Slashfood Tweets

Slashfood Tweets

People fall for this?

I received an email at my UMich account this morning with the subject, "Re" from a Sgt Marvin Oliver that is as follows:

Attention,

I am Sgt Marvin Oliver,i am delighted to inform you that the contract panel here in London that just concluded its seating here in our department have just released your name among their immunity agent that will benefit from the diplomatic immunity payment. This panel was primarily delegated by the united nation to investigate manipulated over-invoiced payment as the effect has eaten deep into the economy of our country united kingdom.

I hereby inform you that the united nation and British government has choosing you as their immunity agent there in your country to stand and receive this total amount of $10.1 million dollars by cash immunity delivery to your country which you are to meet with the diplomats on their arrival there in your country international airport to enable them take the clearance on face to face clearing with the customs at the airport to enable them move it to your doorstep without any inspection by the government agent as it has been directed by the united nation and British government.

In this regards, We are going to send your immunity cash payment to you via our accredited shipping company on diplomatic means which all the immunity needed documents to cover this immunity cash funds has been secured, the cash funds is coming on two security proof boxes which the boxes has already been sealed with synthetic nylon and padded with machine.

Please you must know that the united nation want you to pay 50% of this total amount ($10.1 million dollars) to any motherless babies home there in your country.

You don't need to worry for anything because this transaction is 100 risk free, the boxes are coming with a diplomatic agent who will accompany the boxes to your house or office there in your country.

Forward to us your contact information as it is stated below:

1. Full Name and address
2. Direct cell/home telephone number
3. Identification, either your id-card, driver's license or international passport.

As soon as i receive the requested information and confirm your readiness to handle this matter, i will process your immunity cash funds proof of ownership certificate and your cash funds delivery approvals form "D" and forward them to you for your own view and record, then i will advise you with the date and time the diplomats will arrive your country.

Forward you next response to this email address: administrator_of@sify.com or department@mail2Consultant.com and make sure you call me on this telephone number +44-762-413-2116 immediately you forward your information so that even if am not on seat,i can go and check my email for immediate action.

I wait to hear from you soon.

Thank you,

Sgt Marvin Oliver

This is an obvious attempt at fraud, similar to stories on news. After reading this notice from St. Oliver in England, which mind you I have never been to, I truly can not believe people fall for these types of scams.

For Mike

A fashionista?

I have always enjoyed shopping and trying to keep up on the latest fashion trends, but I have never considered myself a fashionista. Although I have purchased a few new items since moving to Ann Arbor, I would not say my wardrobe or general style has changed. I like to wear skirts and dresses, have my shoes match my jewelry, wear purple eye-liner with a a purple sweater, and of course heals. Dress pants and scarves, sparkles and sequins, little jackets, and tights; however, given that I am the only women on my floor who wears make-up, even just mascara and lip-gloss, I guess it is not too surprising that I have received numerous comments about how nice I look, all the matching jewelry I have, and yes, I was even called a fashionista the other day.

I do wear my fair share of jeans and T's and am not always dressed up, but it is a bit of a strange feeling to be the most fashionable one at work. I now feel this new title comes with a standard. I find myself putting a lot more thought in to my outfits on a regular basis. I think in general, everyone's shock has worn off, and I do not get as many double takes when my heals click or my skirt swishes

The last few weeks

Wow, now with a few minutes to take a breath here is what life has been up to in the last two weeks.

• Desiree came to visit two weeks ago and we had a great time. More than anything I really enjoyed having time with such a close friend, to be able to talk and vent about things. I have met some great people thus far, but am still lacking close friends right now; hopefully time will provide a remedy.
• Vicki and Erik got married!! The whole trip was a ton of fun and I had a blast hanging out with everyone, especially the pre-wedding night conversations in our hotel room and late night call to Vicki. The ceremony and reception was just perfect. The weather was wonderful and just the right amount of people to make it a really party. I'm sure the Illinois crowd helped with that.
• Marissa spent the night for the first time this Friday. We went to dinner, caught "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," and made her parents some cookies the next morning. She was a pleasure to have and did great with sleeping. We were a little worried that a bedtime she would become homesick and I'd be making a late night drive to Grand Blanc. She fell asleep fairly quickly and while falling asleep and fidgeting, she sat up, looked at me, crossed her hands, and said, "um, Tina, we need to talk." I asked what was the a matter, and she replied, "you need to scoot closer to me."
• I'm signed up to go on a long weekend cruise with Beth/Jake and company in April to celebrate their 30th birthdays - looking forward to it.
• Having a DSW within the city limits of where I live may not prove to be the best thing for my check book, thankfully it is all the way on the other side of town.
• I saw someone getting road head on a Friday afternoon on I75 driving north somewhere around 4pm; they were not being subtle.
  
• I broke down and bought a parking pass for work. Just under $60/month! At least the garage is covered.
• I am in need of a good wine tasting event. I have yet to find much around here that is not uber fancy and $50-60/person. I haven't found anything like the Saturday tastings at Corkscrew or SunSinger, let alone the charity tastings Krannert has...I need to work on this, my wine rack is getting low.
• I miss talking about science. One of the strangest things about the new lab is there is not too much conjecture and bantering about science. People do not really challenge one another at lab meeting; people don't really say much at all.

Unfried, fried chicken

This would be a tasty day at work...
http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/05/scientists-create-the-no-fry-fryer/

"Look at the beautiful world"

That was one of many witty remarks Marissa made while looking out the plane window this past weekend during our trip to NY for my cousin's bar mitzvah. I was very happy that she was not shy around the extended family that she met for the first time, and Allison would even let a few 'strangers' hold her as well. They both did pretty good on the plane, despite sitting on the plane for almost an hour before take-off. Leslie, however, was another story. I knew she was afraid of flying, but I had never experienced it. Honestly, it was pretty funny, and she seemed to think so too. It was very enduring how Marissa and Justin hit it off right away. From the moment of their first meeting she was his shadow. He was very patience with her and even during one the biggest events of his young life, he took the time to play with her, watch her while she tagged along with his friends, and dance with her. Speaking of dancing, I think she has inherited this from me as well. She was on the dance floor the whole night, Stuart had to drag her off at 11:30. She danced with me, my dad, other little kids, and just about everyone. She was dancing with Lisa's (my uncle's niece) little girl and I asked her if she remember when we did that at my aunt and uncle's wedding?

It was of course a fantastic party - great wine; amazing food; sushi, lobster, pasta-making-man, meat-carving-man, oysters in a half shell, lamb chops, ice cravings, and that was just a sample of the cocktail hour. The band was wonderful and the dance floor was full all night. My family met the rest of the Sherry family and all went well. I met Marisa's (the long lost cousin) mom Penny, who is just a doll! Marissa the niece was at first not too sure what to make of Marisa the cousin, but after a bit they were dancing the night away. I was able to meet a few more cousins on that side and it was the first time in my life, we were not the only Sherrys at a family event.

