Trinity University

In two days I will be presenting my research (third time). I am nervous (as usual) but I feel a lot more confident. When I was a wee freshman, I could barely stand up straight in front of all those people. Last year, I memorized my speech after rehearsing over 500 times. This year, I have not practiced, nor have I worried too much. I had many bad experiments this summer so I am not very happy with the results but by now I should know that I can’t expect to publish only after a few months.

My current project is not going so well. I worked so hard to set it up but the seeds are not germinating. I will have to try something else. Here is out student intern Gabby (left) and Dr. Lyon's daughter, Aidan on the right. I came to lab at 6am, mixed soils in the wheelbarrow and filled pots. It took days of backbreaking labor. Science can be so rough.

To entice people to work for me (carry 512 pots up the stairs to the rooftop), I bake goodies. Raspberry lemon cupcakes, miniature blueberry cupcakes with lemon icing, and raspberry macaroons. I didn't lift a single pot.

Last week, I presented my research at the McNair Conference in Niagara Falls, New York. I did not realize how close we would be to Canada (literally, within walking distance) so I did not bother asking for my passport. So, two hours before we flew out, my dad had to drive home to get my passport and bring it to the airport. I felt so guilty! But I bought him some nice souvenirs. Many people say that at Niagara Falls, the Canadian side is much better (our taxi driver, the hotel workers, policemen, just everyone). It’s quite true. We toured the area the first day of the Conference and attended many talks afterwards. During lunch and dinner, we had very nice meals provided by the hotel staff (Crowne Plaza). There were very nice guest speakers. The student presentations blew me away! I loved them all so much. I also enjoyed the food at the casino in front of our hotel. They made desserts so large (think dinner plate size); even I could not finish them! (But believe me, I tried).

It is quite pretty. I was tempted to touch the water but was afraid of getting swept up in the currents. There was so much mist so that when it started to rain, everyone was confused about where the source of precipitation was.

This was taken on the bridge between America and Canada.

Breakfast at the casino. This is the "Two of Everything." Their pancakes are super fluffy. The day before, I ate blue corn pancakes. The sausages are AMAZING!! And that Italian toast on the right....gosh. Yeah, I ate it all. No, really. I did.

See...dinner plate size. The waiter said that it takes 15 minutes to make the desserts so we should order early. It was well worth the wait. This is their version of "Strawberry Shortcake." It is the craziest version I have ever seen. Each slab of pound cake was the size of a normal piece of cake. But everything was super delicious. The sauce was not too sweet and the pound cakes not too buttery.

Next week, I will be going to New Mexico for another conference. We are making stops in Roswell and Carlsbad I think. I am hoping we will stop in El Paso so I can knock on Bianca’s door and say something weird like “trick or treat” or “Fair Bianca Bear, Let down your hair so I can climb up there.” I have never been to that part of Texas. It will be exciting.

Bianca’s sister is coming to San Antonio next year. I can’t believe she is in college already. She will be right next door at Incarnate Word. I want to hear more about that school from her. They are building so many graduate schools within that complex. It intrigues me. They also have a nutrition program, which I am very interested in. Incarnate Word is surrounded by some really amazing places (all within walking distance). Victoria can walk to Central Market (to the right) to get some fresh baked cookies, or in front, Le Madeleine, McDonald's and that new cupcake place (which I didn't like).

It is called Cupcake Couture. It is not so good. They have that "made from a box and sitting out for 15 hours" kind of taste. I will give them another shot when they are better established.

I wonder if I have ever said anything about my future plans on this blog. It is always so indefinite that I don’t know what to write. I know I am getting a PhD. But where? And in what? I have no clue. Some people know for sure what they really want to do but a lot of people are very nervous coming into senior year. Bianca and I both came in to Trinity wanting to do the same things but we ended doing quite different things. Somehow, (I am told), it all works out in the end. By graduation, we will have part of our lives figured out (or at least for the next few years). My sister did not know exactly what would happen after graduation but two months after graduation, she got the graduate school offer she wanted.

I see a lot of tours coming through campus during the summer. Many prospective students are so sure about what they want to do. I didn’t believe it when I came here (I was like, “come on, it’s me we are talking about. I am going to medical school after majoring in neuroscience and conquering the world, etc”), but a liberal arts education will change you. Currently, I just want to cook, finish my presentation, submit my papers, and finish writing my host family a letter. I will worry about the bigger details later (hopefully before May 2010).

Below is some more food I made. This is all I want to do for now...be a chef.

Lately I have been very concerned about nutrition (even more than usual). So I am making a lot of "low fat" products. I love sweets but overly sweet things do not interest me as much so I am cutting back on sugar. Bianca told me that her aunt told her that the average weight gain for college students is 30 lbs in four years. That frightens me. A lot of prospective students ask about the "freshman 15" but they don't know about the "College 30" apparently. It does happen but careful eating and regular exercise will keep you healthy and slim.

Wimbledon tea. Ginger peach iced tea, blueberry scones. Did you guys watch Andy Roddick fight for his life? Poor guy. I made snacks for the game and thank goodness I did. It went on for ages!

Because I love caramels. This was the first batch. Very buttery. That is why they cut so nicely. I love making candy.

Basil cornbread. So good. Also, very good for you.

Cheese puffs. Low fat mozarella. I was kind of nervous about this cheese but they tasted so good! I ate almost all of them!

Oatmeal cookies with applesauce base. Very little sugar. But tasty.

Peaches and cream inside of a grapefruit biscuit. Refreshing and fun to eat.

My brother wanted carrot cake. He texted me while I was in New York complaining about bad carrot cake. I have been looking for an excuse to try this out (thanks Martha Stewart). I made the frosting low fat because no one in my family likes frosting to begin with. We all eat around it. At first the frosting grossed me out (3 bars of cream cheese??) but after being in the fridge for 4 hours (like the recipe said), it tasted fantastic!

Proof that we eat around it.