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11:59 PMThursday, June 25, 2009
This week is a tough week to be a celeb. First Ed McMahon earlier this week. I think "Heeeeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny" was one of the earliest catch phrases embedded in my youth. Now I can forsee the heavens having a late night show with the duo together again. This morning I awoke to the news of Farrah Fawcett losing her battle to cancer. But that news was not even a few hours old when the world learns that Michael Jackson died from a heart attack.
The King of Pop is dead... long live the King of Pop
Personally, I've always enjoyed the music but not the person. So many scandals and overblown cosmetics changes made me lose respect for the superstar. But his music and dance moves changed the music industry and that will be his legacy. Hmmmm, I think I'm going to listen to the Thriller album later.
This week's something sciencey Sunday is early as this weekend I'm busy watching my oldest friend get hitched AND my youngest Greek niece get baptize. Busy weekend it shall be. However not to fear, the brain juices were flowing and I managed to sneak in another SSS installment. This week: debunking a colourful myth.
So sitting in my lab tonight, but instead of plotting new fabulous experiments, I'm making a lengthy list of topics for Something Sciencey Sunday. This is mostly do to a challenge by Char that SSS will soon get old and become non-existent. And although I am often predictable for dear ol' Char, I am on a mission of making SSS a weekly event. Although I'm brainstorming a list of topics, I am taking requests from the readers. So if you have something on your mind about science, about BEING a scientist, or anything closely related to science, just email me or leave a comment below. Of note, Char already called "explosions", so it's already on the list.
ANYWAYS (snicker), I haven't chatted about my cat for awhile and recently I found this quiz:
I wasn't really surprised about this as my cat is constantly STARING at me either while I sleep, while I eat, while I'm on the loo, while I watch TV, while I dance, while I sing, etc... I sincerely doubt that this fascination is due my exciting life. The best criminal minds first monitor their victims habitual lifestyle. Seeing that this observation stage is going into year 6, I can see that "human must die" conclusion is drawing near. To back up my suspicions, there is a ritual though that my cat and I undergo each morning which results in personal discomfort. Nothing explains it better than Simon's Cat "wake up".
No, my cat hasn't mastered the art of swinging a baseball bat with reason being that I don't own one (although there's a nice supply of hockey sticks over in the corner...). However my cat does paw at my face constantly, knead into my body wherever, and when all things fail to get me up, she jumps on my head repeatedly (this cat being 16 lbs!) until I relent and go feed her. So Char, if I ever stop posting on this blog - it's not because I've run out of SSS ideas but rather the fact that my cat implemented her final analysis of the human she cohabits with.
This week will be my final full week in the lab which I've called home for the past 6 years. Like any place that you've spent a good portion of your life, you accumulate several items over the years. But also you lose several things as well. One common mystery for me was my pens/sharpies. They always seemed to grow legs and disappear on me. This is particularly frustrating when I really need something to make a mark in my lab notebook so I can go home for the day. Note: no, I didn't stay in the luuuub for 16h/day just because I couldn't find a pen!
So nearing the end of today's workday, I tackled a few drawers to clean. Whilst trudging through the depths, fond memories came flooding out. Such items like 2002 tax return software, a variety of now-useless zip discs (yeah, I started this degree pre-flash drive era), several bottles of over the counter drugs (tylenol, cold meds, cough meds, allergy pills, muscle relaxants - Dawn mentioned that these are signs that I was in the luuub when I should've stayed home), and a variety of almost-used-up post-it notepads in which you can't justify throwing out yet. The most pleasant surprise though, I found at least 4 good pens that I've been missing over the years. These aren't the everyday Bic pens that I'd settle with. No, some of these were the TO-DIE-FOR holy grail pens such as the micropipettor pens from eppendorf. Why so revered? No, the ink isn't of gold, it's just a cool pen. Worth getting ink refills. That sort of thing.
So four drawers in cleaner format. I've got three more to go along with a mountain of papers to sort through. Since I'm moving just 5 labs down the hall, this isn't a such a big deal. Just that I want to purge any junk that's no longer needed. Carrying baggage is never a good thing in any circumstance.
