Ex-bf said chemistry fires were common at MIT. Make of that what you will. The labs are set up for them - everyone works in these mini-dumpster looking things that you close the lid on in case of fire. Of course, that was the 80s. Things might've changed...

Someone who used my station in the physical science lab thought it would be funny to leave the bunsen burner turned all the way up, and my lab partner and I ended up jumping back from a 3' tall column of flame. (I actually jerked my left arm back through it, but fast enough to only get a minor burn.)

There was the time when my chem teacher was demonstrating what happens when you put lithium in water and the main sample stuck to the other edge of the blade so he tossed a ping pong sized ball into the tank of water. Blew out the side of the tank (not under a hood,) and we evacuated the building.

Suzi, good luck on your belt test.

Kat, that's very scary. I'm glad it turned out OK. Much packing~ma to you.

One of my good friends is a CrossFit nut, but she doesn't subscribe to the Paleo diet. She likes her alcohol too much. Her husband occasionally moans that she loves CrossFit more than she loves him. She'll be participating in her second Tough Mudder competition in a year in September. Her strength and endurance are way up there now.

I believe everything in moderation. I'm not going to deny myself anything if I want it. Where it becomes difficult is knowing when to stop, e.g. a whole pint of Haagen Dasz is not really a good idea.

So tonight I managed to surprise myself at the gym. In two months, I've made larger strides than I ever did before when I half-assed an exercise regimen.

Tonight:

• 30 minute core strength class
• 40 minutes on the treadmill - fast walk first 0.5 mile, run next 0.5 mile, fast walk 0.3 mile, run 0.5 mile, fast walk and cool down 0.5 mile. Total miles 1.3 and ran at 15:42 pace, which is slightly faster than last time.
• 25 minutes on the StairMaster - climbed 50 (?!?!) flights of stairs and an additional 1.1 miles. (I am more convinced than ever that this machine is a medieval torture device.)

I celebrated by eating the delicious cannoli that my father brought back for me from Villabate pastry shoppe in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. The last one was in December, so it's not an everyday occurrence.

Well, Charlize Theron seems to be pulling the Mad Max trigger. That's less hair than T-Hard has...

One of my nuns had her back turned to a Bunsen burner and her veil caught on fire. All girls school. Much screaming mixed with laughter. No real harm done, just a fun memory.

So tonight I managed to surprise myself at the gym.

You kicked serious butt! Which may be a sore butt tomorrow. Really, though -- that's awesome. How do you feel? Like Wonder Woman?

Thanks Maria. I did two group classes today, normally I'm lucky if I make two a week.

K is super happy that the Kings won the Stanley Cup.

It was 105 here today, no one should be playing hockey anymore.