anfin’s Blog

This has been a long week. A very long week. The following is a synopsis of everything I’ve done. Perhaps I’ll make a habit of this. Who knows?

• Spent almost all of Sunday at church and listened to morning, lunchtime, and evening sermon talks given by Steve Saint- author of End of the Spear and the son of Nate Saint who was one of the 5 missionaries killed by the Waodani people in Equador.
• Finished an inorganic kinetics problem set.
• Watched Harvey. Laughed. The one sentence synopsis from IMDB is as follows: Elwood P. Dowd is a mild-mannered, pleasant man, who just happens (he says) to have an invisible friend resembling a 6-foot rabbit.
• Spent an entire (stressful) afternoon trying to check and fix the exam for the class I’m TAing before sending it to the printers. There were a lot of mistakes, and most of them were my fault (which was the origin of the stress). All I can say is that I don’t remember what was going on when I wrote my portion of the exam, but I must have been very tired.
• Downloaded Kinetica2003 - a kinetics modeling program which was written by my teacher several years ago.
• Spent 20 minutes completing the portion of the assignment requiring said program.
• Spent over an hour trying to get stupid Excel to allow me to properly format the charts of data obtained from using Kinetica.
• Noticed a bit a blood in Rusty’s poo.
• Freaked out because I knew that blood in dog poo is a sign of Parvo and that Rusty was overdue for said vaccination by the standards of my old vet.
• Called a vet, was told it probably wasn’t Parvo but still needed to be checked, and set up a vet appointment for the following day.
• Went to “The Most Important Choir Practice of the Year” and was even more convinced that the music ministry at my church is awesome.
• Watched LOST at Jenny’s house whilst studying for a Cume.
• Took a Cume concerning kinetics.
• Renewed my lease.
• Took Rusty to the vet. Apparently, he has hookworms AGAIN. Got medicine. Also, spent way more than I would like on the visit.
• Watched Arsenic and Old Lace. Laughed. Decided that someday, when I’m an old lady, I will play one of the kind, sweet, insane old ladies in the play.
• Went to dinner with Jan (Sunday school teacher) and Cara (from Sunday school).
• Taught my three discussion classes and tried to convince them that they really need to study for the upcoming test.
• Went to Best Buy to buy a cable lock for my laptop. Discovered that the Best Buy gift card which I got for free during freshman year at college did not contain $15 as I had thought for four years, but $40. Was pleased.
• Watched Casablanca for the first time.
• Slept soundly after a long week of school.
• Watched The Maltese Falcon.
• Finished an organic kinetics problem set.
• Wrote this post.

Grandma and Granddad used to always buy season tickets to Dollywood so that they could take their grandkids there as often as they pleased. Much fun ensued:

• Their was an old-timey looking train that you could ride throughout Dollywood which I only recall ever taking once. During that one time, the trained was stopped half-way along its journey in front of an old broken stagecoach and the Dollywood people held a little audience participation play. They chose Granddad as one of the players–the damsel in distress to be precise. Other characters include the evil bandit (played by a very non-evil looking lady) and the cowboy hero (played by a small boy who generally didn’t seem to know what was going on) who can be seen fighting over Granddad here.
• Of course, I liked to go to Dollywood to ride the rides. Looking back, I suppose they were all just kiddy rides, but I still enjoyed them immensely. Granddad rode with me on all of them except the Ferris Wheel which was for me and Grandma to ride together.
• What a happy picture! Granddad and I were clearly dominating a game of bumber cars and having a great deal of fun in the process in this picture.
• Another happy picture! My favorite ride, for reasons unknown to me today, was always the big spinny ride whose name currently escapes me.

