Dear Diary,
I went to another lovely ARCS reception and had a blast. The members were so nice. One even commented that it's like having 50 more moms! Such nice people.
One area that I messed up in was introducing my work. I followed some advice and kept it short so I would not be condescending or confusing. But at the behest for more information, I introduced it like I wanted to, and it went over much better. I think I will follow my instincts more going forward. I really enjoy getting to know these people and the other winners.
I also need to remember that casual means dressed up...how I normally do it! All the women got the message but the guys were not so keen. I must trust myself!
Interesting people!
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Friday, October 10, 2014
Special Cup
Dear Diary,
Justin loaned me a cup some time ago as I am eco-conscious with our tea consumption. I didn't want to use paper disposables from the coffee place anymore.
Well, I lost that cup. Then I found it again today when I walked into Li and Raphael's office. Huzzah!
Justin loaned me a cup some time ago as I am eco-conscious with our tea consumption. I didn't want to use paper disposables from the coffee place anymore.
Well, I lost that cup. Then I found it again today when I walked into Li and Raphael's office. Huzzah!
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Wasn't me
Dear Diary,
For once, it wasn't me. I did not crash the cluster's head nodes. For once.
Picture this: I've been submitting a ton jobs recently, getting a lot of work done. Steve and Kieron seemed to be real pleased that I'm getting all this done. How could I remember not to crash any computers? How about running less jobs so I make it wasn't me.
Ok, but there was some trouble around lunch. I figured it has to me. It's been me so many times that I'm now the guy who is known as the guy who crashes the cluster. To be a true player, you got to learn how to play. But it wasn't me!
Nate was really nice to me this time and everything seems to be going my way. Further, Miles and I are honing on the exact LDA that we've been trying to get for a long time now. I mean, I have two numbers instead of zero now.
And with the whole cluster at my command, nothing can stop us! (Unless I submit too many jobs and crash it.) I was extremely nervous before I found out it wasn't me; now I need to go tell everyone and celebrate at the pub!
For once, it wasn't me. I did not crash the cluster's head nodes. For once.
Picture this: I've been submitting a ton jobs recently, getting a lot of work done. Steve and Kieron seemed to be real pleased that I'm getting all this done. How could I remember not to crash any computers? How about running less jobs so I make it wasn't me.
Ok, but there was some trouble around lunch. I figured it has to me. It's been me so many times that I'm now the guy who is known as the guy who crashes the cluster. To be a true player, you got to learn how to play. But it wasn't me!
Nate was really nice to me this time and everything seems to be going my way. Further, Miles and I are honing on the exact LDA that we've been trying to get for a long time now. I mean, I have two numbers instead of zero now.
And with the whole cluster at my command, nothing can stop us! (Unless I submit too many jobs and crash it.) I was extremely nervous before I found out it wasn't me; now I need to go tell everyone and celebrate at the pub!
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Fancy pants
Dear Diary,
I have had the pleasure of attending a reception by the ARCS foundation. Boy was it lovely! I got to chat with a whole bunch of people and hear about all the cool stuff going on. I have to admit, after hearing the speaker speak and chatting with a few other people, I'm super motivated to do good science. In fact, it made me question whether my science was any good in the face of such powerful and life altering work! I have to do better!
In addition to meeting some lovely people, my sartorial choices were a hit. I went plain with a white shirt and skinny black tie in my new dress shoes. I would have given myself "best dressed," but there were a lot of other well dressed people there, I must say. I did get the obligatory, "You clean up nicely" which made me rethink my daily attire. I'll have to make sure to get fancier on a daily basis!
I also got to meet other winners from last year and this year. What a treat! Some great people to meet!
I have had the pleasure of attending a reception by the ARCS foundation. Boy was it lovely! I got to chat with a whole bunch of people and hear about all the cool stuff going on. I have to admit, after hearing the speaker speak and chatting with a few other people, I'm super motivated to do good science. In fact, it made me question whether my science was any good in the face of such powerful and life altering work! I have to do better!
In addition to meeting some lovely people, my sartorial choices were a hit. I went plain with a white shirt and skinny black tie in my new dress shoes. I would have given myself "best dressed," but there were a lot of other well dressed people there, I must say. I did get the obligatory, "You clean up nicely" which made me rethink my daily attire. I'll have to make sure to get fancier on a daily basis!