I've been in a jazz mood of late. Some close friends know that I sincerely enjoy listening to the oldies like Sinatra, Bennett, Lee, Louie, and Fitzgerald as well as the "kids" like Krall, Costello, and lil' Mikey Buble. One of my most fondest memories was listening to Popsicle Toes (at my request) while eating in an Atlanta Georgia restaurant for my bday. Yes rock n' roll may soothe the soul, but I'll take live jazz any day.
Mucho happening with me outside of work. It's a nice change, I think I'm going to enjoy being a non-student! Ball hockey has been good this week, we've managed to pull ourselves into the mid-standings rather than being at the bottom of the list. So happy campers there.
I did something totally weird today - I went swimming. Waaaay back in my tender years I used to swim professionally, being part of a city swim team. But at that same time,the docs speculated that the swimming was causing my hearing loss and I was forced to stop. Since then, I didn't swim much. Not that I don't enjoy swimming, I sincerely missed the feeling of pushing water with my palms and floating. But as for social swimming, I wasn't the best one to be with. Especially with those Marco Polo games. It was always one-sided:
MARCO!
(silence)
I said, MARCO!!!!!
(more silence)
HUUULLLOOOO? MARCO!!!!!!!
You get the picture...
So, swimming is often done alone and it's just for exercise sake. It felt good, I think I'll try to put in a morning or two every week. It's a nice change up from kick boxing that I'm doing with the Wii.
Other things, tonight I was treated to an evening of Andrew Lloyd Webber. The local arts theater put on a production of several faves from Andy. We heard a cast of 30 or so sing the big ones from Cats, Evita, JC Superstar, and Phantom. For the most part, it was a good mix of songs and the folks put on a great show. My only quipped, they rushed through my fave Phantom song too quickly. "Think of Me" is a slow memorable tempo, but eh... I'm just remembering it from when I saw Phantom 15 years ago. If you ever have the chance to see any of Andy's productions, treat yourself to a show. A little culture never hurts anyone.
For something sciencey Sunday... just a picture today folks. Here's what we do with freezer frost after defrosting the -20oC freezers. Who says scientists can't be creative?
Over on facebook, I was kindly reminded of some oldies short Cdn films that were highly popular as a kid growing up (I guess they would be considered oldies nowdays). I remember in highschool we'd begged the teachers to show us these films as we figured that it was good education being Canadian arts and all those things. Yeah, we really just wanted the afternoon off. But seriously, these following short films are pure Cdn genius. They were just as popular as Hinterland Who's Who (man, that theme brings back fond memories). Anyways, seeing that Canada Day is coming up, I thought I post something of the creative Canuck culture (oooh, AA points there Char!). Big thanks to Helen who reminded me of the first fantastic film (ooooh, I'm on a roll!!!).
"The Cat Came Back" is probably the most famous short movie in the history of Cdn arts. If you ever want to see if there's a Cdn in the room (without asking who wants timbits), just hum the first line melody and if we're present, you'll hear someone sing the full chorus immediately.
The 2nd one is a personal favourite of mine. "Black Fly" reminds me of summers at Clear Lake, Manitoba. If ever head into any Cdn deep woods, bring repellent, extra-strength. Otherwise you're just the bottom of the food chain. Another note, the song overpronounces the Cdn province Ontario. Do not go to Toronto and say their province as On-TARE-EYE-Oh. Not unless you want maple syrup shoved up where the sun don't shine. Yes, consider yourself warned.
Last, but not least, "Log Driver's Waltz". I hum this song a lot to myself... maybe it's true what the song says, "I think I will marry my log driver..."
Have a gander with the nfb.ca website, there's a lot of hidden Cdn gems to view. Laterz folks!
I've been getting a lot of emails/phone calls from friends and family from everywhere over the past 5 days. I think I'm experiencing what's known as the "thesis high": the euphoria of completing something that you'd thought could never be completed (ask any grad student if they ever felt that they'd never graduate, you'll get a resounding YES!!!).
