Saturday, November 19, 2011

Being Thankful

Like me, I'm sure you have one or two Facebook friends that are posting something they are thankful for from Nov 1st through Thanksgiving. While some people are doing a fantastic job with it, other posts are way on the shallow side and it makes me want to cyber slap some individuals. I don't know if I should consider these people lucky because they've never been through something hard and don't realize where they should be giving thanks, or if I should go on thinking that they are stupid.

Last month, I had a conversation with not one, but TWO, individuals very close to me that started with, "So I've found a lump." Unfortunately, some of you know all too well the heart dropping, gut wrenching emotions that follow those four little words. After spending quite a few weeks worrying like crazy, thinking about what if it's cancer, being a little too over emotional, I am thankful that in both cases, the results came back benign.

This year, I am thankful that these two individuals are healthy and cancer free. It really would have turned my world upside down had the results came back differently. I am thankful for my wonderful family that is always there for support. I am thankful for Ben...I would still be lost without him in my life. I'm thankful for my friends (even though I miss a bunch of them every single day) and how willing they are to help me out or drop me a line of encouragement when needed. I'm thankful for our dogs that bring us endless hours of entertainment. I'm thankful for being fortunate enough to live in an awesome house in a nice neighborhood where I don't think twice about running by myself in the dark. I'm thankful for having a job, even though I bitch about the commute from time to time. I'm thankful to be able to go on awesome vacations. I'm thankful. I'm thankful. I'm blessed.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

ADD?

I've never been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, so maybe I'm just clueless....or bored, or apathetic, or would much rather be doing something different than what is currently occupying my time. Maybe you guys can tell me if this happens to most people and I am totally normal. This is what happened today:

My thought process: Yay, 15 minutes until I need to take my stuff out of the autoclave. I'll take this time to look at Facebook, flights home for Christmas, and annoy people on gchat.

5 minutes later......in walks boss.

Boss: Just checking to see how things are going, can I help you with (insert experiment), how is (insert other experiment)?

Me (as I frantically try to minimize everything and pretend I'm doing something work related): Yep, everything is going fine. I plan to start (experiment) tomorrow due to timing.

After a 10 minute discussion, boss walks over to talk with coworker.

My thought process: Yay, now I can get stuff out of autoclave and start making reagents for (experiment) and go do (other experiment).

Overhear boss's discussion with co-worker......get sucked in which goes like this for me.

Boss: Sarah, do you have any ideas for what we should be doing in order to gather more background information that would help us get a paper published?

I reply with an okay answer that doesn't make me look like a blubbering fool.

Boss: That's a good idea.....(not done talking)......

My thought process: Woohoo, I sound smart for once!

Boss: ..... are they excitatory or inhibitory neurons?. Also, we need to show where the receptor is located.....

My thought process: I feel like I may have missed something, but I still know what's going on. I got this.

Boss: .....cell signaling, we should look at the amygdala.....

My thought process: Hmm, there was a sign on the autoclave not to leave liquids 15 minutes past end of cycle. I wonder if I should be concerned because it has now been 20 minutes past end of cycle.

Boss: ....brain word....

My thought process: Crap, I should know more about that word. I should take home one of the text books and actually study. I bet he expects me to know more about my project than I currently do.

Boss: ....saying more science words....

My thought process: It looks dark outside, hey, there's a guy on a bike. Wonder where he's going. I bet it's nice out for a run. It'll probably be dark when I get home this evening.

Boss: ....saying more science words....

My thought process: Crap, I totally missed what he just said. Thank goodness for co-worker who is adding to this conversation and taking notes. I wonder if she'll share those with me later.

Boss: ......more science words.....

My thought process: I wonder how the skate party will be. I need to send our officiant our rehearsal time. Oh, we should also fill out those forms she asked us for. Reese is retarded. Wonder if Ben has a plan for dinner. My stomach still hurts. I need to come in to work at 7 am tomorrow.

Boss: So what do you think about that?

Me: Sounds good, I'll start working on it.

Awkward silence.

Coworker: Wanna go get started on (experiment).

Me: Yes, but I need to go get my stuff out of the autoclave first.

And I swear, I forgot what I was doing for about 5 minutes on my way to the autoclave.