Halfway!

We had our 20 week ultrasound this week, and it was amazing!  This actually wasn't my first ultrasound (we had one to confirm the pregnancy and then another a few days later to determine gestational age both resulting in photos of tiny blobs that didn't really resemble anything but ...well tiny blobs), but it was the first ultrasound where you can see that a little baby is definitely taking shape (with the cutest lips and nose!).  Here I post a few photos from the different ulstrasounds:

1st UltraSound from April

(determined to be about 6 weeks along)

3rd UltraSound from July

(about 20 weeks along)

I'll have to go back for another ultrasound at my next appointment, because the technician wasn't able to determine something specific about the heart - nothing to worry about yet...Baby B was just too wiggly to get a good look at that.  Even though I'm sure my insurance won't cover the next ultrasound, I'm happy to have another look at the babe in a few weeks!  It was so fun to see it moving around.  That reminds me, I've also been starting to feel movement!  I first noticed it last Saturday when I was driving.  I felt this little jab below my belly button - and that's pretty much where I've been feeling it since.  During the ultrasound, we could see baby's feet, arms and legs moving around, and every now and then I'd feel one of the movements while actually seeing it - so cool!

At this time, we could find out the gender (i.e., an educated guess of the gender), but we decided not to.  I was content not finding out the gender until the birth, that is until my husband reminded me that I don't like surprises...and ever since he said that, I've wanted to know(!!).  Of course, he's teasing me - but I am the type of person that likes to skip to the back of a book just to see what happens (I'll still read everything in between!).  However, I've been pretty good about not skipping ahead with the last few books I've read...so, I should be OK not knowing Baby B's gender. Apparently it is written down in our chart, though - if I could just get my hands on that...!

Up until the last ultrasound, my guess is that we're having a girl.  We already have a boys name picked out, and I have many MANY girls names picked out that I keep running by Brandon.  So far, he likes only one of them - haha just one!  But, it's my favorite of the bunch so that's good :)

At Mrs. C's (teehee!) suggestion, I've also obtained and started writing in "The Belly Book" to chronicle how the pregnancy is going.  I've only gotten to spend a few hours actually writing in it, but I can tell that I'm really going to have a blast writing and putting photos in it throughout the rest of the pregnancy.

Still Angry

I ended last week fairly angry and disappointed - disappointed in myself but mostly angry at my previous research advisor (my MS advisor).  I was randomly glancing through literature related to my MS thesis and came across a recent paper that she had co-written with a new student of hers.  What mostly caught my eye was the title of the paper - with the exception of one word change (albeit an important one) it was word for word the same title as my MS thesis.  Not that it was such a great title (I'm not that vain), but it was certainly a unique one and very much completely taken from my thesis.  Upon further inspection of the paper, I became annoyed to discover that this paper was pretty much my thesis transformed into a journal article with the only change being the samples studied.  Again, not something to really get someone angry - after all, most research people do is based on others previous work (you gotta start somewhere, right?).  The reason I'm so angry with her is the fact that she did not even cite my thesis or my previous ACS preprint publication (nor did she acknowledge me in any way).  I understand that a thesis and preprint publication don't hold as much weight as a full fledged journal article, but they are in fact published works and they deserve to be cited.  ...Especially since the entire work of this student was based on my previous work - all of the small details, procedures, obscure references, and even the particular labeling of the figures(!) included within the paper are verbatim (literally) from my thesis - again, they are using different data but it's obvious that the ideas for the figures and the procedures are from my thesis (and NOT the paper she cites in the journal article).  Perhaps, I'm overreacting to the situation - I am fairly sensitive about certain situations that others would just shrug off - but I'm still feeling angry toward her so I'm rolling with that and hoping writing about it will help me not be so angry.

As I listen to my "angry playlist" (songs compiled for the occasions when I'd like to kick the wall and/or shout obscenities while shaking my fist at some unknown being in the sky), I'm feeling bitter and starting to feel some sarcasm creeping up within me.  I did email her about the situation, but I did not disclose my anger yet.  I will tell her what she did was wrong, even if it was just a small instance of wrongness, for I know if the situation was reversed she would react much stronger and much harsher - and she wouldn't think twice about it.  I'm disappointed that I never published a legitimate journal article for my MS thesis, so I'll have to sit with that, but I'm most disappointed that she's getting ahead based on my work and I'm not getting the credit.

I'm still not sure where I'll end up after I graduate - whether I do a postdoc or go into industry, eventually I would like to teach at a college and be someone's research advisor.  With that, I guarantee that I will not abandon my students nor will I copy their work without acknowledging or citing them.  When you're depending on students or employees (somewhat) to get the work done to advance your career, you can't ignore the students/employees that helped you get there.  I'm not saying my MS work was award winning, but it was special and unique to me (and only me).  I based my MS work on various literature sources that I compiled and digested, which helped me (without much help from said research advisor) design a plan and procedure for my MS thesis.  Of course, I dropped the ball on getting a journal article published and that's no one's fault but my own.  However, I designed the experiments featured in this journal article, and neither she or her student deserves the credit of their name and school on that publication.

3 months later...

It's been 3 months (to the day) since my last post and, as usual when that much time has passed, there are a few updates to report if I haven't told you already.  

