><br />That's a crap load of geeks in the same place at the same time.<br /><br />The size of the conference is hard to explain unless you see it for yourself. I essentially spent the first day just walking around staring at things with my mouth agape. There was so much to do and see, so many talks and presentations and discussions and seminars and posters.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />To give you an idea, here's a <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Joanna21/Neuroscience/?action=view¤t=Neuroscience017.flv">video</a> I took of <span style="font-style: italic;">only one</span> of the big poster presentation halls - there were a few this size.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I went to some talks by Nobel prize winners, I got to meet a lot of really important people in my field, and I even got a few offers for collaboration and one recruitment.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was such an incredible experience - overwhelming and scary, but fascinating and exciting. Talking with all these really smart people and getting to see how much my research is on the cutting edge of neuroscience really made me re-evaluate wanting to stick with what I'm doing. Just last week I was sure I was going to leave the lab and do something else for my PhD, now I'm thinking of staying. It's funny how experiences like this can change us dramatically in just a few days.<br /><br />Here's me with my poster on presentation day, woot! And don't worry if you don't even understand the title - I don't either!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/274125784/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/104/274125784_ea7ff1b0c1_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a></div></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-1160083140955345652006-10-05T17:12:00.000-04:002006-10-05T17:23:17.956-04:00Clarity<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Oh how I love fall. </span><br /><br /><div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jopics/261726432/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/261726432_5744b791e0_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ></span> <br /></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Voila a view of Mount Royal taken from my balcony.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> When Autumn comes, it doesn't ask</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> It just walks in where it left you last.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> You never know when it starts</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> Until there's fog inside the glass around your summer hear</span><span style="font-style: italic;">t.</span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-1159740032770817182006-10-01T17:41:00.000-04:002006-10-01T18:00:32.803-04:00The Heart of Life<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It's surprising how much sway the weather can have in determining my mood.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Yesterday was a beautifully perfect fall day: sunny, a big bright blue sky, and a comfortably warm temperature with that slight crispness in the air that makes a light jacket the perfect accessory. I love fall for this reason, with all the leaves just starting to change colour and fall from the trees. It makes me happy. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I slept in, had my coffee, did my pilates, and set out for some shopping. I took my iPOD, freshly loaded with the new <a href="http://www.johnmayer.com">John Mayer</a> CD </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Continuum</span> (I am completely addicted to it and cannot stop listening, I even have trouble falling asleep because the songs are stuck in my head). <br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The combination of the beautiful day, the sometimes fulfilling feeling that can result from shopping for things you actually need </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">and</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> want, and the great music all came together to make yesterday such a great day. I had a little hop in my step and a smile on my face, it was terrific. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Days like that are so few and far between, I'm glad that I was able to savour it in the moment. Next weekend is shaping up to be even better: Thanksgiving with Mike and Rose coming into town! Woot woot, can't wait to see them!</span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014386.post-1158952558393243632006-09-22T15:09:00.000-04:002006-09-25T15:16:54.743-04:00Golden Touch<ol style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><li>My raise officially kicked in today - I am no longer barely able to pay rent and bills with nothing left over for food! HELLS YEAH</li><li>I told bitchy post-doc to jump up her own ass and die<br /></li><li>I rocked out in the microinjections and got 5 beautifully imaged cells without her help<br /></li><li>It's the weekend and my hetero-lifemate's champagne birthday - 23 on the 23rd!!</li></ol><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Have a good one you guys, I know I sure will!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><u>Listening to</u>: </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Love Generation</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> - Bob Sinclair</span>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13884138791327420066noreply@blogger.com0