I, April, the laziest woman you know (or so you thought) got out early today, my day off, to shovel snow off of the sidewalk. This was no small task, as it snowed almost a foot yesterday!
Now, I am back bed putting off the inevitable (laundry and packing!)
december 18, 2008
I passed my organic chemistry class! With an A-!!
Today is the department's holiday party, and I am having a hard time staying focused long enough to get any work done. Also, I am a big dork and I thought that i was going home on the 22nd. I was telling everyone that I go home Monday and I was bummed that I couldn't leave on the weekend. This morning I sent my itinerary to my mother who informed me that I do, in fact, fly on the 21st. I would have missed the flight!
Happy Holidays!
Today is the department's holiday party, and I am having a hard time staying focused long enough to get any work done. Also, I am a big dork and I thought that i was going home on the 22nd. I was telling everyone that I go home Monday and I was bummed that I couldn't leave on the weekend. This morning I sent my itinerary to my mother who informed me that I do, in fact, fly on the 21st. I would have missed the flight!
Happy Holidays!
december 17, 2008
below is a photo of (the back of) me in front of the tree at Boston's Faneuil Hall. Sometimes it hits me...I am really short. Happy Holidays.
december 13, 2008
below are some images of the ENose on the International Space Station. For those of you who don't remember, the ENose is a device that monitors air quality on manned space craft. It's a device that i worked on at JPL, and I helped develop and test the sensors that the ENose uses to "smell" the air. The ENose was launched in November and turned on in the ISS on december 9th. It's working, and I am so proud!
december 12, 2008
the semester is finally over for me. the moment of truth came today at noon when i walked into my organic chemistry final. three hours later i left feeling totally wiped out. it was a doozy...luckily, i am not the only one who felt that way.
next semester i'm not taking any classes, and my advisor is putting me on an RA (research assistant), so i don't have to teach. for the first time in a long time i feel like i can breathe.
i am getting excited about christmas! i went home in august, but it seems like it's been so much longer!
there's a band that i recently discovered (and LOVE) called "Does it Offend You Yeah?" if you want to hear awesome music, listen to them. start with the track "we are rockstars" and move on to "dawn of the dead" and maybe wrap up with "let's make out". i think a couple of you will dig it hardcore!
lots of love!
next semester i'm not taking any classes, and my advisor is putting me on an RA (research assistant), so i don't have to teach. for the first time in a long time i feel like i can breathe.
i am getting excited about christmas! i went home in august, but it seems like it's been so much longer!
there's a band that i recently discovered (and LOVE) called "Does it Offend You Yeah?" if you want to hear awesome music, listen to them. start with the track "we are rockstars" and move on to "dawn of the dead" and maybe wrap up with "let's make out". i think a couple of you will dig it hardcore!
lots of love!
october 26, 2008
despite all the stuff i have going on, i have had a really good week. today i am working on a presentation and watching the SCARIEST FREAKING MOVIE EVER!!! (the ring).
5 days until i can be a real person again.
5 days until i can be a real person again.
october 8, 2008
I am poking my head out from underneath this stack of work to day "hello, how are you today? i miss you!"
Things will slow down at the end of the month.
Things will slow down at the end of the month.
september 25, 2008
Last night I went to see Old Crow Medicine Show (OCMS) with a bunch of friends. I found out about OCMS about five years ago when my friend Morgan mentioned in one of his emails that he was playing with a new band in Nashville (he plays upright base). Since then, they have really taken off and are on their way to world domination (I firmly believe). I saw them play in LA to a relatively small crown back in 2004, but last night's show was sold out and the crowd absolutely loved them. If you get a chance, check them out. I have yet to meet someone who didn't like at least some of their songs. Their most popular track to date is called "Wagon Wheel".
It was tons of fun seeing them again!
----------------
Now playing: Old Crow Medicine Show - Humdinger
via FoxyTunes
It was tons of fun seeing them again!
