Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas Eve!

Back on the couch, still freezing.... going to go and watch tv online in bed but first wanted to wish everyone the very happiest of Christmases! (and Hannukah, and Kwanzaa, and Festivus, and.... whatever you celebrate, make it great!)

Monday, December 22, 2008

Ah, Christmastime

I love Christmas break.
I am sitting on my couch, watchin the Hills, after helping the Mumster decorate the house, in my pjs and am very comfy. Christmas is awesome.
I've spent the last few days shopping with friends, having dinner and parties with people, wrapping, its just been very pleasant. The holiday also started off spectacularly by going to see the 'Nutcracker' with Liz before we left for our respective homes. It was absolutely beautiful. I had been a little stressed out that day with packing, errands, and a number of e-mails from my supervisor over stuff I thought was done with up until we left for the ballet, but I've now convinced mysel to take a break and not think about work until at least after Christmas. I will have some writing to do at that point, but I have enough to do getting ready for the holiday before that. 
I've thought of some more serious things to post about, especially some pet peeves I've recently developed based on opinions expressed by other people about grad school, but I'm not feeling smart enough to express them tonight. 
If I don't get a chance to post again before Christmas, have the happiest of holidays! (I hope you get a great haul of presents!)

P.S. Am a sheep, joined Twitter. You can follow me on the side too.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Sleepy yet bored

So filled out one of these silly things: (Guadalupe Storm Petrel, who oddly enough seems to reference the subject of my honours thesis)

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight trai
n - bus, yes - SUCKED
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort 
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors - hopefully this coming year, post MSc!
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - glorious summers working
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa - my lifelong dream!!
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia - want to so bad!
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House - if being outside and looking in counts
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - does Peter Mackay count? I so need to use that photo some day...

92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ridden an elephant

Dammit, just found more things for my to do list....


Ha!

A recent article published in OIKOS showed that increasing beer consumption among scientists was correlated with fewer publications, citations and overall impact in the literature.
But I totally beat this trend because I prefer VODKA. Take that! 

I have a committee meeting in a few minutes, please excuse me while I try to keep myself from vomiting from the stress....

Update: it went fine, as usual. I am a dork.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Roller coaster

This week has been... interesting to say the least. I've had both highs and lows, based on how I feel about the data I'm currently analyzing. There's more variation than there should be, but I think I'm addressing it and the results are still valid. I had really hoped to get a publication out of this stuff, even a small one, but I keep dithering on whether it's actually doable. I have decided I'm writing up the article, to be a chapter in my thesis and to be reviewed by the communities I work with though, so the work will not be for naught even if its not quite up to publication. I really enjoy the graphs I gotten from it though.
So the work has been up and down. Similarly, so has my actual will to work. I have 4 days left of real productivity to be sought after, before I get to go home for the holidays and see some friends I haven't seen in over a year! There will be shopping, and baking, and parties..... I really can't wait.
The crazy snow we got hasn't helped either. It has been lovely to look at and induce dreams of christmas, thus adding to the lack of will to work, and making getting home a nightmare. It took me 2 and a HALF hours to get home on Tuesday! I stayed home Wednesday, only to venture out later and marvel at all the ice coating the trees, which was really quite lovely.
(I took pictures of this magical ice on my Blackberry but they have unfortunately turned out rather blurry, sorry!)
In any case, this week has actually finished off quite well and I've completed the stuff that needed to be, which for grad school, is pretty damn good.
I'm looking forward to the weekend, lots of relaxing and also hope to have fun with a few people. You have a good weekend too!
P.S. A good thing - I'm pretty happy with how Ignatieff is doing so far as the head of the liberals, I think he's striking the right now in terms of being open to talk, but maintaining the hard line. I will, however, miss Stephane Dion very much. In case you ever read this - my friend Christine and I will totally take you out for drinks to drown your sorrows. Give me a shout, it'll be a blast, we'll braid each other's hair and talk about the environment.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Christmastime

In other news, I have too many people on my Christmas list and Twig is getting tired of transcribing cards for me....

Friday, November 28, 2008

These people must be stopped

I was recently re-watching the entirety of 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip'. I have to say, I LOVED that show and was very sad that it was cancelled. I will always adore Aaron Sorkin, I'm currently re-watching 'Sports Night'. I love YouTube.
In one episode of Studio 60, two of the guys discuss that there is a lot of stupid instructions these days. Instructions that tell people to not use the hairdryer in the tub, etc., and isn't this perhaps working against the natural selection that would otherwise be aiding us to thin the herd of the terminally stupid?
This brings me to Jenny McCarthy.

Jenny McCarthy rose to prominence via taking off her clothes. While that's very nice for her, I don't find it sufficient to allow her to argue against nearly every PhD and MD on the planet. They argue that autism is not caused by toxins in vaccines, the environment, food, but rather its a neurophysiological syndrome. She disagrees. Stridently. On Oprah and any other talk show that will take her.
I despise this woman. Just because you're a celebrity does not give you the right to try and indoctrinate the world to your crackpot ideas, no matter what Tom Cruise tells you. By increasing paranoia and fear as relating to vaccines, you're contributing to the rise of many diseases which have been almost eradicated in the western world. Its as dumb as arguing for intelligent design except it leads to CHILDREN DYING. Argh. Why can we not remove these people from the herd?
And if you don't believe me, just listen to Puppet Stephen Colbert.... (via Puppets who rant)

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Snow!

