In-laws

Its strange to think that I have in-laws now, and that I share a name with them. Strange, strange indeed. I don't have much in common with them, especially since its football season and I'm odd man out when it comes to that. But, hey, I suppose I'll learn to love most of them.
Doom and I went and visited his father and his father's girlfriend/domestic partner/notsurewhattocallher. Amidst the screaming at the television, I downed a giant pumpkin cider thing and ate chips and fell asleep and played a plague game on Doom's phone. Exciting, isn't it?
I wish I got sports, but I've never been a sports person. I enjoy playing sports on occasion, like playing catch with Doom, or playing horse, but yeah. My family just doesn't watch sports.
Hopefully Doom doesn't find me boring for that.

Science is a lifestyle

My days are filled with early mornings and late evenings in lab. I love lab, but I do wish that I didn't have to prioritize classes above lab. Especially seeing as I didn't do as well as I should have on the first 2 exams of the year -_-' But I'll do better... Its a struggle, but I think I'm learning to manage my time a little better. Responsibilities at home, however, are another story. And of course, this means I don't get to see my hubby as much as I'd like. 

So I'm usually at school 12+ hours a day, but at least lab is getting exciting. I'll be jumping into a lab-mate's project so that we can get published before we graduate (which would be super cool). So here's a glimpse at what I've been up to:

Staring into the scope for many many hours a day. This time I came across what seemed to be a little tadpole with a craniofacial abnormality. Interesting, but not the focus of my research at the moment!

I have unwittingly become the lab's pathologist it seems! I don't mind, I find it interesting. Here we see some easily treatable infestation of some shed skin.

Looking at embryos, counting out and dividing groups, planning experiments, treating and cleaning and writing down everything... The life of a scientist, ahahah.

I've also been watching my little froggies grow up right before my eyes, the hungry little monsters :)

A spaceship for my brain

Doom and I celebrated being married for 2 months at a Greek food festival (mostly we were trying to forget the stress of this semester!)

Earrings I bought from one of the vendors at the fest.

 Art, I miss you, stay with me, don't go....

I apologize for my lack of blogging. Not only to any readers I might happen to have (har har) but to myself. I need a spaceship for my brain sometimes, something to take me out of this hectic life of breathless panic.
I should post more. It gives my right brain satisfaction and gives my imagination substance.

My future: A few ideas

Ah, yes, fall semester. Usually, the start of a semester feels like a fresh start, a new chance, a beginning. This semester feels... different. I don't have many classes with my friends, and Chickadee is starting a nursing program which means I'll hardly see her at all at school. Not only that, but I'm doing lab regularly WITH classes for the first time. Oh, and did I mention I'm psyched out about the fact that this is my senior year? Not that I'm afraid of stretching my wings and learning to be an independent adult or anything (in fact, I long for that!) But now I have to make decisions, and frankly I don't feel well-informed to make them. What decisions, you say? Well... As many of you know, I was a pre-veterinary student since my senior year of high school. In fact, I was pre-veterinary up until this spring, when I realized it just wasn't for me. I thought, 'grad school, surely!' since I do love biology, and that was that. And then recently, with some help from my PI, Dr. Marmotini, I realized just getting a masters degree just because I didn't want a PhD wasn't a plan.
Okay, I'm fairly certain of a few things. I'm pretty sure I don't want a PhD. Not that I hate learning, or school, or things like that, because I love those things, I just also want time with Doom and I feel as if I'm a more hands-on type of person. I guess I'd rather do the work than write the papers, is how I think of it. Also, the amount of time it takes to go down that route (3-7 years to complete your PhD, then more for post doc!) is a bit much for me. I don't want to go to any professional school (like physicians assistant, dentistry, optometry, all that) cause I have little desire to work ON people. So that left me with a few ideas: Biology, Research, Laboratory, Animals... But they were just ideas, I didn't know how to apply them. And frankly, I still don't know my future, or what's the best course of action right now, but I can at least try.
Now I'm looking into Biotechnology Master's Programs, with the knowledge that with a bachelor's degree, I do qualify for laboratory technician jobs.
Despite the uncertainty, I'll try not to freak myself out too bad. I've got Doom. I've got friends. I've got my dreams.
I'm excited to leave the desert for greener pastures (or forests) cause... it'd be nice to move out of my parents house! BAHAHA

Judas Unchained

Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton

Narrated by John Lee

I wrote earlier that I had listened to Pandora's Star (the first in this series) and I LOVED it. Well this one was no different, it was just as good, if not better. 

I swear, I now dream in this universe, that's how awesome it is. I am so in love with Ozzy Isaac, his character is just awesome. :)
I'm gonna do some Commonwealth art... Yeah, I should do that.
I'm not gonna talk about much else that happens cause I don't want to give anything away, but this series is definitely worth listening to.
I will say however, that I am extremely impressed by how Hamilton weaves together everything he writes about. He handles a LOT of characters, places, and events, and doesn't even stumble.

Monotony of the desert

I wish my life were more interesting right now. I'm currently supposed to be studying for the GRE that I'm taking on Wednesday (the 14th). Then I have to sign up for the biology GRE (oh joy) and also contact more professors about applying, and then actually start applying! Most of my deadlines are around December/January, so this will be a busy semester trying to do that and study and do research and spend time with my hubby and dogs and I just can't even think about art right now. Which makes me sad, as I really do miss art, especially feeling as if I'm forgetting my art skills the longer I go without using them! ;_; I ventured over to deviant art recently and it made my hands itch just wanting to draw and paint!
I do have some exciting news-- my dad got me a new laptop (my wedding present) which is awesome because my old one is dying. I just have to adjust to Windows 8 now.
I'm dying to get out of the house and do something-- anything! So maybe I'll have pictures or something to share soon, if I do manage to convince Doom to do something with me.
We are both quite busy, however, he's trying to apply for a new job because his current one sucks. Aaaah, life. We're also going back and forth on the pros and cons of moving for grad school; I really reeeeeallly want to leave and just get out of here, sometimes the monotony of the desert drives me insane. He's just overly cautious and thinks we need to stay here. -_-' I guess we'll see in a year what happens, hahahaha.

Mrs. Doom

Yes, I got married. And it was fun. I had a hair disaster that day, and I smiled too much just so I wouldn't cry, but it was a good time. I'm glad my dearest friend dogert could make it out, she drove 19 hours to get to me! Its only sad that she couldn't stay longer.

Getting married is a very exhausting and crazy event, I hope I only have to do it once! ;) And yes, I'm oh-so-glad I married my best friend ever, Doom.
I also finished my summer research poster recently, which was another stressful event that turned out good! It just proves to me that science is hard but totally worth it.
I'm still gonna be busy for awhile because I'm taking my GRE soon, so until I get back into the groove of blogging, here's some more pics:

lumpia!

My mother and aunts did an amazing job decorating. :) The bouquets are handmade!

My cake with the birds I handmade and painted. :)