Having returned safely home, I have retreated to the calm quiet of my dining room while Little Isis naps to work on some projects. One project I have been putting off is for an article about your favorite diva of bench and hearth. I am supposed to provide a biographical sketch of all of my many, many, vast accomplishments and degrees. But, here's the thing. I have been putting it off because, for some reason, I have been having a really difficult time writing two paragraphs of nice things about myself. My science? Fine. Myself? Not so fine.
What has come over me lately? Am I feverish? Have I caught some kind of strange virus which selectively infects the ego? I'm just not sure, little muffins. In an effort to get something on the page to get me started I have written, "Dr. Isis is a pretty cool chick. Also, her shoes are basically always amazing"
To distract myself, I have been looking online at fabrics to redecorate my dining room. I am considering these:
Figure 1: For the chairs.
Figure 2: For the curtains.
But, speaking of being online and people that it is easy to say nice things about, ScienceBlogs very own GrrrlScientist needs your help. Grrrlscientist is in the running over at Quark Expeditions to be their official blogger from Antarctica. Her entry page is here and she needs your votes! Here are the rules a la Grrrl:
To vote, go there and register your email address and create a different password from that used for your email. In a few seconds, you will receive a confirmatory message at your registered email address so you can then vote in this competition. Remember, according to the rules, there is "one vote per valid email address."
Right now Grrrl, who is registered under the pseudonym "Devorah Bennu" is in the lead, but only by 61 votes. Surely there are more than 61 people reading my humble little blog and we can all do our part to help Grrrl get to Antarctica to take bad ass pictures for us. Right? I mean, right????
Get over there, lovely little muffins, and show Grrrl a little love.
Comments
Darling Dr. Isis,
Your struggle with your bio does not surprise me...I find it a wonderful indication of your lack of conceit. I'd be glad to help if you need it, but I know you'll get it done well regardless.
I LOVE those swatches for the dining room. Fabulous.
Posted by: Minerva | June 28, 2009 1:15 PM
Dear delightful Isis,
Writing nice things about oneself is always difficult if you're not narcissistic. Which you are not at all in real life. Want those of us who think you are totally amazing to help? No? Not surprising. You will write well. Have Mr. Isis look at it when you're done, and take his advice on where you haven't been glowing enough.
Oh, yeah...the swatches rock!
Posted by: Mimi | June 28, 2009 3:12 PM
Can I just say how much I love that Little Isis's Mimi has begun coming around the blog? He loves her and the cactus she sent him has begun to sprout flowers. No joke! This must be a magical Mimi cactus!
Posted by: Isis the Scientist | June 28, 2009 4:52 PM
I love the fabrics. I voted for her already. You ARE pretty cool and your shoes ARE always amazing :)
Posted by: MFA Mama a.k.a. "Eliza" | June 28, 2009 6:34 PM
Think of things your grad students might say about you, or even how your alter-ego might describe you.
and as a guy I have to add "Swatches? We don't need no stinkin' swatches!"
Posted by: joemac53 | June 28, 2009 7:53 PM
Would Little Isis' Mimi send anything less than a magical cactus? Of course not! Nothing but the best for the Goddess Isis' offspring. :-)
Posted by: Mimi | June 28, 2009 8:12 PM
...
Agent ...tom... reporting that he has registered, logged in, and voted for the Isis' Antarctic operative. Standing by for further directives.
RE: swatches ...I am not even going there.
RE: blooming cacti ...our lab cactus at work is also blooming. Though I am attributing it neither to Mimi nor Dr. I..
That is all.
...tom...
.
Posted by: ...tom... | June 28, 2009 8:43 PM
start with brutally honest, then work up the nice. the brutally honest (below) took me hours. i would be interested to see what you come up with to describe Dr. Isis...
http://lalaleigha.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/the-appearances-we-keep-up/
Posted by: leigh | June 28, 2009 11:33 PM
This may not be helpful but the things I wish I knew about Dr. Isis' alter ego include: Where/how did you grow up? Where did you go to school? How did you become interested in science? And in your particular area of research? What struggles have you faced? How have you been lucky? Do you have pets? What do you do for fun/hobbies (I guess you won't be able to say blog)? How have you been an advocate for women in science? For science literacy? Community outreach/activities? What are you thoughts about teaching? What/who inspires you? How does your creative process work in the context of your scientific work? Where would you like to see science (in general) and your work (in particular) be in the future? Talk about some mistakes you've made and some "eureka" moments. Talk about your family. And, go ahead, talk about your shoes. (But know that if you do, people WILL figure out who you are.)
Be honest and personal. People really dig this kind of stuff. I know I do.
Posted by: Catharine | June 29, 2009 10:42 AM
I like knowing whatever Dr. Isis wants to let us in on. (shrug) And yeah, tmi leads to loss of pseudonymity really fast.
Posted by: Carlie | June 29, 2009 5:55 PM
I didn't mean she should blog that stuff!!! I was talking about her alter's assignment. Of course, one must proceed with caution in all cases.
Posted by: Catharine | June 29, 2009 7:47 PM
Sorry, Catharine, my mistake!
Posted by: Carlie | June 29, 2009 7:59 PM
I too love these swatches. Now the next thing is the wall color, which of course should follow after the fabrics. Have you seen the so-called full spectrum paints? For example at http://www.ellenkennon.com/ -- they're expennnsive but they're funnnn.
Posted by: Gingerale | June 30, 2009 4:36 PM
If the Goddess is having trouble, imagine the mere mortals... Could I include this post in the July Scientiae Carnival?
Posted by: Patchi | July 1, 2009 11:01 AM