A toast to women scientist bloggers

Has anyone else noticed how many new blogs authored by female scientists cropped up in the latter part of 2007? It probably partly reflects the growing general popularity of blogs, but may also indicate the necessity and appeal of a community like this.

I had been reading blogs for over a year before I started my own. The many blog conversations have helped me understand the expectations of and by scientists (who are women) in a way I don’t think I would have in any other forum because no other forum is quite so candid. Moreover, having a safe outlet for my thoughts and feelings has helped me to clarify what I think I want from my career at a time when I can still somewhat comfortably adjust my trajectory.

I hope that the addition of more women STEM bloggers in the coming year will contribute to our success in our careers. It’s uplifting and comforting to know that other women are out there dealing with the same issues. It also helps to know that they aren’t all of super human composition, i.e., that they aren’t so different from (or better than) me after all (note that in real life, people try to hide their weaknesses, while a blogger will write every damn problem she has).

Since I don’t regularly work at a university, I sometimes feel a little disconnected from other students and academic life. It has been really nice to expand my world a little and learn what this gig is like for others – those in other countries, fields, institutions, whatever. It has also helped put many issues in perspective. We all deal with the same problems. Moreover, it’s nice to open up to others in an unreserved way. It’s so difficult to do that in real life because it makes one feel too vulnerable.

So, as silly as it may be to salute one's e-social network, here’s to a fantastic 2008 for all my blog friends: to those who consider me a friend too, to those who don’t know they have me as a fan, and to those I’ve yet to meet!

Edited to add: I love all the non-scientist, non-female bloggers too! I didn't mean to be exclusive! It's just that I wrote this post with the Scientiae carnival in mind.

scientiae-carnival

Is she hot?

When someone tells me about a new person, like a new coworker or a friend they want to introduce me to, usually I ask "is she cool?" Now, I know that this may not be the most important quality in a person, but it is usually what I want to know first. I should probably ask "is she competent?" about a new coworker or "is she nice/trustworthy/honest?" about a new friend.

Even worse that "is she cool?" is "is she hot?" It really ticks me off how so many men in my life ask "is she hot?" about a new person. Even Ecogeoman does it sometimes! I'll describe how a potential grad student visited the lab and he'll ask, is she hot? It's doesn't f'ing matter! Why do men do this?

When asked about someone's irrelevant hotness, I, of course, rant on about how this is a rude and sexist thing to ask and that it doesn't matter anyway, but it never gets me anywhere. I know that Ecogeoman doesn't really treat people differently based on their looks (at least consciously), and I know that he asks that just to get me worked up, but I HATE it.

This topic is on my mind because the very worst abuser of "is she hot" is visiting us this week, a friend who always mentions a person's looks when saying anything about him/her (to be fair, I think it's mostly joking, but still). We went out last night and bickered the whole time about "is she hot". I admit that hotness counts for some things, and that hot people probably are treated better in general, but it just shouldn't be the first thing we want to know about a person.

End of the year meme

CAE at VWXYNot tagged me for this meme.

1. Will you be looking for a new job?
Not really. Although if things go well, maybe toward the end of the year I will be ready to start looking for post docs that have a mid-to-late '09 start date.
2. Will you be looking for a new relationship?
I'm always looking for new friends, especially women.
3. New house?
no
4. What will you do differently in 08?
I will try to procrastinate less.
5. New Years resolution?
This will get a whole post of its own. There will be resolutions about efficiency, money, and work goals.
6. What will you not be doing in 08?
graduating.
7. Any trips planned?
To Far Off Land in July and to France in September.
8. Wedding plans?
Ecogeoman's BFF's wedding in July and his sister's in September. Hence the trips.
9. Major thing on your calendar?
those trips.
10. What can’t you wait for?
To finish something. I'm hoping to submit at least one manuscript this year.
11. What would you like to see happen differently?
My work habits -- not always emphasizing data collection over writing, and getting more done.
12. What about yourself will you be changing?
Nothing really about myself, but I'd like to make my behavior more effective.
13. What happened in 07 that you didn’t think would ever happen?
I started this blog.
14. Will you be nicer to the people you care about?
I'll try to gossip less. Gossip isn't very nice.
15. Will you dress differently this year than you did in 07?
no.
16. Will you start or quit drinking?
no.
17. Will you better your relationship with your family?
well, I hope it's always evolving and maturing, but no plans to do anything dramatic.
18. Will you do charity work?
um, probably not. I should though. I'd like to tudor GED students or something. someday.
19. Will you go to bars?
yes. Especially since my state is going smoke free on January 1.
20. Will you be nice to people you don’t know?
I'll try. I always try.
21. Do you expect 08 to be a good year for you?
yes. I expect to get things done!
22. How much did you change from this time last year till now?
I think I became more effecient in work and money management. I hope to continue to become more so.
23. Do you plan on having a child?
not in 2008.
24. Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with now?
I think so. Some relationships seem to be waning, but others might blossom.
25. Major lifestyle changes?
none planned.
26. Will you be moving?
no.
27. What will you make sure doesn’t happen in 08 that happened in 07?
Failure to submit a paper.
28. What are your New Years Eve plans?
An intimate party at a friend's place.
29. Will you have someone to kiss at midnight?
Ecogeoman. :)
30. One wish for 08?
To get a paper published.

