This was a nice letter to find in my work mailbox...

"Dear Jennifer:

Congratulations! You have reached a milestone in your career with Washington University School of Medicine. It is with sincere appreciation for your 5 years of continued service and dedication that I write to recognize your efforts..."

Five years. Don't they go by in a blink.*

Only two years until my kids can go to WU for free, haha. Hopefully in two years I'll have a book or two with an agent...

*name that movie

  Goodbye and Godspeed, Deep Impact soundtrack

file under: reallife , working Posted by Jen at 5:26 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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I've been on the same floor at work for four years. I wonder if they'll count the time in Applied Physiology as part of my time with this department; I had the same ultimate boss, after all...not like I get anything for being there four years, but if it is, then next year I get a certificate or something...I missed it, actually. It totally slipped my mind on the day that it happened. Of course, that could be because I was shopping...spent a horrific amount of money at the mall with Leah, who has much better taste in clothes than I. But I'm happy with what I got...will have to go back to Target at some point and see if they'll give me money back for charging me twice for one pair of shorts...

happy news: check your local theaters for sneak previews of Pirates 3 on the evening of Thursday the 24th! Be on the lookout for a new layout

file under: working Posted by Jen at 1:22 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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How do you get from blood to pineapple in four steps?

Blood>saliva>salvia>pineapple

Let me explain. In the lab we have procedures to follow should a blood sample be spilled. The same rules apply to other potentially infectious material, such as saliva. On this sheet of procedures, 'saliva' is misspelled as 'salvia.' Salvia is a flowering shrub or bush, more commonly known as sage. There are many kinds of salvia, some that smell, some that don't. And one fo the varieties is a pineapple sage, the leaves of which smell like...take a guess.

Ah, the fun things that happen in the lab.

I tried using my WUMS UPass for the Metrolink today, but I was foiled. I biked to the station, 'cause I am too lazy (and it was too hot) to walk. Supposedly there are bike racks at the station, but I didn't have time to look, and I wouldn't be too comfortable leaving my bike there all day. In order to take your bike on the metrolink, you need to be in the front of the first car or the front or rear of the second car. I was waiting by the entrance to the second car. Unfortunately, and as is my luck, there was already a biker there, and there can be only one per space. So I moved up to the first car, but before I could get in, the doors closed. Curses!

I ended up not wanting to wait for another train (since by the time it got to the platform and then to work I could already be there, or close to it), so I biked the rest of the way. Did I mention that it was already in the 80s at 9 AM? The ride itself wasn't so bad; it was the cooling off period afterward that sucked. I have to decide if I want to try to take the train back to the nearest station and bike the rest of the way home, or bike all the way back.

It's such a short drive/bike/light-rail ride that I really shouldn't drive every day. But it is SO annoying once you get out of the heat and drip sweat. I don't like to offend people by smelling like I just worked out, so we'll see how often I manage. One day I'll have to walk the distance to the station(s) to see how long it would really take. It's probably better to walk. Sigh. Maybe rollerblades.

  John Mayer: Waiting on the World to Change

file under: getmoving , working Posted by Jen at 1:04 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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It's tough working and taking a class, however easy this one might sound. Got a lab practical in just about an hour, and I'm not quite ready for it...and we've been quite busy at work, which is crazy. I get home and I just want to sleep.

When am I supposed to be able to write the great debut novel? sigh.

On the fun side, a book that wasn't supposed to be out until next week is now in my hot little hands, and already read since last night. Alright, it was a really short book, but hey, it's Anita Blake. I tear through those. Thanks to Barnes and Noble for having it early. No thanks to any of the bookstores in town for not having up-to-date MCAT study books. Not that I really need a new one, since I barely got through the ones that I had last year, but I would like an update, you know? sigh.

Wish me luck on the test. I'll be glad when this is over. Joyeux Mardi Gras, if I don't see you...anyone want to come party with me this weekend?

  Pocahontas and Smith, The New World soundtrack (James Horner)

file under: books , education , working Posted by Jen at 3:47 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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It's weird to come back after a week off, only work four days, then head off to Vegas. I'm excited about that, odd to think that this time tomorrow I'll be on my way to the airport.

I got some good and bad news this week though. Good news is that I'm moving at work from the same place I've been for the past two years to the other lab where I've been spending most of my time anyway, and the head of the department is taking over some of my salary. Bad news is that I'm moving. It's a more private space, but I'll go from having a new computer (had this one since early Nov, after finally getting up the courage to ask for it) used only by me to sharing an old one used by a few other people. The new one will go to a new post-doc. And of course, there's the whole actual moving, which you might have noticed that I hate to do. But oh well. Such is life. I know I shouldn't spend all my free time on the computer, but it's a little galling to leave behind all the goodies I got on this one, and not be able to have my email open all the time and yada yada. I'm just a selfish brat, I know.

Whatever. I've got one suitcase packed for Vegas and will pack my carryon tonight, and hopefully get to fix Aunt Carol's VCR before I leave. Maybe I'll make some money. WIshful thinking, I know.

