Crazy

I feel like this semester is going to fly by and be extremely crazy. I really need to start kicking my but into gear. I have so much I want to accomplish and am going to make a plan tomorrow as to how I can get it all done. Also the website/database I have been working on is finally up with real data. I'm so excited!

I'm also trying to work out every day for at least 30 minutes. So far this week I only missed Tuesday. Pretty good for my schedule. Hopefully I can turn it into a habit and lose some weight. I also need to start lifting weights so I can get the kayak in the water and paddle around this summer in Lake Hartwell (hopefully by then it will be a lake instead of a stream).

Erika - you look like you are ready to have that baby! Good luck...

I hope everyone's year is off to a wonderful start.

1 week in...

1 week down of the new semester. I've only had 3 classes and really the first two were just 'welcome to the class' lectures. Hopefully we will start really getting into the class this next week. The classes will have lots of writing associated with them so I am trying to at least work ahead and plan out a schedule for my self.

Research is coming along with a few bumps in the road. I made samples and wanted to test them at 24 hours, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. But of course... the machine I am to test the samples on will not export my data and I can't see the raw data to be able to plug into an excel spread sheet. So I have delayed running the samples that I made almost 60 hours ago. So much for my first time point. Hopefully I can get them run tomorrow even without exportation and see if I can copy the files to another buildings software to export there. Research would be no fun without obsticles!

The other thing I am quickly noticing is how expensive my tests and samples actually are... 1 batch of the PLLA beads I make runs about $150 and I made over 45 batches since I started. I'm really racking up the bill. But I got on an assistantship this semester so I must be doing something right.

Well off to bed for the evening. Lots of work to get done tomorrow. It will probably be another 13 hour day in the lab. I'll try and post every week of the semester... maybe I will actually hit a goal.

And spring semester is off....

Well, its back to school again. Christmas break was fun and super busy, but not long enough. I barely got anything done I wanted to. I saw all sorts of weather and returned to South Carolina in all its wonderfully warm winter glory of 65 degrees. I miss the snow and cold already.

This semester is going to be extremely busy for me. I have so much to get done and I am hoping to make huge strides in research. Unfortunately, the grant money did not come through and funding is on the back burner until things can get switched around. At least tuition is paid. I get to start getting actually data this semester from all my work last semester. As well as working on getting my first publication out. I have a huge presentation to give sometime this semester (hopefully after data) and on top of all that I have to start writing my literature review for my qualifier next sprint. Although my two classes should be very interesting and hopefully will give me a break from the lab.

To keep me busy after school, I have another little job. I'm working on getting a website for 3-D cell culture up and running by the end of January. I have done a ton of work reading through abstracts and papers to post. It will be a great search engine for all those interested in tissue engineering and 3-D cell cultures of any kind. I might even get to go to a conference in April to spread the word and be the face of the website. YEAH!!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a happy New Year! Please come and visit if you get the chance.