Twiddling my Thumbs

2007-10-29T00:18:00.001-07:00

I spent the entire Saturday at Mount St. Mary's College recording choral music for movie trailers. It was actually a pretty fun experience, all said and done, though I was beat at the end of the day and probably could have benefitted from the time spent working instead. It was very professional, we were each handed a packet of music and had individual headsets. The headset streamed orchestral music together with a click track to help with the beats. John also conducted, which obviously was extremely helpful. We rehearsed each pieced once or twice, and started recording. Some of them were really hard, but most was quite manageable, and I realized that I was a better reader than I thought! Had some trouble with some notes, but hey, I was pretty much reading everything, and a few years ago even the simplest intervals would drive me nuts. Besides, I got to sing some super high notes, all the way up to a D! I'll never get that with regular choral music, since I sing SII, not to mention that no one in their right mind will write that many notes above the staff if they want their sopranos to be able to sing after a while. The directions to the place though, was horrible. I found it easy enough, but we got lost on the way back from lunch, and the college was definitely not 5 minutes from Brentwood. They're having another session Monday, at the famous capitol records in Hollywood. I'd love to do it, but I've got responsibilities now, and a mortgage...

Letters of Rec

2007-10-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

It's Fall quarter, meaning that I am now facing a barrage of requests for letters of recommendations. It is fairly surreal, to be in a position where I am now writing letters for others. hasn't it been not so long ago when I was asking others for a letter? In that sense I can relate to the stress students must go through in asking for a letter, and wondering if it's going to be any good. All i can say on this subject is, they're definitely not any easier to write.

2007-09-20T01:45:00.001-07:00

Got more wedding pictures from my uncle today. Though I had a blast, I wished I had more time to spend with my family on that day.

I've been finding more and more friends on facebook. It's really quite mad, I even came across some friends from primary school. whoa!

2007-09-06T23:21:00.003-07:00

I hate people who bitch and cry and moan about their grades. They should just suck it up and realize that they are just not that good.

2007-09-01T01:18:00.000-07:00

Booked us on a trip to the La Quinta Resort and Spa in Palm Springs. Haven't gone on a trip in ages, so it'd be nice to get away. Perhaps a lovely duet massage at the spa while we are there? Hmm...

2007-08-29T23:43:00.000-07:00

I am so hopelessly addicted to Facebook. It started of as me just wanting to use it to communicate with Deb and Jill, and then I discovered that there's this whole extended network of friends from days gone by who are on it. Why do I waste my time sending people martinis they can't drink and cookies they can eat?

My class is over, except for a student who will be taking the final tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the little break that I'm getting before it all starts over again. I love what I do, but it is very emotionally and mentally draining. And some of the kids from last quarter have taken to adding me on Facebook as well. Ahh, the wonders of technology...

Wedding pictures

2007-07-26T22:39:00.000-07:00

With bridesmaids
Before the ceremony
With flower girl
ceremony

At the reception

Shelley's baby!

2007-07-15T21:35:00.000-07:00

Mikaela Ruth Green 7/6/07

We're married!!!!

2007-07-10T00:13:00.001-07:00

It stilll feels strange, I'm not entirely used to the idea of having a husband. The wedding was beautiful, and our florist was especially great. The arrangements were modern and elegant. Plenty to eat and drink, and everyone had a great time. Too bad my Eric has to leave for Boston for a week tomorrow. Bummer.

2007-06-25T23:56:00.003-07:00

I've been packing my stuff over the last few days....momo and atticus are definitely very perturbed.

2007-06-21T00:57:00.001-07:00

Davidson grad students

2007-06-13T01:50:00.001-07:00

Just finished writing my final exam. I hope it's not too hard, or too easy. That is the greatest challenge, to strike that balance. I guess we'll find out.

Graduation!

2007-06-11T01:51:00.000-07:00

Roger just after getting his diploma and hood

Roger and me after the ceremony

2007-06-07T22:35:00.001-07:00

A sneak peek of our studio pictures, don't worry, these are all outfits from the photographer, I'm not actually going to wear any of them at the wedding.

2007-05-28T02:30:00.001-07:00

Have been MIA for a while. Since my last post, which admittedly has been a while, I have been killing myself teaching my course, though for the most part really enjoying it. Wedding plans are coming along. Got our rings, booked a florist and makeup for my ladies, but as of right now still no music and DJ. Oh yes, and probably the biggest purchase of all, we bought a house! It's in a nice area in Pasadena, and we are supposed to close right before the wedding. Nuts.

2007-04-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

Finally filed my taxes. I think this is the latest I have ever done it. Way too much going on this year.

