Hangin' in Corpus and San Antonio

Ok, time for a Texas report. Saturday consisted of doing a little bowling (the Bowler's Journal tournament) where I failed to bowl well (only averaged around 170 for the 8 games). Then we drove out to the Bowling this Month tourney, but it had no Saturday afternoon squads, so we drove back into Corpus Christi. Went to a matinee showing of the Inside Man (not a bad movie, pretty good setup, kept you guessing...quite good considering it was a Spike Lee film). Then over to Texas Roadhouse for about an hour wait and then steak. Back to the hotel and crashed.

Sunday, got up, showered, then off to church. A so-so contemporary service. It was ok, but nothing spectacular. Then a 2 hour trip to San Antonio (there is nothing...NOTHING...between CC and SA). Visited the Alamo...pretty neat to see, but a lot smaller than expected (PS, the most recent Alamo movie is pretty good). My cousin, her husband, and their two kids (a 4 year old and a nearly 1 year old) met us and we walked the River Walk and then went to a restaurant on the river. Made the return trip and went to the USBC to scope the lanes (doing a little research). Now back to the hotel, watch a little TV, then get some sleep.

Well, that's all there is. Bowling the BTM and then the USBC team event tomorrow. Here's for hoping the best.

Don't Mess with Texas

So, as of yesterday evening, I will be in Texas until Wednesday. Corpus Christi to be exact. Our flight went through Dallas/Ft. Worth...and let me say that is one heck of a huge city...and the airport is large too (15 min. walk on the moving walkways to get to our connecting flight). The game plan...lots of bowling and visit some family on Sunday. I am looking forward to the weather being warmer than Indianapolis. Of course, 5 nights on a hotel matress generally is not something to look forward to. I am really looking forward to this trip. It is only the second ABC/USBC national tournament I'll be bowling in. This trip is also a break for me. 5 days of not waking up at 5 AM to go into the hospital. 5 days of taking it easy and bowling. Definitely going to be fun. I'll attempt to update a bit more regular this week and let you know how things are going.

Here's for hoping I bowl well....

Worst March Madness picks ever

I've been filling out brackets for March Madness for many many years now (and have ran a tourney pool of some sort for the past 9). I must admit though, that this year has been my worst. After only 2 rounds played, I only have 1 final four team left. That's right, only 1. My other three have all been knocked out. Kansas...gone. North Carolina...gone. Ohio State...gone (they were a final game team for me too). The only one I have left is Duke (my pick for National Champ). You know what that means? I've cursed the Dukies and would expect them to lose by the end of next weekend.

On top of all of that awfulness, the major upset picks I put down, have generally failed to occur. I picked Xavier over the Zags (almost happened) and Pacific over BC (2OT game...it was close). One of two darkhorse teams is also out. I had Marquette in the Elite 8...they lost in rd 1. I look good in the Atlanta bracket...only 2 wrong so far and all alive in the Sweet 16.

Oh well, I really enjoy filling out the bracket and running the tourney pool, but I hate having so many bad picks. I guess there is always next year (Ohio State with Greg Odon to take it all).

Movie Reviews

So, I spent this past weekend working at CVS and watching a couple of rented movies. Most people could care less about my 18 hours at CVS, so I will spend my time giving my thoughts on the two movies...starting with the lesser of the two.

The 40-year Old Virgin: All-in-all a pretty funny movie. I have to keep in mind that super hyped for me going in (everyone was saying it was great and hilarious). It almost lived up. I felt that it was trying for an Office Space type of feel to it, but didn't quite capture it. It did have some great scenes though (the "You know how I know your gay" and the hair waxing scenes were great). However, the ending almost ruined the movie. Breaking out into song was stupid...really stupid...ridiculously stupid!!! It was still good. I'd give it a B, 3 of 4 stars, and a thumb up.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Let's just say, that I think I enjoyed this movie more than I should. For whatever reason, this movie has kind of stuck with me. I think the pacing was really excellent and as a whole a pretty darn good flick. It is without a doubt the best Harry Potter movie (they keep getting better)...ASIDE: the first stunk way too campy and disjointed...the second was ok, still campy...the third went too far the other way trying to make things dark and the kids more normal (dress and whatnot)...this one was a good mix (maybe the perfect mix). Anyway, a really good movie (I can't believe I'm saying that about Harry Potter). I'll give it an A, 4 out of 4, and a thumb up.

There you have it. I imagine most people out there have already seen these two films, but for those that haven't now you know the truth.

Make it 3 for 8

Eh? Title doesn't make much sense does it. Well, let me explain. I bowl on Monday nights at Woodland Bowl and did so last night. Here's the rundown (the title will make sense, I promise...plus, ignore the bowling lingo and stick with it).

