About This Blog

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Notice that Alex and I have on the same expression in my profile picture. Me: scientist/engineer, aspiring novelist, daring adventurer, animal lover. This is my story.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Considering the Future

Oh hey! Look at this. I can change the font.
I stayed up all night last night looking first at engineering internships, then, when I found that most of the internships I was interested in were also for environmental science majors, I began searching jobs in environmental science. After all, I already have that degree. Looking at environmental science jobs lead me to research masters programs. It was fully light, and probably after 6:00am by the time I finally went to sleep. Good thing I'm on vacation. The morning brought Kate's help in researching more graduate school options and the tentative conclusion that an engineering undergraduate is not the way that I want to go.
That does not, however, mean that the last two terms have been wasted. No learning is wasted, of course, but physics and differential equations are required for some of the programs of interest.

Quote of the Day

"This food tastes better sitting next to you."
-Dad speaking to Mom

What to Capitalize in a Title

I'm ashamed to admit, I've been confused on this matter for years.
The following is copied from a handy website I found on the subject:

~These are the words that should be capitalized:

~The first and last words of the title

~All nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives

~Any conjunction or preposition of five letters or more --(This is optional. You can choose to go with an older rule that says not to capitalize prepositions or conjunctions regardless of length. The five letters or more standard has developed over the last two decades or so. Either form would be acceptable, as long as you use it consistently.)


~These are the words that should not be capitalized:

~Articles (the, a, an), unless the article is the first or (less likely, of course) last word of the title

~Prepositions of four letters or fewer (unless the preposition is the first or last word of the title)

~Conjunctions of four letters or fewer (unless the
conjunction is the
first or last word of the title)

~The particle "to" used with an infinitive (unless the "to" is the first or last word of the title)**
http://grammartips.homestead.com/caps.html

a problem of rolemodels

It ocurred t0 me this evening that my love of fantasy fiction may be causing me some trouble in my life expectations. Unlike many young women of my generation I am generally untroubled by what I've heard described as "the Disney princess complex." That is the idea that meeting the right guy will solve all of my emotional problems and we'll live happily ever after.
However fantasy literature may have done me a disservice in another way. I might have what I will call a "fantasy warrior" complex. I expect that I will one of these days develop special talents or magical powers. After all, I'm a perfect candidate for the job I'm currently unextraordinary, confused and uncertain of direction. All of this can been explained quite easily in the fantasy universe. I'm actually quite extraordinary. I just haven't quite noticed yet. Any day now my magical abilities will kick in and I know my place in the world and follow the path I was born to follow. As a matter of fact a great man or woman with mysterious sight into the future and a very friendly cat foretold it. I will fight dragons and outsmart wizards. I will navigate labyrinths and find I have the ability to open doors just as my life depends upon it. Oh yeah and I'll be incredibly good looking while doing it. My lovers will always be super hot too.Why not. Sounds more interesting than a life of closed doors, turned down job applications and day to day ordinary.
That's the trouble I guess, all my life I've wanted to be a character from a fiction novel, and I'm having a hard time living my dream. I wonder why :P

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Quote of the day

When asked if he would wear Kate's red high heals.
"I don't know. What size feet do you wear?"
-Chris

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Rose Garden Espionage



Stealth Dog, Our Canine Espionage Unit (left)



Stealth Dog and Kate. (Right)








Kate is my secret weapon. I've been hiding her up my sleeve for just the right moment. This friend and roomie is more than what she seems. A character not to be underestimated, she strikes when least expected.
Killer Kate, Stealth Dog and a spy who shall not yet be spoken of by name joined me for a dangerous midnight mission to spy on roses this evening.