Suffering from a mid afternoon slump after having a hyperactive morning....
Lots of things going on:
Monique's hen's night on Saturday night. Can I just say how much I am looking forward to going out with a bunch of great gals, dancing and drinking cocktails till the sun comes up (or 'till I fall down).
One reason I am looking forward to it so much is because I spoke to Ingrid last night (Hi Ingrid!) and received an email from Jane this morning (Hi Jane!). Speaking to them and sharing with them what is happening in my life (and hearing about theirs) just makes me realise how much I miss those girls.
Work is wonderfulcrazyfrustratingbusytiringexcitingnervous! So much is going on, so many connections are being made.... I couldn't wait to get in this morning and run through with Ian some papers I had just read, trying to figure out how my work and my research fits in. Friday morning I will know the results of an important experiment - I am trying not to get too excited in case the result isn't what we are hoping.... It really is true when they say that everything comes together in the last couple of months. Most of my methods are written and now it is a matter of starting to compile my results so far and figure out exactly what is this story I am trying to tell.
Dinner tonight at the Civic Pub - cook your own steaks for $5. The steaks they sell are huge; about 4 cm thick and roughly the size of a paperback novel. Last time we were there (Michal's farewell) I surprised myself and cooked it perfectly!
I'll leave you with a thought:
Never underestimate the power of chocolate :)
Saturday, August 23, 2003
Over the past couple of days I have been considering about what I should do with this blog.
Apparently, Dale still reads these pages. Sure, go ahead, live in the past. Apparently, he dislikes some of the things that he reads here. Sure, misinterpet away.
These things weren't my problem, until he decided that he was going to intrude on my life in Canberra.
So the choices were:
Discontinue this blog.
Discontinue this blog and start another one.
Write emails to everyone.
Time is running out for my Honours year my friends, so emails are few and far between. So I thought, screw it. I enjoy writing these notes, whether it is for one person, or ten, or twenty. I like being able to read over them. I like composing entires in my head on my way to work, or as I am washing a batch of slides for the 25th minute.
This blog is here to stay. If you don't like what you read, the answer is simple: don't read it.
Thank you.
Apparently, Dale still reads these pages. Sure, go ahead, live in the past. Apparently, he dislikes some of the things that he reads here. Sure, misinterpet away.
These things weren't my problem, until he decided that he was going to intrude on my life in Canberra.
So the choices were:
Discontinue this blog.
Discontinue this blog and start another one.
Write emails to everyone.
Time is running out for my Honours year my friends, so emails are few and far between. So I thought, screw it. I enjoy writing these notes, whether it is for one person, or ten, or twenty. I like being able to read over them. I like composing entires in my head on my way to work, or as I am washing a batch of slides for the 25th minute.
This blog is here to stay. If you don't like what you read, the answer is simple: don't read it.
Thank you.
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
So the Fenner Mid Year Ball is on this Friday. It is fancy dress and the theme is "the letter F". You can dress up in formal clothes but where's the fun in that?! We went to a few fancy dress shops on the weekend but as Canberra is so small and demand is probably low, prices are high. Still, there was a Felicity Shagwell costume (the one she wears in the poster at the bottom of the page) that was a possibility. It looked surprisingly good, considering it was extremely short and a size 12 however it cost $35 to hire and, let's face it, I would have needed the boots as well to make it work :) Instead I am going as a French maid. I just need to pop into Lincraft to get some lace to trim my skirt and shirt, and somehow fashion a little apron and smock to complete the look. Oh, and a feather duster!
Coincidentally the JCSMR cocktail party is also on that night (the theme is superheroes and villians but I couldn't think of any starting with F - besides The Flash) so my schedule will be: leave work early, get home to shower and change, come back to JCSMR for one hour of cocktails, get back to Fenner in time to catch the buses to the ball. The ball finishes at 11:30 and there is an after party at a club in Civic but I don't think I will go. Yoga on Saturday morning and experiments to do over the weekend kind of preclude me having a huge night. As it is, an hour of cocktails followed by $2 drinks is going to be dangerous...
