A company whose name ends in "dee-oh" and begins with "I" has the most annoying job application ever. I guess they must get a ga-zillion resumes, so they have to figure out a way to make sure someone really really really wants to work there to go through the pain.
At first glance, it doesn't sound so bad -- just submit an extra document highlighting some of your key research projects and then describe in more detail your approach, insights, and challenges (and actually, they want that detail for "3 to 5 projects"). Well, gah, I've spent an hour and have written 1 single spaced page and I am not even halfway done describing one project. There's no way I can do this for 3 projects -- not that I even have 3 serious projects to describe in this much detail.
I won't be holding my breath for a call back when I finally finish the application. Where's inspirational Mr Gretzky when I need him? You miss 100% of the shots you don't take, right? I'm not witty enough for a punchy corollary, but something has to be said for knowing when something is probably a waste of time and maybe the time spent trying to make shots that don't go in should be used elsewhere.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Week 26 Workouts
Sunday - 5 mile Lake Miramar jog. I really didn't want to do this run, my legs felt tired the whole time, but I made it through slowly.
Monday - 60 minute step aerobics class. Legs still feel really tired, can't say I put a great effort into this one.
Tuesday - Nothing.
Wednesday - 3.5 mile trail run. Not great, not horrible feeling.
Thursday - 40 minutes circuit weight training.
Friday - 2 mile trail run + 1.5 mile walk. Dehydrated, under nourished, anxious.
Saturday - Nothing in particular, though I did walk around the mall and stuff. But I guess that's not really aerobic.
Monday - 60 minute step aerobics class. Legs still feel really tired, can't say I put a great effort into this one.
Tuesday - Nothing.
Wednesday - 3.5 mile trail run. Not great, not horrible feeling.
Thursday - 40 minutes circuit weight training.
Friday - 2 mile trail run + 1.5 mile walk. Dehydrated, under nourished, anxious.
Saturday - Nothing in particular, though I did walk around the mall and stuff. But I guess that's not really aerobic.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
I tried to be normal
One of my favorite lines in Dexter is when he describes his struggle to fit in with "normal" and he has to constantly remember to observe other people's reactions in order to assess what outward emotion he should similarly portray to fit in (since, as a sociopath, he does not react to most mundane life experiences with empathy).
I felt this way myself this morning watching the USA-Algeria World Cup match, though I don't have the sociopath excuse. I was watching at work; they held an event which doubled as a breakfast potluck (which is why I was there). As everyone was wildly cheering and whooping when USA scored a goal in the 91st minute, I just felt complete ambivalence. While I enjoyed watching the match, I could care less who scored and I've been baffled for weeks as everyone has been avidly following the matches and seem desperately rooted and impassioned about "their team(s)".
Anyway, since I've missed cooking fatty, sugary, carb-loaded food, I couldn't resist not going -- and I do appreciate the athleticism, dedication, and skill it must take to be a world class athlete -- even if I don't care who wins. I made an Apple Pecan Strata based on this recipe with a lot of modifications. I also made the recipe titled Brunch Strata on the same recipe site. Both were good, though I liked the Apple Pecan one more. Here's the recipe with my modifications -- I would make this again for sure if I had to bring food to a brunch.
And yes, I'm horribly embarrassed I used canned apple pie filling, but I was short on time.
Apple Pecan Strata
1 (1 pound) cinnamon loaf bread
1 (8 oz) package neufchatel or cream cheese
1 (21 oz) can apple pie filling or equivalent cooked apples with spices (1.5-2 c cooked apples)
5 eggs
2 c half-and-half
4 T butter, melted
1/4 c maple syrup
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
Topping:
1/3 c brown sugar
1/3 c flour
4 T cold butter
1/2 c roughly chopped pecans
1. Dry out bread slices by toasting in the oven at 200 degrees for 20-30 minutes
2. Spread cream cheese thickly onto bread. You probably won't use the full 8 oz package.
3. Cube bread slices and place in a greased 9" x 13" (I used 11" x 7") baking dish.
4. Beat eggs, half-and-half, melted butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
5. Cover bread cubes with apple filling. Then pour egg mixture on top of that.
6. Place plastic wrap on top of mixture, and add some weight (e.g. bags of rice) so that the bread cubes are pressed down into the liquid. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
7. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes (covered in foil), and then add the pecan topping and bake for 20-30 more minutes (uncovered).
