Home from NYC

We're home from NYC/Connecticut - we had an awesome time, and I'll post all the pictures shortly, I promise!

"Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Big Bang

As it has been discussed here, folks, tomorrow they turn on the Large Hadron Collider - We can only hope it goes as planned and we don't get sucked into a black hole, but just in case, have yourself a drink tonight!

Hello, Help Desk? I broke my computer!

So Jaime and I have been planning on upgrading the ole' Dell desktop for a while now...the final straw was when the hard drive started making the occasional squeaking noise. And frankly, at 4 years of age, it was obsolete (technology!) So, we made a command decision...

We've switched sides...


We are proud new owners of a 24" iMac! I know, I know, "Oh my god, the tech support guy bought a Macintosh!?" Well, here's what we use the computer for - internet, pictures, and music. In these three categories, OS X runs circles around Windows. Just don't tell the folks at the Help Desk, ok? They're afraid of change!

So I've spent the past couple of days trying to delve into OS X, importing many, MANY CDs, updating our digital photo library, and ordered myself a two button mouse (the one thing I have against Apple). If anyone out there has any tips, send them my way!

From EndoGastric to Epigenomics

My last day at EndoGastric Solutions is Thursday Sept 11th. Then we travel to Connecticut to visit Mom and Dad, and I return on the 20th to start a new job at Epigenomics. The following are the reasons for the change:

1. I no longer have to tell people I work at EndoGastric Solutions... that was always hard to explain
2. My commute will be less time, and I won't be driving (go Metro!)
3. I needed the monitoring experience I will get at Epigenomics (and the frequent flyer miles)
4. Clinical team has years of experