| Blah |
[Jun. 17th, 2006|05:39 pm] |
Got done with my teaching requirement. Which means I don't have any more grading to do, lessons to plan, students to deal with.
Got done with my classes (for the summer at least). No studying, no tests, no homework...
Have some stuff that I need to read up to prep for labs. Given that I am going to some science geek retreat for the next couple of days tho, no real need to worry about that right now.
Gods, I am so bored that even video games don't seem amusing to me right now. I've reached the point where television sounds dull, don't want to go out and see a movie, I could clean house... ick...
Ah, the life of the single, adult graduate student in a small college town during the summer. Recovering from finals burn out... |
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| Life? |
[Jun. 14th, 2006|09:16 pm] |
Just got done with my last final for the next few months today. It made me wonder... why?
Based on all scientific evidence, there is absolutely nothing past this life. All that we are, all that we were, is all based on electrical impulses in the brain that fade (rather quickly) once the blood stops reaching that portion of the body.
People like to argue the law of thermodynamics, that energy can not be created nor destroyed, however they like to conveniently ignore other rules of thermodynamics which state that energy goes from complex to simple, that it dissipates over time.
There is a high probability that all that we are is what we are right now, in this moment. That whatever genetic information that we chemically had shoved into us (against our wills), is what makes us who we are. That if we are fat, stupid, ugly, there is no karma. There is no reason for it other than simple bad genetics. Being a nice person, caring about others. That in the great scheme of things means absolutely nothing.
Is this the reason for religion? To 'scare' us into doing the right thing, to give us hope that if we strive to turn the other cheek, to give compassion to others, that we will somehow get a reward for it?
Don't get me wrong, I hope, I 'pray' that there is something else out there. That despite all that goes on around me, despite seeing people who truly seem to be evil getting the most out of life while some poor soul begs me for change so that he can escape the sad existence of life for awhile, that somehow karma will win out. That there is a reason for me to strive to be nice and polite to all, a reason to keep trying to learn all I can, a reason to... live?
Drew |
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| Absence |
[Jun. 8th, 2006|08:05 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  depressed | ] |
They say that absense makes the heart grow fonder. Have you ever really know that to be the case? In terms of a week or two, maybe so. A month or two... possibly. In all honsety, anything more than about 6 months and there really isn't much to go on anymore. Do I miss the people that I left back in Colorado? To a degree, yes. However it gets less every day I have to admit.
Case in point (and rant). I talked to someone I knew back in Colorado for the first time in awhile a few days ago. I considered this person a pretty good friend back then. While online chatting, I found out that he and a group of other people that I considered myself moderately close to were actually in the same state as myself (Oregon for those not paying attention). I was told that as my finals were getting close (next week, wish me luck!), they decided not to contact me.
How polite! Visiting other people they knew out here, and being kind enough to not to bother to let me know so that I could study!
Slowly but surely, I come to the realization that friendship means very little to anyone anymore. Love? Love is something that comes and goes, something that you cherish when you have it, regret it when you don't, always wanting more no matter what is there. People use you to the best of their ability and then drop you when you are either not of any use to them, or inconvenient.
Now, I am not stupid, nor goth, I do realize how bitter all this sounds and I hate to sound bitter. But still... am I wrong?
Drew |
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| Cont. |
[Jun. 4th, 2006|09:02 pm] |
What can I say, I feel talkative tonight.
I have finally come to the conclusion that I don't understand people. Everywhere I turn I see these silly little drama inducing games that go on and do nothing other than generate strife and discord.
I am an only child. Thus, I have to admit that despite my total lack of social skill, I crave attention a great deal. Often, at a party or in a bar, I will go out of my way to crack jokes, make political observations in a witty form, or basically do what it takes to have people look in my direction. I generally have to be a sheet and a half to the wind in order to be up front about it, but still. I do enjoy attention.
