tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80140683108260505892024-02-07T21:00:35.650-06:00Scientist RisingTidbits from an Atmospheric Sciences Ph.D. student, teacher, writer, journalist, martial artist, cyclist, and general geekUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-27520057010324934242012-01-23T17:04:00.000-06:002012-01-23T17:04:48.250-06:00Twitter me up<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I finally did it. I joined Twitter. I decided that if I want to be a journalist, I should be familiar with common social media outlets. <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/NJSchiffer">Join me</a> in another potential time sink! :P</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-44684903061133217832012-01-18T09:04:00.000-06:002012-01-18T09:06:26.932-06:00Breakfast of Monkeys<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I've been in a rut with breakfast lately. It's a really tasty rut involving oatmeal, chocolate, peanut butter, and bananas. I call it Monkey Oatmeal (or Chunky Monkey if you use chunky peanut butter) in honor of <a href="http://notlickedyet.com/index.html">Not Licked Yet</a>'s sundae. If you're ever in Door County, Wisconsin, pay them a visit. It's well worth it on a hot summer evening!<br />
<br />
Anyhow, here's how I make my Monkey Oatmeal:<br />
<blockquote>1/2 cup quick oats<br />
1 Tbsp cocoa powder<br />
2 tsp sweetener of choice<br />
dash of salt<br />
pinch of vanilla bean or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract<br />
<br />
Mix all those together and add perhaps a cup of hot water (or enough for whatever texture you like). I microwave mine for 30 seconds and add a little more water to make it extra creamy. Then...<br />
<br />
1 Tbsp peanut butter<br />
1 sliced banana<br />
<br />
Mix these into the chocolate oatmeal and enjoy!</blockquote><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIL33OeDIkSqBEvHAOu9K-D-sdC7irS9Go5bmvjv3PKrUBANq56z9OAq0Lvob-StXHBgHkiHb2cCGC4aaLdaq0H7LCTSJq-Hr8PQ0mb-BNrfii0qqFJCviush2r_y9LvZRW-3ntf5A0XQ/s640/MonkeyOatmeal.jpg" width=410px height=308px alt="Mmm, chocolately Monkey Oatmeal goodness!" /><p />
Let me know what you think. I have a few more of these up my sleeve.<br />
<br />
Do you have a favorite breakfast item or recipe?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-63596837340000008662012-01-14T13:31:00.000-06:002012-01-14T13:31:23.672-06:00Is grad school worth it?<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Recent bit of conversation:<br />
<blockquote>Me: Aw, crap.<br />
J-man: What?<br />
Me: I've been in college for nine years. I'm in 21st grade.</blockquote>Yep, that's the size of it. Ten years ago I my highest academic aspiration was to go to the best state university my state had to offer. Now I'm four and a half years through a PhD program in a neighboring state, contemplating a second master's degree while I finish the PhD.<br />
<br />
Is it all worth it? The master's degree(s), yes. The PhD, I'm not sure.<br />
<br />
Alyssa at <a href="http://mrscomethunter.blogspot.com/2012/01/why-doing-phd-might-be-waste-of-time.html">Apple Pie and the Universe</a> posted an <a href="http://www.economist.com/node/17723223">Economist article about "why doing a PhD is often a waste of time."</a> She nicely highlights some of the main points of the article, mostly focusing on what's wrong with academia. I'd like to draw attention to part of the solution:<br />
<blockquote>There is an oversupply of PhDs. Although a doctorate is designed as training for a job in academia, the number of PhD positions is unrelated to the number of job openings. Meanwhile, business leaders complain about shortages of high-level skills, suggesting <b>PhDs are not teaching the right things</b>. [emphasis mine]</blockquote>I've been confused by the seemingly conflicting views that academia produces too many <i>and</i> too few PhDs. That seems impossible, unless the sources of these criticisms are different. Academics say too many, businesses say too few. The solution? Train PhDs to work in business, not just academia!<br />
<br />
I am not the only grad student in my department who does not aspire to follow in our advisors' footsteps. However, my training so far has perfectly groomed me to become a researcher and has made me fairly certain that I don't want to be a researcher (or professor at a research university). Almost daily I question the personal benefit of what I'm doing, but I figure I have a year or year and a half left so I may as well finish. It probably won't close any doors and may even open a few.<br />
<br />
During the time I have left, I have to cobble together supplementary education to make myself marketable outside the academy. I have no solid mentors (so far), only a smattering of people whose personal interests I feel I have to account for when I receive advice from them.<br />
<br />
Maybe my inexperience in post-secondary education is making this more difficult than it needs to be. My undergrad self was certainly not as well-informed as she could have been. Or perhaps this is a failing of the PhD training grounds. Perhaps there just isn't much support for those looking outside the traditional career tracks.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-90588755315202026312011-11-19T10:37:00.000-06:002011-11-19T10:37:51.546-06:00Nature's "Womanspace" controversy<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">As many of you are already aware, <i><a href="http://www.nature.com/">Nature</a></i> published a piece of fiction titled <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v477/n7366/full/477626a.html">Womanspace</a>. It talks about a wife who sends her husband and his friend to buy knickers for their daughter because she was busy making supper. In the end, the men return empty-handed because they cannot fathom how to complete such a simple task. Their conclusion is that "women can access parallel universes in order to find things."<br />
