I have a Ph.D. in neuroscience. I taught medicine at the West Virginia University School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy while at the same time running a fully funded research lab. My last grant was an NIH grant and was for 10 million dollars. I have had my research papers published in scientific journals such as "Physiology and Behavior", "Stress", "Science" and the medical journal "JAMA" The main foci of my research was to study the effects of prenatal stress on the developmental trajectory of the amygdala over a lifespan.
My career came to an abrupt halt in 2004 when I was hit by a tram while walking to my car in the parking lot. I was severely injured, spent an entire year in a wheelchair and after several reconstructive surgeries walked without assistance for the first time in 2007. And none of this makes me special or brave or outstanding in any way, because I pissed and moaned my way through those three years. I was not strong and thank God the Hubby loves me, because a lesser man would have left me during that period.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let's move on to my blog for the day.
I finished the dragon for my whimsy-world and he is named after my fellow blogger Dez, over at The Hollywood Spy. He's a beautiful dragon that spreads happiness and peace wherever he goes, just like his namesake. His purpose in my whimsy world is to keep the evil that is inherent in Queen Margie from spreading throughout the land.
This is a crop out to show detail on the dragon. This was done using ArtRage. ALL of my whimsy's are being done using ArtRage. Some folks were a bit confused about that fact on my last post.
And now for something I'm really excited about. I'm going to be painting my first minis by the end of next week (that depends on speed of shipping from the manufacturer). Kris over at Wargames and Railroads gave me a link to Dark Sword Miniatures and I found the figures I want. I'm getting three figures, 1. Rabbit Ranger #DSM7987 2. Female Fighter #DSM4115 and 3. Warrior w/Axe #DSM7427. If any of you gamers want to see them, you can go to the link. And Kris is very kindly sending me my first set of paints (Reaper Miniature HD) in the mail. Thank you Kris!!
One last thing. What I used to do for a living and the things I have experienced do not make me special. I was one among thousands in my career and difficult things happen in every persons life. The only thing this makes me is a feckin' nerd. However, I can now write funny MSPaint posts about the shite we got up to in the lab. The stories are funny and many of them involve alcohol, so you might enjoy them.
Have yourselves a great weekend. I know I will.
Know what makes you especially awesome? You don't feel the need to throw your accomplishments in the faces of others. That is way more impressive (to me anyway) than any PhD...not that a PhD isn't cool...that's a helluva lotta work! I love your attitude and the way you tell a story. Looks as if you are stuck with me! And well done with the dragon. I love how he's breathing rainbows!
ReplyDeleteA Ph.D. rarely makes one cool. Rather, it makes one socially inept and a solitary person. Both of which I am comfortable with after all these years. Dez would never breath fire, so he's breathing rainbows. He's a sweet dragon and a sweet person as well.
ReplyDeleteso very true what you said, Annzilla about PhD making a person socially inept and solitary :(
DeleteAnd thanks for thinking moi is sweet :) Me tastes like lollipops LOL :))
Well it is true, you don't seem so socially inept on here at all hahaha
DeleteThat's only because it's not in person. Believe me, unless I've been drinking heavily I tend to find a corner and sit in it!!
DeleteYou are sweet Dez. I love you!!
What a secret, Anne!!
ReplyDeleteAre you shamed about it? it's not necessary: if you are intelligent and graduated it's not a flaw!
Well, everybody here know that your are a clever woman...
Now, I'm waiting your first painted figures and .... some funny stories!
Most people find it off-putting so I don't talk about it in everyday life.
DeleteI can't wait for my figures to come and start painting. I have instructional videos on painting to watch before begin work though.
Take your time, Anne! it's the first lesson and there's no video and tutorial about that!
Delete(forgoten: thanks for adding my small blog in your blog-roll !)
I'm nervous about it, but the only way to learn something is by doing so. So I'm going to just jump in and try.
DeleteI've had you on my blogroll since I began following you!!
Love the wee penguin thief.
