Insights into Grad Student Life: Working from Home

Today, it snowed about 10-30cm. In Vancouver, this is enough to close schools.

T: I'll probably be "working from home" today then...

N: The only part of that that belongs in quotes is 'working'.

T: LOL... True.

T: Hey, I'm putting that up on my blog

N: Okay -- I'll only charge minimal royalties for it. Like a family discount.

T: Excellent. Per page-view, right?

N: Sure

T: Don't quit your day job!

Dictionary Reveals Latent Truths

Today, the VP Academic/Provost gave our lab a visit. I didn't know what "provost" meant, so I looked it up in the dictionary. The third definition really caught my eye.

pro·vost (prō'vōst', -vəst, prŏv'əst)
n. (Abbr. Prov.)

1. A university administrator of high rank.
2. The highest official in certain cathedrals or collegiate churches.
3. The keeper of a prison.
4. The chief magistrate of certain Scottish cities.

Insight

Love of My Life: I want to live a life I could write about and enjoy reading.

Me: How are you doing to this point?

LoML: It's a drag.

Be careful when fishing for compliments.

Entrepreneurial Thinking

Me: SurveyMonkey.com solves all our [survey] problems

J: That's what we need ... a problem solver

Me: I need someone to do my research. That's what I need

J: Go to researchmonkey.com ;-)

Me: We need PhDMonkey.com

At first, I thought: "$1,000,000 idea!" Then I did a rudimentary market analysis:

target population demand = high (depressed phd students)
target population size = low (phd students)
overall demand = low (depressed phd students)

spending capacity of target population = low (graduate stipend)

market viability = laughably low

Nope. Better stick to my day job.

Ringing Endorsement of Grad School

D: How far are you away from completion?

Me: Hahaha... Mmm... Hopefully another year or so?

D: Maybe I shouldn't have asked :-$

Me: Hahaha... "You know how it is"

D: That's not too bad. Hopefully you're starting to see the end of the tunnel.

Me: Yeah, though sometimes the end gets shrouded by what appears to be some bad weather.

D: Yeah, I know how THAT is.

D: I hate the vagaries of corporate life, but nothing compares to the constant existential dread of grad school.

Buying Bulk

G1: You haven't had your period for three months?!

G2: Uh-huh.

G3: You should probably take a test to check (whether you're preggers).

G1 (helpfully): You can try First Response! I saw it on TV.

G3: At three months, I don't think you need "first" response. You can probably go with any old generic test.

G1: You could probably even go Kirkland brand!

G2: Isn't that Costco?!

G1: Yeah but you could save so much!

G3: If you're buying these things in bulk, you should probably step back and take a good look at yourself.

G2 nods thoughtfully.