The good thing about living in a complex with kids

someone gets to enjoy a snow day:

The little red things are roses.

"Mr. Hill, it's Hugh Jimmerson. My heat's gone out. I've tried wearing turtlenecks, but they make me look French."

Happy Bicentennial!

This is the 200th post to this blog! I can't believe that I have made that many posts and there are people who read it! I thought that for this post I would talk about two of my favorite things, my family and Jane Austen. As some of you may know, PBS has been airing the complete Jane Austen on Masterpiece every Sunday. In my opinion, the series got off to a rocky start with a poor adaptation of Persuasion, but improve greatly with a stellar Northanger Abbey (but I didn't see Mansfield Park but I heard it was not so good). But now the series in the best section with the great A&E/BBC version of Pride and Prejudice airing the last three weeks and next up will be the delightful Emma (also from A&E/BBC). So even though I have seen this version of P and P too many times to count, I watched it again. Watching it is bittersweet, because although I enjoy the movie a great deal, it makes me miss my mom and sisters. Of all the times that I have seen P and P, only once have I seen it without one member of my immediate family watching it with me. And being alone here in Ohio (and feeling a little lonely), I was happy to watch it, but I teared up more that once (including at the end, when I was also sad that it was over).

""I didn't know it was loaded" is not an acceptable excuse. "I wasn't there" or "I never met those people" are better excuses. When I was your age, I used to get so excited about hitting the target that I'd run right out onto the range. That's how I lost this thumb, and later, this eye. If it weren't for the NRA safety guidelines which I eventually accepted, I'd be a stub standing here before you."- NRA INSTRUCTOR

This is what I think about at work

Every time I read a protocol that has a section about resorptions (in terms of fetuses) all I can think about it the episode of "The Office" when Dwight talks about resorbing his twin in the womb (and now having the power of both a full grown man and a baby).

PEGGY: Hank, do you think I'll turn into one of those women you see at the Mega Lo Mart who wears white stretch pants and doesn't tuck in her shirt any more?
HANK: Not for many, many years.
PEGGY: Oh, so you've thought about this.

Gimme Six!

So my first week at the new job went pretty well. Reading the SOPs is boring, but I have been doing more relevant work. And next week I am attending 3 pre-study meetings (including one for a study I will be analyzing/writing the report). So that is exciting but kind of nerve wracking because I have no idea what I am supposed to do beyond having the study protocol read for the pre-study meeting. The department supervisor said I did a good job with the formatting test that I finished on Friday. I must say it is so strange to not have something to work on in the evening (homework, reading etc.). But now I have plenty of time to quilt and read for pleasure (right now I am rereading Northanger Abbey). And I read a little bit during my lunch break (I bring my lunch to work everyday, it reminds me of elementary school). Another nice thing about work is is that I can listen to my iPod often (so I get to keep listening to podcasts). And while I was listening to an NPR books podcast, I heard about this really interesting book about a six word memoir (for example "Like Charlie Brown, not as popular."). SMITH magazine collected six word memoirs from lots of people (both famous and not) . And you can read some of these submission by clicking here. My favorites are "brush with death, comb with life" and from Stephen Colbert: Well, I thought it was funny.

(From Hank's permanent record)
- Fourth grade: Kicked out of chorus for refusing to sing "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"
- Ninth grade: Told debate team to "shut the hell up."

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! And Happy James Taylor Day!!!

DALE (to his turtle): C'mon, I'm not leaving without my kiss. I can wait. I can destroy you.

First Impressions

So yesterday was my first day at work. It went pretty well, I got to meet all the people in my department, who all seemed nice. And it met my direct supervisor (who interviewed me) and she is very nice and helpful (and she is slowly easing me into the work). The past two days I have been reading SOPs (standard operating procedures) and putting together my training manual (including organizing it, my favorite section title "Guidelines for Describing Anomalies") I'm in the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology group (DART for short). And the company has lots of toxicology related seminars that I can attend (and many that look really interesting). I do get President's Day off next Monday so that is good. Well, I'll keep you all updated as the weeks progress.

LUANNE: Okay, we wave this sign around, and Jeff Gordon sees it. He comes up to us in the stands and is so taken by our charms that he asks one of us to marry him.
PEGGY: Well, honey, it probably won't be me. I have got a ring on my finger.
LUANNE: Yeah, and big feet.
PEGGY: I'm only ignoring that because a man is on fire.

