BOOK

Finally done! I made myself stop playing video games and have been writing instead. The fruits of my sacrifice have been plucked for you now. I've finished my second draft of my novel! Hurrah!

Theoretically, if you're reading this, it should already be in your e-mail inbox. Give it a read and let me know what you think. Now I get to go back to playing video games and *planning out my audio studio mua ha ha haaaaaa*.

-N

Remodel a closet.....

We have been evolving the arrangements of our bedroom/bathroom areas downstairs. Sandlin and Matt saw the evolution of the old hot-tub to a nice bathroom. Now the original bath and closet for the back bedroom have changed to a master closet. We are planning to convert what is now our old bath/closet/office to a way better master bath but that remains to be seen and budgeted. The back bedroom now has a modest closet under the stairs but without the slamming doors in its entryway. Check the evolution in the photos below:

Letters of Support

In preparing to submit my portfolio for the teaching award next week, I went to collect the letters of support my students wrote for me after the semester was over. Wow. Prepare your grains of salt, folks, but these letters are unbearably flattering.

Best TA I ever had at Pitt.

Without Sandlin my experience would have been miserable.

Sandlin was an integral aspect in my Molecular Genetics education.

And that is just the stuff that isn't too braggy to re-type. Our class was really tough, and I wouldn't have been surprised if most students never wanted to think about it again. I was really flattered that they would take the time to write me letters of support, and slightly embarrassed by how effusive they are.

Women in Science- 2

We had our second Women in Science meeting, this time to discuss Networking. This was another success- there were about 10 ppl, a good size for chatting, many of them new from last time. I felt like I learned a lot (since I didn't lead this session), and I am already starting to see the fruits of this thing. You wouldn't think that spending 1.5 hrs once a month would make much of a difference to yoru career, but it does. After the evening discussion, several of the women from lab wanted to hear about what happened, so we had secondary discussion- 3 or 4 of us, 3 or 4 times- more ideas, more imput, and more support. I like to imagine other people are doing this too. Awesome.

The other big boost is the change in the way people think of me. Perhaps because I am semi-regularly spamming no less than 33 ppls inboxes, but I am suddenly the career person. Did I tell you about the email I got from one of my committee members? After I had gone to discuss with him my ambitions to work in policy, he forwarded me a career newsletter with a note that said "Since you think about your career you might like this." He works surrounded by people who would willingly commit 10+ years to their post-secondary education, but I am the only one he thinks of as thinking about her career. I also got an email from the director of an undergraduate program that regularly invites speakers from off campus to talk to the undergrads about different career oppurtunities, and she asked me if I might like to have lunch and meetings with this weeks speakers. Yes! I suppose that if I could more reliably harness this network magic, I could give my whole persona and overhaul. As is it, I am very pleased with the way things are headed.

Save some and Play some

There is a windfall on the horizon- namely my extremely fat 2008 PFD appeal has been accepted and I am the happy recipient of the dividend and the stimulus-rebate-whatever money. Since I already paid for all my gas and oil in 2008, I am looking at this as a grand opportunity to seize the day. Matt and I are looking to plan a week long trip over the Labor Day weekend (maximizing leave time). Current front runners are Peru and Costa Rica, advantage: both are cheap (so we can do something fiscally responsible with the bulk of the money), exotic and speak Spanish (a language we feel comfortable butchering). Peru has Machu Pichu, Lake Titicaca and the Amazons. Costa Rica has appealed to my siblings to visit- so obviously it doesn't suck. Anyone have some insight to offer? Disadvantage, we still can't afford a guide, so we need somewhere easy to get round on the cheap, where we won't be scammed at every corner (which is how Turkey lost this battle). We'll call this a travel training expedition to get some practice getting by in developing nations.

In other news, the lab has finished moving to our new location on the third floor. There is a little settling in left to do, but for the most part we've all gone back to doing science very quickly. We are leaving next week to go to San Fransisco to visit the Seguins over the 4th- hooray! It is about time for a vacation for both of us.

Ooo... Lavender

Our lab is finally relocating this week.  I am trying to pace myself, moving a cart load between other things so I don't get overwhelmed.  Right now I am packing my desk, and from the back of my filing cabinet I pulled out a sachet of roses and lavender that was a souvenier from Papa's birthday party- lo, these many years ago.  Still smells just like Nana's garden- and really starts the day in a better mood than I might have otherwise been in.

Weekend over, now we rest

Jess is at home right now. She had a really, really busy weekend and I convinced her she should stay home and relax today. That's also the reason you know she needed to stay home and relax; if she had the energy to come in to work, I wouldn't have been able to convince her to stay home.

Anyway, the tournament wrapped up in energetic style last night. The Austin team, unfortunately, lost the battle for 3rd place, but it was a hard-fought game. Jess didn't play, though, so I didn't have to worry about her getting injured. That's pretty much the only win-loss statistic I care about. Anyway, I took Mom Swanson home and did some writing and game-playing to unwind. Jess got home relatively late and was very, very tired. So we relaxed for a while and then just konked out.

I hear tell fathers day went very well up with the Alaska-based Preecs' family. Dad Preecs rode this awesome zlipline at the behest of his youngest daugther. Then she took him out for a beer afterwards. Aah...we're getting old. Also, dad is thoroughly enjoying his new Ipod and the complement of Harry Potter audio that has been ripped down to it.

We're having Noel-Pizza for dinner, which is the BEST PIZZA IN THE WORLD.

-N