The Fear of Cotton Balls

Several people have told me that I need to speak out about my irrational fear of cotton balls, polar fleece... and anything fluffy and fuzzy.

There is an actual name for this fear. One is called textophobia which is the fear of certain fabrics. There is a cooler name too but I can't find it! So I may have made it up at one point in time. I think it started with an "H."

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This fear started long ago as early as infancy. Apparently, I did not like to be put in those cute children pajamas because of all the fluffyness going on. In my head, I picture me as a little baby sitting there and freaking out and crying and just generally hating life. I kind of imagine myself to look like that kid over there. -->

People don't understand this fear. It's normal to not understand things you can't fully feel. But let me tell you. Cotton balls/polar fleece are the scariest things I have ever encountered. You can literally hear the fabric rubbing against each other. It's so horrible. It sounds like nails on a chalk board magnified 800 times directly in my ear drum.

This irrational fear led to my sister rubbing her hands on the top of the car roof. I think this made my ears bleed sometimes. And my roommate chasing me with her blanket around the house until I finally locked myself in my room because she wouldn't stop. This was her tool for when she was mad at me... or bored. Because apparently I am very entertaining when I get like this. One day she caught me under the blanket while I was on the couch. I was paralyzed! It was the worst feeling you could possibly imagine. I'm pretty sure I would rather walk barefoot over broken glass than have somebody put a polar fleece jacket on me. Not okay.

So growing up I could never wear all those fuzzy amazing things that people like to start wearing when it gets cold out.


creativeblanketsbycindy.com

diytrade.com

 But the most tragic thing that this phobia has caused is not being able to wear this... 

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Which really makes me a sad person because could you imagine how warm this would be when you went camping!? Except, as it has been pointed out to me you could get shot because somebody mistook you for a bear. But if you just lay on the ground and don't run around growling all crazy like I feel this would be ok.

This is enough for me to start considering getting over this fear... and then I see a cotton ball and once again I am instantly petrified. If not even an amazingly awesome bear sleeping bag could get rid of this fear, I am pretty sure nothing can. I am doomed to forever walk in this world in a state of constant cold because I won't put on a damn fluffy jacket!

I'm Too Old To Adapt

I have this class called livestock judging. We literally stand outside and judge sheep, hogs, and cattle. Then, we stand in a very cold freezer while we judge their carcasses for yield and quality grades. I am not so excellent at this class. When I look at an animal, I don't see its structure or reproductive capacity. I see how much bacon you can get... or a nice rack of lamb and especially a juicy delicious steak. Sorry if you're a vegetarian but that isn't how I roll. What can I say? I love meat.

Anyway ,on this particular Thursday afternoon we were set to judge calves but the freshies of animal science 100 overran us. This left us inside watching live cattle auctions online. Yep... they actually have live cattle auctions everyday all across the US. It's kind of like Ebay. Except instead of your favorite movie, cheap antique, or other random trinkets you get a semi full of cows.

Surprisingly, live cattle auctions are incredibly stimulating! This is because they are so boring that you are forced to get your brain juices flowing in the hopes of not having your brain atrophy. Which if you ever go on and watch a cattle auction, you will know that this is a very realistic possibility.

This need for brain activity led my friend and I to a conversation about how the world population reached 7 billion. I mean really 7 billion? I think we can lay off the procreating for a while because we are covered. Which is why I don't plan on adding to the world's overpopulation by producing spawn of my own. No thank you. Besides, I am not exactly mothering material seeing as how I have a strong dislike for crying, screaming, pooping, money sucking machines... a story for another day folks.

Anyway, along with population increase we have also been continually increasing life expectancy. My friend said it is a very real possibility that he could live to 120 years. I said if I ever make it to 95 just take me outback and shoot me because that is quite long enough... or maybe 110 because then I can make it to 3000 which would be kind of sweet.

But can you imagine the things we will see in the next 70-100 years. With technology on the rise and money/resources on the fall we will either see amazingly spectacular wonders... or the death of the world. I see either has highly viable scenarios.

This led to the change in conversations. Remember when we used to hear from your grandparents "I remember when I walked up hill 4 miles in a snow storm with no shoes... both ways!" Actually I never heard this from my grandparents. I feel like I got jipped.  

I think if you give it a couple years you can probably be saying the same snowy filled memories seeing as how global warming is increasing which will ultimately lead to an increase in cold... ergo ice age 2! I think our personal conversations will look more like this (cue old grandma/grandpa voice mixed with a little hick and a lot of sage wisdom. Also picture little old lady with a cane and white hair and glasses sitting in her rocking chair... in her igloo): 

"I remember when I used to walk from my car to the building... can you even imagine how long of a walk that was! And it was so hot outside. I felt like I was going to melt into a pool of liquid right there. And it was so hot my shoes melted right there to the pavement. Right there! I didn't make it to work that day. I had to wait ten minutes before somebody came to help me. But those were the good ol' days... I'd take the heat over this ice age any day. I'm sick of ice fishing"

"But grandma haven't you adapted to this harsh cold weather yet?"

"I'm 120 years old, child! I'm too old to adapt!"