I also got to meet other winners from last year and this year. What a treat! Some great people to meet!
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Insult to Living
Dear Diary,
Not one day after my roommate leaves (lucky guy), the fire drill occurs. I think my last roommate also pulled the same trick. Now, recall last year that I simply packed my bags and walked into work. No so this year, there is a new $500 fine for doing that. I even woke up at a comfortable 8am and wanted to take the morning slow (because I work so hard for this university on a daily basis; I need my free time to relax--there, I said it--sue me).
The utter mystery is that less than a week ago, they had a planned fire alarm that doesn't satisfy some state law to have an anonymous one. So, I naturally spent more time away from home to avoid that first one. Maybe these are good for the undergraduates who seem to set off their fire alarms about every ten minutes around dinner and lunch times by (I assume) leaving their stoves on.
There is something noisy that occurs every morning from garbage pickup to lawn mowing (you know, the lawns they over water during this drought) to people playing basketball until midnight...
...oh! The alarms are going off again! Are they playing a joke?! Is their system faulty??
Once you're unceremoniously ushered from your apartment with threats of fines and more loud noise, you sign in (and if you're feeling sassy, act sassy to the poor people signing you in), and then you are given a donut. Yes, a donut! The healthiest of the American breakfast! I declined.
I'm going swimming.
Not one day after my roommate leaves (lucky guy), the fire drill occurs. I think my last roommate also pulled the same trick. Now, recall last year that I simply packed my bags and walked into work. No so this year, there is a new $500 fine for doing that. I even woke up at a comfortable 8am and wanted to take the morning slow (because I work so hard for this university on a daily basis; I need my free time to relax--there, I said it--sue me).
The utter mystery is that less than a week ago, they had a planned fire alarm that doesn't satisfy some state law to have an anonymous one. So, I naturally spent more time away from home to avoid that first one. Maybe these are good for the undergraduates who seem to set off their fire alarms about every ten minutes around dinner and lunch times by (I assume) leaving their stoves on.
There is something noisy that occurs every morning from garbage pickup to lawn mowing (you know, the lawns they over water during this drought) to people playing basketball until midnight...
...oh! The alarms are going off again! Are they playing a joke?! Is their system faulty??
Once you're unceremoniously ushered from your apartment with threats of fines and more loud noise, you sign in (and if you're feeling sassy, act sassy to the poor people signing you in), and then you are given a donut. Yes, a donut! The healthiest of the American breakfast! I declined.
I'm going swimming.
I will remember you
Dear Diary,
My roommate has moved out today. I'm distraught. Corey was one of the best roommates I've ever had. Up there with the three guys I roomed with my first year at Long Beach before the landlord showed up unannounced and used a leaf blower to blow dust off the outside of the house. Funny what having kids can do to some people. Angry, formal letters by yours truly were sent to make sure we got our full security deposits (we did), and we all went our separate ways. Happy times.
But Corey! Now who will I come home to? I can't keep doing this. Going through roommates is tough. You did your dishes!* That's like roommate gold! Two roommates in a row who did their dishes? There must some regression back to the mean at some point. And you always bought the toilet paper. Remember the time we left the compost inside too long and got flies?
My guess is that they won't fill the room for about a year. It was awkward timing to do a fish project in Vietnam for housing contracts. But seize the opportunity, Corey!
Who will I awkwardly negotiate bathroom time with? Now it's just me and the bathroom. I suppose my last, also very great roommate Ben moved out under similar circumstances. He did get married, but maybe it was me. Sometimes you have to look in the mirror and realize that you've got the whole place here to yourself and that's super awesome. No, Corey and our third roommate (his significant other) loved spending time here because they basically had full control over the apartment. With no furniture and a full work schedule, I'm a veritable non-factor!
He did leave a table. Maybe I should have a party where I invite everyone and sit in my one chair. That's enough, right? I am slowly collecting furniture discarded from former roommates. The first year I was here, I slept on the floor. Not after Ben moved out. Thank you! A few more roommates and I could get to enjoying time at home!