8. Prepare pecan topping to be ready half-way through baking time. Mix brown sugar and flour together. Using fingers or a fork, crumble the cold butter into the sugar-flour to form small beads. Add in the chopped pecans and pour on top of half-way cooked strata.
Notes: The pecan topping isn't completely necessary, but I will say it beautifies the dish and that's important when serving others. The dish also held up well in terms of cooking it the night before and reheating the next morning (work had those sterno heated catering trays which I used to reheat slowly).
I felt this way myself this morning watching the USA-Algeria World Cup match, though I don't have the sociopath excuse. I was watching at work; they held an event which doubled as a breakfast potluck (which is why I was there). As everyone was wildly cheering and whooping when USA scored a goal in the 91st minute, I just felt complete ambivalence. While I enjoyed watching the match, I could care less who scored and I've been baffled for weeks as everyone has been avidly following the matches and seem desperately rooted and impassioned about "their team(s)".
Anyway, since I've missed cooking fatty, sugary, carb-loaded food, I couldn't resist not going -- and I do appreciate the athleticism, dedication, and skill it must take to be a world class athlete -- even if I don't care who wins. I made an Apple Pecan Strata based on this recipe with a lot of modifications. I also made the recipe titled Brunch Strata on the same recipe site. Both were good, though I liked the Apple Pecan one more. Here's the recipe with my modifications -- I would make this again for sure if I had to bring food to a brunch.
And yes, I'm horribly embarrassed I used canned apple pie filling, but I was short on time.
Apple Pecan Strata
1 (1 pound) cinnamon loaf bread
1 (8 oz) package neufchatel or cream cheese
1 (21 oz) can apple pie filling or equivalent cooked apples with spices (1.5-2 c cooked apples)
5 eggs
2 c half-and-half
4 T butter, melted
1/4 c maple syrup
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
Topping:
1/3 c brown sugar
1/3 c flour
4 T cold butter
1/2 c roughly chopped pecans
1. Dry out bread slices by toasting in the oven at 200 degrees for 20-30 minutes
2. Spread cream cheese thickly onto bread. You probably won't use the full 8 oz package.
3. Cube bread slices and place in a greased 9" x 13" (I used 11" x 7") baking dish.
4. Beat eggs, half-and-half, melted butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
5. Cover bread cubes with apple filling. Then pour egg mixture on top of that.
6. Place plastic wrap on top of mixture, and add some weight (e.g. bags of rice) so that the bread cubes are pressed down into the liquid. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
7. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes (covered in foil), and then add the pecan topping and bake for 20-30 more minutes (uncovered).
8. Prepare pecan topping to be ready half-way through baking time. Mix brown sugar and flour together. Using fingers or a fork, crumble the cold butter into the sugar-flour to form small beads. Add in the chopped pecans and pour on top of half-way cooked strata.
Notes: The pecan topping isn't completely necessary, but I will say it beautifies the dish and that's important when serving others. The dish also held up well in terms of cooking it the night before and reheating the next morning (work had those sterno heated catering trays which I used to reheat slowly).
Monday, June 21, 2010
Chicken Stock
I get a thrill re-using food scraps to make stock. I haven't cooked bone-in meat probably since around last Thanksgiving, but with my roasted chicken scraps I made a nice stock over the weekend based on this recipe.
I didn't measure anything and just used what I had on hand which was 3 chicken breast bones + scraps, 1/4 leftover green pepper, 2 stalks celery, 1 onion, and 2 carrots. Boiled with about 8-9 cups of water and the spices for about 3 hours.
I used the stock tonight to cook my quinoa, yum. Just added some toasted pine nuts to the quinoa and I'll take it for lunch tomorrow with some more of the leftover chicken meat. While I wasn't a fan of quinoa the first few times, I really like how fast it cooks (about 15 minutes for 1 cup) and so it's grown on me.
I didn't measure anything and just used what I had on hand which was 3 chicken breast bones + scraps, 1/4 leftover green pepper, 2 stalks celery, 1 onion, and 2 carrots. Boiled with about 8-9 cups of water and the spices for about 3 hours.
I used the stock tonight to cook my quinoa, yum. Just added some toasted pine nuts to the quinoa and I'll take it for lunch tomorrow with some more of the leftover chicken meat. While I wasn't a fan of quinoa the first few times, I really like how fast it cooks (about 15 minutes for 1 cup) and so it's grown on me.
Week 25 Workouts
Sunday - 5 mile Lake Miramar run. Well, more like a slow, crawling jog. It was miserably hot, but I made it through.
