My internet connection drives me crazy. It works just fine until we get a visitor who wants to connect to our wireless network. Almost without fail, the new computer boots my computer off the network. It then takes an hour-long phone call to the router tech support in India to get it to work again. Although incredibly patient, the tech people sometimes don't know how to fix the problem and will just kind of hang up on me. Then I have to call back the next day and, hopefully, get someone who can figure out what to do. None of them seem to be able to fully explain the underlying problem, but it seems to be something to do with interference with assigning IP addresses.
We had a visitor last week from Far Off Land whose laptop stole the internet from my laptop and I only just now got it working again. However, the things the technician had me do this time seemed familiar, so maybe the next time this happens (and I'm sure it will happen again), I'll be able to do more trouble shooting on my own.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Holding my breath
When I submitted my paper earlier this year, my mom said, "I'm sure it will be accepted -- you're so smart!"
Now, I know she was trying to be positive and encourage me, and since she doesn't have any experience with science publishing, it was really the best she could come up with. But I responded, "don't say that, because by that logic if it gets rejected it will mean that I'm not so smart." She said, "oh. yeah. well, I hope it gets accepted."
It's kind of funny when people try so hard to say something really nice and it just comes out all wrong. My poor mom probably felt like there was no winning.
***************
I've already written here that the paper didn't get accepted, but I was invited to submit anew after revisions. The revisions were tricky, and then it took months for my co-authors to sign off on the revised manuscript. It's now under review again and I really hope it gets accepted. If it fails again, there is little hope that I can get it turned around and accepted elsewhere before I graduate. Plus, the journal's impact factor has risen significantly since I submitted the paper the first time such that it is now one of the highest in my field. This is the part of my PhD work with the broadest appeal, so I think it is my only chance for a paper in a high-ish IF journal for the time being. Wish me luck! In a better way than my mom.
Now, I know she was trying to be positive and encourage me, and since she doesn't have any experience with science publishing, it was really the best she could come up with. But I responded, "don't say that, because by that logic if it gets rejected it will mean that I'm not so smart." She said, "oh. yeah. well, I hope it gets accepted."
It's kind of funny when people try so hard to say something really nice and it just comes out all wrong. My poor mom probably felt like there was no winning.
***************
I've already written here that the paper didn't get accepted, but I was invited to submit anew after revisions. The revisions were tricky, and then it took months for my co-authors to sign off on the revised manuscript. It's now under review again and I really hope it gets accepted. If it fails again, there is little hope that I can get it turned around and accepted elsewhere before I graduate. Plus, the journal's impact factor has risen significantly since I submitted the paper the first time such that it is now one of the highest in my field. This is the part of my PhD work with the broadest appeal, so I think it is my only chance for a paper in a high-ish IF journal for the time being. Wish me luck! In a better way than my mom.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
One of the reasons I'm ready to not be a student anymore
I doubt I will go through another six-year period without finishing any project. At least I hope not.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The meeting
Thanks for all of your concern about my travel drama. I made it to the meeting the next day with a couple of hours to spare. My luggage didn't make it on my flight, but they delivered it to my hotel before I wanted to go to bed, so no harm done. That day was about as stressful as I imagined, but I got through it with no major bumps.
Our special session went much better than my travel. The speakers all basically talked about what we wanted them to cover, and we mostly stayed on time. I had the unenviable job of moderating, including cutting off famous scientists when they went on too long. I hated doing this, and won't volunteer to do it again if I can avoid it. On the other hand, we got some good feedback about the session. We have even been invited to write a couple of summary/commentary type reports for publication, which is very exciting. The due dates are really soon, and neither of us really have time for another writing project, but I think it will be quite worth it.
My poster didn't get too much traffic, but I felt fine about that. It was directly after the session and I was too worn out from the travel anxiety and stress of running the session to be interested in answering questions. What's more, it was based on the least interesting chapter of my diss. So whatev.
The social aspects of the meeting weren't as good as they have been in past years, partly due to the geography of the location, I think. Still, I got to see some old science friends, meet a few new ones, witness an ass-shaking contest (abhorrent), and I got a couple of post doc leads. We'll see what comes of those.
