random headlines

so it's time for me to make the periodic, much overdue post about how i really want to keep this lame-ass thing up-to-date. blah blah blah. seems like it's the only thing i remember to do every 4-6 months. so here are some headlines for my fans (hahaha. riiiight.)

1. passed my oral comprehensive exam. at least 5 people believe i have some level of competency in the field of genetics. i felt really good about grad school... for a day.
2. i went to visit joe and becca in los angeles. extended svc family. i love those kids.
3. moved into a new rental house with 3 friends. now i live with 3 lazy assholes instead of 1! it's actually pretty sweet, so come visit.
4. i may have a crush on my new training partner, who of course has an out-of-state boyfriend. not sure if i'm going to play steal card. but either way, i'm going to get into GREAT shape hagging out with her while i try to decide.
   
5. my adviser is busting my ass over writing a review paper and i have 8 weeks to pound out enough data for a conference in august... oh right, and it's super nice outside and i'm NOT motivated to do any of it!
6. the weigand/hergenroeder clan is meeting in lakeside, oh... could be dangerous.
7. i haven't brewed beer in over 6 months = MY LIFE IS TOO BUSY!
   

that's enough teasers for now. look for more info in the future... like 6 months or so.

complacency

[kuh m-pley-suh n-see] -noun - a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.

i've really been thinking about this word a lot in the last month. and now, on the eve of ash wednesday and the up coming lenten season, i struggle with how it applies to my current state. i firmly believe that sunday homilies should always light a little fire in us, make us feel uncomfortable, and inspire us to act a differently when we walk out of church and back into the world. the gospels and homilies i've been hearing the last month have been a resounding "call to action" of sorts.

a week ago (i think) we heard about the recruitment of peter and the other fishermen to be apostles. fr mark discussed his call to priesthood and said we're all out there "just fishing" and waiting for to receive that call to service, to fulfill God's plan. and just this past sunday, a visiting priest from nj (who sounded like a ny mobster) said a big problem with young people is that we expect to live a long life and therefore put off change until 'tomorrow.' rather, he says, we should step up now! especially during lent, to work at changing our hearts and reaching up to God.

i know i've written before about my 'rut.' a cloudy haze of seemingly insignificant monotony that i can't break free from. in the rush of school and research i've become complacent with my stale spiritual life and overall 'direction.' but i hear these sunday words, both from the gospel and from the homilist, and it stirs something in me; something that i can't ignore... at least for the next few hours, or in those waning hours when i can't fall asleep. i feel stuck "fishing" and waiting to receive a call... any call. it doesn't have to be a huge, life-altering call. it could just be a little whisper of "hey, go volunteer to serve soup this week."

the first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one right? i've done that. i've identified my own complacency, now i need to get my hands dirty trying to crack out of it. seems all to appropriate that tomorrow, ash wednesday, starts the long season of lent. a perfect time for reflection, self inspection, and hopefully correction. everyone (i.e. all my non-catholic colleagues) keeps asking me what i'm giving up for lent. but this year it's going to be more about what am i adding for lent. i want these 40 days to be more about positive steps, additions to my daily life, that i'm going take in order to break out of spiritual complacency. (it's funny how so many people misunderstand the traditions of lent) so what are they? i haven't ironed them out yet... like i would tell you anyway? but hope, no expect changes, because what's the point if no real progress is made?

wanted

accepting applications now for female associate. responsibilities include conversation, shared meals, watching tv, back rubs, laughing, arm candy duty, and all other general "hanging out"... with the occasional closed door engagement (in due time of course). please send resume and cover letter along with your results from the following survey:

PART A:
do you...

1. recognize the beautiful simplicity of jeans and tshirts?
2. enjoy craft and import beers?
3. attend church regularly?
4. prefer home cooking over restaurant food?
5. enjoy running for more than just the fitness benefit?
6. respect the superior handling of the subaru's all wheel drive system?
7. have a sharp wit?
8. know the names of any of the original wallace and gromit short films?
9. wear glasses?
10. have a nice, squeezable butt?
11. watch and quote seinfeld regularly?
12. play tennis, soccer, and/or ultimate frisbee?
13. know how to goof-off on the dance floor?
    
14. consider yourself a practicing catholic?
15. eat breakfast every day?
16. appreciate the music of phil collins?
17. know how to drive a manual transmission?
18. love when it snows?
19. possess a college degree?
    