So for the girlfriend...it was Ok. Nothing majorly dramatic happened, there was enough going on that I didn't really have to see or talk to her too much. I know I could have been nicer and made small talk etc. and I wish I wasn't so upset with my dad (for many reasons) to take it out on her. In all honesty, I hope they are happy and make each other happy. She seemed nice enough and to have a good time with the crazy family. The most painful thing was how my mom was shut out of all of this. When Justin was saying his hov tour at the temple, tears came to my eyes thinking that my mom should be here to see him; they have a special bond. It is time, and it is slowly moving forward and the timing of the bar mitzvah with the divorce and new girlfriend was plain just not good.

All in all, the weekend went much better than I thought, not was I would have wanted it, but a good time.

Mixed feelings

I will be taking off in a few days for NY to celebrate my cousin's bar mitzvah. His older brother was bar mitzvahed a few years back in '05. I remember then, that the 'advertisements' for this weekends party sparked one of those, what will life be like when..., moments. My maternal grandmother had cancer and passed just a few months after the party. At that time my sister-in-law was just a few months pregnant with their first child and I was only a year in to my PhD. I remember wondering what the upcoming birth would be like and anticipating becoming an aunt. Now Marissa is three and she has a little sister. This will be the first time this side of my family (my dad's family) has met Allison and they have not seen Marissa since she was about 6 months old. I am, and know they all are looking forward to seeing the girls.

An unexpected surprise is that several members of my dad's father's family will be attending as well. Contact was lost, for one reason or another, with this part of the family after my grandfather passed at a young age. I am the only one in my (immediate) family who has met any of these Sherrys. I was able to do my elective rotation for my clinicals with my true-long-lost cousin at Mt. Sinai. During this trip I met several other members of the family as well. I am looking forward to spending more time with my cousin Marisa and her husband, and Marissa (my niece) is very excited about meeting the other Marisa Sherry. I am also a bit anxious about this encounter, as my dad has not seen his first cousins (Marisa's dad and uncle) since he was 17 or 18. My dad was and seemingly now, is not happy about how things were handled after his father's does not care to meet them and would be just as well off if they were not there. Of course, I'm hoping, civility will be the discourse for the evening, however, even if everyone plays nice, it will still be fairly awkward.

I also remember thinking in 2005 about the fact that at this party I would be Dr. Sherry (first and only) and wondering about where I would be working and what I would be doing. I never in a million years thought I would be back in Michigan.

However, the most unforeseen change between now and then, is that my parents are divorced and my dad will be bringing his new girlfriend. It is not unknown that I am not happy about this for many reasons. I feel it is way too soon for her to be coming to a large family event; my mom (how is very close to my cousin) is not coming; and I just plain do not want to deal with it. Most of my family I have talked too is not too keen on her being there either, but my dad has put his sister in a tough spot, and can't ask him to 'uninvite' her, after he asked without consulting anyone else. I have nothing against this women, but there is no place for her in my life, so to me, this is just unnecessarily putting me in a situation I do not want to be in. This will be the first time I will meet her, by choice. I wanted to just get it done and over with all at once.

As with most of life, things are not as I anticipated they would when I looked in to the future 4 years ago; some for the better and some not. Large family gathering themselves usually draw out drama, and with the addition of somewhat estranged long-lost family and a not-so welcomed new girlfriend, the weekend will be interesting.

A few pics from the last bar mitzvah (at least I know the food will be amazing)

Lady date

I have a lady date this evening for martini's with L. I have joined a young professional group that I found on-line to network meet new people in A2. I received an email from L the other day suggesting that we had similar interests and should grab a drink. Martini happy hour, grad student in molecular biology, and a tall blond; I think we'll get on just fine!

Smoking or non?

There are only a two things about moving back to Michigan I am not all that pleased with and smoking in public is one of them (the other will be the topic of a later post). It is very true that one does not realize the importance of things until they are no longer around, or in this case, when they reappear. It is some what baffling that we even allow smoking in public places in this country at all. There are numerous countries in the world, including France, that are smoke-free and just under half of the states in the US along with countless cities and municipalities. Even though some may not think so, I do understand the right one has to smoke, however, it is the non-smoker who has no choice in the matter. Once in the vicinity of a smoker, even walking down wind, the permeating smell one can not get away from, on top of the major health issues of second-hand smoke. In my limited experience of a city and state switching to smoke-free, after only a few months, the economic impact to business, in my opinion, was actually a positive one. It appeared that certain bars in Chambana actually had increased business once they were rid of the clouds of smoke. I have found a few places in A2 that have chosen to go smoke-free and there are rumors that a bill is in the works, I sure hope it passes.

Mini me

At Allison's first birthday yesterday, Marissa and her cousin Madison wanted to be a part of the show as well. They both wanted to sit in a little chair of Marissa's. They sat in it together, snuck in when the other wasn't there, and finally when Marissa had the chair to herself and her dad asked her to move (for a picture), she picked up the chair and walked away with it. We all laughed and it reminded me of the time when Stuart and I were little and he asked if I was going to finish my chicken nuggets. "No," I said, and preceded to lick each and everyone, so he would not want them either.

Manners people

First Joe Wilson


then Kanye (link isn't available yet)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9413F9yQvbY

didn't their mothers teach them it is not polite to interrupt people, especially the President and on national TV.

Some progress

After a few failed attempts at getting my transformed bacteria to grow and isolate the DNA plasmid I was finally successful today. The sample still needs to be sequenced, and thank goodness there is a core facility for such a thing, to determine if our gene is what we think it is before I proceed. There are still lots of steps to do before I am able to do my tail vein injections, including learning and mastering tail vein injections. I think this maybe the hardest part, because it requires a large volume in a very short amount of time - i.e. lots of practice. I have cells growing and will hopefully get to an experiment next week; that is the plan, but one never knows in the world of science.

The week has been pretty boring and I'm looking forward to a busy weekend. By Wednesday I took myself out for a drink as cabin fever was setting in. I was in the mood for a martini and found the Babs Underground was a good spot, however, I think I was there WAY too early and it was pretty dead. So I nursed my martini until it was late-night happy hour at Vinology (half off wine by the glass) and had a good glass of petite Shiraz and some Kobe beef sliders. I think I am going to try and make this as much a weekly event as possible - Vinology has lots of glasses that I need to try.

The weekend is going to thankfully be busy. Dinner and a show with Amy - Indian and 'The Producers.' Kelly is coming down tomorrow for a trip to the Homegrown Festival in Kerrytown and then back to Grand Blanc for Allison's first birthday on Sunday.