<br />
First, let's neglect the quality of the piece and focus on what it says.<br />
<br />
Why, again, is this offensive? What if the roles were reversed and the wife couldn't find the knickers? Would the blogosphere cry about the author portraying women as useless? Nowhere does it say she is a housewife. Cooking may simply be one of her household duties that they equitably split after they both get home from work. As far as shopping, I see it as women being better at multitasking, while men can only focus on the single goal at hand. Honestly, the men seem rather like troglodytes while the women operate in the modern world.<br />
<br />
This article essentially pokes fun at men, positing that men are unable to complete a straightforward household task and then having them invent parallel planes as an excuse. Yeah, that's gotta be it. Because they can't just be incapable.<br />
<br />
My recommendation: Try to find the humor and be more selective in what offends you. Like crying wolf, you will not be taken seriously if too many things get you up in arms.<br />
<hline /><br />
Other blog posts on this:<br />
<a href="http://scientopia.org/blogs/scicurious/2011/11/17/womanspace-you-trollin-nature/">Scientopia</a>, who has her own list of related blog posts<br />
<a href="http://contemplativemammoth.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/womanspace-responses-to-rybickis-display-of-male-privilege-on-npg/">Contemplative Mammoth</a><br />
<a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/doing-good-science/2011/11/18/more-on-womanspace-common-suggestions-and-patient-responses/">Doing Good Science</a> at Scientific American, who makes a good point that sexist stereotypes hurt men, too, and male and female stereotypes are present in this story.<br />
<a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/2011/11/18/the-joke-isnt-funny-its-harmful/">Science Sushi</a> at Scientific American<br />
<a href="http://www.thejayfk.com/?p=1365">JAYFK</a>, though I don't think it is appropriate for futures or pasts. Perhaps satire.<br />
<a href="http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php?topic=30799.0">Principia Discordia</a> (forum, not blog)<br />
<a href="http://isisthescientist.com/2011/11/17/what-womanspace-really-looks-like-and-why-nature-can-suck-it/">On Becoming a Domestic and Laboratory Goddess</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-29023886803466316432011-11-18T11:27:00.001-06:002011-11-18T12:12:45.927-06:00Reducing obstacles: TG edition<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Over at <a href="">Making a Living Writing</a>, Carol Tice posted on <a href="">How to Eliminate All Your Freelance Writing Obstacles</a>. She questions, does it seem overwhelming, too hard? These questions are not only for freelance writers. They are universal to challenging, valuable pursuits, and so is the prescription.<br />
<br />
She opens with a Yiddish folktale, which is well worth a minute to read. Then her suggestion: change your attitude. To get perspective on the obstacles in your life, list what you have going for you. As the first commenter said, it's just in time for Thanksgiving.<br />
<br />
I don't think it directly addresses the feeling that something is overwhelming, but it does make one feel better to take stock of good things. Feeling happier can make difficult things seem more approachable.<br />
<br />
Here's my gratitude list:<ul><li>Wonderful, supportive boyfriend who adores me</li>
<li>I'm in the best shape of my life</li>
<li>My mom may have health and potential financial issues, but she's still alive and in good mental health</li>
<li>I have a large, loving family</li>
<li>Even if it is occasionally stretched by unexpected expenses, my boyfriend and I both have secure income</li>
<li>I'm going to be an aunt for the first time in January, and two of my closest friends are having babies around the same time</li>
<li>Everyone believes I have a bright future and many of them gladly help me along the way</li>
<li>I have affordable basic healthcare</li>
</ul><br />
What's on your list?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-7531707638292396152011-11-08T23:55:00.001-06:002011-11-15T12:22:23.918-06:00Tuesday, November 8, 2011<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I intended to knock off an essay for my journalism class today with plenty of time left to work on research. I ended up crafting a lengthy email on a personal matter and finishing my essay, but little else. I do not feel efficient or terribly productive.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-78811609613508880432011-11-04T15:53:00.000-05:002011-11-04T15:53:56.459-05:00Organizing past and future research<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I'm having trouble splitting my attention between two projects, PhD research for AGU in December and the project with geology. I've always been good at organizing things, but it's more difficult when the goals are hazy and the scope seems overwhelming. <br />
<br />
J-man likes to clean by a method he calls "convergent messes." He sorts things into piles based on where they go. First maybe it's by floor, then by room, then by place in the room. Eventually everything is put back where it goes. Planning my PhD should be similar. First I define specific, detailed research questions. Then I decide the experiments I'll use to answer them. Or do I choose data sources? When do I outline the papers I'd like to publish based on my work? I feel like I'm flailing after defining the questions, simultaneously trying to plan everything else without being sure exactly what I need to plan. It's the prelim again and again. So far my plan is to start with what I turned in for that and refine, even though revisions are not required since I passed. At least it provides a starting point.<br />