I'm kinda overwhelmed with the response so far. For some reason, everyone's going over the top about this one. I could ramble on how great the accomplishment of completing this degree is impacting a lot of people, but honestly everytime I start writing about it, I feel that I'm gushing too much. And it's just in my nature not to gush. Vent, yes. Gush, no.
But one thing that has been on my mind, this whole hoopla has started me thinking about "good ripples" effects with completing this degree. I'm seeing that completing this degree has connected a lot of folks and ultimately producing good ripples. I'll admit that I'm a fan of the Joan of Arcadia TV series and good ripples was something that just kept with me from that show, along with various other meta-philosophical or quantum physic theories. I felt that the show pulled it off in not such a sappy "Touch by an Angel" way (I don't even want to link that series... ick).
So good ripples are already being felt from the thesis completion and hopefully for many years to come.
Update of current activities, I am working in the same lab as I've been for the past 6 years working away on the same project. On my bench is 6 copies of the thesis riddled with revisions before it can be officially accepted. My bench itself is choked with various papers and textbooks in which need to be cleaned out as someone has already called my bench. So deadlines still in need to be met, things still need to be written, desk/bench to be cleared out. It sounds stressful doesn't it? But everything seems a lil' brighter somehow as the dark ominous thesis cloud isn't following me around. So next few weeks are busy making the final finishing touches of the degree before I plunge finally into the "REAL WORLD" (eeeeeeeeeek!).
I haven't posted music for sometime now. I've thought about what songs would be appropriate during this time. One of the grad secretary's was humming the Rocky theme and said I should run up the steps in Rocky-style... so, who am I to argue with the masses?
It's been a busy past 60 hours for a very eventful three days.
So first... without any further ado, it's official: I'm a Doctor (ehhhh... that title still hasn't set in!). The whole experience of defending remains surreal. It's NOT something I recommend for those with a faint heart. Seriously, I don't remember much details, you just go into a mode in which you hear yourself talking, it sounds kinda smart, but still you can't believe you're saying it. But after nearly 3 hours of questioning and 10 minutes of pacing outside the meeting room while they decide my fate, my boss opened the door with a smile and a congratulations. I think it's the first time I hugged her. Twice, even in one night. In fact, I hugged all of my examiners... twice.
People have asked about the feeling and honestly I can only relate it to "this little part of my life" scene in the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness". There's not many good and wonderful moments in my life, but when a rare moment comes, this is what it feels like. I think I even clapped while walking alone to my car after the day was finished. Since then, I can't keep this smile off of my face.
My boss gave me a great party on Friday night. I spent Saturday de-stressing and enjoying time with some good friends. Today there's another party in my honour. Not just for the doctorate, but also because it's my birthday. Yesiree, eventful weekend it is.
Being Sunday itself, time for another "something sciencey Sunday" blogpic! Today, Congrats to the Cloning Queen.
Cloning Queen is a parody that I wrote to ABBA's "Dancing Queen". As one of my skills is cloning, the lab adopted this nickname for me ever since, so it was a fitting poster to greet me after I was awarded my Doctorate. Of note, yes, all those binders are full of thesis revisions. Joy joy joy! But I remember thinking in the defense when they asked me to include some discussion about something, "I'd even clean your house if you want!"
Haven't been blogging this week that much seeing that tomorrow (Friday the 12th, hmmm, there's a new spin on the horror genre) is the d-day. It's been a long time coming (6 1/2 years for this day). I've been reading over my thesis, making corrections (80% mostly typos), thinking about things my examiners could ask me about. There's four levels of questioning that I'm expecting:
1. why did you do that? 2. what would you do next? 3. tell me about (science word/technique/system/something that I should know, if not gawd help me)? 4. why is the sky blue?
The first level is the basics and generally I'm not too freaked about them. There's always "better" ways to do any experiment. Also it's nitpicking about your writing style and/or data presentation. You just need to defend why you chose the way you did, but be humble to admit that you could do things another way.
The 2nd level is more testing whether or not I have the cajones to sport that Ph.D. title. We are trained to think about the next step, the next experiment. No project is ever truly finished, there's always one more experiment you can do to forward the knowledge from it. Sometimes I falter with this level, I think it's more to do with self-doubt of my own expertise. I usually overthink the experiment or not think about it enough. So I'm fearful of these questions. Depends on the day and whether my brain is connected to my mouth.
The 3rd level is the part where you study for real. I've been going over methodology and systems like crazy this week. It's all vaguely familiar, but I often need a refresher course for the finer details of the exact chemical equation of how a bacteria makes light. These questions, ehhhh... it all depends on what I studied right? There's always a few questions on systems that I didn't spend much time on reviewing, so it's the luck of draw. Like on any written exam.
The last level, these are the "WTF?" questions. Totally out of the ball park, no way to prepare, you just simply dance for them. Often these are the "BIG PICTURE" questions, but they are just "Let's watch her pupils dilate more for fun" questions. I remember one past defense question was: How did you feel about working with GMO? I'm thinking, "GMO... GMO... acronym for what chemical compound... guanine mono... WTF?"
He rephrased, "Are you okay with working with genetically modified organisms?"
I blink.
My advisor blinks then rolls his eyes.
Yeah... and these folks are the ones with the Ph.D.s
Last night after becoming tired of reading some of my thesis (it's definitely not a page turner! I doubt any thesis really is), I started to fall into the land of nod when:
CLICK!
It was loud enough to alert me... me, being the stone Deaf chick. I often sleep with one aid in to help wake me up in the morning (I had an early ball hockey game), but still it's ONE aid in. I passed it off as me hearing things, nuzzled back down with my cat close by, closed my eyes...
THUMP!!
Ok. Definitely something there. At first I thought it was my pipes groaning for some gawd knows reason. Checked on my thermostat, things alright. Fine. Whatever. Get some shut eye girlie you need to be wakey wakey tomorrow...
CLICK!
WTF? Now I'm thinking something of the rodent species. My place is clean, but of late my walk up flat has had too many "accidents" of the pest kind. Also this reminded me of a recent tale by Jules and the chipmunk that lives within the walls of her flat. So I peer around my bedroom. Can't find evidence of anything with four legs other than my cat (who is now pissed off at me for rustling around the room so much). I start thinking it might be my d-day nerves, get over it... try to sleep. Then listen to continuous: CLICK! THUMP!! KNOCK!!!
Ugh! I'm reminded of Kermit's song "In quiet of the evening" song now. But soon I noticed that my window is open. Hmmm, maybe it's coming from outside. I take a quick glance into the dark abyss, no one around. Closed the window. Sounds no more! Yay! I fall asleep.
7 hours later...
4 cop cruisers...
1 officer taking my statement.
Apparently someone last night was firing off a shotgun and then left the gun in the field across from my flat. "Click" my ass! The poor Constable who got the luck to interview the deaf witness.
"Click? That's what it sounded like?? Just click??"
"Well, you must understand I was only half aided. Often it was a "thump", but seriously, I'm not your prize witness obviously."
He smirked.
Luckily no one was hurt, nor was there any property damage. The officer assured me that this is most likely an isolated incident (yeah, they always tell you that). I asked him if I hear any more "clicks" at night and see someone, should I contact the police? Apparently I was humouring him majorly with his boyish smile (gotta admit, I like a man in an uniform) and he answered, "Most definitely."
So excitement last night. Some hick shooting off his/her shotgun. Yesiree, I've definitely moved into a cowboy province. Maybe it's their version of the welcome wagon? Yeehaw?
Edit: the story finally hit the news, apparently there was property damage (shots fired through windows) and the suspects were from my apartment complex... great, Hillybilly for neighbours.
