Holy shit is grad school keeping me busy...My project is going really well, and we should be able to publish a couple of papers probably by the end of summer, so I really shouldn't complain. But lately I am finding myself in dire need of some balance, like trading the science paper readings for cooking, playing video games and working out for one night. I have a couple of presentations coming up soon, and I am reading 2-3 publications a night during the week these days, plus 4-5 a day on the weekend, plus long hours in lab. This stem cell class I am taking is a blast, but it is also a lot of work.

I think in a month or so I should be able to take Friday nights off at least. Problem is, there are a ton of games that I own which I'd love to play, plus a bunch that either just came out or are about to in the next few months (Ni No Kuni, DmC, Bioshock Infinite, and The Last of Us, to name a few). I already bought the special edition of The Last of Us, and will do the same for Bioshock if it's not too late. Damn, when I do get to it, I have so little time to play, I wonder what I should start with...

Speaking of games, I went out the other Friday night with a bunch of friends from the Human Genetics program to one of my favorite speakeasies in Montreal, called Big In Japan. Real classy place. Then I see this uber hot girl shortly after I get there, so I go talk to her after much nagging from my buddies. So against my expectations, this girl is extremely friendly and approachable for somebody this gorgeous, and we have tons in common, so I'm thinking hey this is going really well, and I really like this girl (the last part doesn't happen so often...). She's from Switzerland, speaks four languages, learned to ski when she was 2, loves cooking and has impeccable taste in music, is ambitious, loves to travel, to name a few things that piqued my interest. I got to learn a lot in 45 minutes, until I told her I like video games. Then her face completely changed, and she said she had to go to this house party with her friend shortly after I said that. So I still got her phone number, and I called her up and all, but I say it went downhill after the video game comment.

Now I know what you're thinking: "You're not supposed to tell a girl you like video games, you moron! You blew it...", and I fully realize it's generally a dating faux pas to say you are a gamer...but you know what, I am starting to realize that I will always play video games, even when I have a family (IF I have a family) and even when I am so old that somebody needs to wipe my ass for me...So I want to be able to tell girls that I like video games, instead of having to hide this as if it's a disability or a terrible dark secret like if I had lost my left nut or something (this is a hypothetical scenario, both my nuts are intact and working just fine before you ask... ).

So I am wondering, is it at all possible to tell girls you like video games and not just "get away with it", but actually find girls who dig that and who see that as a plus, or even better, as a must. Because I am starting to realize that I would really love to date a gamer girl. And I mean a real gamer, not somebody who says she likes that just because she wants you (that's happened to me and it's not the same, the girl actually has to like games irrespective of my interest in it). And of course there's a catch: she can't be a fucking 400-pound Behemoth or anything repulsive like that. I mean she doesn't have to be a 10, but she shouldn't be a 2 either...soooooo, am I completely deluding myself, or is this at all possible? There's an anime society at my university, but not a video game society, so maybe I should start one and see what happens. Anyway, I would love to get anyone's input on this, especially if you've had experience dating girl gamers or if you are a girl gamer...I'm really hoping this isn't just some fantasy that is so far removed from reality that I should just give it up...And this isn't just some item I need to cross off my bucket list like "sleep with girl gamer" or something like that. I'm thinking if I could find a girl I am attracted to and with whom I can spend time playing video games while getting to know her, I would probably think this is too good to be true...hence my suspicion that it might be...On the other hand, I don't look like your typical gamer, so maybe that's why I don't meet girl gamers. I also don't have time for MMORPGs or anything like that, so I do most of my gaming solo, also because I love RPGs. I am not part of any gaming guild or regularly go on forums or anything like that, so maybe I need to add a social dimension to my gaming...again, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Patrick

So I bought Skyrim almost a year ago now, and I only started playing it this weekend, because I've been so busy with school thus far. Well, I may be a little late to the party, but I gotta say: THIS GAME FUCKING ROCKS!!!