<br />
On top of planning, I also need to record what I do as I do it so I don't get lost along the way and make writing my dissertation an epic nightmare. I've <i>never</i> been good at keeping records. I don't remember if I ever even balanced my checkbook (though I know how). I record the checks I write only because I don't have duplicate checks. <br />
<br />
I've skimmed several sites that tell researchers how to keep a useful notebook, but they don't seem to address some of my questions. What do I write about research as I do it when my work is mainly programming and computer modeling? Surely I don't need to document every step of debugging a program, but I'm sure I need to record when we make a major change, such as adding random noise to the initial conditions of a simulation, and why we change it. Should I keep a separate notebook for each project or one master notebook?<br />
<br />
I asked my advisor about keeping records and he relies on comments in code and TimeMachine backups. He doesn't seem to keep general notes in one place. He also often seems disorganized. I suppose I'll take a hack at it and make up the rest as I go.<br />
<br />
Yeah, that usually works out.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-49633204446846194802011-11-03T12:30:00.004-05:002011-11-15T12:24:49.608-06:00NaBloPoMo & Students with bikes<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><del>I signed up for <a href="http://www.blogher.com/blogher-topics/blogging-social-media/nablopomo">NaBloPoMo</a> for the heck of it. That means you'll hear from me a lot more during November. Every day, in fact.</del> (11/15/11: Nevermind. Not working.)<br />
- - -<br />
Bikes are near and dear to many students as a form of transportation. They're cheap and quicker than walking. But have you seen the chaos that ensues? I've spotted people talking on cell phones, smoking, and riding with hands stuffed in pockets because the cyclists doesn't know how to dress himself properly for the weather. Don't get me started on bike lanes and sidewalk etiquette!<br />
<br />
Oops, too late.<br />
<br />
Yesterday's post on <a href="http://bicycling.com/blogs/roadrights/2011/11/02/moving-targets-cyclists-and-pedestrians/">Road Rights</a> showed a map of sidewalk laws in the U.S.:<br />
<img src="http://bicycling.com/blogs/roadrights/files/2011/10/road-rights-sidewalks.jpg" /><br />
I grew up in Wisconsin, so I'm biased against riding on the sidewalk unless one has a good reason. In Illinois, however, riding on the sidewalk is allowed and students take all the rights of that without the responsibilities. Cyclists are required to yield to pedestrians on sidewalks.<br />
<br />
I by no means blame only cyclists for the problems between bikers and walkers. People walk on the bike paths all the time, sometimes making them inaccessible because they refuse to move. Have you ever noticed that people seem to think you can't hit them if they don't look at you? It works when they walk in front of your car, too.<br />
<br />
The option I most use is riding on the road. I figure a car is not likely to expect someone moving 10-15 mph on the sidewalk and I'm safer on the road. A lot of cyclists join me on the road. But again many of them take the rights without the responsibilities, and they blow through stop signs and lights without so much as a glance at cross traffic. If they don't look, the car can't hit them. I sense a theme here.<br />
<br />
The bottom line is that, whatever your local cycling laws say, act like a car on the road and a pedestrian on the sidewalk with the caveats that you are much smaller than a car and bigger than a pedestrian. Adjust your risk assessment accordingly and be respectful of others.<br />
- - -<br />
<a href="http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a143.pdf">Illinois Bicycle Rules of the Road</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-40301315069444633712011-11-02T11:02:00.000-05:002011-11-02T11:02:58.053-05:00Adding Journalism<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">My uni has five weeks of classes left this semester. Where <i>did</i> the time go? I would swear we were only five weeks into the 15-week semester. I don't know if I like that or not.<br />
<br />
On one hand, I have a heap of research to complete in the next few weeks, both for AGU in December and for a collaborative project with a geology professor. I hope and pray and beg that I have enough time to do both and not let anything else slide (too badly). My <i>Great Books of Journalism</i> class takes a lot of time. Because I enjoy sitting around reading, I still have difficulty convincing myself it's okay even for a class. Strange...<br />
<br />
On the other hand, I'm looking forward to winter break (though I could do without winter) and spring semester. I finally get to take the introductory reporting class for journalism majors. I have wanted to take that for six or seven years, but they're usually restricted to majors. I talked to the journalism department and the grad coordinator will give me permission to take whatever classes I want as long as I meet the prerequisites. Que bárbaro! She also left the option open that I can transfer those credits to a master's in journalism if I want to finish the entire degree. J-man says I just want to have more letters after my name than he has (with MS and PhD).<br />
<br />
Speaking of J-man, we're approaching one year together in less than two weeks. Tempus fugit!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-26098072299326847922011-08-22T12:54:00.000-05:002011-08-22T12:54:34.139-05:00Prelim = Success!<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I passed! It sounds like the written portion was closer than the oral portion, but as long as I pass, the number is only a matter of pride.<br />
<br />
