So right in so many ways

Don't question it. Just embrace it.

Correlations

This comic from xkcd cracks me up.

Our Lady of Paris

Last night after dinner, I decided to go for a walk. My friend, Paola, suggested visiting the courtyard of the Louvre after hours, so that was my goal. I set out along the Seine and immediately paused to admire the beauty of Notre Dame at night. What a wonderful sight. I ended up inside Notre Dame, and they were playing a documentary about the building..inside the building. My favorite part was when they played the sounds of the ancient bell called Emmanuel, which rings in F-sharp. The sound recording reverberated throughout the building, and it was beautiful.

After the film, I walked to the Louvre and watched tourists take pictures in various poses and watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour. Arriving at the Louvre, I passed a man playing a saxophone in a corridor. The sound was magnificent in the space. I found a spot to lie down, and I spent some time listening to the moving water of the fountains and staring at the pyramids projected onto the night sky. It was very relaxing.

After the Louvre, I walked along the Seine back to my apartment. At one point, I saw 5 or 6 people looking over the ledge to see the lower walkway by the Seine. As I approached, I could hear a band down there. I peeked over too. There were about 10 or 12 young adults playing various instruments in a circle: 4 trombones, a drummer, a tuba, a couple of french horn, a few of trumpets. They played fun, fast music and even sang a bit. They ignored us watching them from of above, but we couldn't resist clapping to show our appreciation.

I then walked along a pedestrian bridge that was packed with groups of young people drinking wine/beer, smoking cigarettes, laughing, and having a general good time. I crossed the Seine and continued back toward my apartment. I took a small detour down a narrow, very bright street which was packed with restaurants and tourists. It was fun to see the bright lights and the various foods being offered.

Finally, 2.5 hours after leaving my apartment, I made it back for a deep sleep.

Today, Paola and I have plans to go to the cinema or watch movies at home. Should be fun. Right now, I'm watching Melrose Place dubbed in French, which is something I think every American should experience.

Team Buffy!

As a fan of both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight, I love, love, love this video. It makes me laugh. Kudos to the person who put it together.

Moniker not monocle

Patrick and I biked to work today. As we pulled up to the building, I had a revelation which I had to share with Patrick.

I said, 'Patrick, I've decided that I want you to call me Rebecca. Uhhh, Dr. Rebecca. Make that Dr. Rebecca, PhD'



So, suck it! You all have to call me that too.






(note: First goofy image was 'borrowed' from http://www.razzamatazz.co.uk/ while the second image was 'borrowed' from the wikipedia page for 'monocle')

The Long Pig

OnePlusYou Quizzes and Widgets

It is fulfiling to know that I could potentially help out so many people. Makes me feel good inside, ya know? Gives me the warm heebie-jeebies.

Daily Life

Come along boys and girls as we follow Becky to work:


I wake up in here



Then I move into the living room for a little yoga, meditation, and e-mail check. I bought a yoga mat, and I am sooo glad I did.





After a shower, I eat breakfast with the dinosaurs



Then I am off to work!! Bye apartment! Don't burn down or call international numbers while we are gone! We live on the second floor, second balcony in from the left. HI!



Whistle while you walk.



Hey, I know that guy! Think he'll walk with me?



Look, it's Patrick's buddy. He hangs out at the library all the time.


Almost to work. Birch trees are so pretty!



I spy my office straight ahead. Who can find the telescope dome?


I then spend hours sweating, working, toiling, and slaving away producing the most amazing science ever known to mankind.



After the long day, I head home and...Sit in the Sauna! yay!



After the sauna, we may eat something such as chips. Many common products have funny words on them that reduce me to a snickering 3rd grader. Don't even get me started on the "shampoot". (by the way, "pussi" mean "pouch" in Finnish. Discuss the appropriateness of this amongst yourselves.)



Finally, I curl up in bead to read. Currently, I am enjoying a children's story found in a local bookstore. I seem silly to fly all the way to Finland and buy french books. But, I am so impressed with the french book selections here. It is so cool, and I so badly want to buy more. I constrained myself to one, and it has already made me laugh.

Thanks Megan for the funny video

I turned in my dissertation to my committee today. It's a relief to have it done, but I don't quite believe it yet. It doesn't feel real. I'm really tired, and I keep thinking "what next? what did I forget? I need to make another plot. I need to make another figure. work. work. work." aahhhhh!!! This anxiety is very clingy.


I'll get used to it and move one to more important things like this:



Actually, now I've got to prepare for my defense and apply for a Jay-Oh-Bee.

WATCH OUT!!!

dude. you almost got assimilated. You gotta watch out for the Borg-cat hybrids. That's some serious shizz.

This is how I get my stuff done

I now understand why I'm in my 8th year of graduate school. None of my chairs squeak, so now I can get my stuff done.

((Note: sorry for the non-blog blogs. I'm working hard and creating a masterpiece of a dissertation right now. Happy Holidays everyone! Think of me on Christmas morning when I will be hanging out with my cat watching Ghost Hunters!))

This is how I roll

Sometimes you just gotta dole out the attitude to the kids and armchair astronomers. This cartoon is courtesy of my friend and gave me a good chuckle on a particularly difficult day.

I heart puzzles

Now THAT is a challenging sudoku!

(FYI: "Toothpaste for dinner" is the name of the cartoon drawn by Natalie Dee's hubby.

Working on a Saturday

Typical. I am sitting at my desk. It's gorgeous outside, but I'm freezing my tukus off indoors. The guilt is settling in on my heart. I should be working. I must get such and such done.

My therapist labels these thought patterns as "must"erbation and "should"ing on yourself

I "must" avoid these things. They are pointless and useless.

I am feeling particularly guilty today because I'm on a major deadline to finish my dissertation and get the "F" outta here. I've been on campus today for 2 hours now, and I've done nothing but eat lunch and start a new blog. I also joined an online group called GoodReads.com which seems pretty cool. You recommend books and can read the recommendations of others. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Enjoy your Saturday! Have a beer for me!