Crazy little woman...

The second part of my PhD is officially over (the first part was turning in the papers). The presentation went fairly well but the questions were definitely not my favorite part.
The good thing of the day is that my manuscript is worth a PhD. So now I'm closer to that little piece of paper telling the whole world that I'm a doctor. Not that it matters to me. Still I want to have something to prove that I did a good job during these 4 years.

24 days before I have to turn in my phd thesis. That means I have lest than 20 days to finish calculations and find something other than "it does not work, thermodynamic is crap" to say.
Realizing that the deadline was so close made me stress more than I wanted.
So to stop that reaction, I ended up going to my favorite orchid shop. I ended up with 4 new babies.  Yes I managed to make some place for them. And  yes, my little space is turning into a little jungle
I so fell in love with that little one and I couldn't resist. Though it might be hard to have it bloom again, I bought it. The flowers are so tiny and cute (less than 5mm).

     



 I also mounted my first orchid *grins happily*. It took me longer than I had expected to clean the roots but in the end it's totally worth it. It also allowed me to check that the little one was doing okay (no rotten roots, no pests). I hope it will grow without any problems. But seeing it is growing new roots, I'm fairly sure things will go well.



And now that my brain is not overheating anymore, I can head back to my thermodynamic calculations....  

The picture says it all! I hope you will all have a Merry Christmas!

*hugs*

People... it is snowing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sure you guessed I was pleased by those little cristallized drops of water. Here are some pictures that I took on saturday:

       




Add to this amazing weather, the fact that I managed to create a model for the growth of my garnet and you can  imagine how happy I am.  Creating this model took me half a week but it's worth it, especially if you consider that I'm not good when it comes to equations.

My second orchid is also blooming. The contrast with the weather outside is so amazing.



So I guess life is good.

I couldn't resist! I had to show you the first flowers...

 


                 

I gave the final version of my paper to my advisor this morning.

And instead of feeling relieved, all I see is the two other paper I have to write. *rolls eyes*. I just wish I could see the good thing in all of this.

To make things even worse, I have a major writer's block. The data are here but I can't seem to put them together to have something that makes sense.

When I came in my office on Wednesday, I found a folder on my desk with my paper in it! My boss finally took the time to correct it. And I only had small corrections like spelling mistakes.

I'll submit the corrected version next week.

Today was also my last day in the lab. From now on, all I'll have to do is calculation and writing two other paper.

The time is near...

Oki, I just have a small question to you girls. Don't worry, it won't take long... just a little reply to this post.

What is your favorite color? (This question is just in prevision for Christmas. Yes, I'm already thinking about this because when it comes, I won't have time to take care of everything)

I'm back from a few days off and away from work. I guess it helped not having to face the stack of files and papers to read before the end of October. Walking in the mountains and spending the evening reading while listening to jazz music was so great. I guess I have to come down now and face what is ahead.

My boss and I came to an understanding about my planning for the next few months. It's going to be really busy... Anyway, thing is, I have trouble believing that it will soon be over. I don't know if I really want to go on and start a post - doc. I still have time to decide but still the deadline feels awfully close.

So just wanted to share a few pictures I took on Thursday and say thanks to Milmiss and Coloradospace for the postcard. Loved it!



                               


This one is especially for Audrey...


                                
               



                           
 

I don't have many tv shows that I love to the point of waking up at ungodly hours to watch an episode (though now I don't need this anymore!). LFN was (and still is) one of those shows. 
And despite all my efforts to find something that good, I never really found something that could thrill me like that show. Yeah I do really like ReGenesis and the first season of Prison Break. But still...  it's not the same.

Anyway, all this to say just one thing, *rolls eyes*. I think I've found myself a new addiction, Painkiller Jane. The show could be a mix between LFN and a twisted Philip K. Dick novel. The graphics are really good and I like the music. Big plus there is that "we don't know what is really going on".  I just hope it won't get bad after just a few episodes. If the show keeps its promises, then...   

I'm having huge trouble with MSN (*rolls eyes*). As if it was new. The stupid thing thinks I'm logged on two computers and refuses to log me on the computer I use. The problem will hopefully be solved today. If not, then I'm going to break something or throw the computer through the window. 

I still haven't had the time to go and see "Next". I hope it will be this week because my boss is on a field trip and I can work whenever I want. Down side of the field trip I'm two assistants short. Which means that wednesday will be a nightmare.

Four days off and I don't want to come back *rolls eyes*. I could get used to holidays but there is work and I have responsibilities. I hate those. They always lead me into trouble...

My abstract has been sent. I've scheduled my PhD committee (which only means more work!) and I've asked for a few more lab days. Everything seems to be going as planned so I'll stop worrying about work and enjoy my life outside work a little more. 

No more stepping into the twilight zone for the next two months.

I finally found my boss... I have to see him tomorrow morning. If he doesn't forget again *rolls eyes* . He seemed surprised to see that I've finished the corrections for the paper and an abstract. (okay, they're about the same subject but still they are meant for different people!)