The main comments from the oral portion were that I needed better focus and to limit the scope of my project. Regarding the written proposal, my committee wanted more detail and focus. Apparently I succeeded on the details, but didn't get as far as they wanted on the focus. They also gave me ideas on how to proceed so my degree should be easier and timelier that it would otherwise have been. That is the purpose of a prelim and committee, right? My adviser told me the committee was impressed with my knowledge of the subject :). That's good.<br />
<br />
I am fine with these comments. Most scientists seem to have problems with focus and scope. Have you experienced this?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-89566358482022554142011-06-01T09:15:00.000-05:002011-06-01T09:15:58.343-05:00July 28 (I know that's not today's date)<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I <i>finally</i> got four scientist to agree on a two-hour meeting for my prelim defense. It's scheduled for July 28. According to department guidelines I need to send them the written proposal by July 14. Which is effectively July 12 since I'm driving to Colorado with J-man and his kids July 13-14.<br />
<br />
I have just under a month and a half to write the long-overdue research proposal for my PhD (I was supposed to do it last year, but my dad's illness came first). It seems like a long time and too soon all at once. I'm supposed to use an atmospheric model that I still don't have running reliably. Before I send my proposal to the committee I need to do some test runs to gauge how much computer time I'll need, which may in part determine which experiments I conduct. Can't if the model's not running right.<br />
<br />
Regardless, I am excited to get this out of the way. It's the second big hurdle towards a PhD (first was the qualifying exam). Once I pass the prelim, all I have left is research and final defense. I don't even have to take any more classes (though I probably will because I'm me and there are lots of interesting classes at colleges).<br />
<br />
What are the rites of passage on the way to a PhD in your department?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-34256233416538330682011-05-26T11:53:00.000-05:002011-05-26T11:53:46.073-05:00Flying, fitness, and food<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Not-work has been excellent the last few months, especially regarding exercise. Except biking. I've slacked in biking. Gotta fix that.<br />
<br />
But I have a good reason that I haven't biked as much. Several, in fact.<br />
<br />
I've attended every possible jujitsu practice save one when I was sick in early February. I spent most of the semester teaching lower belts the basics. As the end of the semester approached, I asked J-man (aka sensei) if I should test for green tip or green belt. He confidently said green belt. Green is the last step below brown and the first color that the home dojo recognizes. I wasn't sure I was prepared for that since I'd missed so many new techniques while teaching newbs, but I trusted his judgement.<br />
<br />
My fellow (former) blue belts and I practiced a bunch to prepare for the belt test. Green is a rough test. Suffice it to say that I had a lot of weight driving me into the ground and flew through the air somewhere between waist and chest level. All that practice ended in a sprained ankle right before the test. I hopped up on only my left foot after my first few landings. Sensei asked if I was okay and I said, "I'll be fine." No way am I giving up on the test for a sore ankle!<br />
<br />
After a few more landings he stopped me from receiving throws and only had me demonstrate that I could execute the techniques. Our work and perseverance paid off and we all passed. Unfortunately I have to cut out parts of my training for a month or so until the ankle fully heals. Rest assured, I have plenty to work on that don't stress my ankle.<br />
<br />
I've also started a new exercise routine outside jujitsu. J-man introduced me to an excellent sports trainer in a city a couple of hours away. Every four to six weeks the trainer gives me a new workout routine geared specifically toward my physical imbalances and goals. For example, my lower back and shoulders are exceptionally flexible. While that is not a bad thing in itself, it leaves me more vulnerable to instability in those areas. The trainer gives me exercises to correct for that. The workouts are challenging and very doable. I can feel and see the results, which is satisfying and a nice change from the murky path of research. I never thought I'd like working out at a gym.<br />
<br />
Among other things I never expected is J-man, of course. We've been dating for about six and a half months and it has been so good for me. Not only has he supported me through professional and personal struggles and gotten me to work out regularly, but he can cook! And I mean well. Pasta primavera, pad Thai, pork loin--all of it has been tasty. He roasts coffee, grinds flour, makes yogurt, and bakes fresh bread. The only thing he doesn't do is rhubarb, but I'm working on that ;). He recently admitted that rhubarb crisp is tasty.<br />
<br />
In light of that delicious thought, I'm off to the gym. Food tastes so much better when I'm ravenous after a good workout. That wouldn't skew my opinion of J-man's cooking prowess, would it?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-90125320606822851572011-05-25T09:13:00.000-05:002011-05-25T09:13:42.308-05:00FCIWYPSC: The happiest grad students<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I'd like to call attention to a great post by Cherish over at <a href="http://cherishthescientist.net/">Faraday's Cage</a>: <a href="http://cherishthescientist.net/2011/05/24/the-happiest-grad-students/">The happiest grad students.</a><br />
<br />
