Woman or Biologist?
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
| Why do I have to choose? So often, you are one or the other and rarely both. I find myself getting more bitter on this topic as the years pass. In the beginning, education was acceptable...I might find a smart man. But with more education, the less acceptable it has become. I have now become the one that people discuss trying to pinpoint exactly what went wrong for me to want to work so hard on something like this. It seems that wanting more and working hard are acceptable.....if you are a man. Could someone explain why women with careers have to defend themselves and justify their dreams. It's apparent that I missed the memo being passed out explaining why I should only be happy when I am married and/or having children. I wish to note at this point, that I am sincerely happy for women that aspire to marry and have a family. If that is truly what you want, then I wish you the best. For me, it is not enough....I wish you could understand! When I tell you that I don't want children, it is not because I am young, or that I'll change my mind in the future. When I hear these comments, it makes me feel sorry for you.. not me. I am sorry that you don't understand that education is not a hobby, but a way of liberating who I am. I am sorry that you cannot understand that what I do makes me want to get up in the morning. And, I am really sorry that you do not have a goal that you have been striving for your entire life with every intention of achieving it, on your own. But mostly, I am sorry that you do not have a passion that makes you want to live and fight and make a difference in this world every minute of every day. For me, what I do is the air I breathe....it is who I am. We are one in the same. Success is not option, but a way of life. It makes me sad that women seem to still be fighting the same fight that was being fought decades ago. But what of the women who want both. It seems there is no one who is ridiculed and criticized more in the social eye. One must give credit to someone who can do it all. To be a provider, a chef, a housekeeper, a teacher and still be a wife at the end of the day. But now I ask how you repay these hardworking people. It is not often that you overhear a husband and wife trying to make the decision of who was going to stay home and raise the the children. I guess I am still confused about the logic that labels a woman who aspires for a career and children, as a different type of woman. Why do they have to give up one to be the other. It seems that 'we' (women that want so much more) are always having to justify and defend what we find important. Why is there a decision that has to be made. I get so angry when a child does something wrong, the first thing that people ask is "where is this child's mother?". Why is the mother to blame? Why is the father's role second? You can tell so much from the way a sentence is said more than what is in the actual words. I also find it sad that women can be grouped into two categories: working or stay at home mothers. It's as if all the world's problems can be laid at the woman's feet. If you work, you are showing your family that they are not important and they will do bad things. Is it so wrong for working women to want to add something more to their lives? I can only assume that the women who kill their children were working mothers. Is there some statistic that shows that they were trying to do both and couldn't so eliminated one of the problems? Please show me the link between the world going to hell and women working.....I think society should know before it's to late. |
Labels: Women's Issues
posted by Sonya @ 1/31/2007 03:45:00 PM, ,
Ummm...Skipper....I don't see land!
| Ohhhh..the memories of the moments that you wish you could have the minutes/days back and never have the experience at all... But first...a little background.... I was getting my Bachelors degree in Biology. Since even then I was a big science dork, I was working in two research labs and carrying a full load of classes. I guess you could say that I didn't have much free time and extracurricular activities were at a minimum. I tried to get home to see my mom on some weekends, but most often, I had work to do. And every so often, I would visit my dad. Mom was 2 hours in one direction and dad was 2 hours in the opposite. So a choice had to be made and I almost always chose mom. Yet, somehow guilt lead me in the other direction on this innocent spring, Saturday afternoon. This is and always will be one of those previously described moments in my past that I wish for the time to be returned to me. To this day, I do not like boat rides. I still remember the Gilligan's Island-like terror that I felt, thinking I would never see home again. The plan started like this... The Plan -- Dad said we were going for dinner. I agreed, little sister and I got ready to go. As we headed in the wrong direction, I questioned above mentioned father as to the location we are going. It is then that he enlightened me on the newly revised plan. We are going to take the boat out, go down river and eat at a nice little restaurant on the lake. So for those of you that do not know my dad and his friends, this sounds so nice and sweet. Oh boy are you in for a surprise.....and apparently so was I! We pull up to the boat dock...and surprise....we have company....I knew things were going to get worse and they definitely did. So....just to make the trip a little more interesting, Grandfather and uncle were also coming. Just to set the record straight...I don't have much to do with that side of the family and I don't really know them very well. They are...how do you say politely..."different". So, with odds like that against you, you can't have that many family members together in one place and still have God smiling down on you. And just so things are even more stacked against me, we'll also throw in a very unintelligent, irresponsible person into the mix and just for fun....we'll have him drive the boat. We will also toss in a someone, that I can barely understand..just so that this story has some twists and turns. Well, that should do it....So off I went into the great beyond ... I am not excited about this trip and it's obvious. But, just to keep an open mind, I try to enjoy the catastrophe that is inevitable. So, we drive for about an hour, I point this and worry that it may be hard to return later with all the turns and everything looking the same. They all assure me that it won't be a problem and to just relax. Only if that were possible! We finally get to the restaurant...Surprise number two is waiting for me. Not only is it not a normal restaurant, but we are there to see the Elvis impersonator show with our dinner. First, WHAT!! .....and second.... I don't like Elvis. I just knew that this is going to take a while. The night just went from bad to worse...and it's not stopping there. Well, the dinner and show?? took a while. It is now about 10:00Pm or so. So, we finally head back to the boat around 10:30Pm and everyone piles on. We are off. You can probably figure out the problem we are about to face....it seems it could easily have been predicted...you guessed it... we are lost..... Skip ahead 3 hours later....yup...still lost.... Skip ahead another 3 hours...I fell asleep only to wake up to ...yup...still lost. Emotions check: Sonya is not happy. Not only that, but above mentioned country boy has pushed me up against the side of the boat and has stolen my blanket and pillow while I was sleeping. Now I am really not happy! But, the nice person that I am....steals sleeping items back, shoves him off my area and tries to go back to sleep.... I am awakened an hour later to my dad laughing and telling me to wake up we're home. I jump off the boat, orient myself and I turn around....WE ARE BACK AT THE RESTAURANT!! We went in circles for 10 hours to end up in the same place. Dad laughs and asks if I want breakfast...We eat, but I secretly put in a phone call to mom...she is on her way to come and get me....There is NO way I am getting back on that boat....EVER. Epilogue...Mom shows up, little sister and I return home and I am back at school a full day later....and I have never taken a boat ride since.. |
