Recognition

During my PhD (yes, I am a sucker for punishment), I met a remarkable scientist conducting research in the same institute.   This scientists was not in the same lab, not even on the same floor, we did not lived in close proximity and our ethical position whilst seemingly both ‘left wing’ were very different.   Nevertheless, the 5 months our time overlapped at the institute was enough to establish a tangible connection, so much so that over a decade later we are still strong. 

During my undergraduate I studied various chemistry units where I met a remarkable chemist.  I knew this chemist to speak to, to engage with, but not much else.  At the time, this chemist appeared mature, controlled, level headed and goal orientated – attributes easily admired, unless you lack ALL of them.  Years later (8 to be exact), I came to work with this chemist.  The chemist is now a friend I could not live without (the chemist is still mature, controlled, level headed and goal orientated, the only difference being is that I finally (perhaps only marginally) caught up).

During my high school years I was often one of the few girls in my class.  I wore a lot of sh#%, more often than not, said sh#% was thrown at me by one individual.   Appearances are often misleading; this individual understood be back then and understands me now.

The point? 

Recognition.  Friendships seem haphazard, random, spontaneous, but in my experience they arrive exactly when you need them and exactly when you are ready for them.  If you don’t feel like you have ‘a people’, you just haven’t recognised them yet.

Inspiration & Acknowledgement goes to the two movie going stooges from last night. My people.

The Scientific Method

As mentioned in ‘About Me’, I used to be a scientist.   It was recently suggested I miss the laboratory more than I let on.  I don’t.  Though I concede I miss the cause and effect simplicity, and perhaps that is now translating into my daily activities (outside of the day job).

Wikipedia (the non-scientific source of a definition) defines a scientist as one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge, and, in a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method.

The scientific method can now be found on my kitchen bench in the form of a biga (I now bake traditional ciabatta), a yoghurt culture (I now make yoghurt), empty jam jars (I now make jam), and muslin for draining ricotta (I now make cheese).  The scientific method can be found in the garage, where various piece of furniture are being revived.  The scientific method can be found in the garden, where the scientific method of stubbornness means I persist in planting probably toxic plants, which the dog continues to eat.

Truth be told, the scientific method was something I loved¹ and I am pleased that I have fallen for 'it' once again.

Foot note:

¹ when I was five, I created the ‘ultimate weedkiller’ for my dad.  I sprayed it on the weeds and declared that night my father would never have to weed again… I was almost right, the next day the entire lawn was burnt… the scientific method.

Two Concrete Swans

An affable man once described me as ‘particular’. 

On introduction to a friend of my mother’s, said friend exclaimed ‘you must be the black sheep of the family!’  

…

I have always wanted concrete swans.  White, black, any ole colour concrete swans.  I have no idea why – the concrete swan is not a necessity, nor is it a desirable item to have on one’s porch.  I had been looking for a damn swan for so long.  Then, about a year ago, one morning whilst a girlfriend and I were walking our dogs, I told her I had reached the conclusion that I’d never own a concrete swan… her laughter, confusion and derogatory remarks ensued for several blocks when suddenly she just stopped in her tracks and pointed across the road.  There on the verge, ready to be thrown out, were TWO concrete swans.

It was the morning of 10 November 2010.  It was the day I set up this blog account.  And since that day I have been trying to decide upon a theme.

Admittedly, I haven’t been sitting on my hands – the two concrete swans (or herein referred to as ‘the find’) helped me appreciate that anything may eventuate, so I:

·         received some more qualifications;

·         got married;

·         changed jobs;

·         reconnected with old friends;

·         started yoga again;

·         started running again; and

·         started listening to me and what I actually wanted.

Nevertheless, after a year, I am still without a theme for this blog.

I want to believe I could blog about my love of clothes, cooking, exercising, reducing my carbon footprint, my creations, my thoughts, my ideas, my travels, my renovations, my nail polish, my garden, my dog!  … blah, blah, blah

Still no decision has been made, but I needed to start.  Perhaps I should decide on two themes – after all that is the number of concrete swans I now own.

About Me

I am:

·         happy;

·         loved;

·         loving;

·         ridiculous;

·         the butt of all family jokes;

·         flexible, mentally and physically;

·         fair;

·         encouraging;

·         a procrastinator;

·         an attorney who was a scientist;

·         a ‘wanna’ be gardener;

·         a ‘wanna’ be designer;

·         a ‘wanna’ be cook;

·         a ‘wanna’ be something ; and

·         an aging woman. 

I love:

·         my family and friends (herein referred to as ‘my people’);

·         my dog;

·         pretending I am creative;

·         anything old;

·         believing - not in a religion, but just believing.

I have:

·         amazing people;

·         a tendency to be lazy, academically and physically;

·         love;

·         mellowed;

·         but still a mouth; and

·         still, an attitude on occasion;

·         faith in something (not too sure what yet); and

·         respect.