Number 92 of 101/1001!

1. Getting married
2. Meeting Kevin
3. Graduating with my master’s degree
4. Getting Gracie (my friendly,fat, calico kitty)
5. Moving back to Philadelphia from New Jersey
6. Meeting my best friend’s newborn son
7. Attending Society for Neuroscience meeting
8. Graduating with my dual bachelor’s degrees
9. Being accepted to Jefferson’s neuroscience Ph.D. program
10. Being a co-host on Girls Gone Geek
11. Podcamp Philadelphia
12. Our honeymoon
13. Our vacation to San Francisco last August
14. My brother getting married
15. Kevin proposing
16. Going to London
17. Going to Turkey (twice!)
18. Acting in a one-act as a freshmen in college
19. FIRST Robotics
20. Teaching science for the summer at a charter school
21. Graduating from GSGIS
22. Performing in my high school’s Ren Faire
23. Being on the German Battle of the Brains team
24. Junior Prom
25. After-prom senior year
26. The “surprise” 16th birthday party my friends threw me
27. Battle of the Books team captain in 5th grade
28. TAing AP chemistry
29. Getting my Powerbook G4
30. My best friend’s wedding
31. My 21st birthday celebration my roommates and friends threw me
32. College orientation
33. High school orientation
34. Assistant directing a one act senior year of high school
35. My first Valentine’s Day with Kevin
36. Pi Nu Epsilon in college (co-ed performing arts fraternity)
37. My brother and his then-fiance visiting me
38. My mom visiting me
39. Moving out of my parents’ house
40. My grandparents coming to my master’s graduation
41. Taking Chronoengineering I in college
42. Twestival for charity:water
43. Twestival for Concern
44. Entrepreneur Expo 2009
45. Barcamp Philadelphia 2008
46. Volunteering at the 2004 Virginia FIRST Robotics regional
47. Reconnecting with my cousin as an adult
48. Taking care of my cousin’s kids
49. Being called Aunt Melissa
50. Participating in the Geek is Chic podcastathon
51. Watching my younger cousin row in the Stotesbury Regatta
52. Meeting Liana Lehua IRL
53. My first Christmas with Kevin’s family
54. Spending time in Wildwood, NJ with my ex and his family
55. My best friend from high school’s wedding
56. The community and becoming a moderator on BYDLS.com
57. Attending a Gordon Research Conference
58. Shake Shack & karaoke tweetup in NYC in July 2008
59. Finding the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Center
60. The bridal shower my friends threw me
61. Being accepted to my current laboratory
62. Attending an NSBRI conference as a first year grad student
63. Being interviewed/courted by the Hopkins circadian rhythms lab for a job
64. Being the photographer for the Virginia Orchid Society
65. Being chosen for the finals at the first Virginia FIRST Robotics regional
66. Winning the Driving Tomorrow’s Technology award at the second Virginia FIRST Robotics Regional
67. Attending FIRST Robotics National championships junior year of high school
68. Attending the premiere of Where the Wild Things Are to benefit the Rosenbach Museum (for free)
69. Getting accepted to GSGIS
70. Getting all As and Bs my first quarter of college when I was convinced I’d failed at least 1 class
71. Getting my first co-op job from a cold call
72. My family telling me that they are proud of me
73. Consolidating all of my student loans in my name, thus being completely separated from my parents financially
74. Attending FIRST Robotics National championships senior year of high school
75. Assistant stage managing a show with Kevin as stage manager
76. Acting in a one-act with Kevin as assistant director and stage manager
77. Falling in love
78. Seeing the original Mark and Roger in RENT for my birthday
79. Waking up next to the love of my life
80. Falling asleep next to the love of my life
81. Being told that I am loved
82. Being recognized for my skills, not because of my gender
83. Realizing I am more than my collection of illnesses
84. Having a doctor actually believe there is more than just stress wrong with me
85. Knowing that I have someone who will be there for me the rest of my life
86. Becoming a member of MENSA
87. Having a custom designed wedding band
88. Trusting someone completely
89. Meeting lovely people via Twitter
90. Meeting lovely people via Wedding Buzz/The Nest
91. Making the leap to an iPhone
92. Presenting my study design to a well-known collaborator
93. Having my grandmother alter my wedding dress
94. Trying on my wedding dress for my mom and my future mother-in-law
95. Spending time with someone for his/her birthday
96. Having my one grandfather give me away at my wedding
97. Dancing with my other grandfather at my wedding
98. Brain lab during medical neuroscience
99. Baking my first multilayer cake
100. Teaching science to 7th graders as a freshmen in college

