And they're comfortable too!

My mother always says that I taught her that shoes were an accessory instead of just a covering for your feet. But she also made the vow to not wear uncomfortable shoes. "They make me unhappy and I don't have to be unhappy," she said. For the longest time, I thought she was crazy. I mean, what's a little pain when you've got cute shoes?

After 3 full years of lab work, and lots of trying to make it through the day with somewhat pinching shoes, I have come to the same conclusion. That means saying goodbye to some really killer shoes (sometimes literally). I have these adorable stacked heels that have a modern floral print and tasteful sequins on them. Another pair (bright floral wedges from Madrid!) has a cute bright red grosgrain ribbon weaved around the entire shoe, but failed the walking test once I took them out on the town. My toes were complaining for days afterward! Even my more classic black peep-toe heels with a little bow across the toe - they really took it out on my feet last week, and now they are in the "out" pile too. No more uncomfortable shoes!

I have had some amazing luck shopping at DSW, and this weekend was a complete triumph! I came home with not one, but two pair of shoes that would make Stacey and Clinton proud! (notice the little zipper on the heel of the tan pair)




So far they have survived the walking test, the "do the girls love them" test, and the "day at work" test (although I did end up with a little blister on my third toe, but nothing serious). Now I can stare into my closet of shoes and actually be happy about the stylish options for adorning my feet!

Update

It's been a week since I started my FB abstinence and so far, so good! This week has been pretty busy anyway, and I haven't started on my goal to engage in more professional networking sites yet, but I did not check FB except on Monday which is my designated FB day.

Goal for this week: Use said spare time to sign up for LinkedIn and update my account on Mendeley and Epernicus.

C dak. jrbk.py.e yr Ekrpat!!!

Many months back a friend of mine told me about this ergonomic keyboard set-up called Dvorak. It sounded fine but why bother? My typing was easy and I had no real complaints. Until recently.

In the last few months I noticed my (non-dominant) hand complaining about all the work she was doing, and I started paying a little more attention to the inherent imbalance in the qwerty set-up. Not being one to back down from a challenge, I decided to take my friend up on his ringing endorsement of the Dvorak layout.

Now, you may or may not remember the significant frustrations that were involved when you first learned how to type. Try UN-learning all those patterns, and you wind up with spaghetti-head! My brain (and fingers) are in a jumble when I sit down to type now. If I am not at my computer, I have to revert to the qwerty set-up, which shouldn't be that hard since it is pretty well engrained in my muscle memory, but my mind likes to be difficult and mix up the two layouts at inopportune moments. The first few days are definitely the hardest, too. I went from typing 70+ wpm to maybe 25 (and that's being generous!).

Perseverance is key though, and having been at this new mind training project for just over a week, I'm really starting to enjoy this challenge! I'll let you know in a month if I am still of that opinion!

(If you decide to try Dvorak, let me know! I would love to know how it goes!)

Calling it quits

Don't worry. This is nothing too drastic. Well, it might seem drastic to some, but hear me out.

Facebook is my friend. At its inception, I held out, trying to ignore the hype and the social frenzy that ensued. That lasted almost a year, and then I caved. Facebook has its place, and its purpose, I will grant you that. There are people from my torrid (or not so torrid) past who have gotten in contact through FB. Kindergarten friends, people I knew from when I lived in Germany in 1990(!), and even cousins and second cousins who I am now "friends" with.

Facebook is also my enemy. There lies a sneaky side to this social construct that allows you to pry, even to snoop, and enjoy an almost voyeuristic glance into other peoples' doings that is almost as bad as gossip websites. As much as I would like to deny that I enjoy being privy to my extended friends' activities, thoughts, and passions, there is something relatively addictive to "being in the know".

For that reason, and for other reasons, such as finding time for constructive networking on more professional sites and even just writing more regularly in my blog, I am giving up Facebook. Not permanently, not even absolutely, but I hereby make a public vow to only visit Facebook once a week for browsing purposes.

So if you don't see as much updating from me on FB, and it takes you awhile to get a reply from me, know that it's not personal. It's just a little techno-purging in order to achieve a more harmonious balance in my life. :-)

Space Clearing

One of the nice things about having closed on the condo almost two full months before our leases were up is that it allowed us to move over slowly. Maybe too slowly. A few boxes here, the kitchen stuff there, and a few boxes every weekend afterward. Until there came one week before keys had to be handed over, and then the Stuff started piling up. At first the primary goal was to just get everything out of the old places, regardless of where it was going in the new one. When you walked in the door, the only thing you could see was boxes, boxes, and more boxes.

