Friday 5

1. On March 6, 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev presented the first Periodic Table of the Elements to the Russian Chemical Society. What memories do you have of your high-school chemistry course?

Chemistry...ugh! I was lost and miserable in HS chemistry. I hated it. None of my friends were in the same class and I didn't have a regular lab partner, getting stuck with whoever's partner was absent on lab days. Yay, me. I barely passed with a C, but at least I didn't blow up the chem lab, as one of my older half sisters did years before.

My college chem class was better and I passed with a B (A in labs, but tests brought the grade down a bit). I had a great partner, Joy, and she only blew up one of our experiments. And yes, it was all her. She was late to lab the day we were to extract caffeine from tea to make aspirin and missed the professor's admonishment not to turn the bunsen burner above a certain level. She grew impatient as we were about 15 minutes behind everyone else (and whose fault was that again??). I told her not to turn it up, but as soon as my back was turned she did anyway and POOF! Liquid exploded everywhere. Good thing it was under a hood! Ironically, despite our late start and Joy's little mishap, the prof told us our speciman was the best-looking of the class. Heh!

2. On March 6, 1899, the Bayer company registered aspirin as a trademark. When did you last take medication for pain?
Ha! Love the irony in the order of these questions, considering the above story. I haven't taken any Aspirin recently, but did pop a couple Acetaminophen for a headache earlier today.

3. On March 6, 1853, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera La Traviata premiered in Venice. How do you feel about opera?
Opera is okay. Not my first choice in theater entertainment, but I have nothing against it.

4. On March 6, 1947, American film director Rob Reiner (Meathead!) was born. Which of these Reiner-directed films have you seen, and what do you think of them? (Those I've seen are in red)

The Bucket List (2007)
Rumor Has It… (2005)
Alex & Emma (2003)
The Story of Us (1999)
Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) Good movie!
The American President (1995) Love it, it's one of my faves!
North (1994)
A Few Good Men (1992) Another excellent movie
Misery (1990) Eh...it was okay. Definitely not a fave
Postcards From the Edge (1990)
When Harry Met Sally… (1989) Yes, yes, yes!
The Princess Bride (1987) Another good one!
Stand by Me (1986) Good, but not a favorite
The Sure Thing (1985)
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)


5. On March 6, 1972, American basketball-player Shaquille O’Neal was born. How do you feel about basketball?
Well...that depends. It's not at the top of my list of sports I like or will watch. In fact, I've only ever attended one basketball game in my life, when a HS friend dragged me to one so she could drool over a guy on the opposing team. Though my college's teams did pretty well, I never went to any of the games, and only occasionally watch Badger basketball on TV (ie: when nothing else is on, or they make it to the playoffs). Locally, March means avoiding the malls at all costs. Boys and girls hockey is this weekend. Girls state basketball is in town next weekend, and boys the following. Between the three, the stores are way too crowded and overflowing with teens. We do watch some of the games that are televised, though, especially if any of the local teams are playing.