In all, it was a successful meeting for me. I'm glad it's over, as I always feel when I return from travel. The weeks leading up to a trip are filled with conversations ending with, "after I get back from the meeting, I'll do x". It's nice that things should settle down now so we can all get some meaty work done.
Our special session went much better than my travel. The speakers all basically talked about what we wanted them to cover, and we mostly stayed on time. I had the unenviable job of moderating, including cutting off famous scientists when they went on too long. I hated doing this, and won't volunteer to do it again if I can avoid it. On the other hand, we got some good feedback about the session. We have even been invited to write a couple of summary/commentary type reports for publication, which is very exciting. The due dates are really soon, and neither of us really have time for another writing project, but I think it will be quite worth it.
My poster didn't get too much traffic, but I felt fine about that. It was directly after the session and I was too worn out from the travel anxiety and stress of running the session to be interested in answering questions. What's more, it was based on the least interesting chapter of my diss. So whatev.
The social aspects of the meeting weren't as good as they have been in past years, partly due to the geography of the location, I think. Still, I got to see some old science friends, meet a few new ones, witness an ass-shaking contest (abhorrent), and I got a couple of post doc leads. We'll see what comes of those.
In all, it was a successful meeting for me. I'm glad it's over, as I always feel when I return from travel. The weeks leading up to a trip are filled with conversations ending with, "after I get back from the meeting, I'll do x". It's nice that things should settle down now so we can all get some meaty work done.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Overbooked
I should be on an airplane right now. Unfortunately, my flight got canceled due to mechanical problems or something. There were absolutely no seats available on flights to my destination, or to the next nearest city. There were no seats on my airline, nor any other airline. There were no seats from the airport I from which I was meant to depart, nor from the next closest airport, nor from any airport within a 4-hour drive. Only the leg of my journey from here to layover city was affected, but there were no seats to layover city in time for the final leg of the flight. There was just no way to get me to Conference City today. At all. Could I BE any more pissed?!
So, my first airline refunded half my fare and I booked a new flight myself on Southwest, which apparently does not have ticket agreements with the other airline. Thus, I had to pay for the ticket, which was $185 more than my original fare. I will get to Conference City around 9 am. Our special session, which I am moderating, starts after lunch. I should make it with enough time, but I will feel rushed and tense instead of (sort of) relaxed and in control. The original plan was to arrive around 3 pm today, go to the hotel, and finalize details for tomorrow with my friend/session co-organizer. We were going to decide exactly what I'd say at the start and end of the session, what she would say after the break, what we hoped to achieve if we got time to meet with the speakers later in the day. She was going to practice her talk for me, since I am more expert in parts of her project than she is (it's new to her, but is my bread and butter). I was also going to have time to iron my clothes for the week, suss out what talks to see, and have dinner with other scientist-friends. Instead, I'll arrive in the morning, rush to the hotel to drop off my bag if I have time, or else go right to the conference center. I have to register, hang my poster (which is also scheduled for tomorrow), attend moderator training, finalize the deets with my friend, eat lunch, and get to the session. It will all be fine, I'm sure, but not how I wanted it to go. Stupid airplane.
So, my first airline refunded half my fare and I booked a new flight myself on Southwest, which apparently does not have ticket agreements with the other airline. Thus, I had to pay for the ticket, which was $185 more than my original fare. I will get to Conference City around 9 am. Our special session, which I am moderating, starts after lunch. I should make it with enough time, but I will feel rushed and tense instead of (sort of) relaxed and in control. The original plan was to arrive around 3 pm today, go to the hotel, and finalize details for tomorrow with my friend/session co-organizer. We were going to decide exactly what I'd say at the start and end of the session, what she would say after the break, what we hoped to achieve if we got time to meet with the speakers later in the day. She was going to practice her talk for me, since I am more expert in parts of her project than she is (it's new to her, but is my bread and butter). I was also going to have time to iron my clothes for the week, suss out what talks to see, and have dinner with other scientist-friends. Instead, I'll arrive in the morning, rush to the hotel to drop off my bag if I have time, or else go right to the conference center. I have to register, hang my poster (which is also scheduled for tomorrow), attend moderator training, finalize the deets with my friend, eat lunch, and get to the session. It will all be fine, I'm sure, but not how I wanted it to go. Stupid airplane.
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