Little did you know this information would save your life

I hate foreshadowing. It is my least favorite literary device. (Who else do you know that has a favorite, much less a least favorite literary device?)

It’s why I hated Angels and Demons. The first chapter ends with the sentence, or at least I think it’s this sentence, if not, it’s awfully close: “Little did he know that in 24 hours, this information would save his life.” ARGH!! Can’t you let me discover something for myself?

Of course, there were other issues with this book, but we won’t go there.

Foreshadowing is the reason I’m not going to finish Duma Key, Stephen King’s new book. I like Stephen King, especially some of his newer stuff. I liked Bag of Bones, even though the end was a little rough. I think he has found a new voice and I really enjoy his storytelling style. But in this latest book, almost every section in the middle is ending with some sort of foreshadowing pronouncement: “I bet she would have finished that cigarette if she had known it would be her last.” “I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was the last painting I would do.”

But wait! What about book jackets? Aren’t they foreshadowing too? They tell you all about the plot! To tell you the truth, I don’t read book jackets anymore. I only glance at the reviews on the back, but not the reviews themselves. Only the reviewers. If it is a whole bunch of authors, I put the book back. It’s like asking faculty to review other faculty. We’re all great!!

I also judge a book by it’s cover and by it’s title. I like recommendations too. But don’t tell me anything about the plot. I don’t want to know. And no, I don’t watch/read movie reviews either.

I’ve only ever not finished many five books in my life. But I am feeling good about this decision.

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Project 365 – No. 159 (January 27, 2009)

So I lied about the cat photos. Saki cruising past the door where poor Caymus is locked in his room.

Project 365 – No. 160 (January 28, 2009)

My beautiful orchids!! I have a new one in bloom and a third one is about to bloom!!

Project 365 – No. 161 (January 29, 2009)

You’ve seen this one before. M&Ms in bowls.

Project 365 – No. 162 (January 30, 2009)

I know it’s blurry. It’s supposed to be, but you can get the gist of it. I have resorted to “To Do” lists again. In undergrad, I made lists all of the time. Wash hair, grocery shopping, scoop, change sheets… The most mundane things made it on there. Sometime in grad school, I must have stretched my brain enough to remember stuff because I stopped using them. In the past two weeks though, I have become the “To Do List” queen. I found three in my office today.

I kinda miss the leetle camera

Don’t get me wrong, I LURVS my new digital SLR, but it doesn’t fit in the pocket or the purse very well. And since Husband is out in sunny California drinking wine, er…. at a conference presenting important scientific results and networking, he has the leetle camera with him.

Which means that I did not have it tonight when to my very first ever basketball game at my college! It was fun, but seriously, the basketball court at my high school is bigger than where my college plays. When we were sitting down, I WALKED ON THE COURT. As the game was playing.

I had this quick fantasy that they would call me into the game and I would go all Psycho-T on the opponents. Then, there would be a ticker tape parade which would end with all the pre-meds solemnly swearing to give organic chemistry a fighting chance. But then, we reached our seats and the whole bubble burst.

I need sleep in the worst way, if you can’t tell.

They had a pep band; three cymbals and about 7 drums. About 5 minutes into the first half, the cheering squad came in and sat behind the basket. All 15 of them. It made me laugh to no end to see them try to distract the opposing team. They had the cheerleaders there, all five of them. I did like their getups. Dark purple and very tasteful.

Annoying Opponent Dad sat behind us. He was coaching his heart out and I had great pleasure in cheering for our team.

It was a fun experience, but I kept having visions of Battier or Hansborough playing with them for a few minutes. I also kept flashing back to our experience at the UNC-MSU game in Detroit.

Were were in about the 11th row, but I neglected to take into account all of the seats down on the floor!

Sadly, UNC crushed MSU. But we had a good time.

These kids live a life that is under the microscope. Can you image the scrutiny? No thank you. Although, I will admit to a little lens envy.

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Project 365 – No. 154 (January 22, 2009)

A cat’s favorite place is fresh laundry. It is a powerful motivator to get the clothes put away quickly.

Project 365 – No. 155 (January 23, 2009)

It is really hard to read magazines at my house. Which might explain photo number 158 (below).

Project 365 – No. 156 (January 24, 2009)

Honestly, I don’t know what the special occasion was, but Husband broke out the Sine Qua Non. They are the cultiest of the cult wines right now. Husband has been on the wait list for THREE YEARS to get just the chance to buy their wines. This is the Papa’s.

