Zack Morris Lives!

By now I'm sure you have all seen/heard of this (except for my mom), but Zack Morris showed up to Jimmy Fallon Monday night. 

Zack Morris or Mark-Paul Gosselar? It was so Zack Morris alright! Oh, snap!

Complete with the Saved By The Bell theme song, Zack-isms, early 90s attire, 'Time-Outs' and of course the Zack Morris Cellphone! 

(Source)

By now my mom, one of my 3 readers, is surely shaking her head in disgust because we [my sister and me] weren't 'allowed' to watch Saved By The Bell.

The reason? Zack didn't treat women with respect. 

Seriously. Nevermind Jessie Spano being an abusive girlfriend to Slater...

Needless to say we watched it anyways and loved every minute of Bayside High including afternoon visits to The Max for cheeseburgers and milkshakes.

(Source)

There was really no point to this post, just my sheer giddiness due to a Saved By The Bell reunion that might happen on Jimmy Fallon.

:)

TV season has ended....so what's on?!?

Season finales have come and gone which leaves me with one question:

What's on TV?

(I know some [or all] of you might be thinking, its summer, shouldn't you be doing something outside instead of watching TV? And yes I should, but TV is my weakness, I love it, I love it, I love it!!!!)

So, now the answer to the question.

For Tuesday May 26, 2009 (according to EW.com) here is what America Watched:

Time	Show	Viewers (in Millions)
8 p.m.	NCIS (CBS) TV's 50 Funniest Phrases (NBC) House (Fox) According to Jim (ABC) Reaper (The CW)	12.2 (repeat) 6.6 4.2 (repeat) 3.9 2.2
8:30 p.m.	According to Jim (ABC)	3.6
9 p.m.	The Mentalist (CBS) Mental (Fox) Diamonds (ABC) Hitched or Ditched (The CW)	12.3 (repeat) 5.8 3.1 1.5
10 p.m.	Without a Trace (CBS) Law & Order: SVU (NBC)	9.6 (repeat) 6.4 (repeat)

What do I see here? Repeat, repeat, repeat.... BORING! (but mad props to CBS for pulling in 12.2 and 12.3 million people for repeats of both NCIS and The Mentalist.)

 I do have a theory though: Fox, NBC, and ABC all put shows online and CBS does not. I have cursed them many, many times for not doing so, but I guess if you can show repeats of shows and still pull in more viewers than the other networks combined, you are probably doing something right. 

So, what am I watching this summer?

The Bachelorette -- I think Jillian is wayyyy cute, however these guys are wayyyy weird, what is up with that?!?

So You Think You Can Dance -- (Its actually on right now as I type) I really enjoy this show, and if I remember correctly I tried doing pirouettes in my mom's living room  when the show premeired in 2005 and ended up twisting my ankle. [Have I mentioned that I took Ballet for a grade in college and got a B? I did, it was wayyy fun, but I think I was in it more for the legwarmers, which I sported daily]. Anyways, as much as I love the show, I HATE the beginning auditions, get to the choreographed routines already!!!!!

Wipeout -- So technically it is on right now as well, but I had a decision to make and SYTYCD ended up getting my vote. What can I say about this show? Giant Red Balls, that's it. Its hilarious, watch it when you need to laugh.

...and I'm thinking about checking out Fox's Mental. (I mean it only drew in 5.8 million on Tuesday, but hey, I like me some TV!)

Did I really just list 3 reality competitions? Yes, yes I did. That's how I roll in the summer. If evil Dick didn't win Big Brother 2 years ago, you can bet I would be DVR'ing it (if I owned  a DVR that is), but he did win  and I completely lost my faith in the show...but honestly, its Big Brother, its reality TV, its on 3 times a week, and you can watch 24/7, which is just way creepy so I think its ok that I'm not going to be tuning in this summer season. (unless they bring the guy back from Urbana, OH [close enough to my hometown], then I'd totally be down.)

And a special shout-out to my great friend Kris! Happy 24th, I know you'll always hold it against me that I'm 6 months older than you!!!

Now I'm off to drink some Oolong tea, my favorite! :)

Absence makes the heart grow fonder <3

So, sorry for the long-period-of-no-posting:

I was on vacay in the wonderful state of Ohio (I will do another post on why I was visiting tomorrow)! Specifically, Logan County, Ohio, which lays claim to my hometown which is actually a village, the village of  West Liberty (population = 1738 [as of July 2007]).

Let me just say that, I LOOOOVEEE my hometown, our relationship has never faltered, ever.

Why is West Liberty such an amazing homevillage?

1) 1st and foremost, Marie's Candies. Best Candy Ever.

