My Babies...

As you know, one of the things in my To Do list for this week i to finish off my Microbiology assignment. I have to write up a report on my success in isolating not one, but TWO species of the genus Lactobacillus. At the very top is L.acidophilus. You know how Yakult and Vitagen and all that probiotic nonsense says its got good bacteria in it? Well you're staring at the very things that slide down your throats at every gulp. :P


Below it, the rather noodley looking thing is L.bulgaricus, named so due to its uses in Bulgarian milk, no doubt. This was the bonus baby. We originally thought that it was a contamination colony, but upon multiple Gram stainings, it turned out to be this little darling. I was ever so pleased. :) Both these microbes were isolated from some yoghurt we got off the supermarket shelf and is the end results of 6 weeks of work. Now you know why I've become so attached? :))

These pictures are original pics, taken by my lab colleague and friend, Danny Liu. Thanks so much Danny. Our lab supervisor was quite fascinated at our method of photography. She said the last time they wanted to take some pics they had to hire some movie guys to do it, and paid them something like $300 an hour!? Ridiculous. I can see a revolution in microphotography happening.

Cotton...whoool?

Lately Ive been feeling like as if my head has been stuffed full of cotton wool. None of my thoughts ever seem to make any sense, none of my words ever seem to connect.... When I walk, when I do things, I feel like as if Im in a dream. Like the bit I remember from last night's dream. An excerpt of it: I was looking at some clothes and my eyes were all blurry, I couldn't see properly. No matter how many times I rub my eyes, everything was a few shades darker, the lines melted into each other. It was fully ANNOYING.

Even though Im officially on a one-week break, I have alot of work to do. Mountainfuls. And the latter part of the week is spent doing sociable things. That means, no time for work. I need to get my work done soon but NOTHING is happening.

Why are my brains like this!? Why cant I concentrate!?? ARGH!

Klunk!!

Had Cowra Training Day yesterday. It was really cool. I hadn't gone to any of the previous training days or house parties, and I really didnt know much about it. In fact, I onny found out what age group I was doing yesterday!! But yea, after yesterday I felt really pumped. Im SO ready to go there and just rocket my way through the 10 days. Its gonnabe SO cool. :D

Astronomical Decisions...

So asteroid 4197 Toutatis is approaching and will be having a celestial dance with Mother Earth for a couple of days. Near and bright enough for amateur astronomists to see through backyard telescopes. Apparently it will be closest and most visible at the Southern Hemisphere on the 29th of September. Also Amita's birthday. A tempting prospect to visit the Observatory as it is during my holidays. Wednesday night. So much work to do. So many obligations to fulfill.

What is the right decision to make. To see my uncle's play? Or to catch a glimpse of some far off city, a once in a lifetime opportunity (after much disgruntlement of missing Mars... T.T ) Hmm. Maybe the more microscopic things in my life such as my Lactobacillus report will take precedance over things bigger than me. We shall see.

ZzzZZZz.....?

Im so sleepy.... hehehe..... x)

He's the one, He's the one
He's the very useful engine that we adore
He's the one, He's the number one
Thomas the Tank Engine....

My Sabbath Night...

The call of the dawn birds that rise above the soft "Conte Partiro" playing on my computer makes me realise just how "early" it is. This odd sense of peace and solitude makes me feel happy... just like how I would feel sitting down on a hot sunny day with a chocolate sundae in my hand. Its been awhile, my old friend.

My lack of work this semester has caused me to neglect you. You who kept me company through all those long and tiring nights. You who gave me peace in knowing that time really does go slower at night....as long as you're awake to enjoy it.

My essay is finally done. Its not done wonders for my already raspy throat but here is a feeling that I had forgone for so long. Its some consolation for having to stay up. It really is.

I guess I'm someone who rather enjoys the quiet of the night. I enjoy the fresh breezes (no car exhaust at 4am!) and the rather odd feeling you get from staying up all night. Do you ever get that feeling? I rather like it. It took me awhile to get over the dark though and even now it sometimes creeps me out. But most times I like just being. Not doing much, not thinking much, just enjoying existance. Kinda like Sabbath. Like how God created the Sabbath for Man so that we can hav a day of rest to enjoy His creation. Thats kinda how I'm feeling now. Only less rest. :p Hahahaha.

Anyways. I should sleep.

" Sweet dreams til sun beams find you
Sweet dreams to leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me... "

More books!

I was strolling down Newtown the other day, my heart set on getting me some knitting needle and cotton yarn. As you know, Newtown is a very interesting place to stroll down because it has so many 2nd hand stores.....clothes and books and paraphernelia. I stopped by this book store, not really wanting to buy anything but just for the sake of seeing whats on the shelf. I should know by now that if ever at all I look at things just for the sake of looking for them, it actually means I have a small degree of interest and if anything should catch my eye, that degree of interest very much enlargens to encompass the entire circumference.

So anyways, I got more books. :P Two books actually. One of them, I just could not let go. It was another Gerald Durrel book...."A Zoo In My Luggage" which adds to my collection of 3 books. Yay. :) The 2nd book I wasnt so sure on buying but since I got the Gerald Durrel, I thought, neh. Just go for it. Its "The STory Of Dr DoLittle" by Hugh Lofting. Every child knows of his name....it is a name that has been adored for almost a century. Only this one doesnt involve Eddi Murphy. No! Its a genuine Penguin Classics book, printed in 1967 (i think...not really sure how to reference dates). So anyways, Im really happy although they were abit pricey.

