Scrap Exchange and a Insightful Realization

I admit, I am not the primary dishwasher in the house. This is a point of no contest.

On to recent events. We've had a lovely weekend. It was about 67 with spots of bright sunshine today, which  was more than welcome after what feels like more than a week of cool rain and weather of a generally frumpy disposition.  The image above can attest to what it's felt like around here, it was taken by our friend Riley on thursday. He does great work.

Yesterday was a fantastic day. We picked up Kelly and Matt at around 10 to head to the bi-annual fabric sale at the Scrap Exchange. The Scrap Exchange is a shop in Durham that is pretty much amazing. Twice a year they open their warehouse space for a crazy fabric sale.  From 10-1 crafty women (and Matt and some guy with a Beagle) rummaged through giant boxes of fabric samples, left overs, and swatchbooks. It was kind of like supermarket sweep and was way more intense than any of us were anticipating. We left with two bags the size of 10 year olds, for 14$. From the experience I have concluded that all fabric people are odd. At least the ones in Durham. Yes, I will not refute the fact that we were there and are subject to that label as well. 

Bottom line, it was crazy. The level of clutter and the musty smell reminded me of the barn store. We left at 1,  and Linda spent the afternoon folding and organizing. I have to give her lots of credit- at this point we were both mentally shot and she plowed on... 

My insightful realization is that Kelly and Matt are like the Shoemakers. Let me put that in context for those who are not familiar with my reference.  My parents have one other set of friends when you don't count siblings and church, the Shoemakers. Please do not misconstrue, this is a good thing- the Shoemakers are pretty much like family. Now, I came to this realization for two reasons- we spent the morning on sat with them and then went on a double date that night bowling followed by margaritas and rockband that ended at 2 am, and weren't tired of their company.  Which is saying a lot. And #2, our exchanges remind me more and more of Harold and Mike- mildly inappropriate.

That's about it. This week will be a busy work week for me as a member of my lab, Catarina is leaving for a post-doc in austria ( I get a good deal of her fly stocks), my undergrad is moving into the realm of molecular biology with his project (which means lots of supervision) and I spaced with lab duties this weekend to spend time at home ( which was totally worth it).  

 

well, hello there.

I read Steph's post last week, but the only thing I can remember about it was her saying that she had to do lots of dishes. And so I just have to clarify that while she cooks me delicious things like breakfast burritos and fried tomato sandwiches and dirties many of the said dishes herself with her multiple glass habit and her ability to always choose a cooking vessel that's always just a little too small, she does not usually do the dishes. I do. Anyway.

It is a little difficult getting back into the habit of blogging. I used to have a xanga (gasp! how high school!) and I would use it to vent my frustrations and basically as therapy for myself. Until Steph found it, and then I would write things to make her happy.

On the bad news front blowing out of the west, I did not get into the grad program that I wanted at UNC and had a minor meltdown this weekend, one that involved the typical overwhelming feeling of rejection that promted the somewhat hysterical sobbing, followed by the absolute resolution that my life had just dead ended. Of course, thats not really the case, but its easy to be dramatic when you get a rejection letter in a crappy window envelope that you can't even recycle. I tore up the letter to make me feel better (much like I did when I recieved a D on a Brit Lit exam-- quite calmly), though I am regretting it now, and thinking about fishing it out of the recycling bin, piecing it back together to frame on the wall, a sort of perverse piece of motivation.

As of late I've been crazy busy with trying to get my etsy store off the ground, but things keep getting pushed off, mostly due to freelance work (I'm working on a logo and business papers for www.CakewalkCarrboro.com), but also to blame is procrastination and lack of sleep. And perhaps a little apprehension. The rain this week thats rolling into the weekend will certainly not help matters, and will probably hold off the etsy photo shoot. More time to build up inventory!

So, what do you think of our title? We do eat very well, even if we do look like scavengers when we approach the reduced for quick sale rack. We found an even better one than the one at the HT in Carrboro; turns out the people in Meadowmont are just too uppity to buy slightly damaged produce. Yay for us!

We've had many visitors this year and each reminds us that we miss people from Pennsylvania... and so the idea of a blog for family and close friends just seemed natural. The idea is that we can each post information about what's going on in our lives to keep the ones we love in the know. Because the reality is that my phone is, in most cases, either misplaced- or on silent, and if that is not the case I'm planning on calling you...but it never happens. I do not like the phone. Plus typing on the computer during the day can be misconstrued as work-the phone cannot get away with that. 

Without further ado- here's what is new with me. Today I gave a talk about my recent work in the lab to what we call "Fly Club"- a loose association of labs that all use flies as a model organism. It went well and I am continually thankful for my elementary school teacher, Miss Rhode, for plunging me into the world or oral presentations super early in life. Please do not misconstrue, about an hour before I have to talk- I'm a right mess, you wouldn't know it to look at me-but I am. The second I start, the nerves are done. So thank you Miss Rhode.  

I talked about experiments I am finishing up to add to a paper that's going out hopefully in a week or two. The paper is not mine, but a former post doc's, Julie Gates, who now has her own lab at Bucknell.  I moved down here and she moved up there...anyway- I'm helping her and my PI out by finishing up a few things and am grateful for the opportunity to get my name on a another paper, but am itching to get at my own work that has been slightly held up. 

I've been meaning to get back to the painting and drawing habit that I picked back up around Christmas but never seem to have the time or motivation. Motivation mostly, I have to be in the right mood, and  really- who feels inspired after a long work day? I really just want to get the dishes done and slip into bed, read few pages out of something that is not associated with a university or institute and fall asleep. I'll find the time sometime, or will make the time when I need to.