Also getting ready to send out the invitations.

Class is going ok so far, I am glad that I have survived two weeks.

Yesterday was EHD's 70th birthday symposium. It was a great speaker lineup, including such greats as Richard Axel, Tom Maniatis, Lee Hood etc. And of course I enjoyed meeting everyone else esp the ones who have already left the lab.

2007-04-09T23:16:00.000-07:00

My version of the top entry litter box. The cats love it! And no more litter tracking.

2007-04-08T00:55:00.000-07:00

I have finally finished my thesis corrections--ellen finally managed to read and approve my thesis, and I have submitted the electronic version to the library. Still have a bunch of stuff to do, including a print version to the Dean, but I am almost done--for real....

Also updated the website to include an emailable RSVP form.

2007-04-04T23:26:00.000-07:00

Ellen finally approved my thesis! Yay! I'm really done! Now I just have to incorporate the proofreaders corrections and submit it. ha!

2007-03-27T00:38:00.000-07:00

I have this really nasty bruise on my arm. I was opening the cabinet door when the glass fell out of the bracket and landed right on my arm. It could have broken over my head but didn't, which I am grateful for. My arm, however, is quite painful and swollen at the moment.

2007-03-25T20:37:00.001-07:00

Eric tells me our invitations are in. Whoopee!

2007-03-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

I saw this in the store today and totally want to get one. Atticus is a digger, and momo can be a sprayer with covered boxes. The one I had been using has a big crack down the side, and the other one has that pee stuck between lid and box issue.

2007-03-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

Three signatures down, one more to go....
then I can turn in my dissertationn and be done with it, after I add the proofreaders corrections of course :)
Another piece of good news, my paper on Gatae cis regulation was accepted in DB, and so is Jongmin's Nodal paper. Whoopee! One less thing to worry about.
The maxiprep for my course, however, is another matter.

Vespers

2007-03-21T01:37:00.000-07:00

Haven't felt this unprepared for a concert in a long time.....yikes.
that #12 is really not coming along, and worst thing is part of it still seems completely new to me. I felt that I was sightreading the entire last third of it. And in case you don't know me, I'm not a good sightreader.
Eric and I have been shopping for a home. It's been an interesting experience. Tiring. Let's hope that we are finally seeing things that we like......

2007-03-16T01:44:00.000-07:00

Saw Wagner's Tannhauser at LA Opera tonight. I've heard the pilgrims chorus from when we did in for our opera gala concert but don't know much about the opera. Ended up really enjoying it. Eric liked the nudity in the first act.
Our Vespers concert is next week. Am not particularly into the music. Just weird, don't know why, to me they all sound the same.

What's new

2007-03-14T22:41:00.000-07:00

Still dealing with a less than ideal situation at work. But no worries, the person in question is leaving soon. haha
Have finally started meeting florists. Got the centerpiece ideas and bouquets sorted out.
Started shopping for a house. The most challenging part of the whole thing. Everything is hopelessly expensive, and I have discovered myself to be a rather picky person. Which is funny, as I have not being picky for all other aspects of wedding planning so far.
Ordered my cheongsam. Now I just have the evening gown to figure out.
Booked my makeup and hair.
Started to think about formalwear. Really need to have it finalized soon.
Started to look at wedding favors. Good thing I know someone from which I can get them at costs.
Started working on the envelopes for my invitations. Snails pace.
Still no music, which is funny as music is my second life. (the first being science of course)
Still trying to get a hold of my committee members to approve my thesis. Two have approved it, other two are MIA.

2007-03-05T00:34:00.000-08:00

Picked up my dress today. Am meeting with a decorator monday. Also met another florist at Paper Source on saturday. Her stuff looks good so I'll probably give her a call.
On the work front, I'm starting to freak out about how much needs to be done. Yikes!

2007-02-22T00:18:00.000-08:00

I started work this week. So far it has been rather uneventful but there was a problem with my office space. Most of it was just miscommunication, but I had to deal with a rather bitchy and unprofessional person, to put it mildly. The drive is not fun, but I guess it could be worse. Will definitely be putting a lot more miles on my car now.

Happy New Year everyone!