Labels: Family Memories
posted by Sonya @ 1/31/2007 10:59:00 AM, ,
10 Things You Shouldn't Do In The First 10 Minutes.....
Sunday, January 28, 2007
| It's funny that so many guys do so many things wrong in those first ten minutes that take you out of the running for good. Here are 10 things that you should never do in those first few minutes... 10. You're Late! - If I can get here on time...and I have hair...you should get here on time. It is very annoying and sets a bad vibe for the date. 9. Tell me about your ex --I understand you probably had someone before me (even though some of you may seem like a virgin)....I don't need to know everything about her...I am not trying to date her...and now not you either... 8. Share intimate details about your childhood - Some things are better with suspense...(like how long this $#@& date will last)! 7. Give many, many compliments because 'Dating for Dummy's' said to do it - News flash, many girls can see right through this...especially when you don't know them.....Yes my shirt is nice, thanks....yes my hair is cute, thanks.....yeah, my teeth are white, thanks for noticing....no these are not new shoes.....would you like a run-down on anything else or can I look at my menu now? 6. Ask thought provoking questions to show you are a deep person - It is ok to take time to get to subjects..you do don't have to ask all the questions in the beginning like you are laying out the itinerary for the conversation for the next hour....God, Meaning of life, Psychology, World politics....you should probably check that off your list on the 6:00-7:00 time slot so we don't repeat topics... 5. Look passing women up and down as they walk by...as if you are trying to pick out a dessert plate - As it turns out...I can see you do this when it occurs....It's not the Joey card trick, like on friends where he thinks it happens so fast it can't be detected with the naked eye. I...Can....See...You..... 4. Try to hold my hand - Turns out that I can still talk without someone physically touching me...this is creepy....get off me! I don't jab well with my left hand...so please let go of the right. 3. Ask me sexual questions - Yup...guys will ask personal questions to people they don't really know...in the beginning....this is very creepy...you will be dismissed! What turns me on? The guy sitting behind you...well, you asked!! 2. List the qualities that you think your mother and I have in common - (seriously...cut the cord...I'm starting to trip on it!!). I do NOT think it is endearing to hear about your mother...I am sure she is great....I'm sure she would like me....but now....she will never meet me...way to go jackass! 1. Adjust yourself - Girls know you have a 'package'...no need to show it off so soon. Unless it is stuck to your back...I don't care to know about it. |
Labels: Dating
posted by Sonya @ 1/28/2007 02:08:00 PM, ,
Too many ideas...only some were good!
I was a child that liked to invent or test ideas. I was a "doer". It just sucked that someone else had to do the "doing". I guess this is where I should apologize to my little sister. She was my partner in crime, but most often was the one that did the most regretting when it was all over and done with. So...to Sarah...sorry about the cuts, bruises, broken collar bone, the near drownings, broken arm and all the other things I can't remember. One of the stories goes a little like this...
My big idea was to make a raft. You know...kinda Tom sawyer-like...floating down the river kind of rafts. The only difference, I didn't have a raft and I didn't have a river. However, I did have a pond and a big piece of Styrofoam. The plan was coming together. You see the genius slipping through....
First try..not so successful. Styrofoam couldn't really hold us. So, there had to be a way. After much searching...I found some empty plastic barrels. Genius ideas was coming together. I was going places (well maybe just in circles..but none the less...going somewhere). So, Styrofoam, 2 barrels and some rope. That should do it.
Well, Styrofoam on, tied to barrels and off little sister goes..
Big surprise that it didn't work. Little sis was able to fight her way back to shore...plan 2.
Ok...so Styrofoam needed support..only two barrels was not stable, needed stronger rope. Next....
Remedy to said problem.
4 barrels (one at each corner..duh...and plywood). The plywood would reinforce the Styrofoam.(don't know why I insisted in keeping the Styrofoam at this point) and tied the four barrels to the plywood. Off little sister goes.....
Nope, still didn't work...barrels wouldn't stay with it...little sister goes under....
Said sister says she's had enough...we had to scratch this set-up and start over. However, I never got the plans worked out ... new problem arises....
Mom found out...not too happy...plan scraped...(also where polio and hunchback issue came into play from earlier blog)....didn't go near the water again for a long time....
Epilogue..little sister ok...not so trusting of raft ideas...
