Midnight Premier of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

I really like Harry Potter. I read the books. I own all the movies. But this is the first time that I've gone to the movies in the middle of the night just because I could. I didn't dress up like I could have. I didn't go at 8am to buy my ticket. But I went. The theater was packed. We bought tickets at 10:15pm or so and the earliest show we could get into was 12:35. the 12:01, 12:05, 12:10, 12:15 etc. were all ready sold out.

It was a good time though. Book 6 was my favorite book of the series. The movie obviously doesn't do the book justice, but I enjoyed it. It was funny, it was sad, it was the adventures of Harry Potter. I recommend that you go and have a look.

Yuly and I with the proof that we actually went to a 12:35am showing of the latest Harry Potter movie

It was late... Erik took a nap for the 45 minutes we sat waiting for the movie to start

The Mayhem

Boys are Stupid

Today while at the gym after work, I was on the elliptical minding my own business and I noticed a guy walk by me and kinda look at me. Well, it's the gym, so I take it all as a grain of salt and continued on my merry way. Then he "conveniently" stepped on another machine caddy corner to where i was. I continue ignoring him because at this point, still nothing that weird. I go to the Greendale YMCA and the cardio room isn't super huge. But then, I go to the mat to stretch and do some ab works. He follows to the mats a couple minutes after I get there. Now I'm noticing this. He's working extra hard over there... I roll my eyes, decide I'll come back later and go to lift some weights. Shock of all shocks, it isn't too long until he's over there lifting weights, walking by constantly. I decide to lift weights with my eyes closed (I'm on a guided machine so this is possible). I decide that I was tired of avoiding this guy and all the annoying high school boys trying to impress the high school girls that I go back to the mat to stretch again before leaving. Again, no surprise, gym guy is back on the mats and all I can think is "go away!"

Now, I will say this, he wasn't ugly. He might have even been nice... but don't follow me around the gym!! Muster up the balls to say hello or smile even if I've got "don't talk to me" written on my forehead... or don't. If I'm interested, which I'm probably not, but if I am, maybe I'll say hello back... but I doubt it.

Last but not least, since the YMCA is a family type of place, it is no surprise to find that parents bring their high school kids to get them to exercise. Good. But seriously, I do not remember being around boys in high school that were so ridiculous (although I'm sure I was)! They are basically wild hormones inside of skin vaguely resembling people.

The "dumb jocks" walk around talking about football and their protein shakes while lifting a bit in between long breaks of checking out girls, drinking water, showing off their knowledge of weight lifting and acting cool. The "nice guys" travel in groups of at least 3 with the designated ring leader that will initiate the conversation with the pretty girl who is not sweating too much on the elliptical or stationary bike. The "dorky guys" follow their dad around and do what they're told.

I do my best to ignore them, but mostly they just annoy me like crazy. When any of the high school kids look at me, all I can think of is, "I got 10 years on you kid! Go away." Otherwise, unless they're some creepy guy that icks me out or follows me, I take it as a complement.

I've decided that boys, in general, are stupid. Something I've known for a while but am only just coming to grips with it. After all, dad always told me over and over "Michelle, all guys think with their dicks... you gotta watch out." Which, strictly speaking, doesn't make for a very smart species.

Not the Sharpest Tool in the Shed

OK, well, not really... I've been really busy and haven't been super good about keeping my lab notebook up to date. So, last week I spent a couple hours counting some M.tb colonies that were the result of an experiment that I've done recently. In the lab I tend to only label my plates with numbers or letters so that when I'm counting the colonies I don't know what the individual plates are. This is a good practice because it keeps any deep and hidden biases that I may have when I'm looking at my data. Well, the experiment that I did on 6/15/09 I didn't write up. Nothing. I am sure that I probably put some notes on a little sticky that I probably threw away. Can't find it. But here's the graph from the data that I made. Bummer that I have no idea what is what.

Get this... I did it twice in the same month... it's been a busy month. I had a huge experiment that literally filled an entire shelf in the incubator. About 300 plates. Last night I went home with what I thought was everything that I needed and guess what. I have no idea what A-U are. I know how I did the experiment, I know what concentrations of various chemicals that I added... I found those stickies. But I have no idea what groups were assigned what letters... I can't find the key. Bummer. This was an experiment that I really needed and was really excited about. I am really not happy about this right now. I am getting ready to basically tear my desk apart to search for the missing pieces... wish me luck.

Summer Perfume

On Saturday, my friend Orla and I went hiking at Mount Greylock. I had always heard that the Berkshires is one of the best places to hang out in Massachusetts if you're into hiking etc. So, since it was an incredible day, we decided to make the two hour trek out to go for a hike.

We did a couple things wrong. First, we got there a little late, so the big hike was out of the question. Second, we did not anticipate the serious thunder storm that was on it's way in by the tie we started. Third, we took the ranger's advice and did the short Round's Rock loop which took us only 1.5 hours and was about 3.5 miles or so and we could have done a longer hike. It was a very easy trail that didn't challenge us much and since there was no climbing, there was no great view.

The good news is that we really liked the park a lot and are planning another trip out there soon! So, now we know...

You'll be glad to find out that due to my heavy dousing in OFF! Deep Woods Sportsman bug spray, I didn't get a single mosquito bite! I'm pretty sure that is a first!

Quote of the Day

"I dream about being a beach bum these days... I only get to be one when I graduate."

A Perfect Sunday

I have to say, yesterday was bar none, one of the best days I've had in a long time... I slept in... I moved around slowly... I baked a cake... I went to dinner at a friend's house... got some laundry done... I painted my nightstand table black... read a couple chapters of the book I'm half-way through... it was glorious!

I wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere. Didn't have to put on any shoes... It was Sunday and peaceful and perfect.

I played tennis with Marianne on Saturday and told her that since Sunday was supposed to be good weather, we should cook out for John's birthday- complete with the cake that I had promised in the birthday card I gave him. We had a feast! John made shrimp and clams and corn... Marianne made a tomato mozzarella salad and I made the cake.

4th of July

This is part of the crew that I went into Boston with for the 4th of July. We sat along the Charles River and enjoyed the day by shopping a bit on Newbury Street and hanging out and of course, a Neil Diamond appearance and then of course the fireworks. The fireworks were the best I've seen. The weather was perfect and the time was great. (above from left to right is Erik from Denmark, Orla from Dublin, Me from California and Gabor from Hungary). None of them had seen fireworks like the display that we saw on the 4th. They were all happy that they braved the crowds to come and watch! It really was a grand time!

This is Missy, Arlyn and Rhiannan who I hung out with for some shopping. I met Missy and Arlyn last year through some mutual friends that we have at the same event! It was nice to have some people to hang out with.



Orla's mom (above right) came into town from Dublin for her niece's wedding and spent the afternoon hanging out on our blanket on the river bank.