2007-02-17T15:34:00.000-08:00

2007-02-12T01:37:00.000-08:00

I bought my dress....yes I did it! Normally I would post a picture of me in it here, but I don't want Eric to see it yet, so....
the salegirl at David's bridal actually quoted me the wrong price, and as a result I got the dress for $80 less than it was supposed to be. Needless to say, I feel very satisfied at this moment. They are going to order a Sz 0 for me, the 2 seems a little large though I suspect that the 0 might be a tad too small, but I can exchange it for the 2 if the 0 is too tight. Right now I have signed the confirmation for the caterer, ordered our invitations, and booked our studio photo session, and have selected my bridesmaids dresses, though the bridesmaid issue isn't totally nailed down yet. There's still plenty to do, though, but we are making good progress. I start work in a week, so now i get to chill for one more week. Well, actually I am supposed to work on my thesis corrections tomorrow. Haha

Roger and Qiang planned the most fabulous party for me. They also made me a movie, and even got Takuya to be in it. I was really touched, it's the coolest present anyone can ever have.

7-8-07

2007-02-07T02:30:00.000-08:00

Told the caterer today that we're booking. Woo hoo, so the biggest decision for our wedding has been made. There's so much to do now that we're planning a wedding, but it's been kind of fun for the most part, it's the first major event Eric and I are working on together. I also started gown shopping. I've seen so many pictures from designers I feel a little overwhelmed, but I'm starting to have an idea of what I like.

2007-02-03T00:16:00.000-08:00

I don't feel any different, other than an utter and complete sense of relief. It still feels a little surreal to me, that I have taken the last examination of my life. Unless, of course I want to do another degree, which I fully intend not to.

Eric and I are starting with the wedding plans. We have a date set (I think), and a venue with a caterer, and intend to spend tomorrow registrying and checking out bridal studio for photography packages and what not.

I have also been cleaning my place a little. it had been such a pig sty while I was writing, while I will need some of the papers, at least now they can be put in boxes until I need them again.

You can call me Dr. Lee

2007-01-31T22:08:00.000-08:00

They grilled me for quite a while after the defense, but all is well. I have do some minor corrections including writing a conclusion and adding some thing to my intro, but otherwise all is good. I think my insomnia days are in the past.

2007-01-25T00:51:00.000-08:00

I have finally decided to start work on my thesis seminar. Pretty much after I turned in my thesis last week I have been lazy. did some experiments here and there, and talked about wedding plans with Eric. The Ath is really at the top of our list now, but it will depend on the time frame and what my parents think.

I can't believe that in a week this will all be over and I will have a PhD!!!! Well, actually i won't get my degree until I turn in the corrected version of my thesis, but still, the very stressful thesis defense will be over! The email announcement went out earlier this week, and it felt really surreal to receive it. Weird really, that it is really actually going to happen. And exciting.

The thesis is in!

2007-01-19T01:02:00.000-08:00

yay! A huge load off my mind. Now all I have to do is one more expt, prepare my slides, read thru/correct thesis again, pick up petition to defend form and proofed copy of the thesis, and yes, plan a wedding!

And I filled out my paperwork for the new job today...

2007-01-16T03:49:00.000-08:00

OMG I can't believe my thesis is almost ready for submission! Well, I can see things that will have to be improved between its submission and the defense, but it actually has an intro and three chapters! Whoa. Tomorrow, or rather after I wake up today will involve one final pass for language and obvious things, abstract, acknowledgements, appendices, and the most dreaded formatting. And then wed i will take it to graphic arts to get it printed, bound and have it distributed to the committee, division chair, and dean.

It's almost over.

2007-01-16T02:50:00.000-08:00

It's a nippy 34F outside, or 1C. This must be some kind of record!

2007-01-15T04:39:00.000-08:00

I just realised that I hadn't ventured out of my home for 32 hrs, not even to go to the mailbox (no mail on sundays). Scary thought, and the only living creatures I've seen during that time are my cats and the fish. I did have a couple of phone conversations though. I don't think I would make a good agouraphobic, though I can imagine how these days you can get everything without even leaving the house.

Another cold night

2007-01-15T02:53:00.000-08:00

Just 39F outside. Almost freezing. But nice and balmy inside.

2007-01-13T02:46:00.000-08:00

I can't write another word cos my brain is fried, and my back hurts from sitting in a chair all day and leaning in one direction to reference papers.....aargh!

2007-01-12T16:15:00.000-08:00

Came in our lab mailing list. Very very funny!

The Chaos

Dearest creature in creation,
Study English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.
I will keep you, Suzy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye, your dress will tear.
So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.

Just compare heart, beard, and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word,
Sword and sward, retain and Britain.
(Mind the latter, how it's written.)
Now I surely will not plague you
With such words as plaque and ague.
But be careful how you speak:
Say break and steak, but bleak and streak;
Cloven, oven, how and low,
Script, receipt, show, poem, and toe.

