Penelope At Random

Well, other than what looks like some glitchy software timing issues, my preliminary dissertation data is looking Very Very Promising. This pleases me immensely.

*Sits being pleased for a while*

Of course, those problems are important, and have got to be fixed, but I'm pretty sure I know what they are and how to fix them (with a little help from a friend and mentor here). So hehehehe. That's all I have to say about that.

Here's one up on Josie's page that I couldn't resist. (My brother's SO, btw; very good blog).


Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

It helps that I really liked my results. heh.

In other and possibly more interesting news (depending on how big a personality quiz fan versus baby fan you are), my doctor's appointment Tuesday revealed that I have been in pre-labor for some time now, never even noticed, and have dilated to 3cm (out of 10) and am 90% effaced (cervical thinning). In other words, she could come along any time now. Probably within the week. I can definately feel mild contractions regularly now, but they are not enough to stop the press or keep me home from work (God, what would I do???, sit at home and think about it all day? That would drive me mad!). So hold on to your hats,All, soon a new Geek shall be born.

Yes, I am still about. I continue to slug away at running these preliminary studies. I still have hope of finishing them before the baby arrives, even though a few snags held them up a bit. Finally looks like I'll start collecting more than just the pilot data next week. Then we'll see if I'm on the right track or have to redesign the real study by next fall. I think I shall conivince my advisor to purchase these pretty little things(the ER 4s) for me for that distant and shining time as well. Oooh, aren't they nice?

I am becoming mildly depressed by the fact that I can not explain what I do to those near and dear to me who are not in my field. I start talking and eyes glaze and nods become polite. I try to simplify, but that actually seems to make things worse by introducting a vagueness factor. Yet specifying causes confusion. Le sigh. It makes me sad not to be able to share such a vital part of my life with friends and family. Ah well, the hazards of being a scientist, I guess.

Baby action is coming along fine. Tomorrow we have a day long breathing class that will also involve a tour of the hospital and education on the birthing process and exactly what they will be putting us through on the big day(s). I am at 36 weeks now. One month to go! (They lie when they say 9. They mean 10.) The nursery is an utter disaster, and we don't have a crib mattress or diapers. I ordered this cool thing, though, thanks to my mom's suggestion, that we can use when she first arrives(the baby, not my mom). It attaches to the side of the bed. More importantly, even if the nursery isn't put together, she shall not be sleeping in a sock drawer. This, I realize, is a quite avoidant way of handling the nursery situation. It is also not cool to plan on hoisting the nursery situation, or that should be Situation, off on my parents when they come to visit. However, it seems to be we are heading in that direction. Bad daughter. Bad. Well, there's still a month to go. Maybe next weekend...