Dispatches from Ohio

Yesterday, mom and dad moved me into me new apartment in Ashland. I have a nice sized two-bedroom apartment in a complex about 5 mins from work (and not to far from the university and downtown). I got internet installed (obviously). I plan on exploring Ashland (and a little bit of nearby Mansfield) at little bit this weekend (mostly finding the post office, the library etc.). My apartment is nicely furnished (all I really need is a sewing table). I will have some pictures posted soon.

PEGGY: The Thai food was Tammi's idea. The notion of taking it out was mine.
LUANNE: You know, someday I would like to travel through Thairabia and see those pyramids.

Each Brand New Arrival

Here is my surprise from the barn tonight!
Frappie had two little kids today, both female. Here is a picture of them nursing:

(The black one is in the back, so you might not be able to see her) They are not named yet, but we are open to suggestions.

PRINCIPAL MOSS: Teacher's statement...response from the parents...okay, looks like all our ducks are in a row. Peggy, you're fired.
PEGGY: But the Dooleys forgave me!
PRINCIPAL MOSS: Let's see -- there's nothing in here about forgiveness. There are procedures for administering legal spankings, which you violated at every turn, and there are procedures for terminating a teacher, which I followed to a T.

Finished!!!

I finally finished quilting Rachel's quilt. I have to put the binding on still, but that is the easiest part (mostly because my mom sews the binding on for me!!)

KAHN: She blinded me with science... doo, doo, doo! She blinded me... WITH SCIENCE!
HANK: Pretty good job, Kahn. I've never heard that song with only one note before.
KAHN: Yeah, it all about rhythm.

KAHN: Look how easy it is to get into this country. I can't believe I had to learn the Bill of Rights. When am I gonna use that?
DALE: You'd be surprised, Kahn. I take the fifth on a daily basis.

More Video Fun

This is a combination of two things I enjoy: my iPod and the show Daria

In the Good Old Days

Square One TV: The Mathematics Of Love

From back when I watched PBS after school everyday.

Out of Touch

PBS has started it's months long Complete Jane Austen last night with a sub-par adaptation of Persuasion. I thought it was horrible. The book was compressed so much into the 90 minutes that none of the secondary characters were explored at all and the main characters were barely explored. I thought neither actor in the roles of Anne or Captain Wentworth were well cast, not to mention that the actor in the role of Captain Wentworth didn't look old enough, and he didn't look like he was a navy captain. Overall I am very disappointed with this entry in the Masterpiece Classic. I think that the Northanger Abbey and Sense and Sensibility adaptations will be much better solely on the fact that Andrew Davies, who did the wonderful adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in 1995 with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, is adapting those two novels. I can't say that I am surprised about the cutting down of Persuasion. I was very unimpressed with the recent PBS adaptation of Jane Eyre, specifically in the cutting and the casting. The movie was almost four hours long, so I felt they could explore more of the books. I didn't like the casting of Mr. Rochester; again I thought the actor was too young. Mom, Rachel, and I agreed that maybe PBS is trying to appeal to a wider audience. And this seems to mean compressing and making the movie more modern (you know showing how the novel is still relevant rather than allowing the reader/audience to make those connections on his/her own). So I guess PBS is no longer trying to appeal to people who have read the book before seeing the movie.

HANK (reading): "The elf-lord Flyfandel knelt upon the bed of dandelions. 'Young wanderer,' quoth he, 'I have woven you a magic breastplate'"-- Ugh! Bobby, television!

CLEA: Surely as I am Clea and the Crystal of Kilmarian shines upon my brow, our forces shall rally and vanguish the goblin horde! What say ye, Hindbottom?
BOBBY: Aye, my fell axe thirsts for blood to avenge my father Borak, my swift brother Rigmor Tallenbeard, and --
HANK: Dangit, Bobby, no more elves at the table.

No Longer Unemployed

I have official accepted a position with a company in Ashland, Ohio (which puts me 5 hours from home and 3 hours from Aunt Carol). I will be starting on February 11th. So now I am in the process of finding an apartment and then setting up utilities and finding a bank etc. I am excited about the new job but I'm nervous about starting and becoming an actual grown-up.