First, and most fun, I am pregnant!  I was first tuned into the possibility that I might be pregnant after a dentist visit on Tuesday, March 30.  It was the first time I was seeing someone at this practice, so I had to fill out the usual routine questionnaires that addressed any concerns or expectations I had about my dental health. I mentioned on my questionnaire that I was having a metal taste in my mouth.  When the dental assistant asked me more about this and offered her suggestions about what it meant, I joked with her (not seriously at all) about it possibly being some weird way to indicate I was pregnant (thinking it was an old wives' tale kinda thing that wasn't really true).  She then explained that the metal taste could certainly indicate that I might be pregnant.  We discussed some more (as I was secretly freaking out inside my mind), and she told me that with all three of her children she had a broccoli taste in her mouth (it was such a strong taste that even her hubby would notice...and still proceeds to freak out every time she comes home smelling like broccoli).  We decided to hold off on X-rays for the day until I knew for sure, which was fine because I had to return in a few days to get fitted for a mouth guard and have a cavity re-filled.  I was very grateful that the dental assistant was so sensitive and alerted by that questionnaire - they do read them!! (side note: I was not, however, happy with the wack and insensitive dentist that re-filled my old cavity b/c he did a very poor job "fixing" my filling (among other poor things)...such a poor (and very painful) job that he almost caused me to need a root canal!  thankfully, a different (and most fantastic dentist!) fixed the wacko's work and I do not need the root canal.)  After this initial dentist visit, of course I went to the store and got a home pregnancy test.  I got the one that would show two + + if you were pregnant - easy to read, right?  I now understand that commercial that says "one in four women will misread a home pregnancy test", because I could not tell from that first test if it was positive or negative...the + was too light in color to really decipher whether it was + or – (most frustrating!).  So I took another - and again, too light to tell!  I decided to wait until the morning to test again, but again it was so light that I could have been willing it to read +.  So...I told myself that I would wait until Friday to test again.  Needless to say, it was all I could think about the rest of the week.  When I finally was ready to take it again, I had to buy more tests because I had used all the ones in the first box.  So going on 4 tests now, I tested one more time - although, it was still light in color, I was sure it read + +.  Still, I had to check again in the afternoon (test #5!)...you know, just to be sure...and it was still + +.  I hadn't told Brandon at all about what was secretly going on in my wild brain since my dentist visit - I just wanted to be extra sure before I told him, I guess.  So, I finally told him that Friday afternoon by showing him one (just one!) of the tests and telling him that it meant "we're pregnant!", and he looked very surprised and said "wow!"  :)  We were certainly surprised by this, but very happy.  Currently, I'm about 16.5 weeks along and the baby is the size of a turnip.  We have had a handful of OB visits during which the last one we could hear the baby's heartbeat and hear it moving around inside.  It's all very surreal but we're so excited!  I have not had cravings just yet, but I do have a thing for potatoes of any sort (mostly mashed and especially fries).  I am happy as long as I have a potato at some point during the week.  Also...at some 10 minute interval every night from 2-3am without fail, I am awake and chowing down on something.  Usually my late-night snack consists of oatmeal or handfuls of craisins.  I'm not sure if waking up hungry means I'm not eating enough throughout the day, but I'm trying to eat more each day. I have noticed that my appetite has actually increased a lot in the last week, but I'm still finding it difficult to eat enough throughout the day.  And, sometimes I have to stop myself from eating too much at one time (which I did not do last week when I consumed an entire pizza in one sitting...it was thin-crust, though!).  I have also started eating carrots, which I once thought I abhorred.  Now, I eat them every day and they are delicious!

Second, I have two(!) students doing work for me this summer.  They are doing experiments in the lab, so I don't have to be there.  I spent my first few weeks with them, just showing them what I do and then I would shadow them.  They are certainly clumsy at times, but they are learning and I can tell that they are improving.  I'm still working on trying to get them  in the lab on a consistent schedule, but so far I think they are working out very well.  They are accomplishing double the work that I could have done each week, and I'm not even sure how I could have done half of it.  Even though it was very difficult to relinquish control of some of my experiments, I realized that it would be so helpful to me in regards to what I could accomplish this summer along with just having the experience in managing others.  Other people have told me "I would never trust my experiments to someone else", and I used to think that way, too.  But, eventually, I guess I approached this thinking that if I want to work in research or work at all really...I will have to trust that people can get the job done.  I cannot do everything myself, even though I would LOVE to have my hand in everything.  It's just not possible!  I believe that I took the time to teach them how to be courteous and safe in the lab, and I do check on them from time to time.  I still have to correct some of the things they do in the lab (e.g., keep your safety glasses on!!!), but they seem to be thriving well on their own in the lab.  

Third, I'm having a baby!  Did I say that already?  :)  

I'm going to end this post now as it's fairly lengthy already.  I have some other updates, but I'll fill you in on them soon enough I'm sure.  have a super week!

Recent Travels: GSA in Baltimore and ACS in San Francisco

Just quick post to say that I had successful visits to both Baltimore, MD, and San Francisco, CA, for two different conferences:  the Geological Society of America Northeastern/Southeastern Joint Sectional Meeting (GSA) and the American Chemical Society (ACS), respectively.

At the GSA meeting in Baltimore, MD, I presented a poster on a 6-day coal unit and a presentation on an activity for the rock cycle that were both developed for my NSF funded TESSE Fellowship (with the help of other TESSE Fellows) for use in K-12th grade classrooms.  The poster session I attended was fantastic!  I have never blabbed like that to so many people during a 2-hour poster session...actually, I don't think many people ever stop to look at my poster, so this was a great surprise.  I spoke with the young crowd (aka the undergrad students) and several grad students and professors.  With each group of people, I found myself not feeling so stressed when talking to them (I can usually only manage "yes" or "no" around people...but I have to say that I'm actually getting more comfortable in face-to-face talking).  They all really seemed to enjoy the Coal poster (who wouldn't love it?  it's about coal!).  They were all so easy to talk to, and they were even willing to share their own lessons and experiences in teaching, which are always fun to hear about.  I'm pretty sure that I also encouraged everyone that I talked with to publish their lessons in a geology or education journal.  A lot of them seemed so surprised that their lessons would be publication worthy, but their lessons were so impressive that everyone should know about them (and I told them that).  They seemed inspired (maybe I'm being silly)...I hope they do publish, though!  My presentation on a "Choose Your Own Adventure" activity for the Rock Cycle was also a success.  In fact, the entire session on Innovations in Teaching Earth System Science for the K-12 Classroom was a success.  Several of the teachers involved with TESSE also came to speak, and they did a fantastic job!  They were all so nervous to speak (I was surprised by this...they're teachers after all!), but they had great presentations and they got some great feedback.  If you like, you can see some of their papers (and my recent co-authored papers!) in the Winter Issue of The Earth Scientist.  You can also check out these and other activities from our TESSE dissemination blog.