The point I am making is that I enjoy positive attention. Yes, cracking jokes, etc tends to draw negative attention as well. Particularly around dumb or ignorant people, or the people you are making jokes about. Still, I have yet to understand the principle of gossip.
To note, there is an extreme difference between gossip and news. News relies on facts, information that does not pre-dispose someone to an opinion. Gossip essentially is also news, but often without facts behind it, and with the intent to make another person look bad.
The point I am attempting to make. Why do people use slander, libel, and other rude gestures targeted against other people? If you don't like someone, that is quite fine. There is a good list of people I don't like. I tend to avoid them and avoid comment about them. Why bother making things up about them, blowing things out of proportion concerning them, and generally being quite the evil person?
Am I odd in that if someone asks me something about someone I dislike, I tend to shrug, at the worst say I am not fond of them, and not go into details?
I will admit, as one might have noticed from my previous posts, I enjoy telling the news. I love being on screen, reading off the news stories, informing others to what is going on around them. However, how far away from that is gossip, where does one draw the line?
Drew
(ok, now I am done for the night, potentially until my finals are over = 2 weeks) |
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| Life |
[Jun. 4th, 2006|08:43 pm] |
Life, don't talk to me about life. Brain the size of a planet...
It is times like these where I truly understand the character of Marvin the Paranoid Android. Here I am, in grad school, attempting to teach various undergrads the fine art of microbiology. I stand, apart from their table, occasionally at the front of the classroom. I wander up and down the aisle, and I listen.
I hear what they complain about, I hear what they find 'cool', I hear what upsets them, I hear their life's aspirations. Do they know that I am listening, that I bother to hear anything they say beyond the shadow of what help 'I' can provide them? Quite doubtfully. Yet still they talk.
As they talk I realize the gap that has been occurring since I began to attend graduate school. It isn't necessarily a gap in education, it isn't really a gap in maturity, nor intelligence. Instead it is a strange combination of the three, blending together into something that I can not describe. Something that puts me apart from them, sympathizing with them, but knowing that they could never really understand my point of view.
I can somewhat imagine it would be what a Catholic priest must feel. Here he is, providing guidance, arranging for marriage, performing the ceremony, being a part of the proceedings, yet at the same time apart. Someone who is at one time an intimate part of what is going on, yet due to their life choice, they are also astranged from it all.
I keep forgetting how at their young age I thought that plus or minus ten years was a lifetime away from me. I think at that age it was. Now I encounter people ten to twenty years older and I find the gap in ages much smaller than someone even five to ten years younger than myself. In one moment I talk to a woman who I find attractive, yet at the same time think of her as childish, wandering doe-eyed into the big, scary world.
Part of me wishes that I never found my shadow, that the lost boys were still at my side, that I stayed in never-never land. In one breath I cry for my lost childhood, yet praise my new experience and maturity. Though I still miss my battles with Captain Hook, I am somewhat glad to have given them up.
Drew Russell Davidson
Graduate Student in Microbiology
Dreamer (on hold) |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 29th, 2006|08:45 pm] |
Just realized that it has been quite a long time since I have posted.
The more I get to know people, the less I actually understand people. Case in point; when I first arrived here I could not get along with anyone. It seemed that most of the people here tended to go out of their way to be rude to me more than anything else. Being me (and Canadian) I pretty much blew them off and did my own thing. In general, if someone is rude to me, I ignore them. If someone is nice, I am nice back.
It kind of started a few months back. The majority of the people who seemed to go out of there way to be rude to me started getting nicer and nicer. Now they act like I am one of their friends and such. Is it that people are generally stupid and tend to forget their actions against others? Is it that I am now considered to be 'cool' or some lame thing such as that, thus they have 'decided' to accept me as an equal? Don't get me totally wrong. I much prefer people being nice to me rather than the alternative, however... I do remember the way people act around me. I remember how they act towards others.
