( (footnotes) )

Date:	2008-05-24 15:49
Subject:	holy fic, batman!
Security:	Public
Mood:	surprised
Music:	iTunes Roulette

Holy crap, I did it again! at this rate I might have to triage my tiny collection of icons so as to add one of Gaeta. I made another drabble. (And I've got snippets of another story in my notebook. I don't have time for this!)

(I also declared a fanfic challenge, because "Guess What's Coming to Dinner?" pretty much completely broke me. Somebody hold me!)

[EDIT: I gave in and replaced the Josh Crush icon with one of Gaeta. As much I love the Lyman, I don't really use that one much.]

Date:	2008-05-21 11:37
Subject:	memeage
Security:	Public
Mood:	working

Ayup.

What American accent do you have?
Created by Xavier on Memegen.net

Western. Like Midland, Western is another accent that people consider neutral. So, you might not actually be from the Western half of the country, but you definitely sound like it.

And if you're not from the West, you are probably one of the following:
(a) A Pittsburgher - the quiz can't tell the difference;
(b) Someone from Canada (probably southern Ontario) who doesn't have a Canadian accent;
(c) Someone from northern New England who doesn't have a New England accent; or
(d) Someone from Texas or the Heartland who was born after 1980.
You are definitely not from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Detroit, the Deep South, etc.

Take this quiz now - it's easy!

We're going to start with "cot" and "caught." When you say those words do they sound the same or different?

Different Same, no wait I mean different, maybe, a little bit different... Same

Date:	2008-05-21 10:33
Subject:	electronic mnemonic
Security:	Public
Mood:	eye-rolly

So y'know how Wil Wheaton made that joke about (paraphrased) "cool stuff you could buy at Radio Shack back before it became a cell phone reseller"? (Okay, you probably don't. Humor me.) I thought generally when I heard it that it was funny 'cuz it was true, but now I *really* know how true it is: I was out pricing pieces-parts for science camp labs, and looking up Radio Shack in the yellow pages I keep in my car, to find out if there was one at the shopping center to which I was already headed.

They're not listed under "Electronics". (my hand to God!) But they are listed under "Cellular and Mobile Telephones and Service".

Dear Radio Shack: You are no longer worthy of the "Consumer Electronics Stores" subtitle. (Which is what it says under the title "Radio Shack" in the phone book...under the cell phone section.)

*eye roll to infinity*

(In their favour, their magnet wire is way, way cheaper than the stuff from Carolina.)

(Hey, silmaril, I might be bugging you about building electric motors/dynamos. Is that completely not what you know anything about?)

Date:	2008-05-19 21:43
Subject:	bsg overdose + ZOMG I WROTE FIC
Security:	Public
Mood:	shocked
Music:	Crimson Tide score

Yeah, there was maybe a bit too much BSG this weekend. I don't even want to know how much time I spent clicking through the archives at gaeta_squee on Saturday. I should know better than to feed my teevee crushes, but....fiiiiiic. And did I mention the Gaeta-crush? he's very pretty. Also, I think we know that I have a weakness for uber-competent background characters who do their job, with bonus points for the quietly noble ones. (I did go out and wash my car, so Saturday wasn't completely a wash.) I was a bit out of control. No, maybe more than a bit.

I also committed fic! ZOMG! Seriously, I'm rather shocked. I don't think I've written any fiction (hell, any non-science) since... maybe my second(?) year of grad school. (When was the last time I wrote something for TG? I think N and I wrote "Comfort" for Operation Darkness in 2003...did I write anything in 2004?) The last non-TG fic was when I killed my Star Wars character and put her boyfriend through extra psychological trauma (whee!), which might have been around the time I started grad school. (note to self: find a place for the SW fic at least, 'cuz it's fun.) Anyway, I got a scene in my head, and it was too hot on Saturday night to sleep anyway, so I was up late writing. (by hand--also too hot to be in front of the computer. Plus, I like writing by hand.) It's a post-ep for 3.12 "Rapture", for those of you (anyone?) who actually watch BSG.

