decisions, decisions

I haven't blogged in ages. Which is fine with me. I've been keeping busy. Have gone to Boston a total of three times, NYC three times, DC one time, and all around Connecticut for multiple occasions. I should post pictures, and maybe I will later, I have loads of them, from when Mel and Claudia came, but also when my parents came. I've also recently had a bday (am 24 now, yey). And the husband has been away for 5 weeks, but will be back on Thursday.

Classes are over. WHich is wonderful!!! Spring is here!!! Flowers everywhere!!! We had a bbq on Sat which was great!

But, now it's time to decide on a thesis lab. I'm on my third and final lab rotation, and our DGS (director of grad studies) would like our decision by Friday, although officially July 1 is when I have to give it. So, the nightmares have started.

Yup, I keep having these dreams that people are asking me which lab I'm joining, including the actual PI's. So, yeah, talk about pressure from within me, you know?

I have made a decision, but I haven't talked to the PI yet, so I won't say much. It's just going to be tough telling the other PI that I'm not planning on joining that lab. Unless the first PI says no, and then I'll have to rethink my decision...

Anyway, so I'm a bit troubled at the moment. Big decisions, you know?

And, I can't wait until Ryan comes back!! I've missed him so much!

Oh, and I'm doing a summer internship at a pharmaceutical company nearby (BMS), just for 6 to 8 weeks. That'll be interesting too.

Ok, now off to do real work.

Jag Sameaj

This week is Pesaj (Passover), so no leavened things at all, which includes many items (including coke and pasta). It actually hasn't been that bad, mostly bc Ryan has joined in on the matza fun!

He actually was pushing me to actually do a seder on Monday, so we did! It was wonderful! We had a nice plate (with some liberal substitutions) and a nice matza basket (instead of bread basket) sent by my parents (who are getting better at this care pacakage thing!). We printed a haggadah online (yes, we didn't get around to buying one this year), and overall it went lovely. I even made matzah ball soup and we had these "breaded" (matza-ed?) chicken things... Very yummy.



And Ryan even had me look for the Affikomen...

Is it there?

In here? (Isn't that apron cute? my mommy sent me that too!)

Over here?

In the end it was in the printer, where the paper comes out... very funny!

Anyway, good times had by us!

Have a happy passover!

Coed Recreational Volleyball

I joined a volleyball team, in a recreational league, so it's okay that I'm not the best player. We had practice today and it was pretty fun! I haven't done that in like 2 years since the SAACS spring picnic. It's the one sport that I am fairly okay at, mostly cuz that's all we played in high school.

Sunday still winter (they lied!)

Hi!

So they said it would be a max of 50 degrees outside today… but no, it isn't even 40. And it might flurry tomorrow. Where's the hint of spring? Nowhere to be found apparently.

Yesterday I ended up going as a catholic school girl, since Ryan went as a priest. It was fitting, a good couple costume. Albeit a little naughty and slightly, oh, what's the word… blasphemy. Except that I'm Jewish. And we were supposed to go as something we weren't or haven't ever been. And I've definitely never been a catholic school girl. I wore Ryan's cross. First time ever wearing one. We found it funny, though Ryan felt a little odd. It was cuter than my leprechaun idea, so oh well.

The party wasn't as bad as Ryan was dreading it would be like. We talked with this new postdoc who's really nice and young (ie: our age-ish). So to that extent it was good. We left as more people that I actually knew where arriving. I think it was a good compromise (since Ryan wasn't too happy about going), and we went to watch a movie at Ashley's. It was really funny, about two average Americans that get frozen in time and go to 2055 where they are the smartest people in the world/America. Good times.

Now I've been working on my hw. Wish me luck. (Oh, and I'm posting from word… we'll see how it translates)

March Madness

No, I am not suddenly in love with basketball. I just cannot believe it's already March! Oh well, such is life.

I'm so glad this week is over, although I have so much work to do and won't do it until tomorrow, because I'm a great procrastinator like that.
My experiment did not go well this week-- not enough cells or good viabilities. So I will be repeating it on Tuesday, I guess. Yay for another long day.