I tag (gosh, I hate tagging. But I love being tagged. Too bad you can't have one without the other.)

Ianqui
Jane
Sciencegirl
Sciencewoman
Unbalanced Reaction

Best. Christmas. Gift. Ever.

I'm back from Christmas in my hometown, another city in the Midwest. After the intense-but-fun time at my parents' house with not-private Internet (i.e., no blogging) I'm happy to be back at home sitting in my new flannel pajamas, drinking coffee and catching up on zillions of blog posts. The rest of the day will be spent cleaning out closets. Ecogeoman and I both got new clothes via gifts and sales. We have little clothing storage space, so I need to get rid of some stuff.


In addition to clothes, we received other very nice presents, like an awesome camp stove from S1, who had drawn our names this year. This is great because I didn't have any camping gear until recently and most of Ecogeoman's stuff is the ultra small, lightweight kind meant for backpacking, not the car camping we do now. I got an immersion blender and a vegetarian crock pot cookbook, a thoughtful gift from my mom after last year's new crock pot. Ecogeoman gave me the book, Women Don't Ask by Babcock and Laschever which I've been wanting forever (I'm sure I'll blog about it). But the Best Gift Ever was a surprise. After we had opened all the presents, Ecogeoman handed me a note that said "you get dance lessons of your choice." I spazed. You see, although I have never had a dance class and have no rhythm, I dance around the house all the time and I LOVE the dancing shows that are currently popular on network tv. I'm hoping I can convince Ecogeoman to take ballroom with me, instead of me taking something like ballet or hip hop by myself (even though that would be great too).


I am so excited.

Those of you who read this post can call me a hypocrite now.

Blogroll

I finally signed up with Blogrolling and dramatically updated my blogroll in the process (it's much easier than the stupid Blogger list I was using). If you'd like to be included, please let me know.
Edited to add: If you'd like to be removed, please let me know.

Today was the super cool Carpool Buddy's last day at work. How sad. I'll miss her company in the car. In fine showing of her super coolness, she gave me a really lovely thank-you/Christmas gift which was sweet. Not to worry though, I'm sure I"ll see her at many future meetings. Good luck in grad school, Carpool Buddy.

RBOC

• There's just one more day of work before the end-of-year break. I'm thrilled. Because I work mostly at the institution where my main research advisor is rather than the university, I mostly follow their calendar. They shut down the last week of the year, turning off heat and everything. Only employees that need to perform essential work are allowed and they have to be on a list. So, I feel no guilt for taking the whole time between Saturday and Jan 1 off. I might do a little work at home, but only if I feel like it.
• We are going to my hometown on Saturday, in time to see my best friend before she leaves that town to spend Christmas with her family, who live in a different town. I just love seeing her. After that, it will be hard core family time until we leave, probably on the 28th.
• I think Ecogeoman got me a present today. yay! He can be pretty hopeless with gifts (my last birthday was a disaster) but sometimes he comes through brilliantly. I'll be happy as long as there's something because I spent pretty much time and money (well, not that much money) getting nice gifts for him. This is definitely and issue of the time and consideration involved, not the money.
• We had friends over last night which was really fun. I served a bunch of snacks instead of a meal. Today was a potluck at work. I think tonight we'll have the leftovers from last night. Could I possibly eat more cheese and dip? My sodium intake must be through the roof! Not to mention the fat. Mmmmmmm, salt and fat.

Maybe I'll get cooking questions!

Ecogeoman and I watched this lame game show, Duel, for an hour and a half while waiting for an oil change at Honda tonight (an oil change should not take 90 minutes. they did it for free). We typically wouldn't watch that kind of show, but it was what was on the waiting room television. Apparently, two contestants engage in a duel by answering a series of lame trivia questions. The winner chooses the next opponent from a preselected group. The cool thing was that the first 5 or 6 contestants were all women (we did not see the first 3 or 4 play). The first time we saw someone pick a new contestant, she said how she hoped a woman would win so she choose another woman. This new woman won the duel, then picked a man. When it was announced that this man had a "photographic memory" she said, "uh-oh. well, maybe I'll get a cooking question and win!" WTF? A cooking question? She wasn't a professional chef or anything. Can't she just feel confident as a person dueling another person? By this point there were several nauseating women vs men jokes. I don't think I'll be tuning in to Duel again. Not that I would have anyway.