It all comes back to Douglas Adams

Driving into work at 6:30 am this morning, I heard this story on NPR's "Morning Edition" about scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration trying to figure out what's been causing recent deaths of bottlenose dolphins of the coast of Florida.

During the course of the story, we learn that dolphins are being captured, given very thorough physicals including tubes down the throat and blubber removal, and then branded before being put back into the water.

Personally, after treatment like that, I am surprised that they like even the tiny tots and the pregnant women.

Sunday Matinee

Yesterday, JR and I went to the Brattle to see Serenity, which, for those of you not completely addicted to smart tv, is the film based on the Joss Whedon TV series "Firefly."  I enjoyed it a lot and regretted not watching the show when it was on TV, although I remember at the time, I was watching WAY too much TV and therefore was not getting myself involved in yet another Whedon-verse.

The second to last reel of the film was corrupted so the sound kept going out.  As JR said, "if this were the Common, I would have asked for the money back but as this was the Brattle,"... we basically grit our teeth and bear it. Oh indie theater, I must love you lots because there is nothing worse than watching a major outer space dogfight scene when the sound keeps giving out, as I had learned the hard way when I went to see Star Wars: Episode 3.

Trivia fact:  2004 Nobel Prize winning physicist Frank Wilczek was at our screening as well.  That made me happy.  Because I am one big nerd.

Caffeine withdrawal

I had been trying to catch up cut back on my Diet Coke intake this semester as it had been pretty bad last April and May, averaging about five or six 12oz cans of the stuff a day. Usually, I had one in my hand with a spare "hidden" in my suit jacket pocket. This was not good.

So I cut back over the course of the summer down to one 14oz bottle of DC a day and the rest was water. It got to the point where a 12oz can of soda was a dessert at the end of the day. I was feeling better, sleeping better and even my dentist said that my teeth and gums looked better.

Can you see where this is going?

The stress has finally gotten to me, and I am back on the Diet Coke full force. I tried not to drink any today and feel AWFUL. What the heck do they PUT in that stuff? It is like crack! and I am hooked! I had to have three chocolate truffles just to get my head to stop splitting (don't laugh, faithful readers;the Advil I took didn't work.) Now I am ready to go home, with an hour and fifteen still left on the clock. I hope that I can make it until then.

Tuesday CD releases

I discovered today that all of the "House" series from PBS are available on Netflix. This means that I can watch Manor House and Regency House Party over and over and over...
This news should not make me as happy as it does.

I went across the river to Virgin Records to pick up the new Madonna and the new Pride and Prejudice soundtrack. SIGH. Mr. Darcy. SIGH. I also picked up a copy of the December issue of Empire, which posed a bit of a quandry as I had to choose betwen the Harry Potter cover and the Aslan cover. Who came up with that idea?!? Would you ask a carbaholic to choose between mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese?!?! I mean, really! Anyhow, I chose Harry Potter, simply because it comes out on Friday.

When I was paying for my items, the guy at the register called me "ma'am", and that bothered me. Do I really look old enough to be a "ma'am"?? (That was hypothetical.) C'mon, guy, I am still a punk rocker at heart. Do you call Henry Rollins "sir"? Okay, you probably SHOULD because he might kick your ass or something.