Tip #7 for a Successful Thesis

Tip #7: Back up your computer/important files regularly (you should do this even if you are not writing a thesis). Do not believe your friends and family when they tell you that you are acting paranoid because you have your data on 3-4 computers and 2 of them are backed up on external drives... and they are in 2-3 different locations for extra security against fire and theft.

As a side note, I personally have most of my stuff in this situation. There are a few things that are on one computer only and may not be backed up - this scares me and I will remedy it soon... But I'm not paranoid... seriously... I just back up my own computer and my supervisor backs up the lab computers... Well okay, I look paranoid but I don't feel paranoid... It is 2 years worth of work and worth a degree! Okay, I'm a little paranoid but I maintain that it is a normal level of paranoia...



The above picture was taken from the airplane on my way home from Kelowna earlier last month. If you look closely you can see the Rocky Mountains peaking through the breaks in the clouds.

PS: GO ITALY! The 2008 EuroCup (soccer) quarter finals are today.

Tip #6 for a Successful Thesis

When you are working on your computer for long periods of time you should make a habit of looking away from the screen, preferably at things that are far away, and then close - switch back and forth a few times to give your eyes a bit of a break and a nice little stretch. Cats and children are good at reminding you to take frequent breaks, though sometimes the breaks are longer than intended.


These are some Black-Handed Spider Monkeys at the Calgary Zoo a few weeks ago. They were a lot of fun to watch and photograph. Monkeys are often one of my favorite exhibits at a zoo.

And these are some Bison from the same visit. The Calgary Zoo had a lot of baby animals - including a baby elephant but perhaps that will be a different post.

Tip #5 for a Successful Thesis & my Prize

Make a list where you can cross things off manually - writing pages of intellectual mumbo-jumbo may not give you a sufficiently satisfactory sense of accomplishment but crossing off things on our list does wonders. And be sure to make your list detailed (so there are more times you can cross things off) and don't be afraid to add things to the list as you go - even if they are already accomplished and you therefore get to strike them off right away ;o)

Awhile back I won the Happy (un)Birthday contest over on Fuzzy Mitten. I got to choose the stuffed animal out of a wonderful selection and I chose a bunny named Zoe (and I found out that the name matched that of one of my kitties after I chose the toy). June 7th Zoe arrived in the mail and I've only just managed to get the pictures off of my camera. The toy is extremely well made Barbara! And for the rest of you, some pictures with a little commentary:


The packaging was a hit with the cats... as was the tissue paper for several days.

The bunny was inspected by both cats prior to release in the house.

This is Zoe - enjoying some of the little sunshine we had earlier this month. It seemed like it rained for 90% of the past two weeks. Now we have sun though so I'm happy.

Zoe came bearing gifts of her own. In her pocket there were two stickers - they have images of other toys that Barbara has made. I got a sticker with the pirate hippo and the electronic savy bunny. I haven't decided where I'm going to stick them but it is going t be good.

And on a final note, a somewhat illicit picture of Zoe's back side... There is a little tag with a little mitten on it. I just wanted to share the details that Barbara puts into her creations. Something that many of us don't see on her blog. Especially those of us who just buy the patterns and not the ready-made toys. Speaking of the patterns, they kick ass. She has a free one out there too Fuzzy Lamb Knitting Pattern that is as well written as her other patterns.

Well I'm off for now - ciao!

Tip #4 for a Successful Thesis

Chocolate is a food group, don't believe anyone who tells you any different.

I'm still reading all of my regular blogs, just not commenting very much/at all. But I am there, likely several times a day when I don't have lab work... As of Friday all of my data collection should be done (finished testing today) - still have data analysis but yea no more testing!

Tip #3 for a Successful Thesis and a Meme

Adding new blogs to your 'must-read' list is an awesome idea because most of them come with archives of back material to read.

And Amy Lane left the following comment yesterday:
PS - you have been meme-tagged.Pick up the nearest book.Open on page 123.Find the fifth sentence.Post the next three sentences.Tag five people,and acknowledge who tagged you.

Well the nearest book is Sherpa, Popolo Antico by Alberto Ceresa (self published book by my Nonno) but since it is in Italian I will post on the next nearest book: Microbiology, fifth edition, by Prescott, Harley, & Klein
If the sodium concentration decreases too much, the wall and plasma membrane literally disintegrate. Extreme halophilic bacteria have successfully adapted to environmental conditions that would destroy most organisms. In the process they have become so specialized that they have lost ecological flexibility and can prosper only in a few extreme habitats.

I tag Beans and Caviar, Fuzzy Mitten, The Undercover Vegan,Femblog, and Marly, of the Yarn Thing Podcast.

Tip #2 for a Successful Thesis

Ensure that the list of blogs you visit regularly is long enough - otherwise you may visit each one 5+ times per day in the hopes that they have written a new post. A new Knitty will alleviate the pressure for only 1-2 days.


And I just had to share my new desktop photo. It is the sort of picture you only get if you are already focused on the cat...

Tip #1 for a Successful Thesis

If you have a hobby internet connection pet significant other brain, budget time for distractions.