A note to the Students I TA for

I'm sure a good number of you resent me. I know I seem harsh when I say you can't come into lab because you're not prepared or I can't accept some work which is overdue. Externally, the reasons are all the same: the rules are the rules, you and I both have to play by them. Internally, though, the reason I believe in those rules is this: I want to have a positive impact on your lives.

This is one college course: this is one grade that won't even matter in the long run. But I want to teach you stuff I had to learn during college. I seem just a couple of years older than you; in fact, I am about 5 years older, and to someone who has been through college, those 5 years seem like a lot.

I could be a schoolteacher and let it slide when you don't complete something in time, or neglect to wear your safety glasses. I could ignore the fact that you are unprepared for lab. But the truth is, I'm never going to. I want you to learn that you can't do stuff like that anymore. You're going to have to start setting alarms, start working on the homework early, start being responsible.

"But what does it matter if it's ACS format?" You complain. Of course it does. You are given instructions, and you need to know how to follow them. But it's not as simple as a brainwashing indocrination into being a humanoid robot for the good of society. The underlying rules, which I tried to explain to you, are that progress needs human beings to work together, and you can't work together until you speak each others' language. It doesn't matter where you're from in the world, or how much(or little) experience you have in the field; the minute you learn the language you're able to communicate results and opinions, you're able to contribute in a way only you can.

"Stop snooping on my paper, of course I'm not going to cheat!" I believe you. I don't believe you. It doesn't matter what I think, I'm going to keep hovering just to remove the temptation of sneaking a quick peek. I've never cheated; but believe me when I say I've felt the temptation more than once. To those of you who have worked hard and come into this exam, I'm trying to protect you and your hard work. I'm trying not to let the unfairness of the world into our little space. I'm trying to give you your best chance.

I don't want or expect thanks for this maybe high-handed but certainly well-intentioned thought process. I just want you to learn something.

Cooking Adventures

I was thinking of titling this blog post 'Culinary Adventures' but then decided against it since nothing I've done so far can be called 'culinary' in any sense of the word. I've cooked, yes. Not much more.

Also, of course, since I tend to write fiction, the days are not in any real order. Was the food real? Well, I ate it, so I ought to know.

For my mom. Because cooking is hard.

Day 1:
I try to make instant food. It's terrible and I never want to eat instant food ever again.

...Day 14:
I eat a Hot Pocket for the first time. Suddenly my freezer is up to its ears in Hot Pockets.(Pepperoni pizza. Yum.)

Day 3:
I adventure away, making some variation of paella, which in my case turns out to be chicken with rice and tomatoes. It tastes waaay better than it sounds.

...Day 26:
I am proficient at making(fake) paella, it being one of the few dishes I already have the ingredients for. *sigh*

Day 5:
I try to cook a chicken breast. Meanwhile, mashed potatoes, which are great :D

Day 6:
The mashed potato leftovers with bread make wonderful burger patties. They are a little too... buttery and creamy though.

Days 7-25-ish:
I can't be bothered. I eat out, order in, and have some more Hot Pockets.(Meatballs and mozzarella. Yum.)

Day 26:
I'm fed up of eating junk. I make(even more!) paella.

Day 27:
I stuff a chicken breast with bacon and cheese. And smoked ham. Maybe some more cheese. I eat my guilty feelings together with the chicken.

Day 28:
You can cook bacon in the microwave?!

Day 34:
Mm. Microwaved sausages. Easy to make: and best of all, can be grabbed from the microwave as you're running out the door in the morning, late.

Day 39:
I toss some pre-cooked cocktail shrimp in some pre-made cocktail sauce. Side of pasta--argh, the pasta's burning! Or... something! --one pasta-related emergency later, the dish is actually pretty decent.

So. As someone very aptly put it, we're not here to cook and eat food, we're here to survive, and I seem to be doing just that. And I know I sound weird and down about the whole cooking thing, but I actually kind of like it. It's fun, and I eat rather well(for those who are worried about me :) ), even if I do spend too much time in the kitchen.

Off to Washington(hopefully).

Journeys: Week One

In which I talk about buses. And food.

Journeys

Because why the hell not.