Pity

I just learned that Elizabeth Sladen, who I know as Sarah Jane Smith, died of cancer at 63. This makes me sad. I liked her a great deal. I wasn't even aware she was sick. I shall miss the sonic red lipstick...
She will be missed...smart, inquisitive women role models - we need more like her...

I was enjoying the Sarah Jane adventures. It will be so strange to see the new season, knowing she's gone on.
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Meep!

Me hee...

I just got back my grade on my reading class:


85%


Yipadee!







AND so I can smugly say that I have officially kicked ass and am done the academic portion of my MSc.

For REALZ!

MEEP!

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Shoulda had my space suit on

I can tell I'm unwinding from stress...I had the weirdest dream last night.

From what I can recall (it's fading fast) there was an epic event where people from the future and I and a few others had stopped a doomsday device (he hee doomsday device) from the future from exploding and saved the world, and then, to make sure no one found it, the future people came through the sky in a time portal and used a big crane off the edge of their ship to lift the device (which had a large platform on top of it) out through the sky and into space across the galaxy, where no one would find it. I was with the device, making sure the crane was hooked up properly...and then as I was lifted up in to the air, through the portal and into the darkest regions of space I was in awe. My jaw literally dropped as I looked all around...and it was beautiful...and then, to be honest, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the fact that I was in the deepest darkest space in a freezing vacuum and all that was keeping me safe was a little force field and I panicked...what if they just left me there?

...and woke up to J waking me up...apparently I was moaning with distress in my sleep. I must say - it was an incredible view...I definitely need to get in to space before I die...but next time I'm totally taking along a space suit. :)

And then there's this song. It's been in my head since I woke up. Enjoy :)
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Max and Mary...and me

I stumbled up on the neatest film last night.
Max and Mary.

It's an Australian claymation film about a sad 8 year old girl who decides to randomly write someone in New York. Her eventual pen-friend, an obese Jewish man with Aspergers, writes her back and the film follows them and all the light and dark parts of their lives for 2 decades in their quirky way of writing. It was brilliant. If you are looking for something totally unique, and very real, track this down and watch it. It's funny in spots...quite dark in spots...and thoroughly unusual and interesting. I enjoyed it.
I also enjoyed a whole night off like a normal person. There were grapes. And tacos. But not together. And a new snacky addiction - Popchips. Mmmmm....All this week I've been coming home as early as I can and trying to remember what relaxing and being normal feels like.
I find I've almost forgotten how which is really bizarre...but not quite. I need some normality to remember how to entertain myself when I have free time...I find myself giddy just having the free time. It's ludicrous.

I am also so very proud of J. The cooking show he does is now shown nationally on demand now. It's really well shot and original...and he's been shooting some emergency preparedness videos for the city of Saskatoon and they are full on pro quality - I'm married to one talented guy :)

I must get back to the lab...I'm doing some stuff for my MSc and some labwork for someone else as well...a little extra $$ for some pretties.

Have a great weekend everyone :)

Pothole season indeed.

After a movie last night, J and I wandered over to see what is, most likely, the biggest pothole I have ever, or will ever, see a few blocks from the theatre. It could more aptly be described as a sinkhole. It was car sized and about 10 feet deep.
Eep.
Pothole season indeed.
I know it froze and thawed a lot this winter but holy moly.
Be good kiddies or the ground *will* swallow you up...

LATER: Whew- I have learned it was from an underground water main break...I'd hate to think those size of holes just pop up from spring thaw :)

Yes. Quite. Ahem.

Oh let the heavens ring with my joyous shrieks and the ground ricochet with my wibbling....I'm done evil paper#2! I worked on it all weekend and was up finishing the 186 references (it was an 18 page monstrosity of knowledge) until 5 AM sunday, but it was handed in yesterday along with my reading list. I am officially done the academic portion of my MSc.

Giggedy :)

It was a long exhausted day and I went home after work last night, at a normal hour no less, had the best falafel pita and mug of Harp I have ever experienced and ended up going to bed ~7:30...Ah! Slept like a baby rock all night! This morning I was up for a swim and it's back into things.
What a relief to be done all that! My committee meeting has been set for the end of June so I have lots of time to get things done. It will be nice to slow down for a bit...
The image above is by Mike Mitchell. I really like his art...check it out if you have the time...

Improvements on brilliance?

When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren from Billy Crystal

Hilarious...

Bjork and Toonsces

The proverbial light bulb has come on over my head with all necessary bells and whistles and I am finally getting somewhere with Evil Paper #2. Which is good, as it's due monday. Heh. Ahem.
Enjoy this gif of Bjork and what looks suspiciously like Toonsces in a small suit while I work away. Talk amongst yourselves taters.

"Look out for that cliff Toonces! Aaaahhh...."

PS - I removed the snow...because it's all melted. YAY! :)

Yeehaw!

He hee.

We have a grad student from the US who has a southern drawl. Whenever he talks about the carboy of distilled water it sounds like he's calling it a cowboy. I can't help giggling every time... image

mmm...delicious leftovers...

I love that J shoots a cooking segment...sometimes there are leftovers and he takes them home for me to have a bit of. He's sweet that way :)
After a long night at work I got to nibble on creamy quinoa pudding with grapes(like incredibly rich rice pudding only better...yes, that is possible.) and a wild rice salad with blueberry vinaigrette and cranberries and apricots. I have a bit of that for lunch today.
Yum.
That and firing up the BBQ for the first time on sunday has me itching to cook up some fancy foods...I'm looking forward to the weekend when I'll have a bit of time for that. :)

3 hours is a good length of time for some things

Whew.
What a day.
What a week.
Last night due to spectacular technical failure (stupid me. Stupid Word)I was up until 4 redoing hours of computer work (references and nit picky stuff) on Evil Paper #1 so I could hand it in this morning. I had hoped to have more time to devote to the summary talk I had to give to the other grad students as part of my MSc credit class, but it ended up being more of a wing it. The paper is quote good though. I'm pleased. And the talk was not something I was terribly worried about. I had planned out what I wanted to say and had lunch to go over and tweak my slides I'd prepared a while ago and add a few in, so it went well. I was more concerned about how I'd perform on 3 hours of sleep. I stayed away from caffeine to avoid sounding like a coke head when I spoke, but I need not have worried. How can I do with 3 hours of sleep 2 nights in a row? Quite well it would appear.
I find it strange at how blase I am now at public speaking. Other than my very quiet voice (I'm learning to talk louder) I really don't mind speaking in public about something I know well. It's small talk and chit chat that terrify me. This talk was a piece of cake. It went well. Someone brought little tiny muffins. I was chuffed :)

And now, I must survive my daily duties and some cell work so I can head home. Home to do some reading for Evil Paper #2 and most likely fall asleep on a soft thing as soon as I've had a bit to eat and slow down a bit. It's been one helluva week. One more to go and the insanity should lift. I am SO looking forward to a bit of a slowing down...I can catch up on data and writing for my committee meeting end of May. I'll have lots of time for it, so I don't feel too stressed about it. I know I'm literally doing all I can so noone will even begin to question my work ethic :)

And now, my good peeps, I'm going to "the hood" for an hour and then home home home to where my bed is.
Much love to you all...