Breather

I took the final for the membrane biophysics module of my physiology class on Monday. Since I am not taking the next module, I don't have to go to that class again until the cardiovascular/renal module starts on October 22nd. Yay! This is nice because for the next month, I don't have class on Wednesdays or Fridays. Now, this doesn't mean that I will stay at home in my PJs in front of the TV, but it does mean that I can prepare better for my other two classes, and I can finish working on a manuscript that is based on my master's thesis, or other research items that my advisor has for me to work on. I feel like my mood has gotten much better this week, and I have even gotten home early enough to make dinner three nights in a row. And I'm not just talking about heating up a can of soup either; I've actually pulled out recipes and made real stuff! (We're often very improvisational with meals in our house, so it's kind of fun to put together a real dish once in a while.)

The light mood may only last a couple weeks, because I have 2 midterms and a presentation during the week of October 6th. But luckily the week afterward includes Fall Break.

Conservation Laws

This past weekend, I studied for a test while Ben wrote a test. Now shouldn't those two really cancel each other out???!!!

Hitting the books

The last test I took was a midterm in one class last fall. Therefore, it has been almost a year since I really hit the books to study for a test. I have a physiology test on Monday, and I will be honest, I really don't feel like studying. I kind of just want to go in and take it cold, but I know that would be a VERY bad idea.

I think part of me feels like I should be finished taking tests by now. I guess it's partly because I feel like you shouldn't have to take tests after a certain age, but also because 2 of the classes that I'm taking this semester are core classes that everyone in my program has to take, and for me, they cover material that I will most likely never need again. So in that case, I often feel like I'm wasting my time learning material that I will just forget later (yes, a lot of it is memorization too, yuck).

I think that what it comes down to is that I feel impatient. I want to get this PhD thing going. I just want to take classes in physiology and cancer (my research interests). I've already had a semester of statistics, do I really have to have 2 more? I took 3 semesters worth of classes for my masters, can't that count for something? I guess I really wish that I could spend my time doing research, teaching, and taking a class or two; I think then I'd feel like I'm actively moving forward.

I am sure that I am not alone here; and that this is one of the plights of the PhD student. I also know that there is not much I can do about it. So in the meantime, I guess I'll study physiology!

Reminders of Seattle

The past couple days have been overcast, slightly rainy, and cooler in temperature. It has reminded me of the vacation that Ben and I took to Seattle in June. Sometimes when we are stressed about school and work, we think about defecting to Seattle and working in a coffee shop.

Fun with Bach

This afternoon, we gathered for another Pittsboro Bach Society reading. It was sort of a special occasion, in that it was the 5th anniversary of the very first unofficial get-together of the ensemble, and it was also our director Ted's birthday. We played the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 by J. S. Bach and we had a blast. When we gather for PBS readings, we always play through the program once, break for refreshments, and then play the program again. Today, since we were having so much fun, we actually played through the Brandenburg three times!

This particular piece is pretty cool because it is scored for 3 violins, 3 violas, 3 cellos, bass, and harpsichord, whereas most string ensemble literature includes 2 violins, viola, cello, bass, and harpsichord. We did have multiple people on a part, so all in all, we had 17 musicians crammed into Ted's 15 square-foot living room. The last time I played this piece was in youth orchestra when I was 12 years old. At that time, we played a transcribed and slightly condensed version, so I was excited to actually play the real thing this time.

Of the 6 Brandenburg concertos, the 3rd one is definitely my favorite to listen to and to play. For one thing, it is extremely familiar sounding (even if you've never played it, you've probably heard it). Secondly, it's nice to play a piece that is scored for more than just 2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello, 1 bass, and a harpsichord. Thirdly, no one's part is more important than anyone else's; everyone gets the melody line multiple times during the course of the piece. And lastly the 3rd movement is just super-fun to play!

We struggle together

My post from last Saturday described my current school-related struggles, and I'm sure that I will look back on that in a couple years when I'm knee-deep in comps and dissertation and think, "Man, first semester was nothing!" Well, to update, Pete and I mostly figured out how to do our physiology homework by Wednesday, and we are comforted by the fact that the membrane biophysics module only lasts for another two weeks, after which we switch to the familiar territory of individual body systems.

As most of my friends are also struggling grad students, we understand each others' plight. My cell biology grad student friend Michelle commented that she is presenting in group meeting today, where she has to talk about the progress she's made since April (good luck Michelle!). A couple of our chemistry grad student friends have talked about how they feel like they do a lot of work, but they're not sure if it really is adding up to anything significant. And of course, Ben is learning the struggles of a new professor, and how exactly to set up a research lab and get it going, while not falling behind on teaching. I think I may try my friend Virginia's strategy: drink a diet Coke and stare out the window for a few minutes to clear my thoughts before getting back to work.

Fun neuroanatomy words

Right now in my motor control class, we are learning all about the brain and its parts and functions. We get to throw around a lot of weird and crazy words; I don't think any other body system has such funny-sounding names for its parts. My two favorites right now are "peduncle," "hippocampus," and "amygdala." However, there are some regular-sounding names too, like "climbing fibers" and "mossy fibers." I think there's even an "olive" somewhere in there; I think it's located near one of the peduncles.