On Sunday, I forced myself to be productive, given the Internet-brain-suckage of the day before. Did the laundry, sat out in the shade and did Yet More Class Prep (reading about important experiments and discoveries of the 17th century). ...And then met with my teevee-watching Browncoat buddies for...er...BSG. Because KH saved s4 on her DVR while K&S were on the Longest Honeymoon of All Time, and I don't get Sci-Fi anyway, so wanted to catch up with them. And K was unstoppably ravenous. I think we went through four (five?) episodes. Ye Gods. We're almost current--we've just the most recent one left (which I'm a bit spoiled for anyway, but eh. Being perpetually behind, I've always been a bit spoiled for BSG). BTW, (spoilers for the first part of BSG s4) Killing cutiehead Cally? NOT COOL, SHOW! Also not cool killing Mathias. Badass minor character; like her a lot. Finally, SAM, YOU FRAKKIN' TOASTER! NO SHOOTING FELIX! aieeee!! I think my viewing buddies might quickly get tired of me squeeing/wibbling over Gaeta. Though they still let me watch tv with them after being exposed to my Mr. Bennet love, so maybe they'll tolerate me.

And then I was enjoying driving with the windows down on the way back (I like driving a manual not only because it's good on hills and I'm such a control freak that I need to control what gear my car's in, but it's also occasionally just enjoyable to be that involved with the act of driving.), and another scene decided to inhabit my brain. And it still being there when I got home from work today, I capitulated. Short, but maybe too long to be a drabble; takes place during 4.06 "Faith".

As an aside, some guys look hotter when they're scruffy, but I don't think Gaeta's one of 'em, IMnsHO. You're pretty, Felix, but only when you shave. kthnxbai.

All this is actually pretty wierd because I don't consider myself that big a BSG fan. Sure, I enjoy it, but not enough to buy the DVDs, nor to obsessively watch it online 'cuz I don't have cable, and it makes me go "WTF?" on many an occasion... I felt much more obsessed about Alias, and I never wrote any fic for that. *shrug*

In other news, my ceiling fan is making the light globe underneath rattle, and it's making me crazy. Tightening the screws only helps for about three minutes. AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!! I will not miss that when I move to Washington.

Note comments may end up spoilery, if there is discussion to be had. scroll with caution!

Date:	2008-05-19 11:23
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	impressed

Sometimes I really love Oregon. (actually, most of the time.) Holy carp a crowd of 75,000?? Riverfront Park must be completely trashed now, but I'll bet that was one hell of a rally. I agree with Scalzi (when have I not?) that Obama's probably going to come up against a wall later, but there is no denying the man's charisma. And really, if I can't have Bartlet, I'll take Obama and not feel like I'm getting the fuzzy end of that lollipop.

I....thought I had something else, but apparently not. Must be off to work on summer classes now.

Coming later: my lazyass weekend, possible BSG babblings, and me losing control (!!1!).

Date:	2008-05-16 13:31
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	deer-in-headlights
Music:	Cercamon earworm

Just got my teaching schedule for fall. Ye gods! Is it too late to change my mind about this? *g*

Anyone wanting to see me in the next year or so should visit me this summer, because I'm about to have a lot of work to do...

Date:	2008-05-15 10:31
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	fangirly
Music:	Johnny Cash!

Not a whole lot going on in these parts recently. Plugging along with the DNA Sequencing, preparing to teach science camp (I have tentative class schedules! go me!), waiting to hear what I'll be teaching this fall at my Actual Job (!). Finished Alias (wow, did season 5 blow) and am now inhaling BSG s3 in gulps (whenever the next disc arrives from Netflix) trying to catch up so as to watch s4 with some Browncoats. My Gods, Alessandro Juliani is so damn pretty. (Yes, I need a boyfriend. oi.)

Anyway, just wanted to drop in to once again proclaim undying love for Joss:

I write for fanboy moments. I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I'm afraid of. I write to do all the things the viewers want too. So the intensity of the fan response is enormously gratifying. It means I hit a nerve.

