fighting boredom

So, as much as I enjoy the summer and not having to deal with the stress of studying, it is a little weird trying to keep myself occupied.  My mind is so used to spending 24/7 all wrapped up in school and studying, that having nights and weekends completely free is an interesting switch that is a bit tricky to get used to.  I get bored so easily since I don't have school to pre-occupy me!  I've been trying to think of creative ways to entertain myself without spending a lot of the money I am working hard for at the lab.  Last weekend, I went to the movies.  This weekend, I was inspired by my friend Maria to redecorate my apartment.  So, I took a trip to Ikea and some other places and changed the apartment a little.  I'd like to elaborate more and post pictures, but I want it to be a surprise for my roommate.  There is an off-chance that she reads this blog, so I am not going to elaborate more.  I think she will like it.

Out near Ikea (in Ahwatukee, which is SO much fun to say), there is a Mexican restaurant that I have heard good things about (aka it was on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives...the virtual Bible when looking for tasty places to eat).  Here is the clip.  It was very tasty and reminded me a bit of a "fast food" Tacos El Norte (which I miss very much).  It was the first good Mexican joint I have eaten at since I moved to Arizona, which is weird.  You would think that because we are so close to Mexico, there would be an abundance of good Mexican places.  Sadly, this is not the case.



In other news, the weather out here has been WEIRD for the past week.  We just entered the "monsoon season" and it has rained the past 4 days.  There have been a few wild thunderstorms too.  On Thursday, it stormed so bad that it knocked out the dish TV.  I went outside to watch the storm on my patio.  (Watching it rain here is fun.  Because it has become such a novelty, it is so exciting when it rains and very entertaining.  Did I mention I was bored?)  It was raining so hard that I could no longer see the mountain across the street.  Also, all the cars on the 101 highway came to a complete stop because they couldn't see the road anymore.  (It might also have been due to the fact that people in Arizona can't drive in the rain.  I have seen 3 car wrecks in the last 2 days, including one car in the ditch upside down.)  The rain has also brought some cooler temperatures, which is a relief, but the humidity is nuts.  Worst of all, it has caused the crickets inside.  I have found so many crickets in my apartment in the past few days that it is getting ridiculous.  I want the dry sun back.

The rats are on their exercise schedule now, so here is a video of them running on the treadmill.

And, to make up for missing the videos last week, here is the video of the "drunk" rat coming off the anesthesia. (Sorry that it is sideways.)

That is pretty much it for now.  Back to the lab tomorrow for a lot of rat running.