I'm currently in my lab, puttering so as to try and time an all day reaction so that I can run out at 2 and help set up for the grad student holiday party this afternoon. It should be my last extraction for this project! Well, DNA extraction, but not having to deal with the liquid nitrogen and chloroform makes me SO EXCITED. The fact that its snowing helps!
I am already getting quite excited for Christmas. I'll have to do some writing over the break, but a number of my friends who are studying on the West Coast will be back, and of course I'll get to do the family thing. I have an absurdly large family who I love to death (most of the time), and really the only downside I find from going away to school is that I miss a lot of events, all involving free food. As a grad student, I really like free food (I pretended to be interested in the Quebec election last night to get some free bread and fruit) and so only increases my wish to be at those events.
I'm already playing Christmas carols on my computer, and the roomie and I will be hosting people on Sunday night to do some decorating, maybe a few crafts and watch a holiday movie, while drinking spiked hot chocolate. It'll be great!
We're debating which movie to show, and it led me to thinking about my favourite holiday movies this morning, which I thought I'd share with you all...

1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - hilarious. Utterly hilarious. My mom and I watch this every year and HOWL with laughter. The squirrel, the family, the lights.... as a grad student I also really enjoy Clark testing out his super slippery "non-nutritive cereal varnish". *Snort*

2. White Christmas - a wonderful musical from the 50s, with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. I've watched this movie every year since I was really young and can basically sing every song from memory, and used to perform the 'Sisters' routine for my family from time to time. Unfortunately, I do now know that Bing Crosby beat his children, Vera Ellen was an anorexic and wore turtlenecks to cover up a haggard looking neck and Danny Kaye was not so subtly closeted, but my inner cynic cowers before my inner softy.
Speaking of softy.... 3. Love Actually and 4. The Holiday - LOVE THESE MOVIES. They make me sigh and giggle and yet be OK that I don't currently have a boyfriend to cuddle with. Hugh Grant and Jude Law - both somewhat skeezy in real life but their respective roles in these films make me still love them. Adorable British children? Push these films both over the top from cute to classic.





And finally, 5. The Muppet Christmas Carol - its the Muppets, telling the Christmas Carol story. What more can you ask for? If you need more than that, you HAVE A HEART OF STONE.

Anyways, if you haven't seen any of these films, you simply must. Go. Now. I don't care if you're at work, or doing something actually productive *snort* but you must put it aside. Or Baby Jesus will cry. (As if I can't get through one post without snarkyness...)

Friday, November 14, 2008

Busy busy busy


It's been a crazy couple of weeks.
Last week, was running several PCRs a day, so that I could have data to present in Mistissini last weekend. Thursday worked for 10 hours, ran home, ate quickly and kept working for a few more hours. We drove up Friday, 14 hours thanks to the bus breaking down many kilometers from any town, and arrived around 9. Saturday and Sunday were some really quite productive meetings, despite the miserable weather... I really enjoy getting to go back to the north. I'm currently working on a program to go into schools into the communities and teach them both about their traditional medicines and why they're important, along with the science we use to try and promote staying in school. At the end of Sunday we had a fantastic feast which included traditional doughnuts, beaver and fabulous moose stir fry. I bought some lovely crafts for Xmas presents and we got awesome jackets from the community! Good times had by all.... though driving back Monday was not much fun. Wait, drinking by the side of the highway was fun....
This week has also been busy, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for my real time work - only about one more week! Woohoo! And I even have some significant results so far.... Might actually be able to pull all this off.
Still haven't reacted here to Obama winning! Yayy!!! Roomie and I spent Tuesday night frantically reloading pages on CNN along with all the blogs. Interesting to see what the next few months will bring.
One thing that I hope will not be brought is more of Sarah Palin. You lost lady! Go back to Alaska! And is it just me or is this picture of her terrifying? She's coming for you with her claw like hands!!! Aaaaaah....

Though I do kind of want to see her run against Obama in 2012 to get completely smacked down in the debates.

Another busy Saturday is ahead of me, going to a mini conference out on Mac, then running home to host a dinner party for people in my lab. Sunday, however, I will basically refuse to leave my bed. Cannot wait. Ta ta for now!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

48 hours to go....

This time Tuesday evening, the first results will start being released from the American election. I've been following the election fairly closely since the first primaries in January. I was first aware of Obama through reading an article in the New Yorker about him running for the Illinois senate seat, which I'm still entertained to note that he won quite handily because the ex-wife of his Republican adversary, Star Trek Voyager's Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine), testified in their divorce proceedings that he had made her go to sex clubs. Ryan is forced to drop out, is replaced by a nutbar and Obama wins! Is that a violation of the Prime Directive though? (Needed to throw in a Trekkie/er? joke...)
In any case, I'm not quite sure what I'm going to fill my time with after Tuesday, checking blogs and latest polls has been the major way I've entertained myself in the lab while waiting for reagants to thaw, etc. But in any case, if I have any Americans reading this blog who haven't yet voted, listen to my Canadian plea..... FOR GOD'S SAKE, VOTE OBAMA!
We enjoyed getting to mock your president for 8 years, but we really don't need more... recessions, wars, increased headaches at airports due to security, loss of manufacturing jobs due to downturns in the states, air pollution, greenhouse gasses, international instability, nuclear proliferation in those unstable states, genocides, prescription pill shortages due to Americans coming up here to buy them, species under threat thanks to Republican's love of hunting and ignorance of conservation, guns, moral deserters fleeing to Canada (not that I'm not for them being allowed to stay, but there shouldn't be any at all!), trade embargoes, Wal Marts, Russia getting cocky again (despite Palin keeping an eye on that), Starbucks closing thanks to a tanking economy and real estate market, creationists, pro-lifers and idiots who see no need to educate themselves about the world around them, thanks to Bush's shining example.
This list could go on (if you think of more, please leave a comment!) and I know I'm biassed, but please, vote Democratic on Tuesday, the world, and not just Canada, will thank you for it.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Are you ready for this?