Coincidentally the JCSMR cocktail party is also on that night (the theme is superheroes and villians but I couldn't think of any starting with F - besides The Flash) so my schedule will be: leave work early, get home to shower and change, come back to JCSMR for one hour of cocktails, get back to Fenner in time to catch the buses to the ball. The ball finishes at 11:30 and there is an after party at a club in Civic but I don't think I will go. Yoga on Saturday morning and experiments to do over the weekend kind of preclude me having a huge night. As it is, an hour of cocktails followed by $2 drinks is going to be dangerous...
Friday, August 08, 2003
Hotdog
KFC
Hamburger
Emu
Kangaroo
Ayers Rock
Fruit bat
Brain
Heart
Hairy tongue
Mick Jagger
Possum
Eye
John Howard
George Bush
Parachute
G-string
Woman I
Woman II
Loch Ness Monster
= just some of the things you can create with only a penis and a set of testicles.
Between the puppetry and the opening comedian, I don't think I stopped laughing the entire night!
KFC
Hamburger
Emu
Kangaroo
Ayers Rock
Fruit bat
Brain
Heart
Hairy tongue
Mick Jagger
Possum
Eye
John Howard
George Bush
Parachute
G-string
Woman I
Woman II
Loch Ness Monster
= just some of the things you can create with only a penis and a set of testicles.
Between the puppetry and the opening comedian, I don't think I stopped laughing the entire night!
Thursday, August 07, 2003
Oh, and Puppetry of the Penis tonight! Dinner at Dickson Asian Noodle House first (they make an awesome, delicious, out of this world laksa) then men performing the 'ancient art of genital origami'.
And people say there is nothing to do in Canberra!
And people say there is nothing to do in Canberra!
Sleep. It's a funny thing.
Last week: I had long days in the lab (never home before 8), fairly late nights (not in bed before 12) and my usual wake up time (8). However most mornings last week I would wake up at about 7 but, knowing that I had more time, would go back to sleep. For the hour that I had left, I had what felt like the most intense slumber and vivid, realistic dreams. I would wake up on my alarm, ready to get to out of bed.
This week: I've been getting home relatively early (6), having late nights (not in bed before 12) and my usual wake up time (8). But I am so tired this week that I don't wake up until my alarm goes off. Even then, I don't want to get out of bed. I feel like I have been dead for 8 hours, not asleep. I start to yawn around lunchtime and it's all I can do not to stretch out on the chairs in our student room and collapse.
I cannot wait to have a long, lazy sleep in and a day in which I don't yawn on the minute, every minute, after the clock hands move past 1.
In other news, I put food to pan last night in what must have been the first time I have cooked in at least five weeks.
Last week: I had long days in the lab (never home before 8), fairly late nights (not in bed before 12) and my usual wake up time (8). However most mornings last week I would wake up at about 7 but, knowing that I had more time, would go back to sleep. For the hour that I had left, I had what felt like the most intense slumber and vivid, realistic dreams. I would wake up on my alarm, ready to get to out of bed.
This week: I've been getting home relatively early (6), having late nights (not in bed before 12) and my usual wake up time (8). But I am so tired this week that I don't wake up until my alarm goes off. Even then, I don't want to get out of bed. I feel like I have been dead for 8 hours, not asleep. I start to yawn around lunchtime and it's all I can do not to stretch out on the chairs in our student room and collapse.
I cannot wait to have a long, lazy sleep in and a day in which I don't yawn on the minute, every minute, after the clock hands move past 1.
In other news, I put food to pan last night in what must have been the first time I have cooked in at least five weeks.
Sunday, August 03, 2003
Sitting here in the lab, thinking about this weekend. Two glorious days: thick, early morning fog then brilliant sunshine. Very cold nights, with frost on the cars by eleven pm. '
I've just finished my experiments for today. The slides are incubating overnight and, *crossfingers* I should get some nice results tomorrow. It's fun to come in on the weekend and take my time with the experiments, singing along loudly and badly to the radio, without bumping into anyone. The lab has been very busy lately (we had a visiting work experience student for two weeks), almost to bursting and in a busy lab, when everyone is talking and laughing and joking, it makes it easier to make mistakes (been there, done that)
We went to dinner at Pete and Kaz's house on Friday night - homebrew, homemade 'Spicy Tomato and Chorizo' soup, a nice red and a good heater - oh, and chocolate covered coffee beans!
