Happy Nevada Day! Oh, and Halloween too!

On this date in 1864, Nevada was admitted to the union of these great United States. And so in all my years growing up in Las Vegas, we got Halloween off from school. Today the holiday is observed on the last friday of October, which this year happens to fall on actual Halloween.

So BFF and the family went off to enjoy their long weekend in a cabin in the mountains, and I am here with her mom and the pets giving out candy on Halloween for the first time in years. So far there has only been 1 set of trick or treaters, but it has only been dark for about half an hour so we'll see.

Part of my Halloween celebration involved getting some fabulous wigs to wear throughout the weekend*




The cat was very interested in the wig trying-on process, he wanted to get in all the pictures.



BFF was kind enough to leave a pumpkin behind for me, and I got to use my mad carving skills that I perfected at the pumpkin carving parties I used to go to in Pennsylvania. I am a big fan of the classic triangles and funny teeth look.



Of course the best part about carving a pumpkin is getting the messy yet delicious seeds, yum!!



I also put the spooky skull by the door to lend to the aura of halloween-ness and the cat certainly seemed intrigued by this new addition to the porch.



There have been a couple more sets of trick-or-treaters while I have been writing this post. I have noticed that when they say "Trick-or-treat" I say it back. Each time it seems stupid, like when you are at the movies and the ticket person tells you to enjoy the show and you say "you too".

Happy Halloween everyone!

*and especially to wear at Burning Man next year!

civic duties and lapsed memories

I got my ballot! Yay! I'm sending it in before the end of the week.



Today I finished going through 2 and a half giant boxes of high school and college memorabilia and condensed it down to 1 box. I packed those boxes a good 10-12 years ago, and have just moved them from my dad's storage unit to my own storage unit. So I decided to go through them.

It is so interesting what we decide to keep forever when we are 20 because it is so important, and 10 years later I have no idea where it came from. I was surprised at the number of birthday and holiday cards from people I have no recollection of were in those boxes.

I saved the obviously important things, like my yearbooks. The 8th grade book from 1991 was a spectacular example of teenage insanity and angst. Apparently I was filled with some serious hate for some of my classmates, since I WHITED OUT both their names AND their pictures. Wow. I am so glad I grew up.

Luckily the other years' books were not as horrible.

Of course I found my mortar, and guess what? It still fits! woot!



I decided that since I have gotten 2 more degrees since then, I could part with the mortar.

There were tons of notebooks and planners filled with my daily activities and gossip with friends. I was a pretty active traveller in high school, going on as many school trips as my parents could afford, and kept every single little bag and brochure I found. Because at 16 riding on the Washington DC subway is new and interesting so I had to keep my metro ticket. At 31, on the other hand, I've been on many metros, and DC's metro several times. I can throw away the ticket.

Some of the doodles in my notebooks gave me a chuckle before tossing them in the bin.



My naive younger self also felt it was crucial to keep citizenship award from 1991, my driver's manual, a tiny plastic ballerina, a high school memory book, a champions for Jesus sticker, and a wooden dowel.

Because, you never know when you could use a dowel.

travelling shoes

Before Basil's demise, I spent much of last week and last weekend trekking to major metropolitan areas for work and fun.

For fun I went to Philadelphia and saw Eric Hutchinson with Frogweiler. She and I first saw him at the Tin Angel as an opening act. It was just him and his guitar, and we liked what we heard. Now he has a band and we heard one of his songs in a promo before the Sex and the City movie. I talked to him after the show and told him that we had been going to his shows for a while and it has been a good time seeing him grow in his music and success. I am thinking that the next time I see him (in California *fingers crossed*), he'll be too big to hang out at the merch table after the show. Who knows.

I also ventured near the city of brotherly love for work. I was at the Villanova campus, which was quite lovely, even with the crucifixes in the classrooms. Then later I went to Arcadia University (formerly Beaver College, heh, heh, beaver). That university had a gorgeous campus, centered around this castle.
I decided that if I ever build a university, I will definitely have a castle put in. And, as far as castles are concerned, the one at Arcadia is very well designed because I could not get into that place! Every time I turned a corner expecting a door, there was none. I felt a bit like I was disappointing my viking ancestors by not instantly gaining access to that fortress. Perhaps my true talents lie in seafaring.

Frogweiler and I again joined forces to journey into Manhattan to see Sondre Lerche. The drive in was pretty smooth, with the usual hold up at the Holland tunnel because Frogweiler still does not have an EasyPass! The music at the show was great, Sondre Lerche give such a positive energy to the crowd that I always love. What I don't love, however, is lower Manhattan when it is warm and humid on a Sunday. Warm and humid in any place on any day does not make me happy, but this is a special case.