My visit to San Francisco, CA, was wonderful, too!  I was traveling there to serve as one of two graduate students on the Executive Board Council of the Fuel Chemistry Division.  We were selected to come to the Spring and Fall 2010 National Meetings with the specific task of brainstorming (and implementing) different activities or ways to include more students (particularly women and underrepresented).  We got to sit in on several meetings and eat at some fabulous restaurants (it's usually about the food, right?).  Every morning I grabbed coffee (perfectly strong) and breakfast (you could choose from a variety of croissants, wraps, and other delicious baked goods made fresh daily by the students at San Francisco's own Baking Institute) from the Organic Coffee Company.  I also had the pleasure of witnessing a sensation in frozen yogurt that is called IceBee.  Just imagine filling a nicely sized tub of any variety of frozen yogurt your heart desires including all the toppings you want (all for $0.43/oz)...AMAZING!  However, I've been told by a very reliable source with ties to Oklahoma that Passion Berri beats IceBee any day...I will certainly book a flight to Oklahoma just to find out.  I enjoyed a tasty steak from Lark Creek Steak along with some seriously killer desserts:  mini red velvet whoopie pies (I affectionally dub them Orbs here in PA) and butterscotch pudding (see photos).

We also had some FANTASTIC French Vietnamese food from Le Colional.  Everything was served family style so you could try several different foods.  I would make a trip back to San Francisco just to go there again...amazing!

Of course, we also got to attend some great talks AND see the city (see photos).

We also attended the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market (organized by CUESA - Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture) near the bay, which I managed NOT to take any pictures of!  I did get some delicious carrot soup, strawberries and chocolate almond bark there, though...DELICIOUS!  The market is every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.  You should definitely try to attend it if you are in San Francisco during those days of the week!  I really only got one morning to do some sight-seeing, so I definitely would like to plan another visit there with Brandon.

I think I'm done traveling for a little while...it's fun, but soooo tiring.  I love conferences, too, because they get me fired up again about my research.  I definitely need to spend some time in the lab, so these conferences were just what I needed to get a fire lit under my butt, again!

Driving 101 (with a Manual Transmission)...Again

A few years ago (circa fall 2001) my boyfriend (now my hubby), Brandon, sincerely and patiently taught me how to drive his car that had a manual transmission.  We mostly practiced "stop and go" in his apartment complex's parking lot with a huge focus on the "go".  I'm sure we had a few practice sessions (maybe two?) before I was "comfortable" driving on an actual road with (gasp!) traffic.  My last memory of driving his car was after one of our blue & white cross country meets (side note:  These meets are similar to the blue & white inter squad PSU football game that happens in the spring, except this was the PSU women's cross country team obviously.  I was on the white team that year, not that it matters).  I remember screeching out of the parking lot (my trademark getaway) and nearly hitting someone from my team - good times, right?  eeek!  

I was actually getting OK at driving his car (at least I remember it that way...no tires squealing or pedestrian lives in danger), and then for some reason I just stopped driving his car.  Now that I think more about it, though, that same year was when the September 11 attacks occurred leading to the activation of multiple National Guard Units across the nation - including Brandon's local Air National Guard unit.  Within a couple weeks of the attacks, he had swiftly withdrawn from PSU and was then stationed in Rome, NY, at NEADS (now EADS) for what turned out to be two years.  I stayed at PSU during that time (and pretty much up until now)...lived a lot, learned a little...and eventually here we are in 2010.  And, sadly, I never drove his car again....until today!

For years, literally, Brandon and I joked about me driving his car and how I always had a lame excuse.  Some examples of our brief conversations:  

Bran:  "you wanna drive?" 

Me:  "oh, I can't.  I'm wearing heels" or "I can't. I just showered" or "Nope. I broke my ankle."

I think you get it...lame!

So, yes, I had my first practice session since 2001 today.  I was inspired to learn again, after reading Miss Melly's gals guide blog (see here:  Gals Guide).  I honestly did want to drive his car all these years, but I was truly uncomfortable with the thought of not really being in control of the car since I was so out of practice.  Reading Melly's blog, though, got me thinking that it's silly that I don't know how to drive a manual transmission.  I know how to change wiper blades (seriously cake!) and perform other deceivingly easy tasks, I should know how to drive a car with a manual transmission!  Therefore,  I will be spending some quality time with Brandon to re-learn how to drive a car with a manual transmission.  

We only had an hour or so to practice today, but I feel some of it coming back to me.  I must say, I remember from before and I am realizing again today - Brandon's pretty damn patient (lucky me!).  Even with all the jerky, screeching and stalling moments, he still smiles at me and encourages me to keep trying.  :)

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings(!) and Nittany Valley Symphony

While I did not accomplish anything related to my work over the past weekend, I did have a fantastic time attending two very different concerts.

