I survived my first official, somewhat-long research presentation. And thankfully, so did everyone in the audience.

Well friends, this has been quite a week.  My whole summer so far has been leading up to yesterday (Wednesday) and next Wednesday.  If you don't recall, I am interning in a Neuroscience lab at the University of Iowa this summer.  I have been working on a project focused on language acquisition and the possibilities and limitations of a specific process of mapping word-object associations, called fast mapping.  Every Wednesday and Friday we have "morning meetings" in Neurology.  Someone gives a presentation and then we have some time for discussion and questions.  They are always very interesting; there might be a presentation on a case study, a research project, or even just a research idea. I knew from early on that at some point I would have to present on the work that I have been doing.  That "some point" was yesterday morning.  This was kind of a big deal.  I realize it was a fairly informal setting, which about 20 people that I sort of know...but it was still 45-minute long of me presenting background on the topic that I was supposed to know like the back of my hand and presenting all the details of my experimental procedure, which I was supposed to know like the inside of my eyelids, and finally I got to present some data that we had just gotten the day before.  This might explain why my Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights were filled with late hours in the lab (except Sunday, when I was on my bed with literature piled around me instead of at my desk in the lab), a powerpoint that got prettier as each hour went on...and possibly some tears (not too many, but I will admit it was a little stressful.  And in my world, stress = tears or banging my head on the wall.  I almost always opt for the tears).

So finally, yesterday morning rolled around and while I was nervous, I actually felt very good about all the work I had done.  I only had dry mouth and sweaty palms...but it's not like I passed out of had an awkward voice crack. Oh wait, I did have an awkward voice crack.  Oh well.  I am pleased to announce that the talk went very well.  I felt confident, but I also had some help from my mentors in answering the tough questions.  Although I felt massive relief when it was finally over, I was also happy to realize that I had really enjoyed the process.  I know that may seem contradictory to earlier when I said this caused me to shed some tears...but even the fact that I went from a near-breakdown state to having a decent powerpoint and feeling confident only 24 hours later brings me a lot of pride and joy.  Assuming the whole grad school thing goes ok, I could see this 'stressful, but awesome' type of experience happening more in my life.  And I hope that it does.

As much as I enjoyed preparing for this talk I have to admit that one of the best things about the presentation was it being over.  I had to run a participant through my experiment yesterday morning and afternoon (which required the help of my good friend, Espresso) but after that I was home free...except that I didn't think I could make it all the way home on my bike because I was so tired, so I just rod over the Old Capitol Square and laid in the grass.  It was a nearly swelteringly hot day, but when I laid in the grass, in the shade, I could actually feel a soft, cool breeze around me and I was out about as soon as my head hit the pillow (a.k.a. an extra shirt I happened to have in my backpack.)  I laid there for about an hour before finally peeling my eyes open, realizing it was still July (felt as though I slept for years) and I continued downtown to search for a store to mindlessly wander around in.

I found the perfect one.  I don't remember what it was called, but it was something like Artisan's Art Shamanananalala.  Seriously, I don't remember its name, but it was awesome.  All the work is by individual artistis, some local, some from further away and there is jewelry, decorations, scarfs, woodworking, photographs, paintings, sketchings,  and even more.  The whole store was full of eye candy and I spent a good amount of time just perusing each display case.  I found at least 5 pairs of earrings that I "can't live without"  and a few necklaces that would be way too expensive for now, but extra awesome to have later...when I grow up and have a real job and all that stuff.

After my peaceful perusing of the lovely Art store, I headed to my hair cut appointment.  I have a problem where my hair grows to this awkward length and I begin to despise it.  That was happening at the beginning of this week.  I finally discovered the solution-- get it cut!  I went to this awesome place in Iowa City that I had just found by random google chance and it was nearby enough that I could ride there.  It was so cool! The shop is inside of this old, interesting house and most of the equipment was salvaged and repaired so the chairs don't match and the decorations are all a little bizarre...and I loved it.  They played great music and it just had a real welcoming feel.  The girl who did my hair was fantastic.  She took off so much weight (my hair is so thick you just always have to lighten it up by getting rid of a bunch and texturizing it) and she framed it very nicely around my face.  I felt like a whole new person when she finally got done blowdrying and straightening and I was able to look in the mirror.  Seriously, why do I ever let my hair get to that awkward length.  I like this so much more!  I'll post a pic if I'm able to...just so you don't feel left out from the excitement.

As for now, I better get off the computer and get to work!  As always, thanks for reading :)

No longer on earth but forever in our hearts and in heaven, smiling and wagging that finger

It's Friday night and right now the world revolves around Donnellson, Iowa.  I am at Liza and Dennis's house (parents of my cousin Hannah who has made many appearances in this blog).  I am eating delicious Seyb food, drinking Saranac beer (a lovely Summer Brew), listening to the peaceful folksy funeral soundtrack we just created for tomorrow's service, and being comforted by the rolling chatter of friends and family as we are together to celebrate the amazing life of my Grandma Audrey Seyb.  After a difficult struggle with multiple myeloma that lasted many, many more years than anyone expected (she is one tough cookie!!), she finally decided it was just as well to head on up to heaven and meet up with my Grandma Darrell, who has been there since last March, waiting patiently for his love to join him.  We miss him greatly and the world will never be the same now that the two of them are gone....but I am quite sure they are happy frolicking around (probably square-dancing) on those glistening streets of gold.

Never in my life have I needed heaven to be real as much as I do right now:  I need to know that she is smiling and laughing and experiencing the joy of being young and healthy.  I can feel that she is.  I am quite sure she is chatting up every single person she passes by, whether she knew them once or not.  That is just the way Grandma was.  


(skip ahead to now, which is Sunday afternoon. Still sitting at the Seyb house, most of the commotion has gone down, but we are enjoying food and laughter)

We had the most lovely funeral service yesterday. So many quirky Grandma stories that made us smile and laugh and tear up a little.  We were touched by all the people who were there to share their memories and give us comforting hugs and words.  Most of the relatives are on their way back to work, school, home, ect.  Kendra and Ed are traveling back out to Las Vegas; Hannah will soon be flying back to Boston; Aunt Pam and Uncle Jim hit the road a few hours ago, bound for their New York home; and I will soon make the short trip back to Iowa City.  It is strange to be here without Grandma Audrey, and it will be more strange to return to normal life knowing life in Donnellson will  never be the same.  At the same time, I couldn't be more thankful for the family I do have here and we will certainly continue all the wonderful family traditions, thinking of Grandma and Grandpa at each holiday, birthday and random get-together.

Safe travels to all my family on the road and in the air right now.  You guys are seriously the best and I love you bunches.

Oh, and thanks to everyone else for reading :)  Hopefully I'll get back on in a few days and fill you in on Real World: Iowa City (the TV show we think we are unknowingly starring in because we are just so entertaining in all of our researching and adventuring.)  Happy Sunday!