----------------
Now playing: Old Crow Medicine Show - Humdinger
via FoxyTunes
september 21, 2008 b
i am a proud mama. i adopted two kittens; one gray, one calico, both girls. i have taken way too many pictures and videos, but none of them have been uploaded. once i get on the ball i will share photos!
they're freaking adorable.
they're freaking adorable.
september 21, 2008
i went out for a night on the town on friday for a friend's birthday. i knew most of the people there, but there were a few new faces. one in particular caught my eye, a very nice looking guy. we got to talking, and it was easy and fun. after a while i asked someone about him only to discover that he has a girlfriend. fine, i back off. i talked to a lot of other people (we were at a big, crowded bar, so no problem with that). a couple of hours later i find myself next to the first dude. now, i may be out of practice, but i know enough to know when someone is flirting with me, and he certainly was. buys me a drink, asks me all kinds of questions, gives me his freaking business card! never once does he mention the little woman, if i hadn't asked about it i never would have known. i ended the night confused, annoyed and hopelessly smitten. i don't expect every guy i find attractive to fall for me, but it really felt like he was interested. even so, i refuse to be that girl who knowingly goes after a guy already involved with someone else. stupid men.
september 15, 2008
i lived. it was a lot of fun.
i hate the way this blog looks; i wish i was better at customizing.
i hate the way this blog looks; i wish i was better at customizing.
september 10, 2008
Homework. That's what I have been doing. This weekend i'm going white water rafting. Check out the post from last September to find out what I'm potentially in for. Hopefully I'll make it through to tell the tale.
september 7, 2008
The first week of classes went off without a hitch. In addition to my classes, I was in the spotlight for our group meeting. I had to give a run down of some of the work I had done this summer and then try to sum up some research I had done to motivate a new project. I think it went fairly well, my adviser said he was pleased.
Today is beach day at our adviser's house. His wife (who also works in the department), invited us over for late lunch and beach fun. I am really looking forward to seeing the two of them in an "outside work" situation.
Next week we'll add to my responsibilities with the classes I TA starting. Looking forward to it!
Today is beach day at our adviser's house. His wife (who also works in the department), invited us over for late lunch and beach fun. I am really looking forward to seeing the two of them in an "outside work" situation.
Next week we'll add to my responsibilities with the classes I TA starting. Looking forward to it!
august 31, 2008
this is my last weekend before school starts. i should be living it up, getting all i can out of this fun city before my life is overtaken by the responsibilities of being a researcher, a student, and a teacher. should be great. i'm sick. i have a cold, and i don't feel like doing anything at all.
i have homework, too. not only did one of my professors assign reading, but i am giving a group meeting next week. i have to be prepared to lead an hour long discussion about some of the work i did this summer and about some of the research my adviser wants me to do in the future.
i should be busy, but i am lazy. i've watched a lot of CSI and Law and Order.
i have homework, too. not only did one of my professors assign reading, but i am giving a group meeting next week. i have to be prepared to lead an hour long discussion about some of the work i did this summer and about some of the research my adviser wants me to do in the future.
i should be busy, but i am lazy. i've watched a lot of CSI and Law and Order.
august 13, 2008
tonight i am going to see Radiohead. they are one of my most-favorite bands, i like them so much that i don't even care that "most-favorite" is not even a real word. i have seen them twice before, and both occasions mark a couple of the most relaxing/awesome evenings of my life. think of me in music heaven tonight.
august 11, 2008
I don't usually get into sports. Sure, I like going to baseball games, and I'll watch pretty much any type of playoff or championship game, but I wouldn't call myself a fan. That all changes with the coming of the olympics. I really enjoy watching pretty much all of the events and routing for the US athletes (or someone else if for some reason we didn't qualify to compete). I especially like the swimming events!
august 3, 2008
i wish someone had told me that i wasn't going to be able to relax this week. i did a lot of fun things, but i wouldn't call any of them relaxing. monday was the concert, tuesday was science club, wednesday was a flurry of errand running for household stuff, thursday was softball, friday was drinking (!), and saturday was paintball. ok, so sunday is nothing, i will relax today.
