The 5th H

Back in the Baylor days, Rachel, Meredith, and Sarah had a little group of four friends all with the letter H in their names.

I know, by now you've realized that you can count and I can't.

I didn't know the original 4th H, but I recall her name being Ashley. So, I can count, just stop getting ahead of me while I tell this story. Okie dokie?

Well, Ashley was one night abducted by local Wacoan aliens, and taken to a trailer park to be held hostage for the rest of her long long life without the privilege of sorority letters, Common Grounds coffee, obnoxious church songs sung in Chapel, and pretentious daddy's girls. No one ever saw her again, and Meredith, Sarah, and Rachel were all very sad.

Until Meredith met me in one of her classes, and decided that I was infinitely more cool than this Ashley chick and that I'd make an awesome replacement H because really, their lives were incomplete without me. I was one of those dreaded greek system "independents" and didn't belong to a sorority, so meant that they could brainwash me on their own without the worry of that silly Panhellenic council over their heads. And I could do things like get drunk and wait for the pizza man man man man man to show up at the apartment, and answer annoying repeat anonymous callers in a spanish accent with a short amount of sentences revolving around the singular statement of "Si, soy Nina."

But I digress. Because those are inside stories between myself and the other H's that they will understand but none of my other millions five readers will understand.

Anyways, we all grew up. And it was awful and scary and fantastic and horrible all at the same time.

I did a bunch of things involving not going to medical school, working with rats in the name of SCIENCE, starting my career and going to grad school.

Meredith got a million degrees. And is still working on one. And she got engaged.

Sarah also got another degree and had a big grown up trip to another big city far far away.

Then Miss Rachel became a teacher and was the first to get married.

And pregnant.

Not that I ever particularly planned to do the spawning thing before the age of 30, but she did beat everyone else to it.

Today we welcome Miss Molly Mahan to the world! She'll be the 5th H to our happy little group, on account of her last name actually having an H, and her mom being awesome.

Congratulations to the Mahan family. I'm so very proud of Mrs Rachel for growing a beautiful baby girl, and I just know she's going to be one fantastic momma. I can't wait to meet little Molly.

And one day, I'll catch up to the rest of the H's in my group. Apparently all I've done is work. And go to the gym.

<3

Graduation Goggles

It's my last day of work at a job I've despised for quite some time now. And it wasn't my bosses that made me hate my job. It was one particular coworker, and the complete lack of anything substantial to do.

Yes, I'd really like to tell this person exactly what I think about them. And I'd LOVE to do it in a blog post. But I'm not that girl. It'd be mean and hateful, and I just don't want that kind of stuff on here. I said I'd leave here via the high road without driving the bus over her, and so I will.Even if she never will read it.

But that doesn't mean I won't leave her with a ton of crap to do that she should have done before I even started working here.....


Anyways, in other news, it all reminds me of The Exploding Meatball Sub episode of "How I Met Your Mother". They talk about "graduation goggles", which is that nostalgic feeling you get when something you despise is ending. Like high school, or working here. I wanted to embed a clip of it, but it's actually quite challenging to find one. So.... no clip for you.  

I will leave this photo, though. Because it's a more accurate description of Graduation Goggles in the workplace.

