frogprof

By sohns on Dec 21, 2011 at 6:57 AM

Even with someone being half AJ and the other saying that they're not, we'll always offer carrier screening just in case. More often than not, I've had couples tell me that there's no Jewish ancestry whatsoever and one of them will have a Jewish mutation (i.e a mutation that's exclusive to the AJ community). It's not that they're lying about their background, but for historical reasons, their families may have had to hide that fact (WWII, for instance). You're absolutely right -- both parents need to be carriers for there to be a 1 in 4 chance (25%) to have a child with the condition. It's really a matter of making sure we don't overlook a possibility and end up having a child with a serious medical condition. I'm glad to hear the baby is doing great :) I've got 3 nieces: 12, 11, and 3, so it's been a couple of years since I've snuggled a baby, but man, the 3 year old is still a BLAST to hang out with. It's adorable to hear her little voice and hear her logic about the world.

By frogprof on Dec 20, 2011 at 3:13 PM

My friend is half-Ashkenazi Jewish [and her husband is not at all, as far as I know] ... so it seemed odd to me that she'd be tested for Tay-Sachs [isn't it one of those diseases where each parent has to contribute the gene? I only know about it from Law & Order, so I may be talking nonsense -- heh]. But whatever. The baby -- who will be 2 in Jan. -- was born 5 weeks early but has recovered from her early nativity and is developmentally "normal" and ADORABLE. And funny as all hell, too. I MISS BABIES. I used to be nanny to a pair of girlies [my boss's daughters, akshully], and before that to another family in Houston, and I've been sitting on babies [as I call it] since I was 12 ... back in the Bronze Age ... and now all of my "babies" are 10 or older! I have nieces from each sibling who are 10, and they're the youngest in their families ... so I don't get to snorgle too many babies anymore. And it's killing me! However, my Older Step-Niece From Hell [sister's step] had a baby last year, and although they couldn't spell his name correctly [she says COMPLETELY non-judgementally] -- "Zachery" -- he looks pretty cute from his pictures, and I will get to see him at Xmas. So all is not lost.

By sohns on Dec 19, 2011 at 7:14 AM

Gah! It sucks when you lose a friend at work and get stuck with all the crap. I've got one great boss and one who's not so great. Honestly, I'm not even sure she's "technically" my boss...she just treats me like an underling and I'm completely fed up. Just the other night, I had a nightmare and she was in it! I'm hoping that with my coverage of the one counselor, I'll be able to avoid this one doc who makes my life miserable. No one here likes her and she either doesn't notice or doesn't care. So infuriating! Interesting about the Tay-Sachs thing. I'm assuming she's Jewish? We usually offer that testing during pregnancy to those couples where at least one of them has Ashkenazi ancestry since they're more likely to be carriers for a host of conditions, including Tay-Sachs. (and yay, I'm famous! ;) )

By frogprof on Dec 16, 2011 at 4:15 PM

Well, that's helpful anyway! Looks like my only "real" friend at work [the only one I actually trust because she feels about this place the way I do] is probably going to leave for another, BETTER [albeit lower-paying] job after the beginning of the year. *SIGH* And I will probably get lumbered with the cr*p she currently does ... which mainly involves dealing with our megalomaniacal boss! BLECH. True story: you came up in convo today because she and I were talking about Tay-Sachs and how SHE had to be tested for all sorts of things before her 2nd baby was born [she was 39 so an "older" mother] ... so genetic testing got mentioned and thus YOUR name was dropped. So now you're famous on the 3rd Coast! :)

By sohns on Dec 15, 2011 at 8:45 AM

I do the same thing, so if you see that I need something, feel free to pass it on. I always try to visit each site daily to grab them myself, but some days are better than others. The job search is ongoing, but nothing's really happening right now. Toronto is pretty saturated, but whenever I see a contract position pop up, I'll apply. In the meantime, one member of our team here is going away for 6 months, so we're trying to figure out coverage. It looks like I'll be taking on a big chunk of it, so that'll definitely keep me busy from Jan to June.

By frogprof on Dec 14, 2011 at 3:59 PM

You know, I never look at people's Collectibles -- I just click on the "donate" [or whatever it is] button and see who "needs" things ... so if you don't want the Memebase stuff, let me know ... I just take ANYthing. I'm not picky. :) How's the job hunt going?

By sohns on Dec 14, 2011 at 12:17 PM

Thanks for the hipster kitty! :)

By frogprof on Dec 5, 2011 at 8:13 AM

"Politely decline anything from the South" -- BWAHAHAH! You'd already fit in!!! :) Well, if it's experience they want, they have to give you a job SO YOU GET EXPERIENCE. Yeesh -- people are clueless sometimes. Heh. Still, fingers crossed for the job of your dreams!!

By sohns on Dec 2, 2011 at 1:15 PM

Oh, and I got feedback -- turns out I was a strong candidate, but just didn't have as much experience as the other applicant they chose. I don't blame them. I've only been working for a year, so I still have time to get it right.

