Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in desertrowan's LiveJournal:

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Wednesday, May 4th, 2011
9:21 am	Moonwalk marathon Well, it's about 10 days to the marathon, 10 days exactly.  I'm still not sure how I ended up getting roped into it. I think it was along the 'yes I'll do it if you  will please shut up about it and pester me in April so I can finish my thesis-thank you' sort of moments. :-)  Still, I look at it as another marker for my leg.  If my knee holds up to 26.2 miles of walking (nevermind my brain will be asleep as it's a midnight walk) then I think other than stretching and bending to get it back to what it could do (I'm only a little bit off on that one), I think I can finally convince myself I'm healed. For those that don't know, the moonwalk is a marathon walk (no running allowed) which will be all through London.  It raises money for cancer - something I did two years ago. If anyone wants to support me or my team: there's three of us, my friend ELS, her sister and myself, you can donate online  http://www.walkthewalkfundraising.org/east_coast_girls I'll probably aim for another 15 mile walk this weekend, and maybe finish the 15 mile walk this time, if ELS either manages to keep up or she doesn't injure herself again. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011
6:44 pm	14 miles later... Okay wow and ow.  My right knee (aka injured knee) is a little sore today.  Okay maybe going to the gym this morning after walking 14 miles yesterday wasn't the most intellligent of ideas, but it seemed like a good idea - stretch things out and keep things moving. Yesterday's walk with ELS started off in Island gardens - which is across from Greenwich and then followed up along the east side of London, through East India House, Canning Town, Bromley-by-Bow, Clapton, Ponder's End and onto the Lea Valley Pathway up into Walthamstow Marsh and up through to Tottenham Hale.  Shortly after Tottenham Hale, we stopped as the weather was getting a lot colder and we weren't really prepared for that.  We all of a sudden realized that civilization was at hand..  There was an IKEA!!!  :-) So after our 13 mile trip, we wandered into the IKEA and we ate meatballs and potatoes... Then walked another mile around IKEA and bought orchids, before making our way home.  The orchids are beautiful.  I got one yellow with purple spots and another one that is cream coloured.  The pots we bought are boring and shiny and white.  Not my ideal. I  would have rather had some terra cotta colour, but that's just me.  I also had a bit of a heartattack as I couldn't find my external hard drive with my thesis on it.  Yes, I have oodles of copies, thank you.  I just happen to wonder where I managed to put that particular hard drive.  After going to the gym, I stopped by the school and no, it wasn't there.  So I tore the entire house apart, with ELS's help.  Funny enough it was in a bag that I haven't used since I submitted my thesis.  Go me.. Now, we've cleaned the house a bit, and we're sitting and watching some films and nursing a hip in ELS's case and knee in my case. It's a lot cooler today and the temperature has dropped dramatically from 27 to 18...  Glad to be inside today. (Comment on this)
Sunday, April 24th, 2011
11:12 am	Six months done. Actually it's been a crazy 6 months.  My thesis, is written, for better or for worse, I guess I'll find out at some point.  I don't have a defense date yet, so I'm still sitting around and waiting for that to be sorted. Probably end of June from the sounds of it. I've moved flat.  Temporary space.  Living with a friend of mine from work, ELS, while I figure out what I'm doing. Which goes to.. What am I doing?  I.... have... no.... idea.....  I'm currently looking at post-docs and trying to figure a few things out.  The economy isn't helping me AT ALL.  There just aren't many options and there are a lot of people looking around.  So what does that mean?  No idea.  I'll stay put until I find something.  Wherever I manage to find that something.  It would be fun to stay here if I could find something that I like, but on the other hand, I sort of miss N.America.  Been missing it for ages now.  Would love to get back over there.   At least this bit is almost over though. It's been a long while coming.  Looking forward to being able to say it's done.  Completely done. The next two weeks are sort of funny around here, one of the reasons my defense will take so long to sort out.  With the bank holiday weekend starting last Thursday for me, I've taken two days off this week (Wed and Thurs) and I now have almost a week and a half off because of the Easter holiday, May bank holiday and the Royal Wedding. There is a chance I might watch some of it. I was thinking of bringing my laptop outside and watching it streamed, depending on how the weather is.  The weather has been extraordinarily beautiful and warm this year.  I guess we're already into summer.  But I'm trying to take advantage of it as much as possible before it all goes away. I do need to sort myself out soon, for while living with ELS is nice, she's a bit bossy, motherly and somewhat controlling.  I moved out of my parent's home a long time ago.  I don't need a mother.  And it annoys me more because she's younger than I am. Happy Easter Everyone! Current Mood: content (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
