(no subject)
I've hardly been online at all these days...aside from getting locked out of LJ (and every other site whose password I didn't bother to remember), my internet connection has been sketchy, and I've been too tired to fight with it when I get home.
Since the new year started, I transitioned into co-leading a project plus supervising a new grad student on another project, and it's exhausting. Plus, I'm taking four classes (yes, I spent %&* years in school, and I'm still taking classes...) - I'm busy all day long but I feel like I get nothing done.
This was today:
800am - 930am, race to finish up data analysis and graphs before I have to start a solubility assay, which needs to be finished before noon.
930am, decide that it's stupid to try and cram in an assay I've only done once in such a short amount of time; I'll do it tomorrow when I can be alone in the lab and just work. Relief.
950am, finish up data analysis (well, half of it), then run across campus to escort a VIP guest speaker from one faculty appointment to another.
1010am, get back to my desk and start on the second half of the data analysis.
1015am, chemist stops by to drop off new compounds for the project I'm taking over (which I didn't log into the compound inventory, because I didn't know that it even existed until 430 this afternoon). Impromptu 45-minute discussion in the hallway on solubility problems and negative controls with chemist and project co-leader.
1100am, run across campus to the library to pick up my new business cards, which were supposed to have been delivered yesterday but weren't; swing by the cafeteria to pick up lunch because I'll be late to the lunch with the speaker, because I have a meeting with my boss during the first half of it.
1115am, start to eat; project co-leader comes by to discuss pushback from other members of the team regarding running negative controls (just because you know that a test usually works most of the time, doesn't mean you get stop running negative controls!!).
1150am, abandon food to go to the seminar.
12-100pm, seminar.
100pm, rush back to desk to pick up laptop for 1pm meeting with the boss.
125pm, boss finally arrives. I take up all of my minion's appointment time, because a PI took up all of my time. I miss the guest speaker lunch entirely.
200-300pm, discussed last month's data and new potential problems with the equipment (yay) with our tech, as well as plans for next week. I finish my lunch.
300-400pm, impromptu discussion with project co-leader about solubility assay, in which we ultimately decide to scrap the assay I learned this week and do a new one; but we need to order filters for organic solvents, so I can't work on it over the weekend (totally not complaining).
400-430, first labwork I've had time to do all day: I plate cells to be harvested tomorrow.
430, I escape before anyone else can find me and start talking.
This is my life. Every. Day. ...but if it was any different, I'd probably be bored out of my mind. I have to work a bit tomorrow, but it shouldn't take too long - and I actually get President's Day off, woohoo! The only problem is, I have to drive across town to get to work, and it's Mardi Gras, which is a Thing in this city, and there will be tourists and parades and who knows what the hell else blocking the streets.
I will be spending the weekend cleaning my apartment thoroughly (the fleas have nearly been defeated - one more good scrub and treatment with Frontline should do it *crosses fingers*) and getting ready for my trip to DC next week. And writing - I haven't done any serious writing in weeks!
ETA: I posted this, warmed up some dinner, and settled down to watch some Mark Reads videos and relax - and my phone rang. Project co-leader. I almost didn't answer, because it's 6pm on a Friday and I absolutely don't want to deal with work right now (my first thought was, great, what did I do wrong??) - but she was just calling to tell me that she'd talked with our boss, who went on and on about how happy she was with my work after our meeting today. I'm glad I answered the phone =)
Since the new year started, I transitioned into co-leading a project plus supervising a new grad student on another project, and it's exhausting. Plus, I'm taking four classes (yes, I spent %&* years in school, and I'm still taking classes...) - I'm busy all day long but I feel like I get nothing done.
This was today:
800am - 930am, race to finish up data analysis and graphs before I have to start a solubility assay, which needs to be finished before noon.
930am, decide that it's stupid to try and cram in an assay I've only done once in such a short amount of time; I'll do it tomorrow when I can be alone in the lab and just work. Relief.
950am, finish up data analysis (well, half of it), then run across campus to escort a VIP guest speaker from one faculty appointment to another.
1010am, get back to my desk and start on the second half of the data analysis.
1015am, chemist stops by to drop off new compounds for the project I'm taking over (which I didn't log into the compound inventory, because I didn't know that it even existed until 430 this afternoon). Impromptu 45-minute discussion in the hallway on solubility problems and negative controls with chemist and project co-leader.
1100am, run across campus to the library to pick up my new business cards, which were supposed to have been delivered yesterday but weren't; swing by the cafeteria to pick up lunch because I'll be late to the lunch with the speaker, because I have a meeting with my boss during the first half of it.
1115am, start to eat; project co-leader comes by to discuss pushback from other members of the team regarding running negative controls (just because you know that a test usually works most of the time, doesn't mean you get stop running negative controls!!).
1150am, abandon food to go to the seminar.
12-100pm, seminar.
100pm, rush back to desk to pick up laptop for 1pm meeting with the boss.
125pm, boss finally arrives. I take up all of my minion's appointment time, because a PI took up all of my time. I miss the guest speaker lunch entirely.
200-300pm, discussed last month's data and new potential problems with the equipment (yay) with our tech, as well as plans for next week. I finish my lunch.
300-400pm, impromptu discussion with project co-leader about solubility assay, in which we ultimately decide to scrap the assay I learned this week and do a new one; but we need to order filters for organic solvents, so I can't work on it over the weekend (totally not complaining).
400-430, first labwork I've had time to do all day: I plate cells to be harvested tomorrow.
430, I escape before anyone else can find me and start talking.
This is my life. Every. Day. ...but if it was any different, I'd probably be bored out of my mind. I have to work a bit tomorrow, but it shouldn't take too long - and I actually get President's Day off, woohoo! The only problem is, I have to drive across town to get to work, and it's Mardi Gras, which is a Thing in this city, and there will be tourists and parades and who knows what the hell else blocking the streets.
I will be spending the weekend cleaning my apartment thoroughly (the fleas have nearly been defeated - one more good scrub and treatment with Frontline should do it *crosses fingers*) and getting ready for my trip to DC next week. And writing - I haven't done any serious writing in weeks!
ETA: I posted this, warmed up some dinner, and settled down to watch some Mark Reads videos and relax - and my phone rang. Project co-leader. I almost didn't answer, because it's 6pm on a Friday and I absolutely don't want to deal with work right now (my first thought was, great, what did I do wrong??) - but she was just calling to tell me that she'd talked with our boss, who went on and on about how happy she was with my work after our meeting today. I'm glad I answered the phone =)