It's an interesting idea that the happiest grad students are employees elsewhere. Most grad students I know are the traditional sort for whom being a grad student is school and job. Most of them are jaded after a few years. In my office I'm surrounded by disparaging comments about classes, research, and academia in general. Most of us seem to look not to our jobs for satisfaction, but to everything else in our lives. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, our job as students seems more like a trial than professional fulfillment. If we can withstand several years, our vocational horizons broaden and we never have to go back.<br />
<br />
I cannot speak to being a grad student while employed elsewhere because I have seen very few examples of that. Those I have seen have been at a distance. The students are rarely seen around the department. It seems nice, but I've never been sure if it is a grass-is-greener case. At least I'd have better pay and insurance (probably).<br />
<br />
Do you agree with Cherish's assessment? Why?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-72792394639523843812011-05-23T14:17:00.000-05:002011-05-23T14:17:29.722-05:00Strides in research<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Research is moving. In December of last year (a whopping five months ago!) my adviser and I planned to submit a paper. Well, we <i>just</i> submitted it last Monday. Finally. After working on the darn thing for a year and a half! Now it's out of my life for at least a couple of months. Good riddance.<br />
<br />
On a related note, I recently received a request to review a manuscript for the journal to which I submitted my paper. I didn't realize that they would ask a grad student to review a paper before she even has a publication through the peer-review process. This will be new. Luckily I have an adviser to shadow me so I do it right.<br />
<br />
I gave my first conference talk in January. I uploaded it two hours before my presentation time and didn't practice at all. Though my talk was the last one of the session, I entered the room at the beginning of the session. I watched as the seats slowly filled and people gathered along the walls throughout the session. The talk before mine must be really interesting!<br />
<br />
As the applause faded and I heard my name spoken into the microphone, few people left. They came for my talk? I hoped for a clear mind and calm nerves. My talk came out reasonably cogent and perfect length. My adviser was relieved, as was I. No one asked a question, though the person running the session tracked me down later and said he enjoyed my talk and that I was doing important work. Neat! I survived my first conference talk, and perhaps made waves in the process.<br />
<br />
I hope to continue that smidgen of momentum. My PhD research direction changed a bit, much to my satisfaction. I'll still work with the WRF model, but the standard version instead of a special climate version. It is much easier to get my hands on and has better support. The results should be relevant to many mountainous areas around the tropics, which makes me feel like the research is more worth doing.<br />
<br />
That's not all, folks. I'm trying to schedule my prelim (again) while I try to help a visiting undergrad (I'm learning alongside him), work with a geology student on a side project, and now review a paper. Do you know how difficult it is to get four scientists to agree on a two-hour block of time to meet? If one's not in DC, another is in Fiji. Or maybe India.<br />
<br />
My adviser wants me to finish by December 2012. I have a start on some of the background work, but I'm still having trouble running the model. I haven't decided yet if that's a delusion. How long should the research and writing portion of a PhD take? Eh, I'll give it a shot anyhow. I certainly don't want to be the perpetual grad student.<br />
<br />
Which brings me to my future after grad school. I have not yet decide how or when to integrate communication and education into my degree, though I it is important that I get that experience before I graduate. I don't know what kind of position I'll look for. Scientist, programmer, communications... who knows. If J-man and I stay together in Grad School Town, it depends on what's available in the area. Post all that under future work.<br />
<br />
Next time: personal progress, and there is plenty to be had ;)<br />
<br />
Busy, busy!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-41670322973578651042011-05-19T13:27:00.001-05:002011-05-23T14:20:13.578-05:00The semester I almost didn't have<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">My last final exam was last Friday. I dropped Spanish, and German and hydrology were uninspiring. I made it to the end of my "at least one more semester" semester. I'm hanging in here. It's a job, it pays, and I'll get a fancy piece of paper at the end.<br />
<br />
I've also found a reason to stay in Grad School Town. Yes, it's a man. A sweet, sensual, stable man. He's the saving grace of this town right now, and a major reason I'm still in school. He also runs my jujitsu dojo. (If we do leave, the head of the dojo comes with me and I effectively don't have to leave the dojo--bonus!)<br />
<br />
If J-man wasn't here, I'd probably keep looking for jobs around DC. I still think about DC often. I'd love to live in that area, but instant gratification in where I live is not worth giving up what I have here. I can make do in this little town for a while longer and see what the future brings.<br />
<br />
Since I seem to be staying, my adviser wants me to finish by the end of 2012. That leaves me two summers and three semesters, the same amount of time I have left on my fellowship. He wants me to defend my prelim in late June or early July. Sure, why not? I've pulled off crazier things. My approach to school and my degree has changed enough that I think I can do it. My frame of mind regarding school gets a little shaky here and there, but J-man helps me stay on track.<br />