If I had a mood indicator on this entry, I'd say I was wistful.

file under: working Posted by Jen at 9:28 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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So, it's that time of year again. I figured I might make it a little easier on those people out there who, like me, don't want to pay some service to find a roommate but instead are smart and realize that Calenhiril, Etoiline, and I are the same person and are in fact looking for a roommate in St. Louis and can search for that. Sigh. Another roommate search. Two roommates in two years, boo. Not that I don't love my roomie or my former roomie. They are good people and friends. yay! Let's see if I can manage three in a row. I know as I get older it will be harder and harder to find a roommate, but it makes so much more sense. It's cheaper by a long shot. Until I can get a house, I guess. Seems weird to be even thinking about that.

Course, it's still faaaaar in the future as I still don't know what I'll be doing with my life. Wouldn't it be nice to study medicine in England? I could go to King's College (For those of you who don't know why that makes me happy, it's the college I decided my King Arthur reborn character should go to for my NaNoWriMo story. It's a kick. I want a british accent.)

So, there's a midnight premiere for Star Wars Episode III tonight (why is it starting on a Thursday? Weird.) at the Esquire...dunno if there are still tickets but perhaps I can find someone to go with me. If not I'm sure I'll see it some other time. Technically I could go to the theater and see Kingdom of Heaven again before the midnight show But I don't think I will. I really don't like going to the movies alone. Perhaps my new roommie will like fantasy/scifi like I do. I need more friends.

Ross leaves for Alaska on Thursday, so we won't be having any more movie dates this summer, alas. But at least I get to look forward to pretty pictures he's promised to send. Wish I was going to Alaska, though I doubt I'd do well in whatever sort of lawyerly thing he's going to be doing up there. I'd just want to hike some glaciers and stay up for the entire 22-hour day once or twice. See the whales, take a cruise, what have you, before Bush does his stupid drill-in-national-parks bit and destroys them all.

I really need a vacation. And a new bike. And a digital keyboard so I can play with GarageBand. And a digital camera so I can have better pictures of myself to post on dating websites, since I find myself getting more and more lonely without a guy. Especially when friends get married and ask me to bring a date to a wedding. Damnit, I don't have one! Sigh. Enough rant. Back to work.

  Kingdom of Heaven sdtk
  A Clash of Kings, George RR Martin.
file under: working Posted by Jen at 12:10 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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So today (yesterday, if you want to be technical about it) Luigi got back from his mini vacation (wish I had one of those) and not only did he give me an official form for submitting another paper, but after talking to him about the aforementioned performance 'U' he gave me a new evaluation with all "Satisfactory"s. Yay! Hopefully that will help my chances at getting another job at the university. I really want to stay.

I feel slightly proud of myself since I finally got my Easter present in use. My mom had gotten some risers for my bed at that home, so there would be room to store stuff underneath, and I expressed the thought that I would like some for that reason and lo and behold, about a week before Easter my dad packed me off for the apartment with some. He jumped the gun a little bit, but he's cute that way. So I finally set my bed up on them (having, of course, to fix the bedframe along the way). I didn't want to take the whole mattress set off the frame so I probably made it harder on myself than it needed to be, but yes, they're up. Damnit now I need to stay in the apartment since I got them set up and can store stuff more efficiently.

Got a message in reply to my month old post at the newsgroup about the roommate sitch, which was a little odd, and it was a guy, which I'm leery about, but there's the whole, I don't know if I'll be here when it comes time to renew, but yeah. I want this apartment! I like it here. I really don't want to have to move, even if my room at the 'rents place looks quite nice now.

Also got a message from a random Jewish boy from Tickle.com which was kinda cute. He started reading Moonstone. I'm almost embarrassed by the stuff that's up there, since it's all mostly stuff that was written when I was 13, even if it was revised four years ago. It's not *bad*, it's just not on par with what I wrote in a hurry last November for NaNo. One of these days I'll go back and try to fix it, but I should at least finish one big writing project before I try to overhaul the beginning.

And I'm sure you noticed the lovely KOH banner atop the posts. Clickity-click! You know you want to! I'll get my butt around to making a new KOH layout soon, in time for the premiere, I hope Lots of good choices now that the publicity kits are going out.

  The Matrix Reloaded Disc Two

file under: working Posted by Jen at 12:33 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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ATTENTION! If you're in the St. Louis area this weekend, stop by the Affton Arts & Crafts fair. My mother will have a booth, and you'll really like what she does. Pick up an Easter gift for someone.

After that nice public service announcement...how much things can change in such little time. The end of the entry was written before I found this out...

I just found out that my position will be terminated in April. Tax day, no less. The irony is that I'm 3 for 3 with lab jobs running out of money. The grant they pay me from has been frozen because we're between phases. Joy. There is hope though...a lab down the hall is looking for techs, and I'm supposed to talk to them on Monday. Luigi said good things about me, which is great, so hopefully I'll be able to just go from one to the other.

