Greetings from Merry Old England

So we have been in England since Christmas Eve, but I haven't had email until now at Sir GB's dad's house. We have been having a grand time, but the weather is in fact horrible. The sun was out for a whopping 25 minutes today, and then of course it began to rain....poop on that. We went to Cambridge yesterday, and have also been to York, and visited some wonderful towns with names like cockermouth (yeah, it makes me giggle too), then at one intersection...one way was giggleswick and the other was wigglesworth, so I have named my sheep souviner Sir Giggleswick Wigglesworth the third duke of Cumberland. Yes he is a very pretentious sheep.

We are having fun and enjoying staying with the various parts of Sir GB's clan...who are of course all very nice. So if I don't catch up with you before then....happy new year. We are off to Madrid on Tuesday and there for a few days.....so we'll see what I can do on posting there....

huggles and happy new years!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Some people call Paris the city of lights, I personally view it as the city of stairs. I do not know the last time I climbed this many stairs. But we have been to many fabulous museums in the past few days, the museum d orssey, the centre pampideu, the picasso museum, and today the louvre (before heading to england). We also went to the catacombs, which I thought were really cool, but Sir GB said they gave him bad dreams. What can I say, aside from the overwhelming number of stairs, Paris is a fabulous city that I would gladly return to any day. We are off today to Otley England, home to Sir GBs mom for christmas, and she does not have interwebs, I know how can this be, so I will wish those of you out there that celebrate christmas a happy one, and I will be back in touch when we reach Sir GBs dads house where there are interwebs.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

We are in Paris

We are having a lovely time in Paris! Sir GB and I have been to Sacre Couer; Eiffel Tower; Notre Dame (we climbed to the top and saw gargoyles up close); then the pantheon and the latin quarter. We have had great food and lots of wine!

A-team is headed to europe

So Sir Grizzly Bear and I take off for Europe on tuesday morning....such adventures we will have...I think we might do the catacomb tour of Paris. I will go searching for sheep in Yorkshire, and in Madrid I will try to avoid pig. So be expecting many photos when we return, most likely no ferns this time, as I have been informed they are in low supply where we will be. Lame, but I guess I will survive as long as there will be some sheep.

Other goings on in Wellseley

Joss had her first moo juice...which she enjoys!
And I saw the inflatable house...this place had a ton of crazy inflatable ornaments I have never seen....crazy

Daisy and Me!

Meet my new canine best friend Daisy....she is such a sweetie....she is well loved by everyone she knows.....even her "sister" Joss, well, except for when Joss has food.

Me and Joss

Here we are, two cuties. I had much fun hanging out with my niece. She is very delightful, especially if you sleep with earplugs. I'll put up more pics soon....including me with my new best friend Daisy, and the inflatable house....very scary that place...who knew you could get so many enormous inflatable christmas ornaments.

who is the MVP of Joss' birthday

You guessed it....ME! I came back from burns on four of my five fingers on my right hand! And a sliced left thumb....Yup back from the injured reserve or the disabled list (choose your preference) to save the day! And I helped with play group today! So if you want to see pictures of the party click here

But here are some highlights!

The Fear of Santa

Some of you may know that when I was a wee little gerbil I was terrified of people with facial hair (I am still pretty scared of women with facial hair) this included Santa. So I was delighted to discover this site with all sorts of kids terrified of santa...see it isn't just me!

Our Disco Christmas Tree with Nicholas the Sock Monkey

Seeing since we aren't really Christian, and celebrate Christmas as a holiday to celebrate family and friends, we have a slightly different take on the Christmas tree. Yes, our tree is silver and yes it has fiberoptics built in. Oh and you are correct there is a sock monkey on top of it, his name is Nicholas. He keeps a watchful eye on all of the presents and lets me know when Sir Grizzly Bear has been snooping around looking for them.

Turkey Day

We had a great one! We had a great one, with fantastic food and friends. A couple people said it was the best thanksgiving ever. What a compliment. Here are some photos...courtesy of Ness

Finally some good news

So I haven't written about my academic world a lot lately, mostly well because I think I have been sucked into teaching so much that I haven't thought that much about it.

But finally some good news: I made the long short list at Oxford. You may wonder, what the hell does that mean? Well it means they are considering me based on my application and have requested more materials. If I make the short short list (yes, these things exist, and that is what they are called) I give at talk at Oxford in early February. It is actually an awesome job. It is in Nuffield College, which is a graduate college at Oxford specializing in social sciences. It is kind of a sweet position, 3 years including, salary, room and board, although you do have to dress for dinner every day. I suppose this could be handled.

On the never ending dissertation front: I am supposed to finish a new draft by the time I leave for Europe. Three chapters are done, a fourth is almost finished, and I have the entire week off from school, so I should be able to bust a few out. Of course two of the unfinished chapters are the introduction and the conclusion. I would love to have this working draft done, and go to Europe without it hanging over my head, and then Karen can read it. Hopefully she won't keep it hostage for 5 month this time.....hmmmmmm.....

Naughty bonobo

I have to say this little girl is pretty damn smart....reminds me of me as a kid....although I just set fires and didn't pull alarms....but pretty good stuff.....

got to love those primates!