New purchases

Coming together

The week has been fairly productive in getting research and experiment ideas on the table. I had a few more safety training classes this week and learned today that UMich has had two radiation 'spills' in the last 15 years; maybe that is why they need to have a two hour class. The plan is to start two experiments next week. One in which I will be using some material already prepared by a lab mate (which saved me about 2 months) to inject in to the trail vein of mice to hopefully over-express a specific protein in the liver. There are a few steps before the injection that if all goes well, will take about a week. Additionally, I will start a few liver cell lines to begin examining some metabolic signaling parameters on how my protein of interest affects these processes. The one great thing about being a post-doc is I already know these things are not going to work, at least the first time. If grad school taught me anything it is that one must try, try, and try again. Also there was a sign of hope shining down from the science gods. I had emailed a professor at Mt. Sinai, Dr. Friedman, about getting some hepatic stellate cells from his lab. They are not readily available commercially, and since he discovered them, I figured this was the place to go. Not only did he respond within hours, being the Chief of Liver Disease, but he was more than happy to share his cells and was very welcoming of collaborating. It is little moments like this that really get me excited about science.

This afternoon I had to take a different bus to my car, since I was parked near the stadium where my radiation class was held this morning. It is move-in weekend here so I expected it to be a bit late, however after waiting 20 minutes, I decided it was time to start walking. I met a girl who was also waiting for the same bus, and so we started off together along the bus route hoping to find it. She is starting her master's program in some environmental sciences and we talked about moving to A2 and what we did. We did eventually find the bus and as we approached her stop we exchanged pleasantries about it being nice to meet one another. I doubt I will ever see her again, one of the many random people that come in to our lives for a moment.

This evening I went to a cooking club/pot-luck of sorts. I have turned to the internets to find some like minded people and things to do in town, which was a move corroborated by Louise (lab mom) who told me somewhat jokingly that, "oh, you won't meet anyone here," referring to the lab. I found a group, A2 Women's Club, and we had a Danish themed pot-luck this evening, with a real Dane to boot. I rounded up my dessert and wine and headed over to some woman's apartment I had never met. I guess showing up with wine and dessert is a good ticket through anyone's door. Everyone I met there was great! Lots of different backgrounds and different ideas on topics we talked about, like health care and education. We are hoping to do this monthly, which would be a blessing. I miss the cooking club Desiree and I started in CU.

Finally, I am taking off to go camping with my family this weekend; what a novel concept. Not only am I actually taking the Labor Day holiday off, I'm going somewhere and with my family.

Gotta have buns hun

Besides the horrid effects this will have on your diet (1200+ calories) and most likely your gastrointestinal tract in general, I am concerned and perplexed that KFC has called this a sandwich. I went to the all knowing Wikipedia as well as some more traditional sources, and the general consensus is that a sandwich (the noun) is a food item made of one or more slices of bread with one or more filling. In spirit, it might be the case that this combination of chicken, cheese, bacon, and Colonel sauce resembles a sandwich, however, a court in Boston ruled that a sandwich includes at least two slices of bread. This meaning that burritos, tacos, and quesadillas, which are typically made with a single tortilla, are NOT a sandwich (sorry Panera). I would interpret this ruling to also include that protein sources, i.e. The Colonel's secret recipe, can not serve at the encapsulating vesicles for previously stated filling. The judge's ruling is more conservative than I would interpret the definition, as I am found of open-faced sandwiches, but it does set a precedence for needing two grain-based objects to serve as the top and bottom the sandwich.

Is it a sandwich?

One week down

The first week or work went well despite that it rain only on the days when I had to walk over the the medical library for mouse training classes. I have come to realize I am in need of a new, larger, wind-proof umbrella and some rain boots. I was able to navigate my way on several different bus lines and it looks like the AATA will be a great, free way to get to work.

This week of my actual life in Ann Arbor (not on vacation) was a bit hard and lonely. Lab mates were welcoming and it seems to be a good group of people, and I am lucky I seemed to have gotten on the fun/good side of the lab. This week really reminded of me what I already knew coming in to this new adventure; it is going to be an adjustment that is going to take time. I feel blessed that I had such a wonderful life in Champaign with amazing friends and a great work environment where, when I left, I was the top-dog (of the students at least). Now I barely know what people are talking about at times. Of the 2 hours of lab meeting I think I truly understood about 15 minutes worth of presentation. I miss my friends a lot and knowing there were so many people I could call to meet for a drink and more than likely run in to others while I was out. Some of the difficulty comes in that there I am not in a 'freshman' class of anything, students, residents, interns. It is just me starting and that presents a challenge. There are all these amazing places in A2 I want to try and even though I don't mind doing a lot of things by myself, going out for a drink or out-to-eat alone is something that usually makes me feel even more alone and isolated. I am working on branching out, getting in contact with some high school friends, my sister-in-law's cousin, I have signed up for a wine and cooking class, and I have joined several young professional type groups on meetup.com. I know it will take time to establish my life here. I am thankful that in my heart of hearts I feel I made the right decision.

I mainly spent my time getting settled, setting up my desk, mouse training classes, and refocusing on science. I probably should have read and thought about it a bit more than I did, but it was amazing how much stuff filled my days. I am someone who needs large chunks of time for big thinking projects, so hopefully with all the settling and setting up out of the way, I will be able to get some experiments thought out this coming week. I did meet with Alan (the boss) to go over some ideas and it looks like we a general idea of a line of research to start on. Based on previous experience, I know it is going to take sometime to get things ordered, set-up, and started. Additionally, there are several techniques that I will need to learn from people, which I am very excited about, but again, this adds time. We have three main areas to start in, so that should give some a good place to have multiple things to work on when one is waiting for who knows what.

I have not done was well as I would have liked with my workout schedule and am looking in to purchasing the P90X system, because it seems my problem is motivation. I am uninspired and bored with the workouts I have been doing lately, well, actually for awhile now. Right now the gym is not the greatest option, because the one closest to me, which is fabulous, is $98/month!! and that is on top of a $350 joining fee. Maybe they need a RD and staff and we can work something out.

Excuse me ma'am

I must either look more friendly than I thought or give off some weird directional vibe, because even though I have only been walking around the University of Michigan campus for three days, I have already been stopped twice and asked for directions. Thankfully in both instances the building the passer-buyers were looking for were ones right near my lab and I actually knew appropriate directions to give.

We don't share very well

Since sharing is not something my new lab has mastered, as per Louise, I (and everyone else) get one of my own just about everything. OK, I don't have my own PCR machine or centrifuge, but I have a set of my own bench basics and reagents: pipettes, pipette aid, all sorts of plastic tubes and holders, scissors, and even a mini-fridge to keep stuff in that I am "too lazy" to walk to the cooler for.

I found the biochem store room, right in our building also have my own shelf in the freezer and a mail slot. I expect letters.

