When BMI goes to Asilomar...

I worked my tush off to try to get everything done on time. On Tuesday, although I was fully aware I had ZERO spare time, we worked on our karaoke, which Noah did a great job on! In the end David and I spent a bunch of time on the powerpoint. It was all in vain since we ended up revamping most of it anyways (mostly to tone it down) but it was still great!!! I stayed up until 3:30 am, then woke up at 830 again to finish up my work and poster (which was a powerpoint). I printed it out just in time to swing by Stanford to pick up Marina and a Co-Term MS student, Jason, and head to the airport to get our applicant, Richard.

I was so ridiculously tired, as was Marina who was practicing on the piano (both she and David are amazing) the song that we were doing for our Karaoke, Piano Man by Billy Joel, at 530 am!!! She basically got NO sleep! We were searching around for a Starbucks while waiting for the delayed flight. Richard was coming from Boston (he works at Harvard in a Proteomics lab), and we got yelled at by the security at the airport for stopping for too long. We were going to just start unloading and re-loading our bags in the back to avoid a ticket, but finally Richard showed up, and I nearly backed into the police car behind me!

When we got to Asilomar all I wanted to do was sleep, but we began setting up for the day! Noah and I picked the "prime real-estate" (see below) in the area that overlooked the ocean, it was really nice. We figured it would keep people from realizing that everyone else had printed out posters, and we only had powerpoints. We were told that was sufficient, but somehow it seemed like we were the only ones! Noah figured he would keep people guessing by leaving his poster in an interesting state, but he finally got things together! I think they look pretty good, though! Obviously not as professional, but at a fraction of the cost, I think unless it is a conference, this will work just fine!

Although it wasn't my night, people actually came by and asked me about my poster and listened to me talk! I think I did a good job explaining it, you'd have to ask them! A lot of people wanted to know all about my results but, unfortunately since I only had a short time during the rotation to work on it, I wasn't able to finish (even with my best efforts the previous evening)! I spoke with Teri who told me that I really need to just "make a clean cut" with the rotations. I can always come back to a lab if I decide I want to work there, but obviously my free time is extremely limited, and so it will only mean that I have less time for my other rotation. Ultimately, something will have to suffer, and that is not a good option.

The next morning we got up bright and early to see deer outside our building! It wasn't really bright and early, since we decided to sleep through breakfast and just go to the talks directly (they serve food and wine the entire time anywa)! The previous year we had all seen raccoon, and they even ate the chips and dip that we had inadvertently left outside! They are pretty fearless!! I definitely was not in to walking alone around there at night, but luckily we were having all the night events at our place, so it wasn't a big deal.

During the free time (which for applicants translates to interviews, we played some ping pong, pool, and worked on our powerpoint and lyrics for the most important evening of the retreat, the entertainment! We all were required to have karaoke prepared, and also some other portions, including baby pictures. Somehow EVERYONE guessed mine immediately, even though Guanglei shouted my name at every single picture that showed up (everyone constantly guess that or Russ). I basically ruined part of the entertainment portion by cracking up during the part for 2 lies and a truth with Guanglei when he said he went down a black diamond (see the previous entry for why)! It was totally mean, but I had some wine in my own defense! The karaoke was great, everyone did something different and it was all completely clever! It included "walk like an informatician", "we are the nerds", dancing and singing to "ice ice baby", and an Indian song with translation. Our powerpoint is available here: http://www.computationalbio.com/Stanford/KaraokeFinal.ppt. The videos are hosted online too! http://helixknot1.stanford.edu/ygarten/BMIretreat/

(The applicants have got the moves)!!

At night we also had a party (which included games and dancing). Betty, Christine, Russ and Gavin Sherlock came to our building for the festivities. They all participated in Taboo, Betty and Christine left before we began the drinking game hands, and Gavin stuck around for dancing and the Denny's run! I have to get used to thinking of professors as something other than how I pictured teachers in grade school and high school! It's such a different position! In any case we had a good time. Unfortunately Marina and I offereed up our room as an outpost for the drinks both nights, and someone had an accident on our bathroom floor *YUCK*!

The next day Noah, David and I had trouble getting up, which was completely unfortunate. I also forgot to take down my poster, I hope that was not a huge deal. I pretty much slept most of the weekend after, and worked on my homework assignment for Atul and Amar! It's crunch time this week! I can't wait for Presidents' Day! I'm newly patriotic!!!!

Giving my spiel! People are listening...I think!

Signs at Asilomar should read: Please don't feed the animals or give wine to Sarah Aerni

Wow, for a "retreat" we're really not getting back to nature! Everyone crowds into the lobby for wireless internet (look at all those laptops)!

Relaxing without technology!

David and I work hard during the poster session (preparing for our Karaoke)!

LAST minute touches (and practice). The entertainment should have already started!

The applicants get DOWN to Ice Ice Baby!!!

WOW! If dancing skills are correlated with acceptance, things may not look so good, but for having fun, they're all in!!!

Everyone knew the lie (look at my reaction)!

First year karaoke. We rocked (although we really cannot sing)! The powerpoint is really funny!
http://www.computationalbio.com/Stanford/KaraokeFinal.ppt

N+ years did an interpretive dance including clustering, fuzzy clustering, depth-first and breadth-first searches and the above, constraint clustering! Look at Mike and Jessie!!!!

Faculty-Walk like an Informatician!

Yay for nerdy 80s!

"We are the nerds" was great!!!!

This was a great scheme involving one person from every group that was supposed to go through these string blindfolded.

Except they took down the strings!

Funny moves! I'm not sure if those were going to prevent him from hitting the strings if they had been there!

Nice moves!

Taboo! The boys won, but only because Kaustubh CHEATS!!! (Not really)

Hands

Drive to Denny's!

Party at Denny's!

The biggest Denny's bill I've ever seen!

I didn't get to my desk until the next Tuesday, when I found the above items on my desk! Noah is such a prankster! I've mentioned it to a few people now who admit that they thought I was having a "rough week"!!!