That’s exactly what I’m using this for. Fun with pharmacology!
105mm macro lens, 1/10 sec @ f/4.2, ISO 800
Apr 202012
Apr 122012
I love my macro lens!
To give you a sense of size, an 18 gauge needle is 5/100 of an inch in diameter. There are some images that a regular lens would really have trouble capturing
105mm macro lens, 1/30 sec @ f/4.2, ISO 200
Apr 022012
I don’t know if I’d say I’m still on a blogging hiatus, but I’ve given myself permission to forget about the blog for periods of time. I’m feeling the urge to get back into regular blogging, but with my current work schedule, it’s not gonna happen. So, random thoughts to start your week off
- Speaking of my work schedule, this week and next will include back-to-back-to-back 11 hours days.
- CrossFit and the nutrition challenge sponsored by the gym we go to is going really well, I’m down about 8 lbs after 4 weeks, 8 weeks to go. For the first time in over 2 years I weigh less than 200 lbs, which is great. I’d like to get to the 185-190 range, then I might actually have something resembling a flat midsection again!
- Our sex life is experiencing an unexpected decline lately. I had a getaway with a friend in mid-March, she and I had as much sex that weekend as Veronica and I did during the entire rest of the month. Not sure WTF is going on with that, except maybe busy schedules and stress messing us up
- We’re dog sitting for a month. My mom has been here since last Thursday, she’s leaving today for 2 weeks in NY with my sister and her family, then she’s heading on a 2 week vacation in Italy with her sister. Rather than board her Shih Tzu, we’re taking care of him until the first week of May.
- I had to laugh at the comment on this weeks Sinful Sunday post, apparently a reader has seen enough of my ass and misses seeing photos of Veronica! I guess it has been a while, maybe I’ll take some photos of her soon
- Four months from now we’ll be living in Maryland. We can’t afford to sell our home in MA (we’d lose $70K+ in equity) so we’ve refinanced our mortgage and will be renting it. We got a great rate on the re-fi and have found a property manager we’re happy with. On the downside, we’re not thrilled with the rental market where we’ll be going. Hopefully with the time we have we’ll find something good for the family.
- Those long work hours? I’m not really complaining, for the 1st time in quite a while I’m actually collecting data in the lab. Oh and I can guarantee that whatever you’re imaging for the type of lab I work in, you’re wrong.
This seems like an appropriate cartoon for a Monday morning
Happy Monday!!
Apr 012012
I know that the tagline for this meme is “It’s all about the image” but the story behind this one is too good not to share…
Anyone who follows me on Twitter and looks at my Mobypicture page likely has figured out that I like to share pre- and post-shower photos, either from home or the locker room at work (just look at last weeks Sinful Sunday post!). The locker room is a risky place to take pics, the position of the shower, the entrance, and the mirror over the sinks means that I have only a second or two once someone walks in to disguise the fact that I’m taking photos of myself.
Saturday morning I went into the office for a few hours to catch up on some work. Earlier that morning I went to the Crossfit gym and then in the afternoon I would be meeting up with the rest of the family for Princess Persistent’s birthday party at an indoor playspace, so I grabbed a shower at work.
Since it was a Saturday and the building seemed empty, I took advantage of that and set the interval timer on my iPhone, so that I would end up with a series of photos as I toweled off and got dressed.
You know where this is going, right?
I’m holding a position with my ass towards the camera, waiting for the shutter to click, when a co-worker comes flying in the door and walks right past my phone on the counter on his way to a urinal. When I hear him coming in I of course quickly pull up my jeans and as luck would have it, at that moment the shutter clicked! We chatted while I finished getting dressed and he washed up, as best as I could tell he had no idea what I was doing when he came in!
Sinful Sunday, where it’s all about the image
Feb 072012
Well, dangerous depending on your perspective!
What you see here is my phone, which was continually pinging me with Twitter notifications, an almost-empty glass of Sam Adams Whitewater IPA, and a manuscript I was reviewing for publication in a journal.
