I’ve been accused (by Richard “look at pictures of my garden and this dead pig” Grant ) of “not blogging”. Apparently my pictures don’t count as blog posts.
But it’s true, I’ve been avoiding lengthy posts. What do you want me to write about? I’m no longer in the lab, so accounts of PBS-soaked lab journals or eppie-blisters just don’t exist anymore. I have been reading scientific papers once in a while, but for a purpose, and the purpose was not “to blog about them”. Besides, I’ve never been one to blog about things in the literature. I’m more of the look at these cool pictures! -type.
I suppose I could be a better curator of the easternblot Flickr group. I get them all in RSS, and only privately enjoy them instead of showcasing them on my other, also neglected, blog. Worst gallery owner ever. I guess I can scratch that off my potential future job list.
My current job, which was only a six-month contract, ends end of this month, so as of next week I’ll be mostly unemployed. This entire year was supposed to be some kind of transition year, to try freelancing and think about research, and I’m already at a totally different place than six months ago. At the end of December, after my defense, I wanted to do anything but work in a lab. Now I still don’t want to work in a lab, but I’m a bit more specific about what I do want. I don’t want to blog about that now, though, so there’s another blog topic gone.
The next couple of weeks I will be only minimally involved in science, but maybe that kick-starts a stream of blog ideas. I actually have ideas, I just haven’t written anything out because the ideas are too big for blog posts. Stories where every sentence makes me jump up in my seat, grab your arm, and excitedly add “Oh, and that is related to….” I can’t write those in blog length posts. I tried. The Erdos post was actually the shortest possible version of an idea I have about a centralized database for anyone involved in any field of academia (not PubMed, but PubEverything). An actual post would take too long, but I don’t think my message was very clear from my “look at this XKCD comic”-style post. It’s what I do, you see, I just show pictures.
And that is why I haven’t blogged properly.
So this is what I’ve become: I’m blogging about not blogging. The one thing I swore I would never do.
(P.S. Re: the title. Not only am I currently in my “in between” days, I have also been wearing out the Ben Folds version of the song on my iPod lately.)
Pfft.
You can write, Eva, and we miss you.
I did write, look at all those words!
and we’re very proud of you.
Sometimes, the best part of blogging is taking a break.
At least you’re not blogging about Twitter.
Eva, I’ve often lamented that PubMed doesn’t have Physics journals, or Education journals, or Intellectual Property Law journals, or other things in it. I like your PubEverything idea. It would make my life much easier. Plz to get right on that.
P.S. Don’t get eaten by a Crocodile this summer, ok? Thanks.
I don’t think I’m going where the crocodiles are. I’m going where the spiders and stingrays are, though.
Can I say something here about never having to comment?
Anywa, Eva, you’re in good company as far as blogging-about-not-blogging goes.
Oops. I meant to say never having time to comment.
Cat photos, cat photos! (jumps up and down)
sigh a lot of blogging about not blogging seems to be going around the Nature Network these days – mine’s over here
And PubMed needs fossils, and ecology…..
James, I actually have a response to your post, but the last time I tried to formulate that particular thought, people got offended (because they thought I meant something else), so I need to work on the wording.
I miss you too Eva!! I can relate, though – I have a bunch of ideas, but nothing is quite there yet. And there is so much new stuff coming up for me… it’s like I’m in a holding pattern.
See? Your public need you.
Nothing wrong with picture posts.
In fact, isn’t it a noble tradition?
From WikipediaPost
Eva, I hope this transition time goes smoothly for you…realizing what you don’t want to do is just as important as knowing what you want to do. Best of luck putting your ideas into writing. I’m sure it will be great. btw, Ben Folds is AWESOME live. :)
It doesn’t help that I was supposed to write a post for you and I haven’t and haven’t had time and probably won’t have time for a few months yet. Sorry hangs head. I knew things would get crazier as I get closer to the end but had no idea it would start so soon and so hard. I also didn’t know I’d fall in love with primary culture or find out what the lab is like at four am, both of which have achieved.
Shellllleeeeeeeeyyyy!!!! My sister hasn’t written her guest post either, for the same reasons, somewhat. You people and your research!