And therefore our entire 1.5 hours of livestock judging was spent making ridiculous conversations in fake old people accents. It's amazing the ways you entertain yourself when put in the situation of cattle auctions. 

sen-ior-i-tis (n)

It is official. At first I was just experiencing mild symptoms and I really didn't think much of it. I figured this too will end up passing and I will feel normal again. However,  this wasn't the case. The symptoms just kept getting worse and worse. I started feeling light headed and was in a constant haze of sleepiness. Then the headaches set in. Mood swings ensued and last but not least a general feeling of apathy settled over me. That's when I knew. The disease was upon me and there is only one cure... graduation. I suppose senioritis hits everyone at some point in time. I was really hoping it wouldn't come until May 11... seeing as how graduation is May 12.

But here I am. Currently at school waiting for evolution to start. Don't worry, I got here early and my proper seat has been secured. (If you don't know what I am talking about check it out here). It is good to know my competitive nature is still alive and kickin. I am positive that is a skill any employer wants to see on a resume: Excellent seat acquirer... she doesn't let anybody take her seat! With that one skill alone think of all the job offers I am going to have rolling in... I actually couldn't think of any really cool jobs where I could just sit all day so I googled it. And all I found was how sitting all day is slowly killing you. So I guess we can mark that one off of my list!
Now I only have until May. That is 7 months until I am FREE! And hopefully have a secure seat at a graduate school not located in the vicinity of New Mexico. But until then... I come to school. Sit through my classes. Go to work. Do applications... a never ending pile of applications. Then I get home where I know I need to study for that test/speech/paper/homework assignment that is due soon. But all I see is my super comfy sofa and oh look! Gossip girl recorded!! I will just do my stuff after this one episode. No biggie. Wait I have a Grey's Anatomy and a Just Desserts AND The Mentalist on my DVR?  Why is school work getting in the way of my lazy time?

My will power used to be so strong. But now all I see is the twinkling tv and a pillow and the change is instant. I go from productive college student to sloth from the time it takes to poor a glass of wine and settle in on the couch. Which I have perfected so it really only takes about 30 seconds.

But in reality I am quite productive. I get all my stuff done... maybe not up to the excellent bar that I usually set for myself but nonetheless it gets done. But I don't know how much longer I can take this. 7 months is forever in a 21 year old's life. I need some serious help if I am going to make it through with my sanity.

Oh got to go. The kid who has been taking my seat walked in and gave me the angry eyes. I win sir. I win....


So now it is the day after yesterday. Which is today. And I got too slothish to actually click the little button that says publish so you can see this blog.

That's me... fighting senioritis one day at a time. I'm currently losing.

I am not a Wallace



University of Wisconsin (dircollege.com)... not NMSU. Our lecture halls don't look this fancy :(

I know there isn't assigned seating in college but there is the unspoken rule of calling seats. It is a natural thing that just kind of happens. After about the first week or two of classes, people sit in the same seat pretty much the rest of the semester. You just walk into the classroom and gravitate to that one seat. You sit next to the same people and the teachers get used to seeing you there. It just happens.

Though a good trick if you miss a lot of class is to never sit in the same seat twice and always move around the room because the teacher is less likely to notice when you aren't there... or so I've heard. Because I certainly have never tried this! I don't condone this type of behavior.

Anyway, so about a couple weeks into school you have your "seat." And you start to feel really good about this seat. It's a known fact that people don't sit in your seat and you do not sit in theirs. I'm pretty sure this is considered the 5th law of physics... it just happens. And sometimes there are those stragglers who only show up on test days and sit in your seat because how in the world are they supposed to know that it is your seat? It's not like they ever actually come to class. So you forgive those few instances.

In evolution, I have the perfect seat! It's on the edge of class, an isle seat, and faces perfectly to the screen so I can see the board and isn't far enough back that I have to put my glasses on.

There is this kid that sits two rows directly in back of me every day. I don't know his name but we do the polite nod to each other anytime we come in to class and sometimes I see him around campus. And I know that the isle seat 6 rows up from the front of the classroom is his. I would never try to sit in his seat.

So I ask you... after 2 months of school and over half of the semester... why is this kid sitting in MY seat!? It started happening about 3 weeks ago. I usually get to class about 5 minutes before it actually starts but one day I got caught up in lab work and got there right as the class was starting and he was in my seat. For a second I wasn't quite sure what to do. The class is pretty full and I didn't know where I should sit. I was completely taken aback. So begrudgingly I sat in his seat 2 rows behind my seat. This breached the barrier that I can see without my glasses so the board became an incomprehensible fuzzy blob. And I, of course, happened to forget my glasses at home that day so I had no idea what the hell was going on.

Who is this kid!? You can't just break the unspoken rule of the seating chart that was put into place the first week of school. You just can't. But I let it go because, sure, it was just once... right?

The next day of class I got there and sat in my seat and all was right with the world. But, I started staying closer to time at work and getting to class just before lecture started and EVERY single time this kid is sitting in my seat.

