What I've Been Up To

Well, in part making jewelry to sell alongside the vintage costume jewelry. If you're curious to see more, go here and check out what's offered.

Also, being in jewelry-making mode and having a pearl necklace that needed restringing, and hankering for an Art Deco 2-stranded bracelet I saw with platinum and diamond fittings that is priced beyond what most people make in a week, I made this:
No platinum or diamonds, but the clasp really is Art Deco, a vintage one from the 1930's ($12 plus shipping), and the spacers were made with vintage molds so they look right ($4 for a set of 4). I love the clasp so much:

What else? I'm 3/4 done with the baby blanket. Baby came early Thursday and it's a girl, named for my mother. It's traditional among Eastern European Jews to name a baby for the deceased (I am named for both of my grandmothers, who were murdered in the Holocaust). Doesn't make it easier to call the baby by my mother's name: I remember my own mother telling me years and years ago how hard it was for her to name me for her mother (my middle name). I'll finish up the blanket and send it along with the girlie bibs I made (after taking its portrait, of course).
One more bib I finished weeks ago but was too lazy to shoot:

I know it's on its side; it's little fish swimming around. A fitting theme for our lives these days, I think.
We got water back late Friday afternoon. Yesterday DH and I took a drive to see the scenes of some of the disasters near us: DD's hospital (which has fish swimming in the basement), the little falls at Little Falls, and so forth. En route from DD's hospital, we were stopped by none other than El Jefe, the Commander-in-Chief, POTUS, you know, that guy who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave in Washington DC. Yep, the prez and our governor were touring the same scenes we toured. I have to say that seeing the rapids along the river were quite impressive. The falls roared like Niagara, and though we stood well above the falls, we could feel the mist. Sad to see were the neighborhoods along the river, where people were cleaning out, not just basements (lines of washers and dryers in the street waiting to be hauled away) but first floors too (sofas and dining room sets sitting out in piles of debris). The Red Cross was there, handing out gallons of water, as were the utilities. This was in the borough of Little Falls, and it was a heart-breaking sight. I feel so grateful we were spared much damage. But now 2 more hurricanes may bring us 4 days of rain in the coming week. Hope not, but I may have to build a boat to be safe.
What else? I finished the book chapter on lung cancer; now comes the editing. I'm immersed in my project on kidney cancer treatment, and hoping I get to write 2 more chapter on cancer. Tomorrow DH and I will attend a job fair for out-of-work scientists. Should be an interesting experience.
Enjoy your barbecues, trips to the beach, or anything else fun you have planned for today.

What's New?

What's new is waiting and more waiting for both DH and me to hear back from places that offered us jobs without firm start dates. In my case, it's no less than 3 part-time jobs for firms in competition with each other. Meanwhile, I'm doing my free-lance book chapter, and I've been selling vintage costume jewelry on a couple of sites. I had amassed quite a collection years ago. The market may be soft now but for the vintage silver pieces, it's pretty good. Also, I can repair costume jewelry, so if I find something for very little (and I have picked up pieces for less than a dollar than just needed a rhinestone replaced), I can sell it at a discount and still make money.

Also new is my baby bird Estella. Right before I went to LA in June, my little budgie Pip got his wing caught in his cage soemwhere and broke it. A family friend who's a vet and frequent guest was over on successive Fridays, and looked at it and thought he was slowly getting better. But while I was on jury duty he died. Poor Pip; I really liked that little budgie. His cagemate Merry went into a decline and stopped eating, even though Duncan the cockatiel is his other good buddy. So DD#1 and I went bird shopping. We found this adorable little hen pulling the other budgies to her so she could preen them.

I thought that meant she might have a good nature to temper Merry's more fiery one, and it turns out I was right. She's sweet and docile, and Merry has become more so.
DH shot several photos of her, including this one- and she posed for the camera. Don't believe me? Take a look:


Now Merry had to get into a photo, something he used to disdain:


Yesterday we went to Collie Gathering at Terhune Park (site of Sunnybank, home of Lad and the Sunnybank collies), where we met LASSIE!!

That's Skye looking totally unimpressed in typical Skye-fashion to be posing next to the most famous collie of all (and he's usually a ladies' man- go figure!). Because it was thundering in the distance, Rocky wanted to find somewhere to hide, rather than meet Lassie.

The last new thing is my father is moving from my parents' house in 2 or 3 weeks, so I have to book a mover to move the living room and dining room furniture to NJ. It's sad that my my father should have to reduce his belongings to what will fit into a sitting room and a bedroom. But maybe he's happier not to have to bother with the upkeep of a full house. Once he's decided which photos he wants to hang, I'll have the others sent to me. I couldn't bring myself to take down the family photos and leave my father with empty walls.

I have been knitting in fits and starts; I keep forgetting to take photos of what I'm making! I need a camera upstairs as well as downstairs so I can always have one at the ready.

Nuts to Minimalism!