Something new that I'm going to try here. Since this IS a Mad Scientist's blog, I'm kinda seeing that I don't talk much about science other than my recent job quests and thesis. But if I start rambling about the latest E. coli stress response paper, I'm sure readership of this blog will cease to exsist. I could talk about being a science geek, but Matt and Roz has that corner well under control. So how about something with pictures? I consider myself an amature photographer and seriously considering taking photography courses as soon as I finish this Ph.D. With the digital age, photography as a hobby has become less expensive. Though I agree that film captures something that pixels cannot. No matter, I'm going to start posting a picture/movie of something sciencey (oooh new word!) every Sunday (hence the tag). It'll be from my real life around the luuuub or elsewhere that strikes me as "science". So here's something for you check on this blog weekly.
This week: Fun with Dry Ice
I remember as a kid thinking that dry ice was the coolest invention of modern science. Now since I'm a scientist, seen marvels of the biological world, worked to unravel genetic mysteries... dry ice is still and always remain very cool. Every now n' then, we have perishables enzymes mailed to our lab in which the package comes with 2 lbs of dry ice that's basically useless to us. Oh what to do??? Throw it in the sink, turn on the water and presto! Cool fog to play with.
I'm happy about this weekend as "My Life in Ruins" opens. This movie is the third by Nia Vardalos, a Cdn Greek, in which I'm told by my Greek family is a distant cousin. Of course, if you're Greek, everyone's a cousin. So I'm not sure how distant Nia's family is to the Iatridis family. But I've learned quickly within my Greek family that theios (uncles), theias (aunts) and xederfos (cousins) could include your next door neighbour's best friend's girlfriend. Often ex-girlfriend too. Anyways, in case you were living under a rock about 8 years ago and missed "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", DEAR GAWD, go and rent that movie. Tora!! (NOW!!)
Now you may be wondering if I am actually Greek. Officially, no. But I consider myself an adopted Greek and have a full fledged Greek family. The short version of this story is that I grew up with a close highschool friend who's father is from Greece. The family has two sons, so me being over at their house daily often felt like being the daughter of the family. One Greek Orthodox Easter, they presented me with a cake. I quizzed them to why I would have my own cake on Easter (of ALL days!). They explained to me that this day would now be my nameday (a Greek tradition) and gave me my own Greek name: Anastasia. The name comes from Anastasios meaning "resurrection", hence the Easter theme (though I was later told that my nameday is actually December 22nd, not Easter, but ehhh, we bend the rules a lil'). So Greek name, Greek nameday, Greek family. Opa! I couldn't ask for a more supportive adoptive family like my Greek mom and dad, not to mentioned two fabulous Greek bros. The above picture is from my Greek bros' wedding a few years back. Come my wedding, we're smashing plates just like so! I'm very proud of my Greek family, just as I am of my own. Both our families are close, my moms hang out together as much as possible. And if you have watched "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (if not, why are you still reading this blog? GO RENT IT! TORA! TORA!!), yes, my Greek family is EXACTLY like that (minus the spitting). So Mad Beaker to Nia for giving the non-Greeks in the world a lil' insight to the rich culture of hers (and unofficially mine).
Back in a coffee shop today, finishing the slides for the defense. Last night I was losing some sleep over the d-day. Just concerns that I won't make the grade to be Ph.D. material. My colleagues and friends say that isn't the case, but I'd rather be worried and study like hell than be overconfident and arrogant. A colleague of mine recently attended an open defense and was shocked that the student didn't actually READ their thesis before hand. WTF did they think the questions would be on? Their choice of attire of the day? I'm already reviewing my thesis and finding (oh my) big areas for revision. Game plan is to keep quiet about what I found that needs fixing unless they bring it up. So shhhhhhh...
Music, since I'm talking about my Greek family, might as well as play a lil' Arkadia, a Greek band from my hometown that comprises of (you guessed it) my Greek cousins. Sadly, I can't finding any youtube clips (cough cough nudge nudge to my Arkadia cousins), but if you search within their discography site, you'll find some samples of their CDs. I miss hearing you guys play live!!! Sniffs. Ora kali (laterz) folks!
