Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Bustin' a Move

That's right. Stand back people! I am engaging in science.

Only a couple of weeks ago I was bored to the point insanity, today I am exhausted from working long hours in the lab. For some reason last Wednesday was the turning point and I am not quite sure how or why, but suffice it to say, it was. Hell, on Thursday I was so busy that I actually busted a bra strap. Granted, the strap is removable, but still!

All this working has made me realize that while my mind is 100% on board with this new level of activity, by body is not. The sudden increase in standing and walking is taking its toll on my feet and calves and they are aching and sore almost every night, but that's OK because it reminds me that I was busy. It also reminds me that I need to get my ass in gear and start working out again.

I wish I could say that this flurry of activity is related to my own project, but it's not. Most of the work I am doing is going to go into a paper for a recent graduate from the lab. Magnum PI dumped these experiments on me because (1) I don't have a lot to do at the moment, (2) These are all techniques I need to learn for my own project and (3) I'll get a middle authorship out of the deal.

My own projects are also starting to move along and I expect to be going full-steam ahead with one of them in the next two to three weeks. The other major project will take a little longer to get off the ground, largely do to the fact that I need to order special equipment just to grow the organisms I want to work with. Magnum PI informed me that we will be meeting many times over the next few weeks to get everything "mapped out."

Oh...and one more awesome thing. I finally got something addressed to Dr. Microbiologist XX that wasn't from a member of my family.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I was so busy that I actually busted a bra strap

*Snort* I have totally done that. Ouch.

Good for you though.

Cath@VWXYNot? said...

"I was so busy that I actually busted a bra strap."

Ha! That's impressive.

Lab work is way more physical than it seems. I didn't truly appreciate this fact until I stopped doing it and gained a bunch of weight. The fact that offices tend to be full of treats doesn't help either...

Going for a middle author paper sounds like a great idea at this stage, especially as the techniques are transferrable. Your PI sounds like a pretty smart dude!

Anonymous said...

yup...your PI gain's points with me :)

microbiologist xx said...

AA - Surprisingly it wasn't painful and I never heard a snap. I just suddenly felt a little too free on one side.

Cath - Yes, treats can be evil indeed. A girl in my old lab used to bake when she got stressed. I have absolutely no self control when it comes to cookies, cake, brownies, etc. and she brought these things in all the time. I loved it until my pants started getting a little tight. Then I found myself thinking, "This bitch needs to get some xanax or graduate. Pronto."

Yeah, I don't really feel like I am in a position to turn down a middle author paper.

Rhea - Hey! Long time no see.

PhizzleDizzle said...

Exciting that you got called Dr.!! I can't wait til the first time that happens to me :).

microbiologist xx said...

P. Dizzy - It will happen and then you can blog about it. :)

Anonymous said...

Don't knock third authorships... They all count.

I finally got something addressed to Dr. Microbiologist XX...
Enjoy it... it gets old real fast...

Candid Engineer said...

Gosh, I've never had the bra strap thing happen to me. I wonder how long I'd have to pipet before that would happen. My arm would probably fall off first.