The Singing Scientist

Friday, October 12, 2012

What I observed from last night's VP debate

I was particularly excited to watch last night's debate, mostly because of the historic first being that both VP candidates are Catholic (as am I). Of course, we had to wait until almost the end of the debate before the moderator asked the really juicy questions! Here are some things I observed.

1. Joe Biden is old enough to be Paul Ryan's dad.
2. Joe Biden still has that flashy smile.
3. Joe Biden is definitely not afraid to speak his mind and say it like it is.
4. The dynamic between the candidates and the moderator was way better than it was for last week's debate.
5. Both candidates were energetic in discussing their points, unlike last week's debate. I wonder if they both drank caffeinated beverages beforehand.
6. I'm still not sure the Republican ticket understands math.
7. I still think a talent segment or silly costume segment would be fun.

Looking forward to the next one!

Monday, October 8, 2012

A sight for sore eyes

Post-eye doctor appointment, my pupils were dilated and my eyes were bloodshot and crusty from the 3 different drops they put in. Not to mention that I think Amelia is giving me her runny nose.

I swear I am not stoned.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

What I observed from last night's debate

1. Things Mitt Romney likes:
      a. PBS
      b. Big Bird
      c. Jim Lehrer
      d. Coal
      e. Green Energy

2. Things Mitt Romney might not like:
      a. Math
      b. Scientific gobblety-gook

3. Mitt Romney was on his game. I wonder if he drank a caffeinated beverage beforehand.

4. President Obama did not seem to be completely on his game.

5. Jim Lehrer got trampled on. I felt sorry for the guy. Ben suggested that they cut off the candidates' mikes after their allotted speaking time. Other suggestions I have seen have included opening a trap door or having the mikes emit a flatulence sound if the candidates go over time.

6. Okay, this isn't an observation, but I sure think it would be fun. I think there should be a talent segment in the debates. Or there could be a "So You Think You Can Dance?" segment where the Obamas dance together and then the Romneys dance together and they get critiqued by judges. Or maybe Mitt Romney and President Obama play some 1-on-1 hoops on stage. Or maybe they could do the debates dressed up in chicken costumes.

Can't wait for the next one!

Monday, October 1, 2012

Encounter with the flying cockroach

I do not detest much in this life, but I do hate large bugs. Actually, I only hate them when they enter my house. Bugs do not belong in people's houses; they belong outside, far away from civilization. But I digress.

We don't often get bugs in our house, but one or two will show up every once in a while, like about once every couple months or so I don't think this is a reflection on my tidyness because my next door neighbor also gets bugs in her house at about the same frequency, and she is neater than I am. I guess what these bugs don't have in quantity they make for in quality because the bugs we get are these abnormally huge black roaches. I mean, they are HUGE!!! It should not be physiologically possible for a bug to be this big. And they scare the you-know-what out of me.

Now, I had often heard about flying cockroaches, mostly from my family and friends who live in the states on the bottom row of the map (Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Texas, etc.). The very idea has always made my skin crawl, so luckily I had never personally seen a flying cockroach.

Until last week.

I was up late collating exams to hand back to my Physiology students. Everyone else in the house was already in bed and asleep, so it was just me downstairs in the kitchen. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw this black thing crawling up the wall. So I stepped back, and sure enough, it was a huge black roach. So gross! I watched it crawl along the crown molding for a few seconds, contemplating how I was going to handle this situation (my designated bug-killer, aka Ben, was already asleep). And then, it happened. The thing took flight! Right towards the fridge! Yikes! I called it a night right then and there; I ran up the stairs and headed to bed, hoping that the thing would just crawl back into whatever hole it came from and never reveal itself again.

I have not seen the huge beast since. But still, it makes me wonder what giant jointed-legged chitinous-exoskeletoned beasts are roaming my house at night. *shudder*

Sunday, September 23, 2012

We have a date!

Yes folks, it exists. The dissertation defense date! First week of November! Say it with me now! "DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE!"

I haven't written much about my dissertation experience since before Amelia was born. Suffice it to say, I did resume data collection in early June, finished a few weeks later, and got all the hormone assays completed by the start of school. Now I am in the final writing stage, which includes separating everything into a three-manuscript format, plus the already-written introduction and literature review. It was not easy getting to this stage. I wanted to quit multiple times, and felt pretty strongly about it too. But I'm glad I pushed through, and it feels really good to just be writing. Plus, there is no way in heck that Ben or my advisor would have let me quit anyway!

Besides defending my dissertation, other important details of the day will include providing Subway lunch items for the committee and other attendees, as well as wearing my very professional-looking suit.