I have no intention of rocking the boat so to speak. I basically plan to ride this next year out to the best of my ability. Get as much work done towards my Masters degree as I can, and then see what the future holds for me. Do I decide to go to work after the Masters? Do I stay and get my PhD? Do I go completely against the grain and go for becomming an anchor on a news station? Right now I really can not say. I do miss Colorado and the people I have left behind a good deal. But instead of absence making the heart grow fonder, it really tends to just dull it a good deal. Though, I have also found that with good friends, distance is somewhat meaningless. When you are there, the friendship is just as strong as ever. Even if you don't have the chance to chat while you are gone.
Anyway, I do apologize for not posting. This semester has been moderately insane. Statistics homework, Microbial Ecology studying to get done (it is scary when your boss is also your teacher for a class), trying to get some research done, grading papers, teaching classes. The list does go on. This summer, no classes to take, teach, or grade. Just research. Which will take up a good deal of time, but also leave a bit of free time thank goodness.
Geez, forgot the whole original intent of this posting. I am 35! As of last Friday... I am now, without question, middle aged. HELP!
Best wishes,
Drew |
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| Argh!!! |
[Mar. 15th, 2006|07:02 pm] |
Well, have no idea what I said last time on my LJ so if I repeat myself, please forgive. It is official, I am going for my Masters degree now. Does this mean I have given up on a PhD? Honestly, I have no idea at this time.
I think this is for the best as it seems that it will take me about 2 years for me to get so I feel I know anything about whatever specific topic comes up. This way at least I get a project given to me by the professor, help doing it, all that good stuff. My professor actually thought it was a good idea going for a Masters instead as well.
Things here are as nutty as ever. Still doing the movie review show. Well at least I have been so much as they have been shooting. They have kind of been slacking as of late, which works pretty well for me as it gives me more time to study, grade, study, lab work, study... get the idea?
Currently am writing a script for a comedy series that we are hopefully going to shoot over spring break a little and over the summer. Should be some funny stuff. That is if I can get the other guys motivated enough to go through with it. Seems there are two distinct groups here, those who do work and nothing but work, live work, never think about anything BUT work. Then there are those who just really do nothing. Show up for class (occasionally), and really it is nearly impossible to get them to do anything at all. I am in the middle, leaning more towards the work-a-holic... just not LIVE work. Which makes people here confused about me. Ah well, I am used to confusing people so it is all good.
Anyhow, just wanted to send a quick update. I will try to get the show on DVD so when I am back in Colorado I can show it off.
Finals are coming! The Finals are coming! Next week... ARGH!
Drew |
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| Whew |
[Feb. 27th, 2006|05:08 pm] |
Well, to say that this semester has been busy would be quite an understatement to say the least. New lab with new professor, who is VERY cool and helpful. Actually have a project that I am working on with some interesting results - which leads to more research - which leads to the graduate equivalent of job security.
Being a T.A. for the hardest class (grading load wise) twice over. That tends to add a bit of work and stress on top of things.
Classes wise, I am enjoying them. Lots of reading and such, but luckily they aren't proving to be TOO hard as of yet.
Finally gotten done with midterms, have everything graded that needs to be graded. Heck, my professor seemed to indicate that I was working TOO much in the lab given my schedule and such. Thus doing two much smaller experiments that require less intervention (i.e. less going in, doing samples, etc.)
Since I finally had a moment to catch my breath (not a long one mind you), I figured I would write in my LJ as that has not been done in quite some time.
Overall Corvallis is finally starting to grow on me a bit. The people that I seemed to have issues with, I still have some issues, but for the most part I just stopped caring as I tend to get along with the majority here. Just had to modify my behavior a little bit (nothing too serious, just a bit of minor stuff, making my shyness come across as shyness rather than cocky mostly). It is still WAY the heck too small for me, but Salem and Eugene aren't TOO far away if I need a mall fix, and Portland is about as big city as big city gets.
In a lab that is keeping me very busy, which is actually awesome as the lab I was in before I literally had nothing to do for weeks on end. Which given the pain in the butt grad school is, was kind of nice... but I prefer being too busy as opposed to not busy enough. Good people in it also which is nice.
