Delayed at B18

It's been awhile since I posted, and I wanted to wait until I had some exciting news to share....like I passed my proposal meeting, I got funding for Peru, I got engaged, I got a job....but none of those things have happened and I am now sitting in the SLC airport waiting for a delayed flight. So school has been coming along ever so slowly, but at least I get to take a break from all of that and head out to rainy Portland for a super long weekend (ok, so it's more like a week). My flight was supposed to leave at 8:35 AM, so I dutifully got up at 5:50 AM to get ready and do the last minute packing. I arrived to SLC International at 7:35, exactly one hour before departure time and I leisurely printed my boarding pass and headed towards security. Even though I got held up at security for contact solution that was 4.0 oz, the guy was nice and even somewhat funny when he told me that he thought my "contact solution was very dangerous and a possible threat" but that if not, he would return my solution and I could continue on my way. He said it with no emotion and it was obvious he was trying to be funny--it worked.

Anyway, I continued up the escalator and on my way to Terminal B walking past TCBY, Starbucks, Delta gates, lots of stressed out business man and found my gate B18--only to discover that it was delayed 35 minutes. So I started to read the USA Today that someone kindly left and read a little bit about Obama's plan for high speed trains in the US (we're not Europe, it's a great idea, but not very American) and read an amusing article about the Olympics and how Canadians are primed to win gold and has adopted the motto of "Own the Podium." While doing all of these extraordinarily exciting activities, I heard another announcement saying that our plane was sitting in Denver due to weather (why do people want to live in a mile high city anyway?) and that they would let us know when it left. Now our departure time is 9:55 AM (1 hour 20 minute delay). The flight is less than 2 hours, it's frustrating when delays are almost as long as the flight, but I guess it still beats a 14 hour drive!

This brings me back to why I am posting--to keep myself occupied and to give you something to read when you need a break from writing your project. I'll give a project update when I have one, a legitimate one.

Some other notes of news from Brea:

• Women's health is going great and I soon will be an expert on knowing the 24 types of birth control, why the media is bad for self-image, and the million reasons why women can be infertile. I convinced Alisha to sit in the course, so at least I have a friend to laugh and cringe with when we talk about cervical mucus.
  
• TAing for Dr. Lindsay and have been asked to teach 2 lectures in February. I would love some tips and ideas so if you have any, please send them along. My topics are: alcohol and tobacco marketing, evils of the tobacco industry, and STDs (for women's health).
• Marathon: I'm running the Moab 1/2 Marathon in March and am looking for a full marathon to run in late spring, early summer. Any suggestion? Also looking for a training/racing buddy. I accept all ages, genders, and most skill levels (Lauren, I think you're WAY out of my league).
• Trip Planning: Sweden? Peru? Puerto Rico? South Africa?

Ok, so I think that's enough, I'm just rambling and typing random things. I hope this was the break you needed from whatever boring or exhausting activity you were working on (project, proposals, work, data entry, babysitting...)

Update: the plane has left Denver.

One Class and No Free Time

In my life it always happens that I'm continually looking forward to the day when I will have more free time. Alas that day continues to allude me. I thought this semester with only having one class and my commute time being cut down that I would have time to catch up on all the things on the back burner. I think I have about 100 back burners so there is a lot I have been putting off. Now I am looking forward to when this semester ends and I will have all that free time. Being engaged does not equal free time.

I was not looking forward to the holidays ending. I needed some more recuperation time, but the day came and I was quite pleased to find that it only took 30 minutes to drive to the BYU Salt Lake Center. I am taking the Non-profit structure and finance class and am the only MPH student everyone else is a MPA. The class is late at night which is hard because that is not when I do my best learning but the professor is a great lecturer. So far I have stayed awake and alert.

Tim and I have been busy looking for a place to live, we made an offer on a condo in Centerville. Wedding plans are coming along and we have been collecting an odd assortment of everyone's unwanted furniture. I had fraud on my credit card and had to go through the hassle of getting that fixed and credit card canceled. Working full time at Primary Children's has been really busy so far this year. I think my patients continue to get more critical. I still try to find time to work on my project but I'm feeling rather unmotivated. But as many of you are suffering also perhaps we can help each other get this ridiculous paperwork done. Well that's the update, top it off with that fact I have developed a nice sore throat and fatigue. I'm lucky if I get to sleep by 1 am (last night I worked so no sleep) Please tell me things slow down eventually.

Life as usual

I think this is my second time posting on this blog. I guess there isn't much to report. I am proposing my project next week, and should be able to email out the surveys once I get the ok from IRB and one of the stake holders.

Is it really wrong for me to dislike IRB as much as I do? Paperwork is so annoying!

I sprained my ankle pretty badly yesterday. Upon my roommates' urging, I reluctantly went to a doctor to have it checked. It was sprained pretty badly - I will be on crutches for the next few days, and I will be in splint for a few weeks after that. I wrote more about it on my blog.

I also went back to Denver last weekend. I really missed the friends I made over the summer, and I always like getting out of Provo. It was pretty fun - I went snowshoeing for free and saw 2 movies.

I am looking for a job right now. I applied to positions at two different environmental consulting firms, and I applied for a risk management position with the Church. I hope things work out. If you know of any jobs that open in the Salt Lake area, let me know.

I hope everything is going well for everyone. It is strange for the lab to be so quiet.

Greetings from the Lonestar State!