And I don't know where all the casting info is ending up on the Buffistas board, so apparently I need to go seek it out. It's going to be a big cogdiss to see Helo on it, I'm sure. (Apparently Amy Acker also has a recurring role, so yay, more Amy Acker!)

Date:	2008-05-08 11:46
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	giggly
Music:	random favourites on iTunes

Because I need to just note this and move on to actually doing, you know, work: Smurfs vs. Care Bears in a knife fight. Scalzi's readers are just as hilarious as he is. Tears running down my face.

Date:	2008-04-23 15:06
Subject:	timekiller
Security:	Public
Mood:	working
Music:	Pandora radio

Had a metric crap-load [1] of samples yesterday, so I basically filled the DNA sequencer to the max. Unfortunately this mean that yesterday's samples are still running and won't be done for another hour at least. And here I am ready to put on today's samples! argh.

I've exhausted my microbiology-lab-prep options for today (now I need books which are at home), so before I slack off and fill time 'till I can go home by reading Alias fanfic, here's some linkspam!

Scalzi's musing on the Iraq War from back before it actually started. This was one of the first entries of his I read and it just made so much damned sense. I want to have a link to it for posterity. I still enjoy the Whatever for equal doses of sense-making and well-crafted prose. Scalzi writes a fun scifi novel, too!

Edit wars on Spy Wikipedia. (Note the article date.) Indeed, which *is* the best episode of Buffy? An eternal question. ;-)

Steampunk Star Wars figures. Made. of. win.

Shakespearean Serenity. The scary thing is that you can totally hear this in Nathan Fillion's voice.

[1]=I worked with a guy one summer who had worked out the difference between a boat-load, a crap-load, etc. I kid you not. He was funny! This was the same guy who helped catch the grass snake I found outside on lunch break and put it on the assistant lab manager's chair. Good times, good times.

Date:	2008-04-21 14:07
Subject:	ZOMG JOB OFFER SQUEEEEEE!!!
Security:	Public
Mood:	ecstatic

In lieu of the Weekend Report, including How I Think My Interview Went, this just in:

Columbia Basin College offered me the position!!

(i.e., apparently the interview went well. :-D)

I didn't accept right on the bat--though I probably could have--but I said I'd let them know tomorrow. But unless something really unbelievable happens--like I get begged to take over the biology labs here at UOregon this fall, or a meteor falls on the Tri-cities--I will be accepting the offer tomorrow. :-D :-D :-D

Fine print: It's a tenure-track position as a Biology instructor (they advertised for a cell/molecular biologist, so I'm assuming some molecular courses as well as your basic General Biology). Columbia Basin College is a two-year community college in Pasco, Washington. It's a 9-month contract, and I can work over the summer or not as my schedule / wishes / college needs go. I didn't think to ask about a precise starting date, but their academic year is September-June. (I could probably come back to Eugene over the summers if I wanted.) Best of all, it's in the Pacific Northwest! Fairly close to family, and I should be able to head down for Dance Camp, too!

I am so damn excited I can hardly stand it. The cat is watching me warily in case I pick her up and swing her around in another Hyper Ewok Dance of Joy. :-D I'm supposed to start on course development for the summer program this afternoon, but guess at my attention span!

Date:	2008-04-17 10:41
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	blah

Per phone call last night, I did not get the job in Chicago at DePaul University. Sigh.

I'm leaving in a few minutes to drive up to my next interview at Columbia Basin College. Good thoughts and prayers appreciated early tomorrow afternoon!!

tired of all this crap.

Date:	2008-04-14 12:52
Subject:	camping with test tubes
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited
Music:	Pandora radio

I got the teaching position with the Summer Enrichment Program! Woot, I'm going to teach Science Camp!

I interviewed on Thursday afternoon and they called to offer me the job on Saturday. (yeah, I know, what was the program director doing working on a Saturday?) I'm just that awesome! ...Or, more likely, they're that excited to add science courses to their program. Still, I wish other job searches went that quickly.