Since Marshall (who's name I can never remember) is quitting his job, he goes through this whole sequence of making his most despised moments actually happy memories. And it makes him second guess his decision. I didn't have that experience. I still very much fear that Monday morning, CTT will tell me that they didn't hire me and it was all a silly dream. (But thanks, crazy lady, would you be interested in participating in a research study?) I do remember how excited I was to start this job, how very cool it was to be getting not one but two offices in San Antonio, my own Blackberry (in addition to my personal iPhone), business cards, and the elite-ness of a management position. And then I walked in and met my coordinator. Who, as previously discussed, is a generally miserable excuse for a human being that decided to make my employment here hell from the very moment she laid eyes on me. I never trusted her, and was proven to be correct in that instinct throughout my tenure here as I made more and more discoveries of just how self-serving and non-cooperative she really is. I remember my first ever study that I initiated from feasibility to green-light, my first big contract, my first real business trip, and losing my first trial. This job was important to me in many ways, but as time went on, and things became less shiny and more real-world, I realized that this job was not at all what I thought it was nor what I honestly believed it had the potential to be. As long as the evil coordinator works here, this place will never grow into everything that the PI's want it to be. Primarily because she has a complete aversion to change (which I attribute to age, ignorance, and egotism) and the PI's are too scared they can't find someone to replace her. That is what makes me most sad about this place. The PI's are fantastic, they're excellent physicians and some of the best people I've ever worked for. They want this place to be the best it can be, and there's a huge market for clinical research in San Antonio, and they could stand to make a lot of money off of this industry if they just had someone running their company who really cared about it as much as they cared about themselves. And the coordinator they have now is not that person. I tried to be, but was blocked from doing so by evil coordinator.

The truth is, I won't miss this place. At all. But I made a friend here in Rita, who is our research assistant and a general badass person. Plus, she actually does all her work and our evil coordinator's work. While I blog. And become a desk accessory/paperweight during my last two weeks. (While also taking 5 days off.) Rita's awesome, and I know she sometimes reads this blog, so shout out to you, I'll totally miss you. Thanks for being such a great person and coworker, and if you ever need a reference for a new job, you've got my number. <3

Additionally, it stands to be noted that in the two weeks since I accepted new job, and turned in my resignation for old job I've gotten three different offers for interviews and jobs. All of which I've declined for one reason or another. I'm really excited about the company I'll be working for starting Monday. And that in itself says a lot.

I have a lot to do today, actually. Most of it is "finishing up" kind of stuff. I need to finish some budgetary stuff from this year, and change my passwords for my email, write my auto-response message, forward my emails to evil coordinator (dude, INCLUDING ALL THE SPAM), turn in my keys, clear out my internet cache (so no one can find my chloroform searches) and take all the shit that *actually* belongs to me home with me. Among other things. Hopefully I can get out of here early, as well, because it's not only Friday for me, but my last Friday here. And I have a date tonight. With a cute guy. Who I live with. (Still fun to say.)

HAPPY HARRY POTTER DAY!!!!!!!!!


See how I did that? How I waited until the actual calendar day of the Harry Potter release date before I told you Happy Harry Potter Day (which will from here on out be referred to as HHPD, or HPD if you aren't happy about it)??? It's a magical skill, actually, that I've worked on for years and years called patience. It's still very much a work in progress. Baby steps, people, baby steps.

So, I've cleaned off my desk of the actual shit I need to do today, and I feel it's about time I get rid of it. Because the sooner I do that, the sooner I can peace outta here.

On why I'll never visit The Hofbrau again UPDATED

I'm a stickler for good customer service.

And I have NO issues calling companies out on their poor customer service when it happens to me.

But I also make it a point to always answer the surveys for good customer service with stellar remarks. Simply because good work should be rewarded as well. And since I've worked in customer service before, I realize it's kind of a shitty position at times.

Last Saturday Matt and I went to The Hofbrau for Angelica's birthday party. We got there right at 7:00 and left around 9:30. We paid our tab separately, and while I could have seen a little bit better table service for some of our friends, I understand we were a large party (about 10 of us) and it was a busy night. Our tab was accurate when we received it with an 18% gratuity included, and we paid it and went home after a long two days of moving and little sleep.

Matt noticed on Monday morning that in addition to our tab, there was an extra $283 charge pending from The Hofbrau on his bank account. I called the manager regarding the issue while Matt was at work, just to find out their policy for us to follow up on if the charge went through later. He stated that all they'd need was the last 4 digits of the card, and that they'd remove the charge. I was marginally satisfied with this answer, mostly because I knew at the time there wasn't much else we could do about it, but a $283 charge is mildly disturbing to me.

This morning Matt let me know that the charge had gone through and was no longer pending. So I took his card information down to call The Hofbrau again and get the issue resolved, thinking that it'd be no big deal and this situation would resolve easily. I mean, things like this happen all the time, right?