Labels: Ideas
posted by Sonya @ 1/28/2007 12:44:00 PM, ,
Billy
Friday, January 26, 2007
Growing up we had about 7 acres of land and I did my best to fill all those acres with as many animals that I could find. I was one of those people that tried to save the world. This started from a very young age and continues to this day. I have a weakness! There are so many animals in my past that I will never forget. I have had so many good memories that still make me laugh even to this day. Here is one my favorites. The most memorable to the entire family was our goat that was so much more than just a goat. His name was Billy (ok..so I wasn't creative). He came with a girlfriend goat that we named...yes you guessed it..Nana. Anyway.... Billy and Nana arrived in the back of a car in a big box with only their heads sticking out. Billy was small, dark brown with big floppy ears and big eyes. He was the love of our life back then. See, we never had goats, so Billy was not treated as a goat. When we got Billy, we were building our house. Since we did everything ourselves, the building went slow. The goats had the right to go anywhere they wanted. Nana did, Billy was no mere goat and hung out with his own kind...the humans. At any given time, he was hanging around with someone trying to find a way to irritate them. When no one was available, he irritated the dogs. Billy liked to play the staring game. He would start at a distance and then slowly move closer. This very much irritated my dog Rags. He was so successful, Rags was nice enough to remove part of his ear. Billy just had a way of knowing what would push your buttons...and then he stood on them. His favorite game was block the door when you were trying to carrying things. When the basement was done and the second floor was started, we used a ramp to carrying in supplies. Billy understood this and stood sideways on the ramp so as to not let anyone pass. He really like this game. He felt this was a good use of his time. When that was not fun anymore, he particularly liked the nail game. We bought nails in 5-gallon buckets because it was more cost-effective. So, you have a big bucket of nails sitting there. Billy took it upon himself to remove each nail from the bucket and place it on the floor...nail by nail, bucket by bucket for hours on end. Every nail, until the bucket was empty. In the beginning, his dedication was funny, but this soon just became irritating. When that lost it's fun, he would stand on the wood pile that you were trying to remove wood from. That was a particular favorite. King of the hill was a way of life for him. Billy kept himself busy. If you were not careful, he would drink your beer and eat your cigarettes just for fun. Well, as the house started to take shape and all was dried in, the doors went on. This upset Billy very much. He could no longer check on the status of things. This made him very, very unhappy. So, to get even, he would block the door until you let him in and have a look around. He just wanted to see the progress and two minutes usually did the trick. When the doggy door went in, in the basement, he took it upon himself to use it at his convenience. That was a constant fight. It was very humorous when he became to big to use it and got stuck repeatedly. You could open the door and he would swing back and forth. He was a very intelligent goat, who didn't realize he was a goat. He honestly thought he was a dog and hung out with our dog Murphy. They got along pretty well, except when Billy tried to boss Murphy around. I think Billy realized his mistake when we had some wild dogs come through and try to kill everything. But luckily we had Murphy and Billy to chase them off. Of course, Billy realized his mistake when the dogs turned around to take advantage of lunch following them. The panic in his eyes let us know, he had finally found his place in the food chain and was terrified. He turned around and ran back to the house as fast as he could. Mom scared all the dogs off while Murphy was fighting all 7 dogs on his own (one of the many trips to the vet). Well, the house was coming along and starting to look like a real house. Mom put in bushes... Billly ate them.... and mom put in some more. So the cycle went until she had enough. So BIlly got a house. We built a house for him, we fenced in the backyard with an electric fence and bought him the best food and hay, but Billy was not happy. In fact, Billy was depressed. When we put him in the fence, he would just stand there. He wouldn't eat, he wouldn't drink and he looked so sad. It broke our hearts and he played us like a fiddle. Now my mom, the strict rule setter, take no crap woman that she is....caved faster than we could spell his name. As Billy got thinner and sadder, we tried everything to make him happy. In the end Billy won, when he became very thin and sick, we brought him in the house, laid him in front of the heater with a pillow and blanket while hand feeding him pancakes (that is what he preferred). And just because Billy was Billy, he would only drink Blueberry cool-aid. So, for days, Billy lived the high life. It was then time to return Billy to the pen...you guessed it.. he wouldn't eat, he wouldn't drink until he was freed. So.. went Billy's existence. He was fenced during the day, but let out when we got home. He only drank Blueberry cool-aid (there was no regular water for this member of the family). He was allowed short trips through the house every few weeks to note the progress and was given pancakes on weekends. The memories are endless, but some of my favorites are when he would walk us to the bus in the morning. The blackberry bushes down by the pond were great, so he was always up for a trip. Billy died many years later and left a big hole in our hearts. He was often labeled the son my mother never had. I miss him now even to this day.... |
Labels: Animals
posted by Sonya @ 1/26/2007 09:36:00 AM, ,
Lack Of Sleep...Due To Rats!
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
| I have never been one to have nightmares or really bad dreams. I sometimes have those dreams where someone is chasing me and I seem to just get away. But none of that is what I am experiencing now... I recently started this book about Rats. It goes through the history of many rat caused catastrophes (i.e., potato famine, etc.), as well as how rat populations are able to excel in man-made conditions. It seems that most people in large cities don't realize that rats can live exclusively off of dog feces. They actually thrive on this as a primary food source. And yet so many pet owners are to lazy to clean up after their animals. This book also explains (in first five chapters...will explain below) how rats have been, are and will most likely be in the future the cause of many pandemics. It seems that rats are the only species, other than humans, that will cause their own demise. They will butcher each other just as many human populations have done in the past. Surprisingly, that is not what has me terrified in my sleep and keeps re-occurring in my dreams. It's the fact that, to this day, there are many cases where rats creep into homes and bite off noses and toes of people. It was and is, more common in poverty stricken areas. However, there are still cases of these rodents going after humans while they are sleeping. This is where the lack of sleep is coming from. I have only been able to get through the first 5 chapters. Since I like to read before bed, this is obviously not one of the books I will be picking up in the near future. But to my loyal readers, I will finish the book and share all that I have learned...this one just may take awhile. So...stay well and keep the rats away.... |
Labels: Rats
posted by Sonya @ 1/24/2007 09:37:00 AM, ,
All About Me (Tag...)
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
1. Yourself: Yea...my best subject...how much room do I get?....anyway...I can sum it up in one word...PERFECT (well maybe not quite perfect...maybe more like angel-like).....I also use sarcasm as a defense mechanism..and if that doesn't work...I'll resort to making fun of you...it makes me feel better...that's all that really matters anyway... 2. Your boyfriend/spouse: had a personality disorder and is no longer around...(disorder: got on my nerves one to many times) 3. Your hair: is a beautiful natural blonde (that's what it says on the box anyway)...that is more often up than down...I hate all the girly fixing my hair crap....(hey...maybe that explains the previous question concerning lack of boyfriend...maybe I should research the correlation...) 4. Your mother: is one of the strongest people I have ever met...person I would most like to be like... 5. Your father: contributed DNA 6. Your favorite item: my bed....I am so tired at this moment that I wish we could be re-united now! 7. Your dream last night: RATS!! Re-occurring....started from a book I'm reading where they chew off people's noses and toes...hate them!! 8. Your favorite drink: Smirnoff Green apple!! Goes down like water.... *9. Your dream car: a 1971 pinto...I try not to dream to big...won't make enough in the future to buy anything else. 10. The room you are in: My little room in the basement....is it night or day??? 11. Your ex: is a great guy.....for someone else...got on my nerves… 12. Your fear: dying without ever accomplishing anything with my life 13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Graduated...that would really suck if I were still doing this... 14. Who you hung out with last night(Saturday) ? M and Sakshi....so much fun and good food that I obviously didn't cook. (it involved rice...not my area...) 15. What you're not? stupid, soft-spoken, girly, wow...too many to name...... 16. Muffins: things other people make and I eat... 17. One of your wish list items: A car that has heat....only 'rich' people have such luxuries 18. Time: seems to stop when I REALLY don't want it to... *19. The last thing you did: play with crayfish and their dirty water...too much fun for just one person.... 20. What are you wearing? Jeans and t-shirt and fleece...changed it up from the usual sweatshirt...(you were expecting a skirt and cute flowered shirt???)....seriously.... 21. Your favorite weather: A COLD, SNOWY WINTER....(Amen Sista....)...still waiting you bunch of weather forecast LIARS.... 22. Your favorite book: ...Can't do it...but will say that I love Jane Goodall's book about Chimpanzee's in Gombe National Forest...but...Impossible to say...will go with anything by Nicholas Sparkes, James Patterson, or basically has WORDS.... 23. The last thing you ate: Pepsi, Coffee..nothing else matters...get off my back... 24. Your life: Is all about ME....I Love it....Freedom...Independence...enough said.... 25. Your mood: Sarcastic...serious about school stuff..use everyone else to make me laugh...irritating others is an added bonus... 26. Your best friend: Me...I understand me...I can put up with me...I enjoy talking to me...you know the usual...besides that, there is only one other person that really knows all my deep dark secrets...he knows who he is...and he better not tell or else! 27. What are you thinking right now? How many damn questions are there? Will Robin ever figure out what the stink is in his office? Will I ever use my powers for good instead of evil? Is it lunch yet? What will I do if the world ever runs out of Pepsi? And most importantly...will someone be smart enough to invite guys to the superbowl party? 28. Your car: My beautiful baby girl. We have been through a lot. She is getting up there in years but still is my girl. She's a Toyota Tercel ('94) with over 220,000 miles but still has her get-up. I'm sorry to say the stereo is worth more than the car...but I'll never tell her that. 29. What are you doing at the moment? Writing this, trying to avoid eye contact with Robin to make him think I am working hard. 30. Your summer: We have summers....do people take vacations? When are these so called summers???? I can be found in the lab during those warmer days....I know..try not to be envious! 31. Your relationship status: Single and loving it. My Remote, My Couch, My bed....Haaaaaaa 32. What is on your TV? Well I have three channels, so nothing worth watching....therefore, not usually on. 33. What is the weather like? Cold and no SNOW ....I am not happy...so you will not be happy! 34. When is the last time you laughed? At Lunch- always at lunch....as mentioned...not for virgin ears.. |
Labels: Tag
posted by Sonya @ 1/23/2007 03:32:00 PM, ,
Something You Didn't Know About Me
Saturday, January 20, 2007
So here it is....fresh clean socks. There is almost nothing that I love more than a basket full of clean socks just out of the dryer. For those of you trying to find the bad in this....this isn't some wierd fettish. My obsession with cleans socks actually stems from my childhood. And so the story begins like this.... When I was younger...around 10 or so, began the struggle for clean socks. I had an older sister that hated me. She was mean to me in every way possible..and to this day, we are still not sisters. I don't want you to get the wrong impression, we had evertything that we needed, as well as, socks enough for everyone. It's just that we did not have things in excess and this is where things got interesting. Since we did not have an abundance of money, we only asked for things that were really needed. In some way, I always knew it to be this way. Maybe is was because I was a very observant child and understood that money was scarce. Even then I knew that my Mom was stressed and was working hard to hold us all together. My mom being the hero that she is, is for another blog. So, when socks became scarce...I did not complain. My wonderful older sister was very lazy and did not like to do laundry. Actually she did not like to do anything so this was not a suprise. I will have to remember to tell you about the eight vacuum cleaners that she broke so she wouldn't be asked to vacuum anymore (it actually worked...but guess who got to do the vacuuming!). Since she didn't do laundry, my wonderful sister took all my socks and would not give them back. Anytime I complained, she said they were hers and told my mother that I lost mine and was trying to take hers. Taking her socks only resulted in physical retribution that I was not fond of...so I did not take said socks back. This left me with the one pair of socks that were on my toes at the moment and she could not take. I guarded my precious socks as if they were spun with the finest silk thread. I washed them every morning, by hand in the sink and dried them on the fan before school. These socks were my precious treasure. On so many occasions, we fought about other items that were mine that she took out of spite, but none affected me quite so as my beloved socks. We recieved new socks every so often (always at the beginning of the school year and other times) and the same pattern followed. Wicked sister stole said socks to not have to do laundry each and every time. It's funny that I still bring this up to her with the same bitterness ...but with so many years of festering behind it. She still denies that they were mine....and I want you all to know...SHE IS LYING. So now, I have an obsession with clean socks. I will not wear socks more than once and I love to take them off at the end of the day. So now, you understand my love for fresh clean and bountiful piles of socks. They make me giddy!! Gotta go...think that was the dryer calling me....... |
Labels: Life Lessons
posted by Sonya @ 1/20/2007 04:04:00 PM, ,
Where Do We Draw The Line?
I do not often get upset, but when others mistreat or waste life, I feel sad. It is an issue that I have fought most of my life. I seem to always be standing alone on one side asking people to understand that even though organisms may not be human, that not mean it is a life worth wasting.
I am at a point in my life where I use animals for research. However, I do not treat them as research animals. I do not waste life as if it has no meaning. I recently instructed a student on how to 'wire' a crayfish. This is a very delicate procedure and one slip of the scalpel can cause death. I carefully explained how to be gentle and why we take the time to do it properly. I am sad to say, the this student did not heed my words. As any instructor would do, I calmly explained the mistakes seen, only to receive an off-handed reply about it only being a crayfish.
So I now ask all of you this....when does a life have value. Does it have to be human, do we save a cat/dog and then draw the line. I find myself saying that it has to be more than that. Who are we to make those decisions. When are the moments that you question your actions? I may be one of the few, but I have always had a difficult time sentencing anything to death.
The idea of wasted life makes me angry. Why do we put higher value on things with higher cognitive ability. Is that all that really matters? If that is true, then answer this....where do the mentally handicapped fall? If we are judging by those criteria, it would it seems that this category should be treated as we treat the lowest of invertebrates. And yet, by my saying that it upsets people...why? Where do you draw your line? It seems to not be in the same place that I draw mine. What are your boundaries?
So this brings me to my next point. We often hear that everyone has rights. Rights to live and breathe and have children. We are outraged when our rights are stripped away. And yet, you are not outraged by those who do not have any rights. Why is that? I see more people willing to ignore what they don't want to see. It's as if by looking away .... things are not really as they are. This tactic is used from the smallest infractions the the most horrendous of acts...and yet people treat them the same. I wish this would work for me...but I cannot turn a blind eye to injustice.
So if humans make the line, then how can you sleep at night at what is going on all around the world. How do you ignore genocide and infanticide and all other crimes against humanity. If you say you are outraged..where is the outrage? What will be your actions? So I ask this, when is enough, enough. When will it be bad enough for you stand up and say you care. I only ask when you will care enough to open your eyes to all that is happening. When will you stand up for all things including humanity.
And to think this all started by just little conversation of treating crayfish with respect. It seems where we draw our lines makes a difference after all!
Labels: Life
posted by Sonya @ 1/20/2007 03:03:00 PM, ,
It's A Girl
| I am very excited to write that my little sister is having a girl. It's not that I have something against boys...it's just the girls are better. I am excited about the prospect of enlightening this little girl on the wonders of this world. I look forward to the day when I can take her to the zoo or explain all about the animals in the sea. I just know she will be curious like I was at a young age and I will be there to feed that curiosity. I am blissfully ignoring that there may be any chance that she will not be like me. This little girl is going to love science and animals and ask her wonderful aunt (that's me) all about life. And I, being the science dork that I am, will happily share my knowledge with her. I hope to always be involved in her life, lending my support and a shoulder when she needs it. I am excited about the day she will arrive. I often wonder what she will be like and will we grow up to be close like her mother and I. Will she be happy and respectful as children should be to all adults. Will she want to be a tomboy and play outside in the dirt. I hope she has a long and happy childhood to remember and build on in the future. I will do my best to make her happy and show her as much as I can. I wish her the best and offer my unconditional and undying love and protection for life, just as I have given her mother. Here's to family..... |
Labels: Family
posted by Sonya @ 1/20/2007 02:47:00 PM, ,
You Are NOT Entitled....