Over on Twitter, Marlee Matlin is starting to make noise about close captioning everywhere. I've followed Marlee's career ever since her breakout role in Children of a Lesser God. In fact, I remember sitting on my living floor when I was 9 watching her accept Hollywood's top nod for her performance and thought, "Wow, she's getting the highest award in her profession - that means I can do anything too." Fastforward 22 years and here I am defending my Ph.D. thesis next week (sidenote: EEEEEKKK!). Most folks know about Marlee with her on-screen roles. But honestly, asides from inspiring me to achieve any dream, I thank her more for her tireless efforts to have close captioning made a law in the television industry. About 10 years ago, my hearing deteriorated (I have progressive hearing loss) to the point that I can't enjoy watching TV without the captioning. So Mad Beaker award to Marlee for being a strong advocate for Deaf and hard-of-hearing rights.
However that was only one mountain to overcome and there's many more that lay in the path. One that I've mentioned before that has bugged me: movie captioning. It's true, in order for me to enjoy a movie fully, I have to wait for the one theatre in this city with RWC. Yes, that's right. There's only ONE theatre, in fact, ONE RWC box in the entire city of over a million people that I live in. This means that in order to watch the latest blockbuster, I usually go twice. Once with my friends at the regular time in the evening or weekend. And another time, usually in the morning on a weekday, to (re)watch the flick to actually understand the dialogue. I try to see the movie with captioning first before watching it with my friends. It's not that they wouldn't watch the show with captioning with me, just that who can get off work at 11AM on a Tuesday? Yeah, I know it isn't right, not to mention expensive. So Marlee, I'm with you - you start a petition, my signature will be on it.
Other things... working on my seminar slides today. The defense is in a week. Feelings about it: restlessness (let's get it over with) and fear (OMG I'm soooo not prepared yet!!!!). My boss has been prepping for the aftermath party already. Apparently she believes that I'll actually pass this thing (apparently she isn't the only one as well... there's like a chorusline movement regarding me passing this thing). So let's get to it and hammer out impressive slides. It's always nice to put up one slide that represents 5 years of work (yeah, I actually do have one of those). Of course tunes are following me with this, but a nod to Jules who asked me yesterday (I quote) "WTF are you listening to??!" while doing some experimenting. See, being Deaf means that my mp3 player volume and headphones are cranked to the maxed so almost everyone can enjoy my music. The song she was inquiring about, Freddy Martin and "H'ove got a lovely bunch of coconuts" (much more fun if you sing along with a Brit accent!). Of note, yes, Monty Python is often miscredited to this song, but they actually never sang it.
So five days in the hometown, it was a pretty jammed packed weekend. It was mostly a blurr of eating food. Tons. I just moved from plate to plate over the past few days. Maybe a lot of folks thought I was malnourished while writing the thesis or something. So on that elliptical tomorrow. And bonus there's a ball hockey game on Tuesday too.
After so much unknowns with job, school, etc... it's now official. I become an Albertan today. I start the process with getting my driver's license. In three months, I'll be able to get the Alberta Health Card (for my non-Cdn readers, yeah, Canada has medicare, but you still need be living in a province for awhile before you can transfer your healthcare card eventhough you're still Cdn... see, out govt can be annoying too!). After that, not much to change. Next year I get my license plates. My Greek mom gave me a perfect idea. Since I have a new shiny Saskatchewan plate from the fiasco last month, I'll affix that plate to my front bumper while sporting the Albertan license plate on the back. That should confuse a few cops at least. Hee hee. But yeah... an Albertan. Thank goodness this is only temporary (sure, since I said that, now I'll be stuck here for the next 40 years!).
A Mad Beaker award to Dawn and Mike for taking care of my cat. I always dislike loading my cat onto someone while I go away more than 3 days. Just giving others the burden of cat-sitting makes me feel guilty. But apparently my cat behaved and they enjoyed the time in my flat. I hearby give thee full future rights to cat sit!
Since I'm now an Albertan, might as well throw in the traditional moosic (ew, bad pun bad pun). Cows with guns is an oldie, but I figured it's probably the most appropriate thing... being a resident in a beef province n' all. Y'all come back now ya here.
The King of Pop is dead... long live the King of Pop
