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bepayou
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Name: Bepa
Country: United States
State: Arizona
Birthday: 10/21/1975
Gender: Female
Interests: physical anthroplogy and archaeology, hiking, dogs, music
Expertise: making an a@@ out of myself...most of the time....
Occupation: Student
Industry: Other
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
4/1/2004
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| I'm killing time. I agreed to work on a project about a year ago. Basically, I'm putting macaque vertebrae through a micro-CT scanner. This work is ultimately for a study on osteoporosis and compression fractures in the spine. The scanning is tedius, and I'm about to go totally nuts sitting around in this lab (this is why I got in to archaeology - half the year you can justify being outside). But here's what I like about this study. I like that all of the macaques who have contributed to this study once lived on an island. They were free-ranging macaques and they lived generally healthy and protected lives. They were only observed for behavioral studies - no testing, nuthin'.
I really hate animal testing. I first got a clue when a fellow student...Derek...Derek...Derek somebody...gave a talk on animal testing. I literally freaked out. I burst out crying several times over the subsequent days, realizing that there were poor animals suffering so that people could wear mascara and know just how much lipstick they had to eat before they went toxic. I look forward to more alternatives being developed. And I support those products that state that they're "tested on humans.' Dammit, if it's for our vanity, then we should suffer for it, not the cute the little animals.
I realize that a lot of good things can come out of animal testing. Some of the people that use this lab are performing important studies using animal models. But, it makes me sick. The other day I walked into the lab and there were a bunch of cute rats. Now, I know that rats aren't normally thought of as cute, but I think they are. They were all curled up with a little friend, they were grooming, they were lounging, they were curious about me. And it just killed me. Ugh. I was glad that I had signed up for using equipment for the day...it gave them one more day. But when everyone left, god the inner PETA in me came out. I seriously entertained unleashing a rat problem in Alberta, which prides itself on being feral-rat-free.
I just don't get how people can dissociate so much. How can you see an animal suffer and know that you're causing it? How can you think that animals don't suffer, and that they don't have emotions? How can you take a life and feel apathetic about it? I know, don't anthropomorphize. But, seriously, if you've ever owned a dog, a cat, whatever...you know that there's more than just a blank personality with a drive to pass on genes to the next generation.
Ugh. I'm making myself sick thinking about this. And, I'm overtired, feeling dulled from being under flourescent lights for last 12 hours, and if I hear the scanner hum for much longer, I'm going to go postal. But, I'll be sure to spare those cute little animals...
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| One year (plus) since the last entry. Decided to check in. Hi to anyone who might still be out there...
So, Canada. I'm finally here, and I'm really enjoying it. Brisk, clean, friendly, decent public transportation...one thing I can't figure out is, in a land where beer is supposed to be king...where's the good stuff?
I've got one year of grad school down. It was back breaking - they worked me crazy hard here. But, I'm glad I made the switch. Great program, great geeky opportunities.
Met a guy and officially began living together about a month ago (although you could argue we've been living together for about 11 months by now...he kinda came over and just never left...) One year anniversary coming up - quite a feat for the queen of one month relationships.
Went back to Russia last summer. Worked in a basement for about 1.5 weeks, where everything stinky and gross drained down the leaky pipe near my desk. Needless to say, I was happy to get out. Continued excavating and found some really cool burials and artifacts. Unfortunately, some graves were looted by bored locals...hoping in this situation that skeletons and curses go hand in hand for the asses that stole the skull - argh! I'll be heading back again this summer. Hoping to finish excavating the grave site, and collect stuff for my dissertation research. Oh, also saw my EX-bear-hunting-husband...although he's about 13 years older than me, he acted like he was in junior high. Didn't deal to well with the fact that I had a boyfriend and wouldn't cheat with him.
Ok, I'm feeling impatient, so I'm going to go and do something. Sleep, perhaps? Wanna get up early for a hike...
Hope all are well and that the new year is treating you as it should, however that might be...
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| Yo Yo Yo!
I'm at that tired state where really I want to sleep, but I really don't want to go to bed. So, here I am. Blah.
I wrote about 2 months ago. Seems more like a week. Been busy. Scrambled to finish up my Masters thesis - which I defend next week - wahoo! Can't wait to get this f@cker out of the way! I also found a place to live in Calgary. I'm looking very forward to a new town with all of the seasons - sometimes in one day. I've got a great place, with a firepit in the backyard, and finally I'm moving somewhere that other family lives - which will be a great experience. And, hanging with the birthday-kiss boy still. Don't think it's love - at least not at this point - but I still really enjoy his company. Ah, but I have heard word that my Siberian husband is learning English...so Arizona boy may have a run for his money!
Gonna make some veggie taquitos...mmm...fake meat....
Hope you're all doing well!
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| Howdy kids!
It's the day after...and all's I gotsta say is that yesterday was one of, if not the, best birthday so far.