I had another interview today, at another cool agency. Agencies are all about the cool, the ultra modern, the minimalist. At least this one was in a real building, not a loft, and there were offices, loads of them.

Agencies are not the only entities that are into minimalism; career advisers love it a lot. I attended 2 career seminars on how to interview in 2011, and both emphasized dressing minimally (no, not like a pole-dancer) as follows: suit, hose, good shoes, well-groomed hair: yes; makeup, perfume, jewelry, briefcase, (even handbag if possible): no. One should strive to look like this:

Oh and pockets must be empty. No one must see a bulge from wallet, glasses, cell phone, or anything else. G-d forbid you might be human and have real needs- no employer wants to be reminded of that!

OK, I put together a few outfits based on a light jacket, dark skirts, different tops. I wear my watch (with catching trains to interview in New York City, a watch is essential), my wedding jewelry, and my college ring. I took off my earrings (let the holes show!), the necklace I always wear, even my MediAlert bracelet (hooked it to my purse strap. Left my briefcase home (although half the places I interviewed with wanted extra copies of my resume, le sigh) but really, cannot forego a purse. About the purse: my usual purse is this very practical bag by Timbuktu, in the very same color, which I wear crossed over my body:

I never have to wonder where it is, it's lightweight and washable and waterproof.
Career adviser said, "If you must take a purse, it must not be that one!"
DD#1 said,"Oh Mom, you cannot take that purse with you into an interview! What will people think?" Note that this is the same daughter who has the same purse, in aqua, if you please.
So what does Mom do? Mom bows to DD#1's superior hipness and modernity and asks her to choose a suitable fashion accessory for Mom.
DD#1 says, "That straw one you bought in Hawai'i will be perfect for summer interviews. I always loved that one."

Mom: "When I land a job you shall have it."

So back to the interview today. To say it was broiling hot in the city would be to underestimate the temperature of lower Manhattan. Yet there I was, in suit jacket over top, dark skirt, heels and hose, purse, no briefcase but carrying a file folder containing more copies of my resume, walking in the noon day sun from the train station to my destination (those of you familiar with Manhattan will know that walking is often the best way to get around the borough of Manhattan). As I was quite early, I stopped at a cool (in the literal sense) café a block away from the agency, to sip a tall iced coffee. Purse slung on back of chair, iced coffee in hand, I read over my notes on this agency. Feeling refreshed, I walked the last block and entered the building (this agency owns its own building). Asked for ID by the guard I reached for my purse-- but it wasn't there! Yelling to the guard that I'd be right back, I RAN to the café, praying the entire time.

With heart in throat, I re-entered the café. Miracle of miracles, my purse was right where I left it. No longer cool (in the literal sense of the word) nor as early as I'd like, back I went, found a ladies' room, and cooled down with copious applications of cold water.

And the interview? Well without experience, they won't offer me a job. That's a full-time job. They will offer me a part-time job as a free-lance writer because I have knowledge of a product area that's coming their way: the exact area of my expertise. They gain my knowledge, I gain experience (and some pay), and who knows? They might offer me a full-time job eventually. They want me to come back soon and meet more people. Absolutely, am I willing to come again.

I'm going back to my usual purse after today. And DD#1 can have the woven straw bag from Hawai'i she likes so much. I am not risking it again.

A Tale of Two Interviews

It was the best of interviews; it was the worst of interviews. With apologies to Dickens, here's my tale of two interviews.

First, the good interview. Tuesday I set out to the country. Remember the peony farm I visited the other week? Well, the barns you see above are the home of the firm for which I interviewed, located one town west of the peony farm. Beautiful countryside; I shudder to contemplate a winter commute. But one thing at a time! I met with several people simultaneously, whom I convinced (I hope) that the lab no longer calls to me. I addressed the points in the job ad for which I already have required skills, and pointed out the one or 2 areas that would be new to me. Being that the firm is literally miles and miles from any sizeable town, and being that gas prices are still high, I can't imagine that their doors are being beaten down by MDs or PhDs with expertise in oncology or other branches of medicine. At least, that's my hope.

Now the bad interview. To be accurate, it was a non-interview. This was the firm for which I already had a phone interview with (let us call her) Catriona. I aced that and thought I'd do well in person too. I had to submit a writing sample. Only fair, I'm applying to be a writer so submit I will. The sample was based on a paper and the instructions gave a maximum length, excluding reference literature. Instructions also asked one to specify how much time the assignment took, and that time would not be graded. The paper picked was out of my field, and that was intentional. First thing I did was do a literature search to learn about the field. Then I highlighted the results, both the good and the bad. I discovered mitigating factors for the bad results, and ended with a summary statement. I was well within the maximum length. Now Catriona told me there was no rush to submit the sample; after my interview was fine. However, the e-mail from the HR recruiter (let us call him) Yates with the sample assignment asked to have the sample back within 2 to 4 days, and definitely before the interview. Hmmm, what to do? Since these firms thrive on pressure and speed, I decided to do it à la Yates, finishing it inside of 2 days. Time it took was about a half-day, evenly divided between the literature research and the actual writing.

