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mood

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bitchy

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When I was 16, and the last census happened, my parents could hardly restrain me from filling out the form. It was exciting for me because I was going to be counted, I was going to matter. Now, I get this envelope that tells me I'm legally required to fill out this form, and my only thought is "I'm not sure I DO want to be counted" (though I'm now confident that I matter). I'm just not that interested in my government having any more info about me than they do now. Sigh. Guess this is what "jaded" is.

*I'm especially fond of the fact that question 1 is "count EVERYONE who lives at this address and write that number here". Question two is "how many people did you NOT include in number 1 who live at this address". This merely illustrates how idiotic the American populace is assumed (most likely rightly) to be.

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mood

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astonished

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Can't post it to Facebook, cuz then the offending parent could read it, but for the love of Dogs, do not name your child MAVIS!!!!! Jesus Monkeyfuck, what were you thinking?!?!?!?

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mood

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unhappy

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The Man is again interfering in my life. As a hospital employee, I'm now mandated to get both the "regular" flu vaccine and the H1N1. This (it seems) is despite the fact that I have no patient contact and only minimal contact with clinicians (i.e. I sometimes see them in elevators) and therefore pose no risk to the patient population.

I objected to drug testing when I started here, but I think I might object more to this, since it is in fact forcing me to put something into my body that I don't want there. I'm prepared to try a variety of techniques to get out of this, but I fear that in the end, it'll come down to either getting the vaccines, or leaving the program. And I wish I could say I was prepared to leave the program, but I don't think I am.

1 in 1,000,000 people who get flu shots get Guillian Barre syndrome, which destroys your motor neurons, leading (usually) to temporary paralysis, but sometimes to death. 1 in 1,000 people who get H1N1 flu seem to die, but 1) those are not the healthy 26 year olds, and 2) since I haven't had flu in ... memory? (I may have had it when I was small, but if so, I don't remember it) I don't really feel that i'm likely to get it this year (when i'm NOT commuting 2 hours every day on public transit, the dirtiest place in the world).

If anyone knows any less than fully scrupulous doctors who'd like to forge a document saying they gave me these injections, I'd love to know about it. Or if they wanna forge something saying I'm allergic to eggs?

A good friend brought up the point that of all the friends we have that TRULY resist The Man's advances into their lives are either unemployed or self-employed. It is a shame that my chosen career seems to prevent me from being able to stand up for my civil rights, and I feel like a terrible person for allowing this intrusion into my body (It might be going to far to say it feels like rape, but in the end, it is someone forcing an object into my body without my full consent). As someone has said, if every time the gvt does something we don't like we just roll over and say 'well, i'll allow it this time', then soon we have a facist state.

Putting my job over my ideals sucks.

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mood

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sated

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at The Modern (@ MoMA)

First Amuse Bouche: toasted fava beans, tiny pastries with fivespice, and a spoon of salmon ceviche

Second Amuse Bouche: Panna cotta - mom dad and I got a flavor i couldn't identify (but was delicious) and I have forgotten what they told us it was, while Chris got a mini-cauliflower one, since the servers had overheard him mention it looked interesting

Appetizer: Seared Foie Gras. Cuz, well, you can't go wrong there

Main: Pennsylvania Duck Breast with Black Trumpet Marmalade, “Fleischschneke”, and Banyuls Jus. And another tiny piece of foie gras, cuz it seems they noticed how in love with the stuff I am. Presented tableside.

Pre-dessert 1 - raspberry foam over beet jelly. Really nice.

Dessert: Chocolate Tart, Chocolate “Crémeux” and Ice Cream. The Trifecta. With Chocolate mint infusion, prepared tableside by snipping leaves off of a live plant with what looked like the sharpest shears I've ever seen.

Post-dessert - Petits fours, and tiny chocolates.

Upon leaving we were presented with twin tiny loaves of pound cake 'for the road'.

When we asked for the check, the server replied "with haste". The sommelier knew her shit, and the wine was delicious. Overall, really good service, with only the tiniest hint of obsequiousness. HIGHLY recommended for when your parents are in town taking you to dinner.

Notably, the "bar room" @ The Modern has a variety of small plates, which might even be considered affordable to we the children. However that room was somewhat louder and more crowded.

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mood

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joyous

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Enough with the technology questions and 2 month LJ-absences.

My. Life. Is. Awesome. ::knocks on wood::

After a great deal of stress, I believe I have found the lab where I will be doing my thesis research. The lab studies dystonia, which is a movement disorder which causes abnormal muscle contractions leading to twisting or repetitive movements, and postural wierdness (technical term, I assure you). While the work is not where my passion lies, I've come to the determination that the purpose of getting a PhD is to teach you how to do good research, and if you have a mentor who can form you into a good scientist, then you're set. I like my PI (though haven't really spent THAT much time with her, but that is the nature of the work - you spend a lot of time with the Post-docs and see your PI hopefully once a week). I really like the post-docs - one is Israeli and the other French, plus a few technicians/research coordinator-types.