The day started with a lazy morning/afternoon, and I didn't feel guilty about it one iota. Most of the time I get pissed at myself when I want to just lie down and relax - I have way too much work to do. But, yesterday, I had a valid excuse, and I ran with it.
Last night I went to a wonderful wedding in a Japanese garden setting. There are amazing places like this scattered throughout the Phoenix area. They never cease to amaze me because, at a glance, Phoenix basically just looks like crappy urban sprawl. But there are these jems thrown into the mix. An oasis of sorts. But I digress. The wedding was absolutely beautiful, and the love between my friends is just amazing. I hear people say that marriage should be between a man and woman, to preserve the sanctity of marriage. But, so many people get married because someone gets pregnant, because of economic circumstances, etc. It's not about this idea of love, or this idea that this is the person that I want to spend the rest of my life with, and possibly have a family with. How does this preserve the sanctity of marriage? If you could have seen, heard, and felt the love between my friends last night, you would have known, without a doubt, that their commitment to each other kicks the crap out of shotgun weddings and marriages based on bettering an economic/social situation. They were marrying, in our society, based on our values here, for the absolute right reasons. And that, to me, is what preserves this idea of the sanctity of marriage.
But, political-ish rant aside, everyone looked divine, dressed in their tuxes and gowns. After the ceremony, we danced for hours, until our time at the gardens was up. Afterward, a few friends and I stayed totally dolled up and hit the dive bar that's down the street from my house, where a Dead cover band was playing. I'm not a Dead head by any means, but I also don't mind GD music. The point of this is threefold: (1) Dead music is all about dancing, and we continued to boogy into the night; (2) the keyboardist is actually a member of the Dead (post-Garcia), and he belted out a birthday song for me :); and (3) after this dedication, many of the friendly folk (as is to be expected in the Dead scene) approached and wished me happy birthday. It was a really wonderful time, and, in a small way, I felt a little bit like a queen for a night.
AND...now to the real goods! So, in my last post, I mentioned a guy that I'd been hanging out with. Well, his ex was part of our entourage last night. We're all friends, and I like her very much. But, add alcohol, and she's a flirt that's waaaay out of control. So, all night she was way beyond flirtatious with this guy, and I wasn't really sure how to interpret the situation. I mean, she dumped him, and I know he was really hurt...so how was he interpreting her behavior? Was he getting lead back in? He didn't really cater to her flirtatiousness, but at the same time, he tolerated it rather well...in the end, I just decided to step back. I'm not the really competitive type, and I'm not going to make a scene, especially at a wedding. So, I let her flirt with him, and I just danced and had fun. Then, the end of the night came...basically, I got a ride home, invitied a certain someone in for a drink, and then, when he went to leave, he gave me a birthday kiss :) Er, uh, or actually, there was a lot of birthday kissin' going on...and I guess it's safe to say, I think she's not really in the running so much anymore.
So how do I feel about this? A bit divided. I like this guy. But, I'm also moving in the next few months, and I'd kinda like to move with an empty dance card. I think I'll just take things slowly, we'll chat, and we'll see what happens. Hopefully this can be a really nice thing for the both of us... | | |
| Today is important for four reasons.
1) I'm attending a wedding today - the first same-sex wedding I'll be a part of. And, I'm damn excited! Ok, so I guess in the eyes of the law, it's not a legal wedding. But, according to all of us, our two good girlfriends are exchanging vows today, and I'm totally happy for them :). I'm also totally excited that it's a shwanky affair - black tie optional, with a masquerade ball theme to follow. So, we all get to celebrate while looking glamorous for one evening. A far cry from the ratty t-shirts and jeans that we're used to donning to school. Hmmm...it'll be interesting to see how things play out tonight. Will someone find another person incredibly attractive in that tux/evening gown, a person that they never really noticed before? I'm sure the gossip mills will be whirling tomorrow - and I can't wait!
2) On the subject of hook-ups, I've been hanging out with someone lately. I'm not sure I want it to go anywhere - sometimes I think yes, and sometimes I think no. So, tonight holds many possibilities, in that respect...
3) It's my birthday :)
4) It's only 16 days until the LAST DAY TO VOTE! I can't vote - I'm not a citizen (I'm in the process of applying). So, for those of you who have the right to vote in this election - PLEASE DO! Ok, so even if you're not on the left, you can visit MoveOn to register, and then unsubscribe yourself from their e-mail list. Or, I'm sure you can find other places on the right or in the center to register. REGSISTER AND VOTE!
And on that note - also a plea from yours truly. Make up your own mind about who will be best. There are a lot of "spin machines" out there, and they're spouting out a lot of misinformation...there are also a lot of social groups who tell you to make up your own mind, but they're gently swaying you to one side or another...so be wary. Be an individual. Check out the facts and then make an informed decision on your own...
Ok, that's it for now. Have a good one!
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