Oh and I know what you're thinking. This poor boy is trying to learn evolution just like the rest of us and probably has no idea that he is taking my seat. That's what I thought too. Give the poor kid the benefit of the doubt. But then one day I gave him "the look." You know - the look that says "Hey, I'm kind of pissed you keep taking my seat and I'd really appreciate it if you would move because... it is my seat." And you'll never guess what he did. Go on... guess!

No idea? I'll tell you: He smirked... and then laughed. He laughed at me! He totally knows what he is doing and what is worse is he is doing it on purpose. Is there no common decency left in the human race!? I think not.

So now I am in an ongoing battle to save my seat. I check my clock every 2 minutes at work to make sure that I leave on time to get there before he does so I can have the seat that I rightfully earned that first week of school!

And I made sure he knows that it is indeed on. Because last class I got there first and smirked at him... mature I know! We, apparently, are two very passive aggressive people. Needless to say he scowled at me. I have a feeling he is going to be getting to class earlier tomorrow.

As Darwin once said, it is indeed the survival of the fittest and you bet your ass I am going to win.

Darwin didn't actually say the part about betting, and ass and winning. I added that for effect but I am sure he thought about it when Wallace came up with his idea on evolution and was about to publish before Darwin himself did. But look, over 100 years later who do we see as the father of evolution? I'll give you a hint: It sure isn't Wallace. Because Darwin didn't let Wallace take his seat in history and I don't intend to be a Wallace.

I Love Airplanes...

... I really do. I enjoy flying and looking at the world. I love airports. I like seeing how they are all different and what happens in each one and how big they are. So naturally I really enjoy days when I am travelling. As long as...

I am not stuck in a layover for 6 hours. Miss a connection. Almost get hit by a tornado... twice. Have to fly around in circles in the air for 3 extra hours because there is a storm below us and we can't land. Storms causing me to be stuck in a city for 2 extra days with no extra clothes. Flights getting delayed until 1 in the morning. My suitcases being lost.

As long as all of those things don't happen (which they all have for me at some point in time), I LOVE traveling. It is a time where I don't have to think about school, work or responsibilities or life. I get to sit and listen to music, read my kindle, and sleep. It really is quite amazing. I cherish these "quiet" times in airports and on planes.

Then something horrible happens. People.

People have this amazing ability to ruin my life. It happens way too often for comfort.

Holliday Junction = Party Function

I know you pretty well. So I know that what you have been really wondering is why a Holliday Junction is in fact called a Holliday junction. I'm sure you've probably lost sleep over it. It is a pretty intense philosophical question. Why is anything called anything? Why is blue blue and why is the sky the sky? Think about it.

Unlike you,  I wasn't mystified by this nomenclature. I knew why it was called that. I thought to myself "Isn't it pretty obvious?" So I have been sitting here in my smug little ways as people try to understand Holliday Junctions.

For those of you who don't know what a Holliday Junction is it is basically a type of crossing over/recombination/exchange of genetic information. During the process, there is a time when all 4 strands of DNA are connected - this is the Holliday Junction (Science!!).

So for some time we have been talking about these things in class because some transposons use this mechanism during their exchange of DNA from one strand to another.

Anyway, just looking at the pic, you can tell why it is called a Holliday Junction right? All four strands of DNA are connected and having a party at a junction... which is kind of like a function!? So naturally party functions = Holliday Junctions. Right?

NO. Not right. Holliday Junctions are called Holliday because of Robin Holliday who discovered it.

Honestly, who would have thought that? Not me! So here I have been for who knows how long thinking that Holliday Junctions were a party exchange situation.

Another thing I can add to my long list of common sense things I was unaware of. Like how est. after a year of a company means established and not estimated (My mom had a real kick about that one). Or how pickles are actually cucumbers... MIND BLOWN!

Apparently I missed out on common sense day growing up. Which is how I have come to be known as the dumbest smart person a lot of people know.

Just because I am Happy

I am in a suprisingly splendid mood today. Maybe its the fact that I have an excellent cup of dark roasted coffee sitting next to me. Or maybe its because I just finished a Zoology practical. Or maybe it is because it is a beautiful Friday afternoon. I'm thinking it is largely influenced by my upcoming trip next weekend to Boston, which is my favorite city in the States. Regardless, I think it is a beautiful day out and I am happy to be a part of it.

Things I plan to do today:

• Go to communications! I even find myself content with going to this ridiculous class.
• Do some surgeries! Well, I won't actually be doing surgeries but I will be helping. We are putting cannulas in some sheepies today/tomorrow so that should be stimulating.
• Going to Evolution - which is usually the second largest downfall of my day but we are past evolution on a large scale and have emerged into molecular evolution. I LOVE molecular evolution.
• Go home, crack open my micro genetics book and start studying for my upcoming test!
• Uncork an excellent bottle of wine. Maybe some Girls-are-meaner ;) also known as Gewurztraminer... say it outloud. It really does sound like that. Or some Hatch Green Chili wine. Which combines two of my favorite things: alcohol and green chili! Both excellent. Both from St. Clair's Winery here in NM.
• Then I think I will make some dinner and watch a movie!

Very casual night of studying and finally taking a breather. I am so excited for this! Then it is up at 7 am for more surgeries. Oh what a fun life I lead. Legit blog coming soon :)