This Space Reserved

We’re back in State College now trying to get back into the swing of things at school and at home. It seems strange to have to cook meals and wash dishes again. We have been so spoiled over the last month. We really didn’t have to do anything at all. It was a true vacation.
After arriving back into the lab I was quickly reminded again of responsibility. As it turns out two of my lab members are moving on now. One because he graduated and another due to financial issues. Unfortunately this means that I will lose two close friends who always made coming to work a little more enjoyable. I will miss them greatly. They were also two of the three individuals who sit next to me. Now the only one who is left spends most of his time at home electing to do his lab work in the evening or the weekend. It will be more lonely now, but I guess I have my peace and privacy now (not that I really wish it). Perhaps this will speed me along. However, whatever speed I may have gained in privacy, I now have lost to extra lab tasks. There are a number of lab tasks that must be done, and now that we have two fewer people in the lab, the rest of us must pick up the slack. The biggest chore for me will be the additional care of 8 more strains of mice bringing my total to 10 mouse lines now. I am quite certain that I can now dedicate one full day of work each week to taking care of mice. I’m not sure how I am going to manage all of that just yet, but I guess it must be done. The rest of us in the lab will quickly realize how much work those two did.

One thing that we have noticed since coming back from Japan is that everyone here in the US is so big, and I’m not just talking about height. It’s true that many of the Japanese were probably a little too thin for there own health, but conversely, many Americans are too large for there own health—much too large. With escalating health care prices in recent years I can only wonder how much of health related issues may be caused by being overweight. It is really kind of sad.
While we were driving back to State College we were listening to a Christian radio station talk about the high gas prices. The announcer said rather indignantly “if this keeps up I might have to drag the bike out of the garage to commute to work.” Oh my, heaven-for-bid one gets some exercise. Wow, talk about embarrassing yourself on the radio. It’s terrible. The majority of the world uses mass transportation at the very least, while an even greater majority still remembers that God gave people legs to walk and bike instead of work the two levers we have come to know as acceleration and break. If escalating gas prices will remind people of that again, then by all means, levy a $10 per gallon gas tax.
There is some hope though. When we went grocery shopping yesterday at Wegmans (our local grocery store), we noticed a reserved parking space sign very much out of place. Wegmans does have some reserved parking for handicap folks, and even some reserved spots that are for people with children—all of which are very close to the front of the store. This parking spot however was very far away from the front of the store. In fact it was almost at the very end of the parking lot. It read “Space reserved for those who know a few extra steps can help them stay healthy”. Sadly no on was presently parked in that spot, though there were a number of cars parked directly adjacent to that spot. (I think the reserved thing threw them off). It’s a win-win situation. Less gas=more money. Less driving=more exercise. Less obesity=lower health care. Fewer waste/emissions=cleaner environment. Other people in the world seem to have figured out this conundrum; hopefully we won’t be too far behind, lest we want to continue to be the leaders in the “behind”.