*Cue Nineties rock-pop I think I remember from Bring it On (classic!)*
Winter is coming! A major snow storm projected for this evening, the first one of the year. My little Canadian heart is full to bursting, ready to take on the deluge.
I however, am somewhat disheartened, as I yet again have needed to go back to optimize my real time work. Will it ever end? Will I ever truly have data? No one knows....
Having already done a lot of lab work today and it also being grey and rainy out, my ability to work has slid steadily down this afternoon.... so I've been reading awesome blogs by other grad students and profs. I know I blogged a while ago that I was quite certain a PhD wasn't for me, really enjoying my field work and writing tests for government jobs (filled with horrible situations and formulas!) have made me consider it again. Yes I know, you groan, can't I ever make up my mind? Well, I really can't so PhD is back on the list of possible to dos. Definitely in a few years, I'm going to need time away to decompress after the stress of this Masters, but its back.
Anyways, along with reading grad student blogs, I've also been keeping up on the election in the States. I really don't know what I'm going to do when its all over.... do real work? ha!
(P.S. the roomie and I have awesome halloween costume ideas, with me as a certain VP candidate and her as that candidate's knocked up daughter. Hopefully we can twist some arms to get people to go out with us on Friday)

Friday, October 17, 2008

New things

Holy cats - I can do quantitative PCR! This whacky idea may come to fruition!
Have had an incredibly busy week of meetings, lab work, banging head against lab bench and social activities. Also managed to submit a big important scholarship application, keep your fingers crossed for me!
I find myself in an odd position of being very focused on what I'm working on right now, trying to keep a handle on my deadlines (all self-appointed but I love them so!) and think of what's next, but having to consider and think of the future.
I'm submitting job applications. As in REAL jobs, that would pay me more than the lower than the poverty line amount I currently receive (but am totally appreciative of of course, I like to eat). Jobs I could have for a while, rather than the 4 months stints I've done in the summers. If you know me, you know I LOVE to plan. Planning and me, such buddies. But I know that right now, whats important is whats in front of me, though thinking about cute office outfits is a good motivator on sleepy afternoons like today.
Anyways, off to Ottawa soon for a fabulous reunion with all my fabulous former Kingston roomates! So excited. Got to do a little bit more work before I go so ta for now!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

How am I supposed to compete with that?!

I saw a homeless man today advertise his blog on a piece of paper next to his coffee cup for change. I may be a whiner but I do recognize that he deals with much worse stuff than I do (though I do want to know where he writes from). I just hope that I have more readers, considering I'm pretty sure his blog is just all the things he's stopped yelling at people on the street.
I'm going to hell aren't I?

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Eyugh, my head

Roomie and I just watched the VP debate. Sometimes aghast at Palin's sheer effrontery, to try and claim that she does not discriminate against homosexual couples (HELLO - you call it a CHOICE, you clearly are discriminating), that drilling is really the way to improve the energy and climate change problems in the state (I think she's just mad there's just a whole bunch of caribou in the north that she's not allowed to shoot at from a helicopter), that she actually understands foreign policy (she says foreign leader names the same way Bush does, that isn't it AWESOME she pronounced it right?!), and so on and so on....
I think Biden pulled it off in the end. I loved it when he said how horrible Cheney has been, he clearly ran the table when it came to foreign policy, he's actually been to Chad (to her, its something you might consider to name a baby) and even his reference to his family tragedy, though veered dangerously into sap zone, just showed his humanity which I think will only reassure all the independent and centrist women who have been so offended by Palin's nomination.
She didn't terribly fumble, no terrible answers but the number of answers she didn't answer was pretty significant and she definitely lost steam towards the end. Most pundits are already saying that it was essentially a tie, but one that will not hurt the Obama campaign, and I think his numbers will just keep going up *knock on wood*. (UPDATE! Polls are showing that most people who watched are calling it for Biden, finding him more knowledgable.)
...
While we watched the VP debate, we had the Canadian debate on mute. We're bad Canadians, I know, but our minds are already made up. It did do my heart good though to see Elizabeth May in there swinging, she had a good burn moment at Harper. I don't think that Harper will be getting the majority, but I am fairly certain that but for a major event, Dion will not be the leader of the Liberals for the election after this one. I'll miss him.
All the stridency has given me a bit of headache though, will head to bed quite soon. I've gotten a fair amount done this week, taking on a big challenge next week, let's see how this all goes. As a grad student I feel quite insulated from the world (P.S. If you haven't seen it, check out the recent PhD Comic on the economy and its impact on grads), but I do intend to enter it quite soon. I've been applying for a scholarship to get a policy degree so I've been reading a lot more. I keep saying I want to save the world. I have a lot of work ahead of me....

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Update and rant


Hey folks, sorry for the long lapse in posting. First upon returning to Montreal I ran around like a crazy person, trying to start processing all of my samples. As it was also my birthday the next week I had to celebrate that, and returning to Montreal, and it being nice weather, and that beer is yummy.... and I celebrated a bit too much. Unfortunately, my health then took another turn for the worse. I have to have some minor surgery tomorrow, and perhaps removal of my gall bladder at some point. I returned home to the parents house for the weekend to be pampered, and came back today for my procedure for tomorrow. Wish me luck!
But beyond my own annoying life, I have something to rant about that I feel I should share with the world. This picture is a little old, from some point last week, but raised my ire from the beginning.
BRITNEY - WHY DO YOU KEEP GOING TO BLOCKBUSTER!?!?!?!
Auugh. I find it incredibly hard to believe that despite all her millions, the extensive staff we see supervising her children, management, etc. that she doesn't have a NetFlix account. Or, you know, her OWN MOVIES. Or someone she can send to the store. Or doesn't Blockbuster now have some sort of online option, in case she's really brand loyal or something? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.
She KNOWS that she will have her picture taken there, and I do realize that she is not the most rational person in the world, but does she not consider how weird and trashy it seems? You've come so far recently Brit-Brit, you can kick this awful habit too!
That is all for now folks, will let you know how my procedure goes as soon as I can...

