Just in case you were wondering.

Okay, here it is. Just in case you were wondering what happens during a PhD process, this pretty much sums it up. Right now I'm typing the introduction to chapter 3 and will hopefully get through "Materials and Methods" and into "Results" by the end of the day. I was planning on walking in June with the actual defense at some other point between now and October, but after digging through two websites, emailing two different program coordinators, talking to two different graduation (two?) offices, and finally calling the commencement office, I've decided not to walk. It turns out that they don't even hood you at commencement, you're already wearing it. You just walk across the stage and shake someone's hand. I think Public School #482 in Topeka, Kansas puts more thought into their kindergarten graduation. Still, clearly there are lots of graduates to get through at UW every year but you'd think that there'd be more to it. Oh well. Oh, and the reason I haven't graduated already is because my boss wants one more publication before I go. That would take a miracle. But, since it's standing in the way between me and fame and fortune as the best lawn mower this side of the Mississippi, I'm going to get it done.

Rock climbing finally!

I've wanted to learn how to rock climb ever since I was a senior in high school but I never did it. I even bought myself a chalk bag for my 17th birthday. What I did with said chalk bag, I'm not sure as I never used it. I've also bought three different pairs of rock climbing shoes . . . which I also never used. I also have pictures of rock climbing all over my walls. Talk about being a poser. Well, I finally did it. When I got back from Christmas break, I signed up for the first available rock climbing class. The ridiculous thing about the class is that forty minutes after it started, I found myself hanging (safely) from the top of the rock gym relying wholy on the merits of a knot I learned how to tie only thirty minutes before and a belayer that only learned that skill twenty-three minutes before. Well, in short, it was outrageous fun, why'd I wait so long! So now I know how to rock climb . . . and by that I only mean to say that I can officially belay at the gym and I can get to the top. Now following an actual route . . . we'll see about that.

These books are a girl's best friend.

Besides a dog and an SUV of course. Recently, Whitney recommended that I read a few books by Georgette Heyer. She wrote primarily during the 50s (I think) about Regency England. With those two magic words, what's not to like? She's like Austen but faster, funnier, and well . . . better. I know this is sacrilege darling, but it's true! Austen tends to wander off into boring side plots a bit too often for my taste whereas Heyer sticks right to the good stuff. To wit, really sharp dialogue between fiercely independent women and smart capable men. And, since they're all loaded (think 90,000 pounds as a starting point), not a single one of them has to make protein in order to support surf weekends or trips to Peru. The other bonus is that she didn't just write six novels like Austen, she wrote like thirty or so. Thanks Georgie! The book pictured here is "Regency Buck" where the ultra-wealthy Miss Taverner and her brother are left to the guardianship of someone only a few years older than them. Hilarity ensues.

Oh doctoral degree, will you be my valentine?

So for Valentine's Day, I decided to spend it snuggled up with my computer and my thesis. Yes, I'm still working on it. Turns out that those long essays written on a particular subject, esp. one written as a requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree take forever. Anyway, with all the typing and experimenting that day, I ended up getting so restless and annoyed, I went to the gym twice. Once before and once in the middle. Sickening really. Plus, I felt the need to do an art project, a picture of which will be posted as soon as possible (read: in a few months or so). When I was writing my general exam proposal, a song by the 10,000 Maniacs (These Are Days) would come on and I'd think, "wow, I really need to stop and realize how wonderful my life is". And now it comes up again when I'm writing my thesis. So in an erratic sputter of creativity, I decided to paint out all the lyrics on canvas in black acrylic paint with some of the words highlighted in yellow. It looks alright, I'd buy a different brush next time, but pretty satisfactory as a piece, particularly since I love words as art. The best (?) part of the evening was when I was closing the yellow paint tube and miraculously (?) a big glob of yellow paint defied gravity and shot up into my right eye. No joke. Good thing the words "non-toxic" aren't just for looks. I smiled at the thought of finally being able to use the lab eye wash but opted for a good ole scrub in the bathroom. I still have vision in that eye so no worries. The eye is a work of wonder as I watched all the yellow paint swirl over my eye and collect in the corner, ready to be neatly swabbed out. It was a relief that it's built like that.

That's an interesting point you make.

So I finally went to the eye doctor to get new contact lenses and I decided to get new glasses while I was at it. I wanted some frames that were a little less subtle than the ones I got last time. And since I have a dissertation defense coming up in the next six months (don't know when), I wanted some glasses that presented me as an extremely intelligent and intimidating scientist. So that when they ask me questions, they accept my authoritative glance and answer. Presenting happens to be all about presentation. I gave them (the glasses) a dry run tonight when I had to give the Friday night seminar to the entire BS (basic sciences, not the other thing) Division at the Hutch. They worked so well that when I answered one of the questions and a professor in the third year laughed at me, I looked right back at her and said, "Yes. Half a million. This is based on current estimates of antigen processing capabilities as well as combinatorial peptide libraries." That clammed her up. Yes it did.