Honestly, it's still kind of like that. There are things waiting to be sold on Craigslist, chairs that need a table to sit at, and a whole bunch of other assorted tools, painting supplies, and just random bits and pieces strewn about the entire house. Almost entire. Two days ago, I declared war on a certain section of the cluttered mayhem. From stacks of boxes and scrap pieces of wood and leftover kitchen drawers, I eliminated, combined, threw out, and got rid of most of it, and moved the rest to a different pile of boxes. Finally, after about 30 minutes of organizing work the small space (which otherwise might attempt to be called a nook) between the kitchen cabinets and the water heater closet finally turned into a bicycle storage area!

The results are noticeable too, since previously, my bike had been blocking the laundry closet door in the bedroom, and Jay's was mildly obstructing our walking path between the living room and the rest of the place. It really helps me feel slightly more in control of the slowly diminishing "stuff" chaos that envelops the main living areas at present to have this little space put in order. It also helps that our herb box also graces the window above the bikes now. Nothing like some parsley and rosemary to brighten up the day!

Mancub

People ask if it was an accident. I have to tell them, officially, no it wasn't. Completely in the plan. Go figure. Having a younger brother is not a new concept. Almost all my friends have siblings, be it older, younger or twinned. I am one of the minority that has a sibling that is more than 10 years younger than me though. To be exact, my brother is officially 11 years, 10 months and 3 days younger than I am. We grew up in different generations, with different parents - my mother never would have bought store-bought spaghetti sauce, but this woman who is raising him has Prego on hand all the time now! I started college when he was just turning 6 and starting kindergarten, which made for some interesting moments at the grocery store and on campus, when people assumed that I was probably his mother and my mom was his grandmother. Having been so far apart in age, our relationship is part brother/sister, but also part mother-type relationship. As he grows older (and taller), though, he is starting to join the ranks of my younger peers.

Tonight my brother flies by himself to Atlanta for a 6 day visit. This newer, taller, more grown-up version of my little brother is going to be a joy to have here, both to spend some quality time together, but also to learn who this new person is. There is so much about someone that you can't put into words over the phone, so much missed detail about his teenage life, his interests, aspirations. We're going to get pizza tonight when he gets in, something pretty chill and comforting all at once, and hopefully I can start to learn more about the baby that my sister and I used to bounce on air mattresses, that cuddled in my arms while I read, and that worshiped ceiling fans before he could talk. Welcome to Atlanta, my (not so) little brother!

Accidental Art

Back in the dark ages, before digital cameras were ubiquitous and cheap, there was the 35mm camera. With real film and manual film winding. My parents gave me their trusty old Nikon that had served them from 1981 till the day I left for London in 2002. I appreciated having a camera with. There are too many fond memories that I would not otherwise have still at my fingertips, to rifle through when nostalgia hits, and to reminisce on the personal growth that started while I was abroad.

There were definitely moments where I was slightly ungrateful for having this old dinosaur of a camera to lug around though. While we were on a walking architectural tour of Paris with one of my classes, my ancient piece of ... technology started jamming up. This was not the time or the place for it to give me trouble either. Paris in itself is beautifully detailed, filled with picturesque buildings on almost every corner. We had just come up to the famous Metro entrance by the Louvre which was covered in color-saturated glass balls in an arching structure, so I snapped a picture for my album. Somehow the camera felt a little sticky during the exposure, but I thought nothing of it until a few hundred meters later when we came upon another scenic building. I tried pressing the button, and it only took half-way. I tried winding the film, and it finally let me wind it, but everything seemed to be acting up on the camera, so I stopped using it for awhile. I took out that roll of film, and added it to the ever-increasing pile of film canisters for developing when I got home. It wasn't until a few months later, when all the pictures came back from my trip that I realized just how lucky I was to have had this camera. Below is the picture that made all my little worries worth it.

Oh, Giorgio!

Atlanta has been blessed with an amazing store whose mere name causes women everywhere to swoon and drool. Until I moved here, I did not even know they existed! Now, however, Filene's Basement is a staple on my shopping sprees which have recently been few and far between.

The last time I made it to Filene's, they were having a designer's sale. I should remember the official name of their annual event - I want to say it was called the Vault sale. :-) The actual title of the sale is mostly beside the point, though. I was in a shopping mood, and had maybe 3 hours before my roommate and I were hosting a bachelorette party at our place, so what better way to kill a few hours than head to Filene's?

Little did I know the temptation that lay ahead: Gucci, Armani, and Dior graced the aisles next to the usual Calvin Klein and Philosophy stands. Their swan song called my name in the sweetest voice, I couldn't resist! Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be even thinking about buying a designer piece, however off-the-rack it might be. The decently-sized fitting room provided the perfect place to slip into the black Valentino number that had found its way into my pile of clothes. Trying to zip it up was another matter. I managed, but just barely. This was the perfect "10 pounds lighter" goal dress. A gorgeous "little black dress". Almost exactly what I would want in a LBD. But...for $200+ I didn't think a "goal dress" was what I had in mind. Regardless of it being Valentino. I know. But girls, there's a good reason behind this decision.