Friday was nice though, I thought about implications of my project, kind of-- basically thought about the rest of the pathway that I'm studying. Then went to RIP (research in progress) and happy hour (Friday rituals). Talked to some people in the lab I'm rotating in bc we had this thing at Bar (this pizza place/bar/brewery) at 6:30pm and RIP ended at 4:30pm. So I mingled and the such, and then headed over to bar for a large gathering... Their mashed potato and canadian bacon pizza is so yummy-- kind of an odd combination, but somehow it works. I might take Claudia and Mel over there and get that-- minus the bacon. Or to Sallies (a famous pizza place here in New Haven... pizza is a main topic here, and there are mini disputes over favorite pizza places... the big one is Pepe's vs Sallies... I've only been to Sallies, and it was really yummy.. but we had to wait like 45min in the freezing cold to get a table!)

I followed up bar with a poker night at our place (Ryan cleaned up and set everything up very nicely since I was late to our own gathering!). We had mojitos and strawberry daiquiris (made from real strawberries!) prepared by my very own bartneder and husband. THey were awesome! Oh, there were cosmos too, and a keg. Needless to say we drank a lot! But it was so much fun!

Today was basically a lazy day... I'm off to a purim party soon! Yey! I'm dressing up as a Leprechan! If there are pictures, I'll post them later. I'm very excited to do something Jewish... at least remotely. I haven't done anything jewish in such a long time!!!

Off to get ready!

Lunes por la madrugada...

Hoy decidi escribir en castellano por varias razones. Una, porque no mucha gente va a entender lo que escribo. Que, se que es medio mal porque la idea (ahora) de este blog es que la gente lea lo que escribo. Pero bueno, por lo menos se que tengo por lo menos dos lectoras que entienden rebien, y algunos q entienden maso o van a traducir lo que escribo. Mi esposo ya se queja porque no escribo en ingles. Tambien lo hago porque hace mil que no escribo en castellano, y poco a poco lo estoy perdiendo.

Bueno, hoy conoci a una chica que va a mi misma facultad pero hace unos anios que esta aca. Fue raro, como siempre es conocer a alguien nuevo. No creo que le haya caido bien, porque se fue medio abruptamente, pero que se yo. Lo raro es que creo que ultimamente no lo caigo tan bien a la gente, como que la primera impresion que doy (?) no es tan bueno como era antes. Bah,no se si la fue. Porque como que no se de que hablar, me gusta mas escuchar. O hablo mucho, no se, los dos extremos no son tan buenos.

Esto del mundo cientifico es raro, escucho que hay mucho discriminacion contra mujeres y pareciera que tener una familia y una vida normal y divertida es casi imposible, bah no imposible pero hay dos opciones. O se tiene una familia y se encuentra un laburo no tan increible, o se tiene familia pero la mayoria del tiempo se pasa trabajando. Hay gente que hace los dos bien, pero lleva esfuerzo y apoyo de la familia. Tengo el apoyo de mi esposo y mi familia, y creo que si encuentro un proyecto que me encante podria hacer los dos. El tema es que desde llegue a Y@le siento que mis prioridades han cambiado y lo que antes pensaba que era seguro lo que queria hacer, ahora cuestiono. Cosa que no es tan malo, pero es raro no saber que es lo que quiero.

But now I must go meet up with the classmates for some birthday dinner at a pho place. Yey!

Tomorrow is my big experiment day. I'll be there at 7:30am and hopefully be out by 6 or 7pm... Hope all will go smoothly.

Making reservations

Since my friends are coming for spring break, we're doing this East Coast travel extravaganza.

We're going to Boston for a day, which I've been to in January so I understand may way around better than before. Then we're heading to New York to meet up with my other really good friend Jade who's there with her mom and bf for a few days, and tour the city. I have yet to go to NY (unbelievable, I know! so close yet so far) so this will be my chance to enjoy the city.

Then we're going to D.C. for a few days... and this is where the reservations come into play. We can get a car for $164 which is pretty good, I think. Taking the train costs $120 per person. Both take about 5.5hs. That's 306 miles according to google. If we get 25 miles to the gallon, then that's 12 gallons. At $3/gallon, that's $36 each way. So about $100 on gas. So it's either $264 ($88/person) taking the car or $360 ($120/person) for the train. So the train may be very well worth it, less stress, we can all sleep in the train, no parking problems etc. Plus, we'll be getting around with the metro anyway.