On Friday eve, I attended a show featuring Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings at The State Theatre here in State College, PA.  If you have never heard of her and her band, then you are seriously missing out!  Hubby and I got the chance to see her over the summer during our travels to Oregon (see:  Out West for a Bit).  I would say that she is the equivalent to James Brown regarding her energy, funky sound and soul, but she is just as dynamic, classy and polished as I would imagine Tina Turner is live...even though at 4'8" her legs aren't quite as long as Tina's.  I first heard of the amazing Ms. Sharon Jones during my early days of Pandora circa 2004 thanks to Grad School - on a side note:  all hail to Pandora for helping me discover some really awesome music!  You've probably unknowingly heard her band, though, on Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" album, which (I'm just gonna say it) is all about the Dap-Kings' contribution...they KILL on that record.  Winehouse has on OK voice (in my opinion), but it's the music (aka the Dap-Kings contribution) that is more memorable to me.  Of course, Winehouse wrote the music (I think?) so I suppose she KILLS, too :-)

Before the show, hubby and I had dinner at India Pavilion (yummy Chana Masala for me!) with one of my former roomies and her hubby who were also attending the show with us.  I have a little crush on Ms. Jones, so I bought the tickets for the show literally seconds after they went on sale.  With that, I was able to score front row "seats".  I say "seats" because I really didn't expect to be sitting the entire show, and I was correct.  DJ Roman Oakwood from local station The Lion @ 90.7FM  "warmed us up" with his enthusiasm and funky spins...totally fun and appreciative guy.  Then soon after, the Dap-Kings came out and got us on our feet (after some initial uncomfortable eye contact associated with being so close to them) to introduce Ms. Jones.  The whole show was so entertaining - she's pulling people up and performing her ass off!  Two lucky ladies - me and my former roomie(!) - also got pulled onstage during "My Man is a Mean Man".

Yup, that's US!  (thanks to hubby)

We danced a bit, introduced ourselves, and then "shimmied" off the stage.  It was so fun!  Of course, she has to end the show at some point, but (of course) there was an Encore.  She performed "Answer Me" and also told us about enduring some of the criticism that she faced when trying to get signed - e.g., too black, too fat, and too old (she's 53!).  I would say she has prevailed, and I'm sure those music executives are kicking themselves.  We all got to meet her after the show, and she graciously signed two records for me.  I would definitely recommend all of their albums, and you should see them perform live if you can.  In fact, all of the Daptone Records artists are amazing.  On another side note - Grooveshark is another awesome online music site that I use to listen/sample several different artists and bands.  You won't be disappointed buying her albums, though.  I almost forgot to mention, too, that Ms. Jones will be singing a duet with Michael Buble on Saturday Night Live on Jan. 30!

Just for fun, here's another photo from Friday eve.

Yeah, I see you!

Hubby and I also attended a Nittany Valley Symphony concert on Saturday eve.  My former roomie (yes, the one dancing on the stage with me!) plays the violin in it.  While I do not have tales of dancing on the stage this time around, it was definitely a great performance.  I grew up listening to a lot of classical music, mostly due to my many many years of ballet dancing, so it's still fun for me to hear it live especially when you know someone playing.  They performed pieces from Dvorak and Bartok.  I love me some New World Symphony, so I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B Minor (Op. 104).  I really (sadly) don't know Bartok, but enjoyed his Concerto for Orchestra, which seemed extremely difficult to play.  Nevertheless, the NVS performed it and Dvorak brilliantly.  It was a good change from the previous night, but still very enjoyable - two date nights for me and hubby in a row!  It's also fun to attend their performances, because I always recognize someone new in the symphony that I "know" - either they are professors or I just see them around the community at random places.

Overall, it was a very lazy weekend for me - we also managed to watch the last 5 episodes of Lost (Season 5) after the concert on Saturday.  I'm slightly ashamed of myself for spending so much time in front of the TV - but only slightly as we really don't watch anything else and it's taken us an entire year to watch all five seasons (I know people watch them over 5 DAYS...at least we spread it out!).  For now, though, it's back to work work work!  These experiments and dissertation aren't going to finish themselves!!!  All the best to you and your work - work hard!

Been Travelin'

Obviously, it's been a while since I've posted an update. While I definitely took some time off after passing my Comps, I've also been busy planning what's next and also visiting family and friends. I'll quickly give you the run down on the past couple months...just to keep you updated :-)

1. Thanksgiving at PSU with hubby. We brined the most delicious turkey (you must have some next time) mimicking the recipe here. We also made all the typical fixings (i.e., stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, potatoes, gravy) that you might have including the necessary macaroni and cheese that is a staple at my house at every holiday/celebration. I love to bake, so I also made a pumpkin roll that looked pretty lousy (due to wrong pan size) but was very tasty. I even convinced Lady Caroline to come for dinner (she took a break from cleaning her house to eat with us)!

2. Home to Ohio with hubby and Grady. My visit home was two fold - see my family and attend my 10 year High School Reunion. Per usual, we had good food at my sister's and we played a lot of Canasta. The reunion was fun, too - I got to see a lot of my facebook friends that I haven't actually spoken to in person since high school. Some didn't show, though, which was a bummer. Hubby came, too, and got to meet a lot of my friends from then.

3. Christmas at hubby's mum's house. This long weekend was filled with way too much food/cookies, multiple games of dominoes, and questions directed to me/us about when we will have babies. Example: "Isn't it time to have a baby? Sometimes it isn't good to wait so long." Even so, it was good to get away from State College. Prior to the trip, I made 4 more pumpkin rolls with this recipe here using my leftover pumpkin from Thanksgiving. I used the correct jelly roll pan, and they all turned out perfect.

4. Quick visit with my brother and his family. The last time I saw my brother and his family was when I had my foot in a cast, so that was a LONG time ago (almost a year!). His wife was also pregnant with their 3rd baby then. Needless to say, I was extremely excited to visit them even if it was just for a couple days. Hubby stayed behind, but I brought Grady along. I was a little worried how Grady would be with the kids and the baby, but I have to say that I was very proud of my little man. He listened to me like he's never listened before (or since LOL), and he was the perfect dog. The boys loved him, and the baby girl was in LOVE. It probably doesn't hurt that he looks like a little bear. Even my brother and his wife commented on how great he was - so proud! It was so fun to see my nephews and my new baby niece! I also had some good conversations with my brother and his wife, which makes me feel a little grown up! haha I don't feel like such a baby sister anymore.