Cut back pretty much completely on doing the news. Just not enough time to research, input, read stories and such. Dunno if I will do it again in the near future or not. Pretty much stopped doing the radio thing as Sunday's are sacred to me (in terms of being able to sleep in after hanging out late on Saturday) and are taken as a day off. You know you are busy when you have to plan out your free time.
Still doing the movie review show as that allows me to go see free movies, and given the crap that I have sat through lately, I am really glad I have not had to pay. Still writing up little funny skits for a comedy show that my friends and I keep threatening to do. Basically, no gaming - still creative - need outlet or *BOOM*.
Not to be overly pessimistic, but I am almost worried as things seem to be going so well... too well...
Maybe not kicking puppies for the past few years has re-set the karmic scales...
Drew |
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| New Year |
[Jan. 4th, 2006|09:38 pm] |
I think I have gotten my New Years Resolution down. Now, normally I try to actually find one that does me some good, or is simply silly. This time I think I have one that I can keep rather easily, is moderately silly, and will do me some good.
This year I resolve not to date anyone. Yeah, kind of silly I know, and given my track record should be fairly easy to keep. Given that I am in graduate school, and really don't have the time or energy for the effort that dating involves, I think it would do me some good as well. Overall I think it will help out as it causes me to sort of push those dating, confusing, does she like me or not, sort of thoughts out of my head. If I start to fret about it, I remind myself of my resolution and just go on with what I was doing.
Other side things... just got back from a visit with my parents. Was in Arizona for a few days, then went on a cruise to some Caribbean islands. St. Maartin was my personal favorite, half Dutch, half French. Very pretty.
Odd side note, in a never ending attempt to be cool (I know, never happen), I decided that I would teach myself how to play the guitar. I started a few weeks before I left, picked it up again today. It is fun, I still have my basic ear so know how badly I play, can still read sheet music pretty well. Can sing while playing, which is REALLY hard to do with the saxophone, and just sounds wrong... I forgot how much I missed just sitting around and playing a few songs on an instrument.
Lastly, strongly beginning to lean towards just getting a Masters degree instead of a PhD... it will cost me quite a bit more money (which is not fun)... but overall, I really don't think I have the PhD mentality. I enjoy doing things other than writing grants, I think the academic system is pretty messed up, people say that a PhD can make it more difficult to find work as you are 'overqualified' outside the academic system. Right now, I have no idea... but I am leaning more and more towards that option.
Ah well, going to ride out this quarter to see how things go and figure it out from there.
Laters!
Drew |
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| Free! Free at last! |
[Dec. 8th, 2005|08:39 pm] |
Well moderately free, at least I will be free for about a month sort of... given that I still have some stuff to get done in my lab, and hopefully will have some other stuff to do for my new lab... Ok.. not free at all, but I have no classes that I have to endure, nor grade horrendous lab books of! At least for a month.
Kind of an odd stroke of luck. The professors for my worst class ended up putting up study questions on line. Now, the first go around (out of three) I sort of looked them over, but didn't focus on them. Turns out the first test had quite a bit from the study questions. The next go around, I focused a good deal on the study questions, and it turned out the test was mostly about being able to spew out odd protein structures from memorization. Not on the overall mechanics of the biological pathways that the tests on line seemed to focus on. This last one, due to a time crunch, I spent most of my time looking over the old tests, with a healthy portion of review of the class notes. No reading of the book, no reading of the scientific papers that were suggested to us. For three out of the four professors, the questions were straight off the old tests. YAY! That and given that I was the only person to actually ask for answers from one of the professors (to check my work on his old tests) and he posted them for all to see, I am kind of a hero in the class. In that lame, geek sort of way...
My statistics final went pretty well also as far as I can tell.