Yoga on Saturday morning, the traditional post-Yoga burger with the lot (to feed the mind, soul and body) and a good session on the turntables (Someone has to visit Canberra if only so I can show off my mixing skills - or lackthereof).
Saturday night was a housewarming party at Joan, our lab tech's house. She and her sister have just purchased the house that they had been renting from the government, and invited the lab, as well as other friends, around to celebrate. A nice fire-in-a-drum to keep everyone warm and good food (including potato casserole - yum) made for a good night. I came home and scared myself silly reading 'It' (Stephen King) till the wee hours of morning and had a divine sleep-in (it is much fun to wake up at seven, peek out through the curtains to see a blanket of thick, white fog encasing the world, and then drift off to sleep again)
Not a bad weekend in all.
Oh and still to come -
"Puppetry of the Penis" on Thursday. I'll post the details :)
I've just finished my experiments for today. The slides are incubating overnight and, *crossfingers* I should get some nice results tomorrow. It's fun to come in on the weekend and take my time with the experiments, singing along loudly and badly to the radio, without bumping into anyone. The lab has been very busy lately (we had a visiting work experience student for two weeks), almost to bursting and in a busy lab, when everyone is talking and laughing and joking, it makes it easier to make mistakes (been there, done that)
We went to dinner at Pete and Kaz's house on Friday night - homebrew, homemade 'Spicy Tomato and Chorizo' soup, a nice red and a good heater - oh, and chocolate covered coffee beans!
Yoga on Saturday morning, the traditional post-Yoga burger with the lot (to feed the mind, soul and body) and a good session on the turntables (Someone has to visit Canberra if only so I can show off my mixing skills - or lackthereof).
Saturday night was a housewarming party at Joan, our lab tech's house. She and her sister have just purchased the house that they had been renting from the government, and invited the lab, as well as other friends, around to celebrate. A nice fire-in-a-drum to keep everyone warm and good food (including potato casserole - yum) made for a good night. I came home and scared myself silly reading 'It' (Stephen King) till the wee hours of morning and had a divine sleep-in (it is much fun to wake up at seven, peek out through the curtains to see a blanket of thick, white fog encasing the world, and then drift off to sleep again)
Not a bad weekend in all.
Oh and still to come -
"Puppetry of the Penis" on Thursday. I'll post the details :)
Monday, July 28, 2003
Rays of sunshine.....
Tree planting, bonfire and fireworks extravaganza at James' farm in Braidwood.
Having the morning "off" tomorrow to attend a Canvas workshop. You know, for when all my brilliant results necessitates a poster at next year's ANS conference.
Pay day from Centrelink. That's right, I am child of Welfare.
Cat Power is coming to Canberra! Better still, I already have a date for the show :)
A house warming, a birthday and two cocktail parties all in the next few weeks!!
Rumours (?) that next year's base PhD scholarships will be increased to a cool $24,000/year tax free.
Clouds to rain on my parade.....
Experiments. Damn them.
Tree planting, bonfire and fireworks extravaganza at James' farm in Braidwood.
Having the morning "off" tomorrow to attend a Canvas workshop. You know, for when all my brilliant results necessitates a poster at next year's ANS conference.
Pay day from Centrelink. That's right, I am child of Welfare.
Cat Power is coming to Canberra! Better still, I already have a date for the show :)
A house warming, a birthday and two cocktail parties all in the next few weeks!!
Rumours (?) that next year's base PhD scholarships will be increased to a cool $24,000/year tax free.
Clouds to rain on my parade.....
Experiments. Damn them.
Monday, July 21, 2003
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
Tuesday, July 08, 2003
Four days of fun in Melbourne!
Friday - after scraping the frost from all of the car windows, made it to the airport and left on a jet plane (I wonder if the pilots have the same problem with their hands going numb as they use their credit cards to get the ice from the plane's windshield?)
Big Lunch in the big city then walks around St Kilda (Secret Life of Jane and Lou). Back home to rest (big lunch = big sleepies) then grazed on yummy dips and crackers and Brie and olives and some divine red wine whilst prepping for big night out. Two clubs - The Croft Institute and HonkyTonks - that you need a well drawn map and someone 'in the know' in order to find. Drink drink drink, dance dance dance - not too late though 'cos we had big plans for Saturday!
