One Week to Go
Sunday, July 13
169.8 lbs (from 162.6 lbs on Dec 28) | 🏃🏻 Missed (5/6) | ★★★★
I didn’t have any scheduled events today, so I focused on a task that has to be finished by Monday. Like any project, there’s an essential learning curve before things start moving quickly; I hope to get past that stage as soon as possible.
Monday, July 14
169.6 lbs (from 162.6 lbs on Dec 28) | 🏃🏻 Done (1/6) | ★★★★☆
I finally bought a compact freezer that fits perfectly under my desk at home. I recently invested in a powerful Ninja blender for smoothie bowls, so I needed freezer space for fruit—blueberries, mango, banana, and strawberries. The unit is small but works great! In Costco grocery shopping, I’ve also added bell peppers to my list; until now, I was eating lunch (just rice and protein), so the extra vegetables should help. One advantage of working in a lab without fixed hours is that I can manage my schedule to suit my needs. The only caveat is that it’s easy to become less diligent, so I have to keep myself consistent.
After the shopping, I went to the gym, had lunch, and headed to the lab. I sat in on a subgroup meeting and then spent most of the afternoon preparing for Wednesday’s journal club presentation. My rule is that I never present material I don’t understand, so I need to invest plenty of time. Because I arrived late, I grabbed dinner and returned to the lab, working into the night to prepare my slides.
Tuesday, July 15
167.8 lbs (from 162.6 lbs on Dec 28) | 🏃🏻 Done (2/6) | ★★★★
This morning, I spent time learning one of the software tools I’ll need for my thesis project; a post-doc in the lab kindly walked me through it. Many thanks to him🫡 In the afternoon, I had a coffee chat with a post-doc who has just arrived from Korea. To my surprise, she had already read my blog, so we had plenty to talk about. She earned his degree in the United States and has an easy-going, outgoing personality, so I’m sure she’ll settle in quickly.
After finishing the last of my preparation for tomorrow’s presentation, I went to the gym and then tried making a smoothie bowl at home for the first time. It was unexpectedly delicious; apart from how icy it is, I think it’s going to become a regular part of my meal.
Wednesday, July 16
167.6 lbs (from 162.6 lbs on Dec 28) | 🏃🏻 Done (3/6) | ★★★★
I wrapped up my journal club presentation successfully and finished learning yesterday’s software, though I’ll probably need to practice more while I’m in Korea. Because I have to draft my proposal, I spent the entire day writing it. I can’t imagine having to do this repeatedly for every grant application. Finding an idea no one else has pursued (or proved) is harder than it sounds. Still, choosing a research topic so rigorously and building a complete narrative before any data are in hand should make a solid foundation for publishing a strong paper later on.
Thursday, July 17
169.2 lbs (from 162.6 lbs on Dec 28) | 🏃🏻 Rest (3/6) | ★★★☆
I tried Adobe Illustrator for the first time to make a figure, and it felt like one long series of trial and error. Even drawing a simple arrow or basic shape was a struggle at first. After several hours, though, I finally produced a clean, attractive figure! I spent the rest of the day polishing and sending off my proposal. Writing nonstop for an entire day was painful, but finishing it felt liberating. I’m looking forward to the feedback.
If this proposal helps solidify my thesis direction, the effort will have been worth it. In the second year, experiments matter, of course, but passing the qualifying exam is absolutely critical. A well-constructed proposal should give me a solid foundation for both.
Friday, July 18
170.0 lbs (from 162.6 lbs on Dec 28) | 🏃🏻 Done (4/6) | ★★★★☆
Today, one of the graduate students in the DeGrado lab showed me how to use another software tool I’ll need for my thesis. Knowledge really is power! Things that seemed impossible a year or two ago are now within reach. My first attempt was far from perfect, and I’ll need time to become proficient, but I’m excited. It’s both daunting and gratifying to keep pace with global advances in the field.
After work, I went to the gym with a friend, then stopped by a high-quality butcher near his place and picked up some meat for the week. We also swung by an organic market and got a fresh young coconut, which was surprisingly better than any I’d had in Southeast Asia, and they even prepare it so you can drink it easily.
In other news, I finally opened a credit card. Booking flights more often has taught me the value of U.S. mileage programs. I’d avoided credit cards in Korea because I worried they might tempt me to spend more, so I stuck to debit, but that might not be the smartest choice, especially in the U.S. Even though my spending isn’t huge, the cash-back (or miles) could be decent. If I manage this card responsibly, I can move on to one with even better mileage benefits.
Saturday, July 19
171.2 lbs (from 162.6 lbs on Dec 28) | 🏃🏻 Done (5/6) | ★★★★
After getting enough sleep, I had a great workout and studied at my favorite library. Just a peaceful Saturday. Tomorrow I’ll buy souvenirs for my family and friends in Korea.