Every now and then, a game gets mixed or average reviews, despite being an outstanding game. The mixed reviews can sometimes make you overlook a hidden gem that really should not be missed. Alice: Madness Returns DEFINITELY is one such game...I highly recommend it!

Happiest fucking day of my sad fucking life!!!

Last final exam DONE. BOOM. Last term DONE. BOOM. Under-fucking-grad DONE. BOOM. Starving and being sleep deprived DONE. BOOM.

So guess what fucking time it is?!? Studying time? I don't fucking think so, biatch! Video game time, sleeping time, lifting time, sexy time, anytime-but-fucking-studying-time baybayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!

Video games video games video games video games video games video gaaaaaaaaaaaaaamesssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!

So I've only got one exam left on the 17th, and then I am all done, graduated, outta here, and back to Montreal to do a PhD in Human Genetics. I made my decision of which supervisor I was going to go with, and I am stoked!

I am so lucky. Montreal is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, especially in the summer, and McGill is also one of the best universities in the world, especially in my field, or anything medically related. To have my whole tuition and stipend paid is just incredible!

Now I have been going absolutely bonkers with studying 30 lectures of pharmacology in a day and a half for the final, after having studied 17 human genetics lectures in two days right before that...that's because my Honors research and thesis writing ate up half my bloody life for the past year...so anyway, when I am going crazy and can take no more, I turn to talent shows to keep me motivated. I love intelligence and talent more than anything in this world. Seeing overly talented people inspires me. So I often watch shows like Britain's Got Talent and America's Got Talent to keep myself motivated.

Of course I love the Susan Boyles so much, those are classic success stories, but then I stumbled upon this video from America's Got Talent on the net tonight. I gotta say, what a treat after all this hard work and suffering. You've probably all seen this already. Her name is Lilia Stepanova, a gymnast and contortionist, a.k.a. Goddess and Eye Candy... I just can't get enough of the talent and grace (and yes, sexiness of course! ) I absolutely love when she contorts, at about 40 seconds into the video, and then her eyes scan the audience and she's got this playful, mischievous grin on her face, as if saying ''I know I'm amazing and you won't believe what you're about to see.''. I smile every time I see that...I think I'm in love. Anyway enough rambling. Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=IJG-X-zyCKs&feature=endscreen

Cheers,

Patty-who's-only-three-days-away-from-graduating

2 down, 1 to go...

1 down, 2 to go...

So I was about to bitch about having to write my thesis, but then I saw this video about a homeless Korean boy who entered Korea's Got Talent and stole the show. I don't think I'll ever complain again. Watch this, it is so inspirational:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ46Ot4_lLo&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Cheers,

Patty

Taught my last lab as a Teaching Assistant...it will be so weird to not see these first-year kids again, I love them! I hope I was able to make a difference in their lives at this critical point...first year is so important! Lots of new freedom and also new responsibilities all at once, hopefully they are all successful from this point on...Wow I will really miss them, I really loved that job!

I can't believe I will also start grad school in 5-6 weeks. I officially start in September, but whichever of the two amazing PIs who made me an offer I go with, they will pay me as of May 1st...so soon!

Home stretch now and soon undergrad is behind me....

Cheers,

Patty

So I risked an offer by asking for a one-week extension (I can't believe I was able to keep a level head and not accept an offer like this on the spot), and I pushed the envelope with the other potential offer, and my gamble worked. I now have two offers! I can't believe the two most powerful researchers in the Human Genetics department are really interested in me and both are aggressively pursuing me. As one of them says, it is a good situation to be in, and I should embrace it. This is all so surreal. She says I have to stop underestimating myself, and any researcher would just as aggressively pursue me. This is coming from a Goddess, and I've got two of them presenting me with firm offers. I am on cloud nine right now, I can't contain my excitement!!!

I will meet her lab this Thursday, and then meet the other lab next Monday, and make my this decision, the most important one in all my life, in just a short week. I still can't believe this!!!!!

Cheers,

Patty