Rodent Homicide

If any of you are members of PETA, you can go ahead and put me on your hit list.

This Friday we're euthanizing the 90-ish mice we've been experimenting with. My sister asked today if I was going to be sad, and was shocked to learn that my feelings on the matter are quite the opposite. Not only am I not sad, I'm kind-of looking forward to it.

Hear me out before you crown me the Ice Queen! These mice have been nothing but trouble from the get-go. They're not even my project, yet they've monopolized all my time and energy in the lab. I haven't worked on my project since November, and deadlines are fast approaching. Hopefully you're able to see why I'm a bit apprehensive! The actual death/dissection process doesn't necessarily appeal to me, but I'm definitely eager to be done with them and back to work on my own stuff. Friday is going to be a long, bloody day.

BIG Nerds

Myself and 3 of my classmates went to lunch today after class. While there I was bitching about a cut I have on my finger. It's about the equivalent of a paper cut, but this morning I happened to spill acetic acid on it and it burned like hell -- so of course I'm crying about it all day long.

Anyhow, that story prompted Ely to ask everyone what their favorite acid was. He honestly has a favorite acid. I'm not kidding. We learned that Amy's 'more of a base person, really'. This led to a discussion of what our favorite bacteria are. Seriously, we had this conversation. We all participated. I was pretty much in disbelief myself. We reeeeeeeeally need to get out of school. God help me, I need a life!!

Gimpy

My brother had his knee surgery about a week ago. Due to the fact that he's currently sans girlfriend, I'm the one he calls to help take care of him.

His phone call woke me up this morning, and I spent pretty much my entire day over there helping him clean/move around/do laundry/wash dishes.....and all the other crap that someone with a bum leg might need help with. Anyhow, we get to mass this afternoon and on our way up to communion he attemps to TRIP ME with his crutches! I'm in 3" heels on a polished cement floor, and he's got his crutches underneath my feet the entire way up to the front of the church. As if I don't have enough coordination issues on my own!

Next time I help wash his sheets, I'm totally throwing poison ivy in there. Or something. I may need some help with sabotage ideas. Let me know if you have any suggestions!

Who loves you!?

Happy day after Valentines day!!

I spent Valentines day at the coffeeshop studying (Are you picking up on my enthusiasm?) for my two exams today -- and while there, I experienced both the high and low of my 2008 Valentines day.

I was kind-of broken up with. (Well as much as you can be broken up with when you're not actually in a relationship) Via text message. On Valentines day. Awesome. I don't think it gets much better than that. The best thing about Valentines day was my random run-in with Josh and Ricardo at the coffeeshop....doing homework as well. Josh asked me to be his Valentine for the last hour and a half of the day, and bought me an apple. It was simple and sweet and absolutely made my day!

Today is Alisha's birthday, and we're going to a film festival. I intended to make her red velvet cake, but couldn't find my full-size cake pans, so I wound up making several miniature red velvet cakes. They're adooooooooorable!!

South Park

Comedy Central is sponsoring a South Park 'School Sucks' Week.

I'm totally in.

I ordered graduation announcements today so at least something about school is exciting....they're really fun, so mission accomplished :)

Mom and Dad want me to have pictures taken, too -- so I'll probly do that. If anybody knows a decent photographer in Lubbock, let me know! I'd like to do the cheezy take pictures on campus bit along with some fun unique portraiture stuff.

I'm gonna spend the rest of my evening writing this stupid paper so that I don't flunk out and have to return the announcements. That would definitely be uncool.

CSI

So there's actually a CSI job open in New York City that I'm qualified for. As tempting as it is, I really don't think I want to live in New York -- but it's kinda cool to know that I'm capable of doing that now!

Sunny Spots

Yesterday was a pretty rough day, but a couple people brightened my mood and I thought it was worth posting. I found out that the research project I've been spending 3 days a week working on for the past 2 1/2 months is basically ruined because the Animal Care and Use facility doesn't know what the hell they're doing and screwed up the mice. It's incredibly frustrating.

In any case, I was talking to my little sister today and the conversation went a little something like this:

--Well I know you had a bad day, so I wanted to send you flowers....except I'm poor. And we sat around the floor thinking of things to put on the card, but everything we thought of had the F word in it, and we didn't think the flower company would appreciate that. We wanted to put 'Three blind mice. Sorry the lab F'd you over. Love you lots'

Secondly, I found out that a friend of mine passed my phone number along to another one of his buddies who's going to school here in Lubbock. When I expressed concern about him handing out my phone number, he simply responded 'Well I don't think he's the type to stalk you down and kill you. *pause* But if he does, I guess I was wrong'. Hah - that instills confidence, huh?

So my day's going a little bit better today, but I have some serious work to do so I'm off. Happy Mardi Gras!!

Superbowl!

I'm at mass this morning, and Deacon McCann said the final blessing a little differently today.

Deacon: The Lord be with you.
Congregation: And also with you.
Deacon: May almighty God bless you, and the New York Giants, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

We have this adorable little irish priest named Father Jim -- he just laughed and shook his head in his quiet little way. It was great. -- Especially because he had just made some comment about how the superbowl didn't matter anyway 'cause the Cowboys weren't playing!

With that, I'm off to paryhop!!

Decisions

Well, after much involved thought and investigation, my experiences have led me to decide that pursuing a PhD is not my path. I'm still applying to Baylor, but I'm fairly certain I'm going to get a job after graduation and start my career.

All I know is that I'd like to ideally work in research and development. Geographic regions that I'm willing to consider include the northeast, the northwest, Colorado, Texas (of course) and pooooooossibly Minnesota (for Mayo). Southern California is a possibility, but I'm not quite sure how I feel about that just yet.

I feel pretty good about these conclusions so far -- we'll see where they take me!!