I don't write a lot because I have no more angst...

Things are going so well recently that I really have nothing to complain about, reflect on (negatively) or pout at. Usually negative feelings are a lot easier to write about, since writing purges some, if not all, of the negative feelings. Only positives, here, though!

Job:
Going as well as I could have hoped. Hansis, my PI (principal investigator, for all you non-lab types) is the type of person no one could ever feel intimidated by, which is good because I can be easily intimidated. And I don't mean this in a bad way. He is goofy and smart and laughs at my jokes, which makes sitting in a little room by myself all day much more pleasant. His boss, on the other hand, is the intimidating type - the type who doesn't look at you even when they're (rarely) talking to you, who has a very cold demeanor and just is very business-like and not fun to talk to. I'm glad I'm not working with him.
I do experiments all day long, take care of the cell cultures, run PCRs and gels. It sounds like it would get boring, but it really hasn't so far because the results are always different and you always can learn something from it. A clinical lab would be much more boring because it is actually the same thing over and over - say, if you're testing for a certain rare disease marker, something like 95-99% of your samples are going to spit back negative results. THAT is boring.
The people are all nice, although mostly much older than me, which makes for sort of an age gap. There are some funny andrology lab girls, but when I say "girls", some of them are married and the youngest is most definitely at least 5 years older than me. Is it weird to want to eat lunch by myself reading a book rather than sit in the lounge and kind of stare/awkwardly talk with people who are all friends with each other already? I guess that's new kid syndrome. I don't know, never had it.

Living:
It's working out better than I could have hoped! Definitely not getting sick of Adam all the time, and it's pretty much a perfect balance of me and him time. We make food when we want (kielbasa, scalloped potatoes and salad last night), we go out when we want (Subway in Madison Park for lunch), and we run errands when we can (Bed, Bath & Beyond for laundry detergent, a knife sharpener, shampoo, toothbrush and tylenol). We're capable of doing separate things, but don't mind if the other person is there. We hang out all weekend long, and if he gets back early or late during the week doesn't matter - although we'd both rather he get back early. Jared is funny, glad he's around, and Miles is nonexistant and will be even more nonexistant now that he's done with his job and is going on vacation to the buttcrack of Eastern Europe - somewhere crazy like kosovo - so it doesn't really matter. It's been a whole month already (wow!) and it's going so good that I have no qualms about moving to the new apartment we just signed the lease for down by South Street Seaport. I'm so excited!

School:
Going to the orientation two Fridays from now. We get our registration code and some other things that they are being vague about. I hope that for now, at least, I can just take the one required class so I can sort of ease into it and not have to pay that much - after 6 months NYU will pay full tuition for me. I need to balance the timing, too. The first two required classes are Tuesday, Thursday from 4:55-7:35pm, so it looks like that should be fine. I hope other classes don't interfere with my work schedule too much...!

Step-Up Women's Network:
Stacey got me to sign up for the Open House for this club/networking organization for professional women. She said it's really fun, lots of volunteer opportunities, networking and good freebies. I've always ended up liking volunteering and clubs and things like that, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Downside: you have to pay to become a member - the first rung is $50, and it gets more expensive from then on. I don't even know if I need to do this, because it's mostly for people who are sort of lost in their career paths and need mentoring to try to figure out/find out when they want to do and where they want to go in their lives. I'm kind of set regarding that right now, so we'll see if this can offer anything else. Also, not completely sure I want to volunteer tutoring people stuff... that's my white suburbia self talking, but if I'm not too put off by this open house I'll do my best to see if it's worth it. Again, have to make sure to balance this, school and work - the latter two are definitely more important and I can't risk jeopardizing either of them for this.

Update:
Went to the Step Up Open House thing, and even though it looks really cool - in a crazy volunteer, scary mentoring kind of way - it's $50/year minimum and even though spread out that's only $4/month, I would much rather spend that on, say, a textbook that I will need anyway. Especially since I'm only really interested in the Health+Fitness programs, things like rockclimbing and yoga and self-defense workshops, so I probably wouldn't be involved in the other stuff as much. And... shh, I'm not good with kids... at all. Which is basically what this entire thing is about anyway. Get a little middle school girlie and teach them stuff, go with them to workshops and be a role model. Me? A role model? HA! I just wouldn't know what to say. Plus the fact that NO ONE in the room at the Open House was younger than 27, most were in their early 30s and at least some had gray hair. Weird! I want to be in a club with... *gulp*... less diversity? Age-wise, I mean. I still feel threatened when there are a lot of older people, because then I feel like a little child and it's not fun.
Whatever, I went, and it's over, and if I do end up doing it, it won't be for a while at least.
I'll look for college clubs at NYU. I'll get my volunteer fix in doing that!

such good quotes today...