Enter the supple, saturated deep pink satin cocktail dress by Giorgio Armani. I slipped it on and it said "Take me home!". Two understated ruffles flow down the front of the dress, one on either side of the tasteful v-neck. Each seam hugged my curves and accentuated the positives. (And for a good bit less than $200, it also fit my budget better) Triumphantly, I made my way to the cashier's desk with my first designer dress. I even bargained them down another 10% because of a slight rip at the top of the back zipper! So now I have Armani in my closet, just waiting for the right moment to make its sexy debut! Now for the right shoes...jimmy choo, anyone?

Blog fail.

So I guess I didn't make my goal - already. But here goes another post with perseverance!

Thought of the day: One of our former labmates stopped by today, and we got a chance to catch up a little bit. As we were talking, she asked me how life was, and if I was happy. I said, "Well, things in lab could be going better, but I am content." To which she replied, "You definitely are emitting happiness, so life must be going well."

Those words have replayed in my mind like a soul-growing mantra, and it has made me definitely more aware, and grateful too, that yes, I am happy. Where I am in life is good. I have a steady, interesting (albeit frustrating at times) job, a truly amazing and loving boyfriend, a sweetheart of a puppy, and a brand new, gorgeous condo to live in. To add to that, my advisor is extremely supportive and understanding, and my lab makes it a pleasure to come to work every day. (Ok, almost every day)

Sometimes it really is the little things in life that make me smile. Like a few extra minutes of cuddle time in the morning, or the perfect piece of chocolate after dinner. One of the most vivid happy moments comes from my time Paris, now 7 years ago, on one cold, grey, almost-rainy day, walking from the Metro station to my school building. Among the multitude of small shops along the "rue" was a flower stand with so many beautiful colors bursting from its basket-stands. Admittedly I was feeling quite homesick and tired of living abroad at that instant, but as I passed that little shop, those flowers made my soul lift from its sorrow. I still have that picture I snapped from that flower shop, and every time I run across it, it makes me smile.

Day 2

We have talked about a theoretical second dog. Emma would love to have another dog to play with, at least while we are at work. She would have some adjustment to do though - she's got a moderate case of only-dogness at night.

There are a bunch of graduate students that own dogs, among them are a few of our good friends, A and N. So we offered to keep their dog K, a decent sized black lab/collie mix while they went out of town for a few weeks. We have kept K before, and besides a few "girl dog" moments (on both sides - food and rawhide make them territorial), they are a very good duo. Emma plays the bratty little sister while K tolerates her and generally tries to avoid being jumped on.

It's amazing what a stark contrast in personalities they are, though. Today's happy thought is a picture that captures their adorable relationship. :-)

Kitchen renovations

It may seem a little strange that re-doing a kitchen would fall under things that make me happy. The ensuing mess, lack of working (or even workable) space in one of the most vital rooms of the house usually causes some moderate to extreme stress and anguish. Our stove - the brand new, beautiful stainless steel stove - housed power tools and accessories rather than pots and pans for at least the first three weeks. A prybar (yes, a prybar...) made short work of the old laminate countertop, and some of the surrounding drywall too. When I left for Madrid, the pieces of new butcherblock counter were cut, the sink was at the house but not installed, and we didn't have a faucet picked out, so the sink would be mostly useless until that was figured out.

I can't praise the handyman skills and work ethic of the BF enough! When I got home, the sink was in place, counters set, and the beautiful new faucet sat in its place on top of the gleaming white porcelain sink. It was a sight for sore eyes!

We have been doing smaller projects since the sink install, but one of those is the subject of my favorite for today. Meet the Ikea spotlights! I bent over backwards to install these things (literally!) but I think it was well worth it! When we finally got done with all the drilling, screwing, wiring, and vacuuming - in that order - the outside waning daylight had turned to an intense dark night. It only served to make the reveal all that more spectacular!

Finding the right ...

One of my friends told me once that it took him a long time. I didn't believe him at first. He is one of the most articulate people I know, especially on paper. But now I understand. Somehow the process is more like making fine wine than a cup of tea. Although both take the proper incubation time, right ingredients, and a certain skill, making wine is something not everyone can do. Putting a tea bag into hot water for four minutes is hardly rocket science. Making wine is a different story, and I have come to realize that so is making a blog.

