Tagged: christmas

An Entomological Carol

I was cleaning my office last night, and found a newsletter from my graduate department in 1987!   I had to share. Lyrics by Jim Richmond; hopefully he doesn’t mind me sharing them here.

Sung to the tune of the Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire)

Professors resting wherever they are,
Grad students nipping at their knows
Post-docs with their eyes on jobs aglow
And secretaries dressed up like who knows;

Everybody knows some plants and some insects too,
Goes to make the work just right,
Tiny technicians with their eyes half aglow
will find it hard celebrating tonight.

We know the Chairman is on his way,
He has lots of authority in his say,
And every PI is sure to try
To see if the Dean can make their proposal fly.

And so to you I am offering this simple phrase,
For you, whatever age you are,
Though it’s been said many times many days,
Merry Christmas to you.

An Entomological Carol

I was cleaning my office last night, and found a newsletter from my graduate department in 1987!   It’s a little late, but this one was so amusing I had to share. Lyrics by Jim Richmond; hopefully he doesn’t mind me sharing them here.

Sung to the tune of the Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire)

Professors resting wherever they are,
Grad students nipping at their knows
Post-docs with their eyes on jobs aglow
And secretaries dressed up like who knows;

Everybody knows some plants and some insects too,
Goes to make the work just right,
Tiny technicians with their eyes half aglow
will find it hard celebrating tonight.

We know the Chairman is on his way,
He has lots of authority in his say,
And every PI is sure to try
To see if the Dean can make their proposal fly.

And so to you I am offering this simple phrase,
For you, whatever age you are,
Though it’s been said many times many days,
Merry Christmas to you.

It’s hard out here for a socially awkward entomologist

Ugh. One of the things I hate most about the holidays is the need to sort out just what needs to be done in terms of gifts and parties for the workplace. My new boss gave me a present–what does that mean?
Do I need to give her one back?
Should I be sending cards to everyone?
What am I supposed to be doing????

I don’t know any of the rules about what is expected, and I’m not good enough at small talk to really do well at the holiday gatherings:

“What are you doing for Christmas?”
“Um, lamenting the over-commercialization of your imaginary savior dude’s birth?”

Adding to my problems: I think I have the Largest. Personal. Space. Bubble. EVAR.

Seriously. If you’re at arm’s length from me, you’re too close. There is a great deal of hugging at events like these, and I’m just not comfy with that. It freaks me out when people I don’t know well touch me. I don’t find it comforting.

I think I’m going to go get some chocolate.

Santapede!

It’s officially December, and despite the fact that I loathe the holidays, this was so damn cute I had to steal it from Ugly Overload:

Santapede

Oh, and don’t miss the new Xmas song, Silverfish (To the tune of Silver Bells):

City cellars
Moldy cellars
We have just ventured down
To the basement to get things for Christmas
Lots of boxes, stacks of boxes
I think this one’s the tree
As we move them we’re likely to see…

Silver fish, Silver fish
Its Christmas time in the cellar
Centipedes, race with ease
Soon it will be Christmas Day

Check the link for additional verses.