Once I called The Hofbrau, I mentioned to the manager that I had called several days ago about a charge that wasn't ours and he proceeded to tell me that he had called me back and would refund both my tab and the other tab since this was, clearly, their mistake.

Which was a nice thought, but he had the wrong person. I not only didn't leave a call back number for the manager, but also didn't leave the last 4 digits of Matt's card with him, because I didn't know them at the time. So not only has he confused me with someone else, but alerted me to the fact that we are not the only customers who were charged extra tabs that weren't theirs. Apparently, running tabs that don't belong to you is a frequent past-time at The Hofbrau, so if you go there, you should check your bank accounts.

Moving on, the manager took these all-important last 4 digits and reviewed the records from Saturday night. He found our actual tab charge, but failed to find the exorbitant $283 tab that was not only charged, but collected. His next piece of advice was to call the bank, because this was, clearly, an issue on their end.

And it's a huge hassle on my end.

He apologized for the inconvenience, but basically told me that he couldn't help me, but there was no tab at all run on Saturday night that was that high.

Interesting.

Let's note one thing: This was Matt's and I's first experience at The Hofbrau. We had heard excellent things about it from all of our friends, and were definitely looking forward to experiencing it ourselves. But the whole hassle of this situation makes me want to not return. EVER. Especially since I have a sneaking suspicion that someone (ahem, one irritable waiter) somehow ran an additional tab or tip for himself on Matt's credit card, as I've had that happen to friends before.

Well, Matt calls his bank, explains the situation, and they are able to give him a reference number, approval number, tracking number, and even the number of the credit card terminal which the amount was run at. How nice of you, bank. Thank you for making this simpler. I find it hard to refute this many numbers. And how efficient were they? Very.

The Hofbrau, in response to this information, tells Matt that the General Manager is the one who can access this information in the system and he will be in at 4pm. That we can call back then.

I'll be making an in-person appearance, actually. A little sense of urgency didn't hurt anyone.

Since at this point, I'm pissed that no one at The Hofbrau even seems to care that their staff is running mysterious credit card charges. I realize that a customer's missing $283 is really not important to your daily lifestyle and that you really don't particularly care (and if you wish to counter this belief, then please prove it to me through actions), but I would think that customer service and the livelihood of your business does matter. I may not have that much social media pull, but I do know a fair amount of people. And I'm persistent.

To be fair, should The Hofbrau correct their mistake as well as comp our actual tab for the hassle and as a general customer service stand-by, I will update this entry to reflect their actions and consider returning as a customer. But until then, I'm unleashing as much social networking wrath that I can.

So no, UrbanSpoon, I would *not*  recommend The Hofbrau to my friends. Because the last time I checked, my friends didn't like having the wool pulled over their eyes through poor business ethics. And to The Hofbrau, you are a reflection of your employees, always.

Update: After a 45 minute visit yesterday with the general manager of The Hofbrau, Matt has gotten all his monies back, and I have acquired a voucher for two free entrees. Apparently, our waiter ran Matt's credit card initially for the entire table bill. Then voided it and ran our actual tab. The bank had a tiny miscommunication about the whole thing, and the manager had to call them with me present in order for them to reverse the charge.While this happens all the time, and I understand it's an easy mistake to make and we're all human, they were busy, etc. etc..... I still maintain that the manager should have come to our table to notify us of the situation. Or someone could have just dropped by and said "Hey, look, I'm sorry, but we accidentally ran this total first, and voided it, so it should disappear in a few days, but you'll see a pending charge of $263 on your bank statement later this week. I apologize, and here's a free dos-a-rita coupon. We hope you come back."

It wouldn't have been that complicated. And it would have saved a TON of hassle.

Just sayin'.

The Boy Who Lived-day

Ideally, I'd like to post pictures of our new home that I took with my Sony NEX-3 camera, but I don't have a Nex-3, and our apartment is still not really photo-worthy. I mean, in certain places. So.... no pictures for you.

