Around the World in 80 hours

I've spent an obscene amount of time since Friday exploring the globe with Google Earth, an incredible satellite imaging program that I can't believe I didn't know about. In the past 80 hours I've visited Mt. Everest, the Pyramids in Giza, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, St. Peter's Basilica, the sunken USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor, the Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon and more and guess what...no jet lag! Sure, it's creepy in a Big Brother sort of way to be able to see pictures of your car parked in your driveway taken by a satellite. And of course I got goosebumps when I realized I could make out actual sunbathers working on their tans along the strip in South Beach. But in terms of seeing the most amazing sites our planet has to offer that I may otherwise never see, I'm hooked. I'm not just talking the big stuff, either; this satellite picked up the Epcot Center golf ball and the HOLLYWOOD sign in the Hollywood hills. I could basically identify every major casino on the Vegas strip and Josh even found the Swissotel we stayed at when we visited Chicago in April. Awesome! Definitely check it out if you haven't already. However, I'd advise you to save downloading the program for when you have a lot of free time. I've been late for more things this weekend because of Google Earth than I'd like to admit. I guess if I can't be an astronaut, this is a wicked close second.

In other news, this past weekend was fun and productive. Josh and I bought our first major purchase together...a new couch! While it's not the one I originally posted about from IKEA, it's sturdier, cushier, and we got a great deal. In the store, I started thinking about how a purchase like this is a big step in our relationship and how I'll probably remember our first couch forever. I'm sure I got a little misty eyed thinking about our lives together both present and past. When I lovingly asked the newly-employed Josh what he thought about this major life step, his reply was: "Yeah, I think it's good...if you can front the money." Not exactly the romantic sonnet of a reply I was expecting but hey, at least he's practical! We pick it up on moving day (this Saturday!) and I can't wait :)

Finally, Saturday was Josh's sister Jamie's 21st birthday and she ventured over to Ann Arbor so we could take her out. A few friends from our summer crew joined us at Goodnight Gracie and LIVE for some fun cocktails and I've posted a few pictures below. I'll be busy this week packing, organizing, and busting tail in the lab but expect my thoughts on the new documentary Wordplay about Will Shortz, the editor of the Times crossword puzzle; a few of us are going to see the film tomorrow night because we get a 2 for 1 deal at the Michigan Theater with our Borders Rewards cards! Believe me, 30 + hours of lecture a week could drive anyone to become a crossword fan, nay, addict.

I know what you're thinking so I'll just say it myself: what's a four letter word for a wanna-be astronaut, general science enthusiast, and casual crossworder? NERD!

xoxox