I'll be doing microbiology (all labs, possibly centered around isolating soil microbes and testing them for antibiotic activity), human genetics (hopefully half labs, which means I need to think of more besides blood typing and DNA fingerprinting), and for the third I still have to decide between science history and deep sea biology. Both are interesting, and both need me to think of some activities, because a lecture class isn't going to fly. I'm leaning toward science history--I think we might be able to recreate / model the experiments. Too bad I can't give them outside reading; it'll be a different science history class than I was thinking of, but oh well. Deep sea biology is really interesting, but I can't really think of any activities unless I somehow won the lottery and could afford to take them all on a sampling cruise ;-)

So, now I have a crapload of work to do (after I get this other job talk written and delivered!), developing three courses. With labs / activities. So much for all my little projects around the house! So much for taking July off! It's okay, because not only is this a great opportunity, it's going to be fun!!

Date:	2008-04-07 13:56
Subject:	whatever you do, don't say nuke-you-lur
Security:	Public
Mood:	nerdy
Music:	Pandora radio

Because I don't really have anything to talk about, something interesting out of the list of random bookmarks: Natural Nuclear Fission Reactor. I actually know a thing or two about nuclear reactors, having grown up in Idaho Falls where everyone's dad worked at "The Site", where the world's first nuclear-generated electricity was produced. But I'd never heard of this. Maybe it's just my nerditude, but I find it really fascinating (and also sense-making) that there can be self-sustaining reactions in a natural uranium deposit.

...Oh! I *do* have something to talk about: I have an interview for the Summer Enrichment Program teaching position this week! He called me Friday. Which was the date the applications were due (I dropped mine off Thursday). Instead of assuming they don't have many applicants, I'm going to think that mine was on top and it was so awesome he had to call me immediately before reading any more applications. Awesome! :o) So much for taking a month off after being done here in Sequencing...but I think it'll be fun! I've gotta decide which 3 of the 5 courses I proposed I most want to do. boo.

Date:	2008-03-31 19:50
Subject:	make a joyful noise
Security:	Public
Mood:	cheerful

HAPPY NEWS, COMRADES!

I am finished with my monster NIH postdoctoral application and mailed it to Texas for the finishing touches this very afternoon! woot! It's really too bad no one hired me soon enough to get me out of this.

Also? Dear NIH, please learn how to not kill so many trees. Love, PK

HAPPY NEWS, COMRADES!

I have another job interview! This one's at Columbia Basin Community College in south central Washington State. Needless to say, my mom was significantly more enthused about this one. (My brother is putting down the Tri-Cities, which as far as I'm concerned are a perfectly nice place to live. I just about give up on him.) Admittedly, I am, too, for I would love to stay in the Northwest, ohyes! This is going to be a short interview (i.e., not a full day), during which I am supposed to give a "15-minute mini-lecture" which is supposed to "simulate a classroom presentation that will introduce the committee to 'How prokaryotic organisms aid in digestion and assimilation of nutrients by eukaryotic organisms.' " Dude, I can barely say 'How prokaryotic organisms aid in digestion and assimilation of nutrients by eukaryotic organisms' in 15 minutes! ;-\ It's an interesting topic which will hopefully be fun to research, though. And I suppose I should only do superficial research because--seriously, 15 minutes?!

I think I'm going to drive up the night before and crash with my aunt and uncle in Walla Walla. :-)

As for DePaul University? I emailed them yesterday because I still hadn't gotten any money from them, and if they weren't going to hire me, the least they could do was reimburse my airfare. Apparently they're still interviewing people. Un-frickin-believable. I mean, okay, it's good that they haven't offered the job to someone else; but it's not so good that they're *still* interviewing people; obviously they don't love me so much that they'll just friggin' offer me the job....

HAPPY NEWS, COMRADES!

A friend forwarded me an email last week that apparently went to all the biology graduate students. Apparently the university has a Summer Enrichment Program for middle/high school students and they're looking to add some biology courses on, so they're asking for teacher applications and course proposals. Dude, I wish I'd known about this program before; I would have applied to teach for it years ago! Anyway, it sounds way awesome, and plus it's after I finish in the sequencing facility, so I'll have time! So I need to scramble this week to get some quick course proposals worked up (luckily they aren't supposed to be very detailed at this point) and get an application in by the end of the week.