2:20 pm	Help! Looking for a new home for 11 yr old cat... Hi guys, well I'm almost finished my thesis yeah!  Next week!  Yeah! My gmail seems to be spamming the universe!  Boo! And my mother is no longer capable of taking care of my cat. She's black, really sweet, she loves attention.   And she's really fun (she used to be trained to fetch believe it or not). My mom, after my father died has been having a really rough time and is just not able to give my cat the loving she wants. So if anyone knows someone with a place in their heart and home. Please let me know? And I'll hopefully be on more after I finish with this beast of a paper mess... (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
10:25 pm	Productivity up 100% Or at least it felt like that today. I can't tell really. I was at work later than normal. Usually I run about 10.5 hour days but today was more of a 12 hour day. exactly 12 hours actually. Not that I'm complaining. It was a really good day and I felt good about it. Mind you, I still haven't done the shop so I'm reduced to eating cereal for dinner until I manage to get to one. Nothing like cereal, almonds and a banana for dinner. Mmmmmm.... I guess that means I might finally be ready to finish this thing and start writing up. Yeah me. I did start writing last year but had to write a fairly extensive report just as I started writing so that made a mess of a bit of it for me. But now it's time to get back on it. When I'm not in the lab until 8:30. I know its all supposed to be good for me and a growing experience, but I think that I've grown enough of this place and especially some of the people I've worked with. They're still here. PhD in hand and they are still a technician. Don't really know why you would go through all that work and effort only to remain a technician. You don't get a pay rise or anything. And she does want more projects and she does want more publications, but it's not going to happen while she's a technician. Or at least, not as quickly. She has two other technicians who also do projects so she doesn't get to take all of them for herself. I still like working early mornings and late evenings. If I could, I would work only early morning and late evenings so I could avoid my coworkers. It's not that I don't get along with them. Get along great with ES and we even work great together, but wow, do I ever get more done when they aren't around. Besides, the music comes on and I'm happy dancing and singing and working alone in the lab. Embarrassing every once in a while when a friend is also working late and comes into the lab and views this spectacle. Fortunately that has only happened once or twice. And now, it's time to curl up and relax a bit and catch up on emails in bed in pyjamas. :-) (Comment on this)
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
10:39 am	For those of us that don't Remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot, I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot. Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent to blow up the King and the Parliament. Three score barrels of powder below, Poor old England to overthrow: By God's providence he was catch'd With a dark lantern and burning match. Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring. Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King! Hip hip hoorah! From the Tower of London Archives. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, September 7th, 2009