ReplyDeleteI used to wargame many moons ago; my attic is well protected from tiny intruders.
I have a Landsknecht/Swiss army ready and waiting for the grandsons.
If they become nerds that is...;¬)
I don't have grandchildren yet, but my daughter is a true blue nerd like me. I showed her these figures and she wants to do one herself. She'll pick the most expensive one she can find no doubt.
DeleteThe dragon's beautiful, and hey, ain't got no shame for it. It's quite a big position, isn't it? Anything to sustain the beer lol.
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed. Now I'm a mom and a blogger and make no money. Oh how far we fall!!
DeleteI guess the best thing about getting hit by the trollik is finding out you have a quality guy & a relationship you can trust. Now if there were only less painful ways of finding stuff like that out ;) Congrats on starting on some minis! Looking forward to seeing them.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait, I just hope I don't mess them up too badly.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the minis being painted, you're Irish Anne and it would have taken something bigger than a tram to finish you as I found out with a bus, we're too stubborn to let things like this finish us, have a good one Anne!
ReplyDeleteYou boys have fun this weekend and take lots of pictures. I'm laying bets that yours and Rays accounts of events will not match up!
DeleteGreat pics and a good post, so I need some advice...
ReplyDeleteWhat does it mean when people say I need my brain examined?
Just joking ;-)
It means you're interesting and they want to find out why, They'd only be asking to remove your brain and section it into tiny pieces, quite painless.
DeleteDamn, Humble! That's a feckin' amazing tale. You accomplished something huge and should be proud of it instead of brushing it aside.
ReplyDeleteThe dragon is really good. I've never heard of ArtRage, so thank you for that. Well done as always.
I hadn't heard of it either until my free Corel trial ran out and I couldn't afford to buy it. There is a free trial download for ArtRage. You should try it, I was sold right away. And it's not expensive.
DeleteDifferent and new chapters, one great book :)
ReplyDeleteWay to go on the painting - now the real challenges begin :)
CS
I can't wait to paint those mini's. I'll make mistakes I'm sure. The question is, will I be brave enough to photograph those mistakes and share them!!
DeleteOr, learn to strip them and start again ;)
DeleteNah, post away, if anyone gets nasty, we will put their windows through :)
A woman who never made a mistake ...
CS
I was wondering if that was possible. I'm going to buy some figures I don't really care about to practice on. And if anybody does get nasty with me, you can have at them!!
DeleteYes, it is - see my 'Stripping Paint' cloud label.
DeleteGet some Ebay, metal, bargains, for practice, they always come in useful, for such.
CS
It does actually make you more special that you don't see it as special, but you don't want to be called special so I'll leave it there. I love the dragon, and I hope the miniature painting goes well. It can be tricky.
ReplyDeleteI won't have a concept for how hard it really is until I hold that first piece in my hand and say "Jesus Christ, this is small, how am I going to pull this off?"
DeleteI'm glad you didn't tell anyone that those lab projects of yours were actually a cover-up for your secret mission of making me into a Poison Ivy super hero :) the one which would control the nature, plants and animals :) We shall keep it our little secret.
ReplyDeleteI bet that tram is rotting somewhere for all the evil it did! :( You know how much we are all proud of you! You should run for Irish president! I'd vote for you if Ronan Keating doesn't run the same year ;P
And thanks for the lovely Dezzdragon :) I shall breathe rainbows on our enemies and occasionally on our court jester in the times of peace :)
I like to say that the fight with the tram is the only fight I ever lost. It kicked the shit out of me. I'm glad you liked the dragon. It took me three tries to find the right color. If only our jester knew his own identity!!
DeleteI think I just got turned on for several reasons. I love intelligent women. xo
ReplyDeleteThank you, most men don't feel that way. I'm glad the hubby did.
DeleteYep, as I said before, a true Renaissance Lady. Though I was wrong about the painting, your brushes are virtual rather than actual, you still make beautiful art. You have been through so much in your life, Anne, but you still keep on going. And your beautiful spirit shines through. I like your choices of minis, can't wait to see them painted. P.S. I taught for a while in West Virginia, too, at College of West Virginia, in Beckley.
