Science camp isn't just for little boys

This summer I signed up ThePrincess for Science Camp at our local Children's Museum (along with Princess Ballerina Camp earlier in the summer). She is a LabKid after all, and I wanted to endoctrinate her early into the world of science.

She was pretty psyched about it at first. She was going to Dinosaur/Archeology camp and was dying to get into the dirt and find some "bones."

Lets just say, even the best laid plans sometimes hit a snag. After a few weeks in an estrogen-rich ballet school filled with pink tutus and tiaras, it was a rude awakening to be on of only TWO girls in the entire camp.

Yep, science camp was a sea of little boys, something I wasn't expecting and something (honestly) I wasn't happy about.

I have blogged about our experience, my reaction and what I think it means for the future of girls in science on LabSpaces.

Go check it out, or I'll sic a T-Rex on you.

Blogroll HELL

My blogroll is in DESPERATE, I mean DESPERATE need of a makeover.

All my new chums over at LabSpaces aren't even on the list. Yes, I suck.

I really had all the best of intentions of getting to it today during naptime, but my minivan had to throw a tantrum and we spent the day at the car dealer instead. (Trust me, I would have rather been combing though my blogroll with a fine tooth comb than sitting in a stinky repair shop waiting room with two cranky kids.)

In any case, I figured if I wrote that I was going to update it soon, that I would be forced to actually do it. So here it is for posterity.

I hope to update all the new feeds for the 10,000 10 million science bloggers who have relocated and add all the awesome Working Mom Wednesday bloggers as well.

I promise I will get to it.

Until them, if you are living under a rock (SERIOUSLY.. if you are hearing this from me, you need someone to seriously revise your blogroll) you can find pretty much all the science blogging you can shake a stick at over at scienceblogging.org

Even my LabSpaces feed is over there, which means they are taking pretty much anyone these days!

Bank Accounts: Yours, Mine and Ours

How do you handle the family finances? How do you split up the money?

Back in our old town, with our old bank, when I was still working full time, LabDad and I had our own bank accounts.

Well, actually, we had 3 accounts. His, Mine and Ours.

Because checking accounts are free with direct deposit, we both had our own checking accounts where our individual paychecks were deposited, and then we had a joint account where we deposited a percentage of our checks out of which we paid bills, saved for retirement, and pretty much financed life.

All the accounts were linked, but breaking it down into multiple accounts made it feel like we still had a say over where the money we earned went. Granted, the vast majority (>90% ) ended up in the joint account, but that 10% "play" money gave us each permission to buy those little things we wanted without having to justify it to each other. It also meant we had our own ATM access which worked well since LabDad is a checkbook balancer and I'm a "keep extra money in there so I can't be overdrawn if I'm not paying attention" kinda girl.

Now that we have relocated, and only have one direct deposit coming in, we are down to a single checking account. At first I was worried that it would feel a little strange, like I was spending "his" money since I hadn't earned any of my own, but really this hasn't been the case. Actually it has been much easier, since these days we are trying to stick to a pretty tight budget and it is much easier to manage a cash flow out of one source. Because I am tracking our spending more closely, I am also able to keep the checkbook balanced and don't need a big cash cushion to prevent the account from being overdrawn.

There are still times I miss the separate accounts, especially when I want to treat myself to a spa treatment or expensive haircut and don't want to explain why I didn't go to Cost Cutters, but in the big scheme of things, it hasn't been terrible. I don't feel like I have lost any independence really, and I don't feel bad plunking down the ATM card whenever I feel like spending a couple bucks.

LabDad knows how hard I am working to stay on budget, and after a weekend alone with the kids, I am pretty sure he wouldn't want to trade places. He is fine being the breadwinner and allowing me to the be the bread-eater. We are both pretty good at our roles.. his, mine and ours.

This post was in response to the prompt "Do you have your own bank account or do you share with your spouse? (If you have your own, why?)" for Working Moms Wednesday.

Fun Stuff: Science on Etsy!

If you didn't know it already, I'm a craft junkie. If you mix crafty with science, you get true love.

I especially love browsing Etsy. If you have never been there you have to check it out. The site features thousands of crafters who sell handmade and vintage items. It is awesome!

For example, look at these great T-shirts from nonfictiontees! Fantastic! And only $15!






Do you need a DNA bookmark? SURE! Who doesn't? Well the Resplendent Redhead, a grad student turned crafter, can hook you up with this:


Or how about these? Pipette tip earings from Science Kitty. OH HELLS YEAH! Just what every bench scientist needs! Do I smell a 'congrats you defended your thesis' gift?



Spiffycool can complete your accessorizing with these hilarious charms of vintage french microscope images of everyone's favorite deadly diseases. Who doesn't want to wear the plague around their neck?




Lastly, are you tired of your ho-hum white lab coat? Well, the people at Mad Scientist's Lab are happy to help you. They trick out lab coats with custom hand painting.
There are dozens more science based crafters, but those are the few I stumbled onto lately. If you are in the market for great gag gift ideas or a unique conversation starter, be sure to browse around Etsy and send some business to the other science geeks out there. I am sure they would appreciate it.

This entry is cross-posted here on LabSpaces.

++Labmom has no relationship with any of these sellers and has no stake in their Etsy shops. This blog post is not an endorsement or testimonial for any of these sellers++

Parenting PSA: An iPod isn't a Book, Don't Kid Yourself

Go read this post right now. Slackermom is kicking ass and takin' names when it comes to kids and electronics and I couldn't agree more!!

And since I know a few of you are to lazy to click over there, here are a few highlights:

"If you want to provide your kids with electronics, go for it. I really don't care one way or another. But it's NOT for educational purposes alone, and we all know it. It's for entertainment, which is not a bad thing. It's just not MY thing. I let my kids play video games, use my cell, use my laptop, use my iPod. I just don't call it "education" or feel that they need - or are entitled to - their very own."

"My kids aren't entitled to the latest electronic gadgets any more than yours are entitled to have four puppies, three kittens, and a pony. I won't criticize you for the decisions you make, so don't tell me my kids "should" have the same things yours do. Soon enough, they WILL need all that stuff, and we'll get them their own laptops and cell phones. But right now, they are content to play Barbies, dolls, and board games."

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Slackermom? I'd let her raise the LabKids anyday. (Although I am not sure she would want them.)

The House Hunt: An Update. Good news for a change!

It has been a LONG LONG LONG time since I have updated you about the LabFamily house hunting adventure. In case you don't even remember what I am talking about, we began looking for a house back in May when we moved to our new city. Yes MAY! (more than 4 months ago)

After a horrendous moving adventure and getting settled into a temporary apartment we had nothing but trouble finding a house.

The last time I left you, it was July 10 and we had just lost out on our offer to buy a single family home by a mere $30,000.00. At that point I quit blogging about it. It was only depressing me. However the hunt DID continue.

After the July rejection we put an additional 2 offers on 2 more properties, and lost both of those. We were about to throw in the towel and just survive in our teenie rental apartment. (That would have sucked) Instead we gave it one last push and decided we would look at condos instead of single family homes.

Now, I NEVER wanted to live in a condo. I don't want to share walls/floors/ceilings with a neighbor. I want my own space. But we were desperate and since we are sharing walls/floors/ceilings right now, it couldn't be much worse.

As luck would have it, the first weekend we began the condo search we found something we liked (enough) and once again jumped in. And (THANK YOU JESUS) this time, we were the top bidders. It looks like the end is near!!

We are supposed to close on our condo (duplex actually) in mid Sept. We hope to move right around that time, because the Princess will be starting preschool that same week.

Fingers crossed that all goes well with our loan. Compared to our last loan (back in 2004) the qualifying process has been 1000x more intense. They practically want pay stubs as far back as my high school McDonalds gig. It is one huge headache.

I couldn't be happier to see this process come to an end.

And finally, a few stats to summarize this house hunting experience:

• 168: Number of Open Houses Attended
• 4: Numbers of offers presented
• 1: Number of offers even considered
• 18: Number of weekends spent househunting
• $124,000: Amount of money outbid by on 3 failed offers
• 2300: Approximate number of miles put on car during open house visits
• 18: Number of open houses attended with the LabKids
• 0: Number of open houses I would suggest attending with kids
• 28: Number of days until we (hopefully) close
• $263: Amount per square foot we are paying for condo
• Countless: Amount of hair I have lost fretting about this whole ordeal

The Big Boobed Chemist is BACK!!

No, I am not kidding you.

I thought my Big Brother 12 Blogging career had come to an end since Rachel was voted out of the Big Brother house last week. However, it was as if the CBS Gods heard my despair and believe it or not, they SENT HER BACK!!!

In a twist of irony, this week's head of household winner Brendon, Rachel's "true love", is given the opportunity to win an unknown prize by opening "Pandora's Box." It is implied that the prize would be a vacation away with Rachel (as she is seen in TV footage sitting by a pool in her bikini, splashing herself and shaking her boobs.)

The reality is different however. Yes, Brendon is whisked away on a 24 hour vacation, but not WITH Rachel. Rachel is sent back into the house for those 24 hours sans Brendon! (Too bad neither Brendon or Rachel know that!)

In typical Rachel style, she makes a grand entrance and steps though the door yelling

"HA! HA! HA! I'm BACK BA-ITCHES!"

Immediately she is an all out verbal war with the houseguests that voted her off hours ago.

Rachel: "You have to deal with me for twenty-four hours! Fuck you Regan!" [head swishing]
Regan: "Why don't you go get me a drink Ra-tress?"

She is stunned by that insult (although I'm not sure why) and stomps off to find Brendon. It is only then that she realizes that Brendon is gone and she is stuck in the house without him, yet she returns to where Regan is sitting and the throwdown continues:

Rachel: "Do you have to be the biggest bitch because you're gay? Why do you make those comments to put me down and belittle me about serving cocktails and making drinks for people? EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A DEGREE IN CHEMISTRY!"

Oh no she di'int!?! Did she just drop the "chemist" card? Well, Regan isn't intimidated:

Regan: "Why do you talk about me being gay?"
Rachel: "Because I love gay people and you suck at it."
Regan: "Rachel, you repulse me. You are a pathetic human being. You are about as classy as your nasty hair extensions. Everything about you is a lie. Your boobs are a lie, your face is a lie, the only thing honest about you are the pimples on your chin. You are a wicked witch, why don't you get on your broom and fly back inside?"

All good things must come to an end, and Rachel's time in the house runs out. Brendon returns and game continues. She does leave Brendon a message spelled out in pretzels in his bedroom, telling him who she would like nominated for eviction, but that is all the Rachel he gets to see.

And thus concludes the story of Rachel, chemist, vegas cocktail waitress, and lover of gay people. Her time in the Big Brother house is through and therefore so is my bloggy ode to her. Unless of course they bring her back again.

Never say never.

Finally! Morons That Aren't My Problem

I want to thank a twitter buddy for pointing THIS out to me today. It is freaking hilarious on a number of levels.

1. Crap like this happens ALL the time in my department. Centrifuges, autoclaves, sonicators, the dishwasher. You name it, people can break it (and then wonder why it isn't working.)

2.Contrary to what the original blogger wrote, in my department someone WOULD brush aside the debris and drop their rotor right in there. People are oblivious (and I would venture to say stupid.)

3. Being the lab manager means that I would be the one who would have actually discovered the disaster and I would be the one who needed to add that warning tape on there, since people would still try to use it (see #2). It also means I would on the phone for the next few hours days weeks with the centrifuge company trying to get that thing serviced.

4. Somewhere out there someone is complaining that they cannot do their experiment because the centrifuge is broken and they are getting really pissed off. This same someone probably broke some other piece of equipment, used up the last of something and didn't order more, or "borrowed" something from a labmate and didn't return it. Ain't Karma a bitch?! Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

So that is why it is so funny. Since this time it isn't my centrifuge, it isn't my moronic coworkers and isn't my headache. Someone else has to deal with this crap too.

I'm not alone.

Awesome.

I Drive a Minivan So I Shouldn't Tease

Yes, once again I am blogging over on LabSpaces, although this topic (what kind of cars college professors should drive) is so benign I could also post it over here.

Naaahh.. I want you to go over there. I have been away on vacation and I need to catch up, since I've been slacking. I need the page views so it looks like I'm representin'!

Rachel: Roadkill Waiting For The Crows To Eat Her

I have finally allowed myself to watch my DVR'd episodes of Big Brother. It was clear the end was near when our girl Rachel, the "Chemistry Graduate Student" and her boyfriend Brendon were nominated for eviction last week.

Everyone in the house has turned against them, and the writing is on the wall. I knew it was going to be like watching lambs to the slaughter, so I have put off watching the last two episodes until now. I cannot leave you in suspense one minute longer.. I am sure you are all dying to find out how it all went down.

On Wednesday's episode there were many tears and of course a ton of snarky back-lash as Rachel's back went up against the wall. She was furious and devastated and broke down crying over and over again in her behind-the-scenes interviews and in the arms of her showmance.

"I have wanted this so bad and all I wanted was to be here and all I do every day is fight to stay. My whole spirit is so broken. [..] There comes a point when you can't do any more, like you have have nothing left to give. I feel like roadkill waiting for the crows to just come eat me. "

I wonder if she is going to have similar feelings about graduate school. Nah, in that case she will be crying because she is fighting to get out.

Both Rachel and Brendon stay up all night (literally until 5 AM) practicing for the Veto competition, but once again it was the entire house against them. They are both quickly and unceremoniously eliminated and are unable to remove themselves from the block. Of course Rachel is very upset that everyone else is enjoying their victory and has to make a huge scene.

*Sigh* Come on now girl.. you are giving us scientists a bad name.

Knowing that one of the pair is definitely going to be leaving the house, Brendon decides to take one for the team and over the course of the next two episodes, he tries to piss off everyone in the house in hopes of getting himself voted off instead of Rachel. Talk about TRUE LOVE. He would rather lose his shot at winning than lose Rachel (of all people). Idiot.

"People may think that I'm an idiot for giving up my shot at half a million dollars but I'm in love and if giving up half a million dollars for the one you love makes you an idiot, then I guess I'm an idiot."

Like I said: Brendon, you're an idiot.

All this drama that Brendon stirs up sure makes good T.V. but it doesn't do much to save Rachel. As much as he pisses people off, everyone hates Rachel and her ability to win competitions more. She is voted out unanimously.

Farewell my muse.. It was fun while it lasted.

Now that Rachel is gone, I really don't know if there is any reason to continue watching. My science connection, and the girl who was representin' is gone. Although the best science-related line of the night came from Enzo (a meathead who is in an all-meathead alliance known as "the brigade" which has flown under the radar since Brendon and Rachel have been sucking up the spotlight):

"We have two scientists who can't figure out the law of phig-syics in here, that there is a "brigade." And they don't understand the center of gravity in the house is the brigade."

Wow, all these budding phig-sicists in the house, talking about gravity and everything. You could almost define this show as educational. Maybe I'll have to keep watching.

I'm so good I can even blog about CRAP

I am over blogging at LabSpaces again today.

Today's subject: CRAP.

No, I am not bringing my discussion of Big Brother 12 over there, I am actually talking about bird crap. Literally. I refuse to tell you any more, since I actually want you to go visit my blog over there.

Making fun of my favorite Chemist: Trust me it's only Flattery

I was admittedly overly excited in my last post about Big Brother 12, so much so that I blogged about the episode live.

Clearly, I was not going to make that mistake twice. This time around I watched both the elimination and nomination episodes off my DVR and am finally getting around to catching you up on the shenanigans of the chemistry student we love to hate.

Let's just cut to the chase: On Thursday's episode, as expected, Kristen was voted out of the house. If you remember, Kristen is the one who called our girl Rachel a "ho-bag" and gave us this season's first girl fight in the house. There is no love lost with those two. Rachel's departing words to her:

"Kristen, you are the definition of the word BITCH. Who do you think you are? Trying to talk to Brendon behind my back? Don't EVER, EVER, try to get between me and my man. My man doesn't get manipulated by triflent (??) hoes like you!"

Ouch. Triflent? Does she mean someone who is trifled? Whipping out those big PhD words are you Rachel? Shhh. You may blow you cover as a moron!

Okay, back to the elimination: Unlike Rachel, I'll be a little sad to see Kristen go, since her interactions with Rachel were priceless but I guess it is okay. Rachel can make herself look bad without help from anyone, so we don't really need Kristen in the house.

Besides that awesome departure scene, I do want to point out one other noteworthy incident from Thursday's show. At one point Britney (aka "The Rachel-hata' "), Ragan (the college professor) and Matt ("evil-super-genius") are hanging out in Rachel's room while she is sunbathing outside. They take the opportunity to try on her bright orange hair extensions and mockingly impersonate her with loud, nasal, high-pitched shrieks of :

"Floooatters get a liiiiife vest!!
KRISTEN!!
TEQUILLLLLAA!!!! " (pretty accurate in all honesty!)

The cameras cut to Rachel stomping up the stairs since clearly the mockery has been audible to her. The look of shock and guilt is clear on Brittany's face as the door swings open.. BUSTED!

Photo credit

Will Rachel be pissed?
Will shit hit the fan?
Are Brittany and Matt going to be the next on her hit list?

OF COURSE NOT! She is an idiot.

Instead she walks in, cracks up at the sight of them all in her extensions and insist they continue to impersonate her, right in front of her face!

"When I walked into the HOH and saw Brittany and Matt I was, like, (eyes rolling up in her head) HA-LAAAARRY-EEE-USSS! I'm totally a good sport about that kind of stuff. After all, the highest form of flattery is totally making fun of someone."

Yeah, like, totally!

Photo credit

Really Brittney summed it up best:

"I can't believe that Rachel is so clueless that she doesn't even understand that all we are doing is making fun of her!"

Really Brittney? You don't believe she is that clueless? Where have you been living this whole time since the rest of the planet has NO PROBLEM assuming she is that clueless.

On Sunday's show we finally get to find out who has won the Head of Household for the coming week. Keep in mind that Rachel can't win and she is banking on her love nugget, Brendon, to win in order to save them from the block. Everyone in the house is gunning for them, so in the competition it is six on one.

Unfortantely for Brendon (and Rachel), he isn't the winner. Of course Rachel is pissed and blames him whole-heartedly, while claiming otherwise, and reminds him he will just need to win the Power of Veto.

This week's Head of Household will be Matt, the supposed super-genius (remember, he claims to sport an astronomical IQ and have a wife on death's doorstep?) He has previously been the HoH but failed to nominate Rachel or Brendon during his less than impressive tenure. I need to mention that Matt is granted a new power during this episode (clearly the producers of this show realize it is far from enthralling and are trying to spice it up a bit.) It is called the "diamond power of veto". Matt can now remove anyone from the block and choose their replacement for the next two elimination periods. This new power is to remain a secret from the rest of the house, so Matt lies and tells the house he won money. I am not sure if it will even come into play, but if it does you can't say you weren't warned!
Matt's victory sends Rachel into some sort of depression, and she continues to lament Brendon's loss.

"Brendon just doesn't understand understand that by him not winning it puts a bigger target on MY back. It is not always all about him!"

Damn right! It is all about YOU Rachel. (Hell, without you and your brilliant science career, I wouldn't even be blogging about this right now!) Jeeze Brendon! What is your problem!?

Once again this episode had some great Rachel mockery. The other members of the house actually play a game where they try to leave each other alone with Brendon and Rachel. They call it "trapped" since according to Brittney:

"The last place on earth you would want to be is trapped in a room with Brendon and Rachel."

Hey! Where is the love?

The episode ends, as expected, with Rachel and Brendon being nominated for eviction. This could be the end of a beautiful thing. If she doesn't win the Veto and get herself off the block, our favorite chemist could be out of the Big Brother house, and then what am I going to do 3 nights a week?

Tagged: My blogging experience

The lovely Dr. O over on LabSpaces, tagged me in this meme that is making it's way around the (mostly science) blogosphere, and so I thought I would bring it over to the Mommy-blog world (although I know lots of mombloggers are at Blogher10 right now. *grimaces with jealously*)

Here are the instructions for this meme:
1. Sum up your blogging motivation, philosophy and experience in exactly 10 words.
2. Tag 10 other blogs to perpetuate the meme.


Task 1:
WTF am I doing? Why the hell are you reading?

Task 2:
Here are 10 awesome blogs that I am tagging:
Mammakaze
Slackermom
Scattermom
In Lahman's Terms
Work, wife, mom, life
Funky Mama Bird
Chase-ing the dream
Emily Juggles
Good Girl gone Redneck
Adventuroo

Scrappy Fabric Project Part 3: Setting this beast

I will say right up front that I DO NOT LIKE the way this project is coming out. There is something to be said for scrappy quilts, but there is also a line that needs to be drawn and mine has gone from scrappy to crappy.

The problem with not adding any additional fabric is that I don't have any decent yardage that is one color and your eye never gets a chance to rest. And although well intentioned, the setting I chose (as well as two screw ups on my part) ended up in disaster.

Oh well. It is what it is. I think I see a charity quilt coming on.

So.. if you recall, we started with these blocks (and everyone who piped in said they liked the random layout best):
I wanted to set the blocks with cornerstones but felt it was going to be too plain, so I then decided I would also add in sashing.

You can see my original design ideas when I scribbled them out. I thought I would alternate the blocks which were sashed so that you didn't loose the snowball effect. I really liked the look on paper.

But the I hit a snag.. I mistakenly cut the blocks down too far (note to self: don't try to measure and rotary cut when the kids are underfoot) and so I lost the ability to make the sashing as thick as I had originally intended. With the thin borders on the blocks, you can't really tell there is an alternating pattern and instead it just looks like I did a crappy job aligning my seams with the cornerstone blocks.

Yuck.

I am hoping that a nice PLAIN border can calm the entire chaotic mess down. It is actually quite large, so I don't need a whole lot of borders. Thank goodness.

My goal now is to finish it off and be done with it. Maybe practice my free motion quilting on it, since I don't love it, I won't feel bad if I make a mess out of it.

I will say I learned a LOT from this. (Don't you always learn more from failures than successes?)

1. If you want to add thick sashing onto alternating blocks you need a LOT of fabric around your un-bordered blocks if they are going to line up.
2. VALUE is just as important as color. I would stick to scraps with more similar values next to each other, so the shapes would be more predominant.
3. Instead of adding the snowball corner blocks as quarters, I would applique down squares. Since they are already made of small pieces, when you cut them, they are just way too fragmented. They don't read like squares.
4. When piecing strips for sashing, don't add scraps with seems parallel to the direction the sashing runs. That reads like a double border.
5. Don't do any major trimming unless the kids are in bed.

I still do like my layout design so may take another shot at it. Lord knows I have plenty of scraps. And now that I am a little more comfortable with the machine applique, I may take on a little tougher shape and take into account all the lessons that I leaned.

We shall see..




(This post has also been modified and posted at the Say Cheese Bumble Beans blog )

More Science Cookies!

My absolute favorite baker is at it again.
Another Science Cookie Round Up is posted on Not So Humble Pie!

In this roundup she includes a link to get your own fab science cookie cutters (beaker, erlenmeyer, test tube and atom.) I am sooo all over that!


Man, I just LOVE Ms. Humble's blog! I never comment since I am always speechless and often wiping drool from the side of my mouth over some of the desserts she posts! And now I'm cravin' cookies!

Thanks Ms. H, I'm blaming you.

More Blogging about Balancing Family and Science

Getting sick of it yet?

I swear I'll talk about something else soon, but I'm on a roll.

Check it out over on LabSpaces where I'm bringing in advice from the big guns (Nobel Prize winning scientists) about work-life balance and making your family a priority.

Paranoia is setting in!!!

I know it is unusual for me to blog the SAME NIGHT an episode of Big Brother 12 actually airs, but I was psyched to find out what was going to happen with Rachel's nominations. Were they going to stand or was one of her arch-enemies going to win the power of veto! (Clearly I must be having a slow week in my personal life for this to actually be on my mind.. please don't think less of me!)

When we left off, Rachel had nominated Hayden and Kristen, her new rival couple. Her nomination speech was a hot mess ending on the high note of telling anyone in the house who was thinking of coming after her to "BRING IT ON!" Yeah Baby! That's what I'm talkin' about!!

Well, that little speech did not go over well with the 4-week-long love of her life, and he asked her to apologize (inside I am cracking up.. does she seem like the apologizing type?!) Well, she must be blinded by love, since she does halfheartedly apologize!

But WHOA BABY does she get defensive about it:

Brenden: "Can I tell you I love you very much?"
Rachel: "I don't know why you doubt me so much? If we turn on each other we're both fucked"
B: "Who's turning on each other?"
R: "I just need you on my team and not against me."
B: "Who says I'm against you? I felt bad for Kristen and Hayden, they just got put on the block?"
R: "Why didn't you feel bad for ME? I had to put them on the block"

Seriously? She is the victim? Isn't she the one who told them to "bring it?" My eyes can't roll enough! And ironically, if you haven't realized it yet, the only one who actually likes her is Brendon, the one person she is harassing for not being on her side! Paranoid much Rachel?

Okay, enough of this bizarre-o love fest. Moving on to the Veto competition:

Kristen goes down immediately, and eventually is followed by Hayden. We knew everyone else competing was going to leave the nominations the same, so who actually wins is a moot point since nothing is going change. (Although there was plenty of campaigning by Kristen and Hayden.)