HANK: You can keep the pen. It's from some company that makes Viagra for lizards.
MAN WITH SNAKE: Does it work for snakes too?

Some good news

The past week has been kind of exciting. I got not one but two job offers as well as a second interview with the company in Columbia City (to meet the rest of the staff). So now I have to make a decision about which position to accept (and wait to see if I get an official offer from the people in Columbia City).

Merry Christmas

"Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer
Cheer to all the Whos far and near
Christmas day is in our grasp
So long as we have hands to clasp
Christmas day will always be
Just as long as we have we
Welcome Christmas, while we stand
Heart to heart and hand in hand"

-How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Rough and tumble but merry

It has been beyond a rough couple of days. As I mentioned my grandmother passed away which has created a very emotional two weeks. And then my car broke down on my way back from Ohio (about four hours from home). I had two interviews last week. On Wednesday, I had a on site interview with a company in Ashland (which is in Ohio). And then on Thursday, I had an interview with a small consulting firm in Columbia City (IN). Both interviews went pretty well and I think both positions (which are a little similar) will allow me to get more experience in regulatory toxicology. But due to the holidays, both companies will not get back to me about the positions until January. I set up an interview for a lab position at Purdue for Wednesday (but I have moved back to Thursday due my vehicle situation. ) The bright spot of the past two weeks is that all my sisters were home which made everything a little bit easier. And all my nephews were home, I forgot how small newborns are! I been having lots of fun with all three! And soon they will all be here to celebrate Christmas at the farm. Merry Christmas to all!

HANK: Now, I'm not gonna mention any names, but due to last year's unfortunate kissing incident, mistletoe is banned from this year's Christmas party.
(Everyone looks accusingly at Bill.)
BILL: Peppermint schnapps makes me sloppy.
DALE: Enough with your party, Hank. Help me figure out what to get Nancy for Christmas. I'll never top that oil painting I commissioned last Christmas: "Nude Dale In Repose." Tasteful, yet you can see everything.

On love, In Sadness

It has been a really long time since I have posted and I apologize. My grandmother passed away on Dec. 11th. She has been in poor health for a few years, but I still remember spending a lot of time with her when I started attending Purdue. On Mondays, I used to go to her house after class until my sorority meeting and we would have dinner together and work on the crossword (I admit that she knew way more of the clues than I did). And she taught me how to quilt, and I still have that quilt that we worked on together. I will always cherish those memories of spending time, and I know that I will think about her every time I start (or even finish) a quilt and how glad I was to be able to share something that she was so passionate about. I will miss her dearly.

Off on a turnaround

For most of September through November, my job search was highly unproductive. But in the past few days, it has been much better. I had my interview with the lab at Purdue on Tuesday, which went pretty well. The research sounded really interesting (though not in my area of expertise) but the PI stressed more about the personality and work style fitting with the rest of the lab personnel (there are about 6 people in the lab). She said that she would let me know about the position by the end of next week. And then yesterday I got not one but two calls about other position. One was for a job with a company in Des Moines for a toxicology position and I think that we will setting up an interviews in Des Moines sometime before the holidays. The other position in with a regulatory consulting firm in Columbia City (which is near Fort Wayne). I talked with the office manager (it is a small firm about 4 consultants and then the office manager) and she encourage me to visit the website and learn more about the projects that they work on and then we can set up an on-site interview (or phone interview if I wanted) before the holidays because they would like someone to start in January. So the past week (including the phone interview last Thursday) have been really encouraging! And more importantly Rachel and family will be here tonight, so that will be nice to see them all!

DALE: Pirate? Gondola operator? Waiter? Pirate waiter?
HANK: He's supposed to be gay, Dale.
DALE: Really? I don't see it.

I'm a what?

A good result

I had my phone interview with the head of the Study Analysis and Report Writing Department from the company in Ashland today. It went pretty well, the position sounds really interesting and would be a good starting off point for me since I am interested in regulatory toxicology. I would get to interact with study directors and the clients as well as gain some experience in FDA regulation submission. The interviewer said that he and HR would contact my references and then we would set up an on-site interview.

"That's good Bobby, keep throwing me those curve balls"- Hank Hill