Monday, September 1, 2008

Back in Montreal

Greetings all! I greet you now from the humid and balmy island of Montreal. I finished up my field work on Sunday morning by scaling/climbing/crawling up sand dunes along the banks of the Great Whale river to collect that last, teasing, population. I then found out there was room on that afternoon's flight to Montreal, booked it, packed like a mad woman, and sailed back to Montreal. A note for anyone traveling to the north - Air Creebec was always a very comfortable air line, with lots of drink services and a really yummy dinner provided on the last leg of yesterday's flight, so I highly recommend it.
I thought I would go through a bit more of a culture shock back in Montreal than I have, but aside from the urge to continue greeting everyone I come across as I did in the communities, I've slid quite comfortably back into city life. I wandered around this afternoon with Caroline, enjoying Starbucks, gelato and yummy Thai food just as I had been dreaming. I've even managed to unpack most everything from the trip, will cart my samples to Mac tomorrow and slowly ease back into the lab life. I definitely didn't miss the commute, but I will grin and bear it until April. Anyways, I hope you've enjoyed my musings on life in the field, and continue to check in with me. Now the subjects will likely shift to frustration with my lab work, and various other topics of the day. For example, I can't help but be gleeful today with the news that Sarah Palin is going to be a grandmother..... but until the next time, tootles!

Friday, August 29, 2008

Whapmagoostui, day two

Due to unforeseen circumstances I haven't been able to get much done here as of yet, and its unclear how much I will be able to do, but despite being a little frustrated I really do appreciate how lovely this area is. Right between the Hudson Bay on one side and the Great Whale River on the other, there are stunning views from every direction. Haven't met many people yet but everyone so far has been amazingly helpful. Even the dogs! (Though that is nothing new, in all the communities there are always dogs running around, who will cling to you if you give them the slightest bit of attention. My buddy today just happened to be much cuter than usual, as you will see below). So here are some pictures of the community - enjoy and maybe I'll be home sooner than thought! (Update: its taken so long to upload all the pictures for this post that I am now resigning myself to being here until likely Tuesday to try and get a guide working.... am waiting to talk to my other supervisor about how to proceed). Wish me luck!

My buddy on my walk this morning. So cute!
A teepee off in the distance, hard to tell if its for smoking meat or no.
A view of the Great Whale River. The river going into Hudson's Bay.A pond atop the hill I was climbing, vainly trying to find more mountain ash.
A better view of the Bay, with a big boat in it!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

And finally.... Whapmagoostui


Greetings all, I'm writing to you from the 55th paralell. I have arrived in the final community of this trip, Whapmagoostui, or Kuujjuarapik on the Innu side or as everyone still calls it, Great Whale. I'm no longer staying in housing from the health board, but rather a research station run by the University of Laval. It's nice, but has emphasized that I'm definitely not in my own apartment, so I'm really feeling the push now to finish and return to Montreal.

The one upside to this place is that is does have internet, so I can try and sum up what has happened in the last little while.

I travelled successfully from Waskaganish to Nemaska around the 11th. Nemaska is a very small community, with only 600 people, in a beautiful spot. There are hydro projects very close to the community though, and I've heard that the environment has noticeably changed in the last few years. I could see large dams being built in the distance.

I was there for a little less than a week, then got a ride with an interesting family to Mistissini. There I was overjoyed to reunite with my dear darling Christine, who had been there all month. Mistissini is one of the largest Cree communities, with around 4000 people, but I still found it to have a nice sense of smallness. I had a great field assistant, Francois - here's a picture of us sampling the tons of mountain ash that was around the town!

I was also lucky enough to be in Mistissini during a traditional gathering, where I saw elders preparing mountain ash as a medicine! We had a very successful meeting between the scientists of our team, represented by my supervisor who I met up with there in Mistissini, where we had some super yummy blueberry bannock. I also got to see ladies make beautiful crafts at the
gathering, and bought a pair of authentic mocassins! (the ones without the fur to the left)

Due to my great help, I left Mistissini after just a few days and went to Chisasabi. I unfortunately arrived just before a weekend of miserable rain and weather, so I couldn't collect, but I had been developing a cold so it was a good opportunity to stay in, work on data stuff, and get better. Once I got collecting, things went well and again after not quite a week, I took off for Whapmagoostui.
It is definitely the north here! I was amazed even in Chisasabi at the difference in the ecosystem, with sand and a lot more moss cover as we approach the tundra. Anyways, I'm now hoping to finish up either Sunday or Monday, and scurry back to civilization. I think that being out here has definitely helped me mature as a person, be more independent, etc., but I really want a Starbucks. Smooches to you all!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Mistissini, then on to Chisasabi

Hi all, sorry for the lack of postings, my access to the internet has been severely limited recently. I am now in Mistissini after a successful sojourn in Nemaska, and am off to Chisasabi, the true north, tomorrow. Very much looking forward to it! Though, Mistissini is great, there is a traditional gathering going on right now, and I of course can hang out with the lovely Christine.
No signs of bears yet, just lots of bugs according to the day. Miss you all - looking on track to be home Sept. 3rd!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Off to Nemaska

Hey folks, I'm flying off to Nemaska today. Ashleigh has a few more days here to finish up her work. I've managed to collect 5 populations here so it was pretty successful. Also got to pick up some local crafts that are really cool.
I don't know how good the internet connection I may have in Nemaska will be, so this could go on hiatus for a bit. Hope you're all well!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Waskaganish, days 5-6

Went back to the site where Ashleigh had thought she'd seen mountain ash yesterday, and as we went a different way from the other day, we did indeed find it! We had waited to go out for fear of rain, and while it didn't rain, the previous dampness meant that the bugs were INSANE. The things I do for another population.
After that, Ashleigh showed me the amazing rapids near town, and on the way down there we spotted even more mountain ash! Going back there today, along with to the other site I've heard have them, so should have all the populations I need. Tomorrow I'm going to try and interview a few people about the preparation of it.
Enjoy this little video I took at the rapids. Excuse the insane talk, we were pretty tired and had gotten very frustrated of dealing with the bugs....