"When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half."
Gracie Allen

"My work is a game, a very serious game."
MC Escher

"The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius."
Oscar Wilde

surveys??

Name: Christine
Gender: Female
1. When showering, do you start the water and then get in or get in and start the water?:
start the water, then get in - because water at home takes 5 mins to heat up and i can't help it now
2. Do you read the labels on the shampoo bottle?:
not really, no
3. Do you moan in the shower like the people on the herbal essence?:
creep.
4. Have you ever been forced to shower with one of your siblings?:
doesn't everyone when they're little? it's all about efficiency.
5. Have you ever brushed your teeth in the shower?:
never, that's weird
7. How old do you look?:
i always looked older when i was younger because i was tall, but recently someone asked me if i was 18 yet... and i'm 22
8. How old do you act?:
depends. i can act 25, but sometimes act 12
9. What’s the last song you heard/sang?:
beethoven's 9th symphony
10. Have you recently become a member of anything?:
maybe one of women's step up network... that's next monday
11. What are your plans for the weekend?:
first weekend where we aren't walking our feet off around manahattan looking at apartments
12. What is your mood at the moment?:
angry at "christopher rice" who is in a housing lawsuit and somehow got his shit onto my credit report
13. Have you ever ridden a mechanical bull?:
no
14. Do you ever intentionally vomit after drinking?:
only to avoid it later
15. If you were working on a pirate ship, what would you most likely be?:
the crow's nest guy - not afraid of heights
16. Have you ever called anyone a slut?:
not out loud
17. Has anyone ever called you a slut?:
only in jest... sort of
18. Have you ever smuggled something into Canada?:
never been, but that will change in august!
19. Does playing a guitar make someone more attractive?:
not really, no. it's devolved into this kind of retarded frat boy thing.
20. Do you live in a city with a good sports team?:
boston or new york, you pick it. unless you mean the mets, and then no. :(
21. Have you ever finished off the popcorn?:
all the time
23. Who’s your favorite superhero?:
Human Torch
24. Do you have more enemies or more friends?:
friends, i try to be open and nice
25. Have you ever sent an anonymous letter?:
no, i signed my name and got some credit
26. Can you fix your own car?:
not off the top of my head, but i am probably more than capable
27. Are you smarter than your friends?:
no, but i can do things they cant - i still can rattle off the 12 cranial nerves
28. Have you ever stolen anything from your friends?:
not on purpose - more of a "whoops, i still have that??" thing
29. Have you ever been to jail?:
no
30. Last thing you bought over 50 dollars?:
perscription meds... damn you insurance
31. Do you like the smell of beer?:
if it's wheat beer, yes
32. Have you ever died or killed someone in a dream?:
no, my dreams are more weird instead of violent
33. Who did you steal this from, and who is most likely to steal it from you?
jimmy, and no one
34. Would you kill a dog for $1000?
never
35. Do you live with your parents?:
yes, but that's going to change in about 25 days
36. Do you have plans for your future?:
already doin it
YOU ARE:
[ ] 5’4’’ or under
[ ]5’5’’-5’6’’
[] 5’7’’-5’8’’
[X ] 5’9’’-5’10’’
[ ] 5’11’’-6’
[ ] Tall (6’1’’ and up)

HAIR:
[ ] Blonde
[ ] Red
[X] Brown
[ ] Dark brown
[] Black
[ ] Light brown/dirty blonde

EYES:
[ ] Blue-eyed
[] Brown-eyed
[ ] Black-eyed
[X] Green-eyed
[ ] Hazel-eyed
[ ] Gold/gray-eyed
[ ] Silver/gray- eyed
[ ] Blue/green-eyed
[ ] Blue/gray-eyed
[ ] Green/gray-eyed

[ ] Glasses
[ ] Contacts
[ ] Neither
[X] Both

[] Medium hair
[X] Long hair
[ ] Short hair spikes!