As an aside, Rachel did walk away with $5000 cash as an unwelcome consolation prize in the Veto competition. Of course she immediately worries it will put a target on her back. Ahh, what a refreshing change: Legit paranoia!



So basically, this whole episode was pointless. And to think I was actually excited to watch it! *Sigh*

Oh well, I guess it was worth it for this little gem (unrelated to any Rachel drama):
The award for BEST USE OF A SCIENTIFIC TERM BY A DUMB-ASS goes to: Britney for the following comment mocking Brendon's "overacting" during the veto competition:

"Why do you have to be so dramatic? You're a Homosapien Brenden, you're not a wizard!"

Huh? Wha? Just let that sink in for a second..

Women are taking over the workplace! Well, except in science.

Once again I am over at Lab Spaces today!

Today's post is something I have been working on since mid-July when I first saw Ms. PhD's lament at YoungFemaleScientist and commented about this phenomenon discussed in The Atlantic Magazine.

So why do women outnumber men in so many professions but not math and science? Stop by and find out what I think!

Spice Girls and Safety Goggles. I couldn't make this sh** up!

I know you have all been waiting with baited breath for the latest Big Brother 12 update. Well, your wait is over!

The smoke hadn't even cleared from the head of household competition when the sparks flew between our girl Rachel and Kristen, a 24 year old boutique manager whose secret showmance had just been unceremoniously revealed.

Walking back into the house after the competition Rachel called her a floater (in other words: not in any known alliances and therefore at risk of nomination.) Kristin did not take kindly to the label and got her panties in a twist. That single remark was the activation energy** required for an all out cat fight where the insults were flying. (It was great!!)

Rachel: "You're so smart Kristen? What? You have a fashion degree?"
Kristen: "And you are smart because you have a Chemitry degree? Try to string a sentance together without using the word "like" will ya? You have zero common sense. ZERO!"
Kristen: "Rachel is a complete ho-bag! Seriously girl, you are straight-up jealous of me and you have been since day one."

Photo credit
Wonder if she frequently wears this sequined number to lab meetings?

Later on Rachel tries to apologize to Kristen, but Kristen rejects the apology and from then on, the gloves are off:

Rachel: "I extended an olive branch and you threw it in my face. Are you kiddin' me? Wrong move BEE-OTCH!"

We did get another taste of what Rachel's outside-the-house interests were with her HoH gift basket: The Spice Girls, spray tans, beanie babies, a high school cheerleading trophy and chemistry SAFETY GOGGLES! Isn't your vision beginning to take shape?

Of course the writing is on the wall. When nomination time rolls around Rachel puts Kristin and her showmance .... on the chopping block.

The coming week should be a good one. Tensions are high and the Vegas showgirl turned grad student is once again smack dab in the middle of the drama! You couldn't ask for it to get much better! Stay tuned.

**intentional use of chemistry terminology

Big Brother airs Tuesdays Wednesdays and Sundays. I will keep you updated on the in-house CHEMISTRY (hardy har har) when I finally get around to watching the episodes on my DVR.

Don't beat yourself up: Work-life balance is hard!

I'm blogging over at LabSpaces today.

Please stop by and say hi! I'm blogging about what I believe is the hardest part of finding "work:life balance" when you throw motherhood in the mix: THE GUILT.

And if you missed it the first time I posted it, here is another post about the subject of guilt I wrote way back when: I'm a good working mom. Really.

Sometimes it is just really hard to be a working mom, and then we have to go and make ourselves feel bad about it. *sigh*

Look for me on Lab Spaces!

Yes, it is true! I am finally going to take my science related blog posts over to Lab Spaces. I am going to keep maintaining this blog for my other exciting endeavors, not limited to quilting, reality TV, kid's crafts, venting about panhandling children.. you name it. I think this is going to be a good thing for me. I was beginning to feel like I had split personalities the way my post topics were jumping around!

And I am going to link to all my science posts so you know when to check in over there (but of course I suggest you follow my RSS over there too!) In any case, have no fear!! Lab Mom is still going to hang out here on Blogger.

Thanks so much to everyone I talked to about making the transition. There are so GREAT, I mean GREAT bloggers who I have followed for a long time (Genomic Repairman, Dr. O, Dr. Becca, Lady Scientist, Biochem Belle and Jade Ed) over there, so I am honored to even be invited.