'Tis the season

As of tomorrow, it is official. I consider December 1st the start of the holiday season. 

What's that you say? Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season? Last I checked, I live in Canada, so, no, it does not. I prefer to get myself into the holiday spirit starting in December. That's when all the holiday parties take place. That's when we should start hearing Christmas carols and seeing Christmas displays. When we can start overdosing on cookies and chocolates and cocktails. When we start seeing the snow start to fall and not curse its presence. 

This month and this month only are all of these things supposed to occur. 

I also tend to be a lot more jolly in the month of December. This year especially because I have no final exams! I didn't have any last year either, but I was just back from my trip and suffering from mild culture shock, not to mention dealing with the fact that a certain someone was getting ready to abandon me for 8 months and another someone was getting ready to abandon all of us for London. I didn't let that stuff get me too down: we had tons of parties, tons of booze, and my cousins were here from England. 

So this is to serve you faithful readers notice: the next month of posts will be positive, upbeat, and filled with joy! Yay!

"Jaded"

I am procrastinating again. I don't really feel like correcting my lab reports, even though they are the last ones of the semester. 

My first experience TAing has left me somewhat jaded, for lack of a better, less over-used word. I didn't feel like a teaching assistant this semester. In fact, I don't know how much actual "teaching" I did. Instead, I, along with my follow TAs, spent the semester answering the same questions over and over because an overwhelming majority of our students were 1) not paying attention to the lab talk which answered those questions in the first place and 2) too fucking lazy to think for themselves. 

The concept of "learning by doing" was wasted on this bunch of med student wannabes/4.0-or-bust GPA seekers/kids who will make horrible scientists. No, they come to the lab fully expecting us to give them the answers to the questions on their lab reports. Failing that, they come to us seeking approval for their answers in an attempt to get a perfect grade. 

I have dealt with a number of people complaining that I marked too harshly because they did not read a gel properly: "Why should we lose marks for doing this wrong if we have never done it before?" was the argument. Umm... if you already knew how to do it, you wouldn't be in this fucking class LEARNING would you? 

Granted, not all of the students in the class are this way. There are a few gems, kids who get it. Kids who are engaged. Kids who ask the right kind of questions. Kids who will write the final exam and pass with flying colours because they didn't act like whining babies and beg us to do the thinking for them. 

I can't wait to correct the finals. They thought I was a bitch for giving out 16 and 17 out of 20 on labs instead of their usual 19? Ha. Vengeance will be sweet. I feel no pity. None at all. 

I am sincerely concerned about this generation of kids. They are only a couple of years younger than me, but I feel like we are worlds apart. It's been a good 4 years since I was in their shoes (i.e., in an undergrad lab), and I sure as hell don't remember my fellow classmates being so ... how do I put this? ... utterly useless. I know I wouldn't DREAM of asking my TA to correct my answers before I handed in my lab report. These kids are our future doctors or academics? People who do half-assed bench work in the lab, bitch about losing marks for said half-assed bench work, and can't do problem solving without us there to "strongly suggest" how to solve the problem? These are the type of students my university wants to churn out and release into the world? 

God help us all. Seriously. 

Told you I was jaded. 

...

Today, I am sad. Disappointed, but mostly sad. 

The Als don't need to be told that they let down their fans. They know they have. They let themselves down too. 

They had a chance to capture the Cup at home, and well, they didn't. 

It sucks. 

6 appearances in 8 years, and only one win. I commend them for making it to the game, but I wish they would just WIN it already! 

Guess there's always next year... how much longer are we going to have to say that about our teams?

And yes, there is more to life than sports. Yes, professional athletes are way overpaid (though I would argue against that in the case of the CFL), and yeah, so what? 

These teams mean a lot to our city. They are part of what makes Montreal great. We live and die by our Habs, we cherish our Als, and we mourn our Expos. And our Impact are becoming dear to us as well. Immersing ourselves in the love for our teams is a nice escape from the reality of the world that surrounds us for those couple of hours that the game is on. 