Well, there I was at the firm yesterday, and no one was expecting me. No One. I asked for Catriona. Surely she was expecting me; she set this up for when she came in from the UK. Catriona is at a meeting. I'll wait. Fifteen minutes later in comes Catriona, with apologies. Yates was supposed to e-mail me, obviously that didn't happen, she is so sorry, business meeting cropped up and she now has no time, etc. I asked: What about a future appointment? She hesitated, then said maybe when next she's back in the US, in August.

I was so furious I could have killed somebody. Like Yates. Drove to the office and went back to my new job of finding a new job.

At 4 pm, the phone rang. It was Yates. Who could not stop apologizing for never sending out the e-mail to me canceling the appointment. So being that Yates screwed up, I decided to press my tiny advantage home.
>Me: Did the position really disappear?
>Yates: More like we're not ready to create a new position right now but August is more likely.
>Me: Did my writing sample have anything to do with this decision?
>Yates: Well a bit.
>Me: Can you be more specific? I want to improve my writing skills so I'll be more marketable.
>Yates: Well you were definitely better than a lot of candidates. We can train you. These things are formulaic - you extract the data and plug into the writing template. My best advice to you is to take a course on how to write these kinds of studies. The grader said you used outside sources (Me thinking: if it's plug in the data, why not give me the template?? word limit said excluding references; that would imply outside references) and had 2 errors.
>Me: Can you find out what the errors were? I really want to improve.
>Yates: Being I screwed up and inconvenienced you, I will find your paper and get you the information. By the way, what did you think of our firm otherwise?
>Me: I thought that Catriona and I could work together, I'm impressed by the firm's offerings and philosophy, and I could be essential to the firm's success. (I hate spouting this stuff, but it's required if you want to work for a company.)
>Yates: I think you'd be a success here too. I'll keep your resume on top and let you know when there are openings for you.

Nothing like using guilt to get a favor.

LA Photos

Yes, that's a photo of LA: Franklin Canyon Park, just north of Beverly Hills.

We had a mostly pleasant time in LA. Sad yet not sad was the time spent going through my mother's things and sorting them. DD #1 and I now have lovely new hats, and DD #2 has several gorgeous dressy suits. I inherited nearly all my mother's jewelry, but several pieces cannot be found. Towards the end of her life she told my brothers people were stealing from her (she had people to clean and people to help care for her and my father). They dismissed her fears as paranoia, and now her diamond engagement ring, platinum wedding band, name necklace, jewelry from Israel, and more are gone. Being she hid some of her jewelry in unlikely places (DD #2 reached into the pocket of a coat she tried on and pulled out a gold watch, diamond bracelet and earrings, gold necklace, and gold bracelet- all stuffed in that one pocket), we are hopeful that some of the missing items will turn up when the house is packed later this summer (my father is moving to my brother's new house, which has a separate apartment suite).

We went through old family photos. I found the original of my mother's passport photo taken in Germany before she emigrated to America. The daughters were enthralled to see the old albums. My sister-in-law had the presence of mind to find all the loose photos she could, to store them in advance of movers coming. On another trip, we'll go through all the photos so that copies can be made for everyone.

I'll also be getting my parents' living room suite. My father prefers to use the family room furniture in his new apartment (I can see why: more comfortable for him with his needing to put his legs up now). So I'll be arranging for a small mover (that's what they're called!) to move the various pieces from LA to NJ.

On the job front I have more interviews lined up next week, in between nephew's wedding, post-wedding parties (called sheva brochas, or seven blessings for the special blessing recited in honor of the bridal coupled during the grace after meals), and checking out of the VA, then in again as a volunteer (give up old ID; get new ID). DH has some job leads and interviews, even an offer from someone who won't have money to hire until grant funding comes through- in October. I have some freelance work; maybe I can pick up enough to hold us over until we find permanent employment.

Meanwhile, enjoy some more photos from LA.

Franklin Canyon Park again

View from Mulholland Drive, summit of Santa Monica Mountain range

View of Beverly Hills and nearby area from Mulholland Drive

Near my brother's house

Rejected, Dejected, and Off to LA

I did not get either job.

The job in Manhattan, the one to which I was supposed to return in order to meet the manager? According to the recruiter, a better candidate (one with "agency" experience) showed up and was offered the job.

The job on the beautiful overlook? The very next day I received a politely worded e-mail informing me they've decided not to move forward with hiring a grant writer to obtain Federal grants. Somehow I think they knew that at 3 pm the previous day. Yet, the following day, they e-mailed me again, asking if I would write for them on a free-lance basis. I said yes. I still have to hear back from them. I'm not holding my breath.

Friday I had a telephone interview with a manager for a UK-based company that has a local education company. That went well, so well that I'll have an in-person interview at the local firm late this month. They sent me a writing test (totally out of my field); I finished it and sent it off. Now I've not heard really good things about this firm; in fact a friend of mine who switched from lab to medical education some years ago interviewed here and was glad to be offered a job where she is now (she's been trying to get me an interview there, but that's another post). My take: get my feet wet here if I'm offered a job and keep looking. If I like it there (things change!), I can stay and not look anywhere else, right?

To be honest, I am panicking, not the least because DH did not get his bridge grant and will definitely be out of work starting July 1. His field is less marketable than mine (yeast genetics; unless you are a brewery, who needs one of those?).

Tomorrow the entire Knitter family is going to LA. My nephew is getting married, not in LA-- in New York City on the 27th. My father thought he would be too ill to fly, so we made a family decision to go see him and attend synagogue, when my nephew will be called up to read the Torah portion as a groom. Thank G-d my father is better and will be coming east for the wedding after all; in fact, he will stay with DH and me. You can imagine how hard I'm finding it not to think about the cost of travel, in money as well as time at this juncture.

Sock update: it's back. Really and truly, it dragged its bedraggled self back onto the shelf from whence it came, needles and yarn and all. I'm letting it sit in time-out for a while as I make hostess gifts for my sister-in-law.

Another Interview

This is where I had another interview yesterday, in this glass tower that sits atop a 350 foot high bluff in the Watchung Mountains of northern NJ. It's 11 minutes from my house to the parking lot. How convenient.

Inside the building is all fancy marble and plants and soft lighting and waterfalls and fountains. I loved it. Quite a idfference from the uber-chic loft in Chelsea of last week. The office for the firm is on the tenth floor. Gorgeous views from the elevator ride up, and gorgeous views from office windows. Here, the conference room was an interior room, but a normal room, with projector screen, white board, and food and drinks on sideboards. Big oblong table, plants, and accessory lighting complemented comfortable chairs (Aerons, I think). In the reception area was a tabletop basketball hoop, a Zen rock and sand garden, and eatable goodies (candy jar, 5 types of pretzels, etc.). My kind of place. The dress code was decidedly casual; I saw jeans and flip-flops. No female wore hose or closed shoes. This is the second place in a row that every gal wore sandals or open-toed shoes (save me, the interviewee). I will love having a work excuse for pedicures.

Two ladies interviewed me at the same time. Both are senior vice presidents. they told me that one of their clients suggested they hire someone with grant writing expertise; lo and behold I happened to e-mail their CEO out of the blue (this is true- I found them because they are a local medical education and communications firm). Can I write education grants for them? Why not? I replied. We spoke for a while about how I find funding agencies and grant mechanisms, how I put together a grant, how they put together grants. There are commonalities, and I pointed those out. After an hour, the interview ended (one of them had another meeting). I promised to e-mail grants and publications, so they could see my work. I'll call them next week and find out what they're thinking if I haven't heard from them yet.

I don't really want to write grants forever, but if I can write some grants, and also help develop new education content (I have expertise in an area they ought to represent), I'll have a nice blend that interests me.

Tonight starts Shavuos, Pentecost, the commemoration of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. DD#2 is coming in from parts south for the holiday. It's traditional to eat a cheese-based meal so we'll have 3 kinds of blintzes plus sour cream and ricotta cheese; a variety of smoked and herb cheeses; a cheese ring for dessert. I'll whip up huevos rancheros one day, and we'll also have pot roast. I spotted a pie from DD#1, dropped off this morn on her way to work. Now I'm hungry and it's not yet lunch time!

How It Went

No, nothing like the cartoon (thank G-d!).

It went well, I think. Everyone was very cordial, very nice. They seemed to be almost as eager to sell the position to me as I was to sell my skills to them.

The venue: a converted factory loft in Chelsea, very hip part of Manhattan. The loft itself has exposed brick walls, indirect lighting, is one huge room with some offices along 2 outer walls, and stuck at odd places in the vast space are these round open can-like objects that fit 8 or 10 people, a table, and a white board. Painted black inside and out. Called pods, they are the meeting rooms (!), and are identified by the hip neighborhood in Manhattan folks chose: NoHo, Flatiron, and The West Village. Otherwise the decor is so minimalist the offices don't have full walls, such that while I was speaking to the hiring manager, the fellow next door bellowing on his phone was louder than our conversation. I took it in stride but I would think that if it inhibited work, the bellowing fellow would be made to quiet it down a bit. One manager I was to meet had to "take" an important phone call, which lasted for over 45 minutes. The upshot of that was the manager then had to dash to another meeting. I took that in stride too, and told the HR rep I'd be very happy to come back and meet the manager another day very soon.

The weather: The heat was terrific and the humidity impressive. Thought I did not have to wait for a single train (a miracle, I tell you), I was totally worn out by the time I returned home last night. It took 2 tall glasses of iced lemonade to revive me.