If I had been waiting for him to say that I have to write something, I would still be waiting. 

Anyway, I won't be around much this week. Because when this abstract is sent, I'll take a few days off. Yes, you don't need to read again the previous sentence. Me, the queen of the "I don't need holidays" finally decided that I needed to catch up on sleep. And I really want some time on my own to think.

 So don't be surprised if I stay away from MSN or Yahoo Messenger... If you want to talk to me, just send me a mail.

The second version of my paper is ready for my boss to see. I should be jumping up and down right now but I'm too exhausted to do so... I tried to work yesterday but it took me a whole day to write barely 4 sentences and this morning it took me 2 hours to write the whole results discussion part. *rolls eyes*. I guess the ideas has to worm their way in my brain and it took a whole night to do so. The annoying thing is that the ideas had to leave my brain and be at my fingertips on an amazing spring day. I could have spent on the lake shore instead of staying in a dimly lit office with computer noises all around me...

Still, I'm pretty happy to have made all the corrections in barely a few days, together with the interpretation of the new results. I just have to write that abstract for the Goldschmidt conference and then I'll go practice my favorite sport *snorts*... 
Boss hunting...
I wish we could put a tracer on him. Locating him would be ten times easier. And sending him an email just doesn't work. He's email-resistant... unless you send him 10 mails a day. 

I guess I'll have to leave the paper on his desk or ask his secretary to give it to him when he's there... 
 

I just finished reading "Chasm City" by Alastair Reynolds. 

And I don't know why that book left me a bittersweet aftertaste. Don't misread me, I love that book. The characters are captivating and the main plot twists and takes every possible turn till the last pages. And every five chapters or so he pulls the carpet from under your feet and you found yourself wondering why you did not see where he was going in the first place.

Reynolds has a unique way with words and situations that makes the thing seem fluid. Reading that book was like watching an amazing movie where you get attached to the characters even though they are less than perfect, even though some are cold blooded insane killers. 
I think it's just the epilogue that left me thinking. 

The last sentences are 

"I don't know," I said, shrugging. "I just know one thing."
"Which is?"
"Life's what you make it."

Those few line, which could sound so common, are so unsettling especially coming from the main character, a guy who is considered a war criminal on his home world. It sounds so ironic. 

It had been so long since a book ending left me speechless and unable to react. In fact the whole story leaves me speechless... 

Damn it! This guy is good.... 

Can't wait for his next book.

Life never follows a straight road.

You take turns and sometimes even side roads that will lead you back really close to your starting point. When this happens, all you can do is either accept that you have to change your speed or your goal, or you sit down on said road and wait till you can figure which way you have to go or if you want to keep traveling on that road at all.

I need a change in my life and not just something superficial like my hair color... 

I finished the first version my paper earlier this morning *sighs contentedly while looking at the 20 pages or so*. Finishing that darm thing was a nightmare. The last few hours were hectic and my desk is still a mess with at least 40 papers spread on every available surface and post-it stuck all over the wall. I'll clean on monday when I get back to work.  

Writing that stuff took me one week and I'm pleased with myself though I know I've made at least 1000 grammar mistakes and I will have to rewrite everything once my boss is done reading it. Still it feels good to know that I can do it. 

And I discovered that I'm addicted to m&m's. That is not good... my stomach is going to make me pay. 

I woke up this morning at 5 wondering why someone was hitting my head with a hammer while we were on a boat (yes I do get seasick). 
Well I know now that I'll have to stay in bed an sleep the day away. I just hope I'll feel better and soon. And why the hell on earth is the weather always sunny when I have a migraine?  

New LJ layout because the old one just me think about unpleasant things... or maybe I'm just pissed off because I couldn't see my boss a single minute this week. I hate it when he says he wants to see me and suddenly he disappears. Disappearing like that before a meeting is a PhD student prerogative.

Anyway, I had a meeting with some of my colleagues. I hate not understanding what the others are talking about. It stresses me and makes me want to kick something. So instead of destroying another poor lab machine (one student nearly fried one of the machines this week *rolls eyes*) I decided it would be better to start working to be able to understand all their discussions. 

So here I am back to the basics of thermodynamics applied to geology...  And no it doesn't bother me. It's a welcomed distraction (now you can call me a geek). For the first time of my life I really understand what it's all about and I'm really pleased with myself. I never thought that with all those equations I could grasp the basic principles. With a little will and a lot of work we can work miracles.

This first change will probably trigger other bigger changes (don't dream I'm not about to give up on my PhD!) and yes you should be afraid... who knows I might end up with green hair *ROTFL*

I'll be away next week to take a course in another university. I don't know why but this course feels like holidays to me. I'll have a report to give at the end or an exam so I'll have to work but still it feels good to be away from my usual work. I guess I need to move and knowing myself that need will bring disaster. 

I won't be online often so if you need to reach me, leave a message here or just wait till I get back...