Saturday - sleep in. Big breakfast in Fitzroy (eggsbaconpotatoestoastsourcreamhollandaise saucethickmaltedchocolatemilkshake), bought jewellery for ourselves, copped a $100 parking ticket, tried to buy Jane a new mobile phone and then, drumroll, watched 'Charlie's Angels Full Throttle'. I could not have imagined a better time or better person to see this movie with! Totally removed from reality, totally fun! Homemade laksa for dinner (in specially bought Jane and Louise laksa bowls), more red wine, Signs and Bridget Jones' Diary. Pillow fights in business shirts on the fold out bed (Oh ok, that was just for the boys).
Sunday - sleep in. Smoked salmon, cream cheese and avocado on fresh bread. Freedom (spent 95c), JB HiFi (two CDs), Ikea (bought lots and was disillusioned by $1.00 hotdog), Vietnamese (at least now Jane knows she *doesn't* like rice paper rolls), yummy yummy cakes and coffee, strawberry daiquris (with paper umbrellas and what tasted like $11 worth of alcohol!), singing in the car to Sonia Dada and missing out on Dirty Dancing on DVD (damn, have to visit again).
Monday - Jane wakes up early and goes to work. I tidy. Tram it into Carlton. Try to buy a fcuk shirt, debate about whether to buy Harry Potter, do buy a fanastically authentic Japanese lunch. Mild panic and rush as I try to get home, get a taxi and get to the airport on time. Arrive in Canberra to be greeted by flowers.
I had an absolutely wonderful time which only made me realise just how much I miss Jane! Phone calls are not the same thing (as she knows well). Old friends = good friends = fun and laughs and giggles and plenty 'o boy talk.
If Jane reads this: Thanks for the weekend!
Friday - after scraping the frost from all of the car windows, made it to the airport and left on a jet plane (I wonder if the pilots have the same problem with their hands going numb as they use their credit cards to get the ice from the plane's windshield?)
Big Lunch in the big city then walks around St Kilda (Secret Life of Jane and Lou). Back home to rest (big lunch = big sleepies) then grazed on yummy dips and crackers and Brie and olives and some divine red wine whilst prepping for big night out. Two clubs - The Croft Institute and HonkyTonks - that you need a well drawn map and someone 'in the know' in order to find. Drink drink drink, dance dance dance - not too late though 'cos we had big plans for Saturday!
Saturday - sleep in. Big breakfast in Fitzroy (eggsbaconpotatoestoastsourcreamhollandaise saucethickmaltedchocolatemilkshake), bought jewellery for ourselves, copped a $100 parking ticket, tried to buy Jane a new mobile phone and then, drumroll, watched 'Charlie's Angels Full Throttle'. I could not have imagined a better time or better person to see this movie with! Totally removed from reality, totally fun! Homemade laksa for dinner (in specially bought Jane and Louise laksa bowls), more red wine, Signs and Bridget Jones' Diary. Pillow fights in business shirts on the fold out bed (Oh ok, that was just for the boys).
Sunday - sleep in. Smoked salmon, cream cheese and avocado on fresh bread. Freedom (spent 95c), JB HiFi (two CDs), Ikea (bought lots and was disillusioned by $1.00 hotdog), Vietnamese (at least now Jane knows she *doesn't* like rice paper rolls), yummy yummy cakes and coffee, strawberry daiquris (with paper umbrellas and what tasted like $11 worth of alcohol!), singing in the car to Sonia Dada and missing out on Dirty Dancing on DVD (damn, have to visit again).
Monday - Jane wakes up early and goes to work. I tidy. Tram it into Carlton. Try to buy a fcuk shirt, debate about whether to buy Harry Potter, do buy a fanastically authentic Japanese lunch. Mild panic and rush as I try to get home, get a taxi and get to the airport on time. Arrive in Canberra to be greeted by flowers.
I had an absolutely wonderful time which only made me realise just how much I miss Jane! Phone calls are not the same thing (as she knows well). Old friends = good friends = fun and laughs and giggles and plenty 'o boy talk.
If Jane reads this: Thanks for the weekend!
