It's a new day.... #2014

It's a new year and like all before it, many are touting all the changes that they will make only to have those forgotten two weeks in. I'm not big on resolutions, mostly because they seem like people make them to be in with the cool kids. Of course I wanted to be in with the cool kids and made resolutions which were not attained.

Over the last year, I've done much reflecting and introspecting. I've observed character traits, habits and attitudes which may be detrimental to my walk through life. They're nothing that will cause my untimely demise, but they may have a negative impact on my my progress professionally and in my relationships. I have not yet been able to break all those bad habits etc, but I am becoming more adept at identifying them when they do arise and striving to keep from repeating.

I also would like to set some goals that I would like to achieve this year. Some to completion and others in order to build on more long term goals...set the foundation, if you will. I'm sure that as the year progresses new goals will present themselves. When those do happen I will add them to the existing list and pursue them. I will outline a few of the changes that I'd like to make and things that I'd like to work on this year.

1. Blog more. I started this with the aim of getting my thoughts out of my head and into the atmosphere. Like many other things in my life, I started with  bang and fizzled quick. I'd like to try blogging consistently this year. I will set a goal of at least one post per month on anything that strikes my fancy. I reserve the right to blog more but not less than once a month.

2. I will try a new recipe once a month. I love cooking. It brings me great joy mostly because I can enjoy the fruits of my labour. I've participated in the Twitter #dinnerdare a couple times over that last year and it pleases me to be able to have something in common with others out there and to have people share in my joy or appreciate my efforts. I've wanted to expand my culinary skills so I think this will be a good way to do so. I won't try anything over the top fancy. I will use ingredients I'm familiar with to create dishes that I have yet to try on my own, though I would have had them from others.

3. Spend more time with my friends. I'm a bit of a loner, I enjoy my own company. I prefer staying
home on a Friday night to going to some bar to drink overpriced alcohol. But i also recognize that I
enjoy  the company of a select group of people. i do not spend nearly enough time with them. I will
endeavor to do more of that this year. Life is short and tomorrow isn't guaranteed as we learn over and over again. I need to make the time I have with other count.

4. I will make a greater effort to finish what I start. Unless something is absolutely required of me, I tend not to stick with it. This is what happened with blogging. I had no one to hold me accountable and so my interest waned. I got an itch to get a hobby, purchased painting equipment and then after 2 sorry attempts I quit. This year, I will do my best to stick with things. Finish what I start.

5. I will attempt to exercise regularly. I don't like exercising though I did start Couch to 5K and enjoyed seeing my progress over the few weeks. I'm lazy when it comes to exercise, mostly  because I'm in pretty good shape. I am however not fit, as evidenced by my panting when I climb the hill to
my apartment. I found a channel from U-verse with exercise routines and I will set up a plan and do my best to stick with it.

6. Drink water consistently. I go through periods where I drink a lot of water and then others where
my only liquid intake comes from coffee, juice and alcohol. I know that it is unhealthy and so I will aim to up my water consumption  and decrease my juice intake. Thankfully I'm not big into sodas so I won't have to modify my use of them.

7. Study my bible and do my daily devotions. I'm a Christian and in order to grow in my faith and know God and Christ and be more like Christ I need to read the bible. Right now I do minimal bible reading and study. I have a small group which meets weekly and I'm always completing my lessons in a hurry which makes me feel guilty. I will endeavor to devote a set amount of time daily to the reading of the bible, completing bible study material or reading biblical literature to help me grow as a Christian.

8. Connect with my friends who are not here. I feel terrible that I sometimes neglect my friendships. I don't call or text despite them being a text message away. I have a few close friends and I'd like to do a better job of nurturing those friendships, trying to rekindle a couple that seemed to have fallen dormant and be open to new ones. I am lucky to be born in a time when I don't have to wait months for snail mail and yet I feel like I am more disconnected now than I would have been in the 80s.

9. Not date or get into a relationship. Weird, I know. I got out of a 3 year relationship in the middle of last year and I need time to get to know myself as an individual and develop some of the traits that  I would want in a partner. I think that with all the heartache and betrayal I've endured in my short love life, I may be content to go it alone from here on out. Obviously, someone may come along and try to coerce me to abandon my "singleness" to "see where things go". I would like to discourage all such advances and stay true to my goal. Part of this is also continuing in my exercise of celibacy which I've done for the past year, successfully. Yay me!

That's it for now. We'll revisit these goals as the year progresses and grade my performance at the end of the year. Wish me luck.

End of year meme I stole from Dr. 27

This is the first time I'm trying this but  I think it's a good way to summarize the year and I can refer to it a long way off in the future.

Thanks Dr. 27

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?

I did my thesis proposal for my PhD and passed.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

 I did exercise more though I did not do as much as I had hoped, I didn't learn to drive though I did get my permit and1 impromtu lesson that was fun. I didn't attend any scientific conferences but I'm looking forward to fixing that next year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

YES!!! Two cousins and one friend. 3 new baby boys.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully no.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. Didn't leave the state at all since I got back in Jan.

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

An iPad, and presentation at a conference.

7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory?

June 26, the day I passed my Qual..

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Passing my qual.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not going to a conference

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Usual sinus issues.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Cute skirt last week. Didn't do much shopping this year.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

My mom for her unwavering support no matter what.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Politicians esp those who claim to be Christian because they do not exemplify Christ's teachings in any way.

14. Where did most of your money go?

What money??? Rent and bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Passing my qual.

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2013?

So many and though I don't like the song...Blurred Lines would be it.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

1. Happier or sadder? A lot happier in some  aspects and a little sadder in others.
2. Thinner or fatter? Same.
3. Richer or poorer? Poorer. Lots more debt than I'd like .