Monday - 25 minute core/ab class, 25 minutes of weight machines. Weighed myself for the work contest today; almost 1 pound of weight loss after 2 weeks into my new eating style. Eh.
Tuesday - Nothing.
Wednesday - 4 mile run on Scripps Poway Parkway. I felt like I went fast (for me) even though it was annoyingly hot outside.
Thursday - 25 minute core class + 20 minutes of weight machines.
Friday - 4.5 mile run around Scripps Ranch neighborhood. One major hill, about a mile of downhill. It was probably good I was running with someone from the running group, because if I had my druthers, I would have walked much of this today -- but they kept me going, even though it was slow at times, the whole way.
Saturday - 1 hour 15 minutes walking around the neighborhood.
Monday - 25 minute core/ab class, 25 minutes of weight machines. Weighed myself for the work contest today; almost 1 pound of weight loss after 2 weeks into my new eating style. Eh.
Tuesday - Nothing.
Wednesday - 4 mile run on Scripps Poway Parkway. I felt like I went fast (for me) even though it was annoyingly hot outside.
Thursday - 25 minute core class + 20 minutes of weight machines.
Friday - 4.5 mile run around Scripps Ranch neighborhood. One major hill, about a mile of downhill. It was probably good I was running with someone from the running group, because if I had my druthers, I would have walked much of this today -- but they kept me going, even though it was slow at times, the whole way.
Saturday - 1 hour 15 minutes walking around the neighborhood.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Back to cooking
I've been doing pretty well with eating cleaner for the last few weeks. I probably need to eat fewer nuts if I want to see any weight loss, and my only breakdowns seem to be my continued reliance on protein bars, and I've succumbed to this Cinnamon Peanut Butter spread on celery which is throwing sugar into my diet that I don't need -- but gawwwwd, it is so good on celery.
But besides an occasional meal eaten out and the items just mentioned, I've managed to easily avoid flours, dairy, and non-natural sugars. For work lunches, I've been relying on quinoa alot plus a protein, and then I also used kale this week but I don't like prepping it.
Today I made sweet potato fries as an end of week indulgence since I was really craving a full, regular dinner (ate the fries with some roasted chicken I made with lemon/rosemary marinade). Most nights after I get home from work, I'm not hungry enough to justify a real dinner and just have celery + the bad-for-me peanut butter, some nuts, and fruit.
Sweet Potato Fries
Cut sweet potato into thin strips (preferably as even sized as possible so you don't burn pieces like I did).
Mix potato strips with a little bit of olive oil, cayenne pepper, pepper, and cumin.
Bake for approx. 20-25 minutes at 425 degrees, tossing/turning the fries after about 10 minutes.
Add salt to taste.
But besides an occasional meal eaten out and the items just mentioned, I've managed to easily avoid flours, dairy, and non-natural sugars. For work lunches, I've been relying on quinoa alot plus a protein, and then I also used kale this week but I don't like prepping it.Today I made sweet potato fries as an end of week indulgence since I was really craving a full, regular dinner (ate the fries with some roasted chicken I made with lemon/rosemary marinade). Most nights after I get home from work, I'm not hungry enough to justify a real dinner and just have celery + the bad-for-me peanut butter, some nuts, and fruit.
Sweet Potato Fries
Cut sweet potato into thin strips (preferably as even sized as possible so you don't burn pieces like I did).
Mix potato strips with a little bit of olive oil, cayenne pepper, pepper, and cumin.
Bake for approx. 20-25 minutes at 425 degrees, tossing/turning the fries after about 10 minutes.
Add salt to taste.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
And, for Rejection #1
Got the form email this morning saying my skills weren't a match for the research lab position. I'm actually more disappointed about having to stay where I'm at (geographically and job wise) than I am about not getting this position. It wasn't a major surprise they didn't see a fit, and it was with some relief since the product lines they work on would never be at the top of my interests (multimedia interactions/content authoring). Obviously, it's always still ego bruising to get a rejection, even when it's partially expected, but onwards I go.
I'm not one of those "everything happens for a reason" people, which people usually use to suggest that some unknown forces or fates have a larger plan intended. Yes, things happen for a reason, but it's not pre-determined and beyond your control. Actions, intentions, attitudes, and so forth all shape those reasons. Uh oh, I think I might be espousing Fountainhead philosophy or something unintentionally. Ugh.
