Inspiration

When the wave of inspiration hits you, suddenly you feel alive, a living genius! Everything makes sense, everything seems worthy... All the time you invested in literature research and designing the perfect experiment is certainly the best excuse for not finishing some other project. It's a great feeling, until you start seeing the flaws. The doubts take over your reasoning, the uncertainties make you question what's the real question... is it about advancing the knowledge or is it about your ego?

When you think you have an hypothesis worth to share, and you think you've figured out a way of demonstrating its veracity... You really feel important! At least I did... But I've had enough of ideas... of plans... of projects... I wanna get in there and do it! How long...?

You ever feel guilty for wasting time? I do... What is "wasting time"? I guess for me it's all the time I spend looking at the sealing wondering if this or that wouldn't be possible and why and how... instead of working on what's here now waiting to be wrapped up, put together and... thrown to the big fishes!... And the time goes by... and I just love to come up with more and more ideas... especially when I finally started to understand something about the field!! (2 years later...! yes, I can be slow)...

And then... there's the YOUR Life, the real adventure! The big picture...

Where's the time for that when you choose to do a "successful" PhD? Because for me there's a difference between just doing enough to get that title or to do your BEST to deserve it. I've been in between these two definitions many times... Usually what feeds my motivation to do my best is knowing where the money comes from. And to honor the confidence that the people who had the power to decide whether I got the money or not, deposited on me. Then, there are the times when I feel that my work is incredibly interesting (a couple of weeks a year) or that it will actually get me some credit even (ego speaking). Yes, there is passion... a huge curiosity that never gets satisfied... but also disappointment about what has been done so far and why it has been done that way. I like to think of myself as the "get-the-job-done" person. But lately I find it hard... I discovered I can think for myself, I can come up with my own questions... The trouble is that the world keeps spinning and my funding will eventually run out! lol I have to do what I have to do... and get over with it.

Work, work, work... Patrick wherever you are, you were right: science is addictive, and once you're in you can't get it out of your system.

Sushi, cakes and tarts...

Eating good food is one of my favorite activities, as for most Portuguese people! Am I right?! ;) Feeding is welcoming, is a way socializing, of breaking the ice, is a Life choice! And... the more the better...

I have never been adventurous enough to cook any complicated meals or any meal that required more than 1 hour of work on my own... Perhaps, because I always had my mum and grand-mum cooking delicious meals for me:) Even throughout college... thank you Tupperware! It's a pity they can't mail to this damn island...

Recently, that is, since Nuno came to UK, I have been more pro-active... always conquer the man through his bailey! :D Until one day I got home and there was SUSHI in the fridge!!!!!!!! And it was a Friday!!

The 31st July 2010!

The Friday where home-made Sushi began! And now... it's hard not to fall for the temptation of preparing sushi everyday... Yesterday we prepared some more (on the left) and there's fish left in the freezer for the next time... What an addiction!

And it's not that difficult at all. All you need is rice vinegar,, sushi rice, water, salt, sugar, algae leafs... and fish, smoked or fresh and raw vegetables at your choice! And of course... Wasabi and Soya! :)

It is delicious...

But of course... a good diet is a diverse diet, and no diet is complete without chocolate or other sweets! :) One of my favorite desserts is my mother's apple tart... On the other hand, Nuno's favorite chocolate's cake is his mum's cake. So... to be fair we ought to do both! :) What a happy weekend...!

And here is the result of a well spent afternoon! But...

The chocolate cake didn't taste exactly the same... should have used more cacao and less milk chocolate. Still, there was nothing left after 3 days...

The tart was salty, didn't know what's the equivalent of "margarina" in english, so I went for the butter... big mistake... Nonetheless, we ate everything!! lol ... And they surely look good on the screen :D I just made another one

today using vegetable "butter" with no salt, which resulted in a perfect tasty pastry :)

Another favorite dish that me and Nuno absolutely love (!!!) is "Francesinha",

a typical dish from Porto (which actually has its origins in a french recipe).

The secret lies in its sauce: a tomato-beer-based sauce that transforms a simple toast of meat and cheese into a surprisingly tasty meal! Spicy, but not too much and with such a characteristic flavor and smell that you can't miss it!

It's a proper, heavy meal to watch football and drink beer (Super Bock or Sagres)!

And today we're making some more... because it's football time! Supertaça FCPorto-SLBenfica!

Allez Porto Allez!

When Dreams come True

You know when you want something to happen so badly that Life without it becomes unbearable?

And then... it comes the day when the dream, the anxiety, the doubts... vanish! And you're finally living the Life you dreamed of :) You feel fulfilled, happier than you can remember of... and yet, it only lasts if you continue to work hard... :)

Life is a roller coaster... But not so much. If you engage and take responsibility for your acts and thoughts, you may control how long it'll take to get you to the next curve... Head up, head down... Heart beating, heart stopped, still breathing!

Adaptation is a sign of intelligence. Love is also adaptation. One has to accept other's views, habits, needs, flaws... but if you are aware of all these small things and you still feel your body trembling every-time you cross each other's eyes... you can't be wrong ;)

It's only when someone challenges your certainties that you realize how stubborn you can be sometimes... I can't imagine living with another self! And I've been living on my own for quite a time... I forgot what it is to trust someone to do simple things... to recognize their effort... I am also trying to get back on track ;)

Living with your better half is the biggest challenge that your Love will ever face. Spending quality time can be hard when you see the same face everyday. Understanding or ignoring can be a tough decision but both are important at times. Learning to remain silent is also an important skill!

Ohhh but what can I say? Go for it! :)

I'm in Love!