An ode to coffee.

Dearest coffee,

I knew you in undergrad. We met on a regular basis up until my junior year, when I figured out that both loads of stress and caffeine triggered an irregular heartbeat.

But now, my dear beverage, we have met again.

This quarter was the true beginning of a real relationship---not like the fling we had in college. I consume at least one cup of coffee a day. And while before, I only really enjoyed my lattes and cappuchinos, I will have you any way possible. Coffee, espresso, ridiculously sugary drinks that contain you---anything for my daily fix.

My mood is less than cheerful if we do not meet in the morning. By the afternoon, I am craving a pick-me-up. You, my dear friend, have kept me going during my 7:30am-11:30 pm days (and my normal 12 hour days too). And perhaps due to the fact that I am in a constant state of stress rather than intervals, you have not brought my irregular heartbeat upon me again.

Thank you for everything. Now could you please not cost me as much as you do?

Love,
BotR

Science demo ideas?

Oh, and as long as I'm on here, does anyone have ideas for science demos that are appropriate for kindergarden kids? Bossman's recruited me to do science demos at his son's school with the other first year in the lab (who, fairly enough, is not enthused about this extra work).

My current ideas: lemon as a battery, color changing "clock", glow in the dark slime, "elephant toothpaste", and colored smoke (if we can do it outside/we can scrounge up the materials).

Bossman is insistent on doing thermite. Which is super cool (hell, I absolutely still love that demo), but I am convinced we have the potential for half of our audience crying. I am secretly hoping that the department won't let him check out the stuff.

Therefore, we'll probably be doing thermite, but that leaves room for one or two more demos. Bossman has grudgingly approved lemon as a battery.

Any other ideas would be much appreciated.

Cheezits, while tasty, are not a good dinner.

Stupid SEC column (yes, I'm aware that's like saying ATM machine).

I'm here (again) the last one in lab (again).

Good thing I've started bringing snacks or I'd have to go get ripped off at the student store by lab (again).


WHY AM I STILL HERE??? This is my first year. I'm not supposed to get anything done anyways. I just want to go home. Or have a milkshake. Either would do.

LAME. Grumble grumble grumble more than 12 hours is not acceptable grumble grumble stupid inefficient first year grumble grumble.

Apparently my PI is as ridiculous as I am.

At group meeting after scolding us for spending too much money on things we are forced to spend to much money on, Bossman grabbed some cheezits, passed some to me and:

"BotR! Cheezit toast!"

Leans over and bumps his Cheezit against the one I'm holding.

Later he spent a good 5 minutes coming up with celebrity couple-esque names (ex: Brangelina) for the different sets of people working on similar projects.

Then he scolded us for our low batting average (number of reactions that worked over the number we sent for sequencing).

What??!?

Grading crunch.

When your wombats are being tested for their final on Wednesday, you try and get them back their reports lickedy split. This has led to me grading from Friday to today and I will hopefully be done tomorrow.

My new favorite sound therapy as I weep over their reports and how little they have figured out from me? Listening to Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! on NPR.

Hopefully all this grading will allow me to study for my final on Wednesday. I've chosen the paper for my other class, so the prof just has to ok it. And the labwork parade marches on.

I think I can I think I can I think I can

Favorite wombat moment of today.

"Biochemist on the Run, I thought your email was so funny I almost made it my facebook status."

Oh, wombats.

Advice: Don't get really sick when in grad school.

So I got ER-level sick on Wednesday. This led to me taking Thursday and Friday off. And getting little to nothing done on either of those days. (I am back to 100% now.)

But you know what? That's ok.

I talked this over today with a fellow first-year labmate and while he asked me if I felt guilty about getting less shit done (yes), we both agreed on this fact: I have 4.5 years of grad school left. It's ok for me to take two days (yes, I did go in both days of the weekend) off. There is plenty of time left.

Also, people are very helpful when you use the phrase "medical emergency." The prof I TA for found me a substitute, the prof I owed a take home exam to gave me an extension, and my boss was completely understanding.