Reason why I work from home, #42

Today my advisor sent me a "report" to edit for him.

I spent 30 minutes fixing typos, making the punctuation and formatting consistent, and deleting half-sentences (because he likes to randomly start sentences and never finish them).

While I enjoy a good edit, I was annoyed by this editing for a variety of reasons:

1. The minor changes I made would have been fixed if he actually re-read what he wrote.
2. The content wasn't fabulous, nor that clear. But I did not put in the effort to fix it because this report is not something that is peer-reviewed, nor is my name on it.
3. My name is not on it.
4. My labmate's name is on it.
5. My labmate's name who is on it did not (to my knowledge) read nor edit it.
6. Last year, when this report was due, my name was on it, I was my boss's RA and I spent 2 incredibly late nights in my boss's office writing the entire thing and making many of the figures.

The only positive to this is that, because I am working at home, I didn't have to actually meet with my advisor to discuss this report. That would have been far worse and I doubt I would have been able to hide any frustration.

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??

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??