The desk is coming together, calendar, bus schedule and a few pictures are up. I hope to get the rest up tomorrow, but the cork-board around my desk is evil and does not seem to like being stuck with push-pins. The snacks and coffee cups have arrived and mouse-house shoes are coming with tomorrow. I also proudly navigated an additional bus route today to return to the dealership when my car had some recall work done this afternoon. The journey involved a trip from campus to the main terminal downtown and a transfer, all which went smoothly.

Stuart and the fam came down for dinner and so he could install my new faucet in the kitchen sink to remedy the absent sprayer. The faucet functions for what I intended, however, the neck is a bit lower in to the sink that I thought, but it was the only sprayer model that fit my sink. Got to give and take I guess.

It is on to the 1st of 4 animal training classes tomorrow.

Real world: Day 1

My first day in the real world went off without a hitch and was very similar to grad school days. I think moving from one college town to another has been a good move. Most of the morning was spent back and forth between the lab on the 5th floor and the administrative offices on the 3rd floor. My favorite part of the morning was when I received my locker!! Yes, I have a high-school-like locker in the hall down from the lab, number 1530, so you know which one to decorate for homecoming and my birthday. I also had to schedule several training classes for animal handling, radiation safety, and other OSHA requirements. I also was able to start reading some articles and begin to refocus my scientific train of thought.

• Catch the bus at the park-n-ride this morning - check
• Key card access - check
  
• Log-in name/password, network drives, & printer - check
  
• Afternoon coffee at the biggest Espresso Royale Cafe EVER - check
  
• Catch the bus home this afternoon (and I did not have to run it down) - check

The docket for the rest of the week includes journal club tomorrow, the 1st of four training classes Wednesday, and lab meeting Thursday. I have already been warned this might be a doozy, since there has not been a lab meeting in several weeks.

I have my bag of desk essentials ready for tomorrow: pictures, silverware, coffee cup, S&P, sharpies, pens, highlighter, note pads, sticky notes, calendar, and snacks. So far so good, everyone was nice today and I'm looking forward to getting a few experiments under my belt.

Back to reality

After 2 months, 3 vacations, and over 6,500 miles of car and plane rides it is time to start my job tomorrow. I have had wonderful time traveling and spending time with friends I do not get to see nearly as often as I would like. The sights and sounds I have been able to experience, delectable food I've tasted, and wonderful people I've met has made this summer truly an unforgettable experience. Of course it went too fast and I with all the planning, I can't believe it is over. I now think I might have developed a new vacation hobby and am already working on planning the next trip.

I had a dream about the new job last night; thankfully nothing scary and worrisome. My feelings are mixed on the subject. I am ready to get started and am looking forward to a bit more structure in my daily schedule, which I'm sure comes as no big surprise. My anxiety now is about the logistics of the new lab, schedule and, well, life. Will riding the bus work out? How are things done in the lab? Do I do my own ordering? Am I going to end up joining a gym, or make due with the equipment here? Will I find people at work to go out with? What's the drama, because there is always drama. I am excited about starting a new line of research and learning new skills and techniques. Being close to my family has already made my transition easier. After returning from Scotland, Marissa gave me a big hug and said, "I'm glad you are home." As with all families, dysfunctionality is imminent and an unwelcomed side-affect I now must deal with given my proximity, but there are plenty of great Michigan brews I have yet to try - I think I'll make it.

Well, here comes the next chapter, let's see what it will bring

Scotland recap

Where to begin...we had an amazing journey through the green hills, rocky mountains, single track roads filled with sheep, majestic castles, and distilleries of Scotland. All of our travel and lodging was prefect and no mishaps, well serious mishaps at least. The food was spectacular and we had our fair share of fish and chips, and at one cafe the biggest single piece of fish I've ever seen, I had tea one afternoon and Sam was on a quest to find the best hot chocolate in Scotland. Buttered scones and jam were our favorite snacks along with a biscuit or short here and there from a coffee shop. At each meal we would share each of the dishes to be able to experience a greater variety of local cuisine. Our favorite combined meals was at a local pub in Edinburgh, consisting of fish and chips and what can only be described as a meat-box. It was similar to a chicken-pot-pie filling only with beef, served in a pastry box.

We visited five castles and our now self proclaimed castleologists (Edinburgh, Cowdar - best garden, Broadie - best tour & 6,500+ books in the library, Dunvegan - best overall grounds area, and Armadale), Catlon Hill, the Scottish Whiskey Experience, Tartan Weaving Mill, Loch Ness (no Nessie sittings), climbed to the top of Old Man Storr in Skye and several other places in Edinburgh and Skye.

Some highlights include:
We both found some really good deals at the local Salvation Army in Inverness. I now own a designer Scottish dress.

Our first night in Inverness we met some local boys, Chris and Russel at our 2nd bar of the evening and spent sometime talking and learning about the town and places to see. They were just barely 20 and 21. They pointed us to some late-night snacks as we were leaving and strolled back to our B&B laughing and eating fries along the river Ness.

The 2nd night in Inverness I briefly danced to a Scottish gig before we moved to another establishment. There were several door-man looking fellows outside and after milling around for a minute, because we thought they might be checking ID's, I asked, "is there something you need from me?" To which one man replied, "a kiss on the cheek." While inside there was a 50-something couple sitting in front of us celebrating their 30th anniversary and their flirtations were enduring. However, as the night progressed, they got a little vulgar, and he was sticking his hands down the back of her pants and grabbing at her chest. Needless to stay, we didn't stay there long.

Our first night in Skye we met other guys, James and Jason, who are traveling wind-mill engineers. While waiting in line with them at a 2nd bar, Jason struck up a conversation with a local man, Neil, and within 10 minutes we were all in our car out to his place, as no one wanted to wait in line in the rain. He was an interesting character with lots and lots of CD's and thoughts on politics. While backing out, Sam when over the embankment as deep as the tire, and the car was stuck! The boys got out and tried to figure out how to get the car back up, because continuing to back up was out of the question. In a wine and whiskey haze, I jumped in the drivers seat and floored it forward. The boys were in the back and realized what I was doing, and pushed. Needless to say, we got it home in one piece with minimal damage. When we returned I could not find the keys to the B&B and thought maybe it got left at Neil's. Thankfully our new found friends were gracious enough to offer a place to stay and I found the key stuck in my wallet in the morning.

Our last day in Skye we drove around to see the sights on while on a single-track road that was merging in to a dual carriage-way I went off the road just slightly on the left and no curb, we hit something and ended up with a flat tire. Neither one of us has really changed a flat, let alone on a hill. A Swedish couple came of our rescue and he changed the tire for us. The whole rest of the drive to Glasgow we couldn't go over 50mph puttsing along the whole way. After stopping at the closest thing to a truck-stop, driving in the night, it took us 1.5hrs to go 60 miles!!

We arrived in Glasgow around midnight on Monday and didn't need to be to the airport until about 7a. When we did not find any 24h diners, we drove to the back of a hotel parking lot and slept in the car for a few hours before returning to the airport.

