Work & Play

Jenna got a new camera :] 

...AND new photo editing software :]

Happy Birthday to me! (And thanks, Daddy! I love you!)

It's definitely been a process, learning a new camera and learning new software. Especially since I have a JOB now and can't spend my days fooling around with my fun new toys! My kitty's pretty cute though, huh? That's squiddy Eddie. You might think that I'm partial to Eddie, since I tend to post lots of pictures of him (as opposed to my other kitty, Lewis). If you thought that, you'd probably be right. HOWEVER, there's also the fact that Eddie is a much better subject. He tends to sit still longer, and doesn't freak out every time he detects movement within 20 feet of him. Lewis, on the other hand, is a total spaz. God love him, he has mental problems. It's difficult to take a decent photo of him AT ALL, and essentially impossible if I'm trying something that requires a lengthened exposure. You can hang it up, in that case. So, in short, I can be more creative in photographing Eddie because he doesn't startle so easily, and he poses often (as seen above). And it just so happens that he is also my favorite. He's the sweetest cat on the planet. He converted me into a cat person. He cuddles, he cocks his head sideways and chirps at me to get my attention, he follows us around like a puppy... he's just friggin' adorable. Them's just the facts, and I can't help it. I feel like a bad person, playing favorites and all, but that's just how it is. 

As for work... I love my job. I really do. I'm truly enjoying working with real clinical data on a more "big picture" type of project - it's completely different than anything I've ever worked on before. Whereas I've always worked at the molecular and cellular levels in the past, much of the work done in this lab focuses on using real patient data to look for trends and patterns in lots of different health status markers, like lung function, onset of CF-related diabetes, bacterial colonization, pancreatic function... it's all so fascinating. And this type of work lends itself to more immediate applicability than anything I've ever worked on in the past. It's very rewarding already. 

I spent the latter half of last week at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference which was (fortunately) held in Baltimore this year. It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I thought I knew a lot about CF, but apparently I knew very little. There's just SO much to learn and it's all so incredibly fascinating. I always felt like I was missing something I really wanted to see - three days wasn't NEARLY enough time! I learned so much about so many different facets of the disease itself, approaches to care, new and innovative therapies, external influences on disease progression, the psychosocial impact on patients... I could go on. SO much great stuff. I also had the opportunity to see several of my lab-mates give talks (including my boss), which was highly impressive and also very inspiring. This lab is just really top-notch, and sitting in those chairs watching them speak, I was so proud to be a part of it. AND, during the conference we also found out that my boss is being awarded the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's highly prestigious 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in Cystic Fibrosis research! How amazing is that?! He's a pretty amazing guy. I just feel so blessed to have found this job, and to be a part of this lab. 

At the end of the conference, I found myself wondering how I could EVER bring myself to leave the CF research community. For the first time in my life, when I think about my job, it's not just my mind that is invested... it's my heart, too. And my heartstrings are becoming increasingly interwoven with my work by the day. I know that I can't stay in this particular position for too long - I have to get back into school. My student loans are coming due and this just doesn't pay well enough to handle all that. But how do I reconcile my career aspirations with my intensifying connection to CF research? Good question. That remains to be seen, but I'm VERY interested to see how it all plays out. I suspect that God may be placing some unexpected open doors in my path this year :]