By sohns on Dec 2, 2011 at 1:14 PM

No prospects yet, but I'll have to politely decline anything from the south. My goal is to get CLOSER to my family, not farther away :)

By frogprof on Dec 2, 2011 at 12:41 PM

Oh no! I'm so sorry ... that stinks. But at least WE get to keep you for a while longer, anyway! USA! USA! USA! :) So what's next? Any other prospects on the horizon? Austin is a lovely place [hot as hell in the summer -- and dry, too, usually, in terms of rain but NOT humidity -- and rainy right now that will do little or nothing to resolve our "exceptional" drought] with lots of cool people and an unfortunately SMALL Cheezfrenz population ...

By sohns on Dec 2, 2011 at 7:56 AM

I found out this morning that I didn't get the job :( I'm asking for feedback so I can do better next time. The last time this happened and I asked for feedback, they told me that I did nothing wrong, so that didn't help!

By sohns on Nov 23, 2011 at 7:04 AM

I'm sorry to hear that. You're not a chicken! It sounds like you've already been through quite a lot...no need to have to go through all of that again. And yes, if she's already forgetting her family, then there's probably not much point in going to, essentially, introduce yourself to her. I have my second interview in Toronto tomorrow, so I think things are going in the right direction. I'll let you know how it goes. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving :)

By frogprof on Nov 22, 2011 at 3:22 PM

Well, she's in the throes of dementia/early Alzheimer's and apparently doesn't even know her own family most of the time these days. And having dealt with dying parents who went through mild dementia at The End, and dealing now with PervUnc and DrunkAunt who BOTH have [alcohol-induced?] dementia, I have to retreat from it at some point. I'm a total chicken. I LOVE the video!! So clever but it also gets the point across! Let me know how things go in Toronto -- fingers, toes, and eyes are crossed for you!

By sohns on Nov 21, 2011 at 8:43 AM

It may have been a couple of years, but I'm sure your mentor would still appreciate a visit :) I hope all goes well for me in Toronto, too. I should find out by the end of the week. The place I interviewed at actually made this video for GC Awareness Week, which is this week: http://youtu.be/QWn_xiVBYCk

By frogprof on Nov 18, 2011 at 7:56 AM

Oh, sohns, I'm so sorry for your loss. My own mentor is in hospice now and I'm feeling horrible that I hadn't spoken to her [for various reasons, none of them good -- mostly pure laziness on my part] in more than 2 years. She's had an amazing life, and is almost 85 now, but it's never easy to lose someone who's had such an impact on your life. Hope all goes well in Toronto [if you want it to!] and I don't envy you the move, but at least it's not a move within Texas in AUGUST, which always seems to be my MO!

By sohns on Nov 17, 2011 at 7:34 AM

It's going. Things are pretty crazy over here. My boss/thesis mentor passed away exactly 1 week ago, so we're having a candlelight memorial for him this evening. After that, I'm driving to Toronto for a job interview (not the best timing, I know), and this weekend, I'm moving out of my apartment into my boyfriend's house and that may or may not be a long-term move, depending on if I get the job in Toronto. Crazy, eh?

By frogprof on Nov 17, 2011 at 7:13 AM

Thanks for the Serious Cat [a what?!] -- you completed my set! Howzitgoin?

By sohns on Oct 25, 2011 at 5:21 PM

Haha I hope that's not the case!

By frogprof on Oct 25, 2011 at 5:18 PM

Does that mean you have to be diplomatic? Heh. I would NEVER be successful in that.

By sohns on Oct 24, 2011 at 7:14 AM

Haha yeah, really! I can take solace in the fact that I'm now considered a diplomat of the ABGC, though :)

By frogprof on Oct 24, 2011 at 7:09 AM

So you're no longer honorable?! Maybe you shoulda rethunk that extra step ... Ha!

By sohns on Oct 20, 2011 at 4:57 PM

haha just Sohns is fine ;) Thanks, though. I didn't want to assume anything and then make an ASS out of (u and) me! Now, I can add CGC to the end of my title. Unfortunately, that means that I should drop the Hon. BSc, which in my opinion, looks better, but oh well. MS, CGC now!

By frogprof on Oct 20, 2011 at 2:00 PM

I KNEW YOU WOULD! Oh ye of little faith [or not wanting to jinx things, which I understand] ... but as I said, Cheezfrenz can't FAIL! Conga rat yew lashunz tew yew!! Duz we has tew cawl yew MasterDoctorSohns er sumfin? Er bao wen we seez yew? Ai will dew bofe!!

By sohns on Oct 19, 2011 at 3:35 PM

I passed! I just received the results today!!!

By sohns on Oct 10, 2011 at 7:35 AM

Well, just in case, I'm not going to assume anything until the results come in ;)

By frogprof on Oct 6, 2011 at 9:42 AM

We're not even going to consider that as a possibility. Cheezfrenz do not FAIL! :)

By sohns on Oct 5, 2011 at 7:30 AM

You're so sweet. Thank you! I'll let you know when I get the results. It might be embarrassing if I don't pass, but I know it won't be the end of the world.

By frogprof on Oct 5, 2011 at 7:25 AM

I shall be thinking "HURRYUP" thoughts at the so-and-sos, then! I love how the test-takers don't DARE show up two seconds late [AND have to pay for the privilege], but the test-markers can take as long as they jolly well please. GRRR. Oh, well -- I still have everything crossed and am sending out positive vibes at the graders/markers!

By sohns on Oct 3, 2011 at 11:55 AM

I haven't gotten the results yet! They're terrible about that, so I hope that I'll get the answer sooner than later. I'm sitting here, waiting! :)