Coming together

The week has been fairly productive in getting research and experiment ideas on the table. I had a few more safety training classes this week and learned today that UMich has had two radiation 'spills' in the last 15 years; maybe that is why they need to have a two hour class. The plan is to start two experiments next week. One in which I will be using some material already prepared by a lab mate (which saved me about 2 months) to inject in to the trail vein of mice to hopefully over-express a specific protein in the liver. There are a few steps before the injection that if all goes well, will take about a week. Additionally, I will start a few liver cell lines to begin examining some metabolic signaling parameters on how my protein of interest affects these processes. The one great thing about being a post-doc is I already know these things are not going to work, at least the first time. If grad school taught me anything it is that one must try, try, and try again. Also there was a sign of hope shining down from the science gods. I had emailed a professor at Mt. Sinai, Dr. Friedman, about getting some hepatic stellate cells from his lab. They are not readily available commercially, and since he discovered them, I figured this was the place to go. Not only did he respond within hours, being the Chief of Liver Disease, but he was more than happy to share his cells and was very welcoming of collaborating. It is little moments like this that really get me excited about science.

This afternoon I had to take a different bus to my car, since I was parked near the stadium where my radiation class was held this morning. It is move-in weekend here so I expected it to be a bit late, however after waiting 20 minutes, I decided it was time to start walking. I met a girl who was also waiting for the same bus, and so we started off together along the bus route hoping to find it. She is starting her master's program in some environmental sciences and we talked about moving to A2 and what we did. We did eventually find the bus and as we approached her stop we exchanged pleasantries about it being nice to meet one another. I doubt I will ever see her again, one of the many random people that come in to our lives for a moment.

This evening I went to a cooking club/pot-luck of sorts. I have turned to the internets to find some like minded people and things to do in town, which was a move corroborated by Louise (lab mom) who told me somewhat jokingly that, "oh, you won't meet anyone here," referring to the lab. I found a group, A2 Women's Club, and we had a Danish themed pot-luck this evening, with a real Dane to boot. I rounded up my dessert and wine and headed over to some woman's apartment I had never met. I guess showing up with wine and dessert is a good ticket through anyone's door. Everyone I met there was great! Lots of different backgrounds and different ideas on topics we talked about, like health care and education. We are hoping to do this monthly, which would be a blessing. I miss the cooking club Desiree and I started in CU.

Finally, I am taking off to go camping with my family this weekend; what a novel concept. Not only am I actually taking the Labor Day holiday off, I'm going somewhere and with my family.

Two bottles of wine and a stranger

It looks like while on the home stretch of my "what I have done over the last 5 years" list I am apparently make a sprint for the finish to add as many items to the list as possible.

I went to whiskey night at 7 Saints last night to try and begin to learn to drink whiskey before I got to Scotland. I had told a few friends, but figured it'd just be me. That was kind of the point, I think I need to go to a bar by myself - for the whole night. I have been at bars by myself for, say less than 30 minutes, waiting to meet people, but I have never just gone to a bar, intentionally by myself.

So that was the intention. I sat at the bar, near the west end, on a stool right next to post, so there was no one on my right, an open seat at my left, two women beyond that, and open seat around the corner, and a man by himself.

It was busier than expected, so it took a few minutes to get a menu from the bartender. I took a look at the bourbon and rye list, this weeks specials, and didn't really have any idea. I moved the menu away a bit and was going to wait and ask the bartender his opinion. Some people had arrived and were talking to the two ladies to my left, and then the single man got up, to let them have the open seat and his, and sat next to me.

"Oh so I see you are drinking whiskey tonight," he said.
"I am trying to learn how before I go to Scotland this summer."
"I really don't drink it anymore. Which are you thinking of?"
"The only one I recognize the the Jim Bean, and I've had that, so, I really don't know. I was going to see what the bartender recommends."

