Fightin' The Fat: Round 1

So, it seems that I have lost a pound or two since starting my new job. This is probably because I walk to work from BART, have no access to a vending machine or Lucky, am so busy I don't have much time to eat and am not drinking soda during the day. Not a bad head start...

I figure that the best way to reach a large goal (no longer being a fatty) is start reaching smaller goals (being a little less of a fatty). Using the scale in the lab at work, I discovered I have gone from being approximately 210 lbs to 205.5 all the while making hardly any conscious effort at all. So what will happen if I make an effort with a small, defined goal? Let's see!

I am setting the goal of weighing less than 200 lbs in 30 days. I'm not concerned about the number so long as it is under 200 (although I would prefer less than 199). I'm going to keep doing everything that I am doing but go a little farther- eat less crap outside of work and work out a little, etc.

I'll weigh myself at work on June18th and we'll see how it turns out!

Goats and Gay Marriage

Since I have to talk about goats as well as gay marriage and many people tend to equate the two, why not roll it into one tidy post?

Goats. They are pretty cool. They are cute, make fun sounds, wag their little tails and eat everything in sight with a laser-like focus. They also happen to be surrounding our condo at the moment. We live in a bit of a fire-prone area and there is a ton of of foliage to be cleared. So, someone wisely decided to hire some goats! I still find it funny that in the middle of Oakland, we are surrounded by farm animals. I've tried to get even more surrounded and hop the little temporary fence and hang out with them and play. I am being thwarted by Jen who maintains that the goat-herder-man-who-speaks-no-english will not understand that I am just trying to be friends and will shoot me. So, if anyone knows how to ask "Excuse me senor, may I please play with the goats?", I would love to know. Oh yeah, she won't let me play with the goat herder's dogs either. Boo.

So, onto gay marriage. The California Supreme Court handed down a pretty big ruling and in a month, gay people will be able to get married! We've gotten some lovely phone calls and emails from friends who are excited about this development and I think are awaiting some sort of announcement. Well, here it is...........

We are not getting married. No need to check your mailboxes or run out to Crate and Barrel (unless you want to get us this) cause it ain't happenin'. Yes, we are still very happy together and we still want to get married down the road, but we want to wait until it will, you know, stick. This issue is almost certain to be on the November ballot and there is a super-huge chance that the voters will revoke it and we both think that it would be incredibly painful. How would you feel if some redneck wonder from Fresno told you that you weren't married anymore? Besides, some sort of mass wedding thing at City Hall like damn Moonies isn't exactly what we had in mind. We really appreciate all of the love and support from our friends. We totally plan on getting married some day (although if you California residents want that to happen sooner rather than later make sure to vote in November and bully all of your friends and relatives into doing the same) and you will all definitely be the first to know!

Professional Meghan is going to Chicago!

So, I've got a real job now- office, work clothes, voicemail and now....business trips! We are going to be taking on a new study and that means having to go to the sponsor's (drug company) conference/training to learn all about the protocol and details of the study. This isn't going to be my study. I'm only the backup coordinator, which is fine because my plate is full with my main study, but I still have to/get to go. So, the first week of June, I am heading to Chicago! Apparently, this traveling for training is par for the course and I will be expected to go on many more as a CRC. Ah, the glamour of business travel awaits.....

My office

Yeah, that's my office. At the very bottom is a big, glass head with a model brain for me to play with. It wasn't mine, I'm just fortunate enough that it was in...yeah, that's right, my office.

My first day went well. I am super-psyched about my job. Well, I guess I'm not so much a Research Assistant as I am a Clinical Research Coordinator (albeit in training)- that's what my job description says, what my email signature says, how I've been introduced and what my business cards will say. Yeah, you heard me. I rule.

p.s. my office looks cheerier and better in person than the pictures and if you don't think so, who cares, you don't have glass heads and brains to play with.