Simply put: losing sucks. Point final. 

Le football

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't totally pumped for the Grey Cup game tomorrow. It doesn't get better than this: our home team (whoo! Als!) playing at home for the championship ... and I get to go! (WHOO!) 

I fully expect to have no voice by the end of the game tomorrow night. And I really hope that it will be all worth it (i.e., the Als hoist the Cup). Can't wait! 

Nerd Moment.

Today I was reminded why I love being in Nutrition. 

I went to a fantastic symposium organized by the Dairy Farmers of Canada at Centre Mont-Royal this morning, and I came away with the feeling that the work we do in Nutrition is so exciting and relevant. 

The highlight for me today was the talk on nutrigenomics, which is a brand-new and cutting-edge science. Dr. El-Sahemy is a leader in the field, and his lab has found so many interesting links between genotypes and the ability to metabolize certain nutrients. It is the second time I see him talk, and not only is he a great speaker, he is also great to look at (small aside). Did you know that if you are a fast caffeine metabolizer, 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day may have a protective effect on your heart, whereas if you are a slow caffeine metabolizer, more than 4 cups per day can increase your risk of heart disease significantly? Of course, the only way you'll know if you are a slow or fast metabolizer is if you undergo a genetic test, and you can bet that there are some companies that have already hopped on the bandwagon to exploit those suckers willing to dish out $80 US for an analysis. 

Of course, this stuff has NOTHING to do with what I am studying right now. But I still find it fascinating. The rest of the symposium dealt with issues surrounding nutrition and aging, which is of particular importance for the Baby Boomers (i.e., my parents and my friends' parents). I heard the best talk ever on vitamin D, calcium, and bone health (which is super appropriate given DFC hosted this event). For once, I wasn't subjected to hearing someone drone on about DRIs/AIs/ULs, which was wayyyy refreshing.  

This kind of stuff makes me want to stay in research. I know I'm not going to become a dietitian (back to undergrad classes? As if! 9 months of unpaid stage? you've got to be kidding me!) and as much as I am loving the qualitative stuff I'm doing now, a small part of me is itching to get back to hardcore, empirical work. But, the thing is, I don' t know if I have what it takes to do a PhD ... and if for some reason I decided that I might want to go down that road, I don't want to stay at McGill EVEN longer (i.e., I'd want to go abroad). It's something that doesn't need to be decided right away, but it is something I should be keeping in mind, I suppose. My grades are (finally!) decent enough to get in to most schools (I think) so I guess the willingness to commit to another many years in academics is what is holding me back at this point. 

That and my uncanny ability to procrastinate all afternoon long. Oops.

Thoughts

I am incredibly behind in my reading for Qual Methods, yet I find myself here, procrastinating. I can't help it. Old habits die hard.

Just a few updates on the rest of my weekend in Mistissini:

• The weather was pretty miserable but since we were inside, sitting ALL DAY for both days, that didn't matter too much
  
• My project was well received, i.e., there were no comments about it, which is a good thing. I think.
• My labmates are awesome.
• I ate beaver meat, moose stir fry, and lake trout. And killer donuts. No bannock though. Sad.

It took 14 hours to get home, after leaving Mistissini 2 hours later than expected (breakfast wasn't ready when it was supposed to be and the receptionist showed up late and we couldn't pay until she arrived). Not so nice.

• All in all, I missed Mistissini and I am really lookng forward to going back. 2 months to go!