Day Zero list #66!

1. I graduated from a magnet, gifted, college-prep high school with above a 4.0 GPA.
2. I was a founding member of said high school’s robotics team.
3. I was the student leader of the robotics team for 2 years.
4. I was a mentor for the robotics team for a year.
5. I was a volunteer for FIRST Robotics for 10 years.
6. I did over 300 hours of community service in high school.
7. I was in the honors program in college.
8. I got my first (and second) co-op jobs on my own, without the help of the college co-op office.
9. I double majored in biomedical and electrical engineering.
10. I graduated from college cum laude.
11. I graduated with a masters degree in neuroscience.
12. My freshmen design team and I won best undergraduate presentation at the Southern Biomedical Engineering conference as sophomores.
13. I married my best friend who is the love of my life.
14. I am financially independent of my parents.
15. I have a job in the field of research I love.
16. I am a moderator on BYDLS.com, and have been for several years.
17. I was a co-host of a successful bicoastal all female tech podcast (Girls Gone Geek).
18. I am the city organizer for a successful non-profit, all volunteer fundraiser (Twestival).
19. I have lived with/fought/survived chronic illness for over 5 years.
20. I was the photographer for the Virginia Orchid Society for a little over a year.
21. I have a great relationship with my mom.
22. I’ve traveled to Turkey and London.
23. I’ve fired a gun.
24. I took 5 years of Latin between middle and high school.
25. I took 4 years of German in high school.
26. I took a year of American Sign Language in high school, and it’s been the most useful language besides English I’ve learned.
27. I was on the Battle of the Brains team in high school.
28. I was on the German Battle of the Brains team in high school as well, and we won at German Convention one year.
29. I’ve met Dean Kamen and Woodie Flowers.
30. I’ve volunteered with Dave Lavery.
31. I’ve had a letter published in the editorial section of the newspaper (Richmond Times Dispatch).
32. I’ve been on the local news (for FIRST Robotics).
33. I’ve been a judge for FIRST Lego League.
34. I maintain my own blog (quasi-self-hosted).
35. I maintain my own website.
36. I have seen a show on Broadway.
37. I had a wedding that was reflective of my husband and I and our beliefs.
38. I’m a card carrying member of MENSA.
39. I’ve been to an amusement park and ridden roller coasters.
40. I’ve witnessed kittens being born.
41. I’ve gone to a drive-in movie theater.
42. I’ve ridden a horse.
43. I’ve helped out family members expecting nothing in return.
44. I’ve helped out friends expecting nothing in return.
45. I have friends I can count on in the good times and the bad.
46. I can sew using a sewing machine.
47. I can also sew by hand.
48. I can cross-stitch.
49. I can bake.
50. I can cook.
51. I was in a co-ed performing arts fraternity in college.
52. I was elected chapter representative and secretary (in two different years) in said fraternity.
53. I won an alumni scholarship for my last year of college.
54. I witnessed my grandmother almost die from her liver shutting down due to alcoholism when I was 14. It changed me, but for the better.
55. I’ve done a poster presentation at an international conference.
56. I’ve attended the Society for Neuroscience meeting, the largest scientific meeting in my field.
57. I’ve traveled by myself.
58. I’ve taken a medical school class (Intro to Neuroscience).
59. I’ve seen a show at The Globe.
60. I have two healthy, happy cats.
61. I’ve had a boa constrictor around my neck.
62. I’ve lived on my own, without roommates.
63. I can ice skate.
64. I can roller skate.
65. I take great pictures of kids.
66. I have more than a basic knowledge of carpentry.
67. I also have a pretty decent knowledge of hardware and power tools.
68. I can play a few basics on the harp.
69. I can do multivariable calculus.
70. I’ve been to the Apple campus in Cupertino.
71. I’ve taught a range of kids, from kindergarten to freshmen in college.
72. I’ve survived having my life plan completely changed by failing my prelim exam twice.
73. I’ve seen all 6 Star Wars movies.
74. I designed my own save the date cards, invitations, and programs for my wedding.
75. I’ve designed handouts for a few tech/entrepreneur events in Philadelphia.
76. My master’s thesis.
77. I know how to solder.
78. I also know how to wirewrap a breadboard.
79. I’ve been a vegetarian for 10 years.
80. I’m one of the organizers for Podcamp Philadelphia.
81. I can write an IRB submission by myself in a few days, given that I know the study parameters.
82. I can perform most of the duties of the studies my lab does from start to finish myself, from (some) grant writing and study design to IRB submission to recruitment to running the study to data analysis.
83. I can and have made my own holiday cards for family and friends.
84. I’ve learned how to deal with working overnight and managing my illnesses at the same time.
85. I’ve been to therapy and learned that I actually deal with problems in my life relatively well and normally.
86. If I have the free time, I can read an entire book in a day.
87. I’ve seen the extended editions of all 3 Lord of the Rings movies.
88. I’ve read all 7 of the Harry Potter books.
89. I’ve read all 3 of the Lord of the Rings books, plus The Hobbit.
90. I’ve read all 7 Chronicles of Narnia books.
91. I’ve seen the ruins at Troy.
92. I’ve been to Disney World (twice).
93. I’ve been to Sea World (in Orlando).
94. I’ve been to Johnson Space Center.
95. I’ve figured spiritually what I believe in (and didn’t take into account what the rest of my family/friends believe).
96. I’ve been to the world’s oldest zoo (London Zoo).
97. I’ve been to the nation’s oldest zoo (Philadelphia Zoo).
98. I’ve been to both Busch Gardens (in Williamsburg, VA and Tampa, FL).
99. I’ve been to 3 POTUS houses – Mount Vernon, Monticello, and Ashlawn.
100. I’ve been to Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Yorktown historical landmarks.
101. I’ve learned to let myself be happy.

And now putting $10 in my savings account now that this goal is finished!

First of all, Kevin and I have been married one month today! We surprised each other (we didn’t discuss our month-a-versary at all) with red roses. I picked up a dozen at Reading Terminal on the way home today to leave on Kevin’s dresser because I thought he was going to be at work tonight and I wasn’t going to see him since I’m working overnight at the lab tonight. He surprised me by coming home around 6PM with 31 roses from Produce Junction. Our apartment smells like roses, it’s lovely. I incredibly amused we were on the same page for our surprises for each other.

If you want to see pictures from our wedding, our family and friends took some great pictures we’ve put up here: Wedding pictures

It’s also Day Zero for me for a new set of projects/challenges for myself. I’ve been on the Wedding Buzz/The Nest forums on Facebook a lot since getting engaged and now being married. A group of the girls are doing the 101/1001 project, which is 101 things in 1001 days. I’ve tried it on my own before and failed miserably. I’m joining the group of girls from WB/TN starting tomorrow! There’s a tab above for my 101/1001 list. I’m going to have to make sure to pace myself and not lose momentum. Hopefully this will get me blogging more as well, so there should be more love here!

I apologize for my lack of posting. The crazy weather we’ve been having here on the East Coast has been causing my fibromyalgia and arthritis to flare, plus I’ve been busy with end of the year wrap-up on projects at work.  In happier news, my cousin/sister had her baby, a beautiful healthy baby boy named Leilan Joseph Phillip Caiden, on December 12.  My new nephew is absolutely precious, and a welcome reminder of the beauty of life in a year where I have attended my fair share of funerals.