Next time: The Knoxville Zoo and Zoo Camp

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon scanning 96 photos of varying quality from my photo albums of ages past. I plan to post samplings of these 96 photos on Flickr every few days for as long as they last. I will try to add appropriate commentary here when necessary. The samplings will be divided topicially with a rough draft of the divisions as follows:

Zoos, Zoo Camp, Exchange Students, Dollywood, Fishing, Young Me and Julia at Grandma and Granddad’s House, Dogs, Poland, Taiwanese Scenery, Taiwanese Buildings, People Visiting Taiwan, Oliver!, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Little Shop of Horrors, Tunisia, Serbia, Governor’s School, South Dakota, Young Michael playing Hockey, Snow Day, My first day in England, Large Russian Eggs, The road to Wallace Monument, The Changing of the Guard, Canterbury Cathedral, Oben, Iona, Staffa, Edinburgh and David Rizzio, Colorful clay containers decorated with shells from Iona and Tunisia

I’ll go ahead and warn you that I may post some of the photos such that only my family and friends on Flickr can see them. Thus, if I talk about a photo which you can’t see then it’s probably because you are not logged on to Flickr and/or I have not listed you as my friend or family. I don’t know yet if this will be an issue, but I figured I’d mention it just in case.

Okay, so let’s see. Where should I start? How about Fishing?

We used to always take a trip out to the Cross-Eyed Cricket to catch some catfish when we visited my Grandparents. Here is a sampling of the resulting photos.

• First up is a picture of my brothers, Julia, and I holding a lovely catfish whilst in one of my Grandparent’s camping trailers. The best part of this picture is the pricelessly disgusted face of my young cousin as I am clearly forcing her to take part in holding the fish.
• Second, we have my Granddad assisting me in catching what is undoubtedly a fine specimen of the catfish species. Of course, it is clear that the only reason I needed his help was to allow me time to pose for this photo (Oh yeah, and to actually get the fish out of the water and off the hook and into the bucket. That too.)
• Finally, we find me posing with the ACTUAL CROSS-EYED CRICKET! How cool is that, right? Okay, so maybe it’s not that cool, but it is an unusual mascot.

Teaching

• My teaching responsibilities are very different this semester even though its the same class.
• Instead of teaching new material in the discussion classes, we (the TA’s) are only supposed to go over concepts which have already been taught in the main lecture and work problems. It’s basically a review session.
• We (the TA’s) are in charge of writing the tests and quizzes and getting them graded. If I was a professor, I would want to write my own tests.
• I am in charge of the “e-learning” site for the class. This means that I upload answer keys and homework solutions, answer student’s questions on the discussion board, make announcements, and am in charge of the gradebook. If I was a professor, I would not want a random TA to have this responsibility. There is a lot of room for error.
• Most of these differences are results of the fact that the professor I’m teaching for is interesting. (Lauren, “We are chipmunks, I squeaked”)
• He is apparently a brilliant researcher who  developed some analytical technique which is used worldwide.
• He is a Windows-elitest (if there is such a thing), and self-admittedly knows nothing about computers or the Internet. Hence, he didn’t know how to log on to e-learning–much less manage the site for his class.
• He has graying Elvis hair to match the large Elvis poster in his office.
• He is in a local rock-band composed of four middle aged men. Flyers for their concert a few weeks ago were given to all of his students and TA’s.
• He wants his tests to be harder, but rejects any question we write for which students must make any mental leaps. The tests are therefore abysmally easy.

Learning

• My two classes this semester are Inorganic Kinetics and Organic Kinetics.
• They are more difficult than the classes I had last semester, but are thus far enjoyable.
• Organic is not as scary as I thought, but I’d still rather be Inorganic any day.

Research

• My first order of business when I got to lab in January was to clean my disgusting vacuum line. I cleaned it, and in the end it was bright and beautiful and broken. It has been in the glass shop ever since. It was supposed to be done three Mondays ago. Then it was supposed to be done two Thurdays ago. Now it’s supposed to be done whenever he can get to it.
• I can do nothing in lab without my vacuum line. The End.

Church

• I have the most awesome Sunday School class ever, and we are growing like crazy.
• I really love being in choir and in the college/grad singing group.
• My favorite days of every week are Sunday and Wednesday.

Clearly, this blogger is aware that today is the birthday of the best mother in the world. Happy Birthday Mom!

I feel like reading a good book that I’ve never read. Any ideas?

Expect edits as I think of additional things to add.

Situations that are currently making me happy:

• Going to choir practice.
• Working in lab.
• Having lots of friends from church, and going out to lunch with them almost every Sunday.
• Wearing my brand-new back-off-the-ankle-enforced socks which make wearing shoes a joyful experience.
• EDIT (12PM, 11-19-08): The fact that I just got full passes on my first two cumes and am thus 2/5 of the way to being done with cumes.
• EDIT (1:30PM, 11-19-08): The fact that I unknowingly joined a lab group with several strong Christians.

Situations that are currently not making me happy:

• Cold weather in Florida.
• Not knowing my grades on the Cumes that I took forever ago.
• EDIT (4:00, 11-20-08): Not getting to wear the dress I wanted to wear in Michael’s wedding when apparently I could have if I hadn’t listened to the stupid saleslady at David’s Bridal.
  
• That’s pretty much it.

Christmas List

• A bright, shiny, new bicycle OR a old ugly bicycle with working brakes and gears (Note that the working brakes and gears would be implied in the former by the adjective “new”)
• An extra battery for my lovely camera.
• An English/Spanish Bible (NIV of course)
• An eye-appointment and/or new glasses.
• DVDs or books to fill the gap left by my lack of cable or Internet.

I always carry my camera with me. I don’t really take that many pictures, but I like to know it’s there just in case I need it. Every now and then as I’m packing my things I think, “I don’t really have room for this in my bag today.” This thought, however, is quickly followed by, “If I don’t bring it with me today, this will be the day that I wish I had it.” Yesterday was one of those days. Yesterday was also a day when, for no particular reason, I decided to wear the Florida Chemistry T-shirt that all of the incoming students were given during visit weekend. As it turned out, all of the other three students in my row for my first class, for no particular reason, had done the same. Thus, it is extremely useful to always carry your camera, as you will always be capable of obtaining proof of unusual coincidences.

Well, I have thoroughly settled into life in Gainesville and at UF. So far, I’m feeling pretty comfortable here. Classes aren’t too difficult yet (though that will change in a few weeks), I like my professors, and I am interested in the course contents. Teaching’s not too scary. We’re basically given lesson plans and just have to present them to the students. We also hold office hours, but that’s pretty easy, too. It’s only freshman chemistry after all. My biggest stresser right now is choosing an advisor, and the big problem there is that there are so many professors who would be great advisors. This is not a bad dilemma to have. I like not having to drive everywhere–I have two buses to choose from which take the same route between my apartment complex and where I get off on campus. I’ve decided that there’s really no possible way to find  a better church than Westside–it really feels like home, and I’ve got a great Sunday School class. Thanks to the scholarship and finally getting my first paycheck, I’m feeling pretty financially secure at the moment –I’ve got money in the bank and no debts anyway.  Overall, life is good, and I feel very blessed.

And now for the fulfillment of this post’s title:

1. Taking Rusty on walks was a lot easier before he discovered the large population of lizards on the fence behind my apartment (Alex and Nicolas would love this place). Now whenever I open the door, he immediately trys to pull my arm off as he races towards his prey. It should be noted that due to Rusty’s limited ability to see lizards while they are standing still, he is not actually good at catching them. As any veteran-lizard-catcher knows, you have to slowly sneak up on a sitting lizard and then pounce. Rusty’s headlong rush in the lizards’ general direction doesn’t do anything but scatter them before he reaches them. He’s going to have to improve his prowling skills.
2. There is a large dog two apartments down who seems to spend his life sitting exclusively in the window seat so he can bark at any animal walking by. He seems to be generally okay with people–he doesn’t usually bark at me when I walk past him to check the mail. However, he always barks if I walk Rusty by him. At any rate, morning and evening, I can’t recall a time when I have looked in that window and not seen him staring at me.
3. Wanting to get my money’s worth on my season tickets, I went to the game again on Saturday. Last week I walked to the game, but this week the game started at 8:00PM . Not wanting to take an hour-long walk at midnight and not wanting to deal with campus traffic and parking, I decided to take the “Gator-Aider”–a bus from the mall to the stadium. When I got on the bus, I discovered something: 35 middle-aged gator fans on their way to a football game take up significantly more room on a bus than 35 college students on their way to and from classes.
4. When I opened the door to take Rusty out this morning, I was greeted by a pack of barking huskies running straight towards me. I was thus thoroughly awakened even though it was only 6:30AM and I had just gotten up. It was only after I jerked Rusty back inside and slammed the door that I realized that said huskies were actually chained to the tree in my neighbors backyard.

