congrats, Norway

Norway won Eurovision 2009 with an awesome song Fairytale by Alexander Rybak (he's so cute!).

Estonia had a great song as well (Rändajad by Urban Symphony) and came 6th:) 

Russia did a good job organizing this event:) 

I miss the times when Eurovision night was a great get-together night. Now I just watch it on my own from internet... But who knows what the next year will bring. 

song of the day - Katie Melua

My new finding in music - Katie Melua. I like her voice and style! Such calm and dreamy. 

Such as: Nine million bicycles and If you were a sailboat. 

And - she is Georgian:)

I only discovered her a week ago and the funny thing is that today I found out that she's giving a concert in Ottawa next week. What are the odds, eh. 

rain

"It really smells like rain all of the sudden", I thought. And then I looked out the window - and sure enough - it is raining! 

Boo...

But what amazes me, is that even though the windows do not open, the smell of the fresh spring rain can easily sneak in. 

zzz...

Yesterday I had a busy day working. And then around 5, when the lab was too busy for my liking, I decided to go and have dinner at my supervisors. So I walked over, photographed some apple-blossoms (I think apple is one of my favourite flowers) and i was hoping to be back at the lab around 7 or 7.30. But, no. First we had some wine, and some appetizers and then some more wine and then the meal and then some delicious chocolate. My supervisors daughter's highschool friend was also visiting. So it was a very fun night. 

And I got back to lab around 9 pm instead. Worked until 00.30 and then bussed home. I made it in this morning at 8 am, but I am so sleeeepy...

I can't wait for lunch. We are going to the Sushi-Kan - all you can eat sushi. Mmm.... 

Also - I think I will be staying at the Auberge de Jeunesse (old-town area) while in Tours. It's a hostel. Sounds sort of fancy, so I just hope there will still be something left from my salary after the rent. 

moving on. next stop - France!

It's 8.30 in the morning and I'm at the lab. I have SO much to finish up, so I need the entire day every day. It's sunny and quiet here right now:) 

Big news first - last Thursday I got the confirmation that I have a mini post-doc position in France from June 1 to Sept 30th. It's amazing! I will be leaving Ottawa on May 29th at 5 pm. The return ticket is for Oct 22. 

In France I will be located in Tours - right in the middle of the wine fields (2 hours from Paris toward Spain). 

What has been going on in the meanwhile:

- Audi (kitty) was visiting me from Thursday to Sunday. Wonderful time. 

- Saturday - May 9 - party to warm up Vanjas house and celebrate Nastjas birthday. Theme Moscow and Mojitos. Lots of fun. 

- Friday - May 8 - Ottawa Microbiology Symposium - I was one of the invited speakers and got introduced as a Doctor. It felt good. And later, a professor aftewards reffered to Dr. Hundionu's talk. My heart sank a little:) The talk went pretty well. even though I had a hard time concentrating due to France-associated thoughts. 

- Thursday - May 7 - baking feast at Nicoles with Nist and Fiona. We made poppyseed bread, plum-pie and cookies. Delicious. And great time. 

- Wednesday - May 6 - I submitted the final copy of my thesis. Finally DONE! 

- Tuesday - May 5 - The Ottawa Evening 2009 (Partners in Research gala night). I was invited as a youth ambassador (regular tickets $180). Great time and tasty food. And I met Justin Trudeau (member of the parliament) and Marc Garneau (member of the parliament, former austronaut). 

- Monday - working on my thesis

- Sunday - May 3- 6 hike with Nist and Paul in Gatineau. I also bought a great pair of hiking boots at the MEC garage sale. 

done and done!

Today I submitted the final copy of my Ph.D.  thesis. Of course, the print-devil had to get his hairy hand into the game and mess up something, but I guess that's part of the game. Nothing too bad. And the most important thing is that I am done! 

So yeah - this chapter in my life manuscript is complete! 

It feels GOOD! 

What's next? 

Family-Saturday

Finally a day off. And I spent it with my 5 year old buddy Samuel and his dad. Such a wonderful day. We had lunch and a cake that spelled PhD and a glass of bubbly wine. And then we watched some Starwars, as Samuel is a big fan (would you believe that I have never seen Starwars?). And then played with balloons and watched Kentucky Derby. It was held for the 135th time.  What an event. Especially the pretty hats that the ladies wear. Amazing. Horse named "Mine that bird" came first, with an amazing spurt in the end. And - the horse that I chose, Pioneer of the Nile, came second! Perhaps I should get more involved with horse races. 

And then we had dinner at the Thai place and then it was time to call it a night. 

Super nice day!

And - Samuel was quick to notice that I cut my hair. He liked it. I was impressed. I think that the saying that "guys never notice new hair" does not hold true with young gentlemen. :)