Yet.


I also was introduced via Facebook to this CATchy little YouTube video last night. I thought it was funny. In an awkward kind of way.

But really, this girl needs some serious medications. 

It's my last two (YES! 2!!) days of work at this job and I have a fundamental LACK of motivation. I'm basically a desk accessory at this point, because all I do is things like blogging, updating my Google+ account,  Facebook stalking myself, and reading books. Yeah. It's bad. I like to think I'm saving up all my work-place awesomeness for the new job on Monday.

As tomorrow is Friday, and thus, my last day here, I will actually conduct some kind of work functioning on a basic level. Read: Filing and reviewing budgets. But that basically covers one day, and I'd hate to work on it for three days when I can do it all in one. It's called efficiency, people.

As for those of you wishing me a Happy Harry Potter day, let's get one thing straight. Tomorrow is Harry Potter day. The movie releases on 7/15, and yes, I know many of you will see it tonight, but it doesn't release until midnight which is technically tomorrow, so get with the program. You're a day early and your sense of daytime/nighttime and calendar skills is embarrassing. I'm excited, too, but I'm containing it for when I see the movie on Saturday. The day after Harry Potter day. See, it's really quite a basic concept.

Since this is the last Harry Potter day we'll ever have (shed your tears here), what will we all look forward to now? Breaking Dawn 1 day? Percy Jackson 2 day? The Golden Compass 2 day? (Note: those last two are not in production, don't get excited.) Canada Day?

Our Your lives will soon be empty. Okay, fine. Mine will be emptier. But far from empty. Remember how Matt and I just moved in and Monday is new job day? Yeah, The Boy Who Lived ain't got nothin' on that.

But for your reading pleasure, and my Baylor alumni bragging rights: What you should learn from Harry Potter

It was also brought to my attention that in celebration of my departure, I should write a professional scathing letter to my one and only dearest "boss" who has made me hate my job for many, many months. And while I'm attempting to high-road it outta here (except that pesky motivation issue), I figure I can write said letter, but just never actually send it. I mean.... it's therapeutic, right? Perhaps I will work on this later. Because, I mostly think it sounds like a great amount of fun. If only I could get my brain working in order to utilize big words she won't understand......

New Beginnings

Matt and I moved into our new apartment this weekend, and it truly is starting to look like a home. We've got an incredible view, granite countertops, full tile baths, and a rather spacious garage (that now has a new washer/dryer set and grill in it!) Additionally, I get to come home to the man I love each and every night, and that's everything I've ever wanted, so it's like I'm living a happy little dream. (You can groan over the sap here, but I'm happy for us. So there.)

Along with the new digs come new jobs. Matt started his new job after the 4th of July holiday and I start mine on Monday the 18th. Is it strange that I have this horrible fear that I'll show up Monday morning for my brand new job and they'll tell me that they didn't actually hire me and I'm terribly mistaken? This is a constant fear I've had since basically the moment I accepted the offer. I'm not sure why. I think it has something to do with having a solid long-term career opportunity with a company I really respect, and that whole "too good to be true/ no one ever gets this lucky" kind of thing.

Back in April, after I completed my comprehensive exam for my graduate degree, one of my panel members and former professors offered me a co-authorship with him on a book about my subject matter. This all started so completely randomly, and really is kind of a strange progression of events.

I initially had a completely different panel than what I ended up with. I had asked my pharmacology (and other subjects) professor a year in advance to participate on my committee, and when it came time to own up or shut up, she shut up. Someone had made promises to too many students and not only bailed on my exam, but my friend Eva's as well. After she signed the sheet.


So I scavenged my brain for a professor whose class I did well in, who would remember me, and whose class I didn't text too much in. You know, I wanted someone who respected me. As I have a serious text message problem (that I at times attribute to work, because if I can get away with that, I would), I was rather coming up short for names. I also didn't make it a solid habit to chit-chat with my professors. Mostly because I didn't want to be that brown-nosed girl who befriends her teachers for an A. I earned my A's. Except for in Sensory Physiology. We all got A's in that class.