10:08 pm	Chilling and recuperating <input ... ></input><input ... >Where to even begin... Firstly I'm sorry if I didn't see you or see you enough.  Somehow I managed to read the first week away!  I suppose it's only fair with the way things had been over here till I left:  chaotic and messy.  My brain just needed some time to recharge it's imaginative core. I left a week ago Sunday and of course I was on a red eye.  The more common type of flight back here.  Problem is, the flight was full of kids.  Two in front of me, three along the aisles and one child who was directly behind me and found kicking my seat to be a lot of fun and a small baby somewhere too close for my poor ears. Yes that's right, no sleep there.  My flight came in at 5:30 in the morning on Monday - fortunately it was a bank holiday so I was planning on chilling and going to bed early.  Didn't quite happen that way.  I ended up with a very short 2 hour nap at some point during the day because I chilled too much, then went off to meet a friend and got home around 11pm.  Still not too bad, except I WAS NO LONGER TIRED. That managed to last ALL NIGHT.  That's right, I stayed up all night.  No really, all night.  I watched three films and then some music videos until my alarm went off.  I just couldn't sleep.  Some might think I was upset about being back here.  And maybe I am in some way. The week didn't really get better with respect to sleep.  S and I had dinner Wednesday and then went to a pub and came back and chatted till about 2 am.  Then Thursday it was a day of working late and sorting things out.  Friday my friend SP came over and we took her dreads out, cut her hair and then watched a film.  Till midnight.  We then got up at 5 am, took the tube the Vauxhall an then drove with friends to Warwick to help prepare a show for the diamond anniversary of the BAF - British academy of fencing. Saturday wasn't spectacular for me and SP, we were 'extras' and didn't get to fight.  We didn't get to do much of anything Saturday and I was getting grumpy.  I had a lot of things to do and a lot of sleep to catch up on.  We finally left to our apartment and it was amazing.  it was this beautiful 2 bedroom apartment with kitchen and living room that we rented for a night from the owner of the pub next door.  Six of us rented it (I was sleeping in the living room on the pull out couch).  We went to a pub for dinner and drinks and then went home, only to start watching the old three musketeer movie and then falling asleep in front of it!  Ooops.  Seriously it wasn't boring, we were just really tired from being up at 5 am. We managed to get some good sleep and rested up for Sunday.  SP and I worked out our schtick with the audience - mainly because we were the filler between scenes and before the show to keep people amused as they arrived.  But mostly we couldn't actually 'do' anything because we needed the audience there. The one big point of the whole weekend was that Bob Anderson was there.  He was the sword master that played Darth Vader during the fights.  He also worked on stunts from 1953 and as a fight master on films such as Lord of the Rings, Legend of Zorro, Pirates of the Caribbean and Die Another Day.  He's amazing.  He's wonderful and funny and a lovely person to meet.  The show was definitely better than the rehearsals by a long shot.  Which was good because I did a lot of groaning and complaining about the length of time it took to get through the scenes.  The backdrop for the show was amazing.   The show was in the middle of Warwick Castle's grounds, not inside the living quarters, but outside with the castle as the backdrop.  They lit the castle as well and by the end of the show, it was dark enough for fireworks. Afterwards, we collected our pay, had some food and beer in the grand room in the castle and left for our 2 hour drive back to London. I managed to say goodbye to Bob Anderson and give him a kiss on the cheek before we left.   I was dropped off so that I could find a night bus and that of course took a while as well. Already very sleep deprived, I ended up getting home at about oh, 3 am.  I'm still very tired....  Looking back at this post, I can see how tired I am. Either my grammar went really downhill, or I'm too tired to understand what I just wrote. :-)   (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
10:30 pm	Oh yeah I forgot I have a new toy. Teehee Posted via LiveJournal.app. (Comment on this)
Monday, January 19th, 2009
8:47 pm	Planning is going well So... I've sent or phoned the first round of invites.  It's not going to be big.  But then again, if it was, I'd be in some serious trouble. Muah ha ha. I think that this will be good for my mom.  In some ways, she's never had much done just for herself.  This time, it's all about her. Tomorrow I start the fighting for film thing I'm doing.  I just wonder, if I'll be able to do much.  My head is killing from this infection or whatever it is.  What a week to have a head stuffed up like this. And I"ve been downloading something from an ftp site and it's taking forever.  And has been stalling.  I managed it at work and figured if I put it on here then I can work at home as well as at school. And it's more comfy sitting at home and having a nice cup of tea. I know, I can have it at work, but not wrapped in a blanket and sitting on the floor. I'm also looking forward to my evening with friends in KW.  I mean it's short - one night but hey, I can't really ask for more considering that I'm only in town for four days. It's now time to chill for a bit. Current Mood: tired (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, January 18th, 2009