Huh. Now I guess I won't be able to take that vacation. I doubt they'll be able to pay me for it, either. Perhaps they'll carry over to the next one. My luck, I guess.

Now onto the stuff that was written before I had that most disturbing news.
Moon Names, in relation to the lovely scents that BPAL puts out. Incidentally I just got my shipping confirmation, so hopefully I will come home one day and see a nice little package for me. Also hopefully it will not be in the form of a post-it note on the front door saying "We could not deliver your package" grumble. Just because we have a locked entryway...boo. Just buzz around, people, someone's usually home...

This book looks interesting...gonna head to the bookstore tonight and see if it's around. Robots comes out today. Whee! Perhaps I'll get to see it with my family when they come into town next week. Well, in two weeks, really. It's not quite next week yet...

file under: muses , rants , working Posted by Jen at 5:17 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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Heh. So it only took most of a year, but I'll finally have my name on a scientific paper. Kitt, you still want an autographed copy? Or do you want to wait until I'm first author, lol. Yes, second author for Jennifer L Shew, BS. lol. Seems so silly to stick that title after my name. Ah well. Makes me want to go to grad school.

So yeah, been here at the Holloszy lab for 11 months today. Seems strange that I've been here almost a year...of course, it still seems strange that I haven't run track for WU in two years.

(until I get a permanent place for this banner, it'll have to go here...keep looking for that new layout, right? lol)

file under: working Posted by Jen at 10:57 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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so I found out I probably won't have a job during the year, because money's so tight at the lab. Seriously, the account that pays me has no money so she'd have to switch me over to another account for the last month of the summer. Ah well. Three months of this and I have plenty to buy a new computer. I just have to get some kind of job so I can get a monthly check so I can get rid of the large mountain of student loan debt. Ugh.

Talked to PI, obviously, and was rather proud that I didn't sound too dumb. I even sort of know what I'm talking about. If only I could understand totally. I still get the feeling that I am so far down the knowledge ladder that everyone else is ten storeys above me. Can we say insecure much?

and it's rather amusing how I keep having to remember things about my ex because my friends are asking.

file under: working Posted by Jen at 2:21 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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so I think I made three rather large mistakes at work today. But hopefully nothing terrible will come from that. And the thing that we were doing didn't work, so I have to pick more colonies, probably. I do hope it works soon, cause as much as I love picking colonies, it isn't exactly as exciting as this job could be. Yun Shin is nice, she doesn't quite ridicule me for forgetting *all* of my high-school as well as college chemistry and biology, and she actually explains it to me if I don't know what solution 2 is for.

I still haven't told my parents that I'm going to the John Mayer concert next weekend. Or the DMB concert on my birthday. erm.

Nuts. It just turned midnight so I won't get two posts on this day. Ah well.

egad, I have to do a mini prep all by myself tomorrow. yck. yrch!

file under: working Posted by Jen at 11:56 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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it's so weird, people are talking about budget problems. I never thought that I would be somewhere with that going on. But I guess it makes sense, I mean, you've got to stay on budget, and the things here are so astronomically expensive! Machines cost thousands of dollars.

More when I get done, I hope.

file under: working Posted by Jen at 10:27 AM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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today was totally new. Since JJ went back to China for three weeks, it's nigh on impossible to continue the experiments that we were doing, and they were going wrong anyway, so now I'm working with Yun Shin. I learned alot today, not just (supposedly) how to set up a colony hybridization experiment (hey, I was (watching Yun Shin) working with radioactive labels!) and how to pick a bacterial colony.... and how to make agar plates. I also found out that my boss (hereafter referred to as my PI, or primary investigator) is four months pregnant. So possibly that accounts for her moodiness. Also found out that she's married to someone who works in the same building. They seem very disparate, so I hope they're happy. Also found out for sure that she's Korean, not Chinese. Which is fine. I just don't think I could handle the food.

Because I love her, visit my mom's site: Betty Shew: PaperArt.

PI's husband said that they were in France during her early days of pregnancy and all she wanted was Korean food. Apparently it's difficult to find Korean food in Paris. Wouldn't know.

but yeah. Lab has been hectic. I don't know how I feel about it. Changwon (a med student who just took his med school exams, I think) said that maybe I should think about a rotation among the labs when the summer's over; I guess that would be a good idea. He also said that my PI was the primary stem cell person, though. And my ID and parking pass expire at the end of July, so I guess that I have to talk to her about it.

Anybody know how to do Chinese calligraphy? Korean as well. I'm looking for accurate renditions of the characters so my mom can do some artwork with them. I don't expect museum quality calligraphy scrolls, but something sort of big so we can work with them.

gah, I miss ethernet.

I got site of the month from World of the Strange for my Roswell site, so I have to finish updating it... yay.

file under: working Posted by Jen at 10:55 PM | Permalink MTIfCommentsActive>|

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