I had heard rumors that this professor was a good one to have on your panel because he let you pick your topic. I wanted to pick vision/the eye, because while everyone else does hearing/the ear, this was complicated for me. (seriously, all those ions moving back and forth... and counter clockwise/clockwise motion.... and the cochlea. I just didn't want to pick a topic on which I knew my professor had based his entire tenure on. Call me what you will.) Anyways, picking Dr. R for my exam was kind of a last-minute move on my part, because I knew that neurology is NOT my forte, and that for all true and realistic purposes, I should have failed his class, but I needed a professor and desperate times call for desperate measures.

Dr. R graciously accepted his position on my committee, and also agreed to be the chairperson. Then in an interesting twist of events, when he asked me my topic, and I mentioned the eye and vision, he asked me if I'd be willing to do a special research project of sorts.

And, of course, the professor-pleaser/desperate-to-graduate person in me happily accepted this assignment.

Then I spent the next 6-8 weeks in research stress hell, and pulled off a committee exam that was one of a kind, put one of my professors to sleep, and I was the one who knew the most about the topic (which seemed to me like a 'guaranteed to pass' type of scenario). 25 research papers later, countless hours of researching and LOTS of company paper..... I received an email from Dr. R asking me if I'd be interested in turning my research topic into a book through a co-authorship with him.

Did I mention that it was always a dream of mine to be published?

I mean, sure, when I was a kid, I thought I'd be an author of the Stephen King type of notoriety. However, now that I'm an adult and book deals are only truly given out if you're an acquitted murderer or have a story about shiny vampires, I can accept that any book is better than none.

So I accepted. I figured it'd be at least a good way to keep my brain working post-grad.

What's this book about, you say?

Well, it's about algae. No, really. It's about single celled algae (the Chlamydomonas, Halobacteria, and Euglena) species, and how they process and respond to light. In a nutshell: How algae see.

Which is, I know, terribly boring to 98% of the population. And I realize that if (and that's a big if) this book really does get published, the most I could hope for is that some science teacher somewhere uses it as a teaching aid. And that I'll never make money off it.

But I'd be published.

So, I've finally acquired my UTSA access back for the library system and can resume my research on this topic.

What a busy July: two new jobs, a new apartment with my love, and beginning a book. Sweet action!

Reading list, Part Deux

This could also be titled any of the following:

"I have 4.5 days of work left and don't care to do anything."
"I needed to bring my laptop to work today, initiate unproductive cycle now."
"I'm a little stressed about moving this weekend and am seeking a refuge from all my 'Holy crap, this is going to suck, Are we moved in yet? My friends are going to hate me.' thoughts."

But generally, I had some time to kill this morning when I was skipping work. (I promise I'm much MUCH more responsible than this, but I'm quitting a job in which I haven't had anything to do except watch Casey Anthony on cnn.com for a few months and now since that's over I've got nothing.) During this lovely morning off, I went to our new leasing office and convinced them to give us our keys Friday night so that we can start moving in Saturday morning Friday night.

Then, since I was supposed to meet my friend Natalie for lunch, and it was less than an hour from the time I completed previous errand, I decided to kill some time at Barnes and Noble. Simply until it was time to go.

And I ended up creating a whole new mental reading list of things I want to must buy once we're all moved in and settled, I start my new job, and actually track WW points like a good little kitten.

So here goes:

Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Hunter Series


I have an affinity for vampire/paranormal books. Especially series. For some reason, they make me feel accomplished. If I find myself lucky enough to fall into the series near the beginning or before it's hugely popular, I feel particularly proud of my good find. I realize this is silly, but shut up.

I've wanted to read the Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Hunter series for a while, and actually have all of them on my Kindle, but there is something so daunting about a 15-book series, and of course I keep choosing to read all those smaller series prior to starting this one.

I don't even know real specifics about the series, except that it's been highly recommended to me by a fellow reader that I trust, so on the list it is, and hopefully I'll knock it out soon. If only I had more pool time.