8:26 pm	All stuffed up and too many places to go. I love air conditioning.  Especially in winter. There's nothing like it in the world.  It doesn't matter what the temperature is outside, the darn thing is on.  What's worse is when it's blowing on the back of my neck and head. So of course, I'm congested now. What a wonderful feeling having a headache because my head is actually full. The bit that's really annoying is I'm doing a fight thing Tues - Sat... and I feel like hell.  I'm not really certain how long this will go on, but I really doubt I'll be feeling totally better by Tuesday. And I still have to go to work before and after (it's 11 - 5) because I have all my samples running.  Ah the life of a student... Oh yeah, I'm moving again.  My flatmate wants to move home because of the credit crunch.  I don't really want to end up living with someone I don't know - this has already proved to be annoying - so I'm moving in with someone else.  actually two and they are boys.  This could get interesting.... I'm also planning my mother's 60th birthday which is going to be a lot of fun.  Muah ha ha.  And this is the only place I can gloat because she FRIENDED ME ON FACEBOOK!!!! How on earth do you not say yes...  Ugh... And now it's off to bed. Current Mood: accomplished (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, November 10th, 2008
10:14 pm	November - the crazy month Well, Portugal was amazing.  I can't even begin to describe how much fun I had.  I've posted my photos on Facebook. Now I enter November.  November is my super crazy month.  I have loads to do in the lab and I'm going to be out every weekend for the next three weeks.  I cannot believe how mad things got. And since I'm not coming home this Christmas, I have to get my Christmas presents sent soon.  I am still working on getting the presents sent sooner than later.  My nephew's birthday is in the middle of November so I need to get the box sent off sooner rather than later.  I know, who wants to think about these things in November? The worst bit is all of my ideas... haven't panned out!  I need to send the package by Friday. LOL.  Figures, I try to do things on time and it still doesn't work. Current Mood: amused (Comment on this)
Friday, August 29th, 2008
11:33 am	A good stretch and a lot of good books Ah it's nice to be on holiday - even if it is back in Canada.  I think I've used up all my holiday this year coming back.  Not that I'm complaining but as I'm in Europe I really should be using it to see things over there.  What can I say?  This year has been a serious exception to the normal existence that I tend to have. I have been pretty happy with the weather too.  Okay fine, today and yesterday were cloudy and silly, much like the weather I observe in London most of the time.  What I've heard was that the weather this weekend and next week will be back to its shiny, sunny self, which is one of the main reasons I'm here.  Family, sun, books and friends. And yes, I'm reading total trash and loving every minute of it.  Total trash defines any book that is not actually related to my studies.  Broad analysis but considering that I probably should be reading and getting ready to write up, the books are my way of procrastinating. I can definitely say I'm not missing the crowds, the business or the craziness of living in such a big city.  As much fun as it has been, I'm definitely glad this program is only 5 years long and not longer. That and my visa will be expiring about the same time as I should be finishing up. In the meantime, I think I will stretch out, read some more and see if the weather will cooperate for a little small sword session with N.O.  this afternoon in the park.  Pity it isn't sunny but I'll be happy if it doesn't start raining. Current Mood: content (Comment on this)
Monday, August 4th, 2008
