I'll push myself up through the dirt and shake my petals free
I'm resigned to being born and so resigned to bravery.
~Dar Williams

Thursday, June 18, 2009

I feel good... I feel great... I feel wonderful (and I'm a good helmet-wearing citizen to boot.)

Yesterday my advisor and I had our regular 'you're the biggest disappointment to the planet since J.J. Abram's new series Fringe' talk. These conversations can be a tad discouraging, so I tend to cling to any and all positive feedback (a survival skill employed by most graduate students I know... at least in my field). This morning's harbinger of kind words was a certificate-bearing woman who was inspecting my person for deformities (in a ritual known commonly as a "physical"). Her ever-so-kind praise:
"You have good blood pressure."
"You wear a helmet while biking? That's a wonderful habit."
"Well...your cervix looks clean."

As an added bonus, the nurse who took my vital stats before the real exam commented that she liked the way my chapstick smelled. See (not to brag), I'm not worthless!

11 comments:

byebyedays said...

You're to smart for me, I don't know what your words mean... I go by the pictures, did you fall on your bike? If so, I hope you're ok. You are so dang cute, I LOVE YOU!:)

Cami said...

I like your bike. I like your cheery smile. I love the way you post. I think your Fringe comment was quite witty. I'm glad you are clean up there. :))) (that's a smile with a double chin)

Karen said...

Laura,

I think you're cute and cool. Thanks for being my friend. Ummmmm...have a good summer!

XOXOXO,

KAREN

P.S. I love that double chin. And I hate that lame advisor.

Erin said...

First, I am very glad your cervix is clean. And second, I think that becoming a PI (much like becoming a mother) involves some super-secret training the rest of us aren't privy to. In one case, you learn how to torture people, and in the other, you learn how to make people feel better (and put on band-aids).

David said...

What's the name of your chap stick?Ü

Joe and Joanne said...

Reasons I like Laura:

She is a FABULOUS writer. She is funny as heck. She is very intelligent. AND she's TALENTED: She has a talent for maintaining friendship though I haven't actually seen her in about two years (even though we live in the same town, within reason...) - now that's talent! ;)

Don't be discouraged - you're doing just fine. I've always thought you were better than that program anyway.

Melanie said...

Laura,
YOu are amazing and I know you can do it, adn way to go with wearing your helmet, I wear my helmet too when I ride my horse Tuffy.

SheilaO said...

That bicycle position looks very familiar! Hope you have no lingering scars. Good job for wearing that helmet!

Jill said...

I think you should plan something naughty to do to your nasty counselor, obviously he doesn't appreciate the value of a person with a clean cervix who wears a helmet. I certainly do.

I have just recently been informed that you are coming for a visit this summer. I totally can't even wait! Whoo-hoo!

Aleigh said...

You mustn't mustn't get discouraged. When are those horrible advisors ever going to learn that they are not paid to be mean? May I suggest you make her a gift of some lovely brownies made with a ton of chicory root extract. ;)

Mels said...

COngrats Laura, I am so happy for you