Other thoughts:

• I'm going to the football game tomorrow (thanks, Dad!) and the Als better win because I am also going to the Grey Cup game (again, thanks, Dad!)
• WTF happened to the Habs last night? Impending meltdown? Should we get into crisis mode?
• Michael Scott going to an "international meeting" in Winnipeg: classic!
• Girl Talk: awesome. Being on the dance floor with sweaty/drunk hipsters (don't get me started on the latest "fashion") and McGill undergrads at Girl Talk while sober: not so awesome. I really felt old last night. And became about as aggressive as I did back when I went to punk shows when the dance floor became a mini moshpit. That being said, I still had a great time. And I surely sweated off at least 10 pounds.
• Not enough people remember on Remembrance Day. And that's a shame. I have nothing but respect for all the veterans who have fought for our country. My grandfather was one of them, and I wouldn't even be here today if he hadn't gone overseas to fight (i.e., he wouldn't have met my grandmother in England and brought her to Canada). The world would be a very different place without their sacrifices. So I better see all of you wearing poppies next year, god damn it. No excuses.

And, yeah, I'm a week and a half too late, but: YES, WE CAN! Whooo! Obama!!!

Now, back to work before I get even further off track.

Mistissini Redux

Well, we have safely arrived in Mistissini after a long, long drive. (ahem 12 hours).

Of course, just as we entered the provincial park where NO ONE gets service unless you have a satellite phone, our bus decides to spring a leak from the radiator. Not good. We pulled over to the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. And when I say middle of nowhere, I really mean it. We stood a good chance of being attacked by wild animals had they decided to pay us a visit.

Luckily, our bus driver (who actually turned out to be a big creep as he told some of the girls from our team that if they wanted to party to pay him a visit) had a spare part and extra water to fix the radiator and refill it. An hour and a half later, we were on the road again.

And now we are here. We have our scientific meeting tomorrow and on Sunday we head to the Sabutaan tent. And then we have a feast! Finally, I get to enjoy a real feast!!!

100th post, almost 25

I am well aware that I have not posted anything in two weeks. I don't know if you have missed me or not.

I wanted to save my *100th* post for an appropriate occasion, and seeing as I turn 25 years old tomorrow, I figured this was it.

When I hear myself say "25" a part of me cringes. How did I get here so fast? It seems like just yesterday I was turning 18 and running down to the SAQ at the old Forum between classes in hopes of being carded. Although legally an adult, I certainly didn't feel like one. I still don't feel like one.

I think of all the things I have done in the last 7 years and I wonder what I have really accomplished. I'm still in school, I have no significant savings to speak of, and I still watch TV shows that target teenage audiences (ahem, Degrassi, One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl ... and too many others to name. Embarrassing, especially when you go on those spoiler sites and see people who take these shows WAY too seriously. Eesh.)

In a lot of ways, I'm not really an adult. My age, the exponential increase in grey hairs, and varicose veins on my legs (I've had them since I was 16, but that's besides the point) tell me otherwise. On the other hand, I do live on my own and pay all my own bills, and have done so for the last 3 years. I'm a graduate student and not an undergrad, which means I am paid to go to school. And, well, there is clearly a lot more to defining adulthood than by what kind of TV shows one watches. I've travelled. I've found a career path worth pursuing. I asked for a toaster oven or a vacuum cleaner for my birthday. I guess I really am an adult. Wow.

I guess I should also take advantage of life as a student while I still can. I don't pay taxes, I don't have to job hunt while the world is on the verge of an epic economic meltdown, and I can take personal days whenever I want because I work from home most days and don't have to report to a boss every day. I'm not merely scraping by (although my bank account balance is quite sad), and I'm enjoying life. I live in a beautiful apartment in the heart of the Plateau. I still know how to have fun when I can stay up past 10.

Tonight is one of those nights. Jer and I are celebrating this quarter century thing in an epic way (yes, I enjoy the word "epic". It makes things seem larger than life, and yes, I think my birthday is larger than life). Cocktails, wine, food, music, friends, fun. Our party is going to be the event of the year. There is nothing like a huge throwdown to acknowledge that you are officially in your mid-twenties and that every year beyond that will classify you as "old." There is no other age to look forward to after this. It is time to fully embrace adulthood. And try to act more like one.

Happy birthday to me and happy weekend to you all!

p.s. this time last year, I was lying on a beach in Vietnam (see below). I know, I know, I don't deserve to complain about anything.