Tag: Nerdery

Oh my! Thank you, Dr. Beth :)

A moose stress ball :)
A moose stress ball 🙂

Earlier this week, I opened up my mailbox to find a package. It was from my good friend Dr. Beth! Beth is my shorter, whiter, female twin from Vancouver. She’s also an evaluator extraordinaire, PhD genius, soon-to-be MBA, and the internet’s leading authority on radicalized geese. True story. Well, in this package was a surprise. A “Happy New Year” present! Actually, it was meant as a Christmas gift, but apparently the US Postal Service messed up. But no worries- it arrived! Thanks Dr. Beth!

And what was the present? First, a moose stress ball from her MBA Core Program company, D2NA. So cute and squishy. And second… a smiling normal distribution Christmas ornament, complete with +/- 1 and 2 standard deviations. Absolutely amazing and filled with so much nerdery!

I love the end of Beth’s note as well: “All the best in 2013! Here’s to a year of exciting adventures and just generally being our awesome selves!”

I don’t disagree with you, Dr. Beth. Not one bit.

It’s a normal distribution Christmas ornament! So. Cool.
It’s a normal distribution Christmas ornament! So. Cool.

Holiday Nerdery

An academic discussion... over coffee :)
An academic discussion… over coffee 🙂

The meeting of the Nerd Caucus is in session!

Well, it was in session yesterday when we met at the Baker Street Station in Guelph. We all went to the University of Guelph, and it’s great that the city remains quite central for meeting up. I had heard great things about this restaurant, so I was looking forward to trying it. But more importantly, I was excited to see everyone. With me in Calgary, I attend the gathering maybe once a year, though I would love to attend more. Life continues to get busy for all, with weddings and babies and moves and job changes, but we always find time to meet, be merry, and reflect on life post grad-school. And there is most definitely not a dull moment of conversation! Discussions on statistical physics, protein folding structures, and approaches for teaching math in schools were a great complement to chats on living in Vineland and NYC, the curiosity of babies, and Costco. Is there anything Costco can’t provide? There may or may not have been some awkwardly awesome jokes as well. What would nerd caucus be without general awkwardness? I’m impressed we were able to bring so many of us together during the holidays, and it was so awesome to see and catch up with everyone! Until the next Nerd Caucus…

For me, the day also included visits with other friends I don’t see nearly enough. Every time I come home for the holidays, life is crazy busy, but cherishing time spent with family and friends is what the holidays are all about, and I wouldn’t want it any other way :). I can’t believe the visit is coming to a close so quickly…. :S