I'll keep pursuing other lab positions, and honestly, I should just stop being so lazy and try and work on getting parts of my dissertation published. That will help in achieving this goal.
I'm not one of those "everything happens for a reason" people, which people usually use to suggest that some unknown forces or fates have a larger plan intended. Yes, things happen for a reason, but it's not pre-determined and beyond your control. Actions, intentions, attitudes, and so forth all shape those reasons. Uh oh, I think I might be espousing Fountainhead philosophy or something unintentionally. Ugh.
I'll keep pursuing other lab positions, and honestly, I should just stop being so lazy and try and work on getting parts of my dissertation published. That will help in achieving this goal.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Week 24 Workouts
Sunday - 5 mile run around Lake Miramar. Felt good, last mile was hard and I didn't want to finish, but I made it.
Monday - 60 minute step aerobics class. Still can't keep a beat, but a good work out. I'm weighing in on Mondays for work's fitness encouragement program (work out more, win points, weigh in, win points, etc) -- no weight change from last week -- though I'll be interested at the end of this 8 week work program whether my body fat percentage will decrease.
Tuesday - 60 minutes pilates class. Fake pilates, more like basic fitness exercises relying on your body weight for resistance.
Wednesday - 3.5 mile trail run. The fire was in my belly today. Went fast (for me). Passed the guy who normally stays ahead of me the whole way and while I went slower on the second half, I didn't give out. I feel completely spent now though, definitely taking tomorrow off for anything lower body.
Thursday - 30 minute core class (crunches, planks, pilates-like movements).
Friday - Nothing.
Saturday - 45 minutes of weights with Jari Love's Ripped to the Core. This video always leaves me bored because it's low weight, high reps -- so even though the whole routine is only 12 exercises, it takes an hour (I didn't finish the last two exercises). However, it is a good workout.
Monday - 60 minute step aerobics class. Still can't keep a beat, but a good work out. I'm weighing in on Mondays for work's fitness encouragement program (work out more, win points, weigh in, win points, etc) -- no weight change from last week -- though I'll be interested at the end of this 8 week work program whether my body fat percentage will decrease.
Tuesday - 60 minutes pilates class. Fake pilates, more like basic fitness exercises relying on your body weight for resistance.
Wednesday - 3.5 mile trail run. The fire was in my belly today. Went fast (for me). Passed the guy who normally stays ahead of me the whole way and while I went slower on the second half, I didn't give out. I feel completely spent now though, definitely taking tomorrow off for anything lower body.
Thursday - 30 minute core class (crunches, planks, pilates-like movements).
Friday - Nothing.
Saturday - 45 minutes of weights with Jari Love's Ripped to the Core. This video always leaves me bored because it's low weight, high reps -- so even though the whole routine is only 12 exercises, it takes an hour (I didn't finish the last two exercises). However, it is a good workout.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Phone Screen #1 Done
So I had my phone screen with a Bay Area research lab today. I loved how academic the interview was; the people on the call first wanted to know about my dissertation process, the results, methodologies, etc etc. Totally up my alley.
The part of the call that didn't go as well was trying to prove that I have the skills to implement prototypes and/or design systems. Admittedly, I don't think I have those skills - while I do some interaction design currently, my "designs" are static wireframes. Other people build those designs and I don't have the creative mojo with Photoshop/Illustrator to put the final layer on top of the design.
If I don't get called back for the in-person interview, I won't be heartbroken if it's because I can't build prototypes. I don't want to be coding and that's not where my strengths lay. However, these research lab positions (that are focused on user experience) are limited in number, so I am hopeful that my skills are a fit for their projects.
The part of the call that didn't go as well was trying to prove that I have the skills to implement prototypes and/or design systems. Admittedly, I don't think I have those skills - while I do some interaction design currently, my "designs" are static wireframes. Other people build those designs and I don't have the creative mojo with Photoshop/Illustrator to put the final layer on top of the design.
If I don't get called back for the in-person interview, I won't be heartbroken if it's because I can't build prototypes. I don't want to be coding and that's not where my strengths lay. However, these research lab positions (that are focused on user experience) are limited in number, so I am hopeful that my skills are a fit for their projects.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Week 23 Workouts
Sunday - Nothing.
Monday - 60 minute step aerobics class. It was actually pretty fun though the instructor is strict and doesn't want you really making up your moves on the fly or not going with the beat of the music. But on the plus side, she is good about correcting your form, so I'll probably go next week and try and follow her rules better. Worked up a good sweat.
