InaDWriMo 2009

Many of my monthly goals (as I work toward graduation) involve lots of writing. So I decided to take part in InaDWriMo 2009. I have heard about this many times and one of my favorite bloggers (Brazen Hussy) inspired me to make my pledge!

Basically, I just set a goal for the number of words I want to write in November (10,000) and then I track that number on the cute little meter on the right side of this blog. At the end of the month, I hope to have 10,000 words written (basically a whole chapter and a half of my dissertation)!

Stay tuned, because it will surely be a thrilling month of writing!

Try not to laugh!

Reason why I work from home, #82

Here's my friend that comes to visit me throughout my at-home work day!

He always stops by with a nut that he carries up on to the corner of the railing of our deck. He sits up there and happily crunches away on it. He does this 2 to 6 times a day (depending on weather and the loudness of my neighbors). He definitely sees me and will tolerate me unless I step completely out on to the deck. But watching from the deck door is fine with him.

It just makes me wonder why this specific corner of our deck is the best place to dine.

I also wonder his name ... any suggestions??

Mid-Month Goal Post, October!

Here's my mid-month goal update!!

• Collect & analyze ALL data from Experiment 1b
  This is started ... but only just ...
• Write significant draft for Experiment 1 paper
  Also started! Intro & Methods written, and half the graphs and results done!
• Start collecting data for Experiment 2
  Not yet ....
• Finish getting replicates for Experiment 2
  I am getting there ... keep your fingers crossed and I might actually finish this soon!
• Finish & submit pesky Thesis paper
  Well ... I sent it to my co-authors and my old advisor sent an email 2 days ago that almost seemed as though he was looking at it (since he asked me a question about what tests we actually did). Hopefully it will be out to review by Halloween!
• Write significant draft of CR field paper and get it out to co-authors
  Done! Advisor read it, suggested I re-write it, I re-wrote it, he re-read it and liked it, and it has been sent to co-author down south! Hope he likes it too!
• Get together some lectures for a bunch of classes I agreed to teach the first week of November (hmmm... not even sure what these are about really...)
  Had a 3 minute conversation with the instructor about this and he made some vague noises and jumped on my suggestions for lecture topics ... so I guess I will get together some lectures?
• Finish applying for jobs (until post doc season starts)
  Most applications are out! But I am still waiting on some other things before I can get the final ones out!

OK ... looking better than September so far!

Cutest Commercial Ever!

I love this commercial so much!

The bunnies in the teacups!

The slide bunnies!

The cow bunny and the farmer bunnie that falls over!!

It makes me want to buy a lotto ticket!

A weekend visit!

Even though I suppose I should be working this weekend ....

I am excited because Nephew, my older bro and his wife are all coming to visit this weekend! They haven't visited me since Nephew was a baby (less than 1?) and now he is almost 6 (his birthday is in a few weeks and we won't male it home, so I might even attempt some birthday cupcakes today)!

We're going to head to NYC for some fun in the Park! And who knows what else!

Hope you have a fun weekend too!

Reason why I work from home, #157

Today I had a conversation with another grad student that is currently in charge of the bio-grad-student-club. He was angry because the graduate student coordinator wanted him to explain an upcoming event to new grad students. These students must present their work at the event and have never done it before. But grad student-in-charge thinks that it is insulting to actually explain to the new students how to do new things. I mean, they should just know what to do.

I tried suggesting that it wouldn't be a horrific idea to just briefly mention the process at the meeting, as both a refresher to old students and an explanation to new students. In a nice, quick non-condescending way. We agreed to disagree and he decided that he will start the discussion with "The graduate coordinator thinks you're all stupid ..."

2 hours later, I get an email from the secretary (also new) asking me what she should tell one of the new students .... because the new student doesn't know what to do.

Really??

It's tough ...

being a dedicated Buffalo Bills fan.

Sigh.

October Goals

I know it is probably very boring for you to read my list of monthly goals. But it is a great help to me! I always have lots of lists taped to my office walls or on a post-it notes in my planner that I gleefully cross-off as I accomplish goals.

But those little notes to myself do not hold me accountable. Posting my work goals on the Internet makes me feel a bit more pressure. Which I definitely need if I am going to graduate in May!

So, thank you all (4 of you) for putting up with my "goal posts" (haha ... sorry).

Here they are for October (let's see if I can be more successful than September!):

• Collect & analyze ALL data from Experiment 1b
• Write significant draft for Experiment 1 paper
• Start collecting data for Experiment 2
• Finish getting replicates for Experiment 2
• Finish & submit pesky Thesis paper
• Write significant draft of CR field paper and get it out to co-authors
• Get together some lectures for a bunch of classes I agreed to teach the first week of November (hmmm... not even sure what these are about really...)
• Finish applying for jobs (until post doc season starts)

Oh ... and everything else that I need to do on a daily basis!
Hmmm ... too ambitious?