The Annual Neuroscience BoozeFest (a.k.a The Neuroscience Retreat) took place last weekend in Laguna Beach, and just as anticipated, BoozeFest 2003 was definitely good for a few memories. We immediately broke our traditional driving arrangements when Brian/Josh drove in my place, but this gave me the perfect opportunity to get a few pictures from the car. Take, for instance, this stunning snapshot of the famed “Pollution Factory” just outside of Long Beach. That’s right: a pollution factory. A factory that produces pollution. Here, pollution is not a byproduct but THE product. I guess it fits perfectly if you’re going for that “industrialized” style of architecture, but otherwise, the concept doesn’t make much sense to me. And, throwing the American flag up for aesthetics is really just about the most awful thing I’ve ever seen.
Anyhow, the rest of our drive went without incident–though Seth’s confusion regarding cyclists’ advertisement-laden spandex and our general amusement by the Laguna Beach “Dog Park” is worth mentioning–and we arrived just in time for the world famous Aliso Creek bacon and egg breakfast. Only, this year, there was no bacon. Admittedly, we were all very disappointed, and were it not for a surprise appearance by “The Honeybee and his henchman”, we would have been in a horrible mood to start things off. After breakfast sans bacon, it was into the conference room for a virtually unintelligible, yet somehow interesting talk by the keynote speaker, as well as several student talks. I was most excited to learn some of what my fellow first-year (now second year!) students are accomplishing in their graduate work and to see them speak coherently and with such enthusiasm about their findings (see, Jen and Stephen’s talks).
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After lunch, more talks, dinner, and about 20 “coffee breaks”, the evening activities began with a costume competition and a happy fun Vegas theme party. What could be better than a bunch of stressed out Neuroscientists drinking and gambling away all of their pent up angst while dressed as their favorite cartoon characters from their youth? Of course, it is important to note that the gambling was with fake money and the costume “competition” was more on the NOT competitive side given that Fred was one only of two people wearing a costume (see picture below). Still, he deserves a lot of credit for showing up in that outfit and prancing around posing for pictures with everyone the entire night.
It’s sad to hear that this year’s BoozeFest might be the last of its kind. I had a wonderful time hanging out with everyone in the program, and it was great to see Jen and Stephen get such an enthusiastic response from audience during their talks. Is it wrong to not be excited about next year’s Saturday “retreat” in the first floor Gonda conference room?
* Josh J. Quote of the Day: “How do we get back to the brownies?”
* Josh J. Quote of the Day: “Are you the Tenia?”
* Josh J. Quote of the Day: “ConractandriphoutgoddamSPINE!! Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!?”
* Jen B. Quote of the Day: “I’d rather sit in back so I don’t have to see what Brian is doing.”
* Seth B. Quote of the Day: “What are the talking about? Do we really have to sit hear and watch this?”
* Gene G. of the Day: “The chair is perfect!”
* Seth B. Quote of the Day: “Hey, Blue Dot! Get me some coffee!”
* John Ohab Quote of the Day: “I can’t take another one of your thrashings!”
* Movie Quote of the Day: “You stole it! He stole it!”
October 28, 2003
science, UCLA