The bartender walked over and asked if I have decided. I then asked him for some help, and explained that I am just learning about whiskey. He gives a few suggestions and says he's really been liking this Eagle 17 year rare (or something like that). Just then my new 'neighbor' gives his comments about it and says, "I think she'd like that. Get her a pour, and one for me too." He looks over at me and says, "you can't drink whiskey alone."

We get our drinks, toast to whiskey, and introduce ourselves. Some small talk, chit-chat. His name was David and he was in town, from Peoria, checking on his medical equipment that he sells. I guess he goes in to surgery with the docs and sees if everything is going OK.

Then Mina showed up so we moved to the little table at the end of the booths to accommodate everyone. I introduced Mina to my new found friend, David and our waiter, Jim, came over to check on us. David bought Mina some whiskey, and I went to give my regards to Andy the owner. He is the main reason I had made it out. Last time we were there for dinner, the waitress over heard me mentioning I needed to learn whiskey and she sent Andy over, as I found out he LOVES whiskey. So I told him I'd come in for whiskey Wednesday.

I saw Andy at the far end of the bar and said hello; man has the best hand shake. He came over to our table, and in the meantime, David was looking at the wine list - there went my whiskey lesson. He spent sometime asking Andy what he had in the 'back room.' A few minutes later Andy came out with this Spanish blend that was just AMAZING (I'm kicking myself for not keeping the cork). Smooth and chocolaty, full-bodied, but not harsh. He sat and had a glass of wine with us and told use about the plans for the place in the future.

After we finished that bottle, he flighted us up to the next on the list from the 'back room.' An equally amazing Spanish blend - they both were just delicious!!

David had bought both Mina and I our drinks and food that night, and I am guessing he was looking for something in return; but I didn't want to add that to my list. I think being bought drinks by a stranger at a bar was good enough.

No obligation or anything...

As I am getting ready to end this chapter in my life, I have been doing a lot of reflection. Thinking and reminiscing on all of the event over the past 5 years. I have started to write a little list of memorable events and things, such as getting a tattoo, the birth of my nieces, buying a car, and things of that nature (the full list is coming). As of last night, I now have a new item to add to this list. Like most items on this list, it is not something I expected to happen, but, well it did. Now mind you, this scenario could have opened the door to lots more very unexpected additions to the list, but alas, it didn't, and me, myself, and I are very thankful.

While at C-street last night, in the non-dancing lounge/bar area, we all were struck by a women who walked in, in a very memorable dress. It was a (very) short, sleeveless, body-hugging, black dress, accompanied by red heels. This particular dress also had a deep plunging V-neck that went past her navel, and the two "sides" of the dress that were covering her lady-part were held together with three silver buckles. Something similar to this, but with buckles and no sleeves. Others who saw this and may have found a better visual are more than welcome to share.

As it normally is with this particular (fashonistis) crowd of friends last night, there were significant comments on her outfit. Given the type of dress and others I have seen wear something similar, she did not look that bad. She was not "falling out" or "pugging" through the buckles, and from a distance it was OK. However, I soon learned that up close this was not the case.

After a trip or two to the dance floor, I was taking a break at our table in the lounge area. T and E were across the table chatting and I was sipping my rum and coke. G had finally made it to the dance floor with single T, his girlfriend and her friends. Just then, memorable-dress-lady was on the move heading in my direction. In those first few seconds I did not think much of it, as the door was just a few feet behind me. Then there she was, standing right next to me, arm around my chair, chest just about in my face (they were short chairs) giving me a very up close view of what one should only see from a distance.

"My boyfriend over there," she points to the pool table just past T & E "has been watching you tonight and thinks your really hot." She flings her hair and moves in a little close. "No obligation or anything, but if my boyfriend think someone is hot, I feel I should let them know...ya know, if they are interested..."

I picked up my drink to buy a few seconds in which I could think what the hell I was going to say. After a huge sip, I sent my drink down. "Thank you, that is very flattering."

"We've been watching you and think you dance really good. And I saw you trying to do some sign language. I used to know sign language, and thought it was really cool you did, and I wanted to come over even more, since I thought that was cool."