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Spent time with friends.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Spent time alone.

20. How will you be spending/did you spend Christmas?

With friends from church.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

Mummy (Skype).

22. Did you fall in love in 2013?

Nope. Ended a 3 yr relationship. 

23. How many one night stands in this last year?

None.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?

The Blacklist.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No.

26. What was the best book(s) you read?

The Honest Look. First time reading Lablit and loved it. Planning to read Welcome Home Sir before the year is out

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Emeli Sande. 

28. What did you want and get?

My drivers permit, new passport.

29. What did you want and not get?

Driver's license, iPad .

30. What were your favourite films of this year?

12 years a Slave, Best Man Holiday.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I volunteered at a halfway house and went to the movies (alone).

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

IDK, I may have not gotten all I wanted out of 2013 but I am pretty content with it overall. It could have been so much worse

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?

I'm beginning to buy more dressy pieces instead of just cheap clothes to wear to lab.

34. What kept you sane?

My faith and friends.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I like Jennifer Lawrence brutal honesty.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

What political issue didn't is a better question, but that government shutdown took the cake.

37. Who did you miss?

My family. Being away esp this time of year is hard

38. Who was the best new person you met?

Met two people who are becoming good friends and my little sister (BBBS)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.

That it's all going to be OK. I can't really explain it but somewhere along the line I got some inner peace about my future career-wise. I may not get the job I want but I've accomplished enough to get a job and be productive in society which is more than a lot of people can say.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

Don't worry, Be Happy.

I read my blogroll instead of post

The title pretty much sums up what I've been doing the last few months. I read blog posts by those who are ever so much better at articulating their thoughts than I am. Plus I've been busy in lab. Things haven't been going as well as I'd like with my research so I've been down a lot but carrying on. One good thing that's happened is this year is that I have completed my coursework for the program so it's all research from here on out. I need to take my qual and I'm pretty much paralyzed with fear. Need to actually write the proposal and study some concepts. I know that I need to do it but actually doing has been a bit of a challenge. I've got the ball rolling by talking to my committee members about dates which work for them so that's  step in the right direction. Hopefully, I can keep the momentum going. Otherwise I can kiss this place goodbye.  Trying to stay motivated in the face of adversity is a skill I have yet to master but I'm definitely working on it. My faith that I'm here for a purpose which He will ultimately accomplish helps me get through the worst days.

What works for you?

Dee

1 Year Blogiversary

Over a year ago I started this blog to empty my head of some of the thoughts that seemed to be taking up residence there. A year in, I realize that this is nowhere as easy as I had imagined partly because I hadn't considered that my interest in the blogosphere and my desire to actually write out my entries would fade. I started off real slow with writing but I did quite a bit of reading. I discovered lots of scientist and science writers (check out the blog roll) and I felt like part of a community. Many of the write about real life experiences, the triumphs and failures of the vocation and other random stuff. In the coming year I will try to do a little more science related writing ( a little about my field though not too much lest I give it up). I will try to do less venting and more constructive writing. I have tons of ideas, just not the time (and when I do have time, the inclination) to sit and write. Thanks to my small readership. I appreciate you and look forward to continuing this journey with you.

Catch me on the Twitterverse @Dee_Blastula

Toodles

Dee

Recipe 1

I've always loved cooking though not all the time and lately I've become bored with cooking the same things over and over again so I've been thinking of trying new dishes.

Here is the first Recipe I'd like to try from here

Thai Massaman Chicken
Adapted from All Recipes


Ingredients:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons curry paste
1 (3/4 inch thick) slice ginger, minced
1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast meat – cubed
3 tablespoons fish sauce
3 tablespoons tamarind paste*
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 cup cashews
1 (13.5 ounce) can coconut milk
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons brown sugar


Directions:

Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in curry paste and minced ginger; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in the cubed chicken, and cook until the pieces turn white on the outside, about 3 minutes.

Stir in brown sugar, fish sauce, tamarind paste, peanut butter and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the chicken pieces are no longer pink in the center, about 20 minutes. Add the lime juice and cashews and cook for an additional 5 minutes before serving.


Serving suggestions - serve with white rice and sliced avocado.


*If you have trouble finding tamarind paste, you can substitute with 1/4 cup fresh orange juice and 2 tsp of lime juice.

You want what????

Dear Women:

Since there's no way we're ever going to pay you the same as your male counterparts, how about we let you leave work a little early. That way you can get home in time to prepare a hot meal for when your hard working husband gets home from work and the kids from school. Wait, what?? Some of you are unmarried and childless?? Well, hurry up and fix that. I mean that is what God created you for, isn't it? How do you possibly expect to be fulfilled if you don't have children and a husband to cater to. Some of you women crack me up. Working outside the home (where you belong) and demanding equal pay. You should be happy that we hired you at all-with you innie instead of outie. Go on then. I'm busy over here. I've got work to do before I rush home to a hot meal prepared by my less equal but better half.

Signed
A Man's man

Nobel Week

Yeah Yeah!!! I've been gone for a min now I'm back again. Trying to establish my Pseudonym..lol

Anyways, This week is Nobel week and I'd like to send out warm congratulations to all the winners especially those in Medicine: Dr. Yamanaka and Sir Gurdon and Chemistry: Dr. Lefkowitz and Dr. Kobilka.

The Medicine and Physiology prize hits close to home since I work in a Stem Cell lab and have actually read the Takahashi et al paper. And I will be generating iPSCs for my dissertation work.

Toodles
Dee.

Will try to blog more frequently and about more science/grad school topics.