Blog Archives

Information Overflow

Posted on March 28, 2012
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 What a busy week! Husband is still in the field, and I am struggling with the schedules. Full-time work, full-time studies, trying to keep the house in order…. Oh boy, this has been a handful!

Meetings at work, emails are coming faster than I can reply…. about a zillion papers due at school. Monday night I stayed up till midnight, writing one of my biology papers, crawled to the bed and got up at 0430 to finish up my paper. After dreaming about an inhibiting neurotransmitter called GABA, benzodiazepines, and the receptors where these two substances can bind. Pathetic.

It looks like there will be endless piles of papers and books in my near future but the bright side of this Information Overflow will be over in about four weeks. I will make it. And the hard work is already paying off: one of my research project articles is getting published in near future….

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Spring Break!

Posted on March 23, 2012
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So needed. Deserved. Welcomed.

We had such a great spring break week in Arizona. Our little trip was a refreshing break from the rat race that we both have been running in, with no time breath at all. We hiked in and around Grand Canyon, road tripped, played golf, enjoyed tasty southwestern cuisine, and in general had a fabulous time!

Arizona has always been one of my favorite states with tons of things to do, and friendly people. In fact I am secretly hoping we could be station in Arizona one day…. although Colorado is still higher on my wish list!

Jason and I spent also an afternoon in Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. I have always been cautious about the botanical gardens: some of them are absolutely awesome, and then some others are, well, so-and-so. This one was a great surprise! Instead of a quick hour-long walkthrough we ended up strolling Garden’s paths until the sunset. As science and biology geeks we had a great time by looking at different cacti rib structures, talking about their protein compositions and so on. People around us must have been thinking we are crazy! Botanical Garden also had an awesome butterfly exhibit, which was an awesome treat for a photographer…

Overall, it was a great week – we had a blast, while at the same time returning to Alaska was slightly bittersweet. We are very close to beat the nearly 60-year-old snow record from 1953, when the total snowfall in Alaska was 132.6 inches. This year we are only about three inches short from the record. While I like some snow, at the same time I have realized I am more warm-weather type of girl.

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New Year’s Resolution for 2012

Posted on January 1, 2012
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First day of 2012. New year, expectations, hopes, wishes, and goals. While 2011 was such a wonderful year, I look forward to 2012 being even more awesome. Only time will tell how the year turns out to be but meanwhile, there are some goals that I have set for the new year.

Resolution 1: Live, love and laugh often. Be happy. Be a wonderful wife. I am committed to do whatever I can to be as good wife as I can be to my wonderful husband. He truly deserves it.

Resolution 2: Travel more, and stay adventurous. We both love the see the world and enjoy traveling. While I doubt I can exceed my records of flying over 200,000 miles a year now when living in Alaska, I am hoping to get close to it.

Resolution 3: Finish a full Ironman race. 140.6 miles of pure torture fun, and I can’t wait to grab the challenge! This goal is just a continuation of my never-ending fitness challenges, and fueled by the desire to improve myself day after day.

Resolution 4: Continue working on Fine Art gallery, and develop the artistic skills in photography. Some exciting projects are in the horizon, so stay tuned by following KominiakPhoto’s Blog.

Resolution 5: Dedicate some time for crafts such as knitting, and try to learn some crocheting – beyond a couple of crocheted flowers.

Resolution 6: Continue excelling at studies, and keep working hard in order to get into a PhD program in biology. This will mean a bunch of biology, chemistry and math in my future. As well as completing my senior thesis with the highest grades.

And last but not the least….

Resolution 7: Be a better blogger. I need to catch up on the book and wine reviews, as well as update KominiakPhoto’s Blog more often.

“Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life. The secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can.” –Douglas Pagels

I wish you Happy New Year and diary full of best stories ever written in your life!

 

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Christmas Wish List

Posted on December 5, 2011
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Time truly flies by …. December 5, and my task list is just growing and growing. I have tons of school tasks to do still, including three finals, one big research paper, one lab report. On top of all the work stuff, travels and meetings. And there is also the Christmas tasks: bake the gingerbread house, sew the tree skirt, new placemats and table runner, finish (and mail) the holiday cards… I think I will be out of breather sooner than later. However, I am taking a little creative break from all the craziness since it is time to have fun in Mingle Monday! Check it out, join the fun, and share what’s on your Christmas wish list.

I am having such a hard time to come up with my own Christmas wish list, as well as ideas for others. So I really look forward to reading about other’s wish lists – maybe I get some ideas, and can finish the holiday shopping sometime soon. We are traveling over the holidays, so hanging out in Chicago area will be one of the gifts, and I look forward to having a good time with the husband in the Windy City.

Otherwise, I am hoping to get a new pair of earrings or necklace (or even both). I’d absolutely love the crochet head wrap that I’ve been looking for months now, and haven’t found a color and size that I love. And the nerd in me is secretly hoping to get a microscope, so that I could build my own mini-lab. I would also appreciate new clothes – sports clothes and sweaters are always more than welcome. Most importantly, though, I hope to have a nice, relaxing holiday season and spend quality time with my husband. Gifts are fun but it’s way more important to love and be loved.

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Life

Posted on December 3, 2011
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So very often people hold back, dream but do not pursue their dreams. Life is short, and we only have one life to live. Why not to make the best out of it?

Last night I was reading till wee hours for one of my upcoming exams. And a huge smile on my face. It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Loving the exams and reading at the times when most of us are already in the lala land. But I was fascinated by the science: reading more and more about different types of alga that can be used anywhere from cosmetics to ice cream, good and bad bacteria and so on.

Think about your life, and ask yourself if you’re doing what you love.

My recent decision to pursue the graduate degree in biology has been such a weight off my shoulders. The grad school commitment is not just a thing to do but a passion. Concentrating on something that I love.

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