Life Is Wonderful...

...that's the title of the first song in Jason Mraz's new album, simply titled "Mr A-Z". I had the absolute pleasure of having a first listen to it earlier this evening. I must admit I virtually melted into a goo of soft butter and sank into the couch listening to his music, especially that voice of his. I have been looking forward to the arrival of this album for so long. In fact, as I am writing this entry, I am all plugged in to the new album. I will definitely put it on loop tomorrow at work for the whole day.

Incidentally, life is kinda wonderful (although it's hardly my style to use such adjectives to describe my life) at the moment, as I have been doing and expereiencing much different things lately and this winter is certainly less intense and depressing than the last that I had. Just ran through a few random memories and thoughts and old emails today and realised what a dark period I was going through this time last year. I don't know if I am happy or whatever now, but I sure know that I am glad as hell I am longer in a place like that.

Speaking of places, there is a place that I have always wanted to be, and that is New York (sorry to be all cheesy and changing topics like that). And yes, I will be landing there in September! I can't hardly wait, like seriously, I haven't felt so excited about going to a place for so long already. I have always thought/talked about it and it's finally happening! All thanks to a work trip to Houston, Texas (the home of NASA, so maybe I do get to wait for a rocket to come!) and that will somehow also (through some little manipulation of mine, ha) take me to LA and NYC too, yay! I know, I know, I shouldn't sound so smug and silly about it, but truly, I am pretty darn looking forward to the trip.

Personal enjoyment aside, I am really grateful that I am being put on this training course, as this will contribute to my knowledge in the X-ray generators significantly and also mark another milestone in my otherwise mundane (and sometimes questionable) existance as a scientist. Also, it will reinforce my role as the person taking charge of the generators and detectors and sway me further away from bench/wet work (I am definitely not complaining on this one). Of course, I do know the pressure and responsibilities I have to handle when I return from the course as everyone in the group will be expecting much more from me. I can't afford to falter like I could last year, when I was a research student. I am certainly feeling (and foreseeing) the increasing stress level already.

Oh well, in any case, I will have to finish up my poster for research week and a research proposal for my project by the middle of this month. After that, I will have a greater peace of mind to plan for my trip and to make sure I have a good one in NYC. Yes, I am gonna be so fabulous 'n wonderful strutting down the streets of New York with a cupcake in one hand and hailing a big yellow taxi with the other. So damn fab 'n wonderful that you'll have to put my fire out! For sure!