Your personality is sometimes ..
[X] Talkative
[X] Shy
[X] Funny
[ ] Serious
[X] Laid back
[ ] Strict
[ ] Hyper
[X] Sarcastic
[ ] High Strung
[ ] I have multiple personalities

Your confessions:
[ ] I’m afraid of silence
[X] I’m really ticklish
[X] I’m afraid of the dark
[ ] I’ve collected comic books
[ ] I sometimes shut out others
[ ] I open up to others TOO easily
[ ] I read the newspaper
[X] I love Disney movies
[ ] I am a sucker for gorgeous eyes
[X] I am a sucker for gorgeous smile
[ ] I am just a sucker
[ ] I don’t kill bugs
[ ] I have “x”s in my screen name
[ ] I bake well
[ ] I have worn pajamas to class
[ ] I love Martha Stewart
[X] I love to laugh
[ ] I can’t swallow pills without water
[ ] I bite my nails
[X] I have gotten lost in the city
[ ] I have gone out in public in my pajamas
[X] I made out in an elevator
[ ] I have been skydiving
[ ] I have been bungee jumping
[X] I have bitten someone
[ ] I have egged or rolled a house/car/telephone booth with toilet paper.
[ ] I have been fired

Have you ever…
[X] Seen a shooting star
[ ] Joke proposed to anyone
[ ] Gotten stitches
[X] Eaten sushi
[X] Gotten the chicken pox
[X] Ridden in a taxi
[ ] Been on a cruise ship
[X] Driven over 400 miles in one day
[X] Been on a plane by yourself
[X] Had surgery
[ ] Seen a movie 3 times or more in the theater
[X] Been on stage
[ ] Gotten a black eye
[ ] Memorized all the dialogue in a movie
[X] Watched an entire baseball game

Do you like…
[ ] Old movies
[X] Musicals
[X] Blasting music in your car/or someone else’s
[X] Foreign foods
[ ] Pokemon
[X] Christmas time
[X] Animals
[X] Coffee
[X] Tea
[X] Summer
[X] Winter
———-
More questions…
1. Two names you go by:
Rice, Tink
2. Two things you are wearing right now:
khaki pants, grey sweater
3. Two places you want to go on vacation:
Spain, Greece
4. Two favorite animals?:
dogs, chipmunks
5. Two reasons you’re doing this survey:
no one's here to catch me
6. Spell your name without vowels:
Chrstn Lzbth Rc
7. How many pairs of jeans do you own?:
only one that works well, but like 20 if you count the old/not fitting ones
8. What color(s) do you wear most often?:
blue, green, brown
9. Last song heard on the radio?:
probably some classic rock
10. Are you missing someone right now?:
no, i'm pretty good - i'll see him tonight!
11. Are you happy with your life right now?:
yes, extremely
12. Do you shop at stores like Hollister and Abercrombie?:
i have, but no
13. How do you make money?:
get paid by new york state - and then give most of it back
14. Last thing you bought?:
apples
15. How’s the weather?:
humid and hot
16. When do you start summer break?:
a while ago
17. Favorite brand of shoes?:
saucony? adidas?
18. Do you own big sunglasses?:
only aves
19. What should you be doing right now?
changing the medium for the stem cells
20. How many beds did you lay in yesterday?:
1, and it wasnt mine
21. Name one thing that you do everyday?:
smile
22. What’s the color of your bedroom walls?:
white
23. What’s your favorite sport to play?:
soccer
24. When was the last time you saw your dad?:
two days ago
25. What did you have for dinner last night?:
homemade pizza
26. What is your fav. Starbucks?
chai, cinnamon latte
27. Recent time you were really upset?
it's been a while
28. Best things in your life right now are?:
him, job

Dog Quotes!

"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face." Ben Williams
"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." Gilda Radner
"One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why." Anonymous
"If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around." Will Rogers
"Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear." Dave Barry
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of." Ogden Nash
"The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. " Anonymous
"If you can look at a dog and not feel vicarious excitement and affection, you must be a cat." Anonymous

I talk to him when I'm lonesome like
And I'm sure he understands.
When he looks at me so attentively
And gently licks my hands.
Then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes
But I never say naught thereat.
For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes
But never a friend like that.
W. Dayton Wedgefarth

