Laughing Matters #4- Mad Scientist in the House (and it's not me)

Last weekend as Nate and I awoke from our slumbers, I was my usual perky self and popped right out of bed and was already heading towards the kitchen. Nate tends to wake up more slowly so I didn't expect to hear a peep out of him, but then as I stepped out of our bedroom I heard him yell something.

"Polypeptide!"

Yep. The first word out of his mouth. This guy has science on his mind. And I like it!

Speaking of Nate and science, I have been occasionally taking his quizzes/exams and I am currently failing Earth Science, have a B+ in Chemistry, and an A- in Biology...

I have a "sexy job"

... according to a recent article in the NY Times

Graduation

I know I've been lazy- sorry. Here are the long-awaited photos from the hooding ceremony and graduation (May 8-9). Commencement happens only once a year, even though I defended last August and my degree was conferred in January. My parents and of course Nate were here to see me get hooded and walk across the stage. I'm not too fond of graduations, just because they are hot (especially when they are outdoors... and even more-so when they are indoors in a non-air conditioned gym like my Vandy graduation), crowded, and I just can't sit still for that long. The hooding ceremony was much more enjoyable. It was indoors, short, and more meaningful than the usual graduation ceremony. At least I thought so. So here is a re-cap of the weekend, in pictures/videos:

The hooding ceremony:

-with my parents before the ceremony

-with my former officemate, Jamie

-all of us
-my hooding advisor, the chair of my thesis committee. (My thesis advisor was in Istanbul and was unable to hood me.)
-some of the graduates from the Statistics department

-getting seated

Afterwards, we went home for dinner and later that evening, we attended convocation followed by a champagne toast with the president, and fireworks!

Commencement (the following morning):

-Snapshot from the back

-The view from where Nate and my parents were sitting

-We left after the graduate students had been called and snapped a few photos while the undergraduate names were called

-I spent many, many hours in the building behind us
-Here is where I lined up before the ceremony began

It's still hard to believe I'm really done after 22+ years of schooling...

Here are a few words of encouragment, among many, that helped me through my grad school days:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Never, never, never, never give up. -Winston Churchill (I had this one on a hot pink sheet of paper above my desk)

Laughing Matters #3

I saw this for the first time a while back through Nate's family somehow and thought it was the actual work of Nate's cousin Peter (but it's not). A friend of mine recently forwarded it to me with a bunch of other similar concepts, and once again, I find it incredibly hilarious. (Is it the math nerd in me that likes it so much?)

It's good to be done

That's all I have to say about that!

What I would study if I went back to college

After a weekend at our alma mater, the nostalgia hit me. I would love to be an undergraduate again. Here are a few areas (in no particular order) I would consider majoring in if I could go back:

1. Psychology/Neuroscience (I am mesmerized by psychological disorders and how it connects with the brain)
2. Spanish, or another foreign language (probably Italian or Latin)
3. Biomedical Engineering
4. Art (my childhood dream, which still remains)

Small Talk

I’ve never really been a natural conversationalist. Most people who know me would be quick to describe me as a good listener, and one who doesn’t speak unless I have a very strong opinion about something (at which point everyone jumps from the sound of my voice because they forgot I was even there). And that’s around people I’m comfortable with. If I’m speaking to someone for the first time, or someone who I have met on only a few occasions, I tend to find more things to say, to break the silence, or, to insure that the other person doesn’t think that I’m mute. Inevitably, “small talk” ensues. I dislike talking small, especially when forced to talk about myself. I can almost recite a segment of the exact conversation that happens 95% of the time after introductions (persons involved in the medical field usually fall under that other 5%):

Other person: So, what do you do?
Me: I’m a graduate student.
Other: Oh, what are you studying?
Me: Statistics- specifically Biostatistics.
Other: Oh (with confused expression).

And the remainder of the conversation proceeds with one of the following responses:
Other: 1. What IS that?
2. What did you say?
3. So, what exactly do you DO with, um, Bio… statistics?
4. Oh, man. I took a statistics class once. I failed it (cringe).
5. Well, I guess SOMEBODY’s gotta do it!

Or, the best one is this very simple response which ends the conversation completely:
Other: Wow.

Of course, I always willingly answer questions or respond appropriately to comments, but I am constantly dreaming about the day when I can respond to “What do you do?” with “I’m a mommy. I have x beautiful children and a wonderful husband.” And then there would be no confused faces or cringing.

#1 in the U.S.

MDA has done it again!

A Professional Organizer??!!

It was recently brought to my attention that there exists an occupation called "Professional Organizer."

I assure you, it's real. According to the National Association of Professional Organizers,

"A professional organizer enhances the lives of clients by designing systems and processes using organizing principles and through transferring organizing skills. A professional organizer also educates the public on organizing solutions and the resulting benefits."

One must become licensed in the field, so it's not merely a self-proclaimed profession.

Go ahead- Google it. You'll find thousands of hits, from organizations to professional organizing businesses to personal websites of professional organizers. You can call me crazy, but the whole idea is outrageous and entirely appealing!

I am having a difficult time restraining myself from quitting school, having some babies, and becoming a so-called Professional Organizer for life. I could start my own professional organizing business out of the home and stay at home with the kids. So tempting. ;)

On second thought, I guess I better finish school and stick to re-organizing the contents of our refrigerator in my spare time.

Can we keep the visiting professor?

I took one course this semester from a visiting professor from Berlin, Germany: Raul Rojas. I don't intend to discount the department's faculty here, but Dr. Rojas was a breath of fresh air in comparison. His genuine love of his research and teaching, and concern for his students was apparent both inside and outside of the classroom. In my personal experience as a graduate student, I would say that the student-faculty interaction at the personal level could use some tutoring from Dr. Rojas. He will be missed when he returns to Germany!

Dr. Rojas is currently working on designing an autonomous car which I find incredibly fascinating. It will be entered in a competition here in the states in November.