Now, this makes me worried. It always seems that the better you think you did on a test, the worse you actually do. If you leave there all cocky and sure of yourself, it means you likely missed something. Being a bit of a negative sort of person, I am a little worried on how good those two tests felt. Could be the fact that all I did for the past week is study tho... that and the new medication I am currently on.
Anyhow, for now this is over. I am looking forward to my new classes, my new lab, etc. If all goes well, I got a B in my classes and don't have to retake them next year. Worst case scenario, I have to retake them, but at least I have the old notes, old tests, and the knowledge I have gained from the classes.
Basically, just really, really tired right now. All that stress and such gone. At least for a little while. Feels like a fifty pound weight has been lifted off my chest (or maybe that's just my backpack being set down for awhile).
Now I'm bored... *sigh*
Drew |
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| One down... |
[Dec. 6th, 2005|06:41 pm] |
Well, got done with my first final earlier this morning in statistics. Didn't go too bad. I really stunk on the midterm for this class as I read way too much into the questions and in a panic state raced to finish them without totally reading what they wanted. This time I was much calmer, made sure to read everything, and at the same time not read too much into any of the questions. The minute I thought, 'Technically...' I made myself stop.
Statistics was fun though as there were some cool people that I made friends with in there, that hopefully I can stay moderately in touch with... Given the whole school mentality though I imagine I will lose touch fairly quickly. The teacher was really good also, I need to take one more semester (at least) of statistics and I think I will hold out to find when she is going to teach the class.
The next class... ICK!!! When I registered it was called Microbial Genetics... now it is some new / experimental approach to teaching genetic repair and maintenence or something like that. A whole bunch of teachers all flinging out little bits of information at us, most of them doing it quite badly. Having to memorize a very long list of protein functions and what pathway they are required for. Note, for the most part I don't actually have to understand the pathway, or know how or why it does what it does... Just have to memorize a long list of proteins. Bleah! Oh well, that one is on Thursday, then I am free!!!
Ah well... one quarter down... um... a heck of a lot of them to go!
Drew |
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| I LOVE Legos! |
[Dec. 6th, 2005|06:40 pm] |
 Dear Santa...
Dear Santa,
This year I've been busy!
Last Tuesday I stole ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) lady_mercedesg's purse (-30 points). Last Thursday I saved a busload of nuns in Angola (326 points). In April I farted in an elevator (-6 points). In March I caught a purse-snatcher who stole gemini_rain's purse (30 points). In February I turned rpgqueen in for running naked in the mall (3 points).
Overall, I've been nice (323 points). For Christmas I deserve a Lego set!
Sincerely,
Biodrew |
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| Finals do Beckon |
[Dec. 3rd, 2005|08:48 pm] |
Well, I have almost completed my first quarter (which is equivalent to a semester elsewhere) here as a PhD student. My grades definately are not what I would hope for... I will be lucky to scrape by with a B in two of my classes. Luckily one of my other classes was a lab intensive thing I did for two weeks before school and was an automatic A. My lab work and other odd things should help with my GPA worst case scenario.
I may have already said this here, but it bears repeating. I think one of the biggest challenges I have had to face since coming here was not the whole new climate, school, people, etc. It was the loss of security. My friend network was completely dissolved. Yes, I still have friends out there, but not ones I can easily go hang out with at a moments notice. The other big shock was for a long time I found security in the fact that I was smart. In general (to steal a quote) 'Smarter than the average bear.' Heck, at Metro I was one of the star students who pulled off not quite having a straight A average, but did well, impressed the professors, did research, held an officership in the Biology Club (yeah, screams dork... but it was something). Very soon after getting here, I quickly found myself in the slightly below average group. True, being slightly below average in a group of people working towards their PhD's in the science field isn't bad... but it was a shock. That and I was stupid enough to take the classes I thought would be a good challenge, instead of taking some easier stuff to kind of play it safe. I was in a lab where I couldn't ever seem to get in touch with the professor, who didn't have funding...