Plans for things to come in the new year are already percolating.  In January, I’ll be heading down to Baltimore for a job interview as a lab technician in another circadian rhythms lab; this one uses mice instead of humans as subjects, but I’m thrilled and honored to even be considered for the position, as the lab is very well-known and does good research.  I’m also helping organize HealthCamp Philadelphia in March, which is already turning out to look like it will be fantastic.  

Our first event for Geeks Who Give turned out to be a HUGE success.  Over 125 people showed up; 32 boxes of food were donated to Philabundance.  I’m waiting for the official letter from Philabundance on the exact weight of food donated, but whatever the exact number is, it’s amazing for a 1 night food drive.  I can’t wait to jump into more charity events with Geeks Who Give in the new year.

I will hopefully be podcasting more once I get through the holidays as well.  I’m working on the plans for my own podcast, Biorhythms Weekly, where I explain research going on in the field of biological rhythms each week using layman’s terms using both audio and video.  I hope to launch sometime early next year; keep an eye out here and on Twitter for it!

I hope you all have holidays full of love and joy.  I’m behind on my own holiday shopping and holiday card making, so please forgive me if your holiday cards are a bit late this year.

It’s 3AM on Friday night, and I’m at work. I have to be back at work at 10:30AM Sunday to leave for a conference for 4 days. Never boring

Keeping myself awake by listing things I love right now:

-not working by myself on a night study
-dark chocolate bars
-my wonderful boyfriend who will be picking me up when my shift is over so I don’t have to take the bus home
-getting to go to the largest neuroscience conference of the year (Society for Neuroscience, 35,000 people will be there!)
-all of the AWESOME Philly tech people who are great friends and do amazing things
-Twitter
-my mom, who always makes me feel better
-the impending arrival of my nephew!
-getting to go home for Thanksgiving for the first time in years
-having a space heater at my desk
-my lovable kitties
-my brothers, who are so excited I’m coming home for Thanksgiving
-the exciting prospect of freelancing/consulting in an area completely different than the science/academia I’ve immersed myself in the past 10 years
-the support from my amazing friends and family, near and far
-Vitamin Water
-getting to sleep in tomorrow!

Need to go do some measurements. T-minus about 45 more minutes at work tonight!

Change is stressful; uncertainty is stressful. I’m a planner; I write to-do lists constantly, I’m usually pretty uncomfortable if things are in flux and not figured out (though I’m getting better about that). I can be spontaneous, and I enjoy change and surprises; I just tend to plan more so than just act.

Which means my mind has been going crazy the past few months since my future has been up in the air. I’ve gone from planning to be in school for a few more years to graduating in May, being done with my thesis by March. I’m severely limited in what physically I can accomplish due to a torn ligament in my wrist. I’m limited financially by unexpected medical expenses due to crappy student insurance and getting unfortunately screwed over by a family member. Life as I planned it is no longer feasible.

And I’m trying not to plan it back out. Because so much is still up in the air right now. So I want to ask you, those who read this humble blog, what do you do to stay sane in times of change?

Right now, I’m being a bit more spontaneous, remembering to breath, reaching out to people I love and care about, and constantly reminding myself it’s ok to not know. And still writing to-do lists constantly. Any further suggestions? Greatly appreciated in advance.

One of the things that has been on my “after I finish my prelims” list for awhile is to take the entrance test to see if I qualify for MENSA. National MENSA testing day was October 18; I signed up, had my boyfriend drive me to the library in North East Philly where the testing was being held, and took the two tests.