ReplyDeleteI still have to buy my brushes!! But I had to use small brushes to stain brain tissue sectioned at 30 microns, so I hope I can do this. I wish I had that set of brushes now!! What did you teach?
DeleteYou should try to get some sable brushes, if you can find some. I really like them compared to synthetics.
DeleteI taught Clinical Medicine and Physical Examination Skills in the Physician Assistant Program there.
so you are qualified insane right?My ex bf finally got his one and yes, you guys are normal(you just know a lot more on one specific subject...gimme brain). What I have found (after countless hours of reading through his papers...on invasive plant dispersal). People with a phd can say mundane things with complex sounding words.
ReplyDeleteSo do you like ArtRage? Love the dragon looks fantastic!
We're a crazy lot, and that's why they keep us penned up in universities! The language is so specialized that it sounds like we're saying something important when all we're doing is asking is "Are you going to eat that sandwich?"
DeleteI love ArtRage!!
That Dragon is awesome. Such wonderful detail indeed. I hope that tram got what it deserved and ended up in the scrap heap. The parts turned into a printer that all can smash...haha. And who wouldn't bitch and complain a bit, glad all is well. And yeah being a bit of a nerd too, I think your work was cool. Unless you really were some secret spy that was trying to help the NWO rule the world or something..lol
ReplyDeleteI complained more than just a bit, I was horrible to live with and full of self pity. I was pathetic.
DeleteDez looks great doesn't he? And it's so him. You're going to be a whimsy to Pat, I just haven't told you what you're going to be yet!!
in such situations, everybody deserves at least some self pity, dahling. You must cry when the world crashes you so.
DeleteAnd, being the spy that I am, I know who Pat is going to be :)))
I know you do darling. We dish all our dirt behind Pats back. If only he knew. But the sanctity of the DM must never be violated. We're like the priests of gossip!!
DeleteCome on you can tell the cat, the cat won't tell that dirty human Pat...LOL
DeleteIt's a surprise Pat!!
Deleteyep, we must worship our sacred rules in the United Irish Slavic Gossip Church of Holy Tweeter ;) Eat your tail up, Cat the Pat :P
DeleteI love that Dez. Do you think we could get a Charter for our church and live a tax free life?
DeleteThe cat will never bow down to the church of Dez, those penguins ruin the decor.
DeleteWell I still think it makes you special. ;) But then I thought you were special to begin with, so it doesn't change my high opinion of you. And I hope you don't think this too forward of me, but you survived getting hit by a train--no matter whether or not you pissed and moaned your way through it, that's friggin AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteI love your dragon!! I hope you show us photos of your finished minis.
xoxoxo
It was in a parking lot so it wasn't going really fast, maybe 5 mph, but it was bigger than me, so it did some damage. I'll show pictures of the mini's for sure, even if they don't turn out well.
DeleteHoly shit Anne, you and your family have a rough time of it, don't you???
ReplyDeleteGreat artwork too, you'll be after a PHD in MS Paint soon! Looking forward to see your figures painted up!!
I'm Irish Ray, bad luck clings to me like white does to rice. I'll take pics of them when they arrive so people can see what they look like before I eff them up!!
DeleteIs there anything you can't do or anything that else that makes your life harder? You are quite the accomplished and talented and durable Irish woman! How you make it through some of these things is a miracle!
ReplyDeleteI love the painting! Looks like a friendly dragon so I will put away my dragon slaying kit and admire its beauty!
I can't swim. God made us sturdy because He knew life would kick the shit out of us and as a people, we have suffered. But we have a drink or two and go on.
DeleteHe is a friendly dragon, just like Dez is. He's also a vegetarian dragon!!