Larissa Ione Pleasure Unbound (Demonica series)


Stop. Mocking. Me.

I've actually read all of the Demonica series books, because they're quick reads that I can finish in a week, and they're fully entertaining. They are those "trash novels" that make for the perfect getaway book. I read smart stuff, too, so I'm allowed this kind of "crap". Even though it is far, FAR from crap.

Five books in the series. I've basically read the entire series in 5 weeks. But longer than that, since I didn't read them in succession.


Michael Scott The Alchemist (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)


Again, Harry Potter is over, and when I saw these books in the store mentioning Nicholas Flamel (who we all know created the sorcerer's stone), I was instantly intrigued. (Hi, mass marketing strategies,  Yes I would like Harry Potter to come back.Wait, but he isn't? And you have a book that will satisfy me in it's place? And it's the beginning of a 5-part series? Sure thing, sign me up.)

I don't even know what it's about, but the other books in this series are titled The Magician (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel), The Sorceress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel), The Necromancer (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel), and The Warlock (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel). I figure I'll find out what they're about as I'm reading them. It's not like reading the Sookie Stackhouse books has helped me know what True Blood will be about.

Diana Gabaldon, Outlander


The first book in a 7-part series, all I know is that it's about a woman who time travels to  18th century Scotland to be with her husband. Or something along these lines. Point is, it's an award winning, NYT Bestseller and I want in. Other books in this series are (in order): Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager (Outlander), Drums of Autumn (Outlander), The Fiery Cross (Outlander), A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander), An Echo in the Bone: A Novel (Outlander).

As soon as I can rationalize purchasing them all, then I will buy the set and give them a new home.


Jeff Lindsay Dexter Series


I've read the first Dexter book, and I own the others, but haven't read them yet. (Really, it's a trend. I have far FAR more books than I have actually read, but they're all on the "To Be Read" list. I have a Half Price Books problem.)

However, since Casey Anthony is now over, and the new season shall start shortly, I wish to re-read the first one and read the others. From what I remember of the first book, it was kind of a harder book to read and had a good amount of stream of consciousness to it with a Faulkner-esque feel.

But I could be wrong. It was years ago, and I know I half-assed it.


So there you have it. The list of books I can currently remember that I own/wish to own, and need to read. Other authors who didn't make this list, but are totally on my TBR rolodex are: Christine Feehan, more of George RR Martin, James Patterson, and Michael Connelly. Among others.

So *this* is what it felt like.....

It, apparently, happens once a decade.

Someone who is stunningly guilty of murder is acquitted by a panel of 12 jurors and proceeds to walk the streets as a free person.

And it's a miserable failure of our American justice system.

Which, basically, makes me mad as hell. (Enough to type in a one-sentence-per-paragraph format)

I missed the OJ Simpson trial in 1995, and on that fateful morning in October that year I was busy learning something useful in the 6th grade (Or something like that). I'm sure Algebra was useful, at some point.

So, for all intensive purposes, I made up for the media circus that was that capital murder trial with the media circus that was this capital murder trial. And when I saw that the verdict for all charges except those of lying to a law enforcement officer was "not guilty" I was stunned. I thought that for sure she would have been found guilty. I mean, who else could have done this? How else could this little girl have died and been found in a swamp by her parent's house? If they knew that she died in the pool in June, then why did no one mention it during the months YEARS that it took this case to get to court?

I've never been one to follow reality TV, or get involved in the latest media craze, or circus act, or what not. I mean, honestly, the only thing I used to follow pop-culture-wise was Chelsea Lately, and even then it was sparse. I got so caught up in the Casey Anthony trial/drama, that I seriously think I transplanted part of my brain to that courtroom for the last few weeks.

And I'm pissed about the verdict.

And I slightly hate myself for that. I have zero connection to these people, and I've only been to Orlando for Disneyworld purposes, AND I don't even really like random children all that much. But I wanted to see this girl punished for her actions. I suppose I wanted to know, on some basic subconscious level that humanity does still exist and that good prevails over evil.

I was wrong.