It is interesting to see what makes us do the things we do. Not the ultimate underlying reason but the little day to day things.

Garrett went to see Star Trek with me on Saturday night. He really liked it, which is good because I would hate the extra therapy bills from the behavior modification I would put him through. But the telling thing was, I hate to say, from the previews. The preview from “Transformers: revenge of the Fallen” came on. Well I knew it ma be a bit scary for him, but he kept ducking and watching. So I asked him what he thought about it. He said it was scary but he wanted to watch the movie because it was “COOL”. That really struck me as to what motivates him. Here is a boy who wont walk on the grass for fear of mushrooms (Mycophobia), and of late I have found out he is ursaphobic (fear of a bear market…no..I mean fear of being attacked by bears while camping). But he wants to see a movie because its got COOL robots and stuff. I am soooo glad I dont do irrational things. OR DO I.

I am riding my bike again. OK it is the total of 2 days but we have to start somewhere. But I had to think back to why did I start commuting to work by bicycle. I always liked bikes. I used to do stupid stuff in college on bikes. But I was off them for a LONG time. Started up some not serious biking around Frederick MD in the early 90′s at NCI because our lab shut for a few months. But that when I got the Masters degree, so not really commuting 37 miles to work kind of biking. More like take a long lunch and bike some of the mountain trails.
What got me to really start was a particular Doctor I worked with when I started at NCI Bethesda. I will put his name here because I want him to know that I blame him for this. Dr Graham P. Hayhurst of Institut Pasteur and I will put it again so Google finds it more relevant Dr Graham P. Hayhurst of Institut Pasteur. He is the wanker who goaded me into commuting from Twinbrook into NIH. Not sure if its a British thing but I really think he was setting me up for a competition with money involved. Then I found out that John Condray was commuting into NIH further than I had to go, then I found there was a fellow in the NIH Bicycle Commuter Club that commutes in from out in Fairfax. I cant complain about my 13 miles from Aspen Hill. Its less than the Twinbrook commute, and Beech Drive is real pretty this time of year. But being embarrassed into riding, is that a good reason to do something? I actually want to thank Graham alot, Merci! your still a wanker.

Samantha did her play this weekend. She also did a 100 degree fever. The Gazette did a nice little article on the play.
She now says she can never do theater again because plays end and she didnt want it to end. She suffers from mild stage fright but still got up there and did it. She did because she didnt want it to end? kinda makes my brain hurt. Wow…I guess I am more neurotic than I thought (wait isnt that a neurosis in itself?). I think we can put it down to fever and stress and a long rehearsal run. But I am incredibly proud of her and all the kids, they did a great job. Amazingly good from a middle school production.

I want to leave this on a why I became a scientist. And again I point to XKCD the webbie that really understands me.

Why I became a Scientist

Ill try to take some pics of my ride

peace and shark grease