Reaching 30 and Out of Shape

HB is in town for a week! I have been bugging him about losing weight lately, so yesterday, we spent two hours "playing" tennis and throwing the pigskin around. Yeah, I throw like a girl, but sometimes I can get a good spiral even though it doesn't go very far. And we both suck at tennis. Too bad there isn't a badminton court around. But then we canceled the exercise out by going to Braum's and getting ice cream... irresistible.

I realize that I am getting close to 30 now, and still not in great shape. It's now or never! I am going to try to lose the belly fat, butt sag and unsightly thighs before then. I have three years, so that should be plenty of time. :)

Also, HB helped me pick out new eyeglass frames, but they are bright red!! I am sort of freaking out about them now, but oh well. I'll post a picture once I get them.

Cici's Pizza

I organized a lab lunch this week...at Cici's pizza. All-you-can-eat pizza for only 3.99!! It was the ultimate gorge fest including but not limited to: taco pizza, mac-and-cheese pizza (really good), spinach alfredo pizza, buffalo chicken pizza and cinnamon rolls. I have not been to Cici's for years, even though there is one two blocks from where I live. In high school, when it only cost $2.99, we would have eating competitions there and line up the leftover crusts on the table to see which side won. I believe that I was always on the winning side- since I always chose to be on the side of Iron Stomach (you know who you are) and/or HB. I also remember going to Cici's fondly because of the Simpson's arcade game that we would always try to beat every time we went.

As a result though, I feel so gross right now. Bloated and thirsty...mmm. But I would say lunch was still worth it. I feel like going home to take a nap now, but maybe I'll drum up the willpower to go work out instead.

Busy to the Max

Lately, I have been swamped at work. I am working on multiple projects now, and some days at work are crazy. It's weird because most graduate students start out with a few projects and narrow it down, once one becomes more promising than the others, but I did the opposite- started on one project and am branching out 3 years later. I feel better spreading out the chips a bit, and it has been fun starting new things.

For example, I transformed and grew bacteria for the last couple of days in order to purify some DNA. This is so exciting for me, because I have never done much molecular/micro biology, and at the end, you get a clear reading of how much DNA you have...in micrograms! Is it just me, or does LB Broth smell like chicken broth? Every time I pour some to grow bacteria in, I think about what LB would taste like. Yep, I'm totally that person who wonders what dog food tastes like. I'll try to restrain myself.

Another new technique I have been trying to master for the past month and a half is performing whole cell recordings in neurons or "patching". I still think it is so nuts that you can place an electrode into a neuron and record its electrical activity. This week, I finally started getting the whole procedure down and successfully patching into healthy neurons.

I guess this is the neat thing about doing research- once things get routine, you can always switch things up a bit, approach the problem from a different angle. Okay well, off to start another busy and hopefully productive day.

RSI

Lately, I have been analyzing a lot of neuron images. This involves clicking on hundreds of regions and as a result my upper trapezius is killing me. Additionally, in order to prepare the cells for fluorescent labeling, I have to pipette... alot. Last night I was sitting at home, and my lower right neck started twitching. I am beginning to understand why computer programmers have such problems with repetitive strain injury. HB has chronic problems with his upper back, and I always thought he was a big wimp with bad posture, but muscle strain really blows. So now I am trying to use the mouse with my left hand, even though it is slow going.

Easter- the best holiday

I have had an incredibly busy week, so I can barely find time to post about things. But I have so many things to write about! First off, my week began with an immensely awesome surprise. My roommate from college just happened to be in town for a work-related project!! I'll call her Atalanta (since that will be the name of her sailboat). It was so great to spend time with her, and to hear about her new life plan (which sounds so much more fulfilling than her current job). I love how hanging out with friends lifts you out of the foulest of moods.

Wednesday night, I hosted a Passover Seder dinner at my apartment. Even though the turnout wasn't as big as in the past, I enjoyed sharing a meal with friends. I love Seder dinners, and I'm not sure why more Christians do not celebrate it, since it was the last meal that Jesus participated in, especially since the Jewish traditions are so beautiful and strangely (or not so strangely) complementary to Christian beliefs. My favorite part of the Seder meal is probably the charoset, because it is supposed to be a sweet reminder of the mortar used between the bricks (can be symbolized by matzoh) and because it is SO tasty.

Friday morning, I was in charge of bringing Krispy Kremes to the 5 am walkabout. Our pastor superimposed Jerusalem onto Lower Greenville, so every year on Good Friday we walk to the sites that Jesus visited on his last day, starting from The Temple (Whole Foods), across from the Garden of Gethsemane where he was arrested and ending with where Jesus went before Pilate for the second time (next to Shell gas station).

Easter Sunday was great, too. Because of some freak weather, where we actually had snow flurries on Saturday (after 84 degree weather three days before), we moved our sunrise service inside instead of the usual outdoor spot at White Rock Lake. The best part was watching all the little kids hunt for Easter eggs after brunch, oh and the annual peep jousting tournament of course (aged peeps work so much better).

Can you tell I love Easter week? It is always such a renewing time for me, especially going through Lent, trying to focus on meditating and centering on God, yet remembering that no one is perfect, nor do we have to be- which is the whole reason for Easter in the first place. And all of this coinciding with the beginning of spring is always uplifting. I look forward to it every year.