The right voice is everything. Without it writing a blog becomes laborious, tedious even. Hence the lack of regular posts so far. It is with resolve now that I embark on the soul-search to find the true inspiration for writing this public diary. My initial approach will be to classify on a daily basis something - one thing - that makes me smile, that inspires me, or that just plays an essential role in my life, however inconsequential it might seem. Check back to see how this experiment progresses!

Learning to compromise: part I

Not too soon after we got home that night - well, dinner, clean-up, a quick run to Home Depot to satisfy my cabinet curiosities there - we started planning. By we, I mean me. Sitting on the bed, Ikea software on the computer. The BF playing video games. You know how it works out.

I start planning the ideal remodel: cabinets, a pantry, roll-front cabinet. And then I look at the total. And BF says, "Is it really worth doing the remodel?" BOOM! CRASH! BURN!!! There go my hopes of gorgeous blue glass cabinets, the nice corner sink, the extra cabinet space...

I would like to tell you that I said, "No problem, honey. We can just leave the cabinets as is and everything will be fine." But the reality of the matter is that I was upset. After all the thought and research, planning and longing that went into getting the kitchen planned, it's hard to change gears to a downgrade that fast. I mean, seriously - from "here, plan your ideal kitchen and we'll talk about it" to "Does it even make sense to do this?" - it's kind of emotional torture! So I pouted. I did. Not proud to admit it, but it was better than bursting into tears (which, admittedly, I was also inclined to do).

Luckily, a little sleep does a world of good. After some careful consideration overnight, I came to terms with the idea of merely painting the existing cabinet doors and adding a few narrow cabinets for some extra room. It will be a lot less expensive, and possibly more fun! I'll save my true ideal kitchen for when we have a real house. Only a few more years...:-)

Moving in!

To say that I am excited about the prospect of moving is an understatement.

Given that I have moved every year since I got to Atlanta (and twice last year), not counting the fact that I had to move in and out of my college every year of undergrad, means that I have done my fair share of moving in the last 8 years.

All that pales now that I - we - are moving. Moving in. Together. Finally!

Honestly, having lived the last 9 months in a state of "no closet + 2 people + dog", I am jumping for joy at the prospect of having my own (well, shared) closet! This also means that I will be downsizing a fair amount. Not that this is a bad thing. I've realized upon reflection that I am much more like my mother than I thought. Not always a bad thing, but I'm more of a clutter-hoarder than I'd like to admit. But there the clutter lies in front of me and I can't really ignore it any more. And I'm not moving it either!

For those of you who are not in the loop, Jay and I are purchasing a 1br/1ba condo here in Atlanta. (Technically, his family is buying it as an investment) Either way, we are no longer renters. We can paint, put up pictures, change anything we want to change, and the best part is - we get all new appliances! The property is a foreclosure, so it's a steal, especially given the location and condition of the place, but it does not have any appliances, so we went out this past weekend and found a refrigerator, stove/oven, washer/dryer, and dishwasher! The place itself is in really great condition. It has beautiful red-tinted hardwood floors, nice light fixtures, and a washer-dryer hookup in the bedroom. The whole place was renovated in 2003, so there's not much that needs to be done. The only renovation in the works is the kitchen.

To be fair, it's not a bad kitchen. The cabinets are nice, but there are just not enough. If anyone doesn't know how much I love to cook and bake, I will post a picture later of the stacks of moving boxes of SOLELY kitchen stuff. :-) Multiply that by a factor of two (at least), since Jay and I both live in the kitchen, and you'll understand the dilemma. In comes IKEA. They have a (moderately) useful piece of software that allows you to design your own kitchen virtually, and the mock-up of the kitchen looks like it's a good option. Plus, I love their navy blue glass cabinet fronts! That may call for a separate post...more on that later.

The way I see it

A penny falls out of a guy’s pocket as he walks down the street in front of me. It rolls and lands at my feet. (If you know me at all, you will know that I compulsively pick up pennies, as long as they are heads-up. I’m sure Jay gets annoyed with this occasionally :-)) But the penny lands tails-side up.

(picture from http://carliland.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/lincoln_pennies.jpg)

So the philosophical question is, is it bad luck since the penny landed at my feet, regardless of whether I pick it up or not? Or is there a deterministic part of luck/chance/fate that allows me to choose whether or not I pick up the penny and assume the path it brings? Hence, the Iocaine Powder Argument: By ignoring the penny, I can logically assume that the luck outcome of the penny does not apply to me. But by ignoring the penny, I will also leave a nagging doubt in my mind that will automatically associate that forgotten penny with an ill-fated event in the near future. No matter which of the two options I follow, there will always be iocaine powder in both paths. Now, to build up a resistance to bad luck over the next 7 years…