HeiBlog

After my handshake and my gold star I was not expecting anything major for the delivery of my diploma. I will not be coming the commencment cerimoney, so no pomp and circumstance for me. BU couldn’t have made the arrival more simple and mechanized, just my diploma in a plain white cardboard mailer with a printed label. No letter, no folder, just a piece of above-average grade paper sent via the US Mail. I guess this is the end of the excitment.

Some people have asked for some more details about where I will be going my post-doc. I will be at Pacific Northwest Nation Laboratory (PNNL) in the group of Richard Smith in the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL). The lab is in Richland, WA and is right next to the Handford Nuclear Reservation. My mentor will be David Camp.

I already posted my impressions of my visit and my interview, so I will not repeat myself. I’ll just summarize by saying that I am very excited about starting there and fell lucky that I was considered and accepted for a position. Smith is really doing some great, solid work in the fields of FT-MS, ion mobility, and proteomics. More solid impressions will come as I start and see what I will be working on. More to come.
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Well, it’s all done. All of the delays. All the paperwork and BS, done. It was pretty much as my sister described her experience after she got her dissertation signed and handed it in. I handed in all of the necessary papers to the head of records for the graduate school. She checked my online student record to be sure that I had all the right numbers, courses, fees paid etc. She shook my hand, “Congratulations!” In a few days PNNL will get a letter saying that I have completed all of my requirements and I can start my next job.

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This year I spend Christmas with my folks in PA, just a short 4 day visit. The short duration was mainly to facilitate the writing of my thesis. As it ends up I’ve not made much headway since returning, guess I needed more of a break then I realized or just time alone. I’m somewhat reassured though after watching some of the extra material on the “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” DVD (the BBC TV mini-series). In it was an excellent BBC “Omnibus” program on Douglas Adams, broadcast shortly after his untimely death in 2001. Apparently he had great difficult writing and would spend weeks in a depressed state until more of the work was done weeks before a deadline. One of his editors mentioned a favorite quote from another author “Writing is staring at a typewritten until blood comes out your pores.” I am by no means comparing myself to any published writer, but it’s comforting to see that the professionals have their issues as well.

Back from the tangent, the visit to PA was strangely pleasant, just enough time to see everybody. Both families were visited on two different days (much better then in years past). I got to see my uncle who’s had some recent health problems (long road, by he’s in good spirits) and found out that my cousin graduated with an Associates in graphic arts from Bradley Art Academe. She seems to have found her niche.

The visit with my Mom’s family was strangely calm. Might have been the space, my cousin and her husband bought the family homestead and have tons of space (well until the fill it with kids). The rural setting might have been an addition. It rained a bit near sunset, so in the west it was an eery gray, but there was enough light so that you could see most of the the arc of a rainbow. Not sure it is was an oman of not, but I know that is the first Christmas Day rainbow I’m seen (might be the last).

The only reason I have to go back to Lancaster is to visit my family and one good friend that still lives in the area. My mother would like more frequent visits, but I really can’t get back there that often. I’m single and in the future there might be another person’s schedule and desires to consider. My sister and her family can only visit every few years and I might have one of my own someday. What I see is the distancing of families geographically. My parents were the first to do it my moving an hour away from where they grew up. The moved for various reasons, mostly opportunity. There were only so many things you do do as a profession in rural American in the 1960s. I hope that they understand that their children have moved for a similar reason. We’ll go were is best for us and our families, not for the benefit of our parents. I don’t know where I’ll be in a 1 year, let alone 5 or 10. Hope they understand that.

They say that all things must come to an end. The death toll rung for my horse (1990 Hyundai Excel) after about of year of signs when I was going to catch a Broken Social Scene (wonderful band if you haven’t heard them) concert out in Northampton, MA. I got about half a block from where I park and the old girl wouldn’t move. I had to push the sucker back and some help from my friend’s landlord. The clutch had been stiff the week before so figured it and maybe the transmission might be the problem, aka $$$ to repair the problem.

I went to Firestone on Comm Ave. in Allston and they referred me to the local AMMCO franchise on Cambridge Street. Both sets of guys charge a premium but were pros. The AMMCO shop was very good only charging $40 to evaluate the problem (fee could be put toward the final repair bill). All said just to fix the clutch would have cost $1100 minimum and they told me it was cheaper to fix that first before they even tested the transmission. Well I didn’t even want to think about that amount of money and since that was more they the car is worth The Heap was destined for the junk yard.

Little did I realize what a pain it would be to get rid of the car. I have used out-of-state plates for the last 8 years because the insurance in Boston is so ridiculous. My Dad is the owner of the car and if he transfered the car to me to register in MA it ended up that even if it was destined for salvage I’d have to pay all the registration fees, inspection, and insurance (might as well just fix the bitch). Talking with the AAA back in PA we find out that we need to request a salvage title from the state and have it in my name. They I can get rid of the car. Turnaround time: at least 2 weeks. So Betsey had to come back to the parking spot and we play the waiting game.

All said it’s not that bad. I expect to finish my PhD in about 6-8 month and I really don’t need a car (ZipCar rocks by the way). Whether I buy a new one or not will depend where I end up doing a post-doc. I got 8 years out of a car that a shady dealer told me I’d only get 3 at most out of. So, I don’t feel all that bad. Thanks to ScienceGrrl for letting me park in her spot for the last few years.

In memory (Nov 2004 96519.5 miles):

RIP	Accessories: Rear ashtrays!
Been a good haul	Good Bye shitbox

Not sure if anybody will read this, but you are looking for a room in Brighton drop me a line. If we are compatable we might be able to help each other out. See my Craigslist post for more info and photos (ohh, now you can see where I live, note the lack of any identifying items in the images).

Didn’t your mother tell you not write blog entries when you are drunk? Just random and with simple post spelling editing. Who thought you could touch type while all hazy like.

Coming home in that wonderful haze between the concentual reality and that state that you think is out of phase, just oh so slightly… That time bewteen when you stop drinking and you collaps from fatugue. I see a woman, average looking really. The is wearing nylon Capri pants (kind of military looking), just the inseam seems to intersect oh so nicely with the cleft her cooch as she leans back. Could just be wishful thinking (I know I need an outlet for that little bit, working on that one). Another female, most likely college age, is wary is to show her arm pit in front of a random male, she has deodorant build up on her armpit subtle. She remarks later that she has “2 o’clock shadow.” Guess the forest needs mowing eachmorning. Just me the observer just listening to the background conversation though Metric (damn poison).

The hazy fades and sleep is closer. Tomorrow, laundry, audition, and MS interpretation, party.

I’m not writing a review about the iTunes Music Store (that’s already been done). I am writing to warn you that it will introduce you to new music that you want to buy, music that will stick in your head for hours. I was just browsing innocently the others evening and clicked a link on the iTMS front page for a band called Metric. The music is too catchy, kind of nuevo-New Wave (some Electronika, good rifs, and just good bass lines) with slick lyrics. Ended up buying the CD and it’s been my head for about 3 days now, damn Canadians. Might just be a passing thing, but they got my cash (damn consumer tendencies, I am an American after all). Smart of Apple to sell their music portal as a venue for independent music.