Adventures at the sleep clinic

So the good news is I most likely only have a mild sleep apnea, and most likely have massive anxiety. Only in my world is this good news. But I get the official word next tuesday...so we'll see.

I just want to sleep....is that so much to ask?

Happy Birthday Sir GB

Sir GB is having a birthday today. He couldn't wait, so we opened presents at breakfast. He seems to have liked everything. He especially liked his little crocheted kitty I made him named Truffles. I think he kind of looks like Tiger Cat. Look for truffles soon on the gerbilknits page.

Let's hope Sir GB enjoys his bithday party.

I'll tell you the lasagna smells really good.

getting ready for the sir gb birthday

so tomorrow sir gb turns 40...yup, so now he can stop talking rubbish about us being in the same decade.....

We are having a little party for him, 10 or 12 people, or something like that. I have decided to make an italian feast....b/c well, hell i wanted to.

so if you know sir gb wish him a happy birthday tomorrow. I am sure he will appreciate it.

7.5 days until Andrew's birthday

His presents are all bought, and his card....even his card from Tiger cat. Now I just have to finish planning the birthday party....all i have so far is dessert, which he requested....cheesecake. which given my love for the cheesecake is fine with me. I am thinking of an italian feast, which will appease all of the meat eaters and the vegetarians. thank god we don't know any vegans or we would be in serious trouble. Oh if you actually know andrew and want to send him something, he got an ipod from his dad, so itunes gift certificates would be good, or he always enjoys tea and dark chocolate.

Lack of sleep

So, I had a big discussion with my allergist about my inability to sleep. So I am headed off to the sleep clinic in the next month or so.....hopefully it will make it so I can sleep through the night. Apparently it isn't normally to only sleep 4 hours a day for 2 months....who knew!

Happy Halloween

Um...I personally think this is the cutest trick or treater ever....but I am biased towards little Joss

Sleep is not my friend

Apparently sleep has friends broken up with me. I have been getting up at the crack of the middle of the night lately and not falling back to sleep. On Monday i was at 4, today it was 2:30ish. Yeah...not my best moments. My guess is that it is probably stress. The job market sucks....this is the most stressful experience I have had in a while. All I can do is wait. In the mean time:

• I am just writing a job talk for a non-existent talk
• Teaching two courses
• Co-authoring several papers
• Crafting...crafting...crafting (check out my craft blog for more details)
• Contemplating putting Tiger in a halloween costume (note this is not Tiger in a costume, just looks like her)
• Realizing that I will have to actually finish my dissertation at some point
• Just really wanting to be on vacation
  

Happy Birthday

So there are two birthdays that I know of today! My mom and my friend Lisa. So if you see either one wish them a happy birthday, or at least a little happy birthday critter....yeah he is sweet!

Haere rā Tahu

so my buddy tahu successfully defended her proposal on monday and tomorrow she is headed back to NZ until March. Sure, she'll be happy with Tez, but she will be missed dearly in Palo Alto.

Now the department only has my symbolic maori-ness to keep it under control....hmmm....we are in for some trouble....i can see it....but I'll wear my maoriland t-shirt...just so people aren't confused :)

We'll miss you T!

The Joss has spoken....

And she said "Hi", I got a phone call today, and who was talking to me, Joss...yup she said her first word and it was Hi....good she is a friendly one, not like her aunty alex, who first said me.

Congrats Joss, soon there will be many more words, but i'll try not to teach you any bad ones....but you know it might happen....

It must be fall

How do I know.....it has started to rain in northern california...which means fall, it becomes winter when it is under 50 degrees during the day......

But they are good days, b/c here is no desire to go outside, so we get a lot done....but the infamous Tiger is outside....so she'll be nasty when she comes home...

You may wonder where i have been....

Well...I've been working my ass off. The quarter started this week....I am co-teaching two courses, getting my job applications off, co-authoring a chapter, working on our experiments from the NSF grant, oh and watching the cat....since last time Sir GB went out of town Tiger kept escaping and not coming home, I have kept her inside...which is quite a task....but we have done much playing and snuggling....so all is well...but she'll be happy when her food guy returns tomorrow from Boston, so she can go and frolick!

My Beebo has a booboo

So two weeks ago I was making a lovely dinner of linguini with mussels and white wine sauce....when draining the pasta, it splashed up and burned my beebo (if you don't know what a beebo is....well...that is your loss, you can try to get it out of the lovely jocelyn, but she doesn't talk)....Well...so I was in much pain and had a bandage beebo, which sir gb was nice enough to go get me gauze and burn cream for....so I was all injured and whatnot...so I go to my friend Lisa's yoga class....she asks does anyone have any injuries or problems....I just look at her, hold my beebo, and mouthed....my beebo....well...I interrupted yoga while Lisa laughed hysterically....so be careful and don't injure your beebo

A Funny Thing Happened in Gold Country

So we were in gold country this weekend....which was lovely, but the funniest thing was...

there was a sign for a motel, and then i saw this sign that said....

"Having an Affair....Have it Here"

Well, I was flaberghasted...I mean really that isn't the sort of thing you advertise.....then I realized that the sign wasn't on the motel, but rather on the elk's lodge.....pure comedy!

A funny thing happened while watching football

well...first the bills are beating the pats at half time...that almost never happens

but more interesting, i had just awoken from my first half napping (yup I love the fall), when all of a sudden I hear my alma mater mentioned...no not stanford, not duke...those would make sense....no, the bane of my teenage years....lewiston porter high school....not usually a name you hear, well ever. But apparently they retired Daryll Johnston's number, and he was announcing the game. Yup...he is the most famous alumnus of my high school....sad, but true.

I love the Roomba

so we celebrated labor day by letting a robot do the vacuuming...

what a cute little guy robbie the roomba is...and a very effective little cleaner too....he would save a lot of time if we weren't fascinated by watching him....Sir GB followed him into every room, and watched robbie's every little move....

unfortunately tiger was out and about and missed the fun...so clearly we need to use robbie more often so tiger cat can get used to him....it could be hysterical.....i'll keep you posted!

what a wonderful birthday!

I had a wonderful birthday weekend.

Saturday, I went to the spa with truth, and then we got my interview suit, which is saucy, and i got it on the cheap....YIPEEE!!!!!

Then I had a lovely surprise party.....that truth and sir gb planned, and the lovely lynny made many, many monkey decorations, which are fabulous and in fact still up in our apartment.

Sunday sir gb and i went to my favorite burger joint, clarke's for an excellent burger and then spent the rest of the day watching silly movies, it was fabulous.

Then on the actual big day.....i went and had lunch with some of my lovely ladies.....got some sweet shoes for my suit, and then....came home, did a little work, had champers and opened pressies.....Let's just say I have an awesome group of people, including my family and friends that got me some really cool stuff.....these included really cool books (including this awesome book on knitting animales....they are so awesome!), but one of the coolest things....well...yes i know i am a gadget freak and it isn't romantic at all....but sir gb got me a roomba......now I am the proud owner of a robot!!!!!!!! It is awesome...

Now Tiger just really enjoyed the box the Roomba came in....she played in at all last night....

Tonight we are headed to the A's vs Red Sox match....hopefully the Sox will pull their shit together....I am sick of watching them suck!

Apology

Apparently some of my readers do not find nut kicking or rochambeaux funny. I can understand how that is a delicate area (As a sociologist I would be remiss not to mention there appears to be a gender effect). So for all of you who don't find rochambeaux or nut kicking, mea maxima culpa

My run ins with america's funniest home videos

So I haven't paid any attention to this show in about 20 years....but I have had 2 america's funniest home videos moments in the past two days....this is way more often than i would like to have happy.

But yesterday, truth and i were in the grocery, and we saw a dad and his like 10 year old kid play fighting....and in the reversal from traditional home video footage, the dad came close to kicking his sun in the nuts about 6 times.....finally to end the battle the dad gave him a titty twister...i mean who does this with their kids...it is totally fucked up.

then today i read this interesting piece on slate about how you tube has transformed our viewing of these sorts of videos, and we are now watching people get hit in the nuts alone on our computers, rather than as a happy family or group....Robert Putnum, why couldn't you have used this example instead of bowling....i mean rochambeaux is much more interesting than bowling...nut kicking.....always funny!

Cows with Accents

I mean who knew (apparently these people)....I thought only animated cows had accents....but apparently it is true.

I wonder if Tiger cat has a british meow from growing up with Sir GB? hmmmmm....must investigate!

My 200th post!!!!!

Nothing too exciting to report....I am stil in the dark about my birthday party, but I am excited about my trip to the spa for my theraputic mud wrap.

It will be a nice break, as I haave ben working my ass off since I got back from Montrel, and probably will be doing so until I go on vacation in december.

But hopefully there will a big payoff for all of the work....time will only tell.....until then i'll wonder when this birthday extravaganza will occur.....

it's coming soon....

yes, soon i will be 30...well next monday the 28th......all i know is there is a party....sometime, somewhere....the rest is a mystery....which is always intriguing...

so what am i doing to get ready....getting job applications ready....hence there is now an academic website, knitting and crafting up a storm...also preparing my self for job talk shopping....sir gb is buying me a suit for my birthday, which is a pretty sweet gift....but i am starting to need adult like clothes to go to work, I am co-teaching with karen this fall, so I have to keep up....

but in the mean time....we have got an early birthday greeting to my brother-in-law, greg, and a happy anniversary to my parents on the 28th (yes, the same day as my birthday, but 5 years earlier---they aren't shady.....although that would make for even more ridiculous family stories).

New pictures

So, I thought I would give you all some exciting photos....here are the last ones fom the beach

And here are some of montreal....i loved the biodome and the botanical gardens..so yes, many plants and animals!!!!

ASA is done

So I gave my presentation this morning. It went well, of course I ran out of time, as one does. But it went over fairly well. Things I have learned....reading from a script....not my style....I do much better with bullet points and going with the flow....but that is just me....but things are all well in the world...I made many useful contacts for getting a job, and now we get to play in montreal for almost two full days!