Well I have officially taken part in an ACS (American Chemical Society) National Meeting and Exposition and lived to tell the tale (which as it just so happens I am telling now).

Upon arriving in Philadelphia I took a train from the airport to Market East Station. Conveniently, Market East Station opened up directly into the Pennsylvania Convention Center which was conveniently the location of the conference and which was also conveniently located just across the street from my hotel. How convenient. Inconvenient, however, was the fact that I had no idea where I was supposed to go for dinner. I found out later that this was due to the fact that I had moved the very same day that the invitation was to have arrived at my house—but this fact did not help me figure out where I was supposed to go. Thank goodness for my roommate or I would have shown up uninvited to the Merck Award Dinner instead of the very separate Merck Scholarship Dinner.

All the other students were very nice—all the other students were also organic. I felt a bit out of place. When I applied, I was relying on the “or” in “Synthetic Organic or Medicinal Chemistry” listed under the criteria to possibly, maybe, in-a-million-years earn me a spot among the honorable mentions who got to present a poster at the conference. However, it seems that I was the only one who needed the “or”—everyone else would have been just as happy with an “and.” Now, more than ever before, I don’t know what it was on my application that made them pick me, but I am very grateful. I literally wouldn’t have any money in my bank account after next month’s rent if it weren’t for this scholarship.

The next morning (Monday) was the oral presentation. I was ridiculously nervous, but I tried to push that aside and just do the best I could. I was extremely impressed by the other four students’ research projects and results. I felt like my project stood out a bit like a sore thumb since it was so different than theirs. Nonetheless, I think I was able to present it well enough, though I did skip a few things and saw some things I could have improved. Nonetheless, I left reasonably satisfied with my performance and knowing that with that experience under my belt I would be able to do better job next time I have an oral presentation.

Unbeknownst to me, Jonathan had called my cell phone about ten minutes into my talk. Apparently, he wanted to let me know that tropical storm Fay might possibly affect my travel plans. I called the Graduate Coordinator the next morning (Tuesday) and he seemed to think that it might be wise to go ahead and reschedule my flight for Thursday in hopes that Fay would blow over by then. Delta said that under the circumstances, I could change my flight with no penalty, so I decided to fly in on Thursday instead of my original return date on Tuesday.

The new itinerary actually worked to my advantage in a way. The schedule for all of the students with Merck was very tight with meals, presentations, and the tour of Merck Westpoint. With two extra days at my disposal, I was able to experience the rest of the conference and saw several inorganic talks and posters. Another good thing about the change was that without the extra time, I wouldn’t have been able to go see a couple of Philadelphia’s historical sites. On a slightly less educational note (okay, actually this note has nothing whatsoever to do with education), I would have also missed out on the opportunity to attend the conference’s exposition and obtain these fabulous tchotchkes (including the pink Philadelphia shirt from the previous photos–which was a really good thing to have considering the fact that I ran out of clothes do to my extended stay) as well as five completely distinct periodic tables. Chemists love helicopter hats and periodic tables.

Of course, Fay did not blow over by Thursday. As a matter of fact, Thursday was probably the worst day to fly into Gainesville. I know the flight before mine was canceled, and I can’t imagine that the ones after me made it in. Honestly, I’m amazed that they didn’t cancel our flight—the ride wasn’t exactly smooth. Nevertheless, we landed safely in Gainesville on schedule and I was able to make it to about an hour and a half of orientation. Said hour and a half consisted of me registering for classes, eating at a dinner which most of my class didn’t brave the storm to attend, and reading my text message from the University which said that UF would be closed the following day. That last one meant that the hour and a half would be the only orientation I would get. So much for that.

Overall, I’d say the experience was a good one, and I’m truly blessed to have been chosen for the scholarship. It was definitely a great opportunity to be able to speak at the conference, and I’d say that that opportunity was worth missing orientation. I’m told I didn’t miss much anyway. . .