The abuse...and a history lesson?
Monday, July 30, 2007
It is not often that I find someone that can write those sweet words to match my humor. But when I do, there is never a dull moment...
ME: Today was sort of productive. We are starting the new project and this is the hard part. Collecting data takes about one day but setting up takes about 8 or 9 very long and frustrating days of nothing. The odds are not in our favor at this very moment. The brain is small, the nerves are even smaller and the tips of our electrodes keep breaking...ahhhhhhh
HIM: I didn't realize the time you put in - is poking the brain for 7 hours common? Can you do this for a long time, then suddenly have brain activity (both you and the specimen...)? Can you use any of yesterday's work in your project? And yes, you are very "special" in my book. I've been trying to tell you that...
How was your Friday work? Success? Did you match wits with your animal? (You can tell me if the animal won...don't be ashamed.) And ego? A whole new area of material for me - can't wait...
ME: So, as it stands...animal 5....people 0. I am optimistic though...I think the animal will get to about 10. To make it more clear...yes, the sea slug is winning and looks like they might win the war as well as the battle. My wits are soooo lacking at this point in time..sniffle, sniffle....
HIM: Where to begin??? Ego, people laughing at you, therapy, beaten by animals - you're like the gift that keeps on giving...First, the cheap shot - Trust me, they won't be laughing at you because of your research. Anyway, I think perhaps you need some backup in your Sea Slug War - maybe get the military involved? We'll work on a proposal, something involving terrorism, freedom and instruments of mass destruction (electrodes and stressed out Ph.D. students?). I'll script a letter to Dick Cheney - maybe you should put a turban on your slugs - Wow, way off the subject...
I like the hypothetical approach to education - This is what "could have" happened...Very fun...you're starting to sound like a Humanities major...Rushing slugs - sounds like a band name...
ME: I think you might be right about getting the military involved...it is a necessary action...plus, I heard from a friend of a friend who has a brother and they know this guys uncle next door neighbors, second cousin twice removed by marriage, rides the bus with this guy that thinks he says that they had WMDs. It's time to bring in the forces and wipe Rhode Island off the map. I am pretty sure they are involved. Speaking of turbans....I am pretty sure I saw all the slugs getting to together doing chants and stuff. It looked pretty serious...I'll let you know more if they intend to fly..then we have a real issue. I would probably hold off on the letter to Dick Cheney though ...he only reads them if you mention oil and as it turns out...my oil well just dried up....I am no longer a powerful biologist... Even though I plan on saving all of human kind in the very near future...I am not an influential person at this very moment....White girls never get a break in this country...Damn!
HIM: I totally forgot about the oil connection - we may need to re-focus on animal excretions as fuel - it could be an untapped cash source - maybe that will bring the big guns in to invade - eventually, there could be a new American embassy with your name on it. I do have to call you out on playing the race card again - that will only get you so far - and it's not helping the country or Jesus, who is now crying....Good job, Whitey.
ME: I am ashamed that you forgot about the oil connection...I knew you were in with those people...I suspected you were only playing at being one of the 'others' but I see that you are one of those people always trying to take the little green spots left on this planet for your own use....admit it....I'm waiting!!!
Of course I am going to use the race card and ride that wave all the way in....hello....when you go through the hardships that I do just because I'm a woman and because I'm white, you would use it too... I can never get a cab to stop, everyone grabs onto their purse when I walk by and never, never will people give up their seat for me....this has to stop...oh the injustice (as she puts the back of her hand on her forehead)....
Now that you have suggested a band name, I am currently trying to get a band together. I figure with 2 Indians (dot not feathers) and American and possibly a Chinese, we should have a good shot at a record deal. Although, we still have one minor issue...none of play instruments!
HIM: I like your idea for an international band, but I do feel offended that you chose not to represent a Native American, or "feathers", as you casually labeled this proud race. I think on behalf of America and Jesus, you should issue an apology to all the Indians living and dead, especially those who fought and died in the Crusades...I'm horrified and shocked by your ignorance...
ME: Well being discriminated against white girl...I do not feel the need to make all the feathers feel better. They get everything in this country...free land and plenty of booze. Hell, they even have all the casino that they could want....so there! And by the way, Jesus says he understands. He also said that he does NOT talk to Bush and he thinks he needs to stop lying. He also said Cheney was drunk when he shot that guy and that someone needs to say something. And yes, he thinks the feather thing is funny....that's why he told them to put on in their head thing all those years ago. I agreed...it was a good one.
HIM: Remember, the natives didn't always have casinos. I think the first one opened in the 1600's - it was named after Abraham Lincoln, who freed the Natives from the English. But the white men always won at craps, so the Natives had to pray to Jesus, the God of chance, for help. But it didn't rain for months, so the casinos couldn't grow and many of the children died of AIDS. Perhaps you should devote more time to studying history and stop embarrassing yourself.
ME: I don't know what history books you are reading, but the ones that I read in school specifically lays out that Abraham Lincoln went to those casinos...actually the cherry tree was inside the lobby and that's why chopping it down was such a big deal...It was their favorite cherry tree and they used the cherries to make cocktails in the evening. Maybe should open up that history book again Mr. English major. Furthermore, it was the Eskimos that were oppressing the natives...they got sick of all the cold weather and were looking to take over their lands....big fight and then Lincoln came in and freed them....Duh! Why do you think that the Eskimos never smile in any of the pictures...they are still mad. Geez...teaching you is exhausting!