What I noticed: people dressed like college faculty, which surprised me; I was expected the ne plus ultra of downtown-chic. I was the only gal in hosiery/ closed toe shoes (I even spotted flip-flops). Jeans and untucked shirts prevailed on men, nary a tie in sight. That's good news for my wardrobe budget and my feet: I can wear comfy shoes to walk to and from the train station, a half-mile each way (not a great distance, but imagine doing it in dress heels).

What next: They are supposed to call me to set up the missed meeting with the manager. This gets sticky because of: 1) the interviews I have lined up and may have lined up (I hope); 2) the holiday of Shavuos (Pentecost) next week; 3) going to Los Angeles to see my father the following week; 4) having a family wedding out of town the last week in June. Well, come what may, I'm sure we'll work it out. If they don't understand prior commitments, they're not the right workplace for me, right?

Interview!

This afternoon is the first of 3 interviews scheduled (so far). Today's is with a hip, young medical communications company that was recently spun off a large multinational corporation. From the website, it looks like it has maybe 15 employees, but looks of course can be deceiving. It's located in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City; that means hip and cool and exciting. There was no advertisement for this position. How I came to be interviewed is this: Remember the career counselor I consulted a couple of weeks ago? She urged me to get in touch by e-mail or phone with friends and former colleagues who left laboratory science for new careers, asking them for advice and contacts. A former colleague sent me detailed lists of contacts, one of whom is a head-hunter who places people in medical writing, education, and communications jobs; exactly what I'm looking for. She had no clients who matched me, but gave me the name and contact info for the head HR fellow at the parent company where I'm interviewing today. I looked him up on LinkedIn, saw he was once a dentist, composed an e-mail to him addressing him as Dr.-- and he called me right away! He was so pleased I noticed his title and used it. We talked a bit about life and work, and then he said he knew they had an opening for which I wasn't quite qualified, but I had the main qualifications already, and he was sure I could learn the ropes fairly quickly. Once again, your mother was right: it pays to be polite!

Next week's interview is at a small, independent medical education firm quite close to my house. I found it through one of the lists my former colleague sent me. They also weren't advertising any openings, but I sent an e-mail with my resume to the head of the firm, asking for more information. The next day they called to set up an interview at the earliest we could schedule one. The last interview was set up the same way.

I see from this limited experience that the career counselor was 100% correct when she told me that most job advertisements are not for real jobs, but mainly posted after a candidate has been found, to satisfy EEOC regulations. Dismaying, right? That's why she taught me to write an introductory letter, requesting information or an informational interview. Submitting a resume this way can lead to an interview; even if all you get is an informational interview, you can ask for more contacts in other places, and keep yourself in people's minds when openings come up.

It's a scary world when job ads aren't real and you have to play detective to find actual openings. Who knows, maybe I'll spot my sock during my interview travels.

Rain, Rain, Go Away, etc.

After 5 days of near-relentless rain, this is what northern NJ looks like. My backyard is underwater; I've gotten soaked through the raincoat 3 times while walking Rocky; my feet won't warm up (unless I turn on a space heater- it's MAY dammit!). My wavy hair will not be tamed without generous application of goop. On the other hand, the grass is lush and long (the gardners do not come to cut in downpours), the Bath pinks bloomed prematurely, the lilacs smell heavenly, the peonies and paniculate hydrangeas are gigantic (the mophead and lace cap hydrangeas are taking their own sweet time to come into bloom). Such is spring in the Mid-Atlantic states.

On the job hunt still; attended a webinar today on honing my interviewing skills. I received test materials from one company to see how good my writing skills are for their purposes. A friend at another company is helping me fill a suitable vacancy at her firm. And I'm still doing what the career counselor told me: contacting 1 or 2 new companies each day (or most days) to find out about openings I may suit. It's totally nerve-wracking, the cold-calling or e-mailing, but it has to be done.

The sock must have drowned, I am convinced of it. Maybe flushed itself down a storm sewer. What a prospect! What a waste of hand-dyed yarn! To be continued...

Career Counseling 101

Yesterday I met with a career counselor. For nearly 2 hours we brainstormed about my past and future career trajectory, and I came away with a list of to-do items. This was time and money well-spent. Although I had an idea where I should look in terms of changing fields from lab-based research to medical education and writing, I had no idea that so many job listings are red herrings, mainly to satisfy EEOC regulations. Or that scanned electronic resumes rarely net one a job unless the key words match up (and the chances of that happening are close to my winning the Power Ball lottery). Most importantly, I learned that focusing my objective statement on my career aspirations make the resume, well, about me (DUH). Instead, I rewrote my objectives section into a short statement about how my previous career as a bench scientist brings skills a firm can use to meet its goals and serve its clients.

The counselor and I will meet again in 3 weeks. The time gives me a chance to set up informational interviews with targeted firms close to me. Beats crying, let me tell you, to have something positive to do.

When I returned to the office today, there was a message about one and maybe 2 potential jobs. Plus an e-mail from a former colleague who heads a medical education firm inviting me to call him tomorrow. And both messages trump no news about zero jobs any day.

