Firefly

One of the good things about this summer is how I'm getting a lot of work done, but I'm not dealing with the stress of the school year. Sure, classes and applications are looming...I have one month until classes start (Happy August!). So with this relatively stress free environment, I can chill out more after lab and on weekends, and watch movies and play video games guilt-free. I haven't played as much Animal Crossing. I do like to give in to the consumerism of the game, but recently the shop (the main source of money) that buys back items from you in the game is only open during certain hours of the day. That means that I have less time to make money. SO if I decide to start playing at 8 or 9, I really can't sell all that much. Instead I've played more Super Mario Galaxy 2. The game is just so fun. When I started playing it again I couldn't believe that I had put it aside for most of summer. The graphics are pretty and bright (who remembers that Sharapova commercial?) and the playing style of the game makes it interesting. I like how there are varying degrees of challenges and how I never feel stuck in a game. It's very relaxing.

I've also seen quite a few movies this summer. I think I mentioned watching Toy Story 3 and Eclipse. Before that I had seen Prince of Persia, Iron Man 2, and some other ones at home. In addition, I watched Inception last night. That's as far as it goes theater-wise. In DVD and internet form I've watched Everything About My Mother, History Boys, White Oleander, and a few others that I can't remember right now. I've partially watched Henry Poole and Notting Hill. The movies I finished watching I enjoyed (except Eclipse, for obvious reasons). The last two that I mentioned were a bit painful to watch. Too much of a drag. Too boring.

For a while I was watching Season 1 of Lost on DVD from Bass Library. It was much better than watching it on Hulu...but I didn't have time to finish it. Eventually I returned the season discs and when I came back for them, someone else had checked them out. Instead, I checked out Firefly. I actually really enjoyed Firefly. It sort of is an "odd-ball" genre, but in essence it's a Western. The opening theme ends with horses and in one episode the crew is transporting illegal cattle. That doesn't take anything away from it...The original Star Wars also fit the Western genre. Regardless it was enjoyable, and the fighting was entertaining as opposed to overwhelming. I'm in the middle of watching the movie, Serenity.

I'm also in the middle of concentrating my last batch of protein this summer. It's my final week here in New Haven. I have one week to finish any experiments and to come up with an impressive (haha) group meeting presentation.