Deep breath
Crazy week! I decided Monday that I had to run an experiment this week. It was madness because I also had to give a presentation today and help write an article and write an abstract for a conference. The experiment was the most stressful because normally I can find help but because of the short notice I had to do most everything myself. Which just means hard work, so not a big deal- more so it was stressful because I was doing all this new stuff and I had no equipment and no idea how to do it. I got to use liquid nitrogen though- that has got to be the coolest stuff ever! (no pun intended) Felt so good to be done with everything today and then just sit back and watch the Lakers cruise to another victory. Tomorrow I am meeting with the guy that wrote one of the best textbooks in ecology- man I am so lucky to be at Davis. God really just keeps blessing me with opportunties. I heard something today by Kenny the Jet Smith on TNT after the Laker game that really has applied to my life. Preparation plus opportunity equals success. I have learned from both my dad (a mechanic that to this day still works 60 hour weeks- what I did every summer in high school) and my "academic" father (undergrad advisor)- that to get ahead you have to work hard and prepare so that when you get a chance you will shine. So many times in my youth, I complained about having to work too much or how much easier everyone else had it, and it is not until later that I realized how valuable that lesson was. I have failed so many times in my life- but perservering through it all- I learned and adjusted. Now it seems as if so many things are going my way career wise. I have to say that some perhaps comes with being fortunate and having opportunities- but some also comes from hard work and preparation. I should probably thank my dad at some point for that...