Eclipse

Ok Twilight lovers, you'll be proud of me (specifically Diana).  I did it.  I finally finished Eclipse.  A year after I set out to read it.  Don't interpret that wrong, I didn't start it a year ago and just now finished.  I started it Thursday on my sick day and finished it yesterday on my ice/snow day.  I had the book for a year and it took me 2 days to read it.  And I have to say, I was very emotional as I was finishing it last night.  I am totally team Jacob.  I just want to take him and hug him and never let him go.  Anyone who went to see New Moon with me knew how upset I was with the ending and I'm sure you can only imagine how upset I was with the ending of this book.  When Jacob howled when he heard about Bella and Edward getting married I felt my eyes fill with tears.  Ridiculous that I should get so involved with characters made for little teenagers, but I did, I am.  I can't help it.  When it comes to Jacob I am a 13 year old girl stuck in a 25 year old body.

I've lost my voice

Which is extremely annoying.  One, because aside from the terrible cough and runny nose I have, I feel fine and would much rather be at work than being bored here at home.  Two, because I can't call anyone like my mom or my grandparents to make the time pass.  And three, well its just really annoying when you try to speak and all that comes out is a croak. 

Double Take

I swear I just saw Samuel L. Jackson walking down the road in Memphis.  If it wasn't him then it was a serious case of mistaken identity that nearly caused me to hit the car next to me.  Not that I'm a huge fan or anything, but it would have been cool to see a celebrity in Memphis.

I got Published!!!

Again.  Only this time is way better than the last 2 times.  I worked my butt off to get this paper out and I was sure the editor of the journal was going to come back and tell us we had a bunch of stuff to fix before it would be considered, but nope.  I got the email yesterday saying it was accepted!!!  And to a pretty good journal at that.  My first publication of my professional scientific career.  Its a pretty amazing thing.  And the feeling of accomplishment totally makes up for all the late nights and weekends and crazy hectic life style!  
(Note:  My first two publication assists were from the lab in Seattle.  I didn't do nearly as much to contribute to those as I did on this one, which is why I am way more excited about it.)
And now with this publication, my chances of getting the grant I will be applying for are increased.  I feel like I am walking a cloud right now.  Although I'm sure it will be short lived.  My boss is at a Keystone conference this week and when she returns I have a feeling she will have a whole new (very long) list of new experiments she wants to try.  At least I get to slack off a little this week.  I've been needing to catch up on my lab notebook and do some organizing of all my experiment stuff around the lab.  So its been good to catch up on that, and when she gets back I'll be ready.
But today I am super excited and I just wanted to share that with everyone!

A good book

Life here has been busy lately.  Of course I'm sure you could tell that from my lack of blog posts.  My mentor has a lot she wants to get done this year so it looks like my whole year will be pretty busy.  But I should come out if it with 3 new papers, possibly my own grant, and be well on my way writing my dissertation.  Of course it will only be a start with the dissertation, I'll still have a few years to go. 
I have had time, however, to do some reading at night.  I just finished a book called The Shack.  It was an amazing book.  As I was reading the other night, this little part really stuck out to me.  Its kind of beautiful.

"Thank you" was all he could say to Papa as once more a waterfall rolled down his cheeks as if from an endless reservoir.  "I hate this-this crying and blubbering like an idiot, all these tears," he moaned.
"Oh, child," spoke Papa tenderly.  "Don't ever discount the wonder of your tears.  They can be healing waters and a stream of joy.  Sometimes they are the best words the heart can speak."

The whole book was actually quite beautiful.  Its one I will definitely read again.

In New Yooork

I can't get this song out of my head.  Its driving me crazy.  Not in a good way. 

Perhaps its because I've never been to New York.  Maybe I can't truely appreciate the song.

Maybe I should make it a point to go to New York this year.  Could be a fun long weekend trip. 

And time to start planning....NOW!

via

Back at it.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.  "No," I thought,  "I must have have accidently set my alarm to go off at some ungodly hour of the morning.  There is no way its 7:00 already."  But alas, as I rolled over and looked at the source of that dreadful sound I saw that it was indeed 7:00.  Oh what I would have given for just one more day of vacation to sleep in at that moment.  And then as I rolled out of bed I wished for it to be about 20 degrees warmer in my room.  You see it snowed a little last night and the temperature was still below freezing.  I quickly proceded to the shower where I stayed for about 15 minutes longer than I needed to simply because of the warmth.  Luckly I flicked the heat on on my way to the bathroom so by the time I got out it was a little less devestatingly cold.  However it took all the strength I had not to crawl back into my nice, warm, comfy bed when I returned to my room.  But I didn't.  And somehow I made it to work.  A half hour early even.  Which is a good start to one of my New Year's resolutions.  Not to be early to work, just to be on time.  I don't really have a set time to be in but I try to get here about 9 which usually means 9:30.  So one of my new goals is to be in by 9:00 every morning.  Well except for the mornings I have to be in earlier for an experiment. 
 But anyway, here I am.  Back at it.  With a million things to do just like I had never left.  Here's to a happy and productive new year!