Tuesday - 3.5 mile trail run. Finally, feeling more normal. Made sure I had drank plenty of water beforehand. I went slow, but despite the heat I kept my pace the whole time.
Wednesday - Nothing.
Thursday - 3 mile or so walk. At least 1.5 miles of it was pure uphill. Normally would try and jog this, but co-worker wanted to take a walk.
Friday - 4 mile trail run + 1 mile walk. Just guessing on the length -- this was a new route with the running group. I actually felt good for most of it, the run was hard, but I didn't feel all super crappy like previous runs. I hope it had nothing to do with any of the pastries I had at a team breakfast.
Saturday - 5 mile walking around Torrey Pines. Again, guessing on length, but I was out for a couple hours, so though I walked slow, I'm sure I did at least 5 miles. Wasn't trying to exercise, just wanted to get out and walk around.
Monday - 60 minute step aerobics class. It was actually pretty fun though the instructor is strict and doesn't want you really making up your moves on the fly or not going with the beat of the music. But on the plus side, she is good about correcting your form, so I'll probably go next week and try and follow her rules better. Worked up a good sweat.
Tuesday - 3.5 mile trail run. Finally, feeling more normal. Made sure I had drank plenty of water beforehand. I went slow, but despite the heat I kept my pace the whole time.
Wednesday - Nothing.
Thursday - 3 mile or so walk. At least 1.5 miles of it was pure uphill. Normally would try and jog this, but co-worker wanted to take a walk.
Friday - 4 mile trail run + 1 mile walk. Just guessing on the length -- this was a new route with the running group. I actually felt good for most of it, the run was hard, but I didn't feel all super crappy like previous runs. I hope it had nothing to do with any of the pastries I had at a team breakfast.
Saturday - 5 mile walking around Torrey Pines. Again, guessing on length, but I was out for a couple hours, so though I walked slow, I'm sure I did at least 5 miles. Wasn't trying to exercise, just wanted to get out and walk around.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Trying for new plans
A weekend of failed apartment hunting in San Diego. I would like to live in one of the hipper, urban areas of SD (Hillcrest, North Park, South Park, Banker's Hill, etc.) but work is in the middle of nowhere in comparison--about 20 miles away, many places don't accept pets, and many places in these areas don't have a washer & dryer in the units (yes, I am lazy). I think I'm giving up and staying in the 'burbs for awhile longer.
I'm an unloyal corporate slave though. I found some intriguing research scientist positions in the Bay Area for my field; so I just applied to two positions. I tried applying to similar positions a year ago before the Ph.D. was done and couldn't get any call backs. Here's to hoping things are different this year. In the meantime, I am already day-dreaming what if's...
Plusses for a new job:
Live with bf again,
commute excellent for one of the positions (10 miles),
job actually requires Ph.D. so maybe I can put my degree to use,
get out of San Diego.
Negatives for a new job:
Have only been in current job for 6 months; wouldn't hurt to stay longer so I'm not labelled a job-hopper,
Commute so-so for one of the positions (16 miles from San Jose),
Have to face my current boss and her wrath about me leaving,
Interviewing is stressful, especially if I am trying to hide it from current job,
Probably an expensive penalty to break apt. lease.
Despite the negatives, I'm pretty sure if I was offered a real industry research position, I would take it in a heartbeat. Being a user interface lacky to an engineering development group does not leave a lot of room for growth.
I'm an unloyal corporate slave though. I found some intriguing research scientist positions in the Bay Area for my field; so I just applied to two positions. I tried applying to similar positions a year ago before the Ph.D. was done and couldn't get any call backs. Here's to hoping things are different this year. In the meantime, I am already day-dreaming what if's...
Plusses for a new job:
Live with bf again,
commute excellent for one of the positions (10 miles),
job actually requires Ph.D. so maybe I can put my degree to use,
get out of San Diego.
Negatives for a new job:
Have only been in current job for 6 months; wouldn't hurt to stay longer so I'm not labelled a job-hopper,
Commute so-so for one of the positions (16 miles from San Jose),
Have to face my current boss and her wrath about me leaving,
Interviewing is stressful, especially if I am trying to hide it from current job,
Probably an expensive penalty to break apt. lease.
Despite the negatives, I'm pretty sure if I was offered a real industry research position, I would take it in a heartbeat. Being a user interface lacky to an engineering development group does not leave a lot of room for growth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)