I got in the mail yesterday the letter saying that I got a qualifying score to be admitted to MENSA! I’m so excited….my mom told me I’m now a certified smart ass

Edit: Oh, and by the way, I voted this morning. Did everyone else who can in the United States?
My precinct didn’t have “I voted” stickers, but The MacMommy sent me one

One of the most common complaints/worries/quasi-compliments I get is that I do so much! I don’t really ever notice it, I just do what I think needs to be done or what I think will be interesting or fun to do. I’m getting better at recognizing my limitations, as someone with several chronic illnesses, I have a lower saturation point than most people. (There will be an entry about my chronic illnesses sometime this month, I’m sure). I still very much have a Type A personality though, and am constantly doing something, or else I either get bored or feel guilty that I should be doing something.

Right now, I am working full-time in my lab. This involves working 8:30/9-ish AM to 5-ish PM Monday through Friday, unless I have an overnight study to work. Then I work until around 3:30-4 PM, nap, and then come back to work at 10:30PM and work until 4AM. I have the next day off from work then. I sleep in and veg on my couch unless there is somewhere else I need to be that day. I’m working on my masters thesis, which needs to be done by mid-March at the latest.

This month, I’m taking part in NanoWriMo and NanoBloMo for the first time for both of them. I want to work on my writing, and I feel the best way to do that is to just write! I’m collecting cards and gifts for my friend Liana who has been ill to send her a care package later this week. My cousin, who I am very close to, and consider my sister, is very pregnant, and will be giving birth to my nephew sometime in the next 4 weeks. She also has a 5-year-old, my niece, who I am very close to, and try to make as much of her school events as possible (she’s in kindergarten). I talk to my mom at least once a week. I live with my boyfriend and our two cats, and try to keep the apartment clean when I can. I’m volunteering at BarCamp Philly this weekend, and helped make the handouts for the event. Also, I’m going to the Society for Neuroscience meeting with my lab in a few weeks in Washington, DC.

My wrist is still in a brace and is still sore and healing from when I was mugged in September. Not being able to effectively use my left wrist/arm is frustrating me, I miss my independence. I can’t wash dishes or clean as much as I should or want to without hurting my wrist further. I should be getting MacSpeech Dictate in the mail today to try to take the pressure off my wrist with all the writing I’m doing. Review pending I’m sure.

Thoughts? Am I letting my Type A personality get the best of me?

I was so busy this past week with some reports due to grant agencies in our lab, and planning yesterday’s baby shower; I didn’t really have time to plan a Halloween costume. I do dress up every year, I love Halloween, and plus the baby shower was Halloween-themed and guests were encouraged to dress up. I had found ordered myself a fun shirt from Forever 21, and someone on Twitter had suggested a Captain Hook costume to incorporate my wrist brace since the ligament in my wrist is still torn. So I stopped by Kmart really quick on Friday, picked up a pirate’s hat, and threw a costume together Saturday morning. Here’s the result:

Today I threw my cousin’s long-planned Halloween-themed baby shower. I spent yesterday and this morning making 2 vegan pumpkin pies, a gluten-free vanilla cake, 2 dozen vegan chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing, apple cider punch, and cutting squares of off-white cloth. I had the guests decorate the squares with sharpies so I can make a blanket for the baby. There was also lots of chips, pretzels, and candy. I had the kids bob for apples, which they had a great time. Also, filled baby bottles with candy corn, and the kids got to use them as bowling pins and then eat the candy. I also had little pumpkins full of Halloween candy and Halloween stickers for the kids as goodie bags.

I dressed up at the last minute as a pirate. I found a pirate’s hat for half off at Kmart yesterday, along with a pimp daddy hat for my cousin’s boyfriend. I had a tiara for my cousin (she hates those paper plate ribbon hats), and figured the daddy should have a silly hat too. Pictures will be forthcoming once I get them off the camera. I put my boyfriend on camera duty since I was busy making sure all the food and such was alright.

Now it’s time to focus on NanoWriMo and NanoBloMo this month, begin to work on my masters thesis, and try to let my wrist heal more. I’ve got MacSpeech Dictate on order, should be here on Monday so that I can write as much as I can without hurting my wrist.

Daylight savings time ends tonight here in the USA. Remember to turn your clocks back an hour!