NaBloPoMo #3: My Job

Using the writing prompt for today: What did you think was the coolest job in the world when you were younger? Do you still feel that way now? 

My junior year in high school I took an advanced biology class and I loved it! I especially loved the unit on microbiology. Unbeknownst to me, my teacher recommended me for a summer internship at the nearby university (University of New Mexico). I got it and that internship changed the course of my life. I was fortunate that I was asked to stay after the internship ended, and worked in that lab throughout college. We studied Reye's syndrome, a serious but rare condition that affects children and teenagers recovering from a viral infection. 

After I graduated from college, I went to graduate school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. I joined the Microbiology department and studied a bacteria that causes a respiratory disease in dairy and beef cattle, particularly when they are shipped.

After I graduated with a M.S., I worked in a cardiovascular research lab at the University of Texas Health Science Center. 

After a year, I transferred to a lab at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center studying brain cancer. 

In December 1999, I decided I wanted to live closer to my family and in an area with seasons, so I packed my bags and moved to Chapel Hill, NC. I started working at Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at The University of North Carolina and have been in the same lab ever since. My project focuses on metastatic colon cancer.

Needless to say, I love what I do!

NaBloPoMo #2: The Brick

I decided to try my hand at blogging every day in November. We'll see how it goes. . .

I swim with a masters team and today we used a new workout aid called The Brick. It's a weighted kickboard and was about as much fun as it sounds. . .

small print at the top says: this is not a flotation device. No kidding.

NaBloPoMo #1: Currently {November}

Reading: Gathering Storm by Rachel Hore. My mom lent me this book set in Cornwall and London during WWII. It has all the things I love in a good story: past stories and present stories woven together, history and mystery. I'm about halfway through and it's hard to put down! 

Watching: I stumbled upon The Great British Bake-off on my PBS station one evening and now I'm hooked! It took some researching to figure out which of the six UK seasons I was watching. PBS is showing the UK's Season 4 (2013) but they are calling it Season 2. Season 1 was the UK's Season 5 (2014) so they are going back in time. So far Netflix only has the UK Season 5 available for streaming and they are calling it Season 1. It's most confusing, but I managed to sort all of that out without finding out who won on either season! I watch the PBS episode as it airs each week and I am also watching the series on Netflix.

Anticipating: My birthday later this month and Thanksgiving! The first year of our marriage, my husband and I started the tradition of eating out on Thanksgiving because it fell on my birthday. We go to the hotel where we stayed after we got married because they have a fantastic buffet.

Knitting: I frogged the gradient shawl I was working on last month because I just wasn't happy with how it was turning out. I decided to use the gradients in a striped pattern and so far I really like how it looks! I'm combining the stripe pattern from Cladonia + the basic shape/garter stitch of Color Affection. I used the information about the magenta shawl from this article + this article to figure out how to do the increases. 

The stripes will show more contrast as I work outward with each pair.

Currently {Mid-October}

Reading: Front Runner by Felix Francis. I loved Dick Francis books and I think the books by his son are just as good. The hero in the previous book (Damage) makes a return appearance (not what Felix usually does) and after a few chapters I am already hooked!

Watching: College Football. This is my favorite time of year! Although UNC isn't ranked, they are 4-1 right now. Plus basketball season is right around the corner and UNC is ranked #1 in the pre-season polls. Of course, pre-season polls are usually meaningless but it is exciting.

Anticipating: Being able to swim in the Koury Natatorium again. I swim on a masters team and our pool has been closed for renovation since late July. Repairs took longer than expected so we have been swimming in various pools near the campus. They started adding water last week, so we should be back any day now.

Knitting: Spearmint Tea using Miss Babs orange gradient. These colors just say fall to me and they are gorgeous in real life.

Sewing: I just got 2 quilts back from my long-arm quilter so next up is binding. Photos of FO soon!

Currently {September}

Reading: X by Sue Grafton. Part of the fun in waiting for the next Sue Grafton book is to guess what word Grafton will come up with for each new title, such as A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar etc. But she broke the mold with this book in that it's simply titled X. So far this book is living up to her previous books and I am trying not to race through it.

Watching; Rosemary and Thyme on Netflix.This is a cozy mystery series set in beautiful English and European gardens. It stars Felicity Kendall, most well known for her role in The Good Life, and Pam Ferris, from Call The Midwife.

Anticipating: a trip to Myrtle Beach with my family later this month. The crowds are gone, the weather is cooler but still warm enough to sit on the beach or by the pool.

Knitting: A Baby Surprise Jacket for a friend whose daughter-in-law is expecting a girl in October. I'm using Malabrigo Rios in English Rose and it's such a beautiful color.

Sewing: a jelly roll quilt in blues and browns. The pattern (Pandora's Box) is from Jelly Roll Quilts. Photos soon!

F.O. Cladonia

Project Link
Yarn: Madelinetosh Sport -  Aura and Antler

Currently {August}

Reading: Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat. This book is set in an English boys' school that harbors a deep secret. I'm just getting into it, but so far it's very intrguing.

Watching: Ally McBeal on Netflix. It's been ages since I saw it and I'm fairly sure I missed the beginning of the series so it's been fun to go back and watch it. Everyone looks so young!

Knitting: When we were in California, I bought a beautiful set of green gradient yarn in Sweet Georgia Cashluxe Fine and decided to make a Holden with them. I just started the 2nd color and am loving the way the yarn is knitting up. It is so soft!

Anticipating: I'm planning to take a week long staycation in the middle of August and I can't wait to just hang out, knit, read, and sew. 

Waiting: For a stress fracture in my ankle to heal. I've been wearing a boot for just over a week and it doesn't seem quite as painful, so I'm hoping my time in a boot is closer to 4 weeks rather than 6.

Reflecting: I've been using our counties bookmobile for ~ 7 years and have gotten to know the director of it fairly well. The bookmobile died 2 years ago, but she kept coming to our stop first in a library van, then in her own car so that we could still get our books. Word on the street is that a new one will be in use soon, but it's unclear if it will come to our stop or just visit daycares. The librarian is retiring at the end of this month and I will miss her! We've exchanged email addresses so I hope to keep in touch so we can discuss the various books we've read. I bought her this set of coasters as a thank you: