I am a Sthientist...or something like that.

First of all, I am really happy that "The Knights of Aquinas" is back up and running. Especially now that we are even more spread out, and grown up!  <3 I am excited about this.

Which leads me to my next point... that I am SO PROUD of all of you... look at us all following our dreams and being big kids now. 

So, I guess I will fill you in a little bit about my new life as being a gainfully employed lady... I am very thankful for this opportunity, as much as I enjoyed being a bum and living with my parents and not paying for anything... This is def a better life choice. (maybe.)

I officially started on Aug. 6th, I was hired with Lancaster Laboratories a company based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (~1.5 outside of Philly).  I had to go for a week of orientation/training out east which was a good experience, a lot of reading SOPs (standard operating procedures) and filling out human resource forms (give me a hellz yea for a pay check, real benefits and 401K plan!!). Speaking of which, as my dad just reminded me, I am currently getting paid right now even tho I am home relaxing. (yay for holidays!) 

I also was trained in really complicated techniques like using a balance, pH meter and pipettors (yes.. seriously).  

I have since moved in to my cozy little apartment on the outskirts of Kalamazoo (about 10 minutes from work and 6 minutes from my sister/brother-in-law). So it is a good location and really enjoy it. Nora got to see it and look at the ducks off my little balcony (picture below) :) 

 A little more decorating has been done since these photos were taken, but you get the idea... just your typical hand-me-down sofas (for free), the table and chairs I got from Craigs list, (I loved the black iron-rod chairs)

Coffee table and small round table were purchased at a yard sale... really nice quality and inexpensive.

My stools (another garage sale purchase from ~4 years ago).

The tv-stand was $10 at the yard sale... and that is my foot and a glass of wine. Where you will most likely find me if I am at my place... drinking alcohol in front of the tv :P

Let's see.. what do I actually do at work?

I am currently working at Pfizer's Animal Health and Veterinary Medicine department in downtown Kzoo.  I work with the "Discovery Biopharmaceuticals" team of about 6 people. My role is to essentially keep cell-lines alive and maintaining them for other people throughout the department... this involves not contaminating them, and feeding them (media) pretty much every other day, counting them so that they don't overgrow and re-plating them into new flasks of different sizes and volumes as needed... That is kind of an overview of the consistent daily routines I do.. I also have to work with large scale bioreactors of cells (~3L of cells which are grown in a large spinner flask) and 10L of cells which are essentially grown in a giant bag.  It has been going well so far, I am partially familiar with this kind of work (from my internship at Van Andel), so I feel confident doing most of the work which makes it enjoyable. I feel like I have already learned a lot and look forward to getting more responsibilities in the future.
 
I guess that pretty much sums it up for now...<3 Miss you all.

-Becs