Game 1: Started with my Big Deal (aggressive ball) playing a small bump shot laying 15, crossing 12, and out to 8. Staying fairly smooth with the speed. Leave a 10 pin and miss it. Then I start striking. In the 6th frame, I trip a 4 pin and then make a little move with my feet and keep striking. I take it off the sheet for 279 (11 in a row award).

Game 2: Start with a strike (there's my "Varipapa" --> 12 strikes in a row over any number of games). Throw the same shot and it jumps for a 3-4-6-7 split...pick it up. I tighten my line. 10 pin spare. Next 6 strikes. 10 pin in the 10th frame and I miss it. 236 (I lose my point to a 258 game).

Game 3: I start striking and keep striking. The worst shot was a very light hit that rolled the 2-8 out. I rolled a 4-9 out and made a little move again. Several shots were light mixers, but they kept falling. I get to the 10th frame and bury the first ball...strike. Get the 11th one out and it comes high and fails to trip the 4 pin. Upset you might say....NO! The first shot gave me an 800. I pick up the 4 pin for a 289 game and a 804 series.

That was my 3rd 800 series (see 3 for 8...I told you it would make sense). It was really neat. I'm very glad that God allowed me the gift and skill to bowl.

PS - Read on, I finished the story of my Dartmouth trip....making this a double post day!

Ivy League continued

Ok, for the earlier part of the trip, please refer to the previous post.

Saturday night: Dinner at the hotel with the faculty, current students, and recruits. Decent food, pretty good company. After dinner some students and the recruits went to a local pub (about the only one in town...and it was kinda higher class...not a typical college pub) for a drink. It was a pretty fun time. Back to the room and to bed.

Sunday: Catch the greyhound back to Manchester airport. Lunch at McD's (the only option there). Plane to Washington DC (Reagon National). Auntie Anne's pretzel and then about 1 hour layover. I could see the Washington Monument (that big tower thing) from the airport. Boarded the plane and flew back to Indy. My sister-in-law was kind enough to pick me up.

Overall Thoughts: I'll be honest, I had low expectations and a Ivy League stereotype going in (that I'm better than you attitude), but was pleasantly surprised. The faculty are very nice and have a similar collaborative attitude that I experienced at UCHSC. The new lab area at the Hospital was really nice. The clinical slant of research was cool, because it would allow me to use some of my pharmacy expertise. Downsides however are the lack of structure and signaling science (it is occuring, but not to the extent or quality that UCHSC). The cost of living would be really high and it is in the middle of nowhere and it is really really cold for a lot of the year. So for the most part, my complaints are not of the school (I think I'd get along well and would be successful), but more of the area (it is a 4+ year committment, so I need to like the area).

Current Ranking: UCHSC > Dartmouth > IU...keep in mind, I've only been accepted to IU, so we'll see what happens.

My Ivy League experience

This past weekend, I took part in Dartmouth College, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, PhD recruitment/interview weekend. It was a pretty good experience, but let me run the entire weekend for you.

Thursday: Lunch at Skyline chili with Dad, then to the airport. Flew out of Indy (about 1 hour late) to Chicago O'Hare (unload to reload time was about 15 min. for me). Landed in Manchester NH. Caught a Greyhound bus for 1.5 hour drive to Hanover, NH (home of Dartmouth Colloge). Checked in, watched some TV, and went to sleep.

Friday: Breakfast at the Hanover Inn with the other recruits and some current students. Then off to the Dartmouth Medical Center (a huge hospital). Given an overview of the department and some introductions to faculty. A tour of the facilities, some nice new labs in the open design (similar to the lab space at UC). Then a bus ride back to the School of Medicine building on campus. A bit of lunch (cold cuts/chips), then some more faculty introductions and a quick tour of the labs in that building (older, more reclusive). Free time for several hours - walked around the town and the bookstore. Still had multiple hours of free time left, so had a cup of coffee (I got hot chocolate) with a couple of the other recruits. Then dinner with the current students (some catered lasagna...it was so-so).

Saturday: Continental breakfast, then interviews with faculty. 2 interviews were very promising and peaked my interest, 1 interview was good, and 1 was a bit odd (the guy was a little crazy). Then a big group went off to a Japanese Hibachi (or something like that...where they cook the food in front of you) restaurant. The food was ok, but really expensive and not someplace I will ever go to again. A quick driving tour of the area (read on for more). The some more free time, I strolled campus and wandered through the bookstore again, then took a nap.

Gotta run, someone is stealing this room for a meeting...more later.