Hear me say, devoid of trickery,
Daughter, laughter, and Terpsichore,
Typhoid, measles, topsails, aisles,
Exiles, similes, and reviles;
Scholar, vicar, and cigar,
Solar, mica, war and far;
One, anemone, Balmoral,
Kitchen, lichen, laundry, laurel;
Gertrude, German, wind and mind,
Scene, Melpomene, mankind.

Billet does not rhyme with ballet,
Bouquet, wallet, mallet, chalet.
Blood and flood are not like food,
Nor is mould like should and would.
Viscous, viscount, load and broad,
Toward, to forward, to reward.
And your pronunciation's OK
When you correctly say croquet,
Rounded, wounded, grieve and sieve,
Friend and fiend, alive and live.

Ivy, privy, famous; clamour
And enamour rhyme with hammer.
River, rival, tomb, bomb, comb,
Doll and roll and some and home.
Stranger does not rhyme with anger,
Neither does devour with clangour.
Souls but foul, haunt but aunt,
Font, front, wont, want, grand, and grant,
Shoes, goes, does. Now first say finger,
And then singer, ginger, linger,
Real, zeal, mauve, gauze, gouge and gauge,
Marriage, foliage, mirage, and age.

Query does not rhyme with very,
Nor does fury sound like bury.
Dost, lost, post and doth, cloth, loth.
Job, nob, bosom, transom, oath.
Though the differences seem little,
We say actual but victual.
Refer does not rhyme with deafer.
Feoffer does, and zephyr, heifer.
Mint, pint, senate and sedate;
Dull, bull, and George ate late.
Scenic, Arabic, Pacific,
Science, conscience, scientific.

Liberty, library, heave and heaven,
Rachel, ache, moustache, eleven.
We say hallowed, but allowed,
People, leopard, towed, but vowed.
Mark the differences, moreover,
Between mover, cover, clover;
Leeches, breeches, wise, precise,
Chalice, but police and lice;
Camel, constable, unstable,
Principle, disciple, label.

Petal, panel, and canal,
Wait, surprise, plait, promise, pal.
Worm and storm, chaise, chaos, chair,
Senator, spectator, mayor.
Tour, but our and succour, four.
Gas, alas, and Arkansas.
Sea, idea, Korea, area,
Psalm, Maria, but malaria.
Youth, south, southern, cleanse and clean.
Doctrine, turpentine, marine.

Compare alien with Italian,
Dandelion and battalion.
Sally with ally, yea, ye,
Eye, I, ay, aye, whey, and key.
Say aver, but ever, fever,
Neither, leisure, skein, deceiver.
Heron, granary, canary.
Crevice and device and aerie.
Face, but preface, not efface.
Phlegm, phlegmatic, ass, glass, bass.
Large, but target, gin, give, verging,
Ought, out, joust and scour, scourging.
Ear, but earn and wear and tear
Do not rhyme with here but ere.
Seven is right, but so is even,
Hyphen, roughen, nephew Stephen,
Monkey, donkey, Turk and jerk,
Ask, grasp, wasp, and cork and work.

Pronunciation -- think of Psyche!
Is a paling stout and spikey?
Won't it make you lose your wits,
Writing groats and saying grits?
It's a dark abyss or tunnel:
Strewn with stones, stowed, solace, gunwale,
Islington and Isle of Wight,
Housewife, verdict and indict.

Finally, which rhymes with enough --
Though, through, plough, or dough, or cough?
Hiccough has the sound of cup.
My advice is to give up!!!

Dr. Gerald Nolst Trenite (1870-1946),
a Dutch observer of English.

Vespers

2007-01-10T03:23:00.000-08:00

We had our first rehearsal today with Don. Beautiful work, the russian is a little challenging, and it's great to have Don back again. He was in a rather good mood, meaning no yelling at us...yet. I wouldn't have gone this entire month if I could have helped it, but since we're only allowed 3 free passes I thought I'd show up tonight so I could save the absences for another day.

2007-01-10T00:10:00.000-08:00

This is what I want...

2007-01-08T16:56:00.000-08:00

My thesis is due in a week, and I am officially freaking out!

Eric and I are Engaged!

2007-01-02T00:56:00.000-08:00

He took me to the coffee bean in Brentwood where we first kissed.....and popped the question. I'm too stressed about having a submissible thesis in 17 days that I don't really have time to think about a wedding yet, but we are both very hapy and excited about gettng married.

Rose parade photos

2007-01-01T23:27:00.000-08:00

I figured that this is the last year I'm going to be able to walk out at 9:30am and watch the whole parade without having to park my ass out there overnight. I've always tried to watch the parade live, considering that people travel a long way to see it, and it's definitely much cooler to watch the floats in person than on TV.

