Memorial Day Weekend

I started to call this Labor Day weekend since I spent most of the day in the lab (but I didn't want to be disrespectful to our troops)! Actually, my workload wasn't as heavy as usual lately. Would you believe I was having instrument problems again?! This time the helium tank was leaking and they couldn't deliver a new one in time on Friday afternoon. I still had plenty to do but was able to hang out with Gene a bit and go to the finals for the Cal on Saturday night. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it out to Muscle Beach for the other competition held on Sunday and Monday--they have a bodybuilding show out there every holiday and it's always a lot of fun. I was glad I ended up going to the Cal even though I was 2 hours late. It's good to support the local shows and see a few familiar faces. Here's a couple of pics Gene took of me and Debbie (Bramwell) at the show. She is unbelievable--Master's nationals is how many weeks away and she looks like she's ready to walk onstage (and still has so much energy)!?

So anyway, doing some bodybuilding stuff the past couple of weeks is getting me psyched up to start my nationals prep! Finally (or already?)! People still comment on my conditioning last year and I appreciate that, but ultimately, all that matters is what I bring to the stage THIS year. I'm looking forward to it.

Other than that, I guess it's just more of the usual around here. Today I finally set up some in vitro experiments that I kept putting off all weekend, and not surprisingly, they didn't work too well. Sigh. But some experiments I did at the end of last week were very telling so at least I have some new leads. It's still surprising to me that so many recombinant proteins are not necessarily expressed correctly and/or active in a different host organism. In the case of one of my enzymes, it looks like yeast have different proteases that target this particular protein from bacteria. Not sure how to get around that one but I have multiple enzymes that should perform the same reaction.

So now I'm just making sure the LC-MS is running ok and will look at some of the data before I leave it running overnight. It feels like things are kind of slowing down a little so I should probably work on doing some of the data analysis I've been putting off and start writing the manuscript. I've been telling people that I expect to graduate in a year or so I've gotta try to make it happen. You have to believe to achieve and name it to claim it!

A day not (totally) spent in the lab

As I mentioned in my last post, the N2 generator is down so I haven't been able to analyze any of my samples since early last week. It's become painfully clear how much that immediate feedback speeds up my project and keeps me constantly moving. I have probably 20+ yeast strains that I'm waiting to test (for in vivo conversion/production of various metabolites) and don't know how to proceed until I know the results. So, I was forced to take a break...so sad :(

Honestly, there is always something to do (as I'm researching how to better purify some of my proteins that are aggregating with the cell debris upon lysis) but I decided that for once, there was nothing that would set me back if it didn't get done immediately. So I was able to do my own thing for a lot of the weekend. Saturday morning, I got up at 6am to do some cardio (yes, I'm trying to get back on my early morning routine) and then volunteered to help a friend at a fundraiser. I set up the Guitar Hero station for the kids and got to sit around playing before everything started. Seriously, who doesn't love that game? I'm glad I never played video games b/c that can become a major time drain.

I left pretty early to drive down to Fullerton for the seminar at Milos Sarcev's gym (Koloseum Gym). It's always good to hear other training/supplementation/diet methods and I know Milos is very highly respected as a trainer and guru. He practices a giant set method consisting of back-to-back exercises for the same bodypart for the entire session. He was also promoting his new supplement line. But I guess I'm a little set in my ways and not ready to overhaul my whole training program. I like to train the way I like to train, period. I will probably be lifting heavy until I can't do it anymore. Actually, I've been having a bit of internal conflict lately with the whole bodybuilding thing. It's my lifestyle (and has been for over 10 years now) and I love the discipline and pushing myself in the gym. The problem is that the way I train and eat, I'm going to keep growing and I'm not sure I like that. I hate feeling so big and bulky in the offseason but it's simply not realistic to stay in contest shape year-round. I do keep an eye on my bodyfat and am very consistent with cardio and diet so I can say with confidence that at least a few pounds of the weight I've put on is lean mass. I just hate having this love/hate relationship with my body! But everyone keeps encouraging me to compete this year so I guess I'll stick with it; I'm very fortunate to be surrounded by people who are so supportive (in the lab, gym, etc).

So anyway, where was I? After the seminar, I came back to P-dena to train legs (focusing on hamstrings) and then went to get my hair done and do a little window shopping (since I can't actually fit into anything...with sleeves at least). By then it was already after 8pm and I did have a few things to take care of in the lab but kept it to a couple of hours.

Sunday I did spend most of the day in the lab (aside from doing laundry and cleaning up a bit) but kind of limited myself again. I knew if I started too much, I would be here all day and make myself miserable. It was so nice to go to the gym and not be rushed through my workout before they close which is what always seems to happen on Sunday (back day). Then I was actually able to spend some quality time with my main squeeze--it is so rare for neither of us to be working.

I got up at 5:30am this morning to do my cardio before coming to the lab to meet the service engineer at 7:30am. It's so much easier to get going on a Monday when you haven't spent all weekend working. Amazing :)

If you want something done...

ask a busy person! This is what my chiropractor told me last week and it's so true. Today Yvonne and I are making electrocompetent cells again. We are a very cloning intensive lab so this is definitely one of the worst lab jobs. The problem with other lab jobs is that it's easier to just make something yourself (like media and plates) than to hassle someone else to do it. But if we don't have cells for cloning, the whole lab shuts down and it can't be done on short notice (we have to grow 6 liters of E. coli).

OK, I started writing this yesterday and had to abort so we'll see if I can make sense here. Tuesday morning when I came in, the nitrogen generator (for the LC-MS) was making a horrible noise. So, much to my dismay, I had to vent the system and shut everything down. I was worried b/c it took a while to hear back from tech support (they are based in Europe) but they should be sending someone to fix the compressor by Monday at the latest. A minor delay but it's probably allowing me a much needed break (unless they fix it Friday..then I will work all weekend)!

There is just always something that needs to be done and I've been feeling so overwhelmed lately. There are a lot of things working that I need to get final data/figures for and start writing. And then other things that I thought were working (and really excited about) that turned out to be artifacts. The problem is that I want so desperately to work on everything at the same time and it's just too much. There are ~30 enzymes I'm actively working with (in all possible combinations) and a dozen or more different yeast strain backgrounds. So far, I've managed to keep track of it all somehow but have to admit that it's getting out of control. For the sake of my sanity, I need to be a little more focused in my experiments.

Tonight I'm just finishing a few things up after a grueling leg workout (I think it's safe to say my hip is back to normal). Unfortunately, I missed my salsa class yet again. I tried to go to the gym early today specifically so I would be back in time, but I just felt so run down that I actually turned around and went home to chill out for about an hour. I never do that, but it was needed and I feel much better. I've just been going nonstop for so many weeks, I think that was the first time I just did nothing for a few minutes.

OK, I think my gel is done and I need to get home. I'm supposed to train with my hypothetical boyfriend tomorrow morning up at 24 hr. fitness ;)