Records of a Mad Scientist: People and Thinsg for which I am thankful... in no particular order.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

People and Thinsg for which I am thankful... in no particular order.

I am thankful for...

My mom, who care so much, (maybe too much sometimes?) and spoils me rotten. Even though I'm an adult, she doesn't have to, my mom totally answers all of my phone calls. Even when I'm crazy. And, she tries to reason me through it. My mom is also an amazing cook.... I doubt that I'll ever be as good as preparing good as she is.
My dad, who works ridiculously hard at everything except humor. I called him on Wednesday for help, and his response was immediate. He's like a one man comedian and technical support center. He also totally supports all his children's interests.
My sister. Seriously, have you met my sister? She is scary shit! 5'2 and 100 lbs wet, and though she has been a hippie chick ever since she was a little girl, my sister is going to take over the world one of these days... I will even accept it that she's going to to do it with economics instead of engineering.
My brother, who sends me the most bizarre text messages at the strangest times... also because he hasn't carried out on the treat he made as a twelve year old. But, I will be thankful if NO ONE GIVES HIM AN AIRSOFT FOR CHRISTMAS.
ADS. He makes me safer than anyone I've ever known, and lifts me from my bad moods. He tells me I'm beautiful (even when I'm not) and is so convincing. He listens to my mindless chatters when I'm nervous, and my silent breathing when I'm being quiet. I think he can handle me... I think I might be in love.
T. There may not be a better best friend a girl can ask for. Her response when ADs and I started dating? I want a maid of honor dress with polka-dots. When I said I was moving to South Dakota, she agreed to drive out with me, even though I had a really busy summer. Probably the most supportive friend I know.
BD. How can I not be thankful for my friend who gets my insanity and can answer it? Also, who hasthe best stories. He was a real life zombie for a while. He also may or may not be able to remember EVERYTHING while drunk, but struggle to keep track of his ID?
AT, SD, and KVO, FG, KT, Kara, EE, and all my girls and SMC. I miss you all... and I am so thankful for your friendship and support.
The Six man. Two mentions have already been mentioned, but I'm thnakful for all of you, even if its awkard to hug Matt.
My amazing co-workers. Even though thye work twenty million hours a week, they're still willing to pick up my slack and explain the stuff I just can't seem to get (like native Protein gels). They also don't laugh too hard when I get high off napthalene.
My boss, who turns coffee into grades, lectures, and grants
The internet, which provides free TV to poor college students like me, including SNL, Glee, football, Bones, and Dark Angel.
My students, and the amusement they provide me with their bad lab reports.

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Cast of Characters

AC -- AD's roommate. Famous for his frustration with his own epic procrastination and ability to curse the latin word on the tip of his tongue.
AD -- my boyfriend. Its new... and exciting... and hard from this distance. An aerospace engineer. Still goes to the famous former football giant across the road from the castle where I went to undergrad.
BD -- one of my best friends from undergrad. Another ex-boyfriend and part of my incestious little circle of friends. Has rigid boundaries that serve him well. Math major and genius.
Dr.jR -- head of the chemistry and biochemistry department. Researches NOM (not eating, sadly, but natural organic material). Nice, but unpredicatble.
DrA -- my research boss. Somewhere in his thirties and totally chill. The first PI I've ever met who bakes cookies during lab meetings.
DrR -- my teaching boss. Crotchety old man who doesn't take shit. Slightly sexist. Smokes like a chimney. A teddy bear.
JL -- our post doc in lab. Chineese. Tells me not to work so hard.
JP -- an ex-boyfriend of mine and sort-of friend. Suitmate of AD. Sort of an asshole. VERY crude. We tend to play off eachother. Once dropped his pants in the middle of a crowded room. Also, halo teabagged someone in real life. More than once. Signature phrase is "Dicking Fuck." Exemplifies why Physics and Math double majors scare me.
Kara -- basically the person who told me to write this.
Michael Cera -- guy in my program. Actually younger than I am (I was suprised). Very nice. Lutheran boy scout. Might decide to teach chemistry. Analytical chemist.
MK -- The youngest member of the Quad (AC, AD, JP and MK). Computer science major. Bearded. Sometimes more mature than his fellow seniors who can drink. More or less uncorrupted. It was adorable when he had his first girlfriend.
N -- my fabulous Indian roommate. Seriously, she is great. And, she feeds me.
St. Pat -- One of the guys in my program. Older than the rest of us by a few years. A good analytical chemist. Smart. Familiar with the works of Joss Whedon.
T -- my former roommate. Gave me a cold for my brithday. LIke, a stuffed one.

A few definations...

Cell Biology -- a field of biology that is basically their answer to the fact that life is based in chemistry. As a graduate level course, it has involved a 2 day lecture on atomic bonding and the Krebs cycle. These were things covered in my freshman chemistry and biology courses.
Cubby's -- My prefered non smoking bar in graduate school
Macrophage -- Somestimes called Macs; a type of immune cell, and the target of my research. I've been told they're ugly, but I think they're pretty cute when I get to dye them pretty colors with florescent dye or proteins and look at them under the microscope. I get geeky abou them.
Microscope -- Dr.A's big, expensive microscope that looks at cells. It can see brightfield (normal cells) and florescent ones. We can also see if protiens are clumping together with it.
Students -- I teach freshman science majors, except for the ones who want to be chemists. I have a lot of engineers, a handful of premeds and biologists, and quite a few pre-pharmacy. Sometimes agravating, often exhausting, and a huge time suck. I want them to suceed, which, according to my defination, is learn something.

WARNING: Scientific Content

I realize that not all of my readers are scientists (I think maybe 1/3?), and even fewer are chemists. So, I propose a science warning system.

* Basic science. Things you should have learned in school if you had been paying attention. Or... if you don't know this, you need to talk to T because our science education system sucks.

** High School/Freshman college science and math. Stuff I would expect you to know after a calculus class and at least one class in physical and life science.

*** Some scientific knowledge. Let's assume you've had 1+ upper level science course in either biology or chemistry.

****Upper level science. You probably need 3 - 4 years of college chemistry/biology to get this part. Maybe not, though. I'll try to avoid this as much as possible. Sometimes, though, I can't help myself and I geek.