Lost sock update: Since last spotted at Cinqo de Mayo celebrations in LA (thank you, sharp-eyed Fleegle!), it must be taking Route 66 home, which means it should make to Chicago by the 4th of July or thereabouts. How it gets from Chicago to NJ is its problem!

Denied!

That's the outcome of my grant appeal to the VA.

The new head of research wants me to revise and resubmit in September (the next deadline). I reminded him that as of June 30th, I'll no longer be paid by the VA. "We may be able to fix that," says he. He's much more dedicated to research than his predecessor. Meanwhile, I had a brainstorm for a grant to go to the NIH. It's just about ready to submit. It's on pancreatic cancer. It's new, novel, innovative, and 100% do-able in my lab.

The errant sock is still somewhere other than my knitting storage shelves. Maybe it's still out on Times Square having a blast, Fleegle. When I find it (and I will), I will punish it by finishing it, making its mate, and wearing the pair. Hah! That'll larn those pesky socks to mess with me.

It's 2011

The last week of 2010 was pretty awful. First, the news about my mother moving to hospice care threw me. Then after the snow cleared and I returned to work, I found out that my VA grant was not renewed (more on this later). This means I will be out of work by the end of July. And if these two blows weren't enough, my Pap test came back with cellular atypia. That's a type of abnormality sometimes considered pre-cancerous, sometimes not. Because I had borderline melanoma ten years ago, any cellular abnormality is a big deal finding. Do I need all of this? Does anyone?

As for the VA grant, normally, I'd take the critique to heart, revise the proposal, and resubmit. Not this time. The comments I received were nasty, spiteful, and mostly the kind that can't be answered. What do you say to a critique that basically trashes the journals you've published in-- when you published in the major ones for your subfield? The reviewer called one journal barely acceptable and the other unmentionable. Are we in middle school again? Shock is too mild a word for what I feel. And that's one of the "nicer" comments on the critique.

So my new job in the interim is finding a new job. I just got off the phone with a technical recruiter who told me how my research experience works against me; I should eliminate or downplay it on my resumé. Fine, I'll revise and resubmit that.

On the knitting front, Friday is dear SiL's birthday. I'm knitting him a scarf out of a Louisa Harding wool/cashmere/microfiber blend I picked up on sale at the LYS:

As of last night it was more than 75% done. Yep, that's a DNA helix you see winding its way up the scarf. Fun knit. Free pattern, in case you've a mind to knit yourself a double helix too.

Back from Hotlanta

Which wasn't all that hot. The lobby of the pretty Grand Hyatt was about the most interesting thing I got to see, being I was obligated to be present at the meeting at all times (as a speaker, I was sort of like faculty for the duration of the conference). DH was luckier: he got see the Salvador Dali exhibit at the High Museum, explore the historic district nearby, and generally lounge about Buckhead, enjoying the good weather.


One thing I learned from the conference: my eye doctor is right, I need stronger lenses. I could not resolve fairly large letters on a huge screen from a moderate distance. It's been 3 years since my last change of glasses, prompted by losing my lamented Escadas, replaced by these new Kate Spades.

In 3 years I managed to strip the screws and scratch the lenses from constant wear. New sunglasses ordered, and they are Kate Spades once again (apparently, this brand of frames fits me the best).

Doesn't look like much, right? Add the lenses with tint and polarization to cut glare and you are looking at one mighty expensive piece of eyewear (thank heavens for flexible benefits to help pay for eyeglasses).

My indoor glasses held up pretty well (a pretty rose pair of Safilo wire rims), but if I hand them over for new lenses, I won't be able to drive at night or on cloudy days, let alone watch the new Harry Potter movie (already have tickets, will sit up front).
After much, much debate, angst, and trying-on of frames (do these look too school-marmy? Too librarian? Tortoise-shell: ugh, no! a throw-back to when I was a kid and only wore tortoiseshell frames. Wire rims again? The pretty green frames I loved-- made me look green) the optician picked these semi-rimless Guess? frames for me:

I'll be getting them in sophisticated brown metallic.

In the knitting department, I did take along a ball of cotton and plastic needles to make another bib (everyone is having babies, must keep cranking out the bibs). Pretty much completed it on the trip down. Photos a-comin' soon.

One last word about Atlanta. DH and I made one foray outside of Buckhead before the meeting to buy kosher food; this was to nearby (so we thought) Toco Hills. The map was so misleading. I had a dang-hard time figuring out where to go and how to get there (please Google Plantation Drive, Buckhead; you'll see what I mean). I lamented this to DH for some sympathy, asking, "What's wrong with Atlanta? I can't figure out how the streets run." DH replied, "Blame Sherman."