Friday, January 19, 2007
There are so many people (especially in grad school) that think they are entitled to anything and everything without having to work for it. So many of you need to get a clue...work for it! Why do you think that everyone else but you, must put in the hours and the labor while you should have everything handed to you on a silver platter. News flash...some of work weekends (gasp!) and late nights (eyes bulge.....yes really...we do!). And to top it off....we are not the ones complaining...suck it up...and move on!!! Here are some things that you should know: 1. We all have to work hard. 2. You are not special...so quit acting like it. 3. Complaining does not do any good....especially when it just embarrass the rest of us. 4. You don't have it harder than anyone else...you aren't being singled out.....you're just clueless. 5. When you are already doing less than everyone else...you have no right to complain. 6. People expect a lot from you.....yea...so....what's the problem....you're sitting at the big kids table now! 7. Life isn't fair....graduate school isn't fair....so, deal with it.... 8. If you don't like it....leave....if you won't leave...shut-up! 9. Throwing your weight around is stupid....especially if you don't have any weight to throw. 10. Everyone has to start at the bottom...if you stay there...that's your fault....not everyone else's. 11. But most importantly.....learn who to complain to....all you do is embarrass us when you get it wrong. As you can tell, I am not very happy at the moment with people who insist that they are working harder than everyone else. What I find funny is that those same people are rushing out the door at 5:00PM when I am going to get dinner and heading back in for a few more hours. In addition, I never see those same people on weekends. I find it VERY unlikely that I am missing them since I am usually here ALL day. So for all of you, here is the knife and over there is the outlet...see if it fits....... |
Labels: Complaints
posted by Sonya @ 1/19/2007 06:16:00 PM, ,
The Tricks That They Played....
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
As I look back at so many moments while I was growing up...I realize that it must have been fun to have me around. I seemed to believe everyone when they told me something...those days are definitely gone.
As you are about to find out....I was a very gullible kid.
To set the setting for the first seven years of my life, I lived on a farm in rural Iowa. We rented an old farmhouse surrounded on 2 sides by cows and the other side was a corn field that went on for miles. And much to our weird amusement..this corn field was protected by an electric fence (in case you were wondering...very strong shock...enough to keep cattle out!). As children, we were warned to not play in the cornfield (due to getting lost and never finding your way out). We were not allowed to play in the silo's (place were they store corn...also contains toxic fumes) or in the barn (old, falling apart...could fall through and get hurt). Nor were we able to play in the pasture where the cows were because of the bull that would cause some serious injuries. The restrictions seemed endless. So when we played in the corn fields and the barn and the silo and the pasture....we were careful..... (by the way....if you have a little sister that you don't want to play with....storing her in the silo is a great idea....Mom will never look there!)
Many people that have never been around farm animals would not truly understand the concept of a cattle gate. It is not so much a gate as it is a hole in the ground with vertical metal bars evenly spaced out. This prevents cows from crossing over the cattle gate and escaping if they happen to get out of their fence. We had one such as this at the end of the driveway to stop escaping cows. However, for someone with small feet, this is terrifying. The hole is not very deep, but enough for you to fall through, into water to approximately your knee. Still an altogether scary experience. To many this probably doesn't sound that bad, but to me....it made me terrified. It could be due to the problem of crossing it....or....it could be due to the fact that my sister told me that alligators lived in the water and would rip my legs off. I would start worrying about crossing the alligators when I left the house, work into a frenzy in the half mile till the end of the road and then be sure I was going to die by the time the gate came into view. I found out many years later that there were not alligators....but by then I was more worried about the quick sand......
Quick sand....seems to run rampant in the Midwest....well OK not really...but also didn't find that out until many years later. On the side of the driveway was a pit of sand that was always a little wet. This was due to a small bed of water that ran near there. But at age seven...some things aren't obvious. Again, my wonderful older sister told me that if I ever fell in, that it would suck me under and I would die immediately of suffocation. Then just to speed up the frenzy she would push me near it and watch me scream and cry. These daily trips to school were torture before I even got to the bus.
When I wasn't worried about death by alligators or quick sand....I was hunting the small village of smurfs that lived near by. Wonderful older sister told me that they moved their village often to keep people away, but that she had found them. These directions consisted of pointing a finger into the woods and saying 'right over there'. You can probably see where this is going....yup...I went looking. Surprisingly...I never found the village....but it was not due to the lack of trying. Many afternoons were spent trying to find them since I felt they could use my help when Gargamel came looking for them. Oh the days......
Well, don't get your hopes up....it just wasn't dear old sister that liked to poke some fun. We moved South when I was seven and lived in a house that had a tree with these large burrs on them. For some unknown reason....these burrs freaked me out to where I would just stare at them and scream (no way was I touching them). They would stick to anything....you can probably see where this is going. Once my mom and aunt realized that I would freak out with these things.....they had their fun. They would gather a handful and then toss them on me one by one. I stood there screaming at the burrs, refusing to pull them off or move, screaming with renewed vigor as each new one was added. Apparently (so I been told many times) this was very amusing. See the funny monkey dance......
Oh...that is not all by far....fasten your seat belt.
As I got older, I got a little wiser...don't get carried away...apparently not by much. I was curious about many things. So, to get answers since all mothers know everything...I asked Mom. My question to my mom was....do buzzards (dead carcass eating birds) find prey because of smell or because it doesn't move. Apparently this was too good to pass up, so she told me that it's because dead animals don't move and to not lay around outside without moving, otherwise they will come and get me. As any child would do.....I had to test this. Whenever buzzards were spotted, I immediately dropped to the ground and became motionless. I spent many, many, many hours laying outside in the driveway not moving, waiting for the buzzards to come. I was sad to report that no buzzards came to take me away. My mom even acted surprised......she should have been an actress.
Around that same time, my family built a house on many acres. On this land, we had a pond. A very small pond, but deep none the less. Since we lived in Georgia, Mom worried about her intelligent children thinking we could skate on the pond in the winter. Clever as she was, she took care of the problem. A friend of the family and my mother informed me that if I went near the water in the winter and got wet....I would get polio. They said that I would immediately grow a huge hunchback that could never be fixed. I was terrified. I never went close to the water until mid-summer...I didn't want a hunchback.....
