August updates.

For whatever reason, I've been stupidly busy.

My two projects have now expanded into three projects. My bench is a mess. In order to remember all of the things that I have to do every day, I have detailed EVERYTHING in my planner (even stuff like "autoclave more LB"). The pile of plates in my personal mini incubator has grown to a ridiculous level. My desk is piled with papers that I have yet to read. And my monthly goals list that I keep posted above my desk never seems to get shorter, despite the number of things I cross off.

I guess this is what it's like when your project is kind of sort of working?

My hours lately have been...well, for me, I think it's kind of brutal. I get in at 7 and if I'm really lucky, leave at 7:30. Usually I'm not lucky. Usually I'm in here until at least 8:30. More like 9:30.

But you know what? I'm still enjoying it. I definitely get tired. And cranky. And hungry (like I am RIGHT NOW). My (main) project is still really cool. And I am very, very excited to potentially get an undergrad in about a month! (Bossman still has to do the final interview.)

And I get to go home for Fri-Sun! Three straight days without lab? I'll take it. :)

Bravery.

I have been following Gabrielle Giffords's recovery closely, and this was an amazing/touching story.

Welcome back, Gabby.

Someday, I will write a good post again...

but until then, Feminist Nerd Win!

Also, a happy birthday to Lab Soulmate!

Summer is too busy.

Ummm, yeah. Haven't posted in awhile because...

my project is vaguely sorta working!!!

Also, I had a week long vacation. It was awesome. And then I moved. And then my parents came and visited.

Things are good: busy, but good. There's been some lab drama (a second year quit) but past that, not much.

How's everyone else's summer?

FINISHED. 1 year down...

4 more to go? 4.5? (Please no more than 5???)

I am so tired. But I can FINALLY start reading all the papers I've set aside for classwork/TAing. And FINALLY at least have enough time to sit down and try and synthesize some sort of research plan. And FINALLY troubleshoot some of the various things that have gone wrong. I've been doing just lameo preliminary handwavy solutions to fix this particular problem. Unsurprisingly, doing this has not completely fixed my current problem.

But done! Now no one mention quals until the summer's over.

Teaching portfolio.

Last Wednesday was my last class of GSU's "Teaching Wombats" seminar series. While not super useful, the prof was very nice and the only real work was showing up every week. Not a big deal.

However, as a closing note, the prof mentioned to us that now is a good time to start making a teaching portfolio. (GSU has all of the first year chem grad students finish their teaching requirements within the first two years, unless you're asked to TA a grad level course.) Teaching portfolio!?! Crap. I don't even know what that really means.

After a quick google search, Berkeley's career center comes up with one of the best descriptions. Of course, I now wish I'd had the prof I'm teaching for come in during my discussion section. Luckily, the prof who taught the seminar course did come in to see me teach. Hopefully she liked what she saw? We have a meeting later next week, so I'll find out more about this teaching portfolio deal. She said that we should save things like emails from students that thank us. Really? Is that actually a legit thing to put in a teaching portfolio?

Any suggestions out there for what to put in a teaching portfolio? What not to put in a teaching portfolio?

Just keep swimming...

In times like these, two different child-oriented stories always come to me:

"Just keep swimming!"-Finding Nemo
"I think I can I think I can I think I can..."- The Little Engine That Could


Oh goodness. On Wednesday, I will be completely done with my first year of grad school. Yay!!!!!! I am proctoring one final on Monday and taking two finals on Tuesday. I will be done with grading by Wednesday if it kills me.

But oh, the lack of sleep for the past two weeks. When it rains, it pours!