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Waskaganish, days 2-4

One of the streets in the town.

Hi folks, things are chugging away here. I've collected two populations and conducted one interview! Had hoped to collect another yesterday but it looks like Ashleigh hallucinated seeing them on the blueberry fields near town. But it meant I spent the afternoon working with a really interesting guy, the town's environmental officer, and discussing lots of different topics. I also ended up getting cake and ice cream while talking to an archeologist whose worked here for a long time. Going to go follow up on a tip I got yesterday at some point today, hopefully the fog and moisture we have right now will burn
off. Here are some of the pictures I've taken so
far, its really a beautiful spot here, and having berry bushes everywhere to munch off certainly doesn't hurt!
The Rupert River going into James Bay. (below) A smokehouse and a hide being tanned.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Waskaganish, day one

So we made it safely to Waskaganish, though it was a long drive, with some rain which we were concerned would slow us down, but we made it just in time to claim our keys to our transits. I'm staying in a quite nice house with satellite tv and a pirated wireless connection. I had thought that my posts here would be sporatic, but maybe not.
Had an up and down day, spent a lot of time talking to people and looking for people, but not really accompishling a lot, until the late afternoon when I found a huge stand of mountain ash, and then we found the healer we were looking for. We're supposed to go talk to her tomorrow, we'll see!
I went to a feast this evening, and tried several kinds of bannock and MOOSE meat. It was pretty good. We also found a huge moose bone while looking through the forest, so I'm sure to have lots of stories once I'm back!
The schedule I had painstakingly put together is of course already looking unreliable... my goal is still to be back in Montreal for my birthday. We'll see. We'll also see how often I get to post here! Love to you all.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Val-d’Or

It was a long day of driving but we got off at a decent time and have safely made it to Val-d'Or. Tomorrow will be a longer day, with a long stretch of gravel road. We have accommodation reserved in our first destination, Waskaganish, from the 5th to the 11th, and it in the works for us to go to Nemaska after that. We'll have to see if Ashleigh, my labmate, and I will stick together for a long time though. Neither of us has a field assistant but it would be a lot of work. We shall see. Ta for now.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Sing Yellow Again!

At some point during our tenure at 152 Johnson Street, my roommates and I compiled a list. On this list were 10-15 men who we wanted to fulfill various tasks around the house for us, and when they weren't serving their duties, we decided would live in the basement. Some of these lucky guys were Jamie Oliver, who would be our cook, Hugh Grant, our butler, Patrick Swayze, our dance instructor…. The list changed over time as we became enamored of new guys but one was a constant. Chris Martin was to sing us to sleep every night. And we cackled as we used a British accent to whine 'But when are you going to let me go? I miss my children…', to which we would have obviously replied 'Shush Chris, sing 'Yellow' again!'.

He sang 'Yellow' to me on Tuesday night and it was amazing.

My friend Ash and I decided that we really wanted to see Coldplay as they were going to be in town, and braved the scalpers to finally score fairly decent tickets. The concert was absolutely amazing, the whole arena singing along and swaying to the music. Am now obsessed with the new album, most of which I heard at the concert. If you haven't listened to it yet, you simply must.

Yes his dancing was crazy, yes his voice is amazing and he held the crowd in the palm of his hand. I love going to concerts, the energy of the crowd, seeing what a band can do live… everything about them combines to create an experience that I always appreciate. Its taken a little while but I'm starting to really appreciate Montreal for everything it offers. For a long time I didn't see something I couldn't get in Ottawa, with less snow and a smaller commute. But this summer, getting to go to jazz fest, the beach, and Coldplay on a whim, has made me really appreciate what the city has to offer.

So of course I'm leaving. On Monday I'm off to the north of Quebec to do field work for my Masters, and I will try to use this blog to keep people updated. So stay tuned! I still have a lot to organize before I go, but am still not too anxious. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Weird. Definitely weird.

I leave for my field work in approximately a week and a half. I only have housing arranged at the last locale, and had to buy bear spray for this trip as a just in case, but still necessary, measure for the chance that I meet a bear in the forest. Not too long ago, all of these facts would have led me to FLIP OUT. Tears, sobbing, inability to sleep, gnawing of the stomach, development of nervous ticks, etc.
But while I am currently feeling some trepidation, I remain oddly calm. I can't affix dates of when I'll be certain places, so can't book accommodation yet. But it'll work out. The chances of me encountering a bear are rather small, in part due to me buying one of the more annoying bear bells ever but that's a GOOD thing! Any bears will hear me coming for miles and we will not encounter each other. Or they'll hear the ATV I've been down I'm going to learn how to drive into the bush (there's a real reason to flip out), and make themselves scarce.
Yes there is some nervousness, but its not chronic and its not debilitating. I'd like to say its because I had some sort of major epiphany, moment of zen, etc. but I didn't. Well, I kind of did. When my skin was keeping me in the throes of misery and I was a frequent patron of Google University, with it's vast repository of GROSS pictures, most things I consulted told me that stress was a major part of eczema. 'Stress?' I laughed. 'I'm a grad student, stress is inevitable!'
But while I know that most graduate students are often under stress, I had to recognize that the stress I felt and the way I dealt with it (ignoring until tears erupt or completely breakdown, lather, repeat second, third and fourth years of undergrad) were not healthy. So I took myself in hand and called the school counseling service, and requested an appointment.
I've since been having semi-regular appointments with a rather geeky looking, quite quirky, but insightful psychiatrist who has helped me realize that expecting everything to happen now and be perfect, yet always imagining the worst that could happen, is no way to go through life. I was very nervous about going the first time, and did actually burst into tears, but its a step I'm really glad I took. I wouldn't say its completely changed me, but adjusted my thinking just enough that I can get out of my head and enjoy my life, without expecting an avalanche at any moment.
Maybe one day I'll even manage to not be emotionally affected by contestants being kicked off So You Think You Can Dance before I think its their time. Perhaps I can work on that next week with my therapist, because thanks to my current state of calm, we're kind of running out of things to talk about.... nah, I'm sure I'll find a proper crisis before then. Kidding, really. (Or AM I?)