HIM: Do not challenge my history skills! How dare you?? I happen to be a Native Indian/Eskimo scholar. It just so happens that during the Revolutionary War in 1900, George Washington introduced the fruits of the cherry tree to the Eskimos, who then bartered with the French, specifically Napoleon and Custer, trading their cherries for lesser quality cherries. This is where the term custard pie originated, because the Eskimos kept rubbing the cherries on their faces in order to stay warm...The French gave the Indians turbans and small pox, and made them move to next to Pakistan, but everyone still made fun of the Eskimos' stained faces, which led to the creation of the Astrodome, which was a tribute to the Eskimos' igloos. But the joke was on the Eskimos, when they didn't play hockey there.
Damn Eskimos.
Labels: Humor
posted by Sonya @ 7/30/2007 12:25:00 PM, ,
Pictures from my time here at FHL....
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
A Storm is Coming....
Waiting for Class to begin (I'm obviously not happy about it)
Ozzy is giving us some sort of demonstration to her story.....
A Starfish on the ocean floor
One our fearless leaders
Another sea creature
Our wonderful view from the labs (if the day is clear)
One of the nights spent drinking to alleviate frustration....
An amazing view from the island...
The rainbow over the marina
Mt. Baker
Class Time
Drinking Time
From the Labs
The rainbow over the ferry
Again...making drinks
Enjoying the drinks...
Class time (I am riveted)
Brittle Sea Star
Baby seal left on the shore while the mom went out hunting
Baby Raccoon scavenging the food here at the labs
Whale watching at Limekiln...no whales seen!
Our labs again...
posted by Sonya @ 7/11/2007 05:36:00 PM, ,
Dear Emma,
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Dear Emma,
Although you are only days old, I have started to dream for you. In the moments that you sleep, I dream of all that you will become. I make wish lists and plan the moments I hope will become some of your fondest memories. Above all, I dream you will have a life where you think nothing is missing. I have many hopes and dreams for you and wait for the future.
Emma, here are a few of my hopes for you.....
I hope you learn to laugh at yourself as much as possible
I hope you realize that life has many ups and downs and to dwell on the downs takes away from the ups
I hope you fall head over heals in love at least once and have something to look back on with a smile
I hope you travel to more countries than the one you were born in
I hope you experience a freedom that no other can describe to you
I hope you dance because it makes you feel happy
I hope you find something in this world that you truly feel makes you whole, that makes you want to get up each morning and leaves you with a sense of excitement every night
I hope you learn to listen to nature and respect all that it can give you
I hope you feel independent and that no obstacles can stand in your way
I hope you can sit alone in the evening and be content
I hope you appreciate the simple things in life
I hope you realize all the love and joy that animals can bring
I hope you learn that you life can hold so much more than what is in front of you
I hope you realize that your family will move heaven and earth to keep you safe...at all costs.
posted by Sonya @ 7/10/2007 11:21:00 PM, ,
A Common Ground
Upon first arriving at the labs here on the island, it all felt very intimidating. You find yourself surrounded by some of the smartest people you could ever want to meet and wonder how you will fit in during the time here. Later as we all gather into the room that will be our lecture hall, we all stare at the others so different from ourselves. As we go around the room and meet fellow graduate students from around the world, you again wonder where you fit with all these people surrounding you. We take turns discussing our research, trying to explain in a way that everyone understands, while still showing how complex our daily lives are in our research areas. As we all sit and listen, a respect for all the others is apparent. We all understand that we come from different worlds but have a common interest. At this moment, we all anxiously await the knowledge we will gain from this course which describes the mechanism underlying how the central nervous system controls natural movements. We are all excited, but at the same exact time, scared that we will not measure up, with each feeling pulling strongly in the opposite direction. We all admit in hushed tones that the first feelings of unease passes quickly once we grasp those things we thought we didn't know. In actuality, the material is just an extension of the information you have already gotten and stored away for just this very circumstance.
The daily ritual of lectures and lab research turns each day into an adventure...sometimes allowing for a structured pattern. But on most days, this new area sends you to find answers to questions you have never asked before. The initial excitement, you are excited to report, never really diminishes from day to day.
An added bonus is the time spent with the other graduate students. You find that you have many of the same questions and interests from people around the world and discussing these topics becomes a highlight of this trip.
Time passes in the matter of weeks. You now find yourself at the 5th and final week of your adventure. Already looking back to the beginning of your journey, you have remembered so many great moments that you would love to remember for the future.
As we all gather in the bar on one of our final evenings here, we raise our glasses to a memorable 5 weeks and the laughs, as well as frustration, that we have shared day in and day out....To the 2007 summer class at FHL!
Labels: excitement, Friday Harbor Labs, Learning, Science
posted by Sonya @ 7/10/2007 04:33:00 PM, ,
New Addition to the Family...
Our family is happy to announce the addition of my little sister's new baby girl, Emma Ann Peck. Sarah & Jeremy married earlier this year and little Emma is the first niece of the family and will be spoiled due to this very reason. She arrived in the world on June 27 at 3:33pm and gave her mom a very non-intense labor. If fact...it really does happen like it's seen in the movies....45 minutes of pushing and here comes baby!
We are all very excited about the new addition, and I now have to focus on not calling it "it" and refer to it as "her". Concentrating very hard on this new task.
I have attached some pictures of my niece and goddaughter for all to see....
posted by Sonya @ 7/10/2007 03:38:00 PM, ,