Spinning a Yarn

Remember this pretty little spindle I bought last month at Rhinebeck? I used it on the Cotswold roving to make this:

Yeah, go ahead and laugh; I know it's quite pathetic. In fact, I intend to save these ~200 yards of handspun madness as a reminder that we all start out as rank amateurs (and I don't think spinners start out any ranker than this). I suspected that besides my non-existent spinning skills, my pretty spindle wasn't really up to snuff, at least for a beginner. Ravelry spinners recommended several name-brands to me, and so I bought a Kundert spindle in walnut and maple:

It came with the tie-dyed roving you see wrapped around it. I took it for its maiden spin to the spinning guild meeting yesterday. I was the lone person using a hand spindle; everyone else had wheels: Louets, Schachts, Ashfords, you name it, it was there. One wheel in particular was made of gorgeous chestnut-colored wood, with leaves carved around the wheel. It was quite a thing of beauty. Naturally, everyone told me how hard it was to spindle, how easy it was to use a wheel, and how everyone present started with a hand spindle. Two lovely ladies helped me used my Kundert spindle. One, V, took my pretty painted one for a spin and determined that it was not balanced well-enough for me to use (she of course could make a lace-weight yarn out of my BFL roving like that spindle were a $300 Golding!). So I guess I'll use it as a hand-supported spindle, or stick it in a basket as decoration. My Kundert, which weighs 1.3 ounces, V though was too light for a beginner (yikes! and it came as part of a learn to spin kit!!). However, if I draft well (I still really suck at drafting), I should be able to use it. Bonus: I can use it as a top or bottom whorl. Ha- I actually think I like it as a bottom whorl more.

I also bought the cheap $9 lucet:

It's made of walnut, so for $9 I think I really got a bargain. I haven't used it yet; I've been waxing it since it came unfinished. When I like the gloss, I'll start cranking out cord.

On the knitting front, Peggy is about 97% done. I have about 5 rows left on the 2nd sleeve. The body is made up, waiting for the sleeves.

My hairdresser is expecting a wee one on Valentine's Day, so I'm making some bibs. Here's the first, modeled by Betsy:

This is a pattern from the Down Cloverlaine website (link on the sidebar) called Baby Ripples; I modified it a bit. I may make another in the same Peaches and Crème Fiesta yarn.

DD#1 still has lots of stuff at our house that I keep threatening to make disappear. The other week she realized that the dressy hat she insisted I make her when she was in college is still at my house. Now she wants it again (I don't think she wore it once while she was at college, to be honest).

Nice, isn't it? Made of Tahki Sable that is 70% Merino wool and 30% angora, it's sooo soft. The pattern is the cover hat by Nicky Epstein on the Vogue Knitting Winter 94/95 issue, only I made it shorter, in one color, and left off the snowflake and reindeer embroidery. (In case you have that issue and were wondering.)

Later this week DH and I go to Atlanta, GA, where my scientific society is having its annual meeting. I'll be speaking next Sunday about my cancer research. Might take a project along for the plane; can't decide. Flying is such a hassle and TSA is somewhat capricious.

Going Nowhere Fast

see more Señor Gif
This is how I'm feeling these days: between my university and the VA I can't get my budget in order (both administrative units are dysfunctional, to be kind). I attended a 2 1/2 hour meeting last week at the VA, subject: abysmal administration for researchers. Resolution: so far none. I need to kick some of these problems up the food chain and meet with the assistant director. I submitted my grant, but until it's funded, I need to run my lab. Or not. Maybe the VA doesn't mind paying me a salary during the time that my lab might have to shut down? I can't tell. Tomorrow I'll try to meet with a university administrator and get some things straightened out (grants ended, stop paying people from those grants; where did $35K on one grant go between July and August; etc).

I was praying yesterday on the Day of Atonement for some help from On High with these matters. I really thought I went to graduate school to learn how to do science; I'm finding out that I needed an MBA plus the PhD because the paid administrators surely aren't administrating; I'm expected to be the administrator as well as the PI. I hate that.

Twist is almost done, yippee! The hood is 3/4 finished, then the bands will be picked up and knitted in 2x2 ribbing. I'll be putting in a 2-ended zipper, which I'll order from Zipper Stop. They'll match the color you need, in case you ever need an odd-colored zipper. While I'm sending in yarn from Twist, I might as well send in some yarn from Peggy and order a zipper for that cardi too. DD#2 doesn't want a 2-ended zipper. I think it's a mistake that I'll regret every time I resew the zipper.

Department of Major SNAFUs

No, I haven't left the planet or anything, though my erstwhile employer, the Department of Vet Affairs, seems to have kicked me off the payroll.

That seems to have been the fault of the local VA station (not pointing fingers here), since Washington has sent me e-mails claiming I still work for them (your tax dollars at work, folks).

You can just imagine the fun. And the budget balancing in the wake of a major, major monetary shortfall. And the panicked phones calls hither and yon to get me reinstated ASAP (I'm re-submitting a grant application next month, for crying out loud!).

Who can knit?

Hopefully, this too will have passed and the blog will return to its normal knitting "knews" and info. Hopefully.