So that's all that I've figured out now... It's all very exciting though!

Thursday

We have no lab meeting today, which was really nice (9am lab meetings are a drag), but I still woke up early. Too early actually... Ryan had me set the alarm for 6am (!) and then took 30 minutes (and 3 snoozes from me) to get out of bed after I finally threatened him (no, you will not wait for the 4th alarm to ring, you will get out of bed).

I'm glad he got up though, bc he's going to this microsoft event that's going to get him Vista for free. I got my version for free from Yale, so this would be a double score. Although I am not too happy with Vista and/or my computer lately. Ryan rebooted it... but it's not that much better, actually it seems a little worse, albeit a bit faster in starting up and stuff.

Anyway, so one more article to read for cancer and I'm done with the reading... and then I'll actually start studying and putting concepts together... fun...

Oh, and in other news, my parents are coming out in May, just in time for my birthday. Yey, I love that people are coming out to visit us... we get to show our pretty apartment to people that knew us before we got married, it's very exciting. Haha, I just love our apartment, and even though I've shown people pictures, I want to see their reaction... Wow, I sound silly! It'll be great to have some family over (aside from my awesome friends that are coming for spring break); it makes life a lot more happier and something to look forward to!

Hmm, I was about to say that the weather is nicer too, but it seems that its 24 degrees outside... But it'll probably get up to 40... 40 I can handle --without gloves! (Ugh, weather channel says it might rain... but it's so pretty outside!)

Anyway, I'm off to finish reading and get started on my day!

____________________
*Edit: It was actually a thing to get the office for free (!), which I actually love (I tried the beta version and it rocked), but Ryan signed up for the wrong event-- it was geared to gov't officials to which they cannot give free software... so he drove right back... poor thing woke up for nothing, whereas I got all my reading done! And he went to get the truck serviced yesterday, where they broke the heater, so he was driving in the 24 degrees with no heater... so now he's getting that fixed.

Oh, and excuse me as I update my blog settings, colors, etc. It might be done by this weekend, hopefully!

Back to blogging

I haven't blogged in a while, as always seems to be the case when I'm busy. But of course now I am procrastinating on studying for my friday cancer class...

But, I will try to update more frequently, since I feel a little guilty that I read a lot of blogs daily, yet don't update my own. I've been pleasantly surprised to find many female scientist blogs (some who are Jewish too), and it's comforting. Especially since I have a daily or weekly why-am-I-in-grad-school crisis, which my husband seems to be good at making better... but still. The gym did help last night though, got rid of some stresses.

Yeah, so the first year is stressful, although a little better this semester than the last one.

This weekend was recruitment weekend... which is weird that it's been a year since I went through that process. It was fun, but very odd to be telling them about the program and stuff. I had fun though, got free food and stuff... Plus we went to see La Boheme, which I actually liked. I'm liking Operas, especially when there are subtitles-ish... screens with translation into english, makes it way more understandable.

We also tailgated on Sunday to a hockey game... that was fun, our first tailgating event (hot cocoa with mint schnapps + marshmallows = yummy!). Yale lost, but that happens all the time. It was a close game, although I didn't get to see the last 30 minutes or so because I decided to go study (for my class on monday... I had a few papers to read and a question to respond to).

Ooooh, and I went snowboarding two weekends ago! Very fun! I hurt for like three days! But it was great to be part of a winter sport, and use muscles I never even knew I had. I like feeling active, it's so exhilarating. It's a little scary to be flying down a mountain (ok, a bunny slope...) and having control-- it's just the not freaking out about it part that would make it more controlable.

Hopefully if I do more of these sport/gym things I'll feel more confident in myself and I won't freak out about grad school... Wish me luck, I guess.

Hmm... oh, and two of my friends from college are coming out to visit me for Spring break! We're going to Boston, NY and D.C., maybe Providence too (and some of New Haven, of course). I'm very excited about that...

Ok, enough for now... back to cancer reading.

Awareness (copied)

I'm copying mercurialscribe on this...

At Delphi: “Know thyself - and thou shall know all the mysteries of the gods and of the universe.” Fact or fiction?

Click hereand fill out the form… do i know the mysteries of the universe? Let us see…

*** January Is Cervical Health Awareness Month***

Hi!