that's right, i wrote that i played paintball. i went with a group of ten people that i know from school; and we joined all the open play scenarios. basically they split all the people that want to play and give take us to different paintball fields and tell us the object of the game (raise your team's flag or defend the fort against attackers). they let us play until someone actually wins or 20 minutes. at the end of the day i ended up with as many itchy bug bites as paintball welts. nevertheless, i had a lot of fun.
that's right, i wrote that i played paintball. i went with a group of ten people that i know from school; and we joined all the open play scenarios. basically they split all the people that want to play and give take us to different paintball fields and tell us the object of the game (raise your team's flag or defend the fort against attackers). they let us play until someone actually wins or 20 minutes. at the end of the day i ended up with as many itchy bug bites as paintball welts. nevertheless, i had a lot of fun.
july 29, 2008
Last night i went to the eagles concert with my roommate (let's call her "M" for now - the other one is "A"). We had pretty good seats (first row in balcony), and the show itself was fantastic. Every song sounded awesome. Studio quality, all night. They played for 3+ hours! What's your favorite Eagles song? I'll tell you if they played it. There was absolutely nothing to be disappointed about last night.
Today was exhausting. Work, science club (the girls were out of hand!) and more work. when i got home i hung out with my roommies watching "Wipeout" and (my new favorite) "I Survived a Japanese Gameshow".
There you go. Another blog from me. no life lessons, nothing earth shattering. just my life, and I like it just fine.
Today was exhausting. Work, science club (the girls were out of hand!) and more work. when i got home i hung out with my roommies watching "Wipeout" and (my new favorite) "I Survived a Japanese Gameshow".
There you go. Another blog from me. no life lessons, nothing earth shattering. just my life, and I like it just fine.
july 28, 2008
I saw The Dark Knight last night. Very good movie, don't take your kids (I cannot stress this enough).
Tonight I am cashing in the concert tickets I got for my birthday (thanks, Pops). I'm seeing the Eagles! Should be fun.
It was a long weekend, but a good one. I am working on making new personal connections, and it's an exhausting undertaking.
Tonight I am cashing in the concert tickets I got for my birthday (thanks, Pops). I'm seeing the Eagles! Should be fun.
It was a long weekend, but a good one. I am working on making new personal connections, and it's an exhausting undertaking.
July 25, 2008
Tonight my roomates and I walked down to porter square for ice cream. Quite the hike, but totally worth it. It's always interesting spending time with new people and getting to know them. I think I will get along fine with these two ladies.
july 24, 2008
My favorite first verse:
now i'm of consenting age
to be forgetting you in a cabaret
somewhere downtown where a burlesque queen
may even ask my name.
as she sheds her skin onstage,
i'm sitting and sweating
to a dance song on the club's P.A.
the strip joint veteran sits two away
smirking between dignified sips of his dignified
peach and lime daiquiri
-Panic! At the Disco
----------------
Now playing: Panic! At The Disco - But It's Better If You Do
via FoxyTunes
now i'm of consenting age
to be forgetting you in a cabaret
somewhere downtown where a burlesque queen
may even ask my name.
as she sheds her skin onstage,
i'm sitting and sweating
to a dance song on the club's P.A.
the strip joint veteran sits two away
smirking between dignified sips of his dignified
peach and lime daiquiri
-Panic! At the Disco
----------------
Now playing: Panic! At The Disco - But It's Better If You Do
via FoxyTunes
july 23, 2008
The thing about working with a scanning tunneling microscope is that it allows you to image atoms and molecules, but there's nothing that explicitly tells you what you're looking at. Thus, I spent the whole day looking at what I thought to be the molecule I was dosing, but turned out just to be junk on the surface of the gold crystal. I was concerned that the molecules I was seeing didn't look like what I would have expected.
There's good news: at 4pm, after the fourth dose of the day, I found something that looked more like what I expected! In fact, I found two such somethings! That means tomorrow I will dose again to see if even more such things show up.