In general, for quite awhile life REALLY sucked. I wondered if I were doing the right thing, if I was smart enough to pull this off, if I should just run back to Colorado with my tail tucked between my legs and find some silly job there.
Now, if there is one thing I can not stand it is a person who just accepts failure. Someone who gives up and acts like there is nothing they can do so they shouldn't even try. The only thing I really dislike more than that is a hypocrite. Thus I worked to change things. Stopped goofing around so much, worked to make sure every minute involved something that was important. Note, hanging out with friends is VERY important, don't forsake that. Got on medication to help me focus. I was diagnosed with ADD long before, was able to work past it before... however grad school was a step further in the focus department than I was used to. Talked to the professor I didn't have the courage to try to get into his lab prior (long story, I'll tell it someday). Found some fun activities to involve myself in...
Now, have a fun hobby doing television and radio and made some cool friends from that. Got into the lab that is really involved in the stuff that I am interested in with a cool professor (bioremediation, nitrogen fixation, microbes, I did mention earlier I was a dork, right?). Hang out here and there with friends made in classes. Signed up for classes next semester that I am really interested in as opposed to ones I felt I 'should' take (plasmid biology, and biology of soil ecosystems.... the dork thing again). Heck, even have a date scheduled with a girl that I normally would not have the guts to ask out for next Friday. Likely going to turn out to be a just friends thing again... but Hope. Not giving up. Always working to make each minute of every moment memorable and counting for something important.
That is what makes life worth living.
There is a line from Dune that I am probably going to mutilate... 'Fear is the mind killer, fear is the little death.'
So long as we are afraid to move on, to face the challenges that are before us, to risk failure... we can't really live.
Wow, this was much longer than I originally intended. I will blame it on being slap happy from studying too much!
Drew
p.s. Though I am making new friends, I will never forget my old ones and how important you all are to me! |
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| Broke Down |
[Nov. 25th, 2005|10:45 pm] |
Well, Hell may have indeed frozen over as I rejoined the Camarilla after a good long gap. I even went to my first Camarilla game in quite a long time... four years I think... just this last weekend. It wasn't too bad, typical for a group of college age people pretending to be something they aren't. It did allow me to get my role-playing fix partially out of the way. Not entirely mind you as I have spent the past several months doing nothing other than study Statistics and Molecular Genetics... Which are not exactly why I wanted to go to grad school... but are a step in the right direction. On the plus side, I am taking Plasmid Biology (which I heard was an easy class), and Soil Biology, which is really cool to me, next quarter.
On the other side, re-joining did hook me up with a lady who helped me out quite a good bit right around the time of my divorce. Not in that way! She is married, has a child, etc. Just someone who meant a good deal to me at a time when I was pretty down, her beau at the time was wonderful as well. I also, coincedentally, hooked up with another person I met through said organization, who is also married, with a child, from around the time of my divorce. It is interesting how your past has an influence on you whether you would prefer it or not?
Maybe it is the Gemini aspect in me, no matter how hard I try to focus on one direction, the other direction must be acknowledged as well. PhD in science... Have to find some creative outlet as well. Does this make me well rounded or merely psycho? Time will be the judge. :P |
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| Thanksgiving and thereafter |
[Nov. 25th, 2005|10:27 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  hopeful | ] |
I found it kind of funny how a lot of people that I encountered prior to Thanksgiving were so confused over the fact that I really didn't care that I didn't have any specific plans for Thanksgiving. Yeah, if I could have spent it with my parents I probably would have, given I do enjoy seeing them and such. However, overall I really have never gotten a huge sense of... 'holiday' for lack of a better word out of Thanksgiving.
Maybe it is the fact that I am Canadian by birth and upbringing. Though I really don't celebrate the 'Canadian Thanksgiving' either. Have to admit I think it was mostly a lame attempt by the French Canadian's to attempt to adopt an American custom... Maybe being an only child has made it so that if it isn't with my parents (who are currently with my Aunt in Palm Springs), it really doesn't matter.