The Next Step

So, now I've officially talked to both of my parents about potentially living with Adam in the city. They've both expressed misgivings, which I can't blame them for, mostly along the lines of, "But what if something happens? That would be so painful... Living with someone is NOT visiting someone a lot" etc. etc. But, once I explained to them the financial pluses (we would pay based on salary, and his is a WHOLE lot more than mine), the protection pluses (better to live with a guy than with a girl... this one my mom came up with), the experience pluses (he's already looked for apartments in the city and knows basic quality vs. rent thing) and of course I'm sort of not going to mention the goodness of living with him, they agreed with me in the end that it's probably a good idea.
So!
The next step.
Figure out what the set-up is going to be. If possible, we might want to live with one of his apartment-mates now, Jared, and potentially his girlfriend. That would make 4, and we'd just need a 2 bedroom, 2 bath which are really common. That would split up the rent quite nicely and it would be nice to have other people around, too. Only semi-problem is, we don't know if Jared wants to live with his girlfriend, or even with Adam again for that matter (I'm sure he does, but he may have other plans that negate that possibility). He definitely won't want to just live with me and Adam, that's third wheel to the max. So it's going to be slightly awkward asking him if he would want to live with his girlfriend, but we must do it to figure out what's happening. And then... apartment hunting in the city! I'm so excited!

A rollercoaster ride that only goes up!

1) Got a full time job at NYU medical center
2) Got into NYU biology master's program
3) Found out that working for NYU gets me 100% tuition remission
4) Found out that if the classes are relevant to the job, the tuition checks above 5K are non-taxable
5) Parents are warming up to me possibly living with Adam
6) Adam is already looking for apartments
7) I snagged 6 more hours of work this week
8) Dad quit his job to get rid of the stupid coworkers
9) Dad accepted an awesome position way higher than his other one
10) Mom bought a new car after talking about it for 5 years
11) Had an amazing spring break with Jen and Danielle
12) Am totally tan right now
13) Adam is coming up this weekend
13a) I don't have to go on the bus for 10 hours roundtrip
13b) Adam finally gets to see my room, meet my roommates
13c) Adam might get to chill with me in the lab and see what I actually do
14) My junior lab student is amazing and really fun to teach
15) I made Dean's List last semester!!
16) Graduation is in 61 days...!!

"Random" Survey

It doesn't get more random than this!
Have you ever had an argument with a teacher?	I've become irritated with teachers before, but haven't straight up argued.
Can you count in Roman numerals?	Up to about 20, and then the big numbers like 50, 100 after that.
Are you bilingual?	Yes... English and German. I can scrape by in Hindi, say "hello" in Mandarin, ask for some cheese in Gaelic, inquire where the kitchen is in Spanish, say that I'm lost in French, and tell Mr. Bond that I expect him to die in Russian.
Do you know how your car's engine works?	Generally. I used to have a sparkplug as a keychain.
Can you program the time on a VCR?	If I had to, yes. Haven't had to yet.
How many email addresses do you have?	Ones I use? 2. Ever? At least 10.
Do you own a slinky?	Yes!
Do you talk to yourself?	All the time, actually. Especially when I'm walking and realize I've forgotten something and have to turn around, I justify it to myself out loud.
Do you have a tough time remembering people's names?	Not really... only when I know I will never have to speak to them again.
Did you go stag to your Senior Prom?	Didn't go at all.
Is any leftover delivery food currently residing in your refrigerator?	Not for me, no.
Are you high maintenance?	Absolutely not.
How do you want to be proposed to?	Not publicly... that would just be too awkward, and I really don't see the justification that it proclaims your love to all the world! It rather embarrasses the girl.
Do you work out regularly?	Yes... I try to. I get into the swing of things when I have time.
Do you care about your appearance?	Generally, yes. I try to at least look like I didn't roll out of bed.
Describe the person of your dreams:	Dark hair, funny but knows when to be serious, driven and love me for who I am, including all my quirks.
Do you like to be tan?	Yes, but I don't fake tan or do the beds.
If you had your choice of anyone in the world to spend a night with, who would it be?	Boyfriend! I don't get enough of those.
How many keys are on your key ring?	6... suite , room , lab, Adam's gate, Adam's building and Adam's apartment.
How much money is in your wallet/purse right at this moment?	ish?
What is your favorite spice or seasoning?	Saffron and cinnamon.
What does your name mean?	Follower of Christ.
Do you give your pets holiday presents?	Yes! Sweaters and bones and beds.
When doing up your jeans, do you button then zip? Or zip then button?	Button then zip. Otherwise the zip might go down a little.
How far would you go on the first date?	A very chaste kiss. I would so much rather save it for when I know the person isn't a total butthead.
Do you sleep on your side? Stomach? Back?	All of the above, but I usually pick one for the night and stay there. Stomach only when I can't fall asleep.
Have you attended a high school reunion yet? How was it?	No, not yet, but I can't wait.
Are you ticklish? Where?	Sides... I can control it for a very short amount of time, but after that, I'm a puddle of giggling mess.
Would you rather change your past or know your future?	Definitely not know my future, that would make everything SO BORING so I guess change my past, although I don't dislike that too much either.
Do you believe in saving yourself for marriage?	No... but I believe in making absolutely sure you trust that person before doing anything.
Would you pick up a hitchhiker?	No.
Would you consider yourself a worrier?	Only when stress gets me. I've gotten better recently.
Do you notice when your crush/significant other changes something about themselves?	Yes, instantly.
Do your first impressions of people usually stick?	Usually. I try not to judge, but my impressions are generally accurate.
What movie can you watch over and over?	Surf's Up, Love Actually... all those really not-deep movies that take little attention.
Do you like to cook?	Sure.
Do plants die in your care?	Mostly. :(
What's one thing you feel you must do in your life before it ends?	Achieve lasting happiness, and I don't think that comes with any definitive action or event.

