Comments on comments--A thank you to my readers

Dear Readers,

One of the things that truly warms my heart on the cold lonely nights here in Marburg is your comments to my blog. It lets me know that someone is reading this crazy mess I electronically publish, and that really keeps me writing, even if it is rather hapharzard and random posts throught the weeks. To thank your for your kind readership, I would like to respond to every post I have in the last six months. Its not much, I know, but the comments are really great and I should have done this much earlier.



Anonymous said...

Good luck my fearless friend... good luck.
June 12, 2008 7:49 AM

Thank you, after all the violin practice, I still needed some luck. During the performance, I did miss some notes, but the instructor always says play on, play on. Most of the audience is too dumb to know the difference. His words not mine. Buts its a good rule for life anyway.


Anonymous said...

how'd it go!?
-michelle
June 18, 2008 4:29 PM


It went great! I probably wow anyone besides myself, but I got through it and remembered the whole song. For such a person trained as a scientist, this is like seeing you in a short skirt. It just doesnt get any better.


Anonymous said...

Terry,

why do you seem so sad? Life is not about money or how many ppl love you or even like you. Life is simply about being happy with you and the decisions you make, if your not happy about that, change it till you are. I am not rich, I do not have a ton of friends, but I am more happy than I could ever imagine. I want you to be happy too. You are a great man who needs to see what is worth seeing right in front of you. Good luck my old friend..brilliant minds are often tortured minds. peace be in your heart.

June 18, 2008 9:44 PM

Believe it or not, I am actually a very content person. Not always giggles, but I always have a little fun everyday not matter the situation. I realize most of my interaction with some of you is only with my blog, and the last few posts have been rather downers. Not to worry! Sometimes the blog is a sounding board I can lift my troubled thoughts off of me, and put it in the electronic ether, where it will no longer bother me. So please, dont let it bother you either. Im a survivor, and nothing keeps me down long. Thank you for the uplifting thoughts though. That was very kind of you.

A few thoughts:

A wise man once explained the "W Curve" concept to me. Think about it.

They "want" X number of published journals to consider you for a given position. Wantin' ain't gettin'. Apply anyway.

Saw this on Yahoo today on a list of "10 Hot Jobs That Start at $50K+." You could say, "Screw it," and do this:
9. Pharmaceutical Sales Representative. You don't have to be a physician or even science major to make big bucks in medicine. Just about anyone with a college degree and a killer personality can be trained in pharmaceutical sales. These professionals make sales calls to doctors' offices hoping to convince the doctors to prescribe the latest drugs made by the pharmaceutical company they represent. Seasoned pros can make six-figure salaries in this field.
Typical Starting Salary: $51,104

June 11, 2008 6:25 PM


I loved the line 'wantin aint gettin'. I think I might of heard those lines a few times when I was growing up. One thing that is always a waiting for me is a sales jobs for a PhD. Its strange, but the career articles I always read about with Phd`s as salesman, these people always love their jobs and make large amounts of money. These people sell high end scientific equiptment that most laymen would have a hard time learning. As for the Pharm Reps, no one can compete with these 23 year old blond buxom girls no matter how good your pitch is. I wouldnt even try.

Anonymous said...

Terry was too educated and above this BS job about 6 years ago... no way, no how.... besides the fact that most of these drug reps are finding it harder to get into clinics etc because the industry is finally cleaning up a bit of the unethical BS.

June 12, 2008 7:45 AM


Make no mistake, I dont think I am above any job. My last year of grad school was working as a valet and I never had more fun with so many different people. The paradox of the educated scientist is that he knows more and more about less and less. In that, the typical scientist has to pick a niche that gets narrower and narrower, until he is an expert in that niche. Its like pulling a hair from your head, studying everything about it for 6 years, and proclaiming you are and expert on that one piece of hair. And everyong agrees, cause who would be silly enough to study one piece of hair for six years? Propecial and Minoxinol scientists.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I know it's a BS job. Yeah, I know Terry's way above it. My point was that there are options to be explored out there.

And I knew that particular suggestion would piss him off... and remind him why he's working so hard.

June 12, 2008 4:11 PM

Nothing gets anyone motivated like anger. Sometimes I need a reminding, and sometimes I need a knock on the head, or a nice cold beer. Sometimes all three at once.

Anonymous said...

all that training and still can`t get anywhere. the Professors got there why can`t they understand that a person tries his or her best to get ahead. surely they to had done what ur doing give someone a break....why always be an a.. give someone that had worked so hard to get there a break..they will thank them later and appreciate them later.

May 26, 2008 5:15 PM


Like all professions and crafts, the professorship is a competitive field too. The crazy thing is, we always hear that we need more science training, but their is a plethora of phds out there, and entry rate BS and BA degrees get paid very little. Its kinda funny and a little sad, but I have to usually respond to the industry ads that say ''Entry position PHD needed. No experience necessary.'' That fills me with gall.