Yippeeee!!!!!

B/c when i get back it is time to put the nose to the grindstone and get to work!

Montreal Update

It is a slow day here in presentation land. I don't have to go to a session until 12:30 and even then it is optional. Although I definitely have to put in an appearance at the Cooley Mead address this afternoon. The winner this year is Lynn Smith Lovin. While my research is in no way connected to hers, she is just one of the nicest sociologists around, so of course I will attend. My ulterior motive.....networking. I am on the job market, and it is important to be seen. But that is going well...so not too much stress, but why mess it up know.

But talk 1 went well. talk 2 is tomorrow morning at 8:30....I have been practicing with sir gb...so it should be fine.

But montreal is a beautiful city, if you haven't been, get your butt up here, it is wonderful.

Greetings from Montreal!

I am hanging in Montreal for the American Sociological Association Meetings....So far it is a lovely city. Pretty low key, easily walkable...and good food. All things I like in a city. The hotel is lovely.

I have my first presentation today, and then my second on monday morning. The time change is kind of a pain in the ass, and this is precisely why i am making a pot of coffee.....

Just thought I would update you with my whereabouts......

Wish me luck

My First Nobel Laureate

Yesterday at UC Berkeley visiting Coye, talking about our NSF project, we went to see the Xlab....who do we run into...but George Akerlof....nobel laureate. If you aren't familiar with his work, he is most famous for the market for lemons. Of course...all sorts of horrible things went through my head....luckily i didn't say any of them.....they include such winners as:
so how did you fair in the lemon market
would you like some lemonade
how about those lemons

But was most interesting, was that when he met Karen he said, "I know who you are, I cite you all of the time." Karen was kind of excited, she says she never knows who might now

CAT TOWN

This shit is ridiculous....if Tiger would just let me put clothes on her, I would have my own cat town.....

Attack of the Bob

So many of you may know that my mom's house is frequently invaded by a dog named zona, we'll we have our own version.....

BobCat...his name is actually Robert....if we close the front door, he'll come up on the balcony....he is a total menace and attacks the precious tiger.....i have taken to fending him off with a spray bottle...it seems quite effective.....

here is a photo of the little bastard invading our house

poor little lost penguins

apparently these little guys go adrift on ice flows, and end up in brazil....not a bad place to end up....

Being stuck in Lebanon

Well, I am not there, I am in the peaceful confines of CA, it might be hot, but no one is bombing us.

As many of you may or may not know my favorite celebrity chef is Anthony Bourdain, he is brash, obnoxious, but also incredibly insightful and gets to travel the world trying out new and exciting foods....sweet job, no?

Well, Anthony was in beirut filming a show when the bombings started......check out his tales of beirut...

Mid week update

Hello faithful readers....I know you miss my updates from the beach....I am back in steaming hot CA....it has been in the high 90's and the low 100's....totally icky....

but in other news....i hate Dell....totally the lamest company ever.....so i had an inspiron 5150, basically its motherboard died twice.....which is 500 dollar repair....totally lame...so i said screw you and got a new laptop....my new compaq and I are very happy.....I am busy moving files, and keeping my life together....

The ASA is in a few weeks and I need to get my presentations in order....I haave two, plus, I have to get ready for the job market, I already have 20 jobs to apply to, and I am getting a couple of papers ready for publication....completely crazy......

update on the status of the dissertation....it should be read in august, so i should have it in september, which is good, b/c i have a class to co-teach with karen at the end of september....oh the joy.....

Beach update

So...today was the annual gerbil clan putt putt tournament.....this year held at Tim Buck 2. And I am proud to announce that I won!!!! Sir GB second, Zach attack third and Meg came in last....poor thing....

In other news....we went to manteo yesterday, and I got to play with pirates...which is always fun...and go to another lighthouse.

And before I forget, today is Meg's birthday.....So wish her a happy day as well...in another year she can rent a car!!!!! Yippee!!!!!

So here are today's photo entries!

Hi, I'm a shark....

you might wonder what the appropriate response might be.....if you are my mom....the response is.....

"i'm a shark too, you asshole."

This is a classic of the beach house....basically you can say anything and add the tagline, you asshole and it is awesome.....

today is juji's birthday, so if you know her, or if not, wish her a happy day!

if you want to see pictures of the trip...click here

oh by the way the official sport of a gerbil family vacation is spongebob jellyfish game...if you don't know it, you are really missing something from your life.

Update from the Beach

All is well here in NC....no hurricanes, although there was the threat of a tropical storm....but we survived. We went Kayaking today, which was fun...although it took me about a half an hour to get used to it, but Sir GB was a natural....

Joss the niece is having quite a good time with all of her aunties and her grandparents doting on her....she is a very sweet little things.

In other news, Sir GB mastered the duck, which is clearly important.....

So the Gerbil is actually traveling

So Sir GB and I are currently in Richmond, VA en route to Whalehead, NC, home of the Gerbil clan beach house....with two new additions this year, baby Joss, and Sir GB....let's hope they both survive....