8:35 pm	As my brain slowly unfolds itself from slumber It's amazing how sleepy and tired these types of events are on you.  But I decided that my brain needed to start opening up, and being used in some way other than just biochemistry. I'm sure it will be a slow and painful process but who knows?  I might actually be better for it. This weekend, there really isn' t much to say, I spent my Saturday with my fighting friend S, and we went wandering around central London.  Managed to get caught in a bit of rain.  Okay a lot of rain in 5 minutes but we didn't mind too much.  And then we went wandering around looking at shops.  Not really buying anything but just wandering around and looking at things.  I was happy to be home Saturday night chilling and watching movies. Sunday, I was getting ready to leave the flat and it started to downpour.  So I thought I would wait.   Then as I got ready again and almost out the door, it rained again.  I decided that it was a sign and I stayed put.  It was nice not to have to leave the house. With all the medieval shows and traveling to Canada, I was getting a little tired so one day at home was great.  And now, Monday was the usual.  We had a power down on the weekend and now two of our instruments won't turn on.  Not a good thing to have happen.  Otherwise, I was helping Brasil with an HPLC and impressing him.  I fail to see what's so impressive that I remember how to use a bit of kit that I haven't looked at in over 8 years.  I think it's called reflex at that point. But it was fun to try and help him wrap his head around the software.  The software is a bit silly and does cause headaches until you start thinking like it.  Problem is, you have to stop thinking like it the moment you leave it or else you really make a mess with the rest of your day. Yes really it is that stupid. Now I'm chilling and relaxing and enjoying the evening.  I've got a book I want to get reading and I want to have some time to watch some really stupid films. Stupid films rule.  For now. Current Mood: happy (Comment on this)
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
5:19 pm	Life goes on And of course the first thing that happens.... I get a cold.  That's right ladies and gentleman, pain, stress and sadness... and a runny  nose. And all I could do is start laughing when it happened. So what's happened lately other than this.. Well I guess I've started my new projects with my new supervisor and they've been weird.  I'm not a biologist.  I'm not a marine biologist although that always struck me as a nifty area to study.  And yet, here I am working with marine bacteria and NOT HAVING A CLUE.  Best yet, I got a student to work with me... LOL.   I'm not sure which one of us is more clueless. But it's enjoyable.  The bane of my existence in the lab has fortunately been away on holiday when everything came to a head with my father in the last few weeks.  Unfortunately she gets back tomorrow.  I wonder what that will be like.  I will keep informed. Anyway, tonight I have to run off and grab my sleeping bag and tent from the yard.  I have a show this weekend and I think the guy is going to ask me to take Friday off - bit difficult as it's Wednesday today.  I guess we'll see what happens with that.... Off for adventures.... :-) (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, March 16th, 2008
11:05 pm	Letter writing I have very happily started letter writing again. At the moment, I'm still catching up on people's birthdays.  Meaning I've been writing people for their birthdays as I know of them.  (In other words if you didn't get a letter it's either because I didn't know it was your birthday since I still am missing a lot of information after my bag was stolen or I never knew).  It's been a nice way to spend Sunday evenings while I'm watching a movie or some stupid program on tv.  I think I might actually run out of writing material again - I got a lot for Christmas, but my supply seems to already be dwindling.  I never thought I would manage to use it all.  I guess that means I should start looking for some more. My new flatmate is also encouraging me to start writing again.  Maybe start and finish some of those stories I started in highschool.  IF I can find them or IF I remember them. Ooops.  Getting really late so I better get back to writing or else I won't finish. Current Mood: tired (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, October 22nd, 2007
8:23 pm	Funny little story So there I was getting ready to calibrate and run my favourite ol' mass spectrometer when I looked into the magnifier there was a bug stuck to the entrance of the instrument. Stuck there thanks to the vacuum.  I managed to get a great picture which makes me think I should try to take some photos for my thesis. I'm posting this on facebook if anyone wants to have a look. Current Mood: amused (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, October 11th, 2007