I have finally downloaded the photos from my camera

2007-01-01T23:14:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas concertChamber group
Brie and prosciutto sandwich. Absolutely dih-vine!

My first pair of knitted socks.
Momo with my computer. He spends a good portion of his time there these days.

2006-12-29T17:50:00.000-08:00

I didn't know UPS recycles their tracking numbers....I freaked out when i saw that my yankee candle shipment has been delivered to CLEVELAND, but it turns out that it was the last destination that the tracking number was used....bah. How silly is that! You'd think they would remove the old info from the website when they recycle their numbers.

2006-12-28T00:47:00.000-08:00

I had discovered that little black rings had been forming around my iskin keyboard protector. Not sure if it's soot buildup from all the candles I had been building or just getting dirty over time. But after spending 10 minutes with some comet bathroom cleaner I have managed to remove most of it. Yikes, that was gross. Would have upset me terribly if the damage had been permanent. Now my keyboard protector is out off waiting to be washed. It's weird, feels very differently to be typing without it (and very loud too). :)

2006-12-26T01:26:00.000-08:00

I had forgotten how fabulous the after christmas sales are. Already bought some stuff, best part is, I didn't have to leave my computer! Much better than braving the crowds in the mall and then the store not having what you want.

L'orangerie

2006-12-22T02:44:00.000-08:00

Eric and I went to L'orangerie in west hollywood for dinner tonight. We had been there before, but this time was decidedly different. Being so close to Christmas, coupled with the fact that the restaurant is closing its doors after twenty years, there was a huge crowd as we got in. We had to wait at least 30 min for our table, which I thought was very unusual at such a fancy place. The food was really quite fabulous, though we were decidedly a little disappointed that the Chateaubriand was not on the menu tonight. I guess it was too much work for the chef. I had a vegetable risotto with black truffle, a john dory and the ever so decadent chocolate souffle for dessert. Needless to say, I was stuffed to the point that I wasn't able to finish the souffle. Eric had lobster bisque with mushroom ravioli, lamb loin and a cheese plate. It was the first time I ever ate truffle, and I think its interesting, though I have to admit I didn't see the big deal over smelly mushrooms. The risotto itself, however, was absolutely divine, made not with rice but all veggies chopped finely. Yum! We were glad we got to go there one last time.

current candle scent: fresh linen. Something about clean smelling clothes

2006-12-21T16:54:00.000-08:00

One side effect of running in the cold--my ears hurt after I come back into the warm and toasty house.

2006-12-20T18:44:00.000-08:00

The gift I ended up with at the lab gift exchange. It's a sea urchin votive holder. Fits with the candle theme.

2006-12-18T21:48:00.000-08:00

Kat gave me this for Christmas. It smells nice, though I have to admit that I still associate incense with temples. Lately though, I have developed an interest in candles. Somehow it's very calming to have one nearby while I am writing.

2006-12-17T23:30:00.000-08:00

It's really cold tonight. As I was returning from Kat's house my car thermometer registered 41F, or 5C. Yikes!

Concert last night went well; I'm still not into holiday music, though I have to say Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium is still one of the most beautiful pieces ever written, IMHO. I'm just bummed that I have had to turn down 4 gigs this season because I'm writing my never ending thesis, including one at a major recording studio for some movie trailers, one at Disney hall and one at the video game awards.

2006-12-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

My heightened stress level has been giving me sleep issues..these days I would go to bed late, feeling very tired, and unable to fall asleep, and when I do I sleep for 12 hr stretches. Of course, according the black-and-white world of NJ, I should just stay up if I can't fall asleep and WORK!

2006-12-12T02:05:00.000-08:00

All my christmas gifts are here, with the exception of one thing, which I asked to be delivered on the 15th....whoopee!

2006-12-07T00:35:00.000-08:00

diaper genie is cool. No more running out of plastic baggies and stinky poo and pee

2006-12-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

Picture of litter locker

Diaper Genie

2006-12-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

No I don't have babies, but heard this is a great tool for storing cat litter. Am still trying to get the hang of the system. If it doesn't work out I'll get myself the litter locker for a little more instead.

Hansel and Gretel at LA Opera

2006-11-30T01:30:00.000-08:00

After singing in it, this time I get to watch!
Eric likes the spirits, instead of the traditional angels
Hansel and Gretel with the gigantic mushroom

2006-11-29T15:04:00.000-08:00

I love this picture of Jaimin eating corn. I told Jongmin that she's going to be a genius!

I'm done with christmas shopping!

