but where did she round up all those kids?
Item 1: People
On Monday I was waiting for a class to start (because I forgot it had been canceled) when a girl said, as she walked past me in hallway, something to the effect of "Have they locked you out of your office now?" I was not in the best mood (because of my poor school skills) and I gave a quick forced smile (which I guess she didn't see) and didn't say anything. Then she stopped where she was (about two meters down the hall?*) and said "Oh, did you not think that was funny?" or, "Oh do you not find me funny?", something like that. Pardon?! I hate it when people say things like that because one** can't respond honestly without sounding like a jerk or a huge sourpuss. So I muttered something about being focused on my homework (conveniently sitting open on my lap) which satisfied her and she moved on. I'm not crazy about this girl because she is very nice to everyone but in a way that seems so obviously fake (for example, the kind of person who pouts and says "Oh but aren't you going to join us?" when there is no reason for them to desire you company). Yet there are people who think she has great interpersonal skills. I don't think it should count as having good social skills if one seems so false as to be offputting. Sometimes I worry that maybe she is very nice but in a way that seems fake so I should give her a chance. Or I should give her chance anyway, she's just reaching out to people in her own odd yet oddly socially rewraded fashion.
I loved Friday's colloquium speaker. He had a good energy and his style was a bit colloquial (he even said "billyo" and he referred to mythology and world religions and he was very straightforward about his science. That is, he would admit when there were problems and then explain them. A lot times I feel like scientists are trying to cover up the flaws in their experiments and they're anxious about being "found out" for being less than perfect. This guy laid it all out on the table well, he won my heart.
Topic 2: Science
On Tuesday I visited a site in Urbana where they are getting ready to build some houses. Why you ask? As potential research site. Somebody called the ISGS to report that they'd seen cross-bedding in the sand that was being excavated. Isn't that hilarious?. We had about a four day window to go out and do our work because, you know, it is a construction site. It was pretty neat actually, I've never been right on a construction site. I'm not sure why it amused me so much. I don't find it amusing, for example, to do geology at active quarries. That just makes sense. In the end we decided there wasn't enough going on there or enough exposure to make the site worth the effort. I'm sad. I like being around all the big machine and piles of dirt. It was kind of an adventure.
Part 3: Candy
Has anyone else had Hershey's Kisses this year? They are putting message on the little paper strips. Very random message such as: "Congratulations", "Looking Good", "I Hate Mondays" and "Hi." There are just not things I want to hear from my candy. It is like the inside of Dove wrappers that tell me to do thinks like get a pedicure and put a sparkle in my eye.
*I'm trying to think in the metric system. It is good for one. Unfortunately I am bad at gauging distances, volumes, weight etc. in any units much less converting between the one I am most familiar with (ps America-- stop doing your citizens a disservice and switch already) and SI units.
** I saw Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap last night and it renewed my desire to say "one" as much as possible.
On Monday I was waiting for a class to start (because I forgot it had been canceled) when a girl said, as she walked past me in hallway, something to the effect of "Have they locked you out of your office now?" I was not in the best mood (because of my poor school skills) and I gave a quick forced smile (which I guess she didn't see) and didn't say anything. Then she stopped where she was (about two meters down the hall?*) and said "Oh, did you not think that was funny?" or, "Oh do you not find me funny?", something like that. Pardon?! I hate it when people say things like that because one** can't respond honestly without sounding like a jerk or a huge sourpuss. So I muttered something about being focused on my homework (conveniently sitting open on my lap) which satisfied her and she moved on. I'm not crazy about this girl because she is very nice to everyone but in a way that seems so obviously fake (for example, the kind of person who pouts and says "Oh but aren't you going to join us?" when there is no reason for them to desire you company). Yet there are people who think she has great interpersonal skills. I don't think it should count as having good social skills if one seems so false as to be offputting. Sometimes I worry that maybe she is very nice but in a way that seems fake so I should give her a chance. Or I should give her chance anyway, she's just reaching out to people in her own odd yet oddly socially rewraded fashion.
I loved Friday's colloquium speaker. He had a good energy and his style was a bit colloquial (he even said "billyo" and he referred to mythology and world religions and he was very straightforward about his science. That is, he would admit when there were problems and then explain them. A lot times I feel like scientists are trying to cover up the flaws in their experiments and they're anxious about being "found out" for being less than perfect. This guy laid it all out on the table well, he won my heart.
Topic 2: Science
On Tuesday I visited a site in Urbana where they are getting ready to build some houses. Why you ask? As potential research site. Somebody called the ISGS to report that they'd seen cross-bedding in the sand that was being excavated. Isn't that hilarious?. We had about a four day window to go out and do our work because, you know, it is a construction site. It was pretty neat actually, I've never been right on a construction site. I'm not sure why it amused me so much. I don't find it amusing, for example, to do geology at active quarries. That just makes sense. In the end we decided there wasn't enough going on there or enough exposure to make the site worth the effort. I'm sad. I like being around all the big machine and piles of dirt. It was kind of an adventure.
Part 3: Candy
Has anyone else had Hershey's Kisses this year? They are putting message on the little paper strips. Very random message such as: "Congratulations", "Looking Good", "I Hate Mondays" and "Hi." There are just not things I want to hear from my candy. It is like the inside of Dove wrappers that tell me to do thinks like get a pedicure and put a sparkle in my eye.
*I'm trying to think in the metric system. It is good for one. Unfortunately I am bad at gauging distances, volumes, weight etc. in any units much less converting between the one I am most familiar with (ps America-- stop doing your citizens a disservice and switch already) and SI units.
** I saw Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap last night and it renewed my desire to say "one" as much as possible.