Why am I bringing this up in my blog? Because of the new HPV/cervical cancer vaccine (hello! I'm studying immunology, of course this is right up my alley, haha!). I haven't had it yet, but I will in March when I have to go get my third hepatitis shot... So, spread the word!!! So, I've added some info and here are some helpful links too:
http://www.nccc-online.org/
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vaccine/hpv/hpv-faqs.htm
Federal health programs such as Vaccines for Children (VFC) will cover the HPV vaccine. The VFC program provides free vaccines to children and teens under 19 years of age, who are either uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, American Indian, or Alaska Native.

Anyway... so go get your vaccine if you're a woman from ages 9-26... take your sister, cousin, niece, daughter, friend, etc. (unless you or they are pregnant, then wait until after the pregnancy is over). Because even though she may not be having sex yet or you are in a totally monogomous relationship and are never going to sleep with any other guy (ie: me), you never know, and it's better to be safe than sorry.

Side effects are just like any other vaccine (it might itch or hurt where they injected the stuff in your arm, or you may feel a little sick), but much better than cancer, which you could die of (yes, I'm also taking a cancer class this semester and am hyper aware of how horrible it is... aside from having one parent and almost all my grandparents die of it)...

Facts:
The human papilloma virus (HPV), is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, and it can lead to cervical cancer. Many lawmakers in states throughout the Unted States want to now require girls to get a vaccine against it before entering Middle or High School.

Number of people affected by HPV: About 20 million in the United States. 80% of women by age 50 will test postive for HPV.

New cases each year: 6.2 million

Health effects: Usually causes no symptoms, but certain strains can lead to cervical cancer and/or genital warts.

Cervical cancer data in the United States: 9,700 new U.S. cases a year. 3,700 deaths.

New vaccine: Gardasil (Approved by the FDA on June 8, 2006), which is effective against four HPV strains. Two of the HPV types, Type 16 and 18 cause about 70 percent of cervical cancers. Combined, all four types of HPV in the Merck Gardasil product acount for about 90% of Genital warts.

Recommended recipients: Girls 11 and 12 years old, or before onset of sexual activity. The vaccine can be given to girls as young as 9. The vaccine is also advised for 13-to-26-year-olds.

Cost: $360 for a set of three shots over asix month period. Now being covered by vast majority of insurers. (Although some universities, cities, states are offering it for free!!)

Side effects: No serious ones reported; some pain at injection site.

Source: National Cervical Cancer Coalition and the CDC.

* 11% of United States women report that they do not have regular cervical cancer screenings
* In the United States, About 14,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer disease each year and more than 3,900 women die in the USA each year from this disease.
* In the majority of developing countries, cervical cancer remains the number-one cause of cancer-related deaths among women.
* A woman who does not have cervical cancer screening on a regular basis significantly increases her chances of developing cervical cancer.
* High-Risk HPV Types are directly related to cervical cancer, yet many women are unaware of what HPV is or the relationship it has to cervical cancer disease.


STILL GET YOUR ANNUAL PAP SMEAR!!

Get your Pap smear, even if you have received the HPV/cervical cancer vaccine.
A Cervical Cancer/HPV vaccine has been approved by the FDA. However, phone calls we receive on the NCCC Hotline indicate that you might be confused about what to do with regard to your regular Pap smear if you have been vaccinated. Some women, maybe you, have thought that Pap smears are no longer necessary. It is important to restate the facts even with the vaccine.

Even if a women has had the HPV/cervical cancer vaccine, she will continue to require a cervical cancer screen by the Pap test. At this time, this vaccine only protects against 70% of the potential cervical cancer cases. The Pap smear has reduced cervical cancer rates in the United States by more then 70%. Pap smears, like the one you receive regularly, is the single most effective cancer screen in the history of medicine. Remember to have your Pap test. Early detection saves lives.

End of the year review meme

I've seen this around and thought I could do it. The idea is you copy the first sentence you posted each month in the previous year.

January
Guardian (SJ): You are sensible, down to earth, and goal oriented.

February:
Hello! So, I've ceased blogging as things have been hectic. A brief summary: I got 7 interviews, but am only going to 6 (the other one never really got back to me about rescheduling) out of the 8 schools I applied.