2006-11-29T01:38:00.000-08:00

Well, pretty much. it took me two hours or so on the web while my gel ws running and voila! Everything has been taken care of. Great thing considering I don't really have time to go into the stores like I normally do. Now I just sit back and wait for the gifts to arrive...

2006-11-26T17:31:00.000-08:00

I have decided that I need to start getting fit again. Esp considering that in a month or so I'll be negotiating those wonderful hills in westwood around the perimeter of UCLA. EHD and UB seem to have reached some sort of a happy medium for me. As for me, I am still wondering how I am going to crap a thesis out in 8 weeks or so. Paper 1 is almost done. Am finishing up expts for paper 2, and the intro, well that is an animal all onto itself. I just don't quite know how to approach it. Sigh. I think I'll read a little more and hopefully it will all come to me.

Roger tells me that he has finally found the repressor of micromeres! yay! looks like we are going to graduate together after all.

this thanksgiving we had a really yummy turkey from Honeybaked. I've always found the big bird a little bland, but it was really really good. the toad was back, and was as annoying as ever.

may or may not go to rehearsal this week. Depends on my mood. I still have one free pass.

Cat-o-poly

2006-11-23T01:41:00.000-08:00

Eric got this for me. Insted of building houses I get to make litter boxes and instead of buying land I buy cats!

2006-11-22T13:07:00.000-08:00

I've figured out a way to edit out the commercials from my downloaded tivo recordings. Now I can enjoy them on my video ipod with no interruptions. ha!

2006-11-22T12:48:00.000-08:00

I have been feeling super gaseous today. Wonder if it's due to all the extra yogurt and fruits/veggies I've been consuming lately.

Omnivore's dilemma

2006-11-20T02:23:00.000-08:00

I've been reading Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma." Well, I started reading it and am now listening to it on CD, which, by the way is a really fantastic thing as it keeps me entertained while I drive. I have found it really interesting to read about how/where we get our food. But mostly I've been thinking about how the animals we eat are treated. I don't think it's wrong to eat animals, it's the way the animals have been treated that bothers me. While I don't think that I'd ever become a vegeterian, I have to admit that after reading/listening to this book I'd definitely pay a little more attention to where I get my food. It's not about eating organic, in fact, most industrial organic farms use just as much energy and don't treat their animals any better than conventional farms. But rather, I would look to a more responsible way of eating, look for the free range chicken or the grass fed beef. Simply because, it's not morally right to subject animals to a lifetime of suffering before they become our dinner. It's sad when the little lab rats we do research on probably get treated than the animals we eat.

2006-11-18T00:42:00.000-08:00

writing a paper is laborious.....I find myself staring hypnotically at my aromatherapy candle often

2006-11-16T20:01:00.000-08:00

I have been kicked off the lab responsibilities list. yay!

2006-11-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

Your Inner European is Italian!

Passionate and colorful.
You show the world what culture really is.

Who's Your Inner European?

Our Holiday Concert

2006-11-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

Chorale concert flyer

I'm going to graduate.....sometime soon!

2006-11-14T01:11:00.000-08:00

My committee meeting went over well. they were happy with what I have done and have given me to green light to think of a date for my defense, with the stipulation that I 1) do this other binding site mutations that I have been dreading and 2) have the two research papers submitted and the intro written. Those are not necessary trivial things, and makes the whole timing thing a little weird now, and we'll only really decide what to do after EHD hears from UCLA. But it's such a relief to feel that my committee is ready to let me defend, and for the first time I actually really feel that very soon I will be the proud holder of a PhD.

2006-11-09T03:03:00.000-08:00

Am seriously freaking out about the committee meeting next week and the idea of finishing before the end of the year. I have a reasonably good feeling about setting at date for the defense at my meeting, but am really worried about whether I will be able to get all the massive amounts of writing that I will need to get done before then. I haven't even started on the intro and the second paper yet. Yikes! I'm just hoping that EHD is going to be on my side come next week...

Arian approached me about a paid gig at his church. All bets are off till my committee meeting. He also told me that Don will be back at UCLA next week. Pretty good considering he had a quadruple bypass surgery 8 weeks ago!

Dems are in...

2006-11-09T03:02:00.000-08:00

and Rumsfeld is out! yay!