5. New Year's celebration with college friends. Hubby and I spent the long New Year's weekend with some of my really good girlfriends from college: Diana (and hubby) from London, Meagan from California, and Celia (and bf) from Philly. We rented a cabin in the Pocono Mountains and pretty much didn't leave all weekend. We ended up leaving Grady at a local kennel, which was heartbreaking (to me) to say the least. It was my first time leaving him at a kennel, and it was a desperate move on my part. I had other plans for him but they fell through. I would have liked to have introduced him to the kennel better than just leaving him there, but sometimes you have to adapt. Turns out, he was fine at the kennel. And now, I am over it (for now). Our weekend was fantastic - it was filled with too much partying, Apples to Apples, Jenga, terrible Euchre playing by me (due to too much partying), football, and a lot of good food. We haven't all been together since my wedding (more than 2 years ago!), so it was great to see everyone and reminisce. We're hoping to plan another get together in a couple years at a more exotic location :-)

6. Rome for 10 days. Hubby and I just got back from visiting Rome, NY - that's right NY not Italy. He had some Air Force National Guard duties to attend to, and I didn't want to be left alone so long...so, I came with him (Grady, too!). I haven't been to Rome since 2005! So, it was time that I went and visited his friends there (some of whom I haven't seen since my wedding, too!). We hit the usual spots in Rome: Teddy's for delicious Riggies, La Roma Pizzeria for Calzones, The Franklin for general good Italian food, and Black River Ale House for wings. We also visited Syracuse for a basketball game at The Carrier Dome followed by dinner at Dinosaur BBQ. We were also treated to more delicious Chicken Riggies at a friend's house and even some Mexican food at Juanita's at their newer location in Liverpool. You can see, our visit revolves around the local cuisine specialities. I managed to get sick for 4 days (still recovering!), but it was such a good trip. I didn't get much accomplished (if anything) either relating to my thesis or other publications...but, I did a lot of thinking about them :-)

7. Up next. I am working on an outline/draft for one or two publications based on my research so far - these will focus on my analytical work. I'm also building on my thesis, which is pretty weak so far...but, you gotta start somewhere.

I'll be more active on here now that the holidays are over. All the best to you!

Win or lose - we booze!

just a quick note to say that I passed (!!) my Comprehensive PhD exam yesterday! I am so very happy to have that completed. Overall, it truly wasn't that bad. I feel like I stood my ground and didn't get flustered. Of course, I didn't know everything they asked me AND some of it I did know but couldn't quite get the correct words to come out of my mouth in an eloquent answer. Regardless, it's over and done!

And, I don't even feel depleted like I did after my Master's or Candidacy exams...totally excellent! I will definitely take some time to clean up around here (apt, car, office, puter, etc.), but I will also keep at it with my research with even more intensity.

Here's hoping to graduation in 2010!!!

love my family!

So...my Comps Exam is Friday at 1pm (mark your calendar to send me positive vibes). I sent a note out to my family about it last week, and today I received a care package from my brother and his family (they live in NY) filled with delicious butterscotch oatmeal cookies (two bags!) and a handmade card from my adorable nephew.

It says "Good luck. Love, Drew" inside haha

My parents are coming tomorrow from Ohio so they can see my Comps presentation on Friday. I think they will also be sticking around for the questions. I'm super nervous about this exam, but I'm really happy that my 'rents will be there - they can see what I have been doing with my life! They've always been soooo supportive and encouraging, which is something I thrive on. I think my hubby will also be making an appearance. I hear Colin Cowherd from ESPN is going to be at the HUB, though, around the same time as my defense so we'll see if he shows up for my presentation. haha

...can't wait for Friday to be over...so much to do before then!

THON 5K!

Just a quick note to say that I participated in the THON 5K today with Nari.

THON is HUGE at Penn State, and it is deservedly so - through this organization, much money has been raised to support children battling cancer (I believe over $60 million!). THON certainly deserves its own post (which I do not have time to write about currently). So, for more information about THON (and to donote to the cause) go to this website: http://www.thon.org/donors.

I signed up for this race a couple months ago with the plan to do some decent training in preparation - of course, that fell through :) But, I did show up this morning and I did finish the race without walking in approximately 28 min and 5 seconds. This is not my PR (that is 19 min 30 sec...from high school), but it wasn't that bad either. I was worried about the start of the race because that is always really tight and people are literally pushy. I was just hoping that no one tripped me because my reflexes still are not 100%. Fortunately, I did not fall down (even though I was pushed...how rude!). it's all fun, though :)

After this week is over, I'm going to look for another race to run in soon. Maybe this next time I will actually "race" in it instead of just trotting along. Still, it feels good to have completed it. It was also very encouraging to see the supporters out along the course - what a great group! It was a lovely day, which also helped.

I'm certainly pooped currently haha but I'm off to study for a bit! have a good week!

Fun with Voice Memos: Squirrel Talk

With my amazing cell phone, I can record "voice memos" - and the fun that ensues with this feature is endless.

Today, while both working on my Comps paper and watching the Penn State game, I heard the most amazing noise coming from outside my sliding glass door. I creeped around the corner so quietly (I thought it was a bird, and I didn't want to scare it) to see the most squirrely of squirrels sitting on one of the branches of the tree nearest to our building. For about 45 seconds, I listened and watched as the squirrel continued its chirping. And then (Eureka!), I remembered that I could record the sound! I've heard many squirrels making this sound before, but usually they are chasing each other up and down and around the trees while making the sound. Today, though, this one squirrel just sat on a branch and chirped...so with the magic of my phone and iMovie (and some luck in that the squirrel didn't run away)...