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Sheer awesomeness

You all need to check this out IMMEDIATELY!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Methods

Spend enough time with me and you'll learn that I LOVE to bake. Love to find new recipes, use old favourites, make a mess of the kitchen, harass my neighbours for more icing sugar (long story), etc. It's a stress reliever for me, which I didn't really understand until I looked back at the methodology I used to make banana bread this evening. At work, my methods have to be quite particular and precise, so as not to waste reagent, allow for cross contamination, etc. It seems that I want to rebel from time to time. Observe:

Locale: Montreal, Quebec – my kitchen

The instructions read (my actions are in pink):

I've assembled all the ingredients on the counter, along with my laptop currently blasting 'The Dance' by Charlotte Martin. I'm following a recipe I found on YumSugar (Lite Banana Bread)

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife (Look into flour container, realize there probably isn't the 2 cups required, so turn container upside down and whack the bottom to shake all the excess into the bowl).

Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk (Or a fork, considering as the whisk is in the large implement vase and is nearly impossible to force it back in after use). (Start and win a staring contest with your cat. Then rub in your win by chasing her around the apartment).

Place sugar and butter in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 1 minute) (Realize you don't have a mixer anymore, so again employ the fork technique. Dance to the Pussycat Dolls 'When I Grow Up' as you do so. {WHAT?! I like them……}) Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana (Which had been frozen in your freezer for an indeterminate amount of time, causing your roommate to frequently ask if you were going to do anything with those {SEE Liz? You go away, I get industrious}. So these are frozen bananas that have been thawing, and kind of squelch out of the peel. Go 'Ewwwwwwwwwww!' as you extract each, causing the cat to look at you weird), yogurt, and vanilla (Spill vanilla all over counter, use bad words); beat until blended (Or until the end of 'Promiscuous' by Nelly Furtado. Already a classic).

Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until moist. (Add chocolate chips as seriously, there is nothing better than banana and chocolate chips. Eat a few to make sure they're still good. Add more to bowl) Spoon batter into an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray (Don't have either in the cupboard but substitute square pan and margarine rubbed in with a paper towel. Rich in fiber!)

Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan (Drop onto plate as don't have wire racks). Cool completely on wire rack (Cut out a piece, try, and proclaim delicious. Cat still doesn't care but feel good knowing will go to a meeting tomorrow armed with baked goods. Wash down with a big glass of water and some anti skin itch drugs. My life is so glamorous….)

So I think I like to bake because it lets me hit things, dance around my kitchen and eat chocolate all to be sure that I deliver the best possible product to my friends and colleagues. I am so going to be a weird mom one day. (We'll get into my current unhealthy obsession with mommy blogs another day)

Monday, July 7, 2008

Amazing

Things that are currently amazing:

  • Fudgesicles. I don't mean that I am currently having a oh so chocolately popsicle but I had a lot this weekend and they made me a much happier person. I had a lot though, requiring the roomie to pick up some more on her way home because SHE is amazing.
  • The 'Restore Session' option when Firefox closes inexplicably (which is definitely not amazing or cool), especially when I've just found a really useful article I want to download…. And also preserving the blog I'm reading on the other pane, written by a woman who is finishing her dissertation with a 16 month old, pregnant with another one, thus is not allowed caffeine or alcohol and is thus my hero.
  • My air conditioner, its going to make sleeping so much easier tonight.
  • The feeling of getting stuff done, and taking steps forwards. Not that I'm not jealous of people in most of the buildings on the downtown campus who's water has been shut down and thus were sent home early *shakes fist*.

Its been a while since my last, rather whiny post. Since then I have improved a lot but am feeling itchy and blotchy again today, so made yet another dermatologist appointment. Hopefully will not go crazy before I leave for the field….

Monday, June 9, 2008

Boo

So I haven't been having the best couple of weeks, my skin has been freaking out which keeps me up at nights and makes me crabby. Because of my skin I can't go to the gym, which makes me even crabbier. Add in a heat wave, I'm a joy to know. Apologies to all my nearest and dearest....

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

He is the best boyfriend EVER

Ohmygawd y'all, American got it right! David Cook is the new American Idol! Liz and I are so in love with him and are so happy Archuleta got the smack down, the creepy little troll.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Enchiladas!!

So here is the recipe that I've been tantalizing you all with, delish vegetarian enchiladas! (For my lone vegan reader (Hi Aly! Miss you!), I think everything is OK but for the cheese, oh and the sour cream I poured on top). The recipes are a combination of a low fat one from HungryGirl, and a sauce I found on line and adapted somewhat.

Sauce:

2 tbsp. vegetable oil

2 tbsp. flour

2 tsp. cayenne pepper

½ tsp. cumin powder

Half a diced jalapeno

2 cups water

1 can tomato paste

1 tsp. garlic power

½ tsp. onion powder

½ tsp. salt

Heat the oil, flour and chili pepper together in a large pot; allow to cook for a minute or two. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a slow simmer. Stir well to combine and dissolve tomato paste well. Allow to cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Can cook for as long as you need it to, I had it on for at least 40 minutes, it just got spicier – yum!)