2006-11-06T21:04:00.000-08:00

Anoter picture of us in our costumes from Don Giovanni

2006-11-06T02:52:00.000-08:00

We had our first chamber choir rehearsal today. it was certainly intense, singing through a lot of music during the three hour rehearsal. And being in such a small group I really felt I had to pay attention to my sound and how it blends with the other sopranos (there were only 4 altogether for a while, before Julie showed up, which helped immensely). Not to mention having to read all that new music (even though they weren't particularly difficult) in such an exposed fashion that I felt John could hear every single mistake I made. Yikes. Overall though, I was very very impressed with the quality of the singers and the level of musicianship. Everyone is such a good reader and so sensitive and responsive to John and the music. I'm really excited about working with a group of such talented people! Our first concert is in a month, and we have 2 rehearsals before that.

committee meeting in a week. EHD wants to know what I will discuss. Sigh. But I think that things are well, except for the part I have to crap out an entire dissertation in such a short time.

2006-11-04T01:42:00.000-08:00

Eric gave me this for my birthday. I know, I'm getting household appliances now. My old vacuum had died and I hadn't vacuumed for almost a month. We used the Dyson today and like everyone says, you wouldn't believe the dust. And especially the cat hair. This baby can even remove the cat hair stuck to the curtains! BBB is having a $100 gift card rebate this week. yay!

2006-10-30T18:49:00.000-08:00

2 weeks to the committee meeting. I am starting to feel really nervous about the whole thing, not to mention that I very soon need to have th dreaded conversation with EHD about my data. And the fact that I still have no idea how I'm going to get the thesis done in 6 weeks...

On the more pleasant side, I found out today that I got into the chamber choir. yeah! I'm looking forward to doing some extra stuff at the christmas concert and performing at some other events during the year. I'm just glad i made it!

Yeah...finished!

2006-10-29T19:45:00.000-08:00

Today was the last show for Don Gio. I would say that today was definitely the best show. The supertitles are working, the chorus is no longer confused about what to do. I am most definitely glad that it is over. No more operas for me till after the new year, when I will hopefully be a newly minted PhD. Still going to choir, at least till I find out about the chamber singer roster.

Birthday presents today!

2006-10-27T00:53:00.000-07:00

I hadn't really been in the mood to celebrate my birthday at all but today I got 3 presents and am quite excited about it all...

Nike ipod running gear

Albert Einstein aciton figure

Wireless mighty mouse

2006-10-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

Me as a peasant in Don Giovanni

Don Gio

2006-10-26T01:50:00.000-07:00

First performance for Don Giovanni was tonight. It's interesting trying to perform an opera without having a full dress rehearsal. They were definitely working on the set down to the wire. It went ok I guess, but it was long....and didn't finish till midnight. Now after dinner I just got home ready to start work on my dissertation. Ugh. Ah well. After this week it will all be over.

Got my first birthday present today. Julie gave me a laptop protection pack. A iskin cover for my keyboard and a protector for the wrist rest, which was starting to turn yellow and bothering me tremendously. Now I am happy, and stylish, though i think the iskin cover impedes my typing a little. Probably just takes some time getting used to.

2006-10-23T03:20:00.000-07:00

3 weeks to my committee meeting..........
the paper is going....slow, but going. I am making decent headway on the text, and would really like to have a submittable version to my committee in three weeks. Not to mention that all this week I am going to be doing experiments and singing in Don Giovanni. If it weren't for networking purposes, I would definitely have blown this gig off. Tomorrow is the very long sitz probe, which is annoying if the conductor wants to do the whole thing in order, since we don't sing a whole lot but would have to stay for the whole time.

The chamber group auditon today was rather harrowing. I know all of us expected it, but the idea of singing in quartets still caused me great stress. And from talking to some other people, it's the same for everyone. I was really glad that I took the time this weekend to learn the music as the stuff was not easy and I am no great sight reader. I definitely don't envy John's job of having to pick from a group of really talented people.

2006-10-20T00:41:00.000-07:00

finished making all the figures, for now. I will now focus on the text and tweak the figures and others as necessary. Scheduled my committee meeting for 11/13, which leaves me with 3 weeks to finish up some experiments and this paper, possibly starting on the next paper.
Next week I sing in Don Giovanni, so I have to learn the music before the show starts in less than a week, and then the chamber music callback audition on sunday. yikes!
meeting with utpal tomorrow to discuss the course. We'll see how it goes.

2006-10-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

Got a call back for the chamber choir. Supposedly John wants to hear how our voices blend and will give us music at the tuesday rehearsal..hmm

2006-10-12T02:08:00.000-07:00

Who knew putting figures together would take so long?

2006-10-11T00:52:00.000-07:00

I am grateful to have a mentor in uncle Bob. He is able to help me in many ways that EHD can't (personally and scientifically) due personal conflicts or the lack of interest. Had a really good discussion with him about my paper(s). He really helped me decide what to do and how to organize my thoughts. I had forgotten that he was always really good at that. :P

My new shoes...