March:
Hi! I have decided to accept Yale's offer....

No posts from April or May...

June:
So, today I had my bridal shower... it was so awesome, and fun, and just plain awesome.

July:
So today was a pretty good day. It turns out, I can sew.

August:
Ah, the new zip code, with a zero in front!!

September:
We have a dining set in our dining/living room!!

October:
We just came back from a Halloween costume party at GPSCY (pronounced gypsy), the Graduate and Professional School Club at Yale.

November:
So, I took part in a Pharmaceutical Case Competition this week.

December:
So today I'm participating in something really cool: Basically, there's this amazing writer/blogger, Amy -->
and she has just written a book, Three Fallen Women, that sounds so great (and I have yet to buy, but am very curius about... I'm thinking, maybe after today's final is over I can actually read it!!)

Some comments:

It turns out I start a lot of posts with "So, today", which is quite funny... A lot has been going on this year... Graduated from college, got married, moved to Connecticut, start Grad school at Yale... and now back to Cali for the holidays. Overall, a very good year, I must say... though a little stressful. But some stress is good, I guess!

Merry Xmas, happy belated hannukah... happy new year...

G in CA

Night number 6: Hannukah!

Hi!

So today I'm participating in something really cool:

Basically, there's this amazing writer/blogger, Amy -->
and she has just written a book, Three Fallen Women, that sounds so great (and I have yet to buy, but am very curius about... I'm thinking, maybe after today's final is over I can actually read it!!)

Anyway, so I have been tagged for the sixth night of Hannukah, tonight. So there are five other bloggers tonight that are also responding to these questions. It should be interesting!! (You can check previous nights or Amy's blog at: http://bigmouthindeedstrikesagain.blogspot.com/)

1. Quick! You must turn a plate of latkes into an upscale gourmet delight
(as if they aren't already?). What would you add to them to dress them up,
flavor and/or garnish them?

I would place them in a nice plate (like my cool black and white square ones, yey) and add one latke, one spoonful of sour cream with a little parsley on top, and a trace of apple sauce... Some pepper on top of the latke... and well, if it looks pretty and there's barely enough food, it must be gourmet, right?

I don't really do anything extra special with latkes. I've had to make A TON of them once for a Hannukah party at my old Hillel, and we didn't do too much to them. Although, I think we did spice things up a bit, because we had a student chef help us out... but of course I have no idea what we did differently... there was just a lot of potato shredding involved.
This year-- I bought a box, and have yet to open it and make some (I've basically been living in the library for the past four days... fun fun).

2. What is the dumbest thing you've ever heard anyone say about Chanukah?

Um, well, specifically about hannukah, I don't know. But, one of my classmates just recently found out that Jews don't believe in Jesus... a big!! shock to the poor southern boy. And at out Thanksgiving feast, he did the prayer, and now aware that people believe in different things, asked, does everyone here believe in God? The nice thing was he did the prayer just saying a generic, God thank you for.... Because I always feel awkward when they say something about Jesus in the prayer... silly me, I guess :)

3. What's the best possible use for olive oil?

Olive oil is the most awesome thing ever... The last thing I used it for was a mozzarella, basil and tomato sandwich... squirted some olive oil on the bread and it was great!! However, olive oil, garlic and toasted bread makes yuummmy garlic bread.... that may be my favorite use!

4. Settle it once and for all. Latkes or hammentaschen? Which to you
prefer? What about pitting the winner of that contest against sufganiyot?

Hammentaschen! Maybe because they bring back memories of grade school in Paraguay, and my mom learning the recipe, and we trying it at home... My mom was way more involved in judaism back then, some PTA-esque thing I think, but it was tres cool (my mom's not Jewish... but was very much involved in my jewish grade school... and likes hammentaschen very much herself).

Plus, I don't think I've ever had sufganiyot... though even I find that hard to believe. I must have at some point...

5. What's the best way to mix up a game of dreidel?

Good friends, good chocolate, good wine... a round table... and there goes 2 hours of spinning... I guess that's not mixing it up...

It's funny to play with people that don't know hebrew... though they learn faster than I did the first time (what each letter means, I mean).

6. My novel, Three Fallen Women, shockingly enough, is about the lives of
three women. Which three women would you like to have over this year for
latkes and why?