Tuesday, July 01, 2003
Tuesday Afternoon*
One kickass new haircut............................................................$16.00
Second part of Jane's birthday present.....................................$18.00
Mail redirection so I don't miss my 2003 group certificates........$22.00
One and half hours away from this computer..........................priceless!
*with apologies to Mastercard
One kickass new haircut............................................................$16.00
Second part of Jane's birthday present.....................................$18.00
Mail redirection so I don't miss my 2003 group certificates........$22.00
One and half hours away from this computer..........................priceless!
*with apologies to Mastercard
Monday, June 30, 2003
I am so, so, so bored with this Lit review and so, so, so ready to go to Melbourne!
Frustrated? Just a little.....
Wondering how I am going to get up to 6000 words? Yes.
Wondering if I really need 6000 words? Definitely.
Going to procras.. I mean, switch modes and design the figures to help the reader understand what the hell it is I am going on about? Not until I hit 5000. A girl has gotta have something to look forward to.
** This post was interrupted as I was called upon to ligate a rat's sciatic nerve. Oh, research. **
Frustrated? Just a little.....
Wondering how I am going to get up to 6000 words? Yes.
Wondering if I really need 6000 words? Definitely.
Going to procras.. I mean, switch modes and design the figures to help the reader understand what the hell it is I am going on about? Not until I hit 5000. A girl has gotta have something to look forward to.
** This post was interrupted as I was called upon to ligate a rat's sciatic nerve. Oh, research. **
Saturday, June 28, 2003
Tonsils: 2
Louise: 0
I finished my ten day course of antibiotics on Monday, feeling great.
Wednesday morning, woke up with slightly sore throat.
By Wednesday afternoon I knew that whatever bacteria had infected my tonsils the first time had not been scared off by a little penicillin.
Doctors appointment on Friday resulted in a throat swab and a second prescription for antibiotics.
The good news is that these antibiotics seem to have acted more quickly, and efficiently, than the others. Saturday morning (only four tablets into the bottle) and my tonsils have reduced in size.
Excellent.
In other news:
Lit Review continues.........
Six days till Melbourne......
Louise: 0
I finished my ten day course of antibiotics on Monday, feeling great.
Wednesday morning, woke up with slightly sore throat.
By Wednesday afternoon I knew that whatever bacteria had infected my tonsils the first time had not been scared off by a little penicillin.
Doctors appointment on Friday resulted in a throat swab and a second prescription for antibiotics.
The good news is that these antibiotics seem to have acted more quickly, and efficiently, than the others. Saturday morning (only four tablets into the bottle) and my tonsils have reduced in size.
Excellent.
In other news:
Lit Review continues.........
Six days till Melbourne......
Monday, June 23, 2003
In the midst of all things Lit Review, I have booked my flight to Melbourne to visit Jane!
I spent the entire weekend in the lab, in front of this very computer, typing, typing, typing away to try and get on top of it so that I could make an informed decision about whether or not it would be finished in time so that I could go away for the weekend. Three thousand words later....... (not quite my anticipated goal of four) I think it is under control and definitely able to be finished in the next 11 days.
Eleven days and then,
MELBOURNE!
JANE!
SHOPPING!
COCKTAILS!
EATING OUT!
GIRLY CHATS!
Do you think I am excited?
I spent the entire weekend in the lab, in front of this very computer, typing, typing, typing away to try and get on top of it so that I could make an informed decision about whether or not it would be finished in time so that I could go away for the weekend. Three thousand words later....... (not quite my anticipated goal of four) I think it is under control and definitely able to be finished in the next 11 days.
Eleven days and then,
MELBOURNE!
JANE!
SHOPPING!
COCKTAILS!
EATING OUT!
GIRLY CHATS!
Do you think I am excited?
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
They say things come in threes right?
I have had a horrible weekend health wise. Went to the doctor this morning and was diagnosed with either tonsillitis or glandular fever. I think it is just tonsillitis, but I had a blood test anyway to rule out anything else.
The antibiotics she prescribed should make me feel human in 48 hours (after 5 days of little/no sleep, little/no food, little/no drink, little/no talk; I am really looking forward to returning to the world of the living)
I feel like this blog has only been full of heartache and despair the past couple of weeks so some good news for everyone playing along at home.....