I bring you: Squirrel Talk (Turn the volume up!)

Note: I know my editing skills and photography are poor (to say the least haha), I will improve them both for future movies. Enjoy!

PS-If you listen closely, you can hear another squirrel chirping in the distance somewhere...long lost squirrel friends? I think so :)

Lonely Bananas

I have a soft spot for the bananas at the grocery that have been yanked from their cluster mates (and now they sit in a pile with all the other lonely bananas) so that people can get the "perfect" cluster amount of bananas. I see it all the time, but why does it happen? who knows...

Are the lonely bananas worse tasting than the clustered ones? doubt it.

Is it really too much for someone to take home 5 bananas rather than 4? apparently!

If so, why not pick 4 lonely bananas and leave the clusters for someone else who will take the lot?

Check out the lonesome bananas when you go grocery shopping next - you will likely see 20-30 of them in a pile just waiting to be gobbled up while their cluster mates leave. I feel like I could make up a cartoon/story about this (I'm suddenly feeling very passionate about the lonely bananas), and I'm starting to giggle about the thought of it (am picturing the lonely bananas commiserating together while the teams/clusters of bananas have a party). heehee

Note: I'm actually slightly allergic to bananas (I really can't eat them without some kind of throat itching/swelling)...but they are so good, right?

(Positively) Freaking Out

About 3 weeks ago, it was decided that I was ready for my Comprehensive Exam.

...3 weeks later (today!), I'm starting to freak out (!) because I haven't accomplished anything really, yet I have SO much to do. I thought I was ready for this exam, but I'm feeling anything but ready - I feel doomed! I can feel the doom and gloom mounting on me as I write this (forget the dreams I've already had about this exam!).

To show you how chaotic I am currently, here is a photo of my desk today - actually to clarify, here is a photo of my desk plus the neighboring desk that I've commandeered within the past week:

Eeeeeek...it's wild!

But even with the "doom and gloom" feeling, I'm going to think more positively for there are others in the World who are more legitimately in need of positive vibes and prayers. I don't mean to get heavy, but take note: 1) A family (and our campus) is currently mourning the loss of their son, a freshman student, and 2) A family is dealing with health issues after already overcoming so much. I've never met either family, yet I feel very emotionally affected by their stories. And, I feel silly for being so concerned about my Comps Exam. Deep down I know everything will be OK regarding my exam - whether I pass it now or later. And, I think it's OK that I'm worried about passing it - I just need to put this part of my life into perspective by making sure it maintains its proper (and theoretical) place in "my life hierarchy" (I don't really have a diagram of this mapped out, btw).

So...wish me many productive mornings, days, and nights preparing for my exam! It should be a doozy.

Puppies!

Since it's been soooooooo long since I posted, I thought posting some pics of puppies would be good. These schnoodles (poodle+schnauzer mixes) were listed on statecollege.com's website recently:

There's more of a story about these pups, but first I have a confession - I often look for dogs to adopt. Seriously, any downtime I have between runs at the lab or while I'm eating lunch, I'm looking at dogs (while still looking at Etsy, no shame). But I always check Petfinder.com. First, I search for "poodle" and then I search for "schnauzer" (all within our local zip code). If I'm really feeling wild, though, I'll search zip codes in Ohio. After all, Petfinder.com is where I found Grady (he was originally named Stone) whom we named after Grady Sizemore of the Cleveland Indians. We didn't know much about Grady/Stone before we got him - we just knew where he was located and what he looked like (see his pic below!):

Before we got Grady, I had been searching Petfinder.com for months and months to find a dog. I filled out many applications naming friends and vets as references, but most places wanted owners to have some experience with dogs since the rescue dogs may have some "issues" (I had never fully been responsible for a dog, while Hubby has but it was a few years ago). I do understand this, but it was sad for me because I really wanted to help a dog! It was also difficult for me to find a dog because I'm very allergic to dogs that shed, so I really needed one that did not shed much (even though I'm sooooo in love with Rottweilers). I grew up with a poodle named Lady who was the prettiest lady ever (see pic of me and Lady below!), so I knew I could handle poodles (and likely a poodle mix).

When I saw Grady/Stone online (listed as a poodle possibly mixed with schnauzer), I called about him immediately and the woman on the phone was very friendly. She told me that Stone was "very manly" (haha), and a great dog. We talked for a few minutes more and then we decided that I was going to come pick up Grady/Stone that week! Hubby and I drove out to New Philadelphia, Ohio, to get him (kinda close to where Hubby grew up in Kent, Ohio) - That was nearly two years ago (we got him in October 2007), and I know we really got lucky with him. He had some issues with worms for a few months when we first got him, but he kicked that eventually and has been "clean" ever since. I'm not sure why anyone would ever give him up, but I'm very thankful that we get to raise him as our little guy. Because I can't resist, here are some pics of our boy:

Grady's comforting me during my recovery.

Grady's working hard.

So...back to the 4 puppies above! Where we live, there is another schnoodle named Socrates (the owners call him Socks for short, and Hubby calls him Grady's "philosopher friend" heehee). Socks and Grady are great friends! Socks is originally from Maryland where he was found wandering the streets (He had mange and was unable to do his business easily b/c he was so dirty and uncared for - poor guy!). We usually get together on Sundays outside to let the dogs romp around for a bit...I have to get it on video because it's so cute. Socks' owners love Grady (they call him Big G heehee), and they are always telling us about how they are searching for another schnoodle to adopt.