I LOVE SCIENCE. What I did today was fun and awesome!
I should also remind everyone that I am running the instrument on my own for the first time ever, so the fact that I can figure out how to make everything work should impress you greatly.
There's good news: at 4pm, after the fourth dose of the day, I found something that looked more like what I expected! In fact, I found two such somethings! That means tomorrow I will dose again to see if even more such things show up.
I LOVE SCIENCE. What I did today was fun and awesome!
I should also remind everyone that I am running the instrument on my own for the first time ever, so the fact that I can figure out how to make everything work should impress you greatly.
july 22, 2008
I haven't mentioned it here, but I have been volunteering for the "Science Club for Girls" at a school in Chinatown. I work with about ten 6-7 y.o. girls (first graders) once a week teaching them simple concepts about science. In reality, we play for about an hour and I try to explain how what we're doing relates to science; usually they're making too much noise to hear me. The first day with the girls (about three weeks ago) was overwhelming, but today I had a pretty good time with them.
At the end of the club each week the girls write in their journals about what we did that day. Today one girl wrote "I LOVE SCIENCE" in huge letters at the top of her journal. She also wrote that what we did was "fun and awesome". It feels really cool to be a part of their discovery of and enthusiasm for science.
At the end of the club each week the girls write in their journals about what we did that day. Today one girl wrote "I LOVE SCIENCE" in huge letters at the top of her journal. She also wrote that what we did was "fun and awesome". It feels really cool to be a part of their discovery of and enthusiasm for science.
july 21, 2008
After trying lots of different kinds of wines I have recently discovered a love for tawny ports. I try to have a glass at least once a week, but it has been so hot lately that it's hard to enjoy that sort of drink. I also like rieslings (especially for this weather), but since I no longer live next door to the wine and cheese cask, I was out of luck tonight. Maybe next time I'll skip the fancy stuff and just pop open a beer (mmm, beer).
Later this week I will explore the new neighborhood in search of the hidden treasures that lurk under the guise of an unassuming "hole in the wall" restaurant or an overlooked secondhand store. I hear the nearby medford square will soon become the place to be. Maybe I'll be able to say "I was there way before it got cool".
Do you like the new look? I spent and hour playing with colors and ended up with almost the exact same thing.
Later this week I will explore the new neighborhood in search of the hidden treasures that lurk under the guise of an unassuming "hole in the wall" restaurant or an overlooked secondhand store. I hear the nearby medford square will soon become the place to be. Maybe I'll be able to say "I was there way before it got cool".
Do you like the new look? I spent and hour playing with colors and ended up with almost the exact same thing.
july 20, 2008
I have almost completely unpacked; the only thing left for me to do is to finish decorating. That's always the hardest part for me.
After spending the day organizing, I went out for ice cream with my new roomies (today was National Ice Cream Day - 3rd Sunday of July) and then I went to work for the twice daily liquid nitrogen filling. When I got there I noticed the storm earlier had knocked out power to the instrument, so I had to call Ashleigh to go through the power up procedure.
My first full day being truly single was relatively painless. I'm a little lonely/apprehensive, but for the most part I feel good.
After spending the day organizing, I went out for ice cream with my new roomies (today was National Ice Cream Day - 3rd Sunday of July) and then I went to work for the twice daily liquid nitrogen filling. When I got there I noticed the storm earlier had knocked out power to the instrument, so I had to call Ashleigh to go through the power up procedure.
My first full day being truly single was relatively painless. I'm a little lonely/apprehensive, but for the most part I feel good.
july 19, 2008
it is finished. My things and I have moved to our new home. I've made a lot of progress unpacking; I am exhausted. Thanks for checking in.
it has begun
today at work I didn't do much of anything. Everyone from my lab is going to a conference next week, and I will be left on charge of the $half-million instrument and the basic instruction "don't break anything". Today we prepared for their departure by cleaning the crystals (a procedure I am happy to elucidate to anyone who asks) and listening to heather practice her talk. I am excited about going it alone, well, our undergrad is there to help if needed.