At least I have my book about the effects of stresson all sorts of biological and psychological outcomes, why zebra's don't get ulcers. don't get all stressed about it being sciency...it is the easiest science book to read ever....ok...maybe that isn't true, but I have found it fascinating....

So....we'll keep you posted on our progress....but sir gb is ready to go...so i must away

Set my dissertation free

We have now reached day 90 of captivity. My dissertation has been in the clutches of my advisor. We haven't heard if it is alive or dead, no lovely pictures of it with a newspaper, so we know it was alive that day. We can only hope for the best, and that maybe we'll hear something in the near future regarding its whereabouts. If you have any information regarding its location or progress please post a comment!

Things I think the cat does while we are out

well...i found this on the interwebs the other day...frankly it is easier to clean up beer bottles than catch mice, either way, those are both Sir GB's jobs, so we'll let him decide.

Congrats to the Homeland

Italia pulled it out today. Sure they needed penalty kicks...but we'll take it. Especially against the French.

Although the most ridiculous moment of the game, Zizzou headbutting an Italian player. Not a classy way to retire from international soccer.

Adventures with Tiger

So some of you might be wondering how I am adjusting to living with a cat (and a Sir Grizzly Bear)....well, everything was going fine....until yesterday....

I was sitting in my office (aka the couch) working on something or the other, when I notice Tiger has come in and she has one of her mouse toys...until that is I realize the mouse toy is moving.....it is not a mouse toy...it is in fact a baby mouse...luckily Sir GB was home, and I requested politely that the mouse be removed (i.e. "Get that out of here"). He promptly did his duty, after which he explained to me that Tiger does this about once a year...so I figure I am good to go for awhile.....when about 10 minutes later, who saunters in with another mouse....Tiger Cat....what an evil little thing she was. But apparently we have two years of mice out of the way. Sir GB promptly removed it as well..... Needless to say Tiger Cat was given a time out......she had to stay in Sir GB's office for a couple of hours until she could behave....who knew having a cat was kind of like my visions of having an evil toddler.....

But here are some pictures of the cat, and one of Sir GB

Flip flop adventures

So several weeks ago I lost one of my favorite flip flops while wandering from the gym to my office...which is like a five minute walk. I suppose it had fallen out of my bag. I spent a week looking for it at about every lost and found on campus. Then yesterday, on my trek from the gym to the office, what do I spot....the mysterious flip flop, just hanging out in front of the financial aid building....

How strange! So the flip flops have been reunited...and are happy again! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dr's tom and kathy's excellent adventure

so...many of you may know that my parents, the aforementioned drs tom and kathy came all the way from historic lewiston, ny to palo alto to see me graduate....well....dr kathy has posted many of her pictures on her blog...i suggest you check them out...

dr kathy's blog


this has inspired sir gb to want to go to yellowstone....hmmm...i declared only if i didn't have to stay in a tent or walk too far.

also an fyi...thank you all for the graduation good wishes and pressies....thank you notes will be on their way shortly...the damn move got in the way of good manners...i hate it when that happens.

oh and good luck italia tomorrow....i need a team to cheer for to battle off sir gb's england squad...

moving time

so we are in the new place. it is very charming....

All of the books are unpacked (Sir GB has 7 bookcases full, many shelves double stacked), I am about halfway through the clothes, so now we are just trying to organize.

Tiger is adjusting nicely to her new surroundings...I am adjusting to living with a cat. Tiger has not noticed Cheetah (the life sized ceramic cheetah, who is not actually life sized, but i like to pretend), but she does love Grandmother's coffee table....she doesn't have claws, so she isn't doing any damage.....I'll have to get some good pictures of her lounging on it.


I have to publically give a big thank you to our helpful movers, Curtiss, Ena, Tahu, Terri and Phillip....yes, Phillip the dog...he was quite helpful.

May I introduce Dr. Gerbil

So, yesterday I walked through my graduation ceremony. My dissertation should be finished in August or September, but I went through anyway. Next year I'll be a research associate at Stanford (that is my offical title). But it was a good time....Here are a few photos.... one of me and my boys....Sir GB and Curtiss and one with the parentals...Drs Tom and Kathy.

European Adventure

So Sir GB and I are headed to Europe for Christmas and New Year....

The original plan was to fly probably into London and go to Otley to see Mum and brother Michael and his wife Penny, and then head to Sleaford to see Dad and Anita. Then on to London for a few days....

Well that wasn't really working out on airmiles....so....instead we are going to Paris first, then flying to Manchester going to Otley, then Sleaford, and then Madrid. It will be exciting nontheless I have never been to any of these places. So we'll be gone for about 2.5 weeks...at which point after a hectic summer and fall, we'll both need the break....

So it should be an interesting winter break!

In Honor of the World Cup

I present....

Penguins playing Ducks in Football!!!!

The tale of the tam.....

So...I am lazy...I have had my regalia for about a month....It has been sitting in a box in my bedroom....ooops...

Tonight I took it out of the box...and I must say I am a big fan of the hat....who knew I would look cute in a tam....I will have to take some pictures....perhaps when sir gb returns i can make him take some....

maybe this means i can transitions to berets....what a wide world of hats for me....although there is one i can never wear....that sweet pope hat. But you can learn how to make one here.