It is SO good to finally feel like you have a lab-home (Even if I am currently squatting at one of the post-doc's desks while she's on vacation - I have hopes of getting my own soon.) and to feel like I'm not just a lowly rotation student following a post doc around like a lost puppy. I was left alone to do my Western yesterday (a protein assay, if you care) and (AND!) it worked. So that's awesome. I even get keys to the lab on Monday, so I can come in at 2am if I want. Which I kinda want to do at some point.

Yesterday, I had occasion to have a 90 minute incubation starting at 6pm. So I started it, ran home for dinner and a shower, and came back at 7:30. And I was happy about it. Cuz I was getting things done, and since I live 2 blocks from the lab, didn't have to just sit there.

It's cliche, but I'm really living my dream. And THAT is awesome.

The first years arrived this week (which means I'm a 2nd year!! egads!!). I met some yesterday at the bar, and tonight we have a bbq with them, so long as it doesn't rain. Maybe some of them will be cool. Either way, free food.

Also, taking only one class (plus, you know, 10 hours a day in lab) which is Neuropharmacology (SQUEEE! WIN!!) and has the best final ever: Open-book, take-home, multiple choice. I have 0 excuses not to get an A (the final is the only test).

And now? LUNCH!

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mood

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jubilant

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I AGAIN had trouble with my Bose Ear Buds *must learn not to wrap the cord around the device!*, and sent them back for a replacement. Now, I foolishly didn't get tracking info for it, so when I called, they said that they'd check with the warehouse in case it was hidden under a pallet or something, but that without proof that I'd sent back the old ones, there wasn't much they could do. This AM, I got an email informing me that the new pair had shipped!!! So either they believe me or they found the returned pair. Hot FUCKING shit, I love this company.

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mood

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giddy

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Went drinking at the Lakeside Lounge last night. It turned out to be absolutely next door to the Life Cafe. Now, Rent came out when I was 13 and already obsessed with Broadway (and NYC in general) I saw Rent in 5 cities (2 countries), probably 20 times total. I remember clearly the time I was in NYC with my dad (was probably 15) and we drove past the Life Cafe. I shrieked as only a young girl can (Think the day the Beatles arrived in the US) I continue to be embarrassed by how excited seeing that restaurant/bar made me. And I still kinda "squeeeeeee"'d when I saw it last night, but this time it was in my head.

*sigh* the memories!!!

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mood

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Caffinated, yet tired

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Anyone with facebook and too much time will have already noticed that I'm in the midst of Hell Week for me. Fortunately its only 2 days, but I had an exam today, and I have another staring me down from tomorrow. It blows.

So! Muchly drinking will have to occur, both tomorrow night, and Wednesday at pub night. Anyone who wishes to join should contact me :) Those who cannot come imbibe should think neuro-anatomy related thoughts tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30. Focus on the vestibular and gustatory systems, if you don't mind.

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mood

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Unnhhhh

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Recent issues in my life:

~ Bose ear buds fail; again. Likely can get replaced, again (this happened before), but still, hassle.
~ 2, count that TWO "refurb" ink cartridges are essentially non-functional. Again, can get refund, but still, had to go to Staples unexpectedly today to get the 'real thing' for $42.
~ Warren Beta-y (that's my laptop) has the Virtumonde trojan. This fucker is a bitch to remove, and I am not sure that I have succeded. Anyone who has tips/info/enhanced computer knowledge is welcome, nay, encouraged, nay, begged to give their $0.02
~Sub issue: removed Java, as some advice said it can harbor virtumonde, and it then refused to reinstall. Will poke further at that issue tomorrow.

Also Old Navy has changed their sizes, so the pants I bought yesterday do not, in fact, fit, though they are the same size and supposed "fit" as my old pair. Grr.

So yeah, today blew, especially because these various problems prevented me from getting done anything productive today.

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mood

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happy

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Right, then. So it's been a month since my last post. In that time, I went home for Christmas, got TWO new coats from "santa", as well as dishcloths and rags (So my kitchen can be KLEEN) and assorted other things, including a bag full of odds and ends my dad got me across his many travels in the past year (Turkey, Greece, Uganda and Australia were all represented, as well as some others that I'm sure I'm forgetting).

Got food poisoning on Dec 28, and the restaurant that I think caused it is now closed :-D

Also went to a kickass NYE party @ TastyMilk.

Then I started classes again. I'm taking more than the standard load for 2nd semester first-years, in that I'm taking Neuroanatomy, which is taught jointly to the grad students and the medical Residents (EEK!) But you can't fail cuz if you fail a test, you get to take it over, and apparently the residents are convinced that the grad students will do better, and the grad students are convinced that the residents will do better, so our tests are curved separately. (The prof assures us that there's NO difference in our test scores regardless, but she's tired of people complaining, so 2 curves it is).

Also taking cellular and molecular neuroscience, which should be ok. We get the possible test questions a week before, and then the day of the test they pick 3 out of a hat, and you have to answer those. Could be much harder than I am imagining, but at least you'll know EXACTLY what to study.

And on that note, I have to go present a paper for that very class! wish me luck.

Oh, and after class I'm escaping to Cape Cod with TK and Jay for the weekend!! SQUEEEEE!!