So, the Life of Mike Post-College has gotten underway, and I started my new life as a Research Technician. The new lab is pretty cool, and the post doc I work for doesnt seem too much like a slave driver, so things should be good. He speaks with a german accent and almost reminds me of Arnold the Terminator (ok not really) and he also took me out to lunch, which gets Mike's stamp of approval. Everyone else in the lab seems cool so far, including our old friend Catherine from microbio lab, putting all those bacteriology skills to use. So far I've pretty much been doing the transformations, restriction digests, and DNA preps I've already spent too much of my life doing, but at least I'm getting paid for it now, so its all good.

I also started just in time for the annual summer picnic, which consisted of lots of free food, ice cream, and raffle drawings that I didnt win. Also had my palm read, and according to the fortune teller I will meet a love that will be "stronger than my first one", will "continue to learn when I'm sitting in a rocking chair" and will be "extremely successful in my career and business". Even better was when I first sat down and she said "So, I'll bet you're a scientist". Of course, all of this is much better than Catherine's fortune, who will be married three times and have a stroke when she's 60.

Honorable mention to vic and company for another barbeque at his house. Props all around for getting the coals burning in only an hour (thanks to my un-disciplined use of lighter fluid), and to the deliciously cooked steak, corn, and peaches (surprisingly good) along with some vons soup. Good stuff.

Also saw Eight Below, which was pretty good although depressing at parts. But there's a cute female dog and a cute female human, added on to the fact that its a movie about dogs automatically makes it a winner.


CD everybody should listen to: The Wreckers - Stand Still-Look Pretty

Went to see Pirates of the Caribbean on opening day!! Wooooo!! Good fun yo. The fish dudes were pretty cool looking, as was all of the giant tentacle fighting. Overall it was lots of fun, though it probably isnt quite as good as the original, which easily ranks amongst my top ten favorites of all history. This one is probably in the top twenty or so. The whole cliffhanger thing was slightly unsatisfying, although the end was pretty cheer worthy. Overall, the final summer movie gets about an A- on the Mike scale.

Summer Movies 2006 Final Standings (didnt see da vinci)
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: A-
2. X3: A-
3. Mission Impossible 3: B+
4. Superman Returns: B+
5. Cars: B+
6. Nacho Libre: B (jack black singing gets an A+)
Honorable Mention: Underworld Evolution which gets an A

Padres go into the All Star break in first place!!

Good fun: Dark Angel Season 1