Mud River

On Tuesday, I went to the Farm Progress Show that was being held in Amana for class. Unfortunately, the two other girls I went with and I chose the worst day to go. It had rained most of Monday and Tuesday morning. So the grass parking lot quickly became a mud pit and the "streets" became what I affectionately call mud rivers. I don't know how it happened but even the paved/gravel roads became mud rivers as well. But besides the sloppy conditions, the show was interesting. I went to an cattle handling demo which featured some new headgates. Before the demo started I asked the guy running it what he thought about Temple Grandin's theory about giving the animal a slight squeeze to calm them down. (You can read about Temple Grandin here or read the Oliver Sacks book "An Anthropologist on Mars".) The guy basically said that he doesn't really agree with it and the effectiveness really depends on the animal, but I noticed both the set up for running the cattle and all the headgates utilize ideas and suggestions from Temple Grandin. And that all the cattle calmed down once they were in the headgate/squeeze shoot. (I highly suggest reading up on Temple Grandin because she is a very interesting person in her advocacy of both animal welfare and autism (she herself has Asperger's Syndrome) and I also suggest reading any book by Oliver Sacks). And I also got to see the World's Largest Boot. So all in all, it was a pretty exciting day.

"I can attest that he came to class complaining of debilitating back pain. He attended three classes and left. He bought no merchandise and complained about the incense."-Yogi Victor

Hank: Can you turn the lights a little brighter?
John Redcorn: No, that's as bright as they go.
Hank: Can you turn the music off?
John Redcorn: No. It's wired to the lights.
(These quotes are from an episode where Hank injures his back, and refuses to go on worker's comp.)

I cannot have you standing about in this stupid manner

Last year I read a book called “The Jane Austen Guide to Dating” which basically equaled relationships in Jane Austen books to modern relationships. Being a Janite myself, I could see how the author was able to draw these conclusions, but the more I thought about it the more I began to notice types of Austen characters existing in a modern times well as in fiction post-Austen time. In my opinion, there is a little of an Austen character in us all. I think that most women would like to think of themselves as an Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice) or Elinor Dashwood (Sense and Sensibility) but fear they could Mary Bennett (P and P) or Fanny Price (Mansfield Park) or possibly relish the fact that they are a Mary Crawford (Mansfield Park) or Caroline Bingley (P and P). I personally think that I am a cross between Catherine Morland (Northanger Abbey) and Anne Elliot (Persuasion). I think that I share Catherine’s playful and imaginative nature but posses some of Anne’s practicality (hopefully). Plus, Catherine and Anne have the best counterparts in Henry Tilney and Captain Wentworth. There is such a range to Austen’s characters that it makes it easy to see similarities in people and Austen characters. Okay, I think that my love of Jane Austen has become very apparent in this post, but I can’t help it. I will always have a soft spot for English fiction from the turn of the nineteenth century. That was the best time for really good novels, I mean you had Austen, the Brontes, Dickens, Wilke Collins, Trollope, etc.; it just doesn’t get better than that. This was the height of the writer training the reader to examine and analyze the traits of their fellow people and to assess the worth of the person based on their “interior”. This is why Mr. Darcy is a good guy and Mr. Wickham is a jerk.

" You know, the black around your eyes looks just like a mask. I'm gonna call you "Masky." No, wait, wait, I can beat that: 'Bandit.' "-Bobby Hill

Bonus Quote:
HANK: Bobby, you name a pet, you name a guitar -- you do not name a filthy animal. And you do not feed it our garbage. No wonder it was rooting around in the garage. It was looking for more of your handouts.
BOBBY: It's not a handout when you feed Ladybird, is it?
HANK: Ladybird is a member of this family. You've seen our Christmas cards.

Another Bonus Quote :
"No problems, Hank. I have played out this scenario a thousand times in my mind. In most of them, I have won." -Dale Gribble

Loud and Proud

There is a history of science geeks in my immediate family. In fact, all of the four daughters pursured degrees in science-heavy fields (chemical/biomedical engineering, materials engineering, pharmacy for my sisters). And I personally have always had a soft spot for science. I think that it has consistantly been my favorite or one of my favorite subjects since probably third grade. So I am not really suprised that my favorite class this semester (so far) is Principles in Molecular and Cell Biology. When I was reading the book, I couldn't help but think "that is so cool". Sometimes I am totally amazed by techniques people develop that actully work. So I admit it, I am a science geek.

These quote from the episode in which Bobby dabbles in Magic
"Our kind have always been persecuted by those who understand not. From the Salem witch trials of the 1600s to the locker-room beatings and swirlies of today. 'Tis all one." - Ward Rackely
Bonus Quote: "You guys are so nerdy, even I feel like giving you a wedgie."-Booby Hill
Best Catchphrase ever: "Resplendent!"-Ward Rackely

16 hours, 4 sides

Last night, I was in bed listening to music and doing some reading for class and two thoughts occured to me. First I haven't done really serious reading like this since the Academy. How did I not bore myself to death doing this? (For those of you unfamilar, the Academy was a magnet high school for gifted people for the junior and senior year. It was similar to a boarding school, but there students were not allowed to have cars.) I can't believe I was able to really entertain myself so well. But I think that I have been over-stimulating myself. When I was at the Academy, walking to the local drugstore was the highlight of the weekend. And going to diner took at least 30 mins. if not more. And second it reminded me of a trip that my mom and my sisters took one summer. My mom and Bridget and Lucy drove to North Carolina one summer to visit my sister Rachel when she was working there. For the sixteen hour trip, we had two tapes full of folk music (this is the source of the title). After we got back, I never thought that I wanted to hear any of the songs again, but now I really like at lot of the songs (and the songs were included on the CD I was listening to).