2006-10-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

Photos from my trip to Boston and New York

2006-10-09T15:03:00.000-07:00

available here...

NYC

2006-10-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

Being in new york for a couple fo days now and have so far seen:

yesterday:
times square
soho
china town

Today:
fifth avenue (great shopping in New York)
carnegie hall and lincoln center
empire state building
serendipity for ice cream
carnegie deli for pastrami sandwich

Am meeting Ann for lunch tomorrow. So excited about seeing little Ian and how he has grown!

2006-09-29T06:16:00.000-07:00

thanks to me staying up late last night i woke up too late for breakfast today. Still I managed to make it to V's talk with time to spare. But my stomach is rumbling though...

I love free wifi!

2006-09-27T02:52:00.001-07:00

My flight from LA got in early at JFK, and I was very pleased to discover that jetblue offers free wifi in its terminal. So I have been answering emails and sufing the web for quincy market, as I was interested in going there for a lobster roll after I land in Boston but before I head out to Woods Hole.

While I was waiting I couldn't resist getting myself a strawberry frosted dunkin donut. Yum! There were dunkin donuts in Singapore, but my mom did like us eating that junk so oddly enough I never ate one during my time there, And since we don't have them on the west coast, I just couldn't help myself when the opportunity presented itself today.

T tells me that they have wireless at Woods Hole too. Can't wait.

I love free wifi!

2006-09-27T02:52:00.000-07:00

2006-09-25T01:31:00.000-07:00

Made my first DVD using iDVD today. The toad wanted to me to bring him an episode of Grey's anatomy. Way cool I'll say. I also figured out how to edit the commercials out using mpeg stream clip and finally get the right aspect ration for my video conversions.

Have a bunch of stuff to get ready before my trip. I should pack earlier this time. Always wait till the last minute and get super stressed. Makes no sense.

Hey Ann I sent you an email about my trip to NYC.

2006-09-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to embrace the healthy living thing once again. Had been slacking off pretty much since the beginning of the year. Mostly I've been singing a lot which doesn't leave a whole lot of time in the evening, but admittedly I had just been lazy. Lately I've started getting at least two days of running a week, and have started weights once again. BobG is right about how exercise make you feel better. I feel so out of shape (compared to the days when I used to run 20 miles a week), but at the same time feel a little more refreshed. There's a lot going on in my life right now, so the running definitely helps.

Spent the better part of my afternoon observing the embryos from the in situs I had done months ago. But that is always the way things are, right before we all have to take off to the sea urchin meeting the entire lab is mobilized in last minute experiments. But I have to say I feel that the lab has been a lot more quiet these days. Perhaps I am less sociable (i have what i would describe as a more targeted/focused approach to socialization these days) so it just seems more quiet. But really, it's only 7:25 and I'm the only one at work. That would never have been the case when i first joined the lab. I personally have been putting in more time lately as I'm in the winding down phase of my research. I think I am all done with experiments and will focus on writing the dreaded thesis soon.

Not so excited about the SU meeting, but am looking forward to going to NYC afterwards, on EHDs budget of course. Have never been there this whole time, and since le toad is living there now I can bunk with him for free.

2006-09-21T02:58:00.000-07:00

Got my DVD from the Canyon House concert, it's always weird when I hear myself sing. The sound I hear inside is quite different from the real sound others hear.

2006-09-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

My boss is being a bastard. Nuff said.

But I have a plan...

Playing games

2006-09-18T01:46:00.000-07:00

Never being one to really play computer games, I bought a couple of games that I thought I would enjoy, flip or flop or diner dash (yes, i'm such a geek that even the games I find fun are puzzle/domestic based). I've since spent the better part of 2 hours playing this game, not to mention the two hours in saturday...yikes. I really shouldn't be messing around like this..:P

2006-09-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

for a while I had been hoping i didn't have to do it but after a lot of thought yesterday I think it is all for the better. I had to turn down the part in Amahl as it takes place in December and I imagine that at that time I would be very close to defending and just not up to singing in the demanding schedule that is typical of an opera. There are 8 performances in December, not to mention the intense schedule leading up to that. It was a bummer as that would have been a paid gig, but oh well, sacrifices have to made.

This way I can sing in the chorale, which is much more flexible as I decide to quit anytime if I find it too demanding.

I also got a call to do Don Giovanni with ML, though at this time I am not sure if I will be cast. The performances are in end of October which will work much better for me. And I have had experience working with ML and the company, not to mention that they are a little more high profile and professional, and it's important I maintain that relationship.