I emailed the person in charge to double-check about the feasibility of doing some labs, and said I thought I might be able to borrow equipment from the biology teaching labs. He replied back with a very nice note saying that at this point we get to propose anything we want, and they worry about funding and infrastructure later. Super Shiny! I want to do microbiology, and forensics, and human genetics, and... this will be fun.

HAPPY NEWS, COMRADES!

Jesus is risen, as He said! Alleluiah!

I was an acolyte at Easter Vigil Mass this year, which was way fun. When I was of the age to be an altar server, my parish only allowed boys to be, erm, altar boys; by the time they started letting girls serve at the altar, I was too old. And I so wanted to be an altar server. Which is one of the many reasons why I adored the campus parish at UIdaho so much; they had adult acolytes serve the altar! I signed up as quickly as I could. ;-) And I really miss doing that. We don't have *anyone* serve the altar at this Newman Center; I don't know if that's a Dominican thing, or just the way this parish's traditions are. But there are acolytes at Easter Vigil. And I made sure to get my name in super early (I seriously emailed the Director of Faith formation on Ash Wednesday or the day after).

There were three of us; one who was in charge of holding the book for Father J to read out of (and served at the altar); a thurifer**, who wrangled the incense (mmmm...church incense)(note to self: Father J says this is "Lily of the Valley" incense); and me, who did other stuff (and served at the altar). Like carrying the aspersorium while Father J sprinkled the congregation with holy water after we renewed our baptismal promises. [Every time that happens, I have happy memories of how Father MS at UIdaho used a pine branch as an aspergillum, and apart from smelling fabulous, that thing dispersed water very well. And he always had such a gleeful look on his face as he was drenching us all.] (Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor...)

I also carried the dish of chrism while Father J gave the Sacrament of Confirmation to our Candidates. And the scent of it brought me right back to my own Confirmation, when I was a junior in high school. Which was a really wonderful spriritual experience for me. I was still in the first years of being a huge fan of Katherine Kurtz's Deryni books, and believing (I still do, a bit) in a group of people whose magical/psychic abilities enabled them to experience their religion on a higher level.

Two things stand out from that night: the flash that I saw on the bishop's hand every time it passed over the chrism, which was probably a reflection off of the golden dish, but very well could have been flashes of the Divine before the bishop managed to dampen the aura once again.

And when he came to me, and he signed my forehead with the chrism while proclaiming, "I claim you for Christ, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit"--he (the bishop, or maybe God...) had me completely enthralled. My mind went...somewhere else for a few moments. I nearly forgot to respond "Amen".

All this coming back to me (though they are vivid memories anyway) made it even more special to be such a close witness to the Confirmations of those six people. I'm sure I was grinning like a fool.

And later serving at the altar was just as much fun as ever. Even though they tried to change the order of things on us (after all that training!). We managed not to drop anything, nor did we set anything on fire, so I count the evening a success. :-)

**Fun With Ecclesiastical Latin: Incense is "cooked" on a thurible; the server who carries the thurible is a thurifer. The server who carries the processional cross (crucifix) is a crucifer. A server who carries a candle (lux, or light)? A lucifer. }:>

(This was pointed out to us, while we were practicing, by Father M, who was helping set up the baptismal font nearby. And I know this is totally wrong, but he was wearing a thin T-shirt while moving bricks and damn he must work out. He's a priest, Kristy; stick something blunt through your brainpan now.)

...Now that I think of it, Father M was the one carrying the Paschal Candle ("Christ Our Light!" "Thanks be to God!") in procession up from the fire out in the courtyard, so he was the lucifer. Hee!

HAPPY NEWS, COMRADES!

P had her baby on Thursday! A cutie, and Sabine is a very nifty name, IMnsHO, even if they are using the French pronounciation as opposed to the German one. :-) They're already using the afghan I crocheted (they brought it to the hospital!) which is totally unnecessary but really sweet. And I am now really, really on my own in the sequencing lab! Things are still going pretty well, though. I've managed not to screw up in a way that's unrecoverable yet.