Honestly, I can't say. What I can say is that I have really enjoyed the past two days off, no classes. No grading to get done, no lab work expected of me. I am thrilled at the fact that for two whole days no one really expects anything from me and I can goof off to the best of my ability and relax. For that, I most certainly give thanks.
As a side note I also give thanks for the fact that I finally got the nerve to talk to the professor who I wanted to work with in the first place, as opposed to the one who I felt comfortable with.
This last Wednesday I had a meeting with the professor who drew me to Oregon State in the first place, who I was too afraid to actually talk to, which led me to working in a rather sad lab with no funding, and no support on a variety of levels. The professor placed me under another PhD student, gave me some work that he wanted done, some guidelines, etc. I am thrilled!! It makes things harder, but I am happy.
Next quarter should prove a little more interesting as I am essentially taking the same number of credits, the same amount of lab assistant work, along with actually doing some things for my thesis. I may have to give up on the radio and television stuff... which would be sad, but those are my hobbies, not what I came here to do. Still the majority of people who I consider friends here are involved in the whole TV - radio gig, so if I have to chose a hobby, I will stick with that one. Albeit on a slightly more restrained level. Oh well, I suppose it is good to forsake the dreams of Drew Davidson 'International News Anchor' for the slightly more realistic one of, Drew Davidson 'PhD Microbiology'. Ok, given where I am currently, a LOT more realistic.
Fear is the mind killer, fear is the little death. Follow what your dreams dictate, and thumb your nose at what fears may threaten them.
Drew |
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| Yay for Fun |
[Nov. 18th, 2005|09:54 pm] |
Just got done not too long ago shooting Debra Arlyn for the campus television station. It was a lot of fun, she and her band put on a really good show. Her guitar player is REALLY impressive, makes me want to learn to play more than ever. It was nice, I mentioned I was a DJ on the local campus radio station and got a free CD from her manager / mom. Got the band and Ms. Arlyn to sign it which is fun.
*sigh* I am far too Gemini I think. I really enjoy doing the television / radio thing (which oddly enough I just stumbled on), and at the same time I am really looking forward to working in the lab I have set up for next quarter (have to get out of the habit of saying semester). Finally got into the lab that I think I should have gotten into from the beginning. This guy seems to be researching pretty much everything I am interested in, nitrogen fixation, bioremediation, microbial ecology etc. Also, he is currently about to lose two students in the near future, which means openings.
Back to the television studio thing. Turns out there is a huge amount of politics going on there. Bunch of artsy types getting together, vying for the same positions, etc. Moderately annoying, but I am hoping I can just 'lurk' on the fringes and just have a good time with it. Just have to play Switzerland and refuse to officially side with anyone and see what happens. On the plus side, all of the people who are 'questing' for power I am in good graces with, so right now, whoever wins I should be ok. So long as I get to have some fun with my new favorite hobby, all is good.
Never understood the whole quest for power thing that seems to go on. I mean, yeah... I tend to attempt to take over when I see a job is not being done. Or if something is not going right I try to fix it... I hope that doesn't make me a 'power player' and all that. Oh well, best to just be myself (or to those reading it, best to just be yourself), and enjoy what I can out of life.
Keep the dreams alive, even if it hurts.
Drew |
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| Whew |
[Nov. 16th, 2005|10:56 pm] |
It is kind of funny, it feels like things here in Corvallis are finally starting to settle down once more (*knocks on wood*). Not totally of course, from what I hear grad school never totally settles down. But at least things are wrapping up well enough for this quarter. I managed to talk to a different professor and they are going to let me do work in their lab. He is doing some really interesting stuff and has a more hands on approach to his grad students which should help out things a good deal. I am also going to take classes that I WANT to take instead of classes I thought I SHOULD take. Sadly, Soil Microbiology and Plasmid Microbiology are the two classes I want to take. Ah well, I am in grad school, I am supposed to be a geek.