Enchiladas:

1 cup diced onions (or more, according to your preferences)

1 can refried beans

4 tbsp. taco sauce

2 tsp. taco seasoning

Tortillas (approximately 8)

Enchilada sauce

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Preheat onion to 400 °C. Cook onions over medium heat, then combine in a bowl with refried beans, taco sauce, taco seasoning. Warm tortillas in microwave. Spread around 2 tbsp. enchilada sauce in each tortilla with grated cheese, and then evenly distribute bean mixture. Wrap tortillas tightly and place in a buttered baking dish seam down. Once all are in the pan (I used 2 8×8 pans for all 8), pour the remaining enchilada sauce on top. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove and sprinkle remaining cheese on top and return to oven for another 5 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve hot with fresh guacamole and sour cream. Enjoy!

Deathwatch (see above)

I know, I know, its kind of mean to watch Hilary sink below the waves. But she's really annoying me now, and I want them to just get on with the rest of the election. Though I am having difficulty distinguishing Obama from Matthew Santos from time to time, but that just may be a sign of watching too much West Wing. (Not possible!!!!)
I am SO excited about going to New York this weekend, hopefully I'll see some celebrities!!

(Enchilada recipe to be posted tonight, during American Idol ;) )

Friday, May 9, 2008

I am such a nerd


I'm having a nerd freak out right now, as I am so amazed and into the recent results of the platypus's genome being sequenced by Australian researchers.
First of all, platypuses (platyipi? Wikipedia says that according to Latin rules the plural should be platypodes, I can't decide which sounds the best to me) are just plain awesome. A beaver with a beak which can be used to electrolocate in water? A mammal that makes VENOM to fight off reproductive competitors? It's simply amazing.
Results of the genome being sequenced, found here, show a mix of reptilian, mammalian and bird like traits. The fact that the genes which determine sex in platypi (ha ha) are most similar to birds is fascinating to me. These creatures are often seen as proof that the Creator has a sense of humour, but I see it more as another example of the creativity inherent in evolution. They have perfectly filled their niche by using a variety of completely disparate traits, and look absolutely adorable doing it.

(I'm sorry if you were hoping that a new post would be me talking about exciting exploits, but I have to admit my life is pretty boring these days, so this is actually an exciting event. Though making enchiladas last night was pretty good, I'll likely post my recipe here soon....)

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Summertime..... and the workin' ain't easy

I am currently praying for rain. A big thunderstorm even. I do this because:
a) I forgot my umbrella and would rather it rained before I left for the day, and also my shoes are not meant for rain.
b) it would make working a lot easier, I am currently staring outside wishing I could go play rather than write an article.
I know that inspiration will hit me eventually, but I'm getting tired of waiting!

(P.S. I love the Habs but the hooligans who think that torching police cars is awesome? Are JERKs!)

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Ingredients for a wicked weekend

1 - awesome former roommate to come visit.
Numerous - bottles of wine (actually have lost track of number) to mix with dozens of strawberries for poor man's sangria.
21 - the high both Saturday and Sunday, making walking around so so nice.
WAY TOO MUCH - money spent shopping, but me so pretty now!
10 - sleeping in until both mornings, so actually kind of rested.
Last - season of West Wing to watch on my couch.
Lots of adorable..... penguins! otters wrestling! puffins! monkeys! (I officially love the Biodome)
Too many to count - laughs, along with fantastic friends.
Mix together, along with a crazy DJ who I thought was going to head bob his head right off with appreciation of his own beats, Juno, Mulan (alright Donny Osmond! and Eddie Murphy from when he wasn't creepy!), and try to ignore the Habs losing, and its been pretty sweet. Why do I have to go to work again? *pout*

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Becoming an academic

I'm trying to write an article. A real one, which I would hopefully get published in a peer-reviewed journal. Me.
When did I become a real life academic?
Up to this point, work that I have been contributing too has been led by others, but it was pointed out to me yesterday that the research I did for a presentation in my population genetics class could be turned into a short review article that could be useful for my lab to use in funding applications. My supervisor thinks I can do this. Time to see if I can.

P.S. The Sens are making me sad. I may have to buy a Habs shirt sooner than I would have liked.

Monday, April 7, 2008

But will I have more fun?

This weekend was so nice, slept in both days, got some work done but mainly just kicked back. Friday night had to be dragged to the gym complaining bitterly but I guess I felt better for having done it. Saturday rolled out of bed in time to go sit at the hair dressers for 4 hours, walking out.... a blonde. Or nearly so. I did it because spring was in the air, and I wanted something new. Also because as I have said several times I refuse to become a schleppy grad student, wearing scruffy jeans and sneakers, my hair never cute. Today I am wearing a cute grey knit top with a pink scarf - so cute!
Let's just hope that this doesn't make me even more of a ditz than I usually am though. So far haven't done anything insanely dumb, *knock on wood*...

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Go Sens Go!

I STILL say that this is the year we go all the way..... we're just playing mind games with y'all.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Woot!

It was sunny today.
I wore cute shoes outside.
I presented my seminar and it was well-received!
I'm getting my hair cut and coloured on Saturday (finally).
It was a good day, hopefully it'll turn into good PCR results tomorrow...

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Is it possible to April fool yourself?

Why do I do this?
I've agreed to move up my hourlong seminar on diabetes from next Wednesday to TOMORROW. I did it mainly so that I could go home next Friday night but as I am currently sitting in the library being wildly unproductive (ie. blogging), the panic levels are rising. I know I just have to wait for the moment when the motivation and the drive will come and I'll be fine, but I'm getting a little worried that that'll happen about 9 pm tonight. I think I'm going to be writing this during American Idol tonight, lol.
However, I had an awesome time hanging out with people from my lab last night. I just wish we all got to spend more time together but we will just have to press the supervisor to throw a party in the spring....

