Coffee disaster

So I woke up a little earlier this morning than I normally do. However, did the same routine: got the coffee going, hopped in the shower, got dressed, did hair/make-up, went to make my lunch...and then I saw it. My "coffee". Apparently getting up a whole half hour earlier totally threw me off because when I expected to see a nice pot of coffee I instead saw a pot of water with a slight tinge of brown. It helps to actually add the coffee to the coffee maker. So I poured the water back in, and made sure to add the coffee. However, did not stop to think that already hot water does not brew good coffee. Needless to say my favorite thing about the morning did not satisfy me at all this particular morning. Which is kind of a bummer since today is going to be a long day in the lab. 40 mouse surgeries. For those of you that don't know, that is a lot. However, tomorrow we get to do 86. So if 40 is a lot, 86 is...well, lets just say I WON'T be making any mistakes in my coffee making tomorrow.

Defying Gravity

So I finally got a chance to see the musical Wicked! It was so amazing. I read the book years ago when it first came out. It is kind of dark and political and a little depressing (but I loved it). So I was curious to see how they adapted it to fit this more light hearted play. Well, they did a great job. It still follows the main story line of the book but is definitely much happier and less political. And the music is great! I can't stop listening to the sound track and I love singing along with the songs. I actually enjoyed it so much that I spent a ridiculous amount of money on a t-shirt. Although it is pretty cute. Anyway, if you ever get a chance to see it, DO IT!! I will definitely be going again at some point.



Also, I didn't get a chance to write about it, but I went to a New Kids on the Block concert. I wasn't necessarily that into NKOTB growing up, but I knew some of thier songs and I did have a black and hot pink backpack. When the announcement was made that they were coming to town, though, my friend Amanda got super excited and really wanted to go. So I told her I would, along with 2 other of our friends. The very opening act was the Jabawakis. They won America's Best Dance Crew. They were so good! Although the masks kind of creeped me out.



After them was Jesse McCartney. He is so little! Seeing him on stage made him look so tiny. I did like some of his songs though and he is a good little entertainer. And then....NKOTB. Ok, for being like 40 years old, they are still HOT! And totally fit!! And can still rock an AWESOME concert! It was definitely worth the money. Very entertaining. And I may have bought some of their new songs off iTunes. What? They were good.



For my next concert I am trying to convince my friends that we really need to go see Journey! Any takers?

The Humor of Scientists

Some funny gene names that I've come across. Who said scientists are boring and without a sense of humor?

Hedgehog
Frizzled
Disheveled
Twist
Slug
Grunge (regulates a gene called teashirt)
Dreadlocks (a gene that is involved in tenticles on some animals)
INDY (stands for I'm Not Dead Yet, gene that makes flies live longer)
tinman (found in organisms with no heart)
Grim and Reaper (Together, these genes mediate programmed cell death, apoptosis)