Day Three Hundred Seventy Four

Well, I've officially lived in Texas long enough to know that a storm front is coming in just by the feel of the air. I stepped outside of Welch Hall and immediately knew that lightning was in my future. Sure enough, I was treated to quite the lightning show on my drive home. It never got directly over us (thank goodness) but it certainly kept me alert. And it wasn't enough to stop me from going to the grocery store, because that's how much I wanted tacos for dinner tonight. Psh, forget you storm clouds, I need ground turkey! And it was worth it, the tacos were delicious.

This past weekend I took a mini road trip to Houston with my friend Emily to meet up with my aunts and go to a Houston Dash soccer game. It was awesome, albeit very very muggy (because Houston doesn't know any other way to behave). I also saw a number of things on the drive over that I'll have to go and explore sometime...such as the Prehistoric Adventure Park! Coming from a childhood in which Jurassic Park was watched more times then I can count, I was very excited about the potential this adventure park possesses. When it's not a bajillion degrees outside, I'm going to hang out with some dinos. Emily was equally excited about all the fresh melon stands on the side of the road. Clearly our minds were in different places. I took some photos from the game that I'll post tomorrow, so be ready to finally have another picture post! I know, it's been a while.

In other news, I have my first fantasy football draft this weekend! I say first because I'm in two leagues this year. My father and brother are so proud. Hopefully the Moonsnails will emerge victorious from at least one of them. I have a feeling the all girls league I'm joining is going to be way more cut throat then the other league. I can't wait...bring it on ladies. And if any of you take Drew Brees before I get the chance, it is war.

Day Three Hundred Seventy

These past few days have been filled with research and going to dissertation defenses. First off, a big congratulations to my lab mates Maryam and Derek for successfully defending their dissertations! And thank you for the delicious snacks provided during your presentations.

All of the defenses I went to were in the biomedical engineering building, which is one of the newer buildings on campus, and is completely amazing. I'm pretty sure it doesn't matter what building on campus I go in to, I automatically say "man...this is a nice building." I suppose this is the cross I must bear having my office in one of the older buildings. And being in the chemistry building, there's always bound to be a mysterious smell every once in a while. Especially on the 4th floor. What are you doing 4th floor?!

It was 100 degrees outside today at 8pm. I'll let that settle in with everyone. Needless to say, I spent the bulk of my day in air conditioned buildings. Every day is temperature whiplash going from 100+ degrees outside to 65ish degrees in lab. By the end of the work day we're all in jeans and sweatshirts. The worst is when you forget how much hotter it is outside and you walk to a meeting in said jeans and sweatshirt. It happens. Often.

Tomorrow is Friday! I don't know how this week went by so fast, but I definitely don't mind it.

Day Three Hundred Sixty Seven

We killed a scorpion in the apartment today. And when I say "we," I mean I frantically pointed at it so Kelly could go kill it. I'm sure there was more that happened over the course of today, but my brain short circuited when I saw the beast moseying my way as I sat and read my textbook. Then I learned that scorpions glow in the dark, making them easier to find if they're in your vicinity. Guess who's buying a blacklight this week and will now case the apartment every day upon entering?

Day Three Hundred Sixty Five

Well, it's officially been a year in Austin. One exhausting, stressful, exciting, whirlwind of a year. I honestly can't believe it, it feels like a flew by, but at the same time it also feels like ages since I lived in Washington. While the fact that I'm a grad student at the University of Texas has finally settled in, I still have moments where I'm in complete awe that this is my life now. I can honestly say that graduate school is the most overwhelming experience I've ever had, but at the same time it's been one of the most rewarding thus far - getting the opportunity to teach undergrads and also work on research that could have a genuine impact on people in the future. Now the real stress comes with qualifying exams in a couple months, which is the reason I've spent more time with my chemistry textbooks then with actual people the last couple weeks.

Here is a little list of things I've learned living in Texas...

1. When you come to Texas, you will see signs by the highway that say "Welcome to Texas. Drive Friendly - The Texas Way." This is a lie. Texans are the worst drivers on the face of the planet. I find them all genuinely terrifying (as does the Blueberry, who has already had to go to the collision center from being hit by a big mean pickup truck).

2. University of Texas is essentially its own city. Need some boxes? Well how about you go to the University of Texas U-Haul! Need some medicine? Forty Acres Pharmacy on campus has you covered. Legal advice? Not even a problem, just stop by the legal office. This campus has everything, and it is seriously convenient.

3. If you don't eat beef, get ready to get a lot of confused and sometimes offended looks. This is a phrase I've heard uttered in complete seriousness - "You only eat chicken? That's basically a vegetable."

4. Don't have family or friends come visit during a Formula One race weekend. Having oil moguls and various other bazillionairs from all over the world come to town means every hotel room is charging exorbitant prices. Dad, lesson learned. Lesson. Learned.

5. The bugs are so loud and so gigantic. Seriously, cicadas? You're a bug. Stop screaming so much. And cockroaches, I don't understand how you all move so fast, you are fat little things.

6. In the summer time, everyone is a sweaty mess. Don't worry about sweating and standing out, if you don't you'll stand out even more looking like some genetic anomaly that doesn't perspire.

7. Living in an apartment is wonderful. Yes, my upstairs neighbors sometimes sound like they're bowling in their hallway, but when things break all I have to do is email maintenance. They even take care of wasp nests in my window and dead birds in my garage. Maintenance men, I'm making you all cookies one of these days.

8. People here are gossip-monsters. It can get tiresome.

9. No matter how independent you get, you will always need your family. Thank you mom, dad, and Jeff for helping me get through this past year. I love you all.

Well, Austin, happy one year anniversary. It's certainly been an adventure so far.

Day Three Hundred Sixty Two

The first thing I did today when I got to campus was get filmed presenting a 5 minute PowerPoint on my research. This was for my professional development class, and the purpose of it was to be filmed so we could analyze our own presentation style. The question that was at the forefront of my mind while watching my video...do I actually sound like that?! It always baffles me how different you sound to yourself versus how you sound to other people. I can't even handle it. Thankfully, besides feeling like someone else's voice was coming out of me, I think the presentation went well. There were no "uh" or "um" or "ya know" moments, which feels like a personal victory.

The rest of the day was spent doing both literature research and physical research in the lab. I successfully troubleshooted a problem I was having by the end of the day today, and proceeded to run around lab and tell everyone around me how successful I had been. They all at least pretended to be as enthusiastic as I was, which was sweet of them. After this moment of pure jubilation, it was time to sit down and listen to two lab mates give practice dissertation defenses. I'm not sad that I have a fair chunk of time before I have to worry about giving that particular presentation.

I downloaded a 40 day ab workout app on my phone. Today was Day One, and I'm embarrassed to say that after the 5 minutes of exercise, my abdominals were completely wiped out. Exercise sometimes you just kill me.

Day Three Hundred Sixty One

I got attacked by the IBS monster yesterday evening...hence no blog post. And no photo, considering the rest of the day was basically spent trying not to fall asleep on my textbook while trying to study.

Today was another battle with the sandman while reading up on electrochem. I also had a seminar I had to attend for class on "how to create a winning CV." I learned a grand total of one thing - don't staple your CV. Who knew? I don't get it, but I'll still follow it (this sentiment sums up a large portion of grad school in general).

Day Three Hundred Fifty Eight

Two roommates studying for major exams makes for a very quiet apartment. Except for the occasional grumping that comes from both of us about our respective topics. At least we suffer together, it makes it slightly more bearable. Slightly. Electrochemistry, you make me sleepy and confused, and it pains me to know that I won't be rid of you until mid-October.

Our lab phone was fixed today, and the IT guy that fixed them had the last name MacIntosh. I'm still chuckling over that...with that last name, he was basically predestined to work in technology. He was super nice and fixed the problem very quickly. Whenever there's a problem technology related, I always hope its something more complex then "your phone was plugged in to the wrong port." This was not the case today. Thankfully it was an exterior port and not one in lab, or I would have felt like a total bozo. But to be honest, if there's one thing I've gotten used to in grad school, its feeling like a bozo. I guess if nothing else it means I'm learning a lot.

I'll see if I can find something interesting to take a photo of tomorrow. This blog needs some photo action.