Snog

Listening to: nothing

So I'm just wondering (as I do when I'm rather bored)...am I missing out? Am I going to die an incomplete human being, simply for the lack of this experience? What's so great about it? I suppose it looks fun (and also a bit grotesque, to be perfectly honest). Is it something everyone enjoys? Or is it like Marmite (i.e. either you love it or you hate it)? But then apparently it's not as good as chocolate, so maybe I'm not missing much?

It's useless talking about this stuff with friends. Friends are programmed to lie whenever they think you're depressed. It's sweet of them and I love them for it, but it doesn't really help the situation. And I can't be bothered with the whole "some day my prince will come" nonsense. I mean who still believes in that Disney bollocks anyway?

This isn't a grumble about me being perpetually single (for once!). If there isn't a guy on this planet who sees how awesome I am, well that's my fault for being just too damn awesome :P. And I'm not about to become less awesome for it. No, this is just me thinking out loud. This is just me wondering if I would be the same person I am today, had I experienced more of what people in my age group generally experience - what you lot probably take for granted as part of growing up. I guess I'll never know.

80's Poptastica* on my doorstep

Listening to: 'Paris Is Burning' by Ladyhawke [Ladyhawke]

I'M GOING TO SEE BLACK KIDS IN CAMBRIDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now where are my leg warmers?!

*OK so I know 'poptastica' isn't a word. But you know what I mean!

Jorge Cham is psychic

Listening to: 'Miniature Disasters' by KT Tunstall [Eye To The Telescope]

So I've previously alluded to the whole purpose of me doing a PhD. And I've also waxed lyrical about PhD Comics (if you don't know what it is by now, well shame on you). I thought I had become accustomed to Dr Cham reading my mind, but I have to say, his latest entry floored me.

This comic is a continuation of a set starting with this comic

I mean how spooky is it that he uploaded this comic days after I decided that this is exactly why I want to teach? The proverbial light bulb switching on above a student's head is, for me, the most rewarding part of my PhD experience thus far. Successful experiments come a close second, but those are so few and far between that I've almost given up on the idea that I have anything to do with it! When one of my former supervisees told me that I was one of the best supervisors he'd ever had, I wanted to cry tears of joy (the fact was probably evident by my ear-to-ear grin).

Everyone has their own drug. Mine is seeing others improve their understanding, and knowing that I had something to do with it.

We learn something new every day

Listening to: nothing

I was lucky today...I learnt not one, but two things! Firstly - don't eat peppery kotthu when you have a blocked nose, unless you want your nose to become extremely unblocked. I suppose the upside is that my nose isn't that blocked any more! Sigh.

The second is less of a life lesson. I was reading a random BBC article when I came across a term I didn't recognise - eugenics. So I did what I always do when my curiosity is aroused...I looked it up. How had I not come across this before? Crazyness. After reading most of the Wikipedia page, I decided that this is not something I could form an opinion on by reading someone's interpretation of the original text. Thankfully Cambridge is a fountain of knowledge, and there are plenty of copies of Sir Francis Galton's Hereditary Genius in the University Library, so I intend to borrow one at some point. Incidentally, I also checked the library catalogue for copies of Darwin's Origin of Species, only to find that one of the original copies has been missing since 1891...I found it quite amusing that the library has records from over a century ago :-).

So today has been all about discovering: discovering how much I don't know. Wow.

Grrrrr

Listening to: 'Stop This Train' by John Mayer [Continuum]

Stupid bloody freshers' flu. Aaaachchoooooooooooooooo! Nuff said.

Sorting my life out

Listening to: 'Belief' by John Mayer [Continuum]

So this week has been all about sorting my life out. A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders and suddenly I'm skipping (purely figuratively, I hope) down the road and smiling like a jackass. Blue skies do help, but the fact that I'm also sleeping better means than life is currently...good. As a friend said today...it's about time :-).

So yeah. Firstly, OMFG how on earth can I afford to learn how to drive?!?!?!?! It's soooo bloody expensive. It must be done though; I feel a 'Daddy Dearest' call coming on.

I tried smoky eyes today. While I'm not sure if it was a success, I don't think it was complete failure either. I wasn't entirely convinced that smoky eyes would work on South Asian skin, but I think with a little practice, I can pull it off. Either that, or it'll be really effective Halloween make up!

I just got back from watching Brideshead Revisited. Don't you just love the cinematography in BBC films?! They manage to make England look so pretty! The same could be said for Matthew Goode's bum, I suppose ;-).

Hmm there are so many things to blog about! Nothing interesting, all just ramblings...but still. I read BBC News a lot while waiting for experiments to finish, and I recently realised that I've never really penned my thoughts on current affairs here, other than when specific incidents demand my attention. Which is a bit odd, considering that I do have an opinion on politics, religion and the like. I suppose that will have to join the increasingly long list of 'things to do'.

Oh and I've decided I need to find a man who can play electric guitar. I mean properly..not like a one trick pony. It's so sexy! I feel dreamy every time I listen to John Mayer's 'Gravity'. I know I'm kinda severely limiting my options here by specifying prerequisites for potential suitors, but hey, what have I got to lose? It's not like I'm fending off the masses right now :P

Oh well, enough for now. I think I shall go back to daydreaming along to John Mayer. Or maybe I should tidy my room. Hmm...

An ode to second chances

Listening to: 'The Heart of Life' by John Mayer [Continuum]

Find it in your heart
      ...to take a risk
To have faith in those who have failed you
      ...in those who need more time
In those who have lost their way
      ...in those who know they can do better.

Find it in your heart
      ...to give them a second chance
They might not be worth it
      ...but then again, they might.