Piano man

I have just come across a site with free music files of Christopher O'Riley who transcribes many Radiohead and Elliott Smith songs to classical piano. Worth elisten.

For the record

A rather attractive scoop is not worth attempting the consumption of 2 litres of Cadbury's Caramello ice cream within 30 min. Though one certainly becomes stronger for having survived such an ordeal.

Worst day ever....in ages

It was almost a downward spiral from the get go. My Dad arrived at the flat slightly latter than hoped, so after a quick coffee I whizzed him out to the airport. Upon returning flatward I hoped to find a nice free park that I could slot right into. However there was only one small space between a couple of cars most of the way up the hill as the wonderful builders busy creating at the bottom of the street had taken all the meager parking space that is provided for residents. This posed a couple of problems as a) I was not sure if my car would fit in such a small space and b) I have never parallel parked between actual cars. When Dad taught me to drive, we practiced parallel parking once between two imaginary cars. I struggled with that and have therefore never attempted one for real in 6 years of driving. After toying with the idea of park hunting around uni or paying for a park in a parking building, I decided to at least attempt the tactical maneuver. I reversed up the hill and was able to squeeze between the vehicles within one stall and a few attempts. I tried going back as far as I could until I bumped into either the back car or curb. It was a sign that I had gone back far enough. I rolled a little forward and deemed the mission accomplished. An experienced parallel parker would be appalled at the 30cm of my front end nudging its way onto the road. Being a novice I worry not about such things. Happy with my efforts I made my bus rides to uni, arriving nigh on 10.30 am. Due to my late start I jumped straight into the lab to set up the reactions I had planned to do. Within five minutes I had added the wrong chemical to one reaction and smashed my favourite sidearm round bottom flask (RBF). I was annoyed and further behind schedule. Thankfully I had done my dishes that week so I found suitable a replacement and got back to work. After filling my RBF with the appropriate solvent and cooling to -40 deg it was time to add the reactant. When one cools a RBF the pressure is reduced and one must be weary of the suck back created. This suck back had never been an issue for me but today it was. I connected a bubbler to the RBF and before I knew it mercury was flowing into my RBF. To make matters worse I spilt mercury on the floor when trying to get it back into the bubbler. Thankfully I have experienced the clean up of mercury having once tried to measure the temperature on the Bunsen burner with a 100 deg thermometer. I needed sulfur and lots of it. I checked our inventory and we didn’t have any. Of course everyone was at a talk or at lunch. I sat upstairs waiting for the talk to end so that I could confess my sins and obtain hold of the yellow powder of my salvation. The embarrassment was short lived when my lab mates confessed their past mercurial spillages. The lab was not a safe place for me so I finished the day with books and thoughts. Having caught my late bus home I attempted to make a swift getaway back to Masterton. As to be expected the car’s battery had died. The lights were off but still he had had enough. I was relived to see the "I love Berninas" sticker on the car in front signifying its belonging to my flatmate Joel. He kindly exited his parking spot to allow me to roll down the hill and start the car in second gear. The driving conditions were crazy. A pedestrian would stand no chance in front of me that night. Having arrived in Masterton and deposited my belongings at home I headed for my social occasion at an unknown location. I thought txting would lead me the answer but it took three people before I received any sort of direction. At least the night ended positively with an enjoyable viewing of the Dead Poets Society and general discussion thereafter.

Little Said and Little Read

A month has almost passed without any additions or update to my blog. As I reflect upon what has been this past month, few events spring to mind. On Saturday I went to see Gamarjobat with a couple of flatmates and friends. We were dealt a treat. They were certainly the most entertaining comical act I have seen live (slightly edging out Raybon Khan my first and only other live comedy experience). This Japanese duo certainly knew how to interact with the audience without a single word. The first part was an extended version of what they performed on TV for the comedy gala a month or so ago. Even that part was worth the sum of money paid. The second half can be described as a silent play, which was so well done. If only girls could change as fast as they did, we guys would never be late. Next time they come I will be there and I suggest you come too.
I have been busy in the lab trying to make my precursors. For some reason my self condensation of methyl acetoacetate to form methyl orsellinate just will not comply. Many different condition I have tried with the same failed result. Hopefully some suggestions from a distant PhD student will help me. The joys of synthetic organic chemistry. I have also done lots of marking to help out my supervisor and my fellow PhD student Anna. Two whole weekends were spent marking 2nd year assignments and 3rd year lab reports. This was the first real marking I had ever attempted. I am glad I never marked my lab reports as I have been informed that I was a hard marker. Ah well, hopefully they will now write good lab reports and at least type them out!!! How can hand written lab reports still be legal. I know they are banned in Otago. Alas, the liberal standards of the north. These two jobs earnt me nigh on $300, which has been in part spent appropriately on new marking music. It had been too long since I have sat down and worked for solid hours with my music blaring in the background. I was back home!! Speaking of CDs, tomorrow I rundevue with my mother to collect my latest imported selection, seven in total. I will also get to see mum before she heads of down south to visit the dunedin contingent of family with Christie's admittance to the bar ceremony. Father is heading down on Friday, leaving me to go home to supervise the boys at home. I plan to put together my new computer that I sourced from all over the place. I hope I can do it without destroying any parts.