Knitting and Science

Every so often one of the knitting magazines publishes an in-depth article about the life of a knitting designer or guru. Usually the profile includes an interview, during which the writer will ask about the knitterly training of the guru or designer. Many of our beloved teachers and designers had, not surprisingly, formal art training: Elizabeth Zimmermann, Kaffe Fassett, Susan Duckworth, among others. But the designers who come even more readily to my mind are the ones with the unlikely connection of knitting and science. Unlikely, one might think, because one is a left-brained activity, while the other is a right-brained one. Yet I cannot help but think the two pursuits are related, considering the number of knitters out there with science-related backgrounds.

Famous knitters who trained in science or mathematics (list is by no means exhaustive):

Barbara Walker geologist
Deborah Newton biologist
Norah Gaughan mathematics
Alice Starmore taught science; now a naturalist

Other knitters who trained in science/mathematics:

Fleegle: molecular genetics
DixieStix: computational chemist
Pretty kitty knitty whatever: cell & molecular biology
Purls and Curls: microbiology
Keyboard Biologist: computational biologist
Grumperina: neuroscientist
Skeintily Clad: scientist (cannot tell what kind)
Minestrone Soup: biochemistry & cell biology
Stream of Consciousness: chemist
Nik’s Knits: scientist (cannot tell what kind)
Critters and Spectacles: conservation biologist
One Crafty Snargle: ecologist/marine biologist
Chameleon Knits: chemist
Merino Girl: biochemist
Sissy Says: nucleic acid chemist
Soapbox: computer science
Frog Monkey: software engineer
Samurai Knitter: metallurgy/archeology
Etherknitter: anesthesiologist
Experimental Knitter: immunologist

When I was in graduate school back in the Dark Ages, I was the only student who knitted. My professors would have considered knitting a distraction: proof-positive that women did not belong in Ph.D. programs, which demanded of one the kind of devotion usually reserved for entering a cloistered religious order.

I’m glad to see so many young students of science who knit and share their science and knitting with the world. Ravelry has at least 2 groups devoted to knitters who do science or math when they're not knitting. As for my professors, pity them for they will never know the warmth of a hand-knit hat made from soft merino wool.

Happy Thanksgiving To All

Happy Thanksgiving. Hope you are enjoying the turkey with fixings, the game, the family, or a quiet day however you spend today. I did the fixing cooking earlier so DH could have the kitchen free to make the bird, yams, and boiled steamed broccoli.

Haven't posted in a couple of weeks; my lab and office have moved and I had to do a lot of the moving myself. The move was not initiated by moi, but by my department chair. I'm now in exile, 1 floor below my department (where drinking water, coffee, needed common equipment, mail services, etc. are), sans office (temporarily), with my office furniture in the middle of my lab so I can't get to my benches or equipment. I had to buy a new lab refrigerator, which will arrive before my office situation is straightened out. I'm still expected to give seminars, write grants and papers, review manuscripts, attend meetings, and function like any other faculty member. Just without access to my printer or files (I was able to set up my iMac, but working from a lab bench on a computer is killing my back) and in a lab 1/3 smaller than the old one. Moving the heavy stuff injured my knee, put my microscopes out of whack, and contaminated my cells. Why did my chairman do this? I dunno; insanity I guess. Other faculty would dust off their curricula vitae and starting to shop for a new job. Me, I went to the Dean of Research and made him come to my lab to see not only that I can't be expected to function, but my lab now violates every safety rule at our university. Which is why he said there and then he had an office for me. Not my department has an office for me; he the Dean of Research will assign me an office on the same floor as my lab. Monday I will nag ask about the office, before my back permanently seizes up.

Enough rant! I'm grateful that the Dean saw reality and saw fit to help me out. I'm grateful that the mole that DD#1 had removed in October was nothing more than a benign spot. I'm grateful DD#2's interview at Johns Hopkins went very well last month. I'm grateful for my family (except when they drive me nuts). I'm grateful to have all that I have. I'm grateful to have a long weekend to spend a part of knitting.

If you want to see 2 adorable movies, I recommend "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" and "Enchanted." Especially "Enchanted." Go see it for Amy Adams' performance alone.

... Only to Leave Again

This is a non-knitting post. I have not picked up needles in a few weeks because I have been inundated with work at work. I've been training a new lab technician and a summer student at the same time, something I try to avoid whenever possible. Then there was a quick trip to Minnesota to give a lecture and participate in a discussion on cancer research. Last week there was a major crisis over starting my Veterans Administration research grant. The major crisis? The assistant chief of research at the local VA hospital, which administers the grant, decided or was coerced into trying to get the grant rescinded by Washington. Luckily I found out about it, and luckily I keep a paper trail. But it's no fun to fight fires constantly; research is hard enough as it is. Usually knitting relaxes me, but when I'm this keyed up I can't knit. Hopefully, with a holiday break tomorrow, I'll return to my usually state of quiet frenzy. I can knit then. I really need to finish my Peach Petal socks!

On a happier note, we saw "Ratatouille" Sunday. Hysterically funny. Do go see it, you won't be sorry.