Some thinking and some laughing

To make up for all of my whining about my TA situation (which still currently sucks), here is a little "riddle" from my sister-in-law. For the answer, click on the "Comments" at the bottom of this post!

You are driving in a car at a constant speed. On your left side is a 'drop off' (the ground is 18-20 inches below the level you are traveling on) and on your right side is a fire engine traveling at the same speed as you. In front of you is a galloping horse, which is the same size as your car and you cannot overtake it. Behind you is a galloping zebra. Both the horse and zebra are also traveling at the same speed as you. What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation?

Isn't my title TEACHING assistant?

Today I finally received my teaching assignment for the fall. Which is great, since we start teaching in ... 10 days.

Half of my assignment was teaching a lab class that I have taught twice before and that I am actually starting to enjoy (though it does involve lots of grading).

The other half of my assignment was to prepare for two different labs. Of which, I have taught neither. And the prep work I will need to do for these classes include science skills that I am not well practiced in. Honestly, the work I will have to do are things I haven't done in about 7 years. Seriously. I am probably the least qualified person in the department for this position. And I like to teach (unlike the rest of the grad students).

And the reason I was assigned this position: because my advisor (the graduate coordinator in charge of it) didn't think I would say no to him.

Seriously.

It was just easiest for him to shove me in to the position because other people couldn't teach other classes and this was his simple solution -- because he didn't expect me to complain about it.

And he said so. "I didn't expect you to say no"

Umm ... Excuse me sir, but I wasn't even asked.

And then I get all upset in his office because I am being taken advantage of. And I get all girly and teary-eyed.

And then he makes a big deal about trying to get my position switched, when I shouldn't even have been given it in the first place. But now I look like the whiny bitchy grad student who always tries to get her own way.

Sigh.

Birthday wishes!

HAPPY 23rd BIRTHDAY
to my little brother!

(seen here with his gf at a Sabres game
we went to for my birthday 6 months ago)

hmm.. I don't remember how I spent my 23rd birthday ....

But I am sure my lil' bro will have just as much fun as I did!

A woman with a plan!

YAY! Today I met with my advisor and one of my labmates (the only one not in the field doing work) and we discussed my dissertation plans and writing up my proposal.

And, feeling confident that what I am proposing is good enough for a PhD (the worry that it wasn't has made me cranky and tired for ... weeks ...), I have made a plan.

Or, more specifically, a schedule!

Which is very exciting, because I love schedules!
(Seriously -- perhaps my love of schedules and planning and my love of cleaning is somehow related??)

Of course, the schedule is also scary because it does not end until May 2010.

Yes, 2010.

How old will I even be then? Oh yeah, 29!

But, at least I now have a plan!! I think this plan is my "kick in the ass"!

Good flight price = trip anxiety!

Even though I haven't officially stopped traveling in the 2007 year yet (YAY for trip with Ry to VA to visit friends and Best-Christmas-Ever in Buffalo) ...

I booked a flight to Costa Rica for January 2008!!!

Yikes!

The fish I really work with (i.e., those that are part of my dissertation and not just other fishes that my advisor does projects on) live in Central America. And I am "required" by my advisor to study them in the wild. Which I can't complain about. Someday I will be presenting some lab data and someone will ask "Is this really how it happens in the wild?" and I will be able to say "Yes, I have seen these fish in nature".

But, that means I will be away again. And for this trip it will be for 6 whole weeks! In a Spanish speaking country (umm... cervesa, tequilla, yo tengo que ir). Lucky (very lucky) for me, my labmate who is now an expert in the field and in Costa Rica will be there to help me. As well as my super awesome outside committee member who is THE fish guy and who invited me along to work on a study with him (can you say "academic crush"?). But I am still nervous about this trip a little bit.

And I hate being away for so long. Next year I plan on being in the field for almost 12 weeks total (CR, Jamaica, TX), working on non-dissertation projects. And being away from my home and family and friends and Ry for 3 whole months! Am I crazy?

Oh well. Even if I am crazy, I already booked the flight, so I'll be crazy in Costa Rica in just 4.5 months!

Shuffle off to Buffalo

After my California adventure with RyGuy, I braved the airways again and flew to Buffalo to visit with family & friends (while Ry went to Alaska)! This was my longest visit since I moved away years ago and I enjoyed it!

For the 4th of July holiday, I hung out at my parents' house and we had a Sneks Family BBQ! LOTS of food, drinks and desserts (my sis-in-law makes fabulous desserts!)! We had some fireworks that my brothers enjoyed setting off (shhh! They're illegal!) and even drove down to the ghetto park to see some real fireworks.

I spent the other days of my trip buying a new car (YAY! More on that soon!), going to the wedding of two college friends (and seeing lots of wonderful friends there!!) and shopping and partying with the my favorite girlfriends (Kimmy & Anna) and their men (Billy & George). It was the first time that all of us were in Buffalo at the same time in years!

I was sad to leave Buffalo for the Little Town, but I had been away for about 6 weeks at that time and had no choice but to get back and face work! But Ry and I are looking forward to out next visit to Buffalo (aka Best Christmas EVER!)!

Yummy 4th of July drink at the Sneks' house.
Notice our attention to detail: RED strawberry daquiri, BLUE cup, WHITE whipped cream and RED & WHITE straw (ok, maybe it was a Christmas straw, but it still looked festive!)!
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My adorable nephew loved the box of Snaps from his Uncle! He is too cute!
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Lil' Bro watches as Big Bro tries to set the place on fire for our amusement!
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Isn't my nephew the cutest thing going?
(He wore his green coat because green is both of our favorite colors!)
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The fabulous wedding of Geoff & Steph (friends of mine from undergrad and a wonderful couple!)
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Me & Cho! Even after years apart we are still the same!
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Me & the girls!
Kimmy & I had just come from different weddings & we made Anna try on her dress for an October wedding! It seemed only fitting after we had spent an afternoon shopping for wedding dresses for Anna's July 2008 wedding!!!

Fly me to the moon

How can the SAME EXACT flight to Costa Rica be $150 more expensive today than it was yesterday??

My intense hatred towards commercial airlines is alive & well!

My Nerdy Blogger Boyfriend

Have I ever mentioned my amazing boyfriend RyGuy?



Well -- he has just started his very own blog!


Putting the Nerd in Neurodegenerate

Check it out! You know you want to!



I'm sure we can all look forward to nerdy stories about baseball, videogames, science and all the fun we have!


Be a NERD -- check out his blog!