Monday, March 31, 2008

Why I'm jumping off this ivory tower

At several points in my university career I have seriously considered going all the way for my PhD and becoming a professor. I am really interested in science, in conservation of the environment, how the world works, and strongly believe that science can play a major part in improving the quality of life for disadvantaged groups around the world, be they in a third world country or our own backyard. I know I wouldn't be the world's best teacher, but guiding graduate students is somewhat appealing to me. Besides, those three extra letter behind my name would be pretty cool.
But I'm not getting a PhD. As much as I'm enjoying my Masters, I am feeling the lure of government work, where I can be paid extremely well, have great job and pension security, flexibility for when I have a family, and also do my part to make Canada better. Another reason that I'm not getting my PhD is that I am terrified of the comprehensive exams process. I think I would cry for about the month leading up to it. But one of the most significant reasons I don't want to become a Professor is because of my sex, and the real discrimination which is still placed against it in academic settings, especially for science.
I am currently working in a department strongly deviated from the norm, with several female professors, one of whom was head of the department for the last year. The graduate students are predominantly women as well. And while we are part of an extremely large university, recently ranked 12th best in the world, I think that we have managed this because its a very small department, in a small part of the field and with several unique research interests.
My undergraduate career culminated with a fourth year thesis in a much larger department, and while again the undergraduates were mainly women and there were no overt indications that biology is difficult to get ahead in, I observed several things. There were 2 female professors with tenure out of nearly 30 professors in total. One the 2 women happened to be my supervisor and she had managed to balance both a research career and a family, but often made comments that inferred that there were a number of members of the department who didn't take her seriously, due to the focus of her research, her vehemence that scientists must speak for the environment and not try and remain neutral as some would suggest, and that she did not commit insane hours in the office so that she could go home with her children. She worked several hours at home every night (I have e-mails sent at 11:30 to prove it!) and involved herself in numerous department committees and processes, and was an excellent lecturer. But there was always the sense that she wasn't quite as serious, not as much a real scientist.
I recently found a blog linked to by one of my dear friends who is being very brave and pursuing her PhD, called FemaleScienceProfessor, which is written by a leading female researcher in the sciecnes. I must admit to reading several of the posts this afternoon. The anonymous blogger relates people asking about her private life in interviews (which is pretty much illegal), being constantly assumed to be a student or post-doc rather than an actual professor, and other moments that her credibility as a researcher is questioned due to her sex. It's a depressing read in some cases but I am also very impressed with the author for expressing her problems so well and serving as an example for those braver than I. I'm jumping off the tower, but wish all my female brethren the very best of luck.

I'm baaaaack

I have returned from my travels round Ontario, which were a rousing success. I relaxed to the hilt in Ottawa, making sure to keep enough shopping in the mix to keep active and then went on to Toronto to dress up at the conference and wander through China Town. The conference was interesting, met some good contacts for later on, especially people who work for Health Canada. The head of a group recommended a job to me when I asked what kind of opportunities were available to someone with an MSc - I just looked it up and it pays 70K$ a year!!! That's a lot of Coach purses I could buy!
But I can't apply because I have more than a year left of school. Poor school, where I have to wake up super early and do homework, not cool. But I'll stick it out. The Coach purses will motivate me.
Nothing super new to report, returned to the lab today and am trying to finish up my ethics application so I can focus on all my coursework due in the next few weeks. But once that's done that is all the courses I have to do!! Mwa ha ha....
It seemed to almost be spring this morning but the snow that started soon after I got to the lab seems to indicate otherwise. I'll hold out, with visions of cute non-salt stained shoes and being able to hang out outside motivating me. I'm thinking of getting a leash for my cat so I can take her out, she's getting a little squirrely. Maybe she needs some squirrel in her! *Bdoom-ching* Thank you, thank you - I'll be here for what seems like forever, try the chicken.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Miss Manners taught me so well...

So being a polite bitch seems to work... A few weeks ago, in a disastrous moment Liz and I were informed an hour after having placed an order with Pizza Pizza that they actually did not deliver to our address and could we come pick it up? Since this was the day after the last major storm of the winter and we lacked both a car and a will to put on real pants, we responded to the negative. Peeved at having to cook my own dinner, I wrote a polite yet annoyed customer service complaint and sent it off. Just yesterday I had complained about the lack of response but today an e-mail landed in my inbox apologizing and offering a free pizza! Yee-haw!
As a note, the blog will be heading on the road next week (as most of the 4 people who read this blog know), first to Ottawa to be taken care of by the parentals and then to Toronto for a conference. My first real academic conference! I'm fluttering with excitement and debating what to pack, what to pack. Hopefully I'll manage to post something, but until then, catch y'all later!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Bitter is the new Montreal

So my upstairs neighbour doesn't know how to flush a toilet.
I've always wanted my life to be more like Jen Lancaster's - but I was thinking the designer clothes and successful writing career, not having issues with icky water coming from the ceiling.
I was floating in blissful sleep last night when my subconscious registered a dripping noise. Having had to give the tap an extra turn the night preceding to shut it off, I presumed it was the sink again. However, as I stepped out of my bedroom into the hallway I couldn't help but notice the HUGE PUDDLE on my floor.
I look up - there is a massive crack on the ceiling outside my bathroom and its dripping. Charming. So I do what comes naturally, panic, wake up Liz, put a bowl down and place a bitchy call to my building's emergency number. (BTW - having a building professionally managed is SO much better than having your landlord's 80 year old cancer patient handyman come over. I never wanted him to do anything, just sit down and have a cookie!). I then notice another crack - on my bedroom wall - and the stuff coming out of it is.... frothy?
So I've had a less than great 4 hours of kind of sleeping since then, but was impressed that before 9 there have been 3 capable looking guys in here. Who told me that the upstairs neighbour likely had let her toilet overflow for around an hour, and thus why there are now 3 cracks in my ceiling and pockets of moisture in the bathroom that we're sure are about to go too.
And this was going to be my productive working at home day..... I feel your pain Jen.