Warning: Head Injuries May Occur (particularly to the idiotic)

I work in a microbiology laboratory.

This is part of my work space:

I want you to pay particular attention to the horizontal laminar flow hood (right-center of the picture). Now, typically this is not a dangerous piece of equipment. There are not too many safety issues associated with the hood. Except if you are me. I recently sustained a concussion from bouncing my head off the top part of the hood. A bottle of agar was falling in the waterbath. As a reflex, I quickly rushed in to save it so that I didn't have to melt another bottle. Lab media is valuable! Sort of. Anyway, I hit my head so hard that the room was spinning and I had to feel my head in order to make sure that half of my skull wasn't caved in. I resumed my duties and went home with a throbbing headache. The next day I went back into work and I just didn't feel quite right. The white walls in the halls seemed like they were closing in on me when I walked down them. When I turned my head it seemed like it took a second for my brain to follow. My eyes couldn't really focus in on anything. I saw a doctor and he diagnosed a concussion. It's either my fifth or sixth. I can't remember. I can't decided whether or not this would be considered a good story, or the lamest story ever. All the other times I was concussed, it was doing something adventurous.

Life is short. Running makes it seem longer.

This morning I woke up at 4:45 am and ran the Deseret News 10K. The route started at Research Park and ended up at Liberty Park. Part of the course was along the Pioneer Day Parade route. It was only about 6:30 am and there were so many people there cheering us on. About a month ago I hurt my sciatic nerve and had to take a break from running. This was my first day back in my running shoes. I pushed it hard and I'm hurting now. But you have to look like it's effortless when that many people are watching you. I felt so cool when the teenage boys stuck their hands out to give you a high five as you ran past. Everytime I run, I wonder why I am doing this. It never feels good. I totally became a runner this summer, and I have no idea why. I've already completed a couple big races and yeah, there is a certain amount of satisfaction that comes from it, but it quickly leaves and you're just thinking about how much your feet and quads hurt. At least that is my experience. I send this warning out to you all-don't become a runner! It's hell!

Who do I look like?

So...I found my own celebrity match

Garth Algar!

Man, I'm so awesome.

Best Running Playlist Ever!

What's on my iPod when I run:

1. Wish You Were Here-Incubus
2. Dig-Incubus
3. Going to California-Fuel
4. Hemmorage-Fuel
5. War Pigs-Black Sabbath
6. Alive-Pearl Jam
7. Black-Pearl Jam
8. Even Flow-Pearl Jam
9. Yellow Ledbetter-Peal Jam
10. Best of You-Foo Fighters
11. Learn to Fly-Foo Fighters
12. Hunger Strike-Temple of the Dog
13. Heart Shaped Box-Nirvana
14. Breath-Breaking Benjamin
15. Israel's Son-Silverchair
16. She Talks to Angels-The Black Crowes
17. TNT-AC/DC
18. Animal-Def Leppard

The grunge/rock genre is just the kind of music to push you through when you are approaching the end of long milage runs. Lyrics such as, "Hate is what I feel for you. And I want you to know that I want you dead," is just what I need to help me stay focused on what I'm doing. You see, I hate running. I do it not for the joy, or for the exercise. I do it to say that I can run blasted long distances. I'm training for this marathon just to say that at one time in my life I ran a marathon. I wouldn't suggest running a marathon to anyone. It's excruciating. It hurts. My body tells me to stop every step of the way. But I do it just to say that I can.

Quick Question

The email to my boss:
Ben,
Hypothetically speaking, if one of the lab analysts working on, oh, Idon't know . . . let's say the ASTM 1671 test, were to accidentally spill some of the bacteriophage challenge onto another lab analyst while the former was assaying, and the second analyst retaliated by spraying a syringe full of viral challenge onto the other, would you:
a) be angry?
b) not want to know about it?
c) not care?
d) come down the hall with a fresh batch of challenge to join in on the "virus fight?"
Inquisitively yours,
Vanessa and Scott

His reply:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! You'd better be joking!

Our reply:
So, you're picking answer B?


I guess you had to be there.

Do I Really Look Like the Lead Singer of Nine-Inch Nails?

Yep. The celebrity that I most resemble happens to be not only a man, but the lead singer of Nine-Inch Nails. Wow! I would've never guessed. I was thinking (alright, wishing) that it would pull up Sienna Miller or Brooke Shields. But no such luck. A man! Trent Reznor! Shoot me!

About Ash

I have the most wonderful sister-in-law. She has become one of my favorite friends. I feel so blessed to have her as part of my family. She's smart, successful, gorgeous, but still can be extremely silly. She's got it all. We often walk around Sugarhouse park together and she'll listen to me for hours ramble on about work, my love-life, my body issues...and a billion other boring things. And she genuinely seems interested. Now that's a real pal.