HAPPY NEWS, COMRADES!

The Heather & Rose Spring Ball is this weekend! Yayyayayayay dancing. My plaid tights and I are going to have fun. :-D

Date:	2008-03-21 16:31
Subject:	ex tenebris te vocavi, Domine...
Security:	Public
Mood:	cold

Heh, no wonder Easter is so early this year: the vernal equinox was yesterday, and there's a full moon today. That would make the following Sunday Easter, right enough. Usually there's a bit of a delay between the equinox and the moon. (Last year was rather early, too, nowthatIthinkofit, but there were at least three days between the two.)

Weekend Schedule Of Insanity!

Thursday: work / dance
Friday: Tenebrae / work / dinner / Obama
Saturday: Vigil practice / madrigal concert? / Easter Vigil
Sunday: Easter Mass / bake hot cross buns / dinner at either JJ's or A's

Plus, I need to watch 5 episodes of Alias (DVD due back at library tomorrow), work on finish my grant, and get a wedding present for K&S. Because the wedding is Tuesday. aaaaaaahhhhh!!!

(Obama may or may not happen; basically, we're not going to exert ourselves terribly to get in. If they're still letting people in when we show up, we'll go; but we don't have anyone in line right now or anything.)

Speaking of Tenebrae: I went to it this morning! It was nice. If extremely early. The service started with a hymn, and then were two sets of three chanted Psalms. Father M [1] would start each one off by chanting the first verse, and then the congregation chanted the psalm in antiphony, trading verses back and forth with the church divided down the middle. At the front the church, in the aisle directly in front of the altar, was a rack of fourteen candles in a triangle formation, and after every psalm a member of the congregation got up and extinguished two of them (one on each side, starting at the bottom). Which I suppose fits with "tenebrae", which, IIRC, has to do with shadows (I'd have better ecclesiastical Latin if I'd been born 40 years earlier. Or had gotten to take Latin in high school *raises eyebrows at terrathree*). Between the first and second set were a series of lovely solo chants from Lamentations (I'd have given a lot to have silmaril do one or more of those!). After those six, I...forget the order. But there was a reading, another Psalm in antiphony, an interesting sort of Kyrie chant, and kneeling and reciting the Lord's Prayer.

Also, all the Dominicans (the three in residence at our Newman Center, plus visiting Father M) were in their formal habits with the awesome-looking black cloak over the normal white habit. I love it when they do that.

As a somewhat related aside, I always forget that it's Holy Thursday, not Good Friday, which is the day in which the Eucharist is removed from the church. (duh, the *Last Supper*? Yeah, sometimes my brain no worky so well.) So inevitably I walk into the sanctuary on Good Friday and am a bit floored. It's always a shock to see the tabernacle open and empty and the Presence light cold and dark. Which I suppose is good; a bit of reinforcement of the seriousness of Holy Week. In this particular church we have icons to either side of the altar--one of Mary and baby Jesus (a Vladimir Madonna), and one of St. Thomas More (the patron saint of the parish)--and during Triduum there are black drapes covering them, which is just extra-spooky.

(another unrelated aside: you know how we say Jesus was dead for three days? If you really think of it, it's...about a day and a half. He died Friday afternoon and was risen on Sunday morning. *g,d&r*)

...Now I want to hit Wikipedia / Catholic Encyclopedia and learn more about this particular service, but I have to run down to the library and find some references for my grant. boo.

[1]=who's here this week! He was the pastor here when I moved here, and was transferred to a Newman Center in Arizona (woe) and is now at some Dominican institute or another. I loved him and miss him. He had a great speaking style and is also a LOTR fan (I thought I had posted something about that once--him using a LOTR parallel in a homily--but I can't find it now. I think I need to go through and update my tags).

Oh, as is (hopefully) obvious, I am not doing the boycott thingy. What is it about LJ that brings so much drama?? theferrett, of course, says what I'm thinking.