I've been away for awhile. Once I switched over to the developer build, it was too painful to switch back and I was being really stubborn about keeping the blog consistent with respect to the email address. (It is possible to forward an email with pictures to your regular tmail account and then pass it along to Hiptop Nation from there, but its a huge pain and requires access to a computer for the Desktop Interface.) Anyway, I've been updated to 1.1 finally and am fully switched back.

The new degree is going reasonably well and my Sidekick has been invaluable in keeping in contact with my professors and in keeping track of assignments and tests. Not sure how I managed before, but one look at my GPA from my previous degree answers that question... For all of you smart folks out there, there's nothing quite like sitting in a class full of smart teenagers for 4 or 5 hours every day to make you feel slow and stupid (at least until the test grades come back and you realize most of them aren't as focused).

I'm probably headed into grad school after I finish this biochem thing up in a year and a half. I'm thinking of going into forensic science, which is exciting because its a frontier field that's just now getting fleshed out and explored. Its also a practical field as much as a theoretical one, which appeals to me. My grades this time around should be a solid 3.75 or better overall, so I shouldn't have much trouble finding a program, but if anyone has any experience to relate, let me know.

Finally, I was bored at work and managed to balance a pop can at an odd angle. For those uninterested in my academic adventures, enjoy that, at least.

>>> Andrew AIM: drewgsidekick

I drove about 4 hours in to Chicago to catch a show last night but it was completely worth it. Some of the former members of Sunny Day Real Estate (although some might recognize them better as the former rhythm section of the Foo Fighters) started a new band called The Fire Theft and this was their first tour together. I was a huge SDRE fan for years and they have always put on an incredibly powerful show. It was in a tiny little club called The Bottom Lounge, but they had a great sound system and my ears are still ringing. It's always great to see shows in these small clubs though. The only downside was the 4 hour drive home at 11 pm so I could make it to class today. Ugh.

In other news, I'm really excited about this year's scavenger hunt! Last year's was a blast and I don't doubt that this one will be even better.

>>> Andrew AIM: drewgsidekick

The view from the top of the parking structure near the Chemistry building as I kill time before my Organic Chem class. Its good to be back in school, but sad to realize how much I've forgotten in the years since... Anyone else remember the integral of the secant squared of x? I sure don't.


>>> Andrew AIM: drewgsidekick

Lots of pretty colored chemicals today... We took a cobalt-ammonia compound and ran it through a series of reactions to form various isomers. The theory is not terribly exciting, but it certainly makes nice visuals, from dark purple crystals to a fuschia powder to a pumpkin powder... Working with fuming hydrochloric acid is fun too.

>>> Andrew AIM: drewgsidekick

Yesterday I was shot with a laser right in the EYE. Apparently small retinal tears are a bad thing and can lead to blindness if not taken care of. Either way, it was not a process I would go through for fun. For the first 15 min or so afterwards, looking through that eye was like looking through a block of grape Jello.


>>> Andrew AIM: drewgsidekick

>>> Andrew AIM: drewgsidekick

A truly unreal show. For a pop culture nut and stimulation junkie such as myself, this show was pure bliss. No less than 4 full drum kits, 2 guitarists, a bassist, a keyboardist, plus the Blue Men doing their wacky thing, an occasional guest vocalist, and what amounted to audio/visual assault and battery... I only wish it wasn't a temporary tour. Any fan of rock music who has any sense of humor at all is doing themselves a grave disservice by not catching this concert. The backpack PVC pipes and violin rendition of The Who's Baba Yaga (Teenage Wasteland) alone was worth the ticket price. And for the openers, Tracy Bonham was great and although I probably wouldn't listen much to the techno pop of Venus Hum, I'd go see them live any day. The singer's voice and bubbly charisma just floored me. Excellence all around.

>>> Andrew AIM: drewgsidekick

We got great seats!

>>> Andrew AIM: drewgsidekick

No, that's actually not a euphemism... I'm a happy guy cause its the weekend and I'm headed to my parents house for a couple days. I'm going to take my little sis to the Blue Man Group tour concert tomorrow, which I'm also geeked about. If I'm lucky, I'll get to drive the 74 Beetle my dad just bought on Ebay to the show and be all hipster- cool.

Top stuff on my mind: what the hell is wrong with me that I am quitting a decent job in the middle of the worst job market in my adult life to go back to school and eke out a meager existence on student loans and a part time job for 2 years? Answer: because it sounds like fun. That's the best I got... I'm wondering if leaving the life of an accounting/business geek for the like of a biochemistry geek qualifies me as some sort of ubergeek. Join me as I soar to new heights (depths?) of geekery. Also, one thumb typing while driving is hard...

Tomorrow: hopefully pictures from the concert!



>>> Andrew AIM: drewgsidekick

Let's try that again...

>>> Andrew AIM: drewgsidekick