I got my knitting material and am attempting to get a scarf off the ground. So far Ive done like....3 rows. Hahaha. And something is wrong with it but I cant be bothered to unravel it and start all over again. I'll just leave it and see how horrible it goes. Im giving myself until Winter next year to finish this monstrousity. And if its nice enough, I was planning on giving it to tet :p hehe.

Okay got to get some worky done. Ive decided to stay home today to work but it looks like Im getting distracted after all. SIgh. :p

WKC

i just got back from Women's Katoomba Convention (WKC) yesterday. It was held at Katoomba (surprise surprise) over the weekend. Katoomba is the main town at the Blue Mountains, one of the "must-see" touristy spots around Sydney. So anyways, it was really awesome. There were about 3000 women...this bunch of people i chatted with on the lunch line had driven 5 hours in a van full of women all the way from Canberra! Goodness.... and I was complaining about my early start... o.o

The topic was "Walking with The Lord" and it talks about how our walk with God isnt just about reading the bible and praying (some things that usually come to mind when people go "So hows your walk with God?") but that its also about the way that we live. We can tell alot about a person by the way they walk. When theyre slouched, shuffling and staring at the ground, it could be a sign that something is wrong. Or if theyre striding along, bouncing and confident. It shows that theyre happy, on a mission and nothing but a 5 tonne meteorite could stop them. If they walk in perfectlyspaced steps, in a single line and gracefully...you know for sure that person has had a good upbringing. You get the idea. SO in the same way, our walk with the Lord, the way we live, shows our relationship with God.

We learnt that we should walk in truth and love. And that love without truth is not true love. And we should trust and obey him (theme song...stuck in my head. argh.) And there were some bits in Deuteronomy...i kinda fell asleep both talks. heh.

Got to meet more people from other congregations in my church..... theyre all really nice people. I felt encouraged to see old people still so devoted to God. I sometimes wonder if I will ever make it to the end but yea, God is a faithful God. If these girlies can make it, well so can I. I also learnt how to knit and to play Ligrettos. A really fast, furious and fun card game. Learnt how nice this person that I didnt think much of could be, and found someone whom I could potentially kep accountability with. Will keep praying about that one.

SO all in all, it was a really great weekend. Even though it was freezing, I was sooo tired and I didnt get to do anything I had planned to do over the weekend, I dont regret going one bit. And Im definately going net year, and the year after, and all the coming years.

One not-so-serious thing I found different was singing with 3000 women. They sounded very high and somewhat angelic :p Nice. But not as nice as with a co-ed congregation.

Twas cool. God is amazing.

All hail the Hail!

Today was so cool. There I am at home applying nail polish remover from my fingers and then I get an sms from Tet saying its hailing!! I've never seen hail before so I grab my raincoat off the rack and run to the lifts where a lift was conveniently waiting for me. I zoom up to the rooftop and peer skeptically out on the puddles. As I am making my way nearer to the edge of the flooded covered area, I hear a humdrum building up and before I know it, small pinky nail sized balls of ice smash into the ground. I squeal in delight, put my hood on and splash through the remaining puddles to experience the sharp sting of tiny ice-balls hitting you. Its aiming is good. It got me in the eye. :P

So yea I just kinda picked at the balls, stomped on them, delighting in knowing that I am experiencing one of the few things in life which I have yet to experience. The rain clouds moved quickly north and behind me the sun was already shining. As I looked at the beautiful view of the glittering city, I also marvelled at the rainbow that was before me. A broad sweep of colour, just reminding me just how much God meant the hail for me. Just to make me happy. :) Most people dont like hail.

I cant wait for the golf-ball sized ones to show up! :D

I am a...

Wolf ~ Wolves are also regarded as path finders and teachers. Wolf is represented by the constellation Sirius, the Dog. In the Zuni tradition the Wolf symbolizes the direction East. Wolf's Wisdom Includes:

Facing the end of one's cycle with dignity and courage

Death and rebirth

Spirit teaching

Guidance in dreams and meditations

Instinct linked with intelligence

Social and familial values

Outwitting enemies

Loyalty

Steadfastness

Perseverance

Taking advantage of change




Animal Spirit Guides ~ Which One Calls To You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Growing Up...

Yknow....I always thought that I was somewhat wise because I had gone through quite abit in my life... but after a conversation I had with Tet... I think what he saw is what I really am. Still very much a kid. I thought that I was a pretty laid back person. But Im really a very high strung person. He says I take everything too seriously. Just like a kid. Y'know those serious type kids....like a dead flower makes them feel sad.

Theres such a fine balance in life....I always feel that if I ever grew up, if I ever became an adult, I would lose all my creativity, all my awe for the world and all of God's creations. I felt like I would forget what it felt like to be a child and forget how they thought and never be able to understand them ever again. I guess its inevitable that we all grow up though cos all of a sudden I feel like someone who has been driving with her handbrake up. Not quite a kid, but not quite an adult. Nowhere near either, and yet not even in between! Kinda like....between stages....transition.... Does any of this make sense????

Suddenly I feel like as if Ive lost my way, like Ive lost years of my life striving for something that doesnt exist. I need polarity in my life.

I need to be less of an idealist. I want to know more. I feel like Truman.