At home we've started moving some things to my new place. The bulk of the work will be done tomorrow. We went to Dunkin Donuts to pick up breakfast for my helpers; since it was closing time we got a bunch of free stuff!
Time to rest.
At home we've started moving some things to my new place. The bulk of the work will be done tomorrow. We went to Dunkin Donuts to pick up breakfast for my helpers; since it was closing time we got a bunch of free stuff!
Time to rest.
Mexican food
tonight I ignored my home-life duty to go out to eat with the girls. We went to Border Cafe, a tex-Mex/cajun place in harvad square. For some reason, when I go out for Mexican, that chemical that tells me I'm full stops working. It only kicks in at the "you've eaten WAY too much" level. After dinner I waddled home, I lay rubbing my belly. Tomorrow I move.
packing up
as I am close to the move date, things have started coming off the walls. They're just little things, but collectively they are what makes home feel like home. It's sort of disheartening to walk into a room with bare walls. Maybe I should look at it as a clean slate for the next inhabitant. I am ready to see the clean slate that is my next apartment, and I'm looking forward to making it feel like home. Perhaps fresh clean walls and a fresh start are exactly what I need.
inspired
I have been inspired by my sister-in-law. From now on I will put in a renewed effort to post to my weblog more often. Tracy has taught me that I don't have to write epic blog posts, I can just tell you what's up and move on with my day. Get ready for it!
Australia
My "little" brother is doing his semester abroad in Brisbane, Australia, so Tammer and I decided this would be an ideal time to make the 24 hour trip. We left Boston on Friday evening, made the connection in LA and finally made it to Brisbane on Sunday morning (that's right, we skipped Saturday!).
After the marathon traveling all we wanted to do was get to Nic's, take showers and take the mother of all naps; Qantas had other plans, however, and dutifully informed us that our bags were still in LA. The nice baggage services man took our information, told us our bags would be in the next day, and sent us upstairs to customer service where we were given $100 each to cover whatever we needed for the day. A 30 minute train ride and 30 minute bus ride later we were at Nic's school (which is in the woods outside of Brisbane). We took a showers and a nap and then the three of us hopped a bus to the local mall to buy some clothes and various sundries with our money. Nic made dinner for us and we hit the hay early.
Monday Tammer and I went downtown early while Nic stayed behind to wait for our bags. We took a tour of the South Bank which is the artsy area of town and then walked across the bridge to the Queen Street Mall (an outdoor shopping area). Nic and his friend Jon came down to meet us and we walked over to the XXXX (Fourex) brewery plant thingy for a tour. After the tour everyone goes to the brewery pub and gets four free beers! I was feeling pretty toasty.
On Tuesday we took a walking tour of the city as outlined in our Lonely Planet travel book. We stopped everywhere to sit and watch people or have a snack or something; even then the "tour" only took about 5 hours. Tuesday nights at Nic's school is "pub night"; everyone goes to the university club and drinks as much as possible until closing at midnight. It was a fun time.
Tammer knows a guy (Dr. Nic) who lives in Brisbane, and we were invited to a BBQ at his house on Wednesday. He and his wife prepared a great spread and it was so nice to have a relaxing day at someone's home. After our leisurely lunch Dr. Nic took us to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (per my request), where we got to hold a koala and hand feed kangaroos. We saw snakes, and wombat, a dingo and lots of fancy birds.
On Thursday Tammer, Nic, Nic's friend Chris and I hopped a train south to Gold Coast. We managed to get an awesome deal on a 2BR/2BA split level, fully equipped hotel room with a private pool and BBQ area; there was a little tennis court there, too. If you ever go there, stay here. Our hotel across the street from the beach and between two main areas in Gold Coast (Surfer's Paradise and Broadbeach). We stayed there two nights doing to beach town thing. It was perfect.