*-The next one better too!
My roommate has moved out today. I'm distraught. Corey was one of the best roommates I've ever had. Up there with the three guys I roomed with my first year at Long Beach before the landlord showed up unannounced and used a leaf blower to blow dust off the outside of the house. Funny what having kids can do to some people. Angry, formal letters by yours truly were sent to make sure we got our full security deposits (we did), and we all went our separate ways. Happy times.
But Corey! Now who will I come home to? I can't keep doing this. Going through roommates is tough. You did your dishes!* That's like roommate gold! Two roommates in a row who did their dishes? There must some regression back to the mean at some point. And you always bought the toilet paper. Remember the time we left the compost inside too long and got flies?
My guess is that they won't fill the room for about a year. It was awkward timing to do a fish project in Vietnam for housing contracts. But seize the opportunity, Corey!
Who will I awkwardly negotiate bathroom time with? Now it's just me and the bathroom. I suppose my last, also very great roommate Ben moved out under similar circumstances. He did get married, but maybe it was me. Sometimes you have to look in the mirror and realize that you've got the whole place here to yourself and that's super awesome. No, Corey and our third roommate (his significant other) loved spending time here because they basically had full control over the apartment. With no furniture and a full work schedule, I'm a veritable non-factor!
He did leave a table. Maybe I should have a party where I invite everyone and sit in my one chair. That's enough, right? I am slowly collecting furniture discarded from former roommates. The first year I was here, I slept on the floor. Not after Ben moved out. Thank you! A few more roommates and I could get to enjoying time at home!
*-The next one better too!
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
More than you can chew
Dear Diary,
Aha! So this fellowship I won does have strings! I was foolish to think otherwise! But truly, this is exactly the type of thing I needed.
These are the strings you hope for. Would Pinocchio be such a goodie two-shoes if he wasn't controlled by Geppeto maniacally for the first third of the movie? Never! It turns out here that the money I receive must be used for "things that help get me my Ph.D." That's it! The possibilities are endless because I have a long leash on this one!
Some brief examples that were told to me by my excellent contact were that I should put the money towards conferences and publication fees among other things. Secretly, it costs a lot of money to put articles in journals, but this means I won't need to beg for money to do it! I even have a few side projects with good friends who are probably jumping up in the air right now that I'll be footing the bill. I accidentally made the mistake of telling one of them not to work too fast on one project--how will I tell them we need to publish while I still have funds?! In fairness, I also need to do a few things on that and others.
The real winner here are Kieron, Steve, and the grants they have. They won't have to pay as much for me; I will! They just don't know it yet! I think its exactly the kind of news Kieron and Steve are waiting for from me: I'm cheap!
In other news, I should get to work on other news that Kieron and Steve will definitely enjoy. I need to produce a paper!
...and what's this? Miles and Kieron have sent me conferences to apply to?! Wowie! Heartfelt thanks ARCS!!
Aha! So this fellowship I won does have strings! I was foolish to think otherwise! But truly, this is exactly the type of thing I needed.
These are the strings you hope for. Would Pinocchio be such a goodie two-shoes if he wasn't controlled by Geppeto maniacally for the first third of the movie? Never! It turns out here that the money I receive must be used for "things that help get me my Ph.D." That's it! The possibilities are endless because I have a long leash on this one!
Some brief examples that were told to me by my excellent contact were that I should put the money towards conferences and publication fees among other things. Secretly, it costs a lot of money to put articles in journals, but this means I won't need to beg for money to do it! I even have a few side projects with good friends who are probably jumping up in the air right now that I'll be footing the bill. I accidentally made the mistake of telling one of them not to work too fast on one project--how will I tell them we need to publish while I still have funds?! In fairness, I also need to do a few things on that and others.
The real winner here are Kieron, Steve, and the grants they have. They won't have to pay as much for me; I will! They just don't know it yet! I think its exactly the kind of news Kieron and Steve are waiting for from me: I'm cheap!
In other news, I should get to work on other news that Kieron and Steve will definitely enjoy. I need to produce a paper!
...and what's this? Miles and Kieron have sent me conferences to apply to?! Wowie! Heartfelt thanks ARCS!!
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