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Okay, back to work. My prelim is nearly upon me and J-man's and my schedule keep us running, engaged in the world, and happy. I'll tell y'all more details from this past semester sometime in the next week.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-79935578048104683422010-12-17T16:21:00.000-06:002010-12-17T16:21:16.892-06:00Making fun<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> It's official: I'm staying in grad school at least one more semester. I'm submitting a paper with my adviser early next week, then submitting my fellowship renewal. If next semester goes well, I'll just finish grad school. If it doesn't... well, I'll have to face that later. I'll assume for now that it will go well. At least I've learned about academic bureaucracy through this whole process.<br />
<br />
In order to do what I can to have a productive semester, I intend to make it fun. I will make fun in my research life, my non-research academic life, and my personal life.<br />
<br />
Research is still a question mark. I need to do something related to my proposal, but it does not have to follow it to the letter. In my <a href="http://scientistrising.blogspot.com/2010/12/huh-maybe-not-oh-well.html">last post</a> I mentioned that education and outreach may be a good supplement to keep me interested in my research. I don't know how to do that specifically, but I will definitely think about it over the holiday break. Any ideas from the peanut gallery? If I make research fun, I will have no problem completing my PhD.<br />
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I'm registered fifth-semester German and third-semester Spanish. I miss languages, so it'll be nice to work with them again. I'm not too concerned about the classes' difficulty because I catch on to languages pretty quickly. I'm also taking a hydrology class. Hydrology will be a new subject for me. I hope it will give me a better sense of nature as a system. Most of my classes only touch on the atmosphere's relationship to the rest of the Earth system.<br />
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Making my personal life fun is (for once) the easy part. Jujitsu, biking, cooking, friends... easy :). </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-47695029552513160182010-12-05T14:27:00.000-06:002010-12-05T14:27:31.168-06:00Huh, maybe not. Oh well.<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> Moving to DC doesn't look like it will work by January. That means I will most likely commit to another semester (at least) of grad school soon (i.e., renew the fellowship).<br />
<br />
Fortunately, other developments have made that more palatable. It turns out I have more leeway in my fellowship and proposal than I thought. That may be enough to find a way to get through the PhD as a grad student. It'd sure be quicker than doing it alongside a full-time job.<br />
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Grad school would also leave me time to do some education and outreach work. Based on a conversation last night during which I briefly explained global climate models and how hail forms to a friend who is not in my field, doing that more may keep me excited about atmospheric sciences. I enjoyed talking about it in that way to an interested (or at least semi-interested) audience. It's been a while since I enjoyed talking about my field.<br />
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I don't think I have a bad option right now as long as I can approach it with the right frame of mind. Not to mention, staying in Grad School Town lets me continue with my jujitsu dojo, which I really like :D. I may have to take some day trips for suitable biking terrain. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-61692197190354239112010-11-10T08:00:00.000-06:002010-11-10T08:00:11.011-06:00Quote on taking chances<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> I ran across this in my Google Reader this morning (I like well-said phrases):<br />
<blockquote>"I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't think you can measure life in terms of years. I think longevity doesn't necessarily have anything to do with happiness. I mean happiness comes from facing challenges and going out on a limb and taking risks. If you're not willing to take a risk for something you really care about, you might as well be dead."<br />
<br />
-- Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider</blockquote>The sentiment sounds familiar ;). </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-8742458039044603562010-10-22T10:54:00.000-05:002010-10-22T10:54:04.107-05:00A big departure<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> I'm finally ready to share my plans with the world. I just needed to ask my adviser and the department head for their approval first. They're both very supportive and sorry to see me leave.<br />
<br />
I'm planning to start a leave of absence from school in January. That will give me up to a year to return to PhD studies without having to reapply. In the mean time, I can take time away to reassess what I want to do and if it requires a PhD and if I have the drive to finish the degree without wasting any more of my or my adviser's time.<br />
<br />
I am applying for jobs in the Washington, DC, area now in hopes that I will find something I can start with the new year. I am focusing on this area because I like the city, I'm familiar with it, one of my relatives lives there, and several friends live along the East Coast.<br />
<br />
I also want to keep the option open to pursue a master's degree in science writing with Johns Hopkins. They have a part-time evening program that I could work through while I work a normal daytime job. Ultimately, I want to communicate science to non-scientists, so this path makes sense.<br />