Grim and Mandy aka the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy

I have realized that I call this show Grim and Mandy, I feel it is because Billy is inconsequential to my existence.

Back about a year ago, when my hair was significantly blonder, people noted my physical similarity to mandy (yes I have a pink dress with a black ribbon around it...if it only had a flower). In addition apparently I have a personality to match. I think it might be the sneer....

But I must say, this is one of my favorite cartoons....which is actually a big component of my television viewing.....much to Sir GB's dismay....

Any show with an angry little girl bent on world domination who enslaves the grim reaper...well that is ok with me.....

HAPPY MONDAY

So we just found out we got the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant we applied for in January. Unfortunately b/c I don't have my Ph.D. yet, I couldn't be a PI. The NSF has rules about these things, but I am a Senior Investigator on the grant, which is cool and can go on my vita...sot hat is always good....adding lines can never hurt....well unless you make them up.

That is about it for Monday. Sir GB is out in Monterrey with the Ladies, and then to Hearst Castle tomorrow....meanwhile, I hold down the fort in the park.

I survived

That is the trip to Lake Tahoe with Sir Grizzly Bear's mom and her friend Sybil (whose name invokes one of two images to people....Sybil from faulty towers, or the lady with all of those personalities...fortunately this Sybil was much more sane). The lake was beautiful, but it had snowed on Saturday which is kind of next level....snow in late May....

I only had one temper tantrum....clearly I can't wait until 3pm to have lunch when I haven't had breakfast....but luckily i kind of made a joke of it, and made everyone laugh by noting how important it is to keep me on my feeding schedule.....which Sir GB realizes it totally important for everyone's safety.

But I feel I have won them over...as I usually do, with my charm and wit.....I don't know why, but parents love me....

Pictures will be arriving shortly.....

In other news, the parental units arrive in two weeks for graduation....should be interesting...dr kathy has never been to California, and dr tom hasn't been since he was a wee slip of a lad, so Sir GB and I will show them around. We are headed to SF on Friday, Half Moon Bay saturday during the day, and then we have a party on Saturday night, Sunday graduation and then dinner at Three Seasons...which is super yummy....Then they head home.....but we will see them soon in the outer banks....

Which I know you will all be delighted to hear we have gotten back up spongebob games....

Poor Sir GB has no idea what he is getting into...but it will be fun, he just needs to remember that a certain amount of alcohol is necessary to survive such events....

Things I learn from the mass media vol 1.

So...from reading and seeing the Da Vinci Code....clearly I.M. Pei is the new head of the Priory Scion.

Also learned from television....vampires and succubi can't enter your threashold unless you invite them in....so be careful who you let into your house....you never know if they are a force of evil, a mormon...but what is really the difference?

lacrosse semifinals

so, I am watching the syracue vs uva game....and I am disturbed by the commentary on the duke lacrosse situation.

1) The denial by lacrosse pundits that there is a problem with lacrosse...and this is purely a duke lacrosse problem. I will not deny that Duke had its problems, but....I have rarely met a men's college lacrosse player that didn't feel a certain sense of entitlement and this sort of feeling that they are above the law.

2) One point I think they did point out correctly, that a lot of the problems we are seeing across college athletics are caused by alcohol. Having spent a large portion of my adult life on college campuses, it is not just the athletes, it is a pandemic problem. I think partially caused by the rather puritanical view of most Americans to not let their children learn to drink responsibly before college. Europeans have us on this one. What these commentators have missed is that this problem is not just limited to athletes, it is across campuses. It is just that when athletes are involved, the university is involved and thus, heightened media attention.

3) The major thing these commentators are missing is group behavior. All of these people are asking for individuals to stand up in the face of wrong doing. Well....home many people do that....what have we learned from many years of social psychological research, people tend to conform to the group. Even a token group identity produces a great deal of pressure to conform due to the effects of social desirablity. Do we not learn lessons from the past....oh wait...we don't....and that is why we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.

4) Do you want to know my view on the Duke Lacrosse situation.....at first, I wouldn't have been surprised. When I was at Duke, I was glad I was friends with them, they had my back. But I was always aware it was a situation where I knew something could go horribly wrong. Perhaps we can blame it on the CSI effect...and yes it is real, but the lack of a conclusive dna sample makes me a bit skeptical.

New Baby Friend

So my friends Dani and Pat just had their second baby...Jacob.....I think he is pretty good looking for being born on Friday!

by popular request

Some new pictures of the "Joss"

Yup...she is cute...photos courtesy of Dr. Kathy

New Apartment Mate

So...in the end of June Sir Grizzly Bear and I will be moving into a new place together. We just picked it out today...so I am moving back to mountain view. It is a nice place, much bigger than my current place, with a much larger kitchen......so I am happy. It also has a huge balcony for my plants, and for enjoying the sun...but not too much, as I burn way too easily....as I was reminded yesterday at Mateo's birthday party.....I am pretty much a lobster today.....it hurts to touch my arms.....