You see, the music Frogwieler and I love is usually played at places in Manhattan below, say 14th St. Oh yeah, we're downtown girls. Also, many of the shows we have seen also happen to fall on Sunday nights. Sunday night also happens to be garbage night in the east village and everywhere between there and the holland tunnel. So, the warm, humid weather kind of, shall we say, accentuates that special 'city smell'.
It makes the stickiness that everyone feels in the humid weather feel extra dirty, so it is not my favorite.

The garbage on the streets is not something that tourists flock to see, so we decided that this weekend we will venture into the city again to take a photographic tour of weird places to see while in New York (this time on Saturday). For example, I think we may start at Canal Rubber because if it's in rubber, they have it! Basically we are trying for off-off-off-the beaten track, but not so off the beaten track that we get mugged.

Plus, I am bringing the zombies, so if you have any suggestions for where we must go, let me know! Dingo, do you have any tips?

Friends and benefits

I was very excited because I thought today I would be able to enroll in the dental plan from my new job.

But, then I noticed that to take advantage of any of the coverage (like for cavities) you have to be in the plan for 3 months, and, for major stuff, 12 months. I am not sure if it will be worth it, especially since I will probably have dental at my new job in September.

When I was in my 20s, guys who played guitar and smoked cigarettes made me weak in the knees.

In my 30s, it's a good health and dental plan and owning a washer and dryer.

It's interesting how priorities change.

My oldest and dearest friend from Las Vegas is visiting this weekend (Natedog's mom). I am looking forward to spending time with her, especially since the last time she visited me in PA it wasn't so fun. I had lived here a grand total of 2 weeks and didn't know how to find anything to do, it was August (hot and very muggy), and I had no air conditioning and no friends. Luckily it is meant to be a beautiful weekend and I know plenty of places to go and people to see.

She keeps telling me that she wants to go out to bars, since she never really does that at home, what with the husband and kids. I laughed and told her don't worry, I'll take you to my bar, and then my other bar, and then my other other bar, and then (if there's time) to a place near me that I haven't tried yet.

Tricky situations and random fun

Tomorrow I am going to go one of 7 Ph.D. defenses that are being held this semester, 7 people are graduating, and none of them are me. I came to terms with my delayed graduation already, and I am happy to be finishing this summer rather than right this second.

But still, I am not looking forward to the after-celebrations of these defenses, when faculty ask me "It's your turn next, right?" or "When are you graduating?" or "You aren't defending this month too?"

I have been slyly avoiding answering those questions for years, actually, but now I am just tired of it. So, I am trying to figure out the best crafted response. The contenders at the moment are:

"I'm graduating this summer"
"I ask myself that question every day"
"I am writing right now"
"This year has been complicated, but I look forward to defending this summer"
"Fuck off"
"I decided to get as much free food as possible and then I'm joining the circus, suckers!"
"I think you left your car lights on"

It probably won't be that bad, it's just awkward because I am so close to being done, but not quite there. There is a particular person who seems to make it a point to interrogate me about my progress randomly and remind me how much work I still have to do. I just smile and take it, but I really just want to go fart in their office and walk away.

In other news, I am completely addicted to Dancing with the Stars. I absolutely love watching these celebrities step completely out of their comfort zones to try dancing. My favorite at the moment is Adam Corolla, who is not a very good dancer, but he gives it his all and looks like he is having fun with it, even if it isn't perfect. I voted for him, twice. Yeah, I said it. I voted for couples on Dancing with the Stars, and I am only slightly ashamed to admit it!

So far still no summer job, I got all dressed up in my fancy hire-me clothes, and the offices were closed on Friday! D'oh! There is always this week.

Closing time

Since I am now jumping head first into the job search*, I'm looking for a good closing for my emails. Something professional, yet friendly. Especially since tomorrow I am going to write and ask my potential references whether they are comfortable giving me a positive reference.

Most of the time I just sign my emails with the very informal, cold and unfeeling hyphen:
-Hamster_grrl

But now I think something snappier is in order.

Best regards,
Thank you for your time,
Peace out,
I look forward to hearing from you,
Sincerely,
Vaya con dios,
Have a great day,
Cheers,
Keep on rockin',
Yippee ki yay motherfuckers,

I'm thinking either 'Best regards' or 'have a great day'.

Any other suggestions?

Peace out,
Hamster_grrl


*If anyone you know is looking to hire someone with a Ph.D. in biology, let me know :)

A few days late

It's been a busy couple of days, so my Thursday blog entry was delayed until today.

Thursday was full of meetings and classes. I had my first belly dancing class in a while, and it literally kicked my ass. It had been too long since I did that many hip-lifts. I wasn't able to go to the Jan-Feb session, so I missed learning the dance that almost everyone in the class already knows. It was suprising, but welcome. During my last class I was feeling like I wasn't learning anything new, and now I have a lot to learn.

Then I went to see my favorite local band, and ogled the cutie pie young drummer. He is adorable, but 8 or 9 years younger than me. I have fun flirting with him when I run into him around town and during the early part of their show, but once 12:30am hits the crush evaporates fast. 12:30 is the time when drummer boy's young friends abandon the bar down the street, whose specials end at midnight, and come check out the show.

While I love that my favorite band is getting a bigger audience and is probably making more money because of this, the kiddies annoy the hell out of me. I mean, I did my fair share of getting obnoxiously drunk with my friends and making out in bars in my twenties, but I am done with that. Some may say that it means I am getting old, but I prefer to think that now I just know better.

On Friday I was away at a professional development conference for graduate women in science and engineering. Most of the women there were in engineering, so that was slightly disappointing, but the sessions themselves were great. Everyone there was excited to be there, and the genuine desire to help other women advance in science and engineering was evident. Each of the women who spoke during the day explained how the journey to success is not easy, and can change direction many many times without warning. All of the women stressed that the most important thing was to make sure to do things that made us happy and fulfilled. They not only dedicated time to advancing their careers, but also made sure to take time for personal development as well.

I am starting to look for my next job after graduation, so the conference gave me plenty of food for thought.

calming the nerves

I am about half an hour away from giving a talk about my work.

It's basically a summary of the stuff I have been doing and what I am going to tell my committee about next week when we meet to make sure everyone is on board with me graduating in the spring.

But today is a practice talk. This practice talk where the people hearing it have specifically said to be prepared for them to basically rip it apart. And then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, I will have a Super Excellent Awesome talk for next week.

It's all for my benefit, I know, but I am still very, very nervous! Eek!

So, in order to keep my self from running to the hills to escape, I thought I'd share a funny song from the most recent episode of Lynchland. I couldn't find the video, so I have to share the lyrics. Enjoy

Dragon Herpes

I've never been the hero
Though I've stood right by their side
heard their stories told
of how they got the gold
while I just chose to hide
There's one thing that is certain
I'm glad that I'll never see

Dragon Herpes
I'll never have dragon herpes

You'll never catch me kissin'
on some old horny gryphon
no you'll never catch me shooting porn
with some wasted unicorn

maybe I won't be remembered
maybe time will forget my name
while heroes go down in history
I guess I'll remain a mystery

If theres' one thing you should remember
when thinking back to me

Think dragon herpes
I never had dragon herpes

Although I hear she's quite the seducer
I'd never get stoned with Medusa
I'll never catch crabs from a Kracken
Cause that's just not an ass I'd be tappin'

I'd never get sores from a minotaur

I'll never shoot porn with a unicorn

My favorite line is "cause that's just not an ass I'd be tappin'" I want to start incorporating it into my day to day life, but so far it has been difficult finding appropriate situations for the line.

OK, I'm off to sit in the room for the talk and attempt to remain calm.

New senses

I have been ogling a guy who runs around my building at lunchtime.

When I happen to be coming back from a class, he happens to be near the door I go into, and he is all sweaty and stretching from his afternoon run. I can't help ogling him. He's a cutie, tall, dark, and has that geeky short beard thing going on. I call him Bearded Guy. Often he runs with Bald Shirtless Guy, who is not really my type.

But anyways, today, Bearded Guy and Shirtless Guy were talking with New Third Guy. As I passed them, I realized that Bearded Guy is also my Voice Crush from last year!

DancingFish and I were thinking that perhaps he should now be called Broice Vearded Guy (Crush).

Mrs. Vearded Guy.... it has a nice ring to it...

And we thought the Super Bowl ads were excessive

I've noticed that there are many billboards, television, and radio commercials here in Melbourne targeted toward men to improve their sexual prowess (usually by improving their, ahem, staying power). So all day long at work, commercials for treatment of erectile dysfunction play over and over and over again.

One day a coworker asked, "Do you have this many commercials for improving erections in America?"

"No, not really," I replied. "I think it's because we are a bit prudish and don't talk about such things that openly. But hearing all these commercials here kinda makes me worry about my dream of finding an Australian husband."

"Well, all I can say is try before you buy."

Good advice, indeed.

make your own joke here

There is construction near my building at the moment, so I get to pass this sign quite regularly. I can't help but laugh.