I'm sorry Anne but there's no way I can't be hugely impressed with your degree and your career, wow, if I ever get a career like that I'll be a very happy guy, sorry to hear about the tram accident though, it sounds horrible.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the painting too Anne, awesome stuff.
I loved my work and I was bitter for years at the loss of it. It was my dream job, and I got to do it, so there is that to be thankful for. Dezzdragon is pretty isn't he?
DeleteThe dragon is simply amazing! But, what else can I expect?
ReplyDeleteSo, I had to look up the word amygdala and I still am uncertain what it really does...I can't even BS and say that I do. But, it's some impressive stuff none-the-less and so are you - and way to humble =)
xoxox
The amygdala controls our fear response. The children of mothers stressed in the last trimester of pregnancy have a heightened fear response and are more likely to have anxiety disorders that manifest early and continue throughout their lives. I found changes that were significantly as early as postnatal day 7 (7 days after birth).
DeleteI saw that comment on G's blog too. And I'll be honest, I think you can still be considered brave and strong because a normal person would have just keeled over and died. :|
ReplyDeleteYou saw it too then? My pageviews spiked a few hours after that and then the first email came in and I knew I was effed. I came close to giving up and giving in just like anyone else.
DeleteI think this makes you a remarkable person. A PhD is a great accomplishment; one I don't think I'd be able to do. Is there any chance of you going back to your job now that you have recovered somewhat?
ReplyDeleteI could easily teach again, but it was the research that I loved. And if you don't publish for a few years it's almost impossible to get funded again. I'm pretty happy with my life right now, so it's all good.
DeleteYou should check
ReplyDeletehttp://www.coolminiornot.com/shop/
Other than GamesWorkshop, that is my favorite place to shop for miniatures. They have a lot of cool minis from smaller producers that are hard to find otherwise.
I just went there and bookmarked it. I really like the Hell Dorado collection. I'll think about those for my next batch, providing I don't mess these up too badly.
DeleteIt only took me one sentence for my brain to be all "Anne was SO not a prostitute ever" and then I was proven right. Pretty quickly too. You can say it's not special or whatever, but I think it's pretty badass myself. There may be a lot of capable people out there, but there's a lot who could never (I look at myself with no shame).
ReplyDeleteThat dragon is badass! It looks tame, which you were obviously aiming for. Nicely done :D
Not a prostitute, just a bawdy scientist! I had to do the dragon based on Dezzie personality, which is sweet and lovable!
DeleteAhh...so you're that Anne. ;^)
ReplyDeleteGlad you made a recovery, and that The Hubs loves you that much.
Hardly a household name. I'm Lord of the Geeks in real life. The Hubby is a patient man.
DeleteI read the comment yesterday that you told that in! (plus you told me before!)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear more about your scientist days! And being a neuroscientist is special! Not everyone went to university and got an education! And its not every day you meet someone who understands how the mind works!
Love the dragon picture! Especially the rainbow smoke coming out of his mouth!
Hope you have fun painting the minis! It can be tedious but fun!
I'm already thinking of some of the funny stories that I can do with MSPaint. Most of them involve alcohol. We drank hard when we weren't working and sometimes/frequently drank at work.
DeleteHave you painted minis before?
I use to play Warhammer and I painted the minis for that game.
DeleteFun fact: My Warhammer minis are what is in that old wooden mini chest on my shelf in my Ol' Timey Movie reviews!
Can't wait to hear drunk scientist stories! Did you study the drinkings effect on the scientist mind!
Your scientific background sounds amazing, and for an idiot like me who barely stumbled out of community college it is impressive. I hope you decided to blog about your knowledge/experience a little more now that you've 'outed' yourself, because you've already proven that you're no stuck-up, self-promoting egghead.
ReplyDeleteBut it's your blog. If you want to keep blogging about being an artist and a gamer nerd, that's cool too. :)
I worked with some pompous asses though. They didn't have any interests outside of work and had no idea what fun was. I hated them!!
DeleteOther than funny stories, I'll stick with what I'm doing now because it's relevant to me now.