Project 365 – No. 157 (January 25, 2009)

This is Indi’s favorite box right now. Two weeks later (I’m catching up!) she is still playing in the box. (No more cat photos for at least two weeks, I promise.)

Project 365 – No. 158 (January 26, 2009)

Ack! The pile of magazines that I need to get through. At one a week, I have sixty seven years worth of reading material.

The model of decorum and discretion, I am not.

I had a freaking amazing day.

I just found out that I got a big grant from the American Chemical Society to support my research for the next two (maybe three) years. I got the email while I was teaching lab this afternoon. After the text sunk in, I shouted “NO F***ING WAY!” and ran out of the lab with my computer.

I ran into one of my mentors in the department and told him and we had a great big hug and screaming fest in the middle of the hall.

Needless to say, the students hanging out and studying were all goggle-eyed!

It’s a big deal for a lot of reasons. One – Personal validation. I’m working on science that someone else thinks is cool too! For my first couple of years, I had a project that I was never quite happy with. The reagents are super air sensitive and that type of chemistry is really hard to do without a glove box. I have a couple of last projects that students are trying, but not too much else. Now, I have a new direction and it’s a good one!

Two – My tenure stress level dropped about 6 notches. I will be a happier person to live with and to be with in class. WHEW!!

I still have a couple of goals that I am working towards that will help the tenure decision, but when it comes down to it, if I’m not happy with my progress, then no tenure decision one way or another will change that. It will mean professional validation, but I’m more interested in my opinion.

I also found out that I’m a co-author on a chapter in a book that is coming out soon. SCORE!

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Project 365 – No. 150 (January 18, 2009)

Wine tasting at Ned and Evy’s house. Gotta love the number of glasses out there on that table!

Project 365 – No. 151 (January 19, 2009)

Yeah, not so sure about this photo…

Project 365 – No. 152 (January 20, 2009)

-5 F. OMG. Kill me now.

Project 365 – No. 153 (January 21, 2009)

Pre-stirred yogurt? You have GOT to be kidding me. But I’m the weird one. I get the “fruit on the bottom” yogurt and then only eat the yogurt. I throw out the fruit. Go figure.

A quick romp through florida

Wow, I have really been neglecting posting Project 365 photos! Get ready for a fast trip:

Project 365 – No. 136 (January 4, 2009)

My first sight of the Key Deer. It was hard to imagine they are endangered because I saw herds of them everyday.

Project 365 – No. 137 (January 5, 2009)

A really beautiful morning the third day in Florida!

Project 365 – No. 138 (January 6, 2009)

A cool sea urchin. I didn’t touch it, but it was cool.

Project 365 – No. 139 (January 7, 2009)

Sad students when their bedding got rained on!

Project 365 – No. 140 (January 8, 2009)

Not a photo with my camera, but I took it! A very cool basket star fish.

Project 365 – No. 141 (January 9, 2009)

My poor sunburned feet. They peeled. It was gross.

Project 365 – No. 142 (January 10, 2009)

On our free day, I was working outside. I happened to look down and one of the camp cats was sitting on my bag. I guess cats are the same the world over.

Project 365 – No. 143 (January 11, 2009)

Turtles surf. We learned that in Finding Nemo.

Project 365 – No. 144 (January 12, 2009)

Salty Dog on the boat on the way to the Dry Tortugas.

Project 365 – No. 145 (January 13, 2009)

Palmettos and pines in FL.

Project 365 – No. 146 (January 14, 2009)

The solar boat that I saw at SeaCamp.

Project 365 – No. 147 (January 15, 2009)

Taking pictures to remember Florida!

Project 365 – No. 148 (January 16, 2009)

Not the best sunset, but it was a pretty one the last day in Florida.

Project 365 – No. 149 (January 17, 2009)

My favorite sight after I got home from Florida.

WHEW!! I hope you didn’t get too sea sick from that quick pass through my Florida trip. I’m only two weeks behind on photos now…

Project 365 Part Deux

More photos:

Project 365 – No. 132 (December 31, 2008)

Happy New Year! Everyone lick your nose!!

Project 365 – No. 133 (January 1, 2009)

One of Husband’s New Years Resolutions was to annoy the cat everyday. This is him fulfilling this resolution on day one.

Project 365 – No. 134 (January 2, 2009)

More random camera photos. I was checking out the zoom lens on the new camera. I used the flash but don’t like all of the shadows that I’m getting with the flash. I will have to learn how to set things up so I don’t have to use it that much.

Project 365 – No. 135 (January 3, 2009)

I just couldn’t get over how they were loading the nose of the plane that we took out to Key West!