Weekly: waiting

This week was uneventful.  Even as I write that, I think of the many things that happened!

We had to take Sam (our ginger cat) to the vet this week.  He was very lethargic on Wednesday and Thursday, and by Friday I was worried.  They couldn’t find anything wrong with him but he has perked back up with a day at the vet clinic on Friday including IV fluids, an appetite stimulant, and antibiotics.  We’ll keep an eye on him – but I suspect he might have had a cold or some other minor ailment.

Thesis monster
Small steps this week: Placentologist finally got back to me and scheduled a meeting for September 8th (two weeks away!) to give feedback on Chapters 1+2+3.  I will have 4+5+6 to her well before this time, so it’s possible but unlikely that we could discuss all six chapters together.

GPC was nice again this week and gave me good feedback on Chapter 6.  I have some small changes to make which might take me about a week.  She was also very helpful in talking through what she thinks should go in a chapter discussion versus the general discussion at the end of the thesis (Chapter 7).  More to do…but the end is still in sight, at least until I hear from Placentologist.  I expect a large number of changes since she has been so hands-off for the last four months.

Life as a “postdoc”
Still no performance review.  Still no papers.  The boss still has not submitted his grant proposal.  I will have to keep myself from screaming and getting surly if this continues for another week.

I redid my worrying experiment from a few weeks ago.  The method is fine, but the samples are not lending themselves to the analysis.  I’m investigating alternative analysis methods with some coworkers and maybe something will come of that.

I got a few more responsibilities dumped on me this week.  Another scientist with whom I do not work, but who is in my broad research group, asked me to read their human ethics committee application.  I wrote and submitted one of these in February and actually enjoyed it.  I agreed to read their application.  Two days later (without my seeing the application yet) they asked me to finish writing it for them, and to present it to the ethics committee!  I agreed but gave myself the “out” that I couldn’t defend their project if I didn’t understand their research.  We will see what happens.  I would like to be the human ethics go-to person for the company, but it was a little strange of this scientist to ask me to take over this portion of their paperwork.

I also spent some time learning from Kim about our protocol for doing radioimmunoassays.  I’ve never done RIAs before, just ELISAs.  The assays weren’t as bad as I’d expected but I felt pretty drained after each of the two days I spent doing them.  I can’t see how she can do them for four days in a row (though she doesn’t do them that frequently very often).

Geeking out
You’ve already seen my previous entry, where I took Six Apart to task for not providing clear enough documentation for Movable Type 4, and the quick and meaningful response I received from Byrne at 6A.  I’m looking forward to chatting more with him about the ideas I brought up.

Other than that – the Windows Home Server is doing well, and I haven’t caused/fixed any computer problems recently.  I did get to buy a Brother P-Touch label maker today which made me very happy.  Surpringly Kiwiman also appreciated it, not only because I got the cheapest electronic label maker Warehouse Stationery had, but because this finally lets him tell the ground almonds, breadcrumbs, and coconut apart in their identical Click-Clack containers in the pantry.

Foodieness
I’ve been working on my salt and pepper squid techniques and I tried it again this week with good results.  We hosted a pizza party for Kiwiman’s work team on Friday night; that was well-attended and I ate too much pizza!  Today I did a lot of baking: I made a banana cake to use up some brown bananas and I also made something for part of Hugo’s birthday present.  I think he’ll love it – let’s just hope he can eat all of it in a week before leaving for the US!

Gripe of the week
I meant to do some thesis writing and correcting this weekend, but I just didn’t get around to it – it’s slipping down in my priorities even though I still feel like it’s one of the most important things in my life right now.  News of the writing has reached nearly everyone I talk to at work, and sometimes I feel like it’s none of their business to know that I am still finishing my PhD.  I feel a little stab, though, every time I use my email signature with its line saying “Postdoctoral Scientist”.  It’s a lie – but it’s not a lie, it’s my job title – but it implies something that is a lie.  I feel so schizo.  Time to resurrect the 5am starts and get this thing done.

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