"Oh, well, I must've just been waving my hands around a lot. I talk with my hands a lot."

"I'm Amanda, by the way, and my boyfreind," she points again, he waves, "is Jason."

I look over and give a head knod.

"I'm Christina." We shake hands. "Nice to meet you."

We chatted a little more. I found out she is studying the Alexander Technique, which is

"is a way to feel better, and move in a more relaxed and comfortable way...the way nature intended"

I told here a little about myself and what I was doing. I don't really remember how the conversation ended, but eventually, after what seemed like 10-15 minutes, it finally did. At the end of the night, during the last few dances, we spotted Amanda and Jason on the dance floor with another couple. The two women were dancing facing either other, with their respective gentleman friends dancing behind them. And there it was, the girls were full on making out. We left quickly afterwards, I did not want to add that to my list.

It wasn't me

I guess there is a first time for everything, including locking yourself out of you apartment; well, I question whether I actually did this. I have lived here a few months short of 5 years and have NEVER locked myself out or even had a scare where I thought I had. Once I was up-and-at-um this morning, I decided to start the laundry and check that off today's to-do list. I gathered the clothes, detergent and quarters - the new apartment in Ann Arbor will have laundry in the apartment - and headed up stairs. I had some trash that needed to be taken out as well, so I put this outside the door. After starting the wash and returned downstairs, set down the detergent and took out the trash. While coming back in I was thinking about the omelet I was going to make for breakfast with mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers. I grabbed the door handle and slammed myself in to the door - IT WAS LOCKED!

I giggled it a few more times some how thinking that it might miraculously open, but alas it did not. I had no keys on me, no phone, and did not even remember the phone number to the office, which is closed on Sunday. I only know one persons number in town - those damned cell phones and speed dial, but he was not that one with keys to my apartment. I knew there was a maintenance man who has an apartment in our building and sometimes stayed there. I couldn't exact ally remember which was his so I decided against knocking. Of the other 3 apartments on my floor, I know the neighbors next to me the best, which is not really all that well anyway. I looked to see if their vehicles were in the parking lot and the husband's truck was, so I knocked - no answer. The neighbors kiddy-corner I knew the least well, so I went with the neighbors across the hall. It was only about 10:15 and I could hear that they were up and about as well. I knocked and the younger daughter answered, I think she is the only one in the home that speaks English. She gave me their cordless phone to call the 24h number.

I called and spoke with the operator at the call center, she said she would call maintenance and have them call back. I took a seat on the stairs outside my apartment door. As I was sitting on the stairs I heard Lily (my cat) meowing right inside the door. I felt really bad, maybe she thought I wasn't coming back for awhile. She continued this for a minute or two, then I heard her scratching or something on the other side of the door. All of the sudden I heard the door handle moving and then I heard it again followed by a meow. From what I could gather, she was jumping up on the door and messing with the door handle. THE CAT HAD LOCKED THE DOOR!! I know it sounds crazy, and if you've met my cat, maybe less so, but I don't have any other explanation for how the door got locked.

It had been about 10 minutes and no call yet; I called again. She said she would call this time, apparently she had just paged him the previous time. Within a few minutes I got a call from him. He said he was leaving now, but it would take him about 30 minutes to get here as he lived out of town. I was not too happy to hear the on-call maintenance man was that far away. I told him I know some management personal live in the apartments, could he call one of them, he agreed. While waiting to hear back from him, I called the one person's number I knew - voice mail, I left a message. I thought maybe he didn't' pick up because he didn't recognize the number, so I called again, ah ha, a voice. I quickly explained I was locked out and asked if he would call E, who has keys to my place. Just after hanging up with him, the maintenance man called and said Erin from the office would be over to let me in. Finally, this would be over. It had been over 25 minutes, this I knew because I heard the washer go off. Finally after 10 more minutes and another call to the 24h call center to make sure Erin was coming, I was in!














"I didn't do anything"