Deep Thoughts and Sage Advice

There are lies, damned lies, and work-life balance in the hard sciences.

Faith

It's no secret that I've been struggling with the religion I was born into, and consequently am struggling with my faith.  At this point I'm mostly apathetic; I just don't care enough to take the time to re-figure out what I believe.  But every once in a while I read something that truly inspires me and gets me riled up to start some introspection: my dear friend recently had this to say about God:

Don't tell US how to worship. Don't tell US who to vote for. Don't tell US we are wrong when we are right. . . .

You don't speak for me.

You don't speak for my God.

Because my God, the one I believe in, does not hate or oppress people because of their gender. Or their race. Or their political affiliation. My God loves everybody. Even horrible people. Even people who completely do not deserve his love. Even people who curse too much. Even liars. Even sinners.

Like me.

LIKE YOU. 

FUCK YEAH! I could not agree more.  Seriously, go read the whole thing.

In which I act full of myself

I'm speaking at another conference, which means at all the conferences I've attended where I've submitted an abstract, I've been asked to speak.  It's getting to the point where I'm worried about what my reaction will be when I am inevitably not chosen as a speaker.

But the much more important point is, what the hell shall I wear?  I think this is an excellent occasion for my new patent pumps.  This is an inaugural meeting so I'm not sure if it's suit appropriate.  This is the problem with working with both scientists and MD's  :/

Kinda proud of my birth town right now

Counter protesters out-number white supremecists 25:1 at ridiculous rally.  Love that they were throwing snowballs.

Postdoc Blues

So I've been doing this postdoc thing for about 10 months now.  It's really surprising how different being a postdoc is from being a student - but that's a good thing!  It means I'm learning new things, unlike postdocs who are just data chugging like a cheap tech.  I've written a review, coauthored a few papers some of which didn't get outright rejected, reviewed papers, applied for a few fellowships and even got one, am mentoring students (I currently have an undergrad, a very needy master's student, and a rotating grad student), presenting at conferences, leading committees, am currently writing the skeleton of an R01 and am taking a class as required by my fellowship.  Oh yeah and producing (somewhat kickass) data.  That's a long fucking list and there just aren't enough hours in the day.  I am feeling overwhelmed to the point that I lost control of my normally publicly cool self and swore at the janky-ass lab printer.  Très professionnelle. 

How I feel most days

Of course, it doesn't help that recently there have been two deaths (one a family member, one a family friend) in as many weeks and yet another sinus infection.  Nonetheless, I need to find a way to balance out my responsibilities.  I'm not sure how to do that, but I do know that it's a skill that I will need to be successful down the tenure track.  But all I want to do is take a long nap.

Throwing a tantrum

Why the fucking fuck don't memory foam pillows fit in a standard pillowcase?  I gotta shell out for a special fucking pillow because my neck's so fucked up from years of training-related tension, now I gotta buy special fucking pillowcases that don't match my sheets?  Fuck that noise.

While I'm at it, what's with all this #firstworldproblem bullcrap?  Back in my day we didn't come up with whitewashed fauxronic nonwitticisms, we just called shit like the above paragraph what it was: being a spoiled fucking brat. 

And another thing: YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN!

Disappointed

Looks like the Obama administration is backing down on requiring employers to provide contraception coverage in their health insurance.

Looks like when I am searching for a TT job, I will specifically be avoiding Catholic institutions.  As a bisexual woman born and raised Catholic, the Church has continued to do everything in its power to push me out and then push me further and further away, then launches hilarious campaigns like "Catholics come home!" like I just wandered off like an unfenced dog.

Fashion trends I cannot endorse

I work at a primarily undergraduate institution, which affords me great fashion ideas.  There are, however, some trends I cannot understand.

I have been seeing low-volume ankle-height, flat, tan leather oxfords, people.  And not ones with wing-tips or patterns.  No.  I am seeing shoes on 20 year olds that remind me precipitously of shoes I once sold, orthopedic shoes targeted at, shall we say, twilight women.

Shown below are the Frye shoes I've been seeing and, for comparison, the SAS - yes that's right, San Antonio Shoes - that I am familiar with.  If you can't tell the difference I won't tell you.

No.  Just, no.

(However if anyone wants to buy me these in 6.5, I would love you forever)