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penny March 7th, 2007

I am feeling quite happy today. This post will definitely turn out to be one of my self-absorbed ones, so be warned.

Today was a lovely day. On several points too:

1. Productive day. I did my usual lab report today, and it turned out well. No, actually, it went very well. That must be the most fruitful meeting I’ve had in months. The great thing about successful meetings is that it gives you a boost of confidence on things you want to do, and gives you that extra mileage to take things further than you expect. One thing that I notice is that I am starting to get used to the work I am doing for this degree, that it is almost a job. But I don’t mean that in any negative way at all, but rather, it actually feels like a job I like. I can’t imagine doing anything else and feel this amount of satisfaction. If only this is how work can be every single time. I wonder…

2. I’m raving about a flattering hint I received on possibly finishing my degree a year (or maybe even 1.5 years) earlier. Isn’t that nuts??!! But I know (for sure) they won’t let me do that, since I have to stay for at least three. Still, that being told is quite a thing, isn’t it? I scare myself sometimes. It is both thrilling and fulfilling to see yourself and your work progress as time passes. What’s sad about it though is that it has to end sometime. And at this rate, I feel like I would be leaving soon, and it is really really sad. When you put so much effort on something and get attached to it, it’s gets too hard to let go. I know I’m being too sentimental too early, but I sure am going to miss this place when that time comes.

3. Another source of positive energy for today came from meeting Mark’s wife Penny, and their son Felix. Mark had been speaking about them since I arrived last year, and it is indeed a delight to finally meet them after 6 months [wow, has it reeeeeally been that long??!]. It was an obvious opening line “So whereabouts did Pen originate? Oh yeah, my wife’s name is Pen too, well Penelope.” It was funny to hear stories about each other for a time and then suddenly meeting like that. You finally get to match the face and voice with the stories and images. The same went for Jane, Fabio’s partner. It took four months before I met her as well.

4. Felix is a darling! He has to qualify as an item on this list on his own. In my opinion he looks nothing like Mark, and took more from Penny. He’s a lovely 2-year-old who is so unbelievably polite! And he was prancing around just having fun with his dad in the office… oh I couldn’t get enough of such a beautiful scene. I kept cursing myself under my breath for not bringing the camera! I’d have to wait to take photos of Felix when I get invited to their place one time. [Penny said, "You should just come home with Mark sometime. I'm inviting you over." Wouldn't that be the weirdest thing, to go home with your supervisor after a long day of scientific bickering?]

5. I received word that my application to one of the University projects I was interested in was approved today, another good thing. People in the lab seem to be excited about it as well, because it’s one of those exposure programs that improve visibility of our research topics. I’m honoured to somehow be representing the group.

I can go on and on… but my eyes are tired now. Ooops, that’s a bad thing I know. I’m starting to have trouble with vision, but I hope it is just me being tired. Last weekend I spent zero time on work. Not unusual, but it was extremely tiring this time around given that I had nonstop plans since Saturday til Sunday. Doesn’t sound like much, but walking in the streets in Mardi Gras one day and then hiking up and down the mountainside in Katoomba is a NASTY LOT to do in sequence. So up until now, I can still feel an aching in my legs that I’m sure is because of last weekend’s trips out. So this coming weekend, I will pass on the plans for now. I need rest. I had been physically tired the past days, coupled with a lack of sleep, it is exhausting I tell you. I found out that I can go for days with little sleep, especially when I am thinking really hard about work-stuff. But not this week. The brain and body can only take so much beating.

===============RANDOM THING==================
My brother is an air traffic controller, and I bet he would like to see this.
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