20. still watch cartoons?
21. insult me repeatedly in a sarcastic manner?
    
22. enjoy attending live sporting events and actually WATCHING the game?
23. exercise 3 or more times per week?
24. attend graduate school in any field other than genetics?
    
25. love cooking even if you suck at it?

PART B:
do you...

1. order bud, but light, miller lite, or any other donkey piss excuse for beer when you go bars?
2. consider dry-humping a reasonable way to dance to hip-hop music?
   
3. ascribe to some ridiculously restrictive eating regimen?
4. watch soap operas?
5. perpetually listen to your IPOD?

PART C:
do you...

1. frequently visit tanning salons?
2. enjoy casual sex?
3. refuse to go outside without excessive make-up?
4. bench press your body weight and mine combined?
5. touch pee-pees on the dance floor?
6. smoke?
7. show any loyalty to the michigan wolverines?
8. feel the need to call or see me every day?
9. dress like a scank and go to dingy bars EVERY weekend?
10. have any children?

*survey questions subject to change without notice.

SCORING:

tally up the number of 'yes' from PART A and subtract double the number of 'yes' from PART B. this is your total adjusted score (TAS). if...

(TAS = -6 to +5) i'm not really sure your mike material, so write a damn good cover letter, but it's not looking good.
(TAS = +6 to +12) still a pretty weak showing, but considering the lack of options on the table, you may float to the top a pile... because your application IS the pile.
(TAS = +13 to +22) you're right in the ball park of what mike is looking for. review of application material is still needed, but i'd say you have shot.
(TAS = +23 or more) forgo sending any other application materials. just send your address and ring size. you're a done deal!

IMPORTANT:
should you answer any questions in PART C with a 'yes' you are automatically DISQUALIFIED! please do not waste my time by sending your application, it will only be rejected. no exceptions.

valentine's day

valentine's day is such a funny holiday. for couples, it's a one-way giving spree and for singles, it's another day to be depressed and bitter. me, i don't really care. but i've had fun watching other people respond to this holiday, and it's not even until tomorrow!!

a coworker of mine, in a long-term, mid-distance relationship tried to argue with me the one-sidedness of this holiday. women, i proposed, expect big things from their men but never really put in an equal effort. (how is this different from any other day of the relationship? i don't know, that's another post, for another day.) she however, assured me that she put equal effort into valentine's day. but.... then spent 10 minutes to justify why she wasn't willing to pony-up the money to send him flowers or treats. this afternoon, she received flowers from her boyfriend. i think i can win an argument with her without even talking!!!!


some of my single friends, conversely, are full on into their "to hell with valentine's day"-crotchety-depressed mode. they hate everyone else who's doing something special tomorrow and just want to get drunk!

personally, both people crack my shit up! so what am i doing to celebrate the holiday of love?

1. i sent my grandma a card (like i do every year).
2. i'm going bowling (it's league night).
3. i'm going out with some single friends for beers to celebrate our single independence!
4. i made an appointment for my subaru to go into the shop on thursday. i figure, without a girlfriend, my subaru is currently the love of my life and i might as well pamper it.

update

wow. it's been a long time since i've added any thoughts here. shits been crazy. thinking about too many things. so here's a list of headlines to catch up my loyal reader(s).

1. i FINALLY met with my committee to discuss my research. they loved it and for about 45mins i actually felt good about my research. the feeling has since past.

2. i'm now an official member of the american homebrewers association. courtesy of my parents.

3. winter has finally come to michigan and it's FREEZING.

4. i joined a bowling league. pat, aaron, and i (aka team "just here 4 beer") average 1 pitcher of miller lite per game. i even bought red and blue bowling shoes. just can't seem to finish all 3 games over 100 in a single night.

5. my latest beer, an explosive strong ale (no really, it actually blew the lid off my fermenter... twice!) will be done soon. i have high hopes for this one.

6. i'm trying to find a house to rent in lansing/east lansing. getting out of this shitty apartment before the rent goes up any more!

7. the subaru still kicks ass!!

8. i set a new personal record on the bench press: 125 lbs. i know it's not much. but i think it's pretty good for a skrawny runner that barely tips the scale at 143. you could say i'm getting more buff.

9. no matter how often i go to the wiskey barrel saloon, i don't get any better at line dancing.

10. i'm trying to get involved in my church's grad student and young professionals group. interesting group of people so far.


well that's all for now folks. i'm trying not to neglect this as much.