A Day at the Lab

As I eluded to in an earlier post I'm a grad student. I work in molecular biology lab that focuses on plant research (I tell my grandparent's I'm a farmer). Since this is were I spend upwards of 16 hours a day often 7 days a week I suspect I'll be making many lab-based posts in the future. I'm worried my lack of life outside the lab will quickly turn this blog into boredom central but there are some pretty cool things that come up every day so I'll share with you today's puzzle.

I grew some cucumbers for an experiment and the roots behaved really weird. Check it out:

All those white lines are the roots (I removed the pot for the photo). They all grew around the outside edge of the soil instead of throughout the soil.

When I cut open the soil mass it's just the tiniest root hairs throughout the interior:

The roots normally grow throughout the soil (just like any old plant you'd get a garden center) so what's up with these plants? Soil too tightly compacted (so the roots couldn't penetrate)? Too much water (so they were trying to find the higher oxygen at the edges of the pot)?

Spring Cleaning

I had planed to go shopping for a phone today but it was pouring rain when I got up so switched gears to Spring Cleaning! Am I the only one who gets super excited about deep cleaning their appartment?

Used Bookstore Finds

One of my great weaknesses in life is a good used book store. My current Hamilton favourite is Barely Bent Used Books in Dundas. It's run by these two cute old ladies and the selection is decent. A couple weeks ago they had a 50% off everything sale and I picked up a number of titles including a virtually brand new copy of 'New Moon' (the second Twilight book) for $6 so I wasn't anticipating finding anything this time around but surprise! a beautiful copy of the first Harry Potter book was sitting in the window. I've actually already read it but that was awhile ago and at $5 how could I say no?

Young at Heart

I feel so young. I suppose that's good in some ways but in other ways it feels immature. If someone asked me my age I'd say I'm 15 years old instead of 25. Many of my friends are getting married, having babies , settling into careers. and I'm still in school. Does grad school cause you to regress?

Whenever I go to a seminar or departmental party I'm sure to have a Ziploc bag in my pocket to steal some delicious goodies for later. Lately this seems 'childish' more so then 'completely awesome'.

In an effort to be more adult-like I'm trying to compose a list of specific things that make me feel like a child. In no particular order:

1. No driver's licence

In Ontario we have a graduated licencing system. When you're 16 you get a G1 (learner's permit) which allows you to drive with an adult in the passenger seat and a number of other restrictions. After a year with the G1 (or 8 months if you take a Driver's Education Course) you can take a road test to acquire a G2. This licence allows you to drive alone and without many of the restrictions you have with a G1. After 1 year of driving with the G2 allows you to take your final driving testing to obtain a full Ontario licence.

Like every other 16 year old I got my G1, took Driver's Ed, practiced with my mom every weekend except instead of relishing my new found freedom I HATED it. I was (and presumably still am) a very nervous driver. I think behind the wheel of every other car on the road is a drunken homicidal maniac just escaped from prison with nothing to loose. Upwards of 95% of my Driver's Ed lessons ended in tears. My instructor was really nice but I just couldn't gain the confidence. As a result I decide to let my licence expire so it's been about 9 years since I was last behind the wheel of a car.

I've been happy with my decision. In addition to not breaking down behind the wheel everyday there are all the environmental benefits of not driving a personal automobile. I don't feel like I've missed out on anything. I can get almost anywhere on public transportation including two inter-province moves. Yet whenever I mention I don't have a licence people look at you like you're 5 years old. They feel guilty, almost obligated, to offer you rides. I'm perfectly happy to get myself wherever I have to go on a bus or train but it seems like others think if you HAVE to take the train it's awful.

2. No Phone

For the past two years I've had no phone. Strictly a financial decision with frequent moving and lots of long distant friends and family it was just too expensive for a landline or a cell. I've used SKYPE to stay in touch with people but they don't have SKYPE OUT numbers for Canada so I'm out of luck on that front.

3. Boyfriend-Family Disconnect

This is a tough one. I'm seeing a great guy but my family doesn't know he exists. It's not an intentional choice. We started out as friends and very gradually progress to more. By the time we got to the point of where I was like 'hey you're my boyfriend' it seemed weird for a 'met the parents' moment so things continue to progress, the years fly by and still no meeting.

4. Lack of Job and Income

This one just comes with post-graduate schooling and I can accept that but none the less I feel weird when I assume all parties are BYOB, furniture shopping is done curb-side and appropriate work attire consists of jeans and hoodies .

I'm sure I'll think of some more but I'll leave it at that for now. My next step is to conjure some of these so I don't feel like such a baby.

Anyone else feel like they're years younger then they should be?