Housewarming Party (open RP)

[a_time_slip]

Today was her housewarming. Janie checked over everything several times to make sure it was all ready.

The house was completely spotless. She'd scrubbed every corner and made sure it was nice and clean for anyone who came by. Every picture on the wall was straight and the furniture all looked picture perfect. She had lots of snacks prepared and a few activities so people wouldn't get bored. Later, there would be a nice dinner.

She wasn't sure where Ian or Kelly were, but as long as they weren't making messes, it didn't matter at the moment.  Everything had to be perfect for the party.

Comments

[malcolmeffect.livejournal.com]

Uh.. mostly thought of it as a way to keep from starving during graduate school. Ian pored himself a glass of white wine while they spoke.

3 ounces of bourbon, quarter ounce of bitters, a sugar cube, cherries and orange wedges...uh.. traditionally it has water too but I don't like my drinks watered.

[pencilsmightier.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like water would cut down on the flavor, and it sounds like that would all be really good together," Nica said.

[malcolmeffect.livejournal.com]

I could make you one after the martini. Ian smiled and took a drink of his wine.

[pencilsmightier.livejournal.com]

"That'd be great." Nica sipped her drink and smiled. "So, what do you do besides theorize about chaos and mix a kick-ass drink? You're a teacher, right? Do you like that part of it, or is that just something you have to do so you can do other things?"

[malcolmeffect.livejournal.com]

I'm a professor and a graduate student adviser. Ian leaned on the counter to get the weight off his leg. I prefer research but over the years I've become fond of teaching.

[pencilsmightier.livejournal.com]

"That's good," Nica said. "I don't know if I could do that ... I mean, I love art, I'd love to teach people who are also into art, but I have, like, no patience. I think I'd be horrible at it." She chuckled. "I'm better off doing than teaching, I think."

[malcolmeffect.livejournal.com]

Mathematics takes a certain amount of patience that applies well to the structure of the classroom setting. I don't think I could teach undergraduates but I enjoy teaching graduate and PhD courses. Ian smiled.

The respect you gain from a student by being one of the top in your field can go a long way in reducing the amount of patience you need.

[pencilsmightier.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I don't doubt that," Nica said. "So, I guess it'd be best to become, you know, famous and stuff before you become a teacher?"

[malcolmeffect.livejournal.com]

Fame and respect are not the same. Ian pointed out.

[pencilsmightier.livejournal.com]

"Well, no," Nica said and laughed. "But if you're famous for being ... like ... top in your field -- That's what I meant. Not famous for being, like, a Hilton sister or something. Famous for being good at what you do, like Stan Lee or Neil Gaiman or someone."

[malcolmeffect.livejournal.com]

Ian snorted a laugh at her comment. Being the top of the field is a lot like playing king of the hill... uh .. everyone is trying to knock you down so they can get there. In that fame and the scientific community are similar. Respect usually comes from people outside your field which can gain your student's respect or from someone, like a student, who is just entering the field and needs guidance.

[pencilsmightier.livejournal.com]

Nica considered this and took another drink. "I think that makes sense. Damn, that sounds like a hard thing to manage. Yeah, I guess top is like ... being the gunslinger that everyone's trying to beat in a fair right. Whereas, respected is more like the marshal who nobody messes with because they actually like the way he runs things."

[malcolmeffect.livejournal.com]

I think it is the other way around honestly. Ian took a sip of his wine thinking it over. In science a good portion of the people believe they are right and that their method is superior. The challenge more often comes from people who want other people to think they are more correct than you are. Fame allows for more protection against other people messing with your position. Bad press is still good press only applies to fame not respect in science or as an academic.

[pencilsmightier.livejournal.com]

" ... so, everyone knows Hawking is right, so it would be harder to discredit something big that he theorized because of the resulting press coverage?"

[malcolmeffect.livejournal.com]

I'm working on a theory that would undermine one of his. Ian shook his head. Being discredited in the scientific community is not the same as being discredited when it is only fame. Discrediting someone like an actress has little impact on their career but ..uh .. for a scientist that could end your career.

[pencilsmightier.livejournal.com]

"But isn't that different? Like, standing on the shoulders of giants or whatever that Newton guy said?"

[malcolmeffect.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.. that saying is for research that builds off of someone else's work... uh.. not turning it over and disproving it.