(and my sister has worked there for ~9 years)

www.mariescandies.com

Go there, check it out. Some of my favorites include peanutbutter fancies, dutch treats, chocolate-covered rice krispy treats, and chocolate-covered strawberries.

That is my sister in the middle, some hard candy (I think) making on the left, and yummy chocolate covered oreos on the right.

2) The LGP (Liberty Gathering Place)

A hometown farmers diner with hearty meals for local people. 

I worked here for 8 years, yes yes that is right 8 years. I started when I was a freshman in highschool and then worked some weekends throughout college. 

They serve a mean hamloaf, tenderloin sandwich (grilled or fried) and some of the best homefries you've ever had!

I would have to say the rest of my list would go something like this:

3) West Liberty-Salem highschool, home of the tigers, my graduating class = 70ish. It is literally in the middle of a cornfield, and you know EVERYONE'S business which can be bad, but sometimes very, very juicy!

4) The Ice Cream Parlor, literally, that is its name! And...it was my first job the summer before my freshman year of highschool at the ripe age of 14 and a half (I had to get a work permit). I don't think I have ever eaten so much ice cream, but it was good because I discovered some flavors that I probably wouldn't have liked/tried other wise such as Butter Pecan (which is what ALL OF THE OLD PEOPLE CHOSE) and Blueberry cheesecake wafflecone. My all time favorite though  was (and still is) Peanut butter cup!!!

5) and 6) The Ohio Caverns and Piatt Castles. They are landmarks just outside of town (still within West Liberty limits however). I haven't been to either of them in a very, very long time, but 2 of my BEST BEST BEST friends live within half a mile of the castles and so whenever I'm home I get to drive by.

I think that is my 'Top 6' places to see in West Liberty (with an alternate being the former Tastee-Freeze now called Good-Eats 'N Treats).

Oh West Liberty, how I would like to grow old within your city limits, but alas, there is no need for a chemist within Logan County, therefore I will rely on my family and friends to STAY-PUT so I can always visit.

Home definitely is where the heart is!

:)

In other news.

ALL OF MY SHOWS HAVE ENDED FOR THE SEASON AND I'M FREAKING OUT (whew, glad I got that one out). Literally though, what is there to watch?!? 

Today is Wednesday which normally means LOST, LOST, LOST, but NOOoooOOO,  no LOST tonight :(

Good thing reality summer programming is setting in this week:

The Bachelorette (That Jillian, she sure is cute...but what is with all the weirdos? I mean seriously a break-dance instructor and a guy with a wee bit of a foot fetish?!?

So You Think You Can Dance premieres THIS WEEK!!!! I looove this show, however, multiple nights of programming a week  is not conducive to Laura getting to watch all of it (HINT HINT Fox, put it online!)

...and a show that is always good for a laugh: WipeOut, yes yes, it can be ridiculously stupid, but it is so funny and I almost pee my pants watching it, almost

I think that is all!

Have a great Wednesday!

Science Consultant? [CHECK] yes please!!!

So people ask me (especially when I'm home in Ohio) what I want to do with my life once I'm done with graduate school. I always give the same type of response "Well...Idk, not teach right away" and then go onto say something about industry and possibly the government, but I had an epiphany today:

I want to be a Science Consultant for television/film

(How one goes about doing this, I have not a clue...but I am willing to learn)

Now you might ask yourself, how is she qualified? And I would have to say that, maybe I'm not quite qualified yet, but I could give a pointer or two:

Case in point my newest addiction: Fringe (Fox, Tuesdays @ 9 pm)

For any non-chemistry people out there (my mom), this is a rotary evaporator, but this is not how you use it.  (See this is where I could help).

Google tells me the science consultants are Rob Chiapetta and Glen Whitman and let me tell these two do a fine job, but if anyone knows how to contact them comment away (below). I am close to Boston (where I believe filming takes place) and would be so excited I'd probably pee my pants (which probably won't go over too well)

An Ode to Sheena...

Our beloved undergrad Sheena is graduating in a few weeks, and so this post is dedicated to her. 

Oh Sheena, how two people could ever have the EXACT same taste in TV/Movies is beyond me, but I will certainly miss you coming into lab saying "Did you watch ____ last night?" with ____ being filled in with LOST, Fringe, DWTS, or AI (and "High School Musical: Get in the Picture", yes, we both watched it!) 

I'm glad you took my (and others) advice to read Twilight and then fearing the movie would be all out at Blockbuster renting it on demand, watching it twice, and then buying it for real the same week. 

What other college senior throws an HSM3 sing-a-long to commemerate the video release? Yes, that would be Sheena.

Congratulations on your Graduation!!!!