Those are just a few of the big ones...and there are many more embarrassing stories to follow.....
Labels: Memories
posted by Sonya @ 1/17/2007 12:24:00 PM, ,
Why I Love Winter Days
We all have those things that bring out our softer side....yes even me, for those of you with your mouth hanging open. For me...it's those snowy winter days when all the world seems to be a little better.
Days with the snow steadily falling outside reminds me of some of the happiest days of my life. So many years ago, I was a little girl with pig tails, playing outside all day in a very, very rural town in Iowa. Back then I played for endless hours in snow drifts with only my imagination and my faithful little dog by my side. Together we tunneled for miles (or so it seemed) in elaborate mazes.
I spent too many hours to count, siting outside (in so many clothes I couldn't move) to listen and watch the snow come down. I felt even then, that world seemed to be a little calmer and at peace. It's as if life stops in time with no sound but the snowflakes touching down. I remember those moments as I would track a single snowflake as it fell and tried to hear the the sound as it touched down. As you can imagine...I was unsuccessful.
Even as I reminisce about the happy memories of childhood and what winter means to me...I am also excited about spring. Winter is the time when all things take a rest, wait for the weather to warm and then show themselves with renewed vigor. Spring is a time when the earth shows how beautiful life can be....to live with everything you have.
Labels: Winter
posted by Sonya @ 1/17/2007 10:57:00 AM, ,
Learn to Follow Directions...or Else!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
| There are many people out there that can't follow directions if their life depended on it. So to train them...it should be just that.... I think that there should be a punishment to not following directions! Maybe a strong electrical current waiting to use you as an outlet. And just because.....I so want to be the one holding the button. So where is this coming from...people who can't take a hint and quickly talk about themselves! First and Foremost....shut-up so you can hear the directions Second...continue to shut-up to see if that is all of the directions Third ...Follow them. This sounds simple..right? Here is an example....picture yourself in a room full of people (we'll say around 20). You have all been instructed to give a brief explanation (1-2 lines) about your research interests. Now, those of you that have been in this setting know this can be excruciating, especially if you have been through this many times. So....how to handle this. Well, my instincts tell me to say a one to two line description and move on (that and the instructions say to do so). But is that how everyone else thinks? ....of course not...that would be too easy. There is always that one person that has to tell the ENTIRE background to what they are doing in such a wordy manner that if there was a pencil near by...it would so be in my eye. What makes this novel he/she is telling better.... the fact that this person is following someone else from their lab (doing close to the same thing) AND just gave all of that same background information two seconds ago. It's really fun when there are five or six of them and they all sit in a row. You better hope I don't get control anytime soon.... People come on....you're killing me...next time the pencil is going in your eye...or a fork in the forehead...your choice...I can compromise! |
Labels: Grad School
posted by Sonya @ 1/11/2007 02:06:00 PM, ,
Sarcasm: Learn To Not Be The Target
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
We all express our feelings in different ways. That is what makes us unique. However, there are disadvantages to all situations and sarcasm is no different, especially to those who do not have that gene.
There are too many times for me to count, when I make a very funny sarcastic remark...with the recipient staring blankly, blinking repeatedly (cue cricket noise in background). Here are a two humorous (you should have been there) examples of said unnoticed sarcasm:
We will call said boy, Bob. Now, Bob isn't the sharpest tool in the shed (use of word tool has double meaning). He is by all rights.....a smiling, nodding, pretend you get the joke...tard. On many occasions, another sarcastic girl (not mentioned by name but makes reoccuring remarks throughout blogs, we'll call her M) and I often make remarks that are so obvious to be untrue...that we wonder if said boy has both brain cells working. One of the last and most memorable conversations we have had in the vicinity of said boy (he knows no social ettiqute on eavesdropping) was over M taking care of my cats while I was gone for over a week. Upon returning...Bob said how nice my cats were (creepy since he has never seen my cats in any way or for that matter, me outside of school). I told Bob that they were dead now because M didn't feed them the whole time I was away. He was very traumatized by this statement and proceeded to explain how he would not talk to her anymore and would be very upset. Bob inquired as to why I was not upset...to which I simply stated....I made them into rugs for the fireplace I don't have and got new ones, they're only cats. He asked how I could make them into rugs..don't I miss them? I nicely explained that I don't miss them, because they are rugs and I see them everyday. Yes, ladies and gentlemen...Bob is a moron...I left the conversation at that...with M and I both laughing..
Another humorous moment that occured (for us..not so much them)..again with M and I present...was concerning another individual. We will call him WB. Now, so I don't seem like I'm just picking on boys...WB in most cases has a sense of humor. But for some reason he is unable to pick up on obvious saracastic remarks. The incident occured while M and I were causually talking about nothing important. WB enters and inquires as to were I live (for the 3rd or 4th time...still unable to understand locations importance) and I told him the location (again). He then remarks that there is a bar on the corner right where I live. He inquires if I get drunk on said corner. I in turn respond, "No, I get drunk on the other 3 corners". He gives me a puzzled look, takes a moment and seriously states that there are no bars on the other corners. I calmly respond that yes, I understand that...I just prefer being drunk on the other corners...
I do not think WB ever really understood that conversation. But, M and I had much amusement over this conversation.
--> A Tip for those who do not get sarcastic humor: the big clue is that when the people talking are laughing so hard that their eyes water....they may be taking you for a ride...learn to get off the train!!
Labels: Sarcasm
posted by Sonya @ 1/10/2007 12:44:00 PM, ,
Funeral Arrangements
Monday, January 8, 2007
Yesterday was a very sad day in the research laboratory. With regret I am informing all that loved my little F.W. crayfish that she has passed on from this crustacean world. It was a terrible tragedy and all those involved are being punished.
The incident: During my absence on Friday due to an all day waste of time seminar, Fat S. crayfish decided to venture in the neighboring tank. While in said tank, Fat S. also took it upon himself to eat little F.W. crayfish.
After much scolding and sad looks, Fat S. has been grounded and will not see the forceps anytime in the near future.
He apologizes for the rash act of cannibalism and regrets his decision.
In addition, upon incident, all crayfish have been put on lock down and will not enjoy said liberties again.
So..please a moment of silence for F.W. who enjoyed life and just wanted a hug at the end of the day.
In memory of F.W. -- who brought much joy to our lives....
Labels: Crayfish
posted by Sonya @ 1/08/2007 02:30:00 PM, ,
Dating Horrors: "Face Licker"
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
| There are so many bad date stories that I have to tell...I'll have to release them in installments. So here goes one of the best of the stories over the past few years. First and foremost...my favorite: "Face Licker" We'll call him Bill. I met Bill on my daily train ride into Chicago while I was getting my Master's. We started a very nice and intelligent conversation about anything and everything. I really enjoyed our conversations on those occasions. We would sit together and talk for the hour and a half train ride in on multiple mornings and even a few evenings. Bill was a CPA at a hospital downtown and was a very intelligent guy. As the natural way of things, Bill asked me out weeks later for dinner in the town where we both started our journey to the city. I accepted dinner on a Friday evening. We casually sat and ate pizza at a local place with nice conversation. The only draw back that I had initially was that he talked about how much money he had multiple times. But, being the understanding person that I am not usually, I turned the conversation and overlooked those incidents. I thought maybe he was a little nervous and wanted to impress me. All and all..not a bad evening. He then proceeded to ask me out for a real date the next evening and I accepted. If only I would have ended it there...... The next evening started off nicely. He bought me a small, thoughtful gift of a fish tank oxygen supplying motor (only about $6, but thoughtful). It may seem like a weird gift, but the reason is I was doing field research and my organisms needed to be oxygenated or they would die...I was talking about it on the train one day and how I had to go to the lab each time I went to the field site. He remembered and looked into it. I was impressed. If only I would have ended it there.... We then went to dinner at restaurant that I had never been to before. Here is where things started to get interesting. To get to know me, he would ask a question...however, before I could fully answer the question, he would change the subject and ask another question. The next hour went on in this fashion...with him asking, me starting to answer and him asking another...so on and so on. I even started to add random words that didn't make sense and he never caught on. He was a great listener! He talked about himself so much...it felt like I lived his memories. I was starting to get irritated! In hindsight...I should have left at this moment...but no.... We then went a movie...it was a bad movie. We proceeded to sit down in the back of the theatre. He was adamant and would not be deterred from the back row. Should have taken this as a BIG clue! The lights go down and the movie starts...and my dude takes this as his cue. He turns and proceeds to try and suck my face off. I stop him with my hand on his face multiple times. At this point he is leaning over me so much, I am leaning over the next seat. He then proceeds to tell me that he is getting a ache in his back from sitting that way...I tell him to sit normal and he says....wait for it...." I could sit on your lap". I say " or you could sit in the front of the theatre". He solves this dilemma by moving to the other side of me. He thinks this might be a better angle to suck my face off. Obviously back row equals hotel room. How could I have not know that. At this point, I now am leaning in the other direction and starting straight ahead. Oh yea..it gets worse... I am ignoring him as much as humanly possible. I get this weird feeling that he is watching me...so I look over and he is leaning towards me, about an inch from my cheek me with his tongue sticking out. He looks me in the eye and seductively says, " I am the best licker ever!". I calmly look at him, and palm his face like a basketball. I tell him to get off me. I spent the next 35 minutes in the bathroom, talking to my sister on the phone and waiting for the movie to end. The perceptive guy that he was....he actually asked me out again. Surprisingly, I said no and he actually asked why not. If it only ended there.... Of course since we met on the train, I was bound to see him again. Well, since I wouldn't talk to him and I avoided sitting next to him, he proceeded to find me on the train, turn the seat around and stare at me for the whole hour and a half multiple times. I finally screamed at him and told him to stop stalking me. Great date!! It took a while to date again. |
Labels: Dating Horrors: Book I
posted by Sonya @ 1/02/2007 04:38:00 PM, ,
A Letter to Life
| Dear Life, We have had this talk before. I have complained about how you are not fair and are often so hard. As in so many times in the past, I feel that you have wronged me once again. Not only does my past show how you have let me down a few times...but now is no different. Granted, I am on a path that I have always wanted, but must you make everything else so hard as well. So, on to my most recent complaint... I have talked to you about why people do the things that they do. It's like some people wander through life not realizing that every choice or path they make will in some way affect others around them. I once believed that these types of choices were due to immaturity...but I am not so sure anymore. I am more and more coming to the conclusion that some people just do things without really thinking. I have had this conversation before concerning the people that come and go. Life, I don't thing you were listening. It seems that we keep having the same conversation over and over again. You have given me many things through the years...but I have had to work hard for them as you well know. So, I am again asking you to understand that a person can only handle so many things at once. Life, I do not mean to be unkind to you..you just must understand that there are just some days that I really wish to escape reality and all the things that come with it... Sincerly, Lost in Kentucky |
posted by Sonya @ 1/02/2007 12:12:00 PM, ,