New Monkey Genus!!!!!!

This kind of made my day....it hadn't been going that well...until.....
this... new monkeys in africa!

And here are the cute little guys in action!

Gettin' the job done

So truth and i went to get some things at wallgreens...and I needed some tp....

As we were heading home...i read the back of the package....

"Soft... but not too soft. With an extra layer to get the job done."

That cracks my shit up quite literally.

Meet my new Llama Steve

He is down there at the bottom of the page....he is cool...check him out....

Apparently the name steve is catching on....while reading deadspin today they named a horse steve

In other news we were supposed to go to a birthday party tonight, but the birthday girl is ill....poor thing...although we may still go...waiting to hear from the newcastle and german brigades....

Oh...I forgot to mention....there is another new steve....steve moose stevenson...he is from canada and has a lovely maple leaf sweater. He likes to watch me work and watch the tv...so we get along well....

Life in the Park

So...I am still recovering from the sprained foot....which means a lot of sitting on the couch....and with Sir GB in Vancouver at a conference, I have to do everything myself....poop....

But I have been rather productive...paper number 3 from the dissertation...it is almost done....paper number 2 will go out in about a week or so.....still no word on paper number 1.

I have done a lot of programming for our next experiment....

I must remember to upload my knitting photos and update gerbil knits as several projects have been completed recently.....damn...i am a slacker....maybe later today....

C is for Cookie

I discovered this hysterical video today C is for Cookie I highly recommend it.....

I like it when they shave rosie's head....it is sweet!

Weekend Update

So...the foot is improving, but I can only walk short distances....otherwise it hurts a lot.

I threw a little birthday dinner for tahu last night....it was a nice little sicilian feast....

here is the menu

I am just busy writing papers and knitting up a storm....it seems a lot of people I know are having babies....I should be posting some finished objects on my knitting blog soon enough....

oh...i forgot...i just got my copy of on homans, in which Karen and I have a chapter. While not in Hungarian....it is still kind of exciting! Yeah I probably need to get out more....

and in other news, I was absolutely delighted while at Kepler's books today....I disovered that Simon Schama is giving a talk in may. I am definitely going. I loved his specials on the history channel.

last but not least....i ordered my regalia.....instead of the gold sociologists have white....so....i'll get to wear that once a year for a while....i think it looks like a batman beyond version of academic regalia.....pretty sweet

Sir Grizzlie Bear Comes to His Senses

So he has returned to Sir Grizzlie Bear from Sir Grizzlie Bastard.....he called last night realizing the errors of his ways....apparently I am hard to resist.....so my singledom only lasted less than a week....that is good....b/c it sucked.....but I am kind girlfriend....so I guess I won't make him repent too much......

Happy Easter all of you Christians.

I got a LLAMA

His name is Roo....or more specifically steve roo llama stevenson....I adopted him...no he doesn't live in my apartment....it is too small for a llama....instead he lives at a llama sanctuary...

Truth and I adopted him....we were going to get a sheep.....but a llama needed us more.....since I don't have a real pet, I will live vicariously through Roo

An Amusing Easter Tale/Tail

Many moons ago....when I was a little gerbil....we spent Easter with my paternal grandparents....if I recall correctly, I wanted to get up and get my basket and find eggs, etc....as small children do....well my parents said I had to wait for my grandparents to wake up....well we all knew they slept a lot later than we do....so I decided to wake up my grandmother by singing that classic easter song.....here comes peter cottontail.....well....I was about 3 maybe 4 and this didn't come out quite right....in fact....i jumped on her bed and sang "here comes peter cock and tail"....needless to say this woke up grandmother and I think got my dad in trouble....oops...

and to this day it is a classic holiday song in my family.....

remembering this made me chuckle...not many things have lately...so I thought I would share it with you my faithful readers...

Update on the Gerbil

I want to thank all of my family and friends that have been so excellent lately...Those who have called, emailed or stopped by to check on me...or have helped me get up and down my stairs....crutches aren't easy. My foot is getting better, although it has turned purple....see the photos....I'll try to get a better one, but it is hard taking pictures of my feet.....

I am doing ok....

Bad things happen in Threes

So I have had a pretty shitty past 24 hours....so I am hoping bad things only happen in 3s.

I am newly single, have sprained my foot falling down a flight of stairs at school, and my grandfather is dead. That is the short version.....the long version, I don't want to go into it....so if you actually know me, don't call...It is too hard to get up and reach the phone....I have to get the crutches, etc....so it is likely you will get the answering machine anyway.....and I don't really want to talk about anything...I am OK.....I am just having a shitty day.