To make an unnecessarily long story short - They are actually who told me about the schnoodles on statecollege.com - so I had to check them out online! Of course, Hubby and I loved them instantly. But, we know our time currently is very limited (and we still want to rescue a more needy dog), so instead I showed other people close to us in hopes that they would want one! After pining over them for a week, I showed the ad to a friend and she was smitten, too! On Friday, we made a visit to the pups and now she is going to get one! I can't reveal who the new owner is yet, but I will post a sneaky picture of them together (and maybe you can guess). :)

New owner and new schnoodle!

I hope you enjoyed the puppies, and I hope you get a dog!! :) They are the greatest companions and friends.

I'm in Media, PA!

I have a good friend from Media, PA, and I sent him a text upon arriving here saying "I'm in Media!"...his response was "haha why?".

I'm in Media, PA, at the Penn State Brandywine campus attending a workshop as part of my TESSE Fellowship responsibilities (FYI: TESSE stands for Transforming Earth System Science Education). Essentially, I serve as a content expert (along with two other grad students) on earth and space science to a suite of teachers from primarily Pennsylvania (there are also a handful of teachers from Delaware, Kentucky, Michigan, and North Carolina).

Like most things involving grad students, this fellowship is made possible through a 3-year grant (this is the final year of the grant). I was lucky to be involved with this program last school year, and I feel even more lucky to be involved with this program again this school year. The workshop itself is geared toward current and budding Earth Science teachers who are interested in enhancing/refining/developing/etc. their content knowledge and teaching practices/methods/techniques involving earth sciences. Several topics relating to earth sciences are covered during this workshop, and there are also wonderful exercises that we go through as an entire group to demonstrate some of the activities that can be implemented in their classrooms.

Some quick reminiscing of my childhood: Once upon a time, I was going to be a geologist. I had chosen this occupation when I was in 5th grade based on my love of collecting rocks. Not similarly (and more of a side note), I also loved to stand in my backyard with an umbrella while it was raining and give fake weather reports to the trees. I digress. I have loved the Earth from an early age, which carried over to my undergraduate years when I was an Earth Sciences major. So even though my current work is in energy, I still have a very strong love/interest/passion for the Earth Sciences.

While I do not consider myself an expert of Earth Sciences, I do consider myself as a great resource for the participating teachers due to my different research experiences in Earth Sciences and Energy. At some point this week, I will be paired up with a handful of the teachers and we will continue interacting throughout the school year. I had a great experience with the teachers I was paired with last year, and I am hopeful about the teachers in this group - they are a lot of fun already.

I have much more to say about the TESSE program and workshop, but I will save those for later posts as I can tell I'm beginning to ramble. BUT! I will quickly say that being around the teachers really makes me appreciate the work/desire that goes into teaching. They also have wonderful stories - both amusing and heartbreaking - about their experiences...but, you can tell that they really care about their students AND they really care about doing a good job. I love that! I am excited about the rest of the workshop!

Out West for a Bit

Hubby and I traveled to Oregon over the July 4th holiday weekend - we traveled for two reasons: 1) to attend a wedding on July 3rd for one of my best guy friends ever, and 2) to spend some time together away from work, PA, and our apt (sadly, that also meant our little Grady Bones, too). I had it planned that we'd spend the first night away in Portland then travel to Bend, OR, for 3 nights, and then the last two nights were up in the air (we weren't sure if we wanted to spend more time in Portland or try to make a run for the coast). I tried to highlight some of our travels here (if you'd like to read about it).

Per usual Bran and Mere fashion, our first night was kind of a bust as we weren't really prepared for what to do or see in Portland. Once we settled into the hotel and got cleaned up, we wandered the streets of the city in search of food (we're almost always driven by food in our travels). I like to try places that are popular with the local people, so we asked around and no one really suggested anything exciting except the food carts (that were in the process of closing down booo). Armed with iPhones, we did the best we could to find something to eat (damn you semi-fancy hotel for charging $17.95 a night for wifi, while I can get free wi-fi at the cheapie hotels!). side note: Thank goodness for our phones! They were such a great help with food suggestions (thanks to the nifty Apps available) and with map directions (although, my interpretation of those directions is less than desired...).

The next day was much more exciting as we made a stop at Peet's Coffee & Tea and Voodoo Doughnut before driving to Bend. The coffee was deliciously strong, and the doughnuts were more than delicious.

There was this humorous "sign" on one of the buildings nearby.

We also walked around the Riverfront Area (Willamette River) and observed the locals. There was a nice fountain called Salmon Street Springs where the kids gravitated to (makes sense due to the 90 degree weather).

Perhaps the only photo of me during our travels :) (note to self: get Bran his own camera!)

The drive to Bend was GORGEOUS. The first 45 min of it was mostly driving through strip mall areas, but eventually we were out of the city (and its borough areas)...and we were out in the open where there were mountains and hills and nature! Here's just a few shots during the drive from Portland to the high desert of Bend!

Along the way, as the elevation increased, you could see the noticeable difference in the amount of trees alongside the road. This is partly due to the low amount of rainfall (normal for the high desert), but I hear it's also due to an out of control infestation of bark beetles. You could see many MANY dead trees. These beetles aren't invasive, but they are thriving more than ever due to the unfavorable changes in climate over the past 20 years (if you believe there have been changes in temps). The winters aren't getting cold enough to kill them off each year so they are multiplying in record numbers and killing off the trees instead. :( I'm not sure if I have this issue completely understood, but it's definitely something I'll look into when I have more time.

We finally reach the Hillside B&B in Bend (our destination for the next three nights) where we meet our Innkeeper Annie. She was great, and her house was beautiful!

We stayed on the second floor in our own suite.