Driving on such narrow roads there were some close calls with trucks passing, but we never drove on the wrong side. It took a while get used to looking for on-coming traffic in the opposite direction and the set-up of the sifter and seat-belt. We fell in love with all the sheep and cows long the roads, and had to stop several times for the sheep to cross.

I am very thankful for the time I had to spend with Sam as well. We had hours upon hours of conversations about our childhood, family, religion, boys, our futures, etc. It was priceless to have this time with such a wonderful friend.

Here I come...

Random Up-dates

1. I saw my family three days in a row this week and it wasn't even Christmas.
2. The A2 public library is not very good at denoting books that cost to borrow and I already incurred late fees.
3. I now own a couch, flat screen TV, and china cabinet.
4. Found a great sangria bar that serves everything in mason jars, including pitchers of beer and sangria. Dominicki's also has a great out door seating.
5. I met up with a friends from high school and am looking forward to hanging out with her more.
6. The teenage-concession-stand-boy didn't charge me for a popcorn refill. FYI, the movie theater is less than a mile from my apartment.
7. While out at Dominicki's someone in the neighborhood was definitely smoking, and it isn't even hash-bash time - welcome to Ann Arbor
8. I found a great market, Arbor Farms Market, that sells grass-fed beef from cattle raised on small Michigan farms as well as Amish chicken at very reasonable prices.
9. Scotland planning is just about done. I ended up with Fodor's: See it, Scotland, because I found it too difficult plan things to-do on-line when I won't have a computer in Scotland.
10. Lily ran out on to the balcony the other day, stuck her head over the edge, but thankfully didn't jump.
    

"She's not hot, she's smart"

My first full weekend in AA has been fulled with a lab BBQ, meeting new people at Ted's party, which from what I gleaned are pretty infamous, and hanging out at the park with the family. It was great to spend some time with the lab-crew on Friday at a farewell BBQ for Lynn how is heading down the road to a former post-doc's new lab. All the fun stuff with no work - this post-doc is going great!

Saturday I went out, way out of my comfort zone and went to a party where I did not know a soul. I found meetup.com, a website for networking of local groups is just about any area. There are several young professional/nightlife/explore the town type groups and I joined a few, one of which was having a party Saturday. I decided it was now or never to get myself out there and meet new people. Dressed in my new black and white strapless summer number I got from The Vineyard armed with a bottle of wine I made my way over to Ted's loft. From the get go everyone was very friendly and made an effort to introduce and talk to new people. I met several people that evening who were in the same position as I was, as well as seasoned professional Ted party goers. There were a few interesting people, but for the most part everyone was friendly. It was a great diverse crowd and the wonderful cool evening made it great for the party to spill onto the patio and even to the vacant patio next door. One of the funniest moments of the evening was the comment a new acquaintance made after asking if I was cold. After another women had responded to him, she was hot. I remarked I wasn't cold but had brought a cover-up if needed. To this he concluded, "she's not hot, she's smart." Needless to say, the people engaged in this conversation all burst out laughing as he feverishly tried to back peddle. Unfortunately after several people asked if I was OK and the wave of nausea that came over me from the migraine I'd been fighting all day, I left earlier than planned. I think it is time to find a doctor here and get these things under control.

This afternoon I met up with my brother's family at Kenisngton Metro Park for a picnic with my sister-in-law's family. It is so wonderful that I am able to attend these events. With only a month under my belt I really feel at home and that I have made the right decision. Let's hope that feeling continues when I actually start my job.

Hike, bike, read, write, eat - repeat

The UP was an amazing time. It had been over 10 years since I was up to the cabin and there was a surreal feeling being back there and nothing had seemingly changed. Once I finally made it there, after passing the almost hidden driveway the first time down Ramsden Road, it all came back. The dark brown exterior of the cabin, with its large front porch facing the fire pit. There were several reminder of Aunt Vi and Uncle Ken, who own the cabin on little door hangers and yard posts. It brought back lots of fond memories of Aunt Vi. She had the softest hands of anyone I ever knew, amazing skin, and blazing red hair until the day she passed. She was a wonderful cook and baker and the kitchen had definitely had her touch.

I arrived just a tad before 4p after stopping at the IGA in town on my way. After bringing all of my stuff in and settling down I had the Pasty I purchased from IGA and got to work on making my chicken noodle soup. I spent most of the evening reading through the cabin journal, in which visitors leave notes and details about their trips. (A pre-Internet blog of sorts) It was great to read of vacations my family took, surprises from friends who came to visit. Honeymoons and anniversary trips, little get aways and first time visitors. It is such a great piece of our family history to have this journal and I happily contributed the adventures of my trip.

Over the course of the trip I finished the last few chapters of two books I was reading, read another cover to cover in one day (something I had never done before) and started a third. Organized my pictures on the new Macbook - love iphoto. I did some writing and typing of old journal entries I brought with me, but not nearly as much writing of 'new' stuff as I had hoped. I thought a bit about what my barrier is to actually writing most of the stories floating around in my head and came up with two. 1) Some things are still to close, in time that is and need more distance. However, this is a bit of a conundrum because with the passing of time, so does go the passing of my memory. I have started to writing the general ideas of the stories to came back to. 2) I do not have a theme, a central idea to keep coming back to. I think that knowing overall my story is about a 'single mom,' or 'a recovering addict,' makes it a little easier to have focus. None of the stories would really change, they are what they are, but their individual spin and the continuity of the whole would be easier. I am hoping to work on these two issues, well more the later, since I can't control time. I have found several writing groups in AA and hope to join one, even if just to have some accountability.I also spent sometime seeing a few of the local sites, including Kitchitikipi Springs. and the Pictured Rock National Lake Shore. Kitchitikipi is an amazing natural sulfur spring that is clear to the bottom, 45 feet below and is always 45 degrees. At Pictured Rocks, I saw several waterfalls and was a little disappointed that the trails between the sites, The Backcountry trail, was not bikeable. I should have looked in to that more. I was going to hike from Sand Point to Miners Castle, only 4.9 miles, but once I got on the trail and I came across a sign stating I had only gone just over a mile, I realized hiking was not going to be nearly as fast as walking 4.9 miles. I had a hunch once I was on the trail and realized how slow I had to go in portions that were wet, muddy, or just plain treacherous. Needless to say, once I got the map and my location straight, I realized I could just drive there - again, I was hoping for bike ride.

All in all, it was a great trip and I hope that in the future I don't have to drive 6 hours in to the woods to allow myself a few days to relax, although I'd do it again. After several days of self reflecting I am hoping to do some things different in this new chapter of my life. I have no regrets from before, but have, as one would hope, learned and want to grow from those experiences.