I decided that it was best if I emailed my written comments on the manuscript to myself at work to proofread on Tuesday morning before I submit them to the editorial office. Especially after I had a 2nd beer on an empty stomach!
18-105mm lens at 62mm, 1/6 sec at f/5.3, ISO 640
Feb 022012
A perk of staying late at work? Having access to the roof of the building and the opportunity to take some photos. As a bonus, it was ridiculously warm out, low-50s around 7pm when I took this photo, so I wasn’t freezing my ass off, considering the time of year!
18-105mm lens at 18mm, 3.0 sec at f/3.5, ISO 3200
Feb 012012
As I often do, this morning I changed in my office at work.
If only the colleague I saw on the sidewalk below had any idea that the t-shirt was the only thing I was wearing 
Never mind the hot young intern who sits right outside my office door…
There’s quite the crowd playing along this week, click the button to check them out!
Dec 292011
Tuesday it was me getting clean, as you could see in my Wanton Wednesday post. On Wednesday it was my office at work- filing papers, throwing out old crap, dusting the shelves and desktop. Hell I even cleaned out my inbox, look at that screen, there’s only 4 messages in it now.
I don’t know about me, but my office is ready for 2012!
18-105mm lens at 38mm, 1/25 sec at f/4.5, ISO 400
Nov 282011
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes.”
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things–God, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions–and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else–the small stuff.”
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first–the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”
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“A scientist who doesn’t publish his or her work isn’t really a scientist” ~ my doctoral advisor
I’m falling into the “isn’t really a scientist” category. I completed data collection on 2 projects over 2 years ago and haven’t finished the manuscripts yet. Additionally, a few months ago I was invited to write a review article for a journal and I haven’t started that one either.
That’s not to say I’m not doing anything at work, my days are plenty busy, but I’m paying too much attention to the sand in my life and not enough attention to the golf balls and pebbles.
It’s not just at work either, in other areas of my life my priorities are not in order. For starters, I’ve gained 20 lbs in the last couple of years, health and fitness needs to move up the priority list.
Why wait until the new year to make a resolution?
For me, the time is now, starting today.
Nov 122011
Do you read blogs on your work computer? Tweet from work? Write blogs posts at work? Use an instant messaging program to chat with friends while at work?
This past week one twitter friend got into hot water at work and another blogging friend lost her job because of what she was doing with company IT resources.
Do YOU know your employers internet use policy? Here are some snippets from mine
(2) You consent to the following conditions:
(a) Employer routinely intercepts and monitors communications on this information system for purposes including, but not limited to, blah blah blah.
(b) At any time, the employer may inspect and seize data stored on this information system.
(c) Communications using, or data stored on, this information system are not private, are subject to routine monitoring, interception and search, and may be disclosed or used for any employer-authorized purpose.
(d) This information system includes security measures (e.g., authentication and access controls) to protect employer interests—not for your personal benefit or privacy.
Certain unacceptable uses are spelled out as well
(1) Submitting malicious code or hacking.
(2) Copying proprietary software.
(3) Installing unauthorized software.
(4) Conducting a commercial business on an Army IS.
(5) Unethical uses (e.g., profanity, sexual content, gambling, soliciting funds).
(6) Accessing unauthorized sites (e.g., pornography, spam, streaming video, gaming, eBay).
(7) Using unauthorized services (e.g., peer-to-peer, chat, instant messaging except AKO and other authorized government messaging systems used for official business).
(8) The improper use of e-mail (e.g., mass mailing, chain letters, hoaxes, auto forwarding).
Veronica the HR expert pointed out that even if your employer doesn’t spell out an internet use policy, most people fall under a policy called “employment at will”. Unless you work under a contract or are a member of a union, chances are that you’re employed at will. What this means is that your employer can terminate your employment without cause at any time. (No, you can’t be fired because of your age, or your gender, or your sexual orientation, etc.) Be forewarned, your internet habits at work could be used against you.
I like blogging, tweeting, naughty emails and chats as much if not more than the next guy. But I also know what I can and cannot get away with at work.
Do you?