Sheena getting ready for her presentation

Opening her HSM card with Dharma logo drawn on that sang "You are the Music in Me"

(perfect for gradation?...not so much, but those cards were boring)

Champagne to celebrate!

And after the celebration (complete with ice-cream cake) we talked about new LOST theories,  looked up Dharma patches and jumpsuits ($7 and $90 respectively), followed by DWTS and SYTYCD videos on YouTube.

Needless to say it was a fun day, and I'm totally going to miss you!

*PS, for anyone who is wondering, she did real lab work too, we didn't just talk about TV all the time*

Some Green for Earth Day...

4/22/09 = Earth Day!

So, how did I spend Earth Day?!?

In lab of course, so in order to pay homage to Mother Earth I took some pics of the green, green grass from lab.

(Even though it was a rainy, rainy day...)

View of E.R. park in the distance (and unfortunately the parking garage)

Mansion behind the lab (...I think it's an academic building, but I have no clue which one)

Also, the window glare ruins everything :(

Another view from the building (and lots of clouds!)

The walkway up to the chemistry building

...and last but not least, my fav. photo of the day:

(ignore the broken heart)

Have a happy Earth Day!

No new LOST tonight which means watching last night's Fringe (and probably some Dexter season 2 as well....)

2 months and 15 days?!?

Really? 2 months and 15 days since I've last posted?!?

Some people thought that I had given up, but no-sir-ee, I've just been planning THE BEST BLOG ever! (Ok, so probably not the best blog ever, but certainly a full-packed blog on what life has been like in the past 2 months and 15 days comeplete with pictures!!!)

Oh orals, you consumed my life...but now that I've qualified has life really been any different? Let's look at the evidence:

N and McB before my Orals (above)

N and McB (and G!) after my orals (above)

See, besides the fact that N might have an evil master plan and B is somehow trying to attack him (Notice, G is the only one actually working, thank goodness no more MOFs!) everything is back to the way it was.

I'm not saying life was all sunshine and rainbows during this hiatus, but all in all the whole ordeal left me with a greater understanding of my project and was a good motivator to get back into lab!

So, let's look at this by numbers:

• 28 days stuck in CRB 218
  
• ~56 fast-food meals (oh yes, 56 meals of McDonalds, Wendy's, and Subway for dinner, and Carts, Manna and Nica's for lunch....can we say a heart-attack waiting to happen?!?
  
• ~84 cans of Pepsi 
  
• 3 meltdowns (1 major, 2 minor)
  
• ~15ish hour days
  
• 1 poster presentation
  
• 2 Ten page papers
  
• 1 qualifying exam
  

So what was it like might you ask? Oh there were definitely hard-at-work study days, there were, I think we have all lost our mind days, there were a few meltdowns (3 to be exact), loads of laughs and CHEMISTRY of course! Let's go through a photographical journey shall we?

NO2-Phenyl-Terpy Synthesis (above)

G's new hat (notice the Pepsi endorsement)

Yummy, Yummy Bar salad for dinner one Friday night!

A brief glimpse at the room (and K8) soo many papers!

So I'm sure you are asking yourself, what has changed since then? Well for one, no more fast food for breakfast and dinner everday, just every-other day, J/k, but fast food has become a rarity, also, one huge change for me has been:

During Orals (above): Let's count them: 10 Pepsi cans, 1 Coke, 1 Cherry Coke (although I think that is K8's)

After Orals (above): 7 Pepsi One's, 1 DD coconut coffee (w/Splenda) and 1 Nalgene of water

That's right, after rotting my teeth for a good 20ish years, I have made the move from Pepsi to Pepsi One, and let me tell you it has been a smooth transition, I will even drink Diet (gasp!) if no Pepsi One is available. For y'all that don't know, Pepsi One is sweetened with Splenda instead of Aspartame and it is has every bit of caffeine that this body needs....but occasionally DD coconut coffee is just calling my name!

Another change?!? PRIMETIME TV!!!! (Can I get a "Reunited and it Feels So Good"?) Oh yes my dear followers (all 4 of you) I am indeed back to watching a full line-up of awesomely awesome and awesomely trashy television shows! 

Quick Run-down:

• LOST (Duh....)
• DWTS
• Gossip Girl
• 90210
• American Idol (sometimes)
• Lie to Me (new fav.)
• Dollhouse (new fav.)
• The Mentalist
• ANTM (sometimes)
• Biggest Loser (sometimes)
• The Unusuals (I'm giving it a shot)

....and I think that just about does it!

(It feels good to be back)

Not a LOST post, I promise...kinda...

Well Well Well,

Thursday = Group meeting!

