Day before the race
I am in the lab now. I hate working on the weekends because it is so quiet, but I realise that I need to get work done for the week, and a couple of hours today may help me in the week to come. A mix of guilt and desire to graduate I suppose.
Went to Bob's birthday party at UCLA on friday. It was really really nice to see everyone again. Anhthu, Brandon, Jinsun (who I don't really know). Met Greta (finally). We have had so many conversations on the phone and know so much about each other that it is strange that we have not met for all these time. She's a riot! I'm sure we would have gotten along very well had we been in the same lab. Bob pretended that he didn't care that it was his 60th birthday but we all knew better. Anyone who had known him in some capacity would know that he LOVES the attention. Of course we had on of those Grand Marnier cakes that he likes so much. It is strange, now that I haven't had one for quite a few years I actully think that they are pretty good! Also got to meet some of Bob's undergrads for his HHMI undergrad research grant. It's good to see that comtinuation of learning. Strange because I was in that position more than 5 years ago! How time flies, and it amused me that the undergrads were in awe of the fact that I'm doing my PhD at Caltech. I suppose it's all a matter of perspective. For me everything seems so ordinary and normal. And I certainly don't feel special in any way--after all, everyone else I associate with here goes to Caltech too. Big deal! But once in a while I run into someone who is not doing a PhD at Caltech and then I realise that to others perhaps what I'm doing sounds impressive. It made me feel to go back and talk to Bob and realise that not all labs are like the one that I am in. Bob keeps telling me that while I may feel miserable and unhappy now, in 10 years I will probably look back on this as one of the most amazing experiences in my life. I sure hope so. But it made me feel good about the pursuit of science again. That you can find mentors out there who care about you and your learning and not just treat you as a data generating machine. And that perhaps this is a good thing just for the fact that now I know what I like and don't like about being a scientist so that when I run my own lab I will know how to run it.
Got a postcard from Cheryl from DC. She should be coming back soon. I'm glad I heard from her. I was starting to get worried....
Watched "All the President's Men" yesterday. Great movie. A must see for all you journalists out there.
Bought a container of that EnduroxR4 stuff that I had heard about today. It's a recovery drink after a good workout so you can replace your fluids with some protein so you can rebuid muscles better. We'll see if this stuff is any good. Stefan and I want to run the LA marathon next year. I think it may be good to join a pace group. Even though I hate running groups because I find it hard to stick to a schedule, it may be a good idea for a race as long as 26.2 miles. Most of the groups meet on the westside, but there's the Pasadena Pacers which meet at the Rose Bowl. Still 7am on a saturday is very very early......
Went to Bob's birthday party at UCLA on friday. It was really really nice to see everyone again. Anhthu, Brandon, Jinsun (who I don't really know). Met Greta (finally). We have had so many conversations on the phone and know so much about each other that it is strange that we have not met for all these time. She's a riot! I'm sure we would have gotten along very well had we been in the same lab. Bob pretended that he didn't care that it was his 60th birthday but we all knew better. Anyone who had known him in some capacity would know that he LOVES the attention. Of course we had on of those Grand Marnier cakes that he likes so much. It is strange, now that I haven't had one for quite a few years I actully think that they are pretty good! Also got to meet some of Bob's undergrads for his HHMI undergrad research grant. It's good to see that comtinuation of learning. Strange because I was in that position more than 5 years ago! How time flies, and it amused me that the undergrads were in awe of the fact that I'm doing my PhD at Caltech. I suppose it's all a matter of perspective. For me everything seems so ordinary and normal. And I certainly don't feel special in any way--after all, everyone else I associate with here goes to Caltech too. Big deal! But once in a while I run into someone who is not doing a PhD at Caltech and then I realise that to others perhaps what I'm doing sounds impressive. It made me feel to go back and talk to Bob and realise that not all labs are like the one that I am in. Bob keeps telling me that while I may feel miserable and unhappy now, in 10 years I will probably look back on this as one of the most amazing experiences in my life. I sure hope so. But it made me feel good about the pursuit of science again. That you can find mentors out there who care about you and your learning and not just treat you as a data generating machine. And that perhaps this is a good thing just for the fact that now I know what I like and don't like about being a scientist so that when I run my own lab I will know how to run it.
Got a postcard from Cheryl from DC. She should be coming back soon. I'm glad I heard from her. I was starting to get worried....
Watched "All the President's Men" yesterday. Great movie. A must see for all you journalists out there.
Bought a container of that EnduroxR4 stuff that I had heard about today. It's a recovery drink after a good workout so you can replace your fluids with some protein so you can rebuid muscles better. We'll see if this stuff is any good. Stefan and I want to run the LA marathon next year. I think it may be good to join a pace group. Even though I hate running groups because I find it hard to stick to a schedule, it may be a good idea for a race as long as 26.2 miles. Most of the groups meet on the westside, but there's the Pasadena Pacers which meet at the Rose Bowl. Still 7am on a saturday is very very early......
posted by La Nuage at 3:57 PM
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