Since it was a long weekend here (read: golden opportunity to get lots of work done in an otherwise empty lab) I dragged myself out of bed to do some experiments that I had promised Ian I would do. It turns out my trouble was worth it as I got *fantastic* results and enough for, in Ian's words, "the first chapter of my thesis".
Wahoo!
I have had a horrible weekend health wise. Went to the doctor this morning and was diagnosed with either tonsillitis or glandular fever. I think it is just tonsillitis, but I had a blood test anyway to rule out anything else.
The antibiotics she prescribed should make me feel human in 48 hours (after 5 days of little/no sleep, little/no food, little/no drink, little/no talk; I am really looking forward to returning to the world of the living)
I feel like this blog has only been full of heartache and despair the past couple of weeks so some good news for everyone playing along at home.....
Since it was a long weekend here (read: golden opportunity to get lots of work done in an otherwise empty lab) I dragged myself out of bed to do some experiments that I had promised Ian I would do. It turns out my trouble was worth it as I got *fantastic* results and enough for, in Ian's words, "the first chapter of my thesis".
Wahoo!
Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Friday, May 23, 2003
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
It is 1pm and it is only 8 degrees in Canberra!
My weekend was fairly good:
Ren's birthday on Friday so we bar hopped Friday night, trying to find that exact combination of cheap drinks and good music which is very elusive in Canberra...
Yoga on Saturday morning - even though I have been able to do it sporadically using my yoga CD it is good to start a class and be able to practice in a large room and not have to worry about hitting my bed, or my desk, or the wardrobe....
I was in the lab for most of Sunday, but managed to see The Matrix Reloaded on Sunday night! Yes, there were parts that were shit (Zion), and parts that disappointed me (CGINeo) but overall it was still brilliant fun to watch and the last 20 minutes were fantastic!
For anyone who is interested, the parcel on Friday was indeed the letters that I had been hoping for! I've read three of the five so far (unfortunately in very quick succession as the first two had 'cliffhanger' endings...) so I'll try and give myself a break before diving into the next two!
My weekend was fairly good:
Ren's birthday on Friday so we bar hopped Friday night, trying to find that exact combination of cheap drinks and good music which is very elusive in Canberra...
Yoga on Saturday morning - even though I have been able to do it sporadically using my yoga CD it is good to start a class and be able to practice in a large room and not have to worry about hitting my bed, or my desk, or the wardrobe....
I was in the lab for most of Sunday, but managed to see The Matrix Reloaded on Sunday night! Yes, there were parts that were shit (Zion), and parts that disappointed me (CGINeo) but overall it was still brilliant fun to watch and the last 20 minutes were fantastic!
For anyone who is interested, the parcel on Friday was indeed the letters that I had been hoping for! I've read three of the five so far (unfortunately in very quick succession as the first two had 'cliffhanger' endings...) so I'll try and give myself a break before diving into the next two!
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
Highlight of my day:
Getting home and checking my (real) mailbox and finding a little card indicating I have a parcel to be picked up from the office! I am hoping that it is the letters that were missing from the books my parents gave me for my birthday and that I had to order from Canada. Finally I would be able to read the books!
Other than that I have no idea what it could be - except a surprise!
Getting home and checking my (real) mailbox and finding a little card indicating I have a parcel to be picked up from the office! I am hoping that it is the letters that were missing from the books my parents gave me for my birthday and that I had to order from Canada. Finally I would be able to read the books!
Other than that I have no idea what it could be - except a surprise!
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Even though I love song lyrics I normally cringe when I am reading random blogs and every second post is an 'important' song lyric.
However this one was in my head literally *all day* yesterday. It loses a little something without the voice and the music, but hey its my blog and I'll post song lyrics if I want to :)
come along fool
a direct hit of the senses
you are disconnected
it’s not that it’s bad…it’s not that it’s death
it’s just on the tip of your tongue
and you're so silent
Fool - Cat Power
However this one was in my head literally *all day* yesterday. It loses a little something without the voice and the music, but hey its my blog and I'll post song lyrics if I want to :)
come along fool
a direct hit of the senses
you are disconnected
it’s not that it’s bad…it’s not that it’s death
it’s just on the tip of your tongue
and you're so silent
Fool - Cat Power
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