We spent Saturday night packing and chilling out in Nic's dorm watching stand up comedy on his computer. Then there was the long trip home, this time with no luggage incidents (ain't it always that way).
There are lots of pictures, but Tammer is in charge of that. This is what I have to offer:
After the marathon traveling all we wanted to do was get to Nic's, take showers and take the mother of all naps; Qantas had other plans, however, and dutifully informed us that our bags were still in LA. The nice baggage services man took our information, told us our bags would be in the next day, and sent us upstairs to customer service where we were given $100 each to cover whatever we needed for the day. A 30 minute train ride and 30 minute bus ride later we were at Nic's school (which is in the woods outside of Brisbane). We took a showers and a nap and then the three of us hopped a bus to the local mall to buy some clothes and various sundries with our money. Nic made dinner for us and we hit the hay early.
Monday Tammer and I went downtown early while Nic stayed behind to wait for our bags. We took a tour of the South Bank which is the artsy area of town and then walked across the bridge to the Queen Street Mall (an outdoor shopping area). Nic and his friend Jon came down to meet us and we walked over to the XXXX (Fourex) brewery plant thingy for a tour. After the tour everyone goes to the brewery pub and gets four free beers! I was feeling pretty toasty.
On Tuesday we took a walking tour of the city as outlined in our Lonely Planet travel book. We stopped everywhere to sit and watch people or have a snack or something; even then the "tour" only took about 5 hours. Tuesday nights at Nic's school is "pub night"; everyone goes to the university club and drinks as much as possible until closing at midnight. It was a fun time.
Tammer knows a guy (Dr. Nic) who lives in Brisbane, and we were invited to a BBQ at his house on Wednesday. He and his wife prepared a great spread and it was so nice to have a relaxing day at someone's home. After our leisurely lunch Dr. Nic took us to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (per my request), where we got to hold a koala and hand feed kangaroos. We saw snakes, and wombat, a dingo and lots of fancy birds.
On Thursday Tammer, Nic, Nic's friend Chris and I hopped a train south to Gold Coast. We managed to get an awesome deal on a 2BR/2BA split level, fully equipped hotel room with a private pool and BBQ area; there was a little tennis court there, too. If you ever go there, stay here. Our hotel across the street from the beach and between two main areas in Gold Coast (Surfer's Paradise and Broadbeach). We stayed there two nights doing to beach town thing. It was perfect.
We spent Saturday night packing and chilling out in Nic's dorm watching stand up comedy on his computer. Then there was the long trip home, this time with no luggage incidents (ain't it always that way).
There are lots of pictures, but Tammer is in charge of that. This is what I have to offer:
I'm Back
Hello dear friends, I am back from the long journey known as "the first year of grad school". I finish my first year with four A's and one C+ (damn you organic chemistry!). Besides the dreadful organic chem I took inorganic chem, separation science, nanoscience and quantum mechanics. I don't know how you all feel about those grades, but I am pretty freaking proud. I have to take o-chem again (I need a B- to pass), but even so I only have two classes left before I can be done with classes.
Immediately after my last final I went home to pack for Australia...I will tell you all about my trip this weekend.
Currently I am sick; I have a nasty sinus thing making it hard for me to concentrate.
----------------
Now playing: Death Cab For Cutie - The Sound Of Settling
via FoxyTunes
Immediately after my last final I went home to pack for Australia...I will tell you all about my trip this weekend.
Currently I am sick; I have a nasty sinus thing making it hard for me to concentrate.
----------------
Now playing: Death Cab For Cutie - The Sound Of Settling
via FoxyTunes
Blog for Choice
Today is "Blog for choice" day.
I fully support a woman's right to choose whether to procreate. Furthermore, I reject any politician's argument that he has a right to make decisions about my reproductive happenings.
Currently, this is all I have to write on this issue.
I fully support a woman's right to choose whether to procreate. Furthermore, I reject any politician's argument that he has a right to make decisions about my reproductive happenings.
Currently, this is all I have to write on this issue.
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