I would like to have my old mora, Sara... which I totally have lost track of, but gave me my hebrew name Ada (I totally thought of her now that I think about hammentaschen!). I think I wrote her a mini-letter in hebrew once--- when I actually knew enough hebrew to do so. In any case, it would just be cool to do so.

My friend Caroli, which I haven't seen since 2001, when I left Argentina... I've known her since we were 3... she now lives in Israel... I miss her!

My friend Laila from Argentina. We've lost touch in all these years (again 2001 was the last time I saw her). It would be great to see what she's up to... she's probably a Dr. by now!

These are women that I haven't seen in a while... but there are quite a few that I'll see in a few days... so maybe I can really have latkes with them!!


7. Other than Three Fallen Women (har har), what book do you think would
make a great Chanukah gift this year? What book would you like to receive
as a gift this year?

Actually, I really want The Devil Makes Prada... I don't know, it just sounds like a great holiday break kind of book... very superficial, I know... If not, cookbooks would be great! I'm very into cooking lately...

A book I'd recommend: 100 years of solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
I read it in Spanish, but I'm sure it's just as good in English :)


8. What bloggers didn't participate in Chanukah Blog Tour 5767 and you
think should have?
(link to them)

Um, I'm thinking maybe Marie although I did send her an email about it (so maybe she signed up). And I only know of another jewish blogger, that I read, Sara, but I don't know if she actually reads my blog.

Anyway, that was fun! Thanks Amy for putting this together!! When I find out who the other candles for tonight are, I'll include them here. (this probably won't happen until after my final, that ends at 5pm EST).

Ok, here are the other five "candles": Everyone needs therapy, minor fast day, Anthropologist for Corporate America, Jewbiquitous
, and Nani
Happy Hannukah!

Hannukah is almost here...

Here's something to cheer us jewish kids :)

Can you believe I get to spend Hannukah all alone this year? And I have yet to find a menorah...

Pizza time

Guess what, I actually made this pizza... from scratch! With Jessie's help. It turned out so great and yummy! Sorry, I was trying to cut and take a picture at the same time.
We made three pizzas total... which turned out really yummy! Yey for us!
My classmates came over last night and we had lots of fun and food and stuff. It was a nice break from working on my presentation. Which I spent ALL day on it today!! I'm so sick of studying...

Anyway... I miss Ryan, of course.... and trying to relax a little.

I'm off now...

It's snowing!!

I looked outside this morning and there was snow everywhere!! I think they call them snow fluries... But everything is covered in white! And its 19 degrees, with a sensation of 5 degrees.

So, after I finish breakfast, make lunch, and get dressed... I'm off to be silly in the snow!!!

YEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cross your fingers that I don't get sick.

Also, I went to a broomball game yesterday, it was so much fun!!


On a sadder note... Ryan left for CA yesterday... I won't see him until Dec 21, when I fly over there!

:)

Is this good or bad?

Fiaca

Hey!!
So we have WEDDING PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!! YEy!! (the professional ones). Gary did a great job! Yey!!!!!!

Anyway... here's a different note...

Things I've Done
(Obviously those that are in bold are the ones that I have done.)

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse of the moon.
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Good times with Pharma....

Hiii!

So, I took part in a Pharmaceutical Case Competition this week. We had a team of 5: an MD/MBA student, MBA student, and two other scientists. On Saturday they gave us the case study and we had to come up with a 10 minute presentation about it, both the financial and the science sides of things. So, we got together Sunday through Wednesday nights... it's been a long week, let me tell you. But it was so much fun, I learned so much this week!

So, today at 12:30pm we gave our 10 min presentation, and apparently we did pretty well. We got first place!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But of course they didn't tell us this until after we had dinner. But it was great! The best compliment I got: that I seemed as a student from the school of management. Yey! That, to me, means that I talked very professionally. But, really, my team was amazing. We all worked so well together!

Anyway, I'm very very happy!! Yey!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not bad for a first year, huh?

Oh, and the prize; $1500 per team... So $300 each! Sweet, huh?!

Ok, I'm off now!! To spend some time with Ryan, since I had to sacrifice a lot of that this week for this.

Griselda

Grad Student :)