Up to bat today were: Newbie TB and 3rd year McB.

TB did a lit. talk on Asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic enamines (JACS, 2009, 131, 1366-1367) and McB talked about his research, which involves putting a solar farm over Nevada...seriously...ok, well maybe not seriously.

The week is winding down! And what does that mean in my neck of the woods? 

Not a whole lot actually. Saturdays have become workdays, not full out workdays, but still spending the greater part of Saturday in the lovely lab. Sunday on the other hand is my lazy day. (Grant it, I do have lazy days quite often, but on Sundays sometimes its a miracle if I get dressed). 

What's on my to-do list for this weekend that is not Chemistry related?

• Go raincoat shopping with B
  
• See Kris on Sunday 
  
• NOT see He's Just Not That Into You (Because K8 is in Philly and WILL NOT allow me to see it without her!)
  
• Out to dinner with B probably
  

...but...I really should be productive in lab this weekend, I'll fill you in on how that actually goes!

What? No T.V. to talk about? Oh yes ladies and gentlemen (which I should actually put lady and gentleman, b/c let's face it only 2 people are probably even reading this) I have been watching my shows this week! AI is into full swing with Hollywood week, Gossip Girl was an eh-ok episode, and 90210 was FAB. (Privileged was pretty good as well).....

BUT

My absolute favorite this week would have to of course be LOST. 

*Spoiler Alert*

Jin isn't dead!!!!! wooooooooo....how he survived, I have no idea, but my heart melted like butter when young Danielle found him, oh leaping lizards the world is at peace once again.

AND! I knew it, I knew it! Miles was on the island before!...which corroborates my theory that he was the baby in the flashback!

Oh and I totally thought Charlotte was D-E-A-D....soon enough! The sickness is going to get her...

So, one of my 2 readers admit ed that he stopped reading the posts when they started talking about LOST, because he doesn't watch it. So from now on IF I say anything about LOST then I will make sure to save it to the end so as not to lose any readership. :)

Have a great Thursday night! 

(filled with The Office, Grey's and PP [oh and its a crossover episode tonight!])

8 weeks until qualifying Exams!

Ok, so 8 weeks is a long time, right? .....well, I hope so at least! I have exactly 8 weeks left until qualifying exams? What are qualifying exams you might ask? Well, here they are broken into 2 parts (both given on the same day back-to-back): A thesis and an antithesis. The 1st is your research and the 2nd is an original research idea. 

Doesn't sound too bad right?

Let's hope not. (I'll keep you informed as I get closer and closer to the edge of the building..Ok, I kid..but honestly)

Anyways, onto a less dramatic and way more awesome subject...SUPERBOWL commercials! I have to say that the '09 pick wasn't so bad! My favorite though was definitely the Mr. Potato Head commercial (followed by Conan and the Doritos crystal ball). Check them out at nbc or hulu! 

Random fact of the day. You know, its January, and by all accounts winter is depressing, but honestly, did it really have to be called: Season Affective Disorder aka SAD? I think what is worse is that the National Organization for Seasonal Affective Disorder is NOSAD.

Crack-Me-Up!

I now have to admit that I did one of those "25 random things" notes on facebook, you know the ones...everybody is doing it (doesn't that sound like one of those lines they teach you in D.A.R.E. in 5th grade...I do believe that would be the "bandwagon" approach). Anywho, it was hard coming up with 25 things, but in the end, I was very satisfied with my list and realized how much of a weirdo other people must think I am.

All for now.

:)

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL???

Super Bowl Sunday is upon us!

So...I might have to admit that though I am attending a Superbowl party, I have NOT watched a single game this season. 

(The first step is admitting you have a problem, haha)

I do however know who is playing and a couple of the major players...besides that though, I'm really in it to watch the COMMERICIALS!!!

There was a thing on CBS last night that did a supposed 'countdown' of the best superbowl commercials of all time. My favorite did make the list along a couple other good ones, but honestly, in the top three were 2 commercials from last year (The tide talking stain one and the Budweiser one with the Clydesdale and the Dalmatian which I do love).

Anyways, the Mean Joe Green commercial is probably still the BEST of all time, but my favorite will always and forever be the cat herding commercial.  I don't know what it is about it, I think my fav. part is when they are climbing out of the water...oh cat herding, how I love thee. 

One other major revelation I have to admit....last night...I had my 1st ever Big Mac. That's right folks, in my mid 20's (ooh, scary mid-twenties) I have never had two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun....and the verdict? Meh, I'll take Chicken McNuggets any day. It was good, don't get me wrong, just nothing I would crave, but it is something I get to check off my list!

Have a great Sunday!