Just thought I would update you, my faithful readers.

day two at sse

so.....what you missed from last night....is that...aromas is the best bar in athens georgia...if you go, ask for taylor or scott....and please discuss punk and/or indie rock/philosophy or anything else random...

they are total sweeties.....and will serve you a nice glass of wine and perhaps a bela bartok....and if you have to ask who that is....well....you are shit out of luck...

well...other observations from the conference....there is a certain awardee of the cooley meade award that resembles a yellow gummi bear..... please investigate and submit answers...a knitted gift will be awarded to the first correct comment....Kristen, you are not eligible....

yesterday...what i forgot to mention was that we were on lock down......George W. Bush was at the UGA campus and we were not allowed to leave our building between 9 am and 2pm....it was lame....it rocked...i saw a police steve dog stevenson...and it was cute...but they wouldn't let me play with it...b/c they are lame.....

so...tonight we headed back to aromas....where we were named the favorite regulars...except we won't be back next weekend...so sad...if you are in athens...see those boys...

WE GOT A MUG

So we came to the social structure and emotions conference and all we got was a stupid mug....


actually kristen and i are having fun.....but we did get mugs....i'll take a picture when i get home on sunday!

we have found jesus, god, success it is gwynnet, the mammoth chicos of doom...and of course the home depot....

oh and we found steve snap snap stevenson...who is a girl.

Hungarian Version

So several years ago I wrote a chapter with my lovely advisor for the following book:

Creating Social Trust in Post-Socialist Transition


I had an english version of the book...but today I received the Hungarian Version.....

Clearly this will be of much use in the future....well at least I can put it on the bookshelf....

The McRoberts

So...apparently I have been a bit confused....in watching the duke games....I have been impressed with the freshman bigman #2 McRoberts....I kept talking about him as Omar McRoberts, which I thought was a slightly odd name for a very large white man....well...then I discovered the source of my confusion.....
Omar McRoberts is a professor of sociology at U of Chicago, he wrote this cool book, streets of glory....

The basketball player is Josh McRoberts....but I will not remember that and continue to call him Omar....so there you go....

Also I hate Lee Malchionni.....the man missed a wide open dunk in the most embarassing way....then.....airballed a 3 pointer....please coach K don't let him play!

Lil' Devil

Oh the cutest niece ever is sporting some sweet duke apparel

She clearly knows who to cheer for (can't use the word root.....it is naughty in the antipodes)

This year's rochambeaureGuard

You may remember last year Truth and I invented the RochambeaureGuard, an elite nut punching group.....

the origins
the first round
round two

Well I have found this year's first installment Tony Skinn

Here is to many more Guards being inducted this NCAA tournament!

ps we adopted a llama online today....

The Wrong Chaney Retired Today

The man the epitomized coaches looking like the mascot has retired.....

Who doesn't love Joh Chaney, well maybe John Calapari, but that is just because Chaney threatened to kill him in the best press conference ever!

Here's to one of my favorite coaches...

What a week....

I might be the crabbiest person I know, or at least the most easily aggravated...so while everything under the sun pisses me off, I am having a really productive week......
I sent off a paper to a journal
I sent a paper to a paper competition
I finished a draft of chapter 7 of my dissertation
I got a paper accepted at ASA (written with my partners in crime, or exchange theory Karen and Coye).....
You don't even want to know what is drving me nuts these days....but all I am saying is don't mess with my coffee or my grant money...it will make me really, really mad.

But for everyone's enjoyment, here is a photo of pigasso....he paints with his snout...it is cool....

Back from Mendocino

It was a great weekend, away from email, work and all sorts of annoying things.....

We drove along rt1 along the coast on the way up, it was gorgeous, but about half way up it started to rain, and it rained the entire time we were there......but that was ok....

we stayed at a super cute B&B the mendocino village inn, they had a wine and cheese every night and excellent breakfast!!!!!! The food was great and it was such a cute and friendly place.

On sunday, when it rained and rained and rained, we ended up driving through the redwoods, and then going wine tasting...yum, yum....then I had a massage at the spa next door....all very lovely....

We came back today, we would have been back earlier but some of the roads up there were flooded due to several days of intense rain....ooops....

by the way...muffin head has asked to be referred to as sir grizzlie bear....I guess I'll let it go.....

I've been hiding

OH the stress of being a grad student.

I have been in hiding lately....so much stuff going on....I am trying to get an article ready for submission. Karen is supposed to give me feedback. I am trying to write chapters for my dissertation....Only two more chapter drafts to go....then I have an entire draft....talk about crazy....Karen and I are trying to write a paper about emotions...I don't know anything about emotions....Of the 5 primary emotions, I am only good at anger...so...you know, that paper is going very slowly...it is due on wednesday, but that isn't happening...oh wait that is tomorrow...it definitely isn't happening...

Oh and my part time job is a major time suck, I have just had to say, oh i don't think so to a bunch of stuff, but that is good, it gives me practice of saying no....which is very important....

but luckily on saturday morning muffin head and I are out of here....we are going somewhere....muffin head is keeping the location secret...we'll be gone until monday with no laptops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah I know....that qualifies as big excitement around here.....

You know you have insomnia when

It is 4am, you have already been up for over 2 hours, and you decide it is fabulous that curling is on tv.....so you decide to watch, hoping it will put you to sleep.....

But no....you stay wide awake through the entire damn thing......

Congrats team USA.....

I must admit, I have kind of followed curling through the olympics....oddly enough it has been the only thing I followed through the olympics..... c'est la vie

I've had my breakfast, I might as well get my ass to the gym....