4:02 pm	Another postal strike It's imminent. And it's next week.  In other words, those of  you expecting letters, I do apoligize, but I can't really fight the entire Royal Mail by going DHL.  I'd be broke if I did that.   In the meantime, K had to leave early today because of an emergency and E left at lunch because he was taking a half day off.  M wasn't here all day and the students are all off writing.  Which leaves me alone... in the lab.... WHEEEE! So I've got my new toy in my lab coat and I'm listening away to music while doing some work.  At least I don't have to worry about K thinking I'm ignoring her because I can't hear her with the music in my ears. Life, is good at this particular moment. Current Mood: happy (Comment on this)
Wednesday, October 10th, 2007
10:04 am	Back to greyness It's cold, it's grey, it's rainy.  Hey wait, that sounds like the weather I was told about BEFORE I ever came here.  Oddly enough, we haven't really had that, or at least not in the amount everyone says we should have. But the last few days have indeed been grey and rainy. What a lovely way to come back to school, don't you think?  It's not too cold yet, but after the 30 degrees C that I experienced at home, well, this is some fairly lousy weather.  And things are in full swing again.  Yesterday I saw a friend of mine that was only in town for two days.  We went with a bunch of people for dinner and some drinks.  I barely managed to stay awake for the do.  Jetlag, how I hate thee.  Still, I only got home around 11:30 so I think I managed to do fairly well.  Daytime is alright.  I just seem to want to sleep at about 8pm right now.  I can see that this week is going to be a bit brutal that way.  I also have to think about sorting out my supervisor problem.  Fortunately, the head of grad studies has stepped down so I think I might have a better chance pleading my case to the new one.  I just need to get some emails from some people first before I subject myself to another silly meeting that goes nowhere. And now to tackle the large amount of email I received while I was gone... Current Mood: busy (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, October 8th, 2007
8:45 pm	Two weeks in Canada already gone That's right, I'm already back in the UK. To those that I didn't see, I'm really sorry but with my father being ill, I've been taking a lot of time to be with him. So a nice little summary. The week before the wedding, my first week home was pretty manic.  I helped with getting things ready for the rehearsal dinner, had to buy shoes, pick up my dress, did some work on the cottage....  In other words it was hectic but good. After using my brain for three weeks straight it was nice to do things that didn't require as much brain power. The rehearsal dinner which my mother hosted went fairly well.  We had a bit of a hitch as a little boy, the bride and groom's little boy manage to get hurt and ended up spending till midnight at the hospital. <sigh>  Welcome to the family? The wedding itself was in New Hamburg and it was lovely.  Most of you were probably as happy as I was - the weather was great.  Especially since the bridesmaid dresses had no sleeves. The reception was held in St. George's banquet hall.  It was beautiful. The food was amazing, Bonnie had a very simple and elegant way of dressing things up.  The entire evening was perfect!  I would also like to point out that the bride and groom were gorgeous! The next week involved spending a good chunk of time with my father - as he started to really feel unwell.  I basically cancelled most plans just in case he needed me to take him to the hospital as my mother was working.  The good thing was that it happened to be a bought of the flu. The bad bit is my mother caught it. So I also went to chemo with my dad last week, voted and spent a lot of time with the b-friend and LH - well as much as possible.  Otherwise, things were fairly chaotic and more so.  But I feel rejuvenated, although it is fairly close to X-mas.  I am going to overdose on people and then go through withdrawals the rest of the time.  Silly Bylle. I will have pictures soon, I hope.  I will post them on Facebook if possible. :-)         Current Mood: sad (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, September 13th, 2007
10:30 pm	Banged up Okay most people know I don't bruise easily.  As a matter of fact, it's really hard to get me to bruise.  Probably a good thing considering my hobbies and the sports I like to play. But I've got a nasty bruise today.  I was stepping onto the bus last night after going to see Shrek III and low and behold, I apparently didn't put my foot down well enough, so I ended up falling down and cracking my shin against the edge of the bus' floor. Okay yeah ow.  Nicely though, this guy helped me pick myself up and asked me if I was alright. My response?  "Yes thank you, just embarassed considering I'm sober." :-)Today my shin IS in fact a lovely shade of blue and still hurts. Guess I'm not wearing boots anytime soon. (2 Comments |Comment on this)