Anonymous said,

Hey Terry,

I feel for ya man. Sell out- go industry but beware. Any and all of our future get togethers will be dominated by my banter discrediting the big bad industry for its selfish price jacking of (off) poor elderly folks... often adding a simple OTC to a soon-to-be brand coming off patent (see Trexima- those GSK bastards) just to make investors happy and supply the CEOs with 10s of millions in bonuses.

May 28, 2008 5:50 AM


When I read this post, there are so many responses that could be said of the Dr. mentality (the author of this post is trained in pharmacy and has a MD). Where would I start? More importantly where would it end? So I will keep it to this: When is the last time you heard of any Dr give a heart surgury pro bono (free) or a reduced price? Or any life saving profession. Besides who do you think those investors are? Its the old people.

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Terry,

I read your column... often anxiously awaiting the next installment. Often, I make very insightful comments but I never hear back... Do you even read these brilliant comments?

June 2, 2008 4:01 AM


The posts are admittely very brilliant, but for reasons unknown, I no longer get email notifications of them. I think they are being filtered out as spam or something. So if your comment bears a response because of the thought provoking madness/silliness/angriness you have put in it, please let me know by email. I will guarantee you a response in less than 1 year.

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't take the pills to sleep!!! it's not good for your health.

Life is beautiful and your life is really good, you just always take it too seriously :-)...relax... I'm very happy now here, even if the work is quite boring hehe. I think I've made a good decision to persue my PhD. I'm going to New York next year to work. I wish my professor won't change my mind because so far, I didn't have lots of work done hehe [ but I got top scores in almost every facebook game I played :-) ]

Please don't be too worried about things. we don't need lots of money,work, fame to be happy right?. Happiness depends only on you, on the way you think. I have a very good story to tell you, but wait till the next time we talk. it's quite long and quite hard to translate.

I wish you can stop that sleeping pills soon... I really wanna see you happy ... good luck with everything :-)

June 8, 2008 1:05

Sleeping pills are sometimes a necessary evil. But I take the all natural ones which are so weak, they rarely work. Quite the irony, really. I think of happiness as the experiences you make for yourself. But you never want to be to happy either. Social studies show that the chronically happy people are actually quite lazy and are not very productive sorts. Its the people with the small monkey on their back, with something to prove, that strive the hardest.


Anonymous said...

AMIt was great seeing you agian.. next time maybe the troup will make it to the bar.. HEHE! So meeting with sibling?
Later

May 13, 2008 7:05 PM

Meeting new siblings is a strange up and down experience. Never quite what you expected. Stories better said in person.


Damn it Terry, I hate that I didn't catch you before you left...if the reason you're not coming back to minnesota is because you think there's no one here who'll whip you while yelling in russian... you're wrong.

February 3, 2008 10:16 AM

Anger, whips, and yelling. I think you know how to turn a man on (well at least, this man). Have you done this before?


Blogger Teeny said...

LOL

February 4, 2008 3:20 AM


The above post was pretty damn funny. I laughed out loud when I read it too. Who has that creativity?

Anonymous said...

Come on, we've been looking at that picture of you with the Russian dwarf all month. And the expression on your face says you're pretty sure you're about to get whacked with the bow again any second - not a good look on you. New news - have you got any?

February 23, 2008 11:23 PM

Nothing much really. I just turned into a transvestite, wearing polka dot T-shirts and I dont shave my legs. GWB 43 said he likes the look. Pretty normal.

Anonymous said...

Hi Terry,
I tried to get ahold of you by e-mail but was unsuccessful. I also tried your old cell phone number. I heard you were in town. Jeanna and I are planning to get together on Friday and were wondering if you would like to have lunch and/or dinner. I missed out on your last visit and would be honored and excited to see you this time. Let me know? Excited to hear about all you've been doing.
Love, S

May 7, 2008 5:42 AM


Hey, things are changing huh? I tried to email you to, but I had forgot that you changed emails. But it looks like I might be in town sooner rather than later with some upcoming interviews. I will let you know.

Anonymous said...

Hey Terry. This is Denise. I just thought I would say hi. It's been a long time. I run into your brother on occasion. The first words out of his mouth are, "Have you sent my brother an email yet?" Out of fear that he may maim me the next time we cross paths, I thought it best to send you a message!!! So how have you been? You're certainly looking good!!! You will have to let me know when you are back in the US. I'll buy you a beer!!! Take care.

January 14, 2008 8:15 AM

Hey! Its amazing how we keep running into each other since high school. But I like it. Be so kind to leave an email? and then I can talk to you without the whole world knowing. I really like the fact that my brother is threatening the girls to keep talking to me. All I have to say is, Brother, keep up the good work.


Anonymous said...

would be nice to see u again son. each day is likes years

January 15, 2008 7:44 PM

I saved the best for last. Thanks dad. I love you too.