One Word

You Can Only Type One Word It's harder than you think

Not as easy as you might think.

1. Where is your cell phone?
bed

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend?
city

3. Your hair-do?
long

4.Work?
hopefully

5. Your father?
loved

6. Your favorite thing?
reading

7. Your dream last night?
adventure

8. Your favorite drink?
cranberries

9. Your dream car?
none

10. The room you’re in?
apartment

11. Your pet?
siggydog

12. Your Fear?
death

13. What do you want to be in 20 years?
happy

14. Where did you hang out last night?
alone

15. What you’re not good at?
speaking

16. Lip rings on the opposite sex?
gag

17. One of your wish list items?
employment

19. The last thing you did?
cough

20. What are you wearing?
hoodie

21. What aren’t you wearing?
socks

24. Your life?
good

25. Your mood?
meh

26. Missing?
him

27. What are you thinking about right now?
unappreciated

28. Your car?
rockin'

29. Your crush?
knows

30. Your summer?
undefined

31. Your relationship status?
solid

32. Your Favorite Colors?
natural

33. When is the last time you laughed?
recent

34. Last time you cried..?
awhile

35. School?
'sok

35.Whats overly cool?
food

Daemons!

I read the three-book series His Dark Materials (Golden Compass is the first one) and the concept of daemons was one of the most intriguing things I have heard of. In all the different worlds, every person has a daemon; in some worlds, it is separate from you and is in the form of an animal, and in other worlds (like "ours", per say) it is just that little voice in your head that is your conscience. If you are in one of the latter worlds and step into one of the former worlds, your daemon appears beside you. It cannot go far from you without you both experiencing a deep, heartwrenching pain. Children's daemons can flicker between every animal form imaginable, but when they grow up and hit puberty, the daemons "settle" into a single animal form and don't change after it. An adult daemon's form is indicative of the adult's personality. I wanted to find out mine, so I took a quiz!

Your WOLF DAEMON shows that you are solitary, ferocious, and often intimidating, but not without your sufficient loyalty and poise. People tend to misunderstand you, but you prefer your own company, anyway.
Take this quiz!

I got a dog for another one. Those are close enough to convince me that it would be something like that. That's cool, I can roll with that.

Trying to organize life.

Nothing that huge/catastrophic/euphoric has really happened lately. Which I guess is a good thing, I'd rather normal good life than something disastrous. Although... things of note:
Adam got me flowers for the first EVER time. My interview in the city was the day after Valentine's Day. I had gotten up at 5:40, gotten on a bus at 7:15 for the city (forgot my phone at home, too), and trudged into his apartment, bleary-eyed and carrying a heavy load of work and clothes at around 11:30 when I saw a single, long-stemmed rose sitting in a vase of water on his desk. :)
Later on he pulled out another one and they lived together in their vase all weekend. Yay.

I attempted and successfully made chicken cacciatore en bianco in Adam's 2' square kitchen with literally no counter space. It actually was pretty good and even though I felt half-fulfilled and half-uncomfortable heating it up for him the second night while he was working, he really liked it and it was good.

I'm getting better at the library job. I'm now positioning myself as the computer that gets higher traffic so I'm not as bored over at the other one. I missed about 4 hours last week because of going down to the city and because for the holiday, the days were switched around. To make up for it, I took on 6 more hours this week and I made 3 of them a permanent addition. It's not like I really do anything, anyway (aka, I'm writing this at work).

Work is actually ending soon, so I'm going to post this and maybe add to it later.