2010 goals

Now it's almost the end of January. I think you're supposed to put this stuff up at the beginning of the New Year, but whatever. I have had goals in mind for this year since the end of November but I might as well put them here.

1. Get grad papers published goddammit!! Do not allow GrAdvisor's neither-here-nor-there attitude to hinder them any longer.
2. Publish a review paper in early 2010 on post-doc project to give self a leg-up on the lit.
3. Have a data paper from post-doc lab outlined (or if very good/lucky submitted) by end of 2010.
4. Attend conference in new post-doc field. If possible present data at said conference.
5. Get a fellowship to support self's sorry ass in 2011.
6. Get DangerDog and self back in shape.
7. Go to RecCenter and work out 5 days/week. It is literally next door to the lab - no excuses.
8. Lose dissertation-fat. If loads of women out there manage to lose the pregnancy weight post-partum then surely I can get rid of the dissertation weight post-defense.
9. Run a half-marathon or sprint-distance triathlon.
10. Pay off credit card before student loan grace period expires. Eeep!

In which I am reminded that it's good to be a grown-up

The other night I was standing outside the gym waiting for my ride home. Three undergraduate men came out the doors discussing their "get ripped" strategies.

UG1: Dude, I'm totally gonna try to get a six-pack before this summer.
UG2: Yeah man, me too. But I don't wanna try too hard. I'm just gonna work out a lot and it'll happen.
UG3: Yeah, me too. 'Cause I totally wanna get laid, you know?
UG2: Ooooohhhh, shiiiiiiiii......

I must have shot them the hairy eyeball or something at that last remark because they all suddenly and simultaneously noticed me, a vagina, standing there in plain sight right next to them. To their credit, they were appropriately mortified, and after much blushing and squirming and embarrassed laughter one of them says to his buddies, "Uh, let's like walk away really fast."

I briefly considered sharing with them some important advice. Namely, that washboard abs are not a golden ticket for getting into a woman's pants, and that they'd probably have much better odds if they worked on getting rid of the douchery rather than the ab-flab. I thought the better of it though, and just said, "Stay classy dudes!"

I can't decide if I am encouraged that they were aware that they were being offensive/making asses of themselves, or disheartened that they seemed to think that their aspirations and motivations were some sort of big secret.

Eh, I'm just glad I'm not in college anymore.

A Quick Rundown on the New Gig

• Boss - Awesome! Took a few weeks to get over the getting-to-know-you awkwardness, but now I am quite pleased by our working relationship. Enthusiastic, easy to talk to. Quite a nice change from the previous.
• Lab Facilities - Generally nice, lots of windows and a nice view, newly renovated, but missing a few tricks. Why is there a line-in for tap water in the tissue culture hood but no vacuum line anywhere in the lab? Why are the -80C freezers at the other end of the building?
• Labmates - Great so far. Small lab, with lots of undergrads that come and go, nice officemates. Everyone is very helpful and seem glad to have me here.
• Admin - A little discombobulated, but very helpful solving problems. Didn't get my contract until after I started working, or the list of stuff to bring to HR on the first day until a week later, but when I ask for something specific I get an immediate (and helpful response).
• Resources - Somewhat disappointing, but I've been a bit spoiled by the flush department of my previous gig. I am still using my nearly-dead 6yo laptop because there are no lab or departmental funds to buy me a new computer. Could I get one on fellowship $$? Sure, but in the meantime, I'd be writing said fellowship on the Nanodrop workstation. So guess where that hike in my salary's going? Dell, it's your lucky day.
• Perks - Good benefits (including retirement!), cheap(!) parking (but walking distance from home), gym membership.
  
• Campus - Fantastic. So nice to be back on a college campus where other people do equally important but different things than you do.
• Project - Exciting, full of potential, but still not off the ground yet. I'm pioneering some stuff for this lab, so it's been fun, but I'm itching for some data already.
  

I'm bAAAAAaaaack...

After several weeks of neglect, I return to find that this place positively reeks of dissertation (and post-dissertation) angst and malcontent. I'm going to let it air out here for a few more days and then get started fresh. It is 2010 after all; I've got a new job, new boss, new digs, and a new project.

More later.