I've wasted my nights, you turned out the lights.
Now I'm paralyzed, still stuck in that time
when we called it love.

 - Maroon 5, Payphone

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-- "It's good hearing from you."

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I don't know how else to describe him as anything other than a lone ranger.

I drove down R St. by myself at one in the morning, in dire cravings for something topped with sour cream.  Distracted by being unfamiliar with my destination, I didn't see the dog in the road.  The little white pup wearing a little blue jacket.

He ran out to save that pup.  He just ran into the middle of the street, gave it a little push on its bum with his ankle, and the furry little creature trotted away with a bark.

He tipped his hat to me, and went back on his way.  It was the black of night, yet the way that he sauntered off... it was truly as if he walked away into the sunset.

Ease on, cowboy.

Ease on.

Live your life until love is found,
'cos love's gonna get you down.

- MIKA, Lollipop

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"There's a lovely lady outside…"

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Oh my goodness.

I was asked by my university to be its Student Representative of Biomedical Research at Washington, DC this May.  Members of the university faculty came to a consensus that I'd be the perfect student for the role; they want to fly me out to Capitol Hill to advocate federal funding for UC biomedical research.

"No pressure.  It's just your future riding on this.  And the future of all of us.  No pressure."

The only complication (and it's a big complication) is that it's during finals week, but so far my professors have been supportive; I've already rescheduled one final, and the university reassures that they'll do whatever they can for me to attend the event.  So if everything in the stars line up just right, then I can pursue this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

-- "No matter how this pans out, I just want to thank you for the invitation.  My academics must come first, but I'm extremely thankful just for the opportunity."

Truth.  Although actually getting to fly out to DC on behalf of biomedical research would be way way better. 

I'm trying to not put all my eggs in this basket, but goodness, it's kind of a big deal to me!  Whew!  I'll be sure to keep you all updated on whether or not I ultimately actually get to go!

Meanwhile, busy April is not getting any less busy!  I've just been given my assignment in my research lab for next semester; my lab wants me to Level Up to transplantation work with mice, which is a complicated and time-intensive training process that requires a great amount of commitment, so I have to meet with my laboratory staff to sort out next semester.  I've also got a research conference this Friday, so I'll be spending all week prepping for that, midterms, and my research publication!  

Go go go!

I see your blue eyes
every time I close mine.
You make it hard to see.

- Colbie Caillat, I Never Told You

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"Welcome to your home for the next week!"
-- "Gosh, that's true, isn't it?!"

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Throughout my entire trip to Utah for the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, time was lost on me.  I literally tried to write and blog every single day that I was there, but could never find the occasion to properly do so.  Each day was packed with events, from the moment my eyes opened in the morning until my slumber in the late night.

In the next month, on top of coursework and extracurriculars: four more conferences, a manuscript, and arrangements for a fellowship.  I've been succumbing to the stress of deadlines, but that's okay.  You've got this, kid.  You've got this.  Science, science, science.  That's what I have to do.  Science, science, science.

I've etched out so many half-completed stories, but timewise, my ability to narrate and story-tell has been severely hindered.

But regardless, there are things to know about Utah.

In Utah...

* there is a bar where I am known as "Christa the Scientist."
* I met an amazing girl whose boyfriend told her that she needed to "go make friends," much like how my ex-boyfriend did the same in the Old Life...
* ...so I taught her how to play billiards, even though I completely suck at billiards. 
* there was a first-time meeting between Californians, two states away from California.
* a major benefactor of type 1 diabetes research firmly held my arm as she told me, "Christa, solve this disease."
* by sheer coincidence, I met my future housemate this summer...
* ...and my future employer...
* ...and was confirmed to stem cell research on olfactory regeneration at one of the largest biomedical research facilities in the entire world.
* I indeliberately inspired a network between one of the conference's plenary speakers and my university, sparking ideas for collaborative research efforts.
* I shared a drink with the police chief of Salt Lake City, who now boasts about me as the first scientist he's ever met.
* I was captured by a local legend in photography.
* there is a woman that epitomizes spunky, and sought to pass it down to me.
* I met a member of Sigma Xi, a scientific honors society that has yielded more than two hundred Nobel Laureates.  She completely tore my poster to shreds, criticizing me left and right, rendering me in helplessly nervous stutters throughout my poster talk...
* ...until afterwards, when we shook hands as she told me that I did great for my first conference, and to seriously consider submitting my research to the next annual undergraduate conference of Sigma Xi. 

I didn't realize just how much happened during the span of the conference until I got back to California and had to answer the simple request, "So tell me everything about Utah!"

Someday, when I have the time, perhaps the narrative can exist in full.

Until then, Utah.