U.P. vacation #2

I said good-bye to Meredith this morning as she is completed her elective rotation and is on her way back to UofI. I made my first trip to Trader Joe in AA with her yesterday (as she had several 'orders' from Chambana to fill), and I must say just how amazed I was with the quality and price of the products; a place I defiantly will be frequenting since I do live there and all, which I had to remind myself several times during the shopping trip. We also seem to have found campus-bar-row and split a $5 pitcher of Miller Light after our roof top happy hour with $2.95 glasses of wine, cheese, and tapenade downtown.

Now after finishing the laundry, a few loose ends with grant stuff and grocery shopping, I am ready and just under 12 hours away from vacation #2 to the upper peninsula (UP) of Michigan to our family cabin about 30 minutes outside of Manistique, MI on Thunder Lake. I stopped to the library again and this time stocked up on a few books for my time in the cabin and will have plenty of driving time to finish my fourth and final book-on-CD. I have groceries and supplies for a rump roast complete with carrots and potatoes, chicken noodle soup, and yes some Hamburger Helper which I needed to finally make. I'll have to stop to IGA in town, about 30 minutes from the cabin, to pick up some milk, lunch meat, and fruit.

View Cabin in a larger map

I made a stop over to Aunt Linda's this evening to get directions, keys, pepper spray for the wild animals, and a bike rack for my car. It was quite an amusing time her trying to remember the name of the roads and the exact directions as to her it is just second nature. I did plug the address in to the GPS and it came out with directions, so I think we will be all set. I have several maps and directions to Picture Rock National Forest and Marquette, which are the two travel destinations on my trip.

There is also a paddle boat on the lack and several hiking/biking trails around Thunder Lake I plan to explore. I have lots of reading and writing that I want to accomplish. My cell phone connection will be spotty at best and Internet will probably only be available in Marquette. I will blog as I go and then post when I return, so look for the weeks adventures the 1st week of August.

I was told that my family is just in utter amusement that I am going to cabin by myself for a whole week, I think they even were taking bets of a family baby shower last weekend for how long I'll last up there - I'll let you know in about a week (or sooner if they are correct).

"Ma'am you are in New Jersey, everything is full-service"

2,217 miles, 7 beds, $30+ in tolls, 3 books on CD, 2 countries, 7 states, 13 days, one train and ferry ride and probably more pounds than I want to know later - I am home.

I had just a remarkable time over the last two weeks driving around visiting friends and family I have not seen in awhile, some in 3 years. I am so grateful for everyone's hospitality and all the wonderful adventures I had.

Here are some interesting highlights and things I learned on my trip:

1. My GPS does not believe in Canada
2. In full walk, I ran into the door on Diana and Min-Yang's patio trying to go inside after only two glasses of wine
3. Books on CD - where have they been all my life
4. Boston is an even crazier place to drive than Chicago, and maybe even NY
5. I just love seafood
6. Massachusetts is a very beautiful state and looks a lot like northern MI with all its trees
7. Napping in city parks is a wonderful way to spend a few hours
8. All gas stations in New Jersey are full-service
9. The Island is a party every night
10. A bridge on I95 did not show up on the GPS and it had my car driving across water

The pictures are up on Facebook and I have some pretty interesting videos I'll try and get together before leaving on Saturday. Between now and then, there are bills to pay, laundry to wash, library books to check-out, and a few other odds and ends to take care of. I am hoping the weather will be nice next week while I am in the UP as I am planning several hikes, a kayaking trip and some other out-door activities.

American History

I went through the whole, well pretty much, the whole Freedom Trail today. It did not take as long as expected mainly because Boston is not nearly as big as I thought. It was a pretty warm day, but thankfully with the layers of sunscreen applied before embarking on my history-laden day, I am not as red as a lobsta'

I started out visiting the Bunker Hill memorial and USS Constitution in Charlestown. It was a very beautiful, quite area and the lay of the homes was what I would expect an old New England town to look like. (I have forgotten my camera cord to download pictures, so they will come next week.) Then it was across the Charles River to Copp's Hill Burial Ground. Most of the grave stones were so only you could barely read the first few lines. Then it was on to the Old North Church, where I was reminded of the fact that Paul Revere himself did not hang the lantern's, as he was already on his way to the country side. The church had old box-style pews, which I had never seen before and still hold two services a week.

After this I was in search of lunch and was in a just the area of find it; The North End. I strolled down Hanover Street a bit of the red brick that denoted the Freedom Trail. I must say this was a most brilliant idea - having a big red line running on the sidewalk pointing in the correct direction of the tour. I walked past several shops and then found this great hole-in-the-wall seafood joint and walked right in - The Daily Catch. The whole place probably wasn't much bigger than my college dorm room. The 'kitchen' was in full view and the 'dishroom' was covered by a half wall curtain. There was one waiter and probably seating for 16, maybe 20 at most. I had a black pasta dish and calamari and vegetables - delicious (sound of kissing my fingers). Then as luck has it, I was across the street from Mike's Pastry, a must see sight according to Andy. I walked in, and took in all the smells and sights of this authentic Italian bakery and walked out eating a chocolate mousse canoli.

I strolled around the North End a bit more and walked over to Christopher Columbus Park and took a lil' nap under the tree in the shade. Then it was off to venture through Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market (where I found Vicki a birthday present). After passing the site of the Boston Massacre and the Old South Meeting House, it was on to Boston Commons for another lil' nap in the park. I made my way back to Faneuil Hall, took in some street performances, read a few pages of my book and then met Peggy and Klemen for dinner at Mother Anna's. Erik met up with us and we had an enjoyable seafood dinner - yummy crab cakes out on the patio.

Tomorrow I am taking the Duck Boat Tour around town and down the Charles River, then it is off to Vicki's and out to the Vineyard.

Bean Town

I'm in Bean Town...now off to explore!!

My police escort

I saw in the Long Island Newsday, as well as heard from several sources that there was a fire on the Throg's Neck Bridge the other day and that access was closed from several parkways to get out of Long Island. Of course this was the intended way to Massachusetts, so I needed to look for alternatives. Thankfully this same Newsday article offered such choices graciously pointing out several different detours one could take from different points on Long Island. I confirmed my plan with uncle Howie and wrote down the directions on the newspaper page and tore it out for the trip. Given the troubles with the GPS in Canada, I wanted to have some good ol' fashioned directions as well, because with some my express-ways and parkways on Long Island I wasn't sure what the GPS detour would be.

I was driving along the LIE, keeping up with traffic, and yes, doing a little weaving, but nothing that would have been noticeable had I not had out-of-state plates. I figured instead of continually glancing to the passenger seat at the newspaper clipping I would hold it on the steering wheel so I could make a (quicker) glance down to see the next street. I was doing this for just about 5 or so minutes when I heard a quick siren sound, like from a police car. I quick looked around and in the mirrors and did not see any official vehicles and thought nothing of it. Then it came again within a minute or so, again a quick glance, but not cars. Finally the Jeep Cherokee behind me turned on its police lights and was motioning for me to pull over. But where!! There are no shoulders on the LIE.