"I want to be the first chubby comic to live past 35."-Bobby Hill
Bonus quote: "My dad wouldn't use drugs. I say 'Good Day Sheriff"-Bobby Hill

I am the Rat Slayer

So on Wednesday, my lab had a rat kill. And I had the job of actually killing the rat and then taking blood (directly from the heart I might add). Now the reason I had this job is because I will be using the blood for my thesis work (I am checking the levels of some cytokines and enzymes in response to PCB exposure) so I guess since I am using the blood, I should collect the blood. And I got over any squeamishness that I might have had very quickly! I talked to my advisor on Thursday and I will be a TA for her class this semester (one of the professor for the class in on sabbatical so she needs all the help she can get!) so that will be new and interesting (and I will be continuing to work in the lab). So right now I'm feeling a lot better about the progress with my thesis so that it good. And today I am taking my mentee for lunch so that will be fun.

"I don't want to abuse the privilege, but I need you to get Dale out of the basement."-Nancy Hicks Gribble (nee Nancy Hicks)

Bonus Quote: "A raccoon, Ladybird, and Dale are all on the lose and possibly rabid."-Hank Hill

Back to School

So I am now back at school to finish my masters this year (hopefully!). I came back on Monday and then started working in the lab Tuesday. There is a rat kill today and I am in charge of getting the blood. So hopefully, I don't pass out or something. I'm not particularly squemish, but you never know. Classes don't start until next Monday and my schedule is pretty conducive to lab work. I getting anxious to start my actully thesis work (unlike helping with the rat kill, like I am doing this week!). I've never done a thesis so I have no idea what kind of timeline I should be on or when I should get things done. And I keep having the sinking feeling that every other classmate it half-way done with their work, and I haven't even started (and that I wasted the entire last year helping with other projects). Hopefully I will be in better mood about my thesis soon!!


"If they wanted to see me pee my pants in fear, they're too late."-Dale Gribble

Freaking out 101

So the next few days are going to be really stressful for me! I have my big presentation tomorrow at 2pm, so now I am just starting to get nervous. And then I have to meet with Natalie on Friday to show her the work that I have been doing this summer so I am trying to get everything finished before then. Then on Monday, I move back into my apartment and then begin work in the lab in full swing by Wednesday. (There is a rat kill scheduled on Wednesday that I will be assisting with... woo hoo.) So all these things to worry about is making me stress out and too nervous to sleep. Seriously, it seems like it takes half an hour to even find a semi-comfortable position before I can even begin to fall asleep. I'm sure that I will get through the next few days with no problems, but I always worry regardless.

If you need something funny to watch, I recommend the video for "Here it goes again" by OK Go. The band members do this weird dance routine on treadmills, but it was done all in one take, so that is impressive. If you want to see it, try going through VH1 or Yahoo Music and looking up OK Go. I think there is another video by the same band that is very similar except sans treadmills.

"I've learned how to sleep with my eyes open. God am I tired"-Dale Gribble

Music

I've been thinking about the music that I like lately mostly because my sister and brother-in-law are talking about this in regards to their new son. The more I think about, the more I realize that a lot of songs that I really love are due to the fact that they remind me of a specific moment in life. So everytime I hear this song, I'm taken right back to that moment and that emotion I felt. Like the Coldplay song "Yellow" reminds me of Lucy and I dancing around in our living room when we still didn't have carpet or wallpaper in the room. Or David Gray's "Babylon" makes me think of when the four of us were getting ready for Bridget's wedding. So I think that for me, both books and music are a way for me to remember momemts in my life.


"Because of you, I'm propless."-Bobby Hill

Bemoaning a loss

For some reason, I was thinking about two books that we used to have before our house burned down. They were handbooks for boys and girls (one for boys, one for girls). And I remember that there was some much interesting stuff in both the books, and that the activities were not based solely on traditional gender roles. I remember what the cover looked like, but I can't remember the name. Hopefully on of my sisters remember the name of the books...Help!


"I had a lot of time to think while I was unflushing Aunt Peggy's keys"-Luanne Platter
Bonus Quote "And now I work here. Feeding the beast that killed me." - The owner of "Just Brakedrums" after being put out of business by Mega-Lo Mart.

Almost an Old-y Jones

Today, I am official 23 years old. I can't believe how fast the summer has flown by! I have my big presentation at work next week and then the following Monday I return to school to begin my thesis work. Yikes!
On Monday night, my cousins Lindy and Andrew came over for some dinner and playing cards. The three of us (Mom, Andrew and me) taught Lindy the official card game of Indiana : Euchre. I found out that what my family refers to as the kitty (the extra four cards after the others have been dealt) is actully called the widow. Lindy and mom almost beat Andy and I, but we were able to Euchre Lindy and Mom on the last hand of the game. So really playing with my sisters (an their alledged cheating) has made me a semi-decent card player. I haven't played Euchre in a really long time now that I think about it. And Lindy decided that she wanted to ride the mechnical bull at our County fair. Lindy claims that California doesn't have mechnical bulls (I am skeptical of this but I haven't been in many western bars in California so she maybe right). So I will let you all know the details of the particular insane adventure.

"I know that walk. Somewhere, someone's ass is about to be kicked."-Dale Gribble (refering to Hank Hill)