We did a quick clean up and change, and then we were off to one of the outdoor pavilions within Sunriver Resort for a "Wedding Celebration Grill/BBQ" (aka casual rehearsal dinner for every guest). Sunriver, OR, is about 30 min from Bend, and it's pretty much an all inclusive "resort". The majority of the wedding party and the guests stayed in Sunriver, but I found it too expensive for our short stay. So with the 30 minute drive, we had to be extra on time to make sure we weren't late for the events. The BBQ, though, was fantastic - amazing food (I can only describe my meal as a mix of bruschetta and tri tip beef with grilled veggies) and an entertaining cornhole tournament. It was also good to see some of my old acquaintances from Ohio there. We stayed out late with other guests and part of the wedding party, which was also a good time. Bran got his poker fix in, and I got to know some of the groom's friends better (those that are not from our high school).

The next morning we went white water rafting on the Deschutes River, and it was such a great time! We did a trip called the Big Eddy thriller, and it left us wanting more. I don't have any pictures, unfortunately, but I can tell you that I swallowed a lot of water and got a lot in my eyes. BUT I did not fall out of the raft or hit anyone with my paddle. :) We then had lunch at The Trout House, which is a little restaurant in Sunriver that's situated right by one of the marinas on the Deschutes River. As we ate lunch by the windows overlooking the river, we watched countless numbers of people (and dogs) launch their boats, kayaks, canoes, inner tubes, etc., to float down the river. Food was OK but the view was quite lovely, actually.

The wedding was this same day in the evening at 5pm. The ceremony was outside and Mt. Bachelor was seen in the background. It was truly picturesque. Here are some pics from after the ceremony.

The wedding party:

Two well-dressed sillies:

This is the interior of the Great Lodge (aka Camp Abbot) where the reception took place. I'm sure my photo will not do it justice, but just know that it is a beautiful building with a lot of very interesting history.

There was much fooding, dancing, drinking, and reminiscing during the reception. Aside from my own wedding reception, it was the most fun I've had at a wedding. This was also honestly the most beautiful wedding I have ever attended. The colors, scenery, people, bride's gown, location, and reception (plus so many other things), meshed so well together.

The next day was July 4th and I had planned for us to go kayaking in the afternoon. We got picked up in Bend upon which we were driven up to Cultus Lake that's located in the Cascades. We were joined by a family of four and a couple. They were all a lot of fun, and I think we were all newbies at it. The kayaks were 2 seaters, so it was interesting (and often hilarious) for Bran and I to get the timing and motion of the paddling just right. This excursion was supposed to include a tour around the lake with stories from our guide about the area, but we only got to hear one story due to thunder being in the area. When the guide finished his story about NASA astronauts from the 1960s training on the volcanoes in the area (they thought the terrain may be similar to the moon's terrain), we quickly paddled to the shore and waited for 15 minutes to see if we heard thunder again. If we didn't, then we'd venture back out onto the lake. Luckily, there was no more thunder! So we got to spend a few more minutes on the lake, but we didn't get to hear anymore stories :( Still it was a good time, and I think it was a good activity for Bran and me. We'll definitely be looking into doing more kayaking in the future. Here are some photos of our kayaking adventure:

Hubby before we left the beach:

The only pic I managed to take while on the lake:

Two sillies during the thunder waiting period:

We stopped for a swim in this part of the lake:

The water was chilly, but not unbearable. It was a really good time!

To celebrate July 4th, we met much of the wedding guests at Les Schwab Amphitheater to watch the fireworks get set off from Pilot Butte. Apparently, with it being the high desert, the Butte always catches on fire. We heard many of the locals joking about this, and we actually got to witness it as well. Since it happens often, the fire department was ready for it and they got the fire under control within 30 seconds. The fireworks were OK (not as impressive as Columbus' or State College's), but fireworks are always fun. It was also good to see some of the wedding guests again along with the bride and groom.

We decided to go back to Portland for our last two nights. Again, the drive between Bend and Portland is AMAZING!

I have always thought that driving through Pennsylvania is really beautiful (and it still is), but Oregon is pretty impressive. After checking into our hotel in the city, we headed to the Safeway sponsored Waterfront Blues Festival. The purpose of the five day festival was to get food and monetary donations to support Oregon's food banks (we donated four cans of tuna!). I knew this festival was going on before we left for Oregon, and I got lucky that two acts were playing that Sunday night (the last night of the festival) that I REALLY wanted to see: Ryan Shaw and Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings.

This is Ryan Shaw:

Two sillies in between performances:

The one and only Sharon Jones and her band:

I had such a great time seeing them! I still can't believe I actually got to see them perform. I wish we could have seen acts from earlier in the day (and earlier in the week). There was also lots of good looking and smelling food (we ate before we got there...silly us!). Afterwards, we got beer, more food, and dessert at McMenamins Market Street Pub. It definitely was a local joint - very laid back and homey. I wish we could have visited it again the next day.

Our last day in Portland consisted of more fooding at Sugar Mamas' (sooooooo good) and then an afternoon at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

We saw Bugs!: A Rainforest Experience at the IMAX theater, and then visited the rest of the museum. It's very similar to one of my favorite museums in Columbus called Center of Science and Industry (COSI). It's essentially a hands-on science center geared toward kids and families yet it can still be enjoyed by much older "kids" like us. I think we could have spent a full day there instead of an afternoon.

A pic with OMSI's submarine! (unfortunately, we didn't get to tour it)

Bran took a particular interest in all of the brainteasers spread out within the center.

View of the city from back of OMSI.

Two sillies outside OMSI:

We concluded our day with delicious burritos from Taqueria Los Gorditos...the tastiest in Portland! I found out about this place from a blog - too funny!

With that, we ended our night early due to our 6:45am flight the next day back to the real world. If you're still reading this, then you're a champ! Overall, we had a great time in Portland and Bend - we'll definitely try to visit again in the future. Maybe you can come with us :)

Thanks for reading!