I pulled to the right lane and slowed down planning on going to the next exit, I did not want him to think I was trying to evade him (right Stuart). Then he pulls up, and yes there was a large curb, on to the grassy-shoulder-piece of land; I followed. He pulled to my passenger side and I rolled down my window.

"You are not seriously reading the newspaper and driving?" he questioned.
"No, I am following my directions for the detour on the Throgs Neck."
"That still closed from the fire?"
"Yes, that is what the Newsday article said yesterday, and I can't trust this thing for detours," I remarked while pointing to the GPS.
He radioed someone and was talking with several people about the best way to get there.
"Stay on the LIE to the Clearview, it's not closed from there."
I asked him about having to go on Grand Central Parkway, as the paper instructed.
"No. Just follow me, I'll get you there."

And that is how I got a police escort to the Throg's Neck Bridge.

Mets won

Spent most of the afternoon at the new Citi Stadium where I think most of the stimulus package has gone. It was a beautiful park and we had amazing seats, 5 rows back from the visitor dug-out. It was a tad bit warm outside and I got some sun, finally. We had an amazing lobster roll for lunch with some great seasoned fries and a toasted lager.

Tomorrow I am off to NEW YORK CITY!! I will spend the day in Midtown shopping and seeing whatever sights I come across, as well as lunch with my now-found-long-lost-cousin.

I am really embarrassing and starting to enjoy the spontaneity of this vacation. I have no specific plans for tomorrow and still haven't planned my exact trip home and surprisingly enough I am totally OK with that and am not worried. What, me without a plan? and not worried to boot! I know, I know, don't worry I didn't lose myself in Canada while without GPS, I am just really soaking up my current life-on-vacation.

East Coast Tour - Leg 1

Well it came as a surprise to me that my Garmin (GPS) did not work in Canada. As I was approaching the Detroit/Winsor boarder it kept telling me to turn on every side street to turn around and then when that was no longer an option, it was telling my to make a U-turn. Needless to say, I am glad I still have the trusty Atlas in my car. There are only two main express ways in Ontario that eventually configure in London, ON and go on to Niagara Falls. I did finally get on the 401 after about 15-20 minutes of following signs through side roads. Once pulling in to Niagara Falls (on the Canadian side) I stopped to eat at the first local place I found - Taps Brewery. I had a really delicious pulled pork sandwich with a homemade slaw on top served on a chewy rolls along with a vanilla stout. The place looked very new and my waitress, a recent college graduate, was very helpful and informative about The Falls. I walked the few miles to The Falls and took about an hour to explore around before I left on my way to the Rochester area.

I met up with Peggy and her boyfriend, Dave, outside of Rochester in Victor. She seems to be doing very well there and it was go great to see her and meet her wonderful boyfriend. Stopped for supplies, drinks and snacks, and took off to his parents place on Canandaigua Lake for an evening of boating and tubing. We spent the evening on the lake and then to a local establishment for dinner. We had to rise early this morning for Peggy to get to her boaters safety training and for me to get on the road. I arrived to aunt Mindy's in Long Island shortly before 3pm, about 45 minutes after anticipated and given the traffic on the bridges in to NY, I figured I made good time.

I am still working on the plans for the drive home. Vicki and company are staying on the vineyard until Tuesday evening, but at the latest I'll need to leave Tuesday AM and get on the road. Originally I had planned to drive all the way back to Ann Arbor, but given the extra time for the boat ride and how freakin' tired I was after the 6.5hrs today, I think I'll stop half way on Tuesday to arrive home Wednesday. I am going to look in to staying at/near a winery in up-state NY; I did not realize how many there were until I drove through today.

Finally, books on tape!! How have I missed this! I am about 3/4 of the way through my second book and I am loving it. Thank goodness for the library.

VACATION!!

I'm all packed and ready to (officially) start my 2 months of vacation!! The grants are submitted and bags are packed. I have several books-on-CD selections for the driving along with my trusty iPod.

I have been looking forward to and planning this vacation for quite sometime now that it is hard to believe it has finally come time to set-off. I am very excited to see some friends and family I haven't seen in a few years as well as see some recent former-Chambanan's in their new homes. I am looking forward to exploring Boston and the Freedom Trail, seeing a Mets game, roller-blading with Diana again, and finally making it back to Martha's Vineyard.

A quick itinerary:
7/10 I'll stop at Niagara Falls on my way to visit Peggy in Rochester
7/11-14 I'll be staying with the family on Long Island, going to a Mets game and in to the city
7/14-15 I'll be visiting with Diana and Min-Yang in Plymouth, MA
7/15-18 I'll be in Cambridge staying with Erik, dinner with extended family, meeting up with Peggy and Klemen, Freedom Trail Tour, Duck Boat Tour, and who knows what else
7/19-21 Out to Martha's Vineyard with Vicki and family for her 30th birthday

This will be the first time I have traveled this extensively on my own. I am actually really looking forward to this opportunity and will do my best to up-date as I go.

Sprinklers, sinks, and spiders

It has officially been a week now and, well there are a few things that are a bit vexing.

1. The sprinklers come on 3-4 times/day seemingly regardless of the previous night's weather. They have no regard for the walking paths that lead me to my car or the clubhouse (with the workout facilities). With all that said, probably the most agitating trait is that they spray on my car providing me with not even a full Polish carwash daily making it not only impossible to ever leave my windows cracked but also necessary to wash the water spots nearly every time I drive.
2. My kitchen sink has only one compartment. Now I do have a dishwasher, but given the minimal amount of dished I accumulate even after a night of cooking and the amount of water the dishwasher uses, I have only used it once (when the family was here). So I am left with a bit of a conundrum: what to do with the dirty dishes before they are washed? With only a few, it has not been a problem. However, once they start to pile up and it comes time to either rinse a dish or two or to wash them all, I am at a loss. I have been piling them up on the counter until I get the wash water ready, which is sort of remedy, but then comes the issue of rinsing. The sink is pretty deep, so if I start washing dishes while filling up the sink I can use the running water for rinsing, but at times the water just gets nasty and then defeats the whole purpose. I know the simple solution is to use the dishwasher and maybe once I have a more regular schedule after my 2 months of vacation, I'll see if the dishwasher option is worth it.
3. In addition, the kitchen sink does not have a sprayer. This has not caused nearly the dilemma as the one compartment, but it does make it difficult to rinse food particles and clean the sink.
4. I do not seem to know my own strength and snapped the blinds in the dining room last night. I was pulling them up and the right side of the top frame piece, where the roller balls sits, snapped. Thankfully they did not come down from the wall and after some finagling I was able to coax them down. For now this will work; they still open, just do not retract.
5. I have some pretty fierce spiders on the balcony. I tried to kill them last night with bug spray and ran out and thankfully they did not come in the night to attack me, although I had a dream which presented a different scenario. I purchased some more spray today, which is floral scented (who knew) and sprayed it everywhere. They only seem to come out at night and I really do not want to have to actually be out on the balcony at the same time to see where they are to kill them, but this maybe the case - we'll see.