<br />
It will also help me financially. Though my tuition is fully covered and I'm paid a livable salary in grad school, it still costs me to be here. I have a lot of debt from undergrad that is accruing interest. These are mainly loans with Sallie Mae, which must be run by soul-sucking profiteers the way they've handled my loans. With a job I can start paying the loans off and perhaps even take them away from Sallie Mae. I don't know how the loans work yet because my dad helped me with that. I may borrow a friend's mom to help me weed through my options. If that doesn't pan out, I may be on my own to figure it out.<br />
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So for the next two or three months I'm finishing everything I need to in order to minimize the impact this has on my adviser, who is going up for tenure this year. One of my biggest concerns is that I don't cause him a problem because he's only along for the ride this time and I'm grateful to his flexibility and understanding through the most difficult three years of my life.<br />
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I'm nervous, scared, and excited. This is the biggest departure I've ever taken from the established path through school to a career, but I truly feel this is the right decision for me right now. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-72807005689075512052010-10-17T23:24:00.000-05:002010-10-17T23:24:37.850-05:00Settling back in<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> Due to scheduling issues, my prelim will not happen this semester. My school-related goals now include finishing the interminable paper and completing enough of my PhD research to give a talk at AMS in January. And catching up with class.<br />
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My house is getting messier, but I spent most of the day cooking so it's okay for now. I made a beef roast, chicken soup, salmon, and cookies. I have more cookies planned so I can use some nifty little fall cookie cutters I bought while I was in Wisconsin.<br />
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Personally, I'm doing okay. I'm still low on patience. I've run my patience to the brink of losing it over the past five months. (I wasn't very involved in the first few months of my dad's treatment, so it wasn't as difficult then.) I think I'm just emotionally burnt out. And tired. And still stressed, in good and bad ways. I don't know how to recover from this besides wait and hope it doesn't take too long.<br />
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In other news, change is in the air. I'm not ready to release my ideas to the world until I'm more sure of them, but they are big. I'll let you know when they're ready. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-30176348342549984572010-10-10T22:52:00.000-05:002010-10-10T22:52:52.541-05:00I hereby declare...<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> ...that I have the best friends ever!<br />
<br />
Three flew to the Midwest from the East Coast on short notice for my dad's funeral and stayed with me through the weekend, six drove almost 300 miles from Grad School Town, and one drove almost two hours to stay overnight the night with me and my mom and made us breakfast the morning of the funeral. On top of that, I came home to a clean house because three of the friends from Grad School Town cleaned my house while I was gone.<br />
<br />
I dare you to deny that they are the best! </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-74733491424813396572010-10-06T16:36:00.000-05:002010-10-06T16:36:52.885-05:00Upcoming return to pseudo-normal<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> I will return to school at the end of this weekend. I will have to make up for three missed weeks of classes and research.<br />
<br />
I still plan to complete my prelim this semester. Excuse after excuse has delayed it for a year. No matter how valid they've all been, I'm tired of putting it off. I want it done so it doesn't hang over my head anymore and so I won't have to take more classes. I also learned yesterday that I am scheduled to give an oral presentation at the AMS Annual Meeting in January. On top of those, I need to renew my fellowship at the end of the calendar year.<br />
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Lucky for me, all of these goals are related to the same work: my PhD research. If I make good progress on that, all of these should be within reach. For the prelim, I add a proposal and oral defense. For the meeting presentation, I put together a short talk. Last, and probably least demanding, I write a progress summary to renew my fellowship. Sounds like a tall order, but those are my specialty.<br />
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That leaves writing and class out of the mix. I don't know what my new class deadlines will be, but they should be flexible since my adviser teaches the class. I don't know about writing. I really want to continue with everything I planned before. I think I'll try to and hope for the best.<br />
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Four days and I return to my life. It will be much the same as before, and yet forever different. More different than I have ever experienced. I never imagined life without my dad find me this soon. <br />
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Whether or not he is here, I will continue to make him proud of me. I am thankful for the time we had together and all he taught me. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-87340310606193491422010-09-27T18:37:00.000-05:002010-09-27T18:37:41.846-05:00Bye Dad<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> My dad passed early this morning.<br />
