I just made an Excel graph with 64,000 data points. This is not as hard as it may sound, though it is, incidentally, more annoying than making one with 32,000 data points.
If you already knew this, then you are probably way cooler than I am and/or know of a much better program for plotting something of that magnitude.
And...that's the most exciting thing that's happened so far today. I am kind of in between things right now as I am waiting for a new piece of equipment to come in (it's like science Christmas!) and am not completely sure of what to do in the meantime. There are, of course, things I *should* be doing (like plot more obscene amounts of data, work on my presentation, work on my project for class) but none of those things seem particularly appealing.
I can't leave before 5:30 though, since 5:30 brings free pizza (well not totally free, as it comes at the price of listening to two talks) followed by dancing. So I have to force myself to work for another 3 hours. Yuck.
I think part of my lack of motivation stems from the fact that I knitted all last weekend (no really, the whole weekend) and haven't been able to get myself back into *production* mode. Also, I watched the entire 3rd season of the Venture Brothers while knitting, and now am left with a sense of loss and anticipation (which won't be cured until Season 4 comes out, and who knows when that will be).
On the plus side, I did manage to practice my violin a bit over "Spring Break," so hopefully I will not suck that much at my concert.
All right, back to work...
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Snow day!
It is snowing like nobody's business out there. You may already know this if you've been watching the news (or are anywhere even remotely near the Denver area). The last time it snowed this hard here, it was two years ago and I was waiting for the bus to take me to the airport so I could go home for Christmas. I didn't make it to the airport until a few days later, and I didn't make it home until Christmas morning. But maybe you've already heard that story.
Today was much less depressing than that. I did have to get up and go to the lab relatively early to take care of something, but was able to make it onto campus without *too* much trouble (luckily, I live within walking distance). Once I got there, I found that they were closing the campus (which doesn't really mean anything for grad students, except there will be slightly fewer people around), so once I finished what I needed to do, I headed home.
On my way home, I noticed a guy struggling to back his car out of a snowbank. I kicked some of the snow from behind his tires and pushed while he gunned the engine. He made it out eventually. He was driving a BMW. I guess all that money doesn't help when you're stuck in the snow.
I really enjoyed my walk home, actually. Sure, it was snowing pretty hard, and walking was kind of difficult since most of the sidewalks hadn't been plowed (nor had the roads, since for some reason the city of Boulder is always *really* surprised when it snows), but still, something about it made me feel like a kid. I had to fight the urge to build a snowman, or just throw myself onto the ground and make a snow angel. But I probably would have squashed my lunch if I had done that, which I so painstakingly made and put in my backpack this morning, when I thought there was a chance I would stay at school all day.
So, what to do with the rest of the day? I thought about going back to bed, but it's getting relatively late, so I might as well just stay up. Also, J is still asleep, and I don't want to disturb him. He'll probably have to drive to work this afternoon, which I do not envy.
I think I'm going to make some coffee and curl up with my astrobiology textbook. On a day like this, I can't think of anything better.
Today was much less depressing than that. I did have to get up and go to the lab relatively early to take care of something, but was able to make it onto campus without *too* much trouble (luckily, I live within walking distance). Once I got there, I found that they were closing the campus (which doesn't really mean anything for grad students, except there will be slightly fewer people around), so once I finished what I needed to do, I headed home.
On my way home, I noticed a guy struggling to back his car out of a snowbank. I kicked some of the snow from behind his tires and pushed while he gunned the engine. He made it out eventually. He was driving a BMW. I guess all that money doesn't help when you're stuck in the snow.
I really enjoyed my walk home, actually. Sure, it was snowing pretty hard, and walking was kind of difficult since most of the sidewalks hadn't been plowed (nor had the roads, since for some reason the city of Boulder is always *really* surprised when it snows), but still, something about it made me feel like a kid. I had to fight the urge to build a snowman, or just throw myself onto the ground and make a snow angel. But I probably would have squashed my lunch if I had done that, which I so painstakingly made and put in my backpack this morning, when I thought there was a chance I would stay at school all day.
So, what to do with the rest of the day? I thought about going back to bed, but it's getting relatively late, so I might as well just stay up. Also, J is still asleep, and I don't want to disturb him. He'll probably have to drive to work this afternoon, which I do not envy.
I think I'm going to make some coffee and curl up with my astrobiology textbook. On a day like this, I can't think of anything better.
Friday, March 20, 2009
It's too early.
I had one of those nights where you have to do something to an experiment every 6 hours or so. So I was here at the lab at midnight last night, and I got here again at about 6:30 this morning.
I didn't really *have* to do it this way, but I wanted to get this last piece of data in before my meeting with M.
It's something I've been trying to do for some time, so I'll be pretty ticked off if it didn't work.
On the plus side, I spent about 4 hours dancing last night, which was pretty awesome.
It looks like this weekend I will be able to stay home. Next week is "Spring break" (which I put in quotes, because really, the only way grad students know it is happening is because things are slightly quieter on campus), so I should be able to get a lot done.
I really want to get this paper going. Hence the frustration and late nights.
Sorry if this is somewhat incoherent (see today's title!).
I didn't really *have* to do it this way, but I wanted to get this last piece of data in before my meeting with M.
It's something I've been trying to do for some time, so I'll be pretty ticked off if it didn't work.
On the plus side, I spent about 4 hours dancing last night, which was pretty awesome.
It looks like this weekend I will be able to stay home. Next week is "Spring break" (which I put in quotes, because really, the only way grad students know it is happening is because things are slightly quieter on campus), so I should be able to get a lot done.
I really want to get this paper going. Hence the frustration and late nights.
Sorry if this is somewhat incoherent (see today's title!).
Sunday, March 15, 2009
New blog GO!
Here is my new blog. I am not going to update right now as my sister is visiting and I want to be a good "hostess." Also, I'm trying to finish the first Harry Potter book. Until later...
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