The more I learn about you, the more impressed I become. While it's great that you have a PHD, its amazing that you don't show off. Many people would flaunt their research around like it's God's creation. My one professor last semester spent more time bragging about her "research" then teaching the class.
ReplyDeleteThat aside, I LOVE your dragon. He looks very friendly :)
Have a great weekend!
She's probably doesn't mean to brag. Your research defines you at a university, teaching doesn't count for much. None of us went to school so we could teach, we got our degrees solely for the opportunity to do research. Teaching is nothing more than an onerous task that you're required to do and try like hell to get out of.
DeleteYour dragon is cute, but when I first looked at it the first thing that came to me was a dragon that eats giant rainbow worms. (Yes, I really have a weird imagination) It only occurred to me after reading your comment that it breathes rainbow. LOL
ReplyDeleteHaha, no it breathes rainbows instead of fire. I wanted to put a little hummingbird in there with him too, but ran out of time.
DeleteI think you're brave and outstanding, no matter what you say. I bet you would have a wild autobiography, should you ever choose to write one. Meanwhile, I look forward to the lab stories!
ReplyDeleteWow, neuroscience... That's intense. It's a shame about the accident, but I'm glad you're totally better and have moved on!
ReplyDeleteI DO remember seeing something you posted on another blog where you got into insane amounts of technical detail about some kind of medical topic...this was before we were following I believe.
ReplyDeleteThats a crazy story though. I hope you were awarded some kind of financial windfall for your accident. You may disagree, but recovering from this type of deal IS kind of special/brave/Hallmark type event.
I remember that. I ran into stupidity on such an epic level that I couldn't contain myself.
DeleteThere was no windfall as I didn't sue for damages. It was a mistake pure and simple and there was no need to ruin two lives over it. I knew the tram driver pretty well, his name was Ben. He was a big guy and very sweet, I couldn't hurt him like that.
A rainbow breathing dragon? That's really neat
ReplyDeleteThat is quite the secret.
ReplyDeleteOooee it sounds like the intro to a superhero novel. And a PhD in neuroscience? That seems like it'd be the most difficult thing in the world. I couldn't even make it past freshman year as a Marine Biologist (which is why I copped out and became an English major).
ReplyDeleteAlso, looking forward to hearing the dirty, alcohol-induced secrets of lab. I'm digging the dragon too. The pastel colors work great with each other.
P.S. One in thousands is way better than one in millions.
Sometimes things happens in our life, they knock you down and it's important to get up again like you. So and now your secret is no longer a secret but you're still the same and that's all that matters. And now I'm waiting eagerly anticipating your first painted figures.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Lonewolf
It's going to take me a while. I am going to buy some cheap figures first to make mistakes on and I may post those so you can all have a good laugh at my first efforts!!
DeleteMistakes are there to be made. The only way to learn something. I never showed my first figures to anyone, and even today, my figures and models have enough mistakes. It's just a hobby and so I will not laugh but I will enjoy the pictures of your painted figures.
DeleteRegards
Lonewolf
Wow neuroscience that's impressive! It's a great thing you have a loving husband things like that are never easy to deal with!
ReplyDeletenice dragon...like the rainbow flames...and you know what, i used to paint gaming minis for a job in college for the local shop...
ReplyDeleteok i am impressed with your past...and even if you pissed and moaned you made it through and that speaks volumes...smiles.
Anne i love your dragon. Is so cute
ReplyDeleteI can't get "Flowers in the Attic" out of my head now...but then I DON'T have a PhD in anything, so..
ReplyDelete~Mary
Holy bejesus, multi-talented AND brainy, you got it all, Anne! I am sorry about your accident, though. That's not a nice thing to happen at all.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that dragon, he's gorgeous!! The fact that he breathes rainbows is AWESOME!!! Great post, as always! *bigarse hug!* :)
I can't wait for your lab stories Anne. You should come to the pool sometime wearing your labcoat. Sorry it's been a while since I commented.
ReplyDelete