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I will always love you, Dad. I will always miss you. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-10633256331179394252010-09-24T17:17:00.000-05:002010-09-24T17:17:33.977-05:00Family comes first<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> Over-commitment gets interesting when I suddenly leave town for the fourth time in a little over three years. I'd give it all up to get rid of my dad's cancer. It's the only thing wrong with him.<br />
<br />
My mom called me Saturday because she had to call a non-emergency ambulance for my dad. He couldn't stand up, which meant he couldn't get out of the house for treatment. When my mom called me to tell me about it, she was obviously having a very hard time with it. She couldn't even choke out that she wanted me to come home, but I knew she did. I packed a few changes of clothes and whatever else I thought I might need or want, washed any dirty dishes that might grow, and drove north.<br />
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My dad is not doing well. The doctors say he has weeks left at the most.<br />
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My mom and I are sharing primary care of him as part of home hospice care, which is more than a full-time job for each of us. We are glad we got to bring him home. Now family can visit whenever they want, Mom and I have more support, and we have better food. He is also more comfortable and receives closer attention. I know this is the best place for him.<br />
<br />
I cannot fulfill my copyediting duties because I can only do them in the newsroom. I may be able to write for the university engineering and science magazine. I can work on research and news bureau stuff from here, too. However, I have no idea when I can fit it in between all my other responsibilities right now.<br />
<br />
I'd like to keep up with my commitments, but family is priority right now. My adviser said to focus on family, that everything else is extraneous. I intend to follow that advice. Most of my time here I watch after Mom or Dad. Most of the leftovers I make sure legal and financial affairs are in order for my parents and for me or call friends for support and a break.<br />
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I am glad I have a big family so we can help each other through this hard time. They are invaluable in my Dad's care. We could not have brought him home without their help. Aunts and uncles help third shift, more aunts and uncles help first shift, and we have a full house second shift.<br />
<br />
Even though this is a heartbreaking situation, I feel lucky for everything else in my life. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014068310826050589.post-34721855901145552642010-09-18T00:12:00.002-05:002010-09-18T00:49:50.559-05:00Intentionally over-committing<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> Have you ever intentionally taken on a little more than you think you can handle? If you have, why?<br />
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I'm doing it this semester because I don't want to give my mind time to wander. My dad is not doing well. I don't want to publicize the details, so you'll have to believe me. The doctors either cannot or will not tell us what his current group of diagnoses mean in terms of prognosis except to say, several times, that it's not good. I don't want time to consider possible implications of his current health beyond an initial thought. Oddly, this situation seems to help me concentrate on work most of the time. I'm making progress on most fronts.<br />
<br />
In pursuit of the goal to keep myself busy, here are my major work-related activities this semester:<br />
<ol><li>Prelim: The proposal write-up is due November 23, and the oral presentation is tentatively schedule for December 9. That leaves me a little over two months to write it. My to-do list says "come up with plan for prelim."</li>
<li>Research for AMS 2011 in January: I don't know if I have a poster or oral presentation yet, but it doesn't matter. I need results to present either way. The first step is downloading data. Thankfully I wasn't optimistic enough to believe I could have model results in time.</li>
<li>@#$% MS paper: Yep, still going. The Energizer paper. At least I'm working on a first round of revisions to most of the text. Computers still are not cooperating to finish the final two figures.</li>
<li>Copyediting for the school newspaper: This only consumes three hours one night a week. It'll give me a taste of what working on a tight deadline is like without too much time commitment.</li>
<li>Writing for the school STEM magazine: Only one issue will be published this semester, so I will write one article for print, one article for the web, and two blog posts. It should be straightforward and relatively quick since the articles are supposed to be short. It'll challenge me more to choose a topic than to write the articles.</li>
<li>Intern as a science writer with the university news bureau: I'm excited about this. My mentor actually gets paid to write about science! And she's professional about it! How refreshing. The internship can take as much or as little time as I let it because I accept (or turn down) assignments as they crop up. Finally, some reliable mentoring in writing.</li>
</ol>The work for my only class should pull double-duty with my PhD research, so I don't count it as a major commitment.<br />
<br />
I also intend to help my family as possible and as needed, attend all the jujitsu practices I can, and occasionally go rock climbing, ice skating, and biking. Oh, and cook tasty food. I have to eat, right?<br />
<br />
If you think I'm crazy, you're not alone. I think my mom is the only person who doesn't question me anymore. She's learned that many of my seemingly crazy ideas are some of the ones that work out the best. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1