The television and radio gig is going really well also. A person who is going for station manager of the television offered me a paid position. That was really flattering! I am working on a new comedy news show for the TV station which should start shooting in the near future. That will be a lot of fun.
Lastly, I am starting movie night again. Only this time here in Corvallis. Yeah, all the Colorado regulars won't be able to make it... but things move, change, but keeping those things that are important to you is vital. For me movie night was just something really fun and special. A chance for people to hang out, leave all the mundane troubles behind, enjoy company, movies, all that good and relaxing stuff. Of course, anyone from Colorado is welcome to come to it this Sunday afternoon. :)
Drew |
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| Ow |
[Nov. 13th, 2005|08:39 am] |
Hmm, think I am too old to go to concerts anymore, at least next time I really should make sure I have ear plugs.
For those who don't know of them, Amadan is a celtic punk / rock kind of band. Most reviews say punk, but given the lack of shouting and actual music talent they seem to have, have to go with rock. Apparently they are a really big thing here in the north-west... lots of people were shocked when I said I never heard of them.
Turns out they are some of the nicer and more interesting guys I have met in quite awhile. I am hoping to hook up with one of them in the near future to go over biofilms as both of us can geek out on them quite well.
The interview went well, most the questions I came up with were used, and the band said the interviewer asked some really good questions. Of course, didn't get CREDIT for those... but all in all it was fun. My camera work still needs some work... but I think I did ok at it.
Made me realize something last night. I finally understand why pretty people annoy me. They are used to getting whatever they want. It isn't that they are bad people really. They just have things much easier than those of us average or below. This is from observation more than anything, seeing how my 'pretty' friend was able to get things done that I would never be able to pull off. Not due to confidence (ok... maybe due to that a little), but based on the fact that given pleasing looks, it opened up more doors.
You know though, I am pretty happy with the way I am. Yeah, would like to be able to focus a bit more, remember more things. But otherwise I think I am a pretty nice guy. One who if he didn't have to work so hard to get what he wanted out of life, may be quite a bit more selfish and a jerk. Of course, wouldn't mind being pretty too... ;)
Go with what you've got, take what pleasure you can out of life, never be upset over what you don't have and use what you do have to the fullest and life will be good.
Drew |
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| Silly Test Thing |
[Nov. 11th, 2005|04:54 am] |
The Surprising Lover
54% partner focus, 47% aggressiveness, 55% adventurousness |
Based on the results of this test, it is highly likely that:
You prefer your romance and love to wild and daring rather than typical or boring, you would rather be pursued than do the pursuing and, when it comes to physical love, your satisfaction comes more from providing a wonderful time to your partner than simply seeking your own.
This places you in the Lover Style of: The Surprising Lover.
The Surprising Lover is a wonderful Lover Style, and, like the name implies, is often filled with hidden delights and talents that might not be apparent from a surface knowledge of the person. The Surprising Lover is rather like a geode--sometimes rough on the exterior, but filled with beauty and wonder. The Surprising Lover is thus a gem to find, though it can sometimes be difficult to do so because they often tend to be humble and unwilling to reveal their inner greatness unless they're in a rewarding relationship.
In terms of physical love, the Surprising Lover really shines, often highly imaginative and utterly devoted to bringing the heights of pleasure to the one that they truly love. Given a rewarding, reciprocative relationship, and the right lover, the Surprising Lover can be a delight in bed.
Best Compatibility can probably be found with: The Carnal Lover (most of all) or the Exotic Lover, or the Suave Lover.
Congratulations!
If you enjoyed this test, I would love the feedback! Also, you might want to check out some of my other tests if you're interested in the following:
Nerds, Geeks & Dorks
Professional Wrestling
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
America/Politics
Thanks Again! -- THE LOVER STYLE PROFILE TEST |
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My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
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You scored higher than 39% on partner focus |
For some odd reason found this amusing right now...
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You scored higher than 31% on aggressiveness |
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You scored higher than 40% on adventurousness |
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