All in all though, these nuisances are cloaked by the washer/dyer, sitting outside eating lunch and reading, covered parking, and the Plum Market.

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Meredith and I made a trip downtown to explore last night. We found free parking and great brew pub, Blue Tractor Brewery which had a really tasty 5-beer sampler for just $5.95!! It included all of there current selection and the seasonal, which was actually a guest apperance of Luciernaga "The Firefly" from the Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, in Dexter, MI. In addition, we had a basket of the green chile cheddar muffins - yum! This selection from Jolly Pumpkin was my favorite, and this brewery is a total of ONLY 6.2 miles from my apartment, so I will defineately be making a visit in the very near future. The rest of downtown was beautiful and just about every establishment had outdoor setting; it felt a bit like Europe in that regard. Most of the places we strolled by on Main Street were resturants: mexican, several seafood joints, steak houses, Indian, Ethiopian, BBQ, Cuban, Japanese and other asian grills. We did not see too many places there were just bars, but again, we were only on a few streets. There were lots and lots of good happy hour specials and one in particular at Vinology that we will stop to tomorrow.

I also discovered a grocery store/wine cellar/butcher/chocolate shop/deli/organic home & body boutique/everything else gastronomical one could desire within walking distance from my place - The Plum Market. They had lucious fresh berries out for tasting and some delicious homemade lime chips. This place is way more than a grocery store; they have thier own wine room, king crab legs, pizza oven, and a deli bar spread - I think this maybe the death of my wallet. I didn't look too closely at the prices, but did purchase a box of Kashi cereal on sale for $1.99!! I am not sure how they will compare since most of the brands looked like niche, small organic producers, but I will take advantage of the produce, fresh meats and cheeses, deli, and specialtiy items. Thankfully the Kroger and Meijers is also close for my pantry staples.

The Michigan Secretary of State took a furlough day yesterday so I was not about to get my license and registration changed, however, this ended up being good, because I still have to get my paperwork from AAA for the MI auto insurance. I did however make it to the library and am now a proud owner of an Ann Arbor public library card. I rented some books on CD for my upcoming trips.

Today I'm meeting with Alan and will hopefully get everything done to get the grant submitted today or tomorrow. I have several other things to accomplish before I head to Rochester on Friday.

Lunch is now served on the balcony

I have been here just shy of a week and thankfully everything is unpacked and just about everything is up on the walls. Still a few pictures to figure out what to do with and some furniture re-arranging in the near future, but all in all, it looks like I live here.

I have most all the essentials near my apartment in the Westgate Shopping center, including, Kroger, Chase, Rite-Aid, Dollar General, K-mart (yes folks, there are still a few around), the west branch of the library, some restaurants, and lots of other lil' shops I have still to discover. Meijers and Lowe's are also not too far. I am on the far west edge of town and there is a little township that butts up to Ann Arbor, Scio Township, so for reference, it'd be analgous to going to Wal-Mart in Savoy, if one lived say off Prospect and Kirby.

Today I also established a local for my bottle returns (in the laundry room), used the work-out facility in the clubhouse, and had lunch on the balcony.

This week I need to take care of changing all the paperwork for my car and getting a new drivers license at the Secretary of State (which is also close in the Westgate center) and go to the library and rent some books on tape for my impending drive out east. I reserved my ticket for the Duck Boat Tour in Boston and still have a fews plans to figure out for that leg of the trip before I leave on Friday. I'm also hoping to meet up a with a few friends I know in town before I head off, and Kelly and I are meeting for dinner on Thursday to catch-up, since I am so close and have the opportunity to do that now.

I am meeting with Alan (the new boss) on Tuesday to finalize the grant proposal, as I have to submit before I leave since due dates will be when I am on vacation. He emailed me his revisions yesterday about 5pm - and I thought I was a work-a-holic.

Meredith arrived about an hour ago. She'll be staying this month for her elective rotation at UofM hopsital. It works out well for both of us; she a place to stay pretty much to herself, and me a cat sitter. It'll be nice to have a friendly face around for the next few days, and hopefully she'll be up for checking out a few places downtown.

Settling in

For the most part it looks like I live here now, and I would say I am about 90-95% settled in. There are still a few pictures to hang and sorting out of things, especially boxes from the Freund lab. Most of those items will stay in the spare room closet until I get started in the Saltiel lab in August. Some moments it does not feel that weird because I am surrounded by all of my stuff and it is now just in a new and much better apartment. I have already begun to enjoy the ammenities here, including the laundry room and dishwasher. I doubt I will really use the dishwasher all that often, since I am used to washing by hand and, well don't ditry that many dishes to begin with. The laundry on the other hand; I just love it, especially since it is an actual room and not a laundry closet. All day to day when I was running errands, every time I got change I smiled because I no longer have to worry about saving quaters for laundry.

Lily has adjusted well and has yet to try and escape, but I am sure she will. The front door opens directly to the outside, so we'll see. At least there is a window so I can see if she is there. I'm not quite sure what she'd do if she got on the balcony; I would hope she wouldn't try to just off, however with her, one never knows.

I went to lab this afternoon to sign paperwork etc. and Alan asked me to come to lab meeting. It was strange sitting there thinking this is my lab now and seeing how things go. There were some jokes and small talk, but nothing quite like the Freund lab meetings. There are definetly things I will miss about the Freund lab, and not just the pizza during lunch lab meetings.

All in all, the strangest feeling so far is being back in Michigan.

Things I will have to get used to again:
1. Motorcycle helments
2. Bottle returns, got to start saving those pop cans, and now beer bottles
3. Ridiciulously bad roads...grr
4. Hearing local news etc. about Detroit, and it is even worse when what they say on the national broadcasts
5. Not being smoke-free. I have heard rumors that it is in the works, and I sure hope so
6. Eastern time zone, especially the TV schedule
7. Being much closer to my family is just such a blessing. Marissa already wanted to spend the night when they were helping to move me in

With having the next two months off to travel and relax I do not really feel the weight of having to start over again. I am hoping this time will serve as a good transistion to this new chapter and will enable me to somewhat get used to this new life without such an abrupt change. I know once I get to working again and have more of a routine I will miss the Chambana groove I have had for the last 5 years. I hope to see everyone very soon and welcome all visitors.

I have attached a video of the new place for everyone to see and pictures are up on FB.

I'm here

I made it and about 90% settled. Finally got the internets up and working today and will up load some pics and videos on Facebook later today.