I got Camille's email and I have to admit, I felt a little bit guilty, I check the blog but havent updated (although on a totally separate note I have updated my blog (http://ramblingsrecipesrants.blogspot.com/) so feel free to check there for updates. So just a quick run down of what has been happening here in the lonestar state.

We celebrated christmas on the 27th, Brian got me this amazing set of pans (it turns out hinting and posting the picture, item number, where to get it, and price on the fridge works) so I have been cooking like crazy. I have recently entered into the world of deep frying, I figure I am southern now might as well try it, and it has been fabulous. So far I have only made doughnuts and boneless buffalo chicken but I feel like I am getting the hang of it. Anyway I have cooked healthy things with my new pots but that is pretty much the highlight of my christmas season- yes I realize I am lame and I do need a life.

We went to the dentist the next week, it was horrific, I hate the dentist, there is too much touching. Anyway I got the good news that I needed to get my wisdom teeth out, and as an added bonus since the roots were so far in the nerve canal I had to be put all the way under since they thought i would move (not in the "twilight sleep" all the way under like when they do real surgery). So after that lovely bit of news we headed to Oklahoma City to see our friends from Provo, as a consolation to the fact that my jaw was going to be cracked, and that Brian was going to have to listen to me complain about it.

We went to the oral surgeon on the 6th, he cracked my jaw (literally), but I survived and went home to heal. Just in case you needed more details about this I did post on my blog. So I looked like a chipmunk for a week, but now the swelling has gone down and i just have massive green bruises all over my face- which is kinda an issue.

What else has happened.... well I have been "working" on my project lately. I would like to finish it but I have no motivation so that is an issue, but hopefully keep your fingers crossed, there will be a draft done in the next week or so. what else... my little brother leaves on his mission today that is kinda exciting, and oh yeah we bought a car on saturday- not exciting and expensive. Other than that life out here in texas is good- a little lonely without all of you guys, but still good.

Oh yeah on a totally side note, I tried to plant some flowers in my front yard yesterday and the ground was frozen, I thought I was going to break my little shovel. What is wrong with the weather, why is the ground frozen in TEXAS! I thought it was supposed to be warm here!

Adjunct faculty...

...yep, i accidentally got a job as adjunct faculty in the biology department at SLCC. Seriously. By accident. I didn't even put in an application, and the director didn't even look at my resume. Weird. So, i am now finishing my project report, taking Dr. Cole's Refugee and Immigrant Health class, and getting up at 5 am Mon, Wed, and Fri to make it to the SLCC Jordan campus by 7 am when classes start.

I'm excited to see if teaching is something that I will enjoy as much as I think I will... so it should help me to decide if a PhD is really what I want to do. I'd rather be in Public Health and not just be teaching Intro to Biology, but i'll be grateful for the opportunity that I do have. I'm really glad that Randy made us spend so much time developing lesson plans now...cause that's the part that freaks me out!

I started this morning, so i had to develop the syllabus, etc. for class today. You'd all be proud of my powerpoint though... no words at all ;-)

And it's weird to make people call me Professor Hayden. Ms. Hayden is even worse. But since they're undergraduates that's what the department wants us to do.

I'll keep you all updated as things progress this semester.

Whirlwind

First off I'd like to thank Pete for his post; it got me thinking about blogging again. Hopefully Aaron and I will finally start our blog today!

To say the least the past few weeks have been a complete whirlwind. I finished up school to graduate (I think... I should check on that), Aaron and I got married, we went on a 2 day honeymoon, I moved to Baltimore, we moved into our new apartment and I just got everything cleared so I can start work tomorrow! It all sounds pretty crazy, but everything has worked out so well it is absolutely amazing!

The wedding went really well. Thanks to everyone who made it to the reception! I know the weather was pretty bad, but it meant a lot for those of you who did make it! Everything worked out so well with the temple and reception and everything. Aaron and I were trying to think of anything that went wrong and we couldn't think of anything! (well besides the weather, but we couldn't really do anything about that and it worked out too). Here are just a few pictures from the temple and reception:





For the honeymoon we went up to Midway for a little two nights getaway, and it was perfect. We stayed at a little Bed & Breakfast that had a steam room and sauna in our bathroom! And we were right next to these wicked cool ice castles!


Sorry for the monster post. I just wanted to share a little bit of what I have been up to! I start at the Institute for Global Tobacco Control at John's Hopkins tomorrow. I waited for almost two hours yesterday to fill out a survey, have my blood pressure and temperature taken, and then sit with a nurse for about 90 seconds - but the wait was rewarded and I was cleared to start working! More updates to come!

Love and miss you all! I hope the lab isn't too lonely without me! :)

Dr. Pepper Woes

Just as an FYI to everyone...I decided to make a new year's resolution and attempt to quit dr. pepper (shhh - i know even thinking this is blasphemous and i don't want to hurt it's feelings, but things were getting a bit out of hand). I went on the quite the binge over Christmas and especially on new year's eve to make sure that I was able to get as much of a year supply as possible. I have now made it a total of four days...and I have now had a headache for 4 days as well. The good news is that I heard that the average new years resolution lasts until February 17th, and who needs to be more than average??? Let's be honest, I am happy with average...sometimes I am even happy with a little less than average. I think I have decided that as long as I can quit it for the so called 21 days makes a habit period...then I will have convinced myself that I am not addicted and that I am in complete control of my love of dr. pepper, and I will be able to return to the good life. Anyway, just wanted to give you all a quick update on the momentous life changing times that are happening around here! Please at least just hope with me for a moment or two that the headaches will disappear soon!

Pete