I'm back!

I normally don't make severe edits, cause its kinda a stream of consciousness thing, but I totally forgot that I posted about how I was going.  So, I'm back from where I went.

It was cold, it was kinda misty and rainy the whole time.  I nearly got blown off a ferry during a particularly strong gust.  But that's what you get for standing at the very front edge of a boat when trips are being cancelled because of the high winds/rough sea.  Nonetheless, standing out there by myself with the wind strong in my face and the spray from the water made me very, very happy.

It also brought back a childhood dream of joining the Coast Guard.  And now... I want to join the Coast Guard.  The only problems, as I thought about it, are: I'm really not strong enough, to like, haul dying people out of the water.  I think I'm kind of a weakling.  But I guess some weightlifting ought to fix that.  Then there was the fact that besides saving people the Coast Guard also protects borders.  This would mean attempting to stop smugglers.  Those people are dangerous.  I'm not sure I want to be around people for whom guns are both key to self-image, and also treated like toys.  (There's also the probably more significant problem that I doubt they would want me.)

I have hope that I have some good photos.  I did some experimentation to see what effects would happen with extremes on aperture and shutter speed.  I mean, the wind was so strong that even the fastest shutter speed I could use probably didn't avoid blurring, so we shall see what comes out. Probably a load of crap, and I suspect I got water in my lens.  Not happy about that.  But I'll stop whining

Go Patriots! It wasn't pretty but they beat the Dolphins on Monday.  I used to like the Patriots but kinda kept my mouth shut, or underplayed it, because to me, you root for the team from the place you grew up in, or where you live.  I don't really like fantasy football, because I think it kind of breaks down rooting for your home team in favor of rooting for an utterly imaginary team that lives only in your head and that of the people you know who also engage in this fantasy and have to play against you. Obviously I don't like fantasy football, but do like football.  I've been watching all my life.  Haven't really had a home team in a long time though.  I was in Atlanta for two brief periods, and I wasn't really into the Falcons either time.  Now I live in Boston I can unabashedly cheer for Brady, Bellichick, Welker, Moss, etc.

Tomorrow I will not be tired and cold and surrounded by the smell of mothballs (literally surrounding me on all sides, thank you mom). In the meantime, a friend posted a link to this lab video, and as a labrat I must share.  (The idea being that I will have something, if not exactly meaningful, at least less mopey, to say tomorrow.)

That said, this is all wet lab, which I don't do anymore.  Distinguishing feature between wet lab and dry lab? Wet lab people work at times with things that have moisture.  Us dry labbers use our computers only.

I have however used everything featured in the video, being a former wet labber, with perhaps the exception of safety goggles which is pretty hilarious.  I did use face shields, particularly for protection from UV lamps when reading gels.  Unfortunately, the shield was so scratched up I couldn't see through it and had to try to peer around it to make sure everything was lined up.  One time of severe UV burn of the eyes was all it took to stop that practice.  Not fun.  Had to pour stuff that's like jelly in my eyes several times a day for a few weeks.

I can't think of any other lab accidents though.  I guess I maybe didn't spend enough time in wet lab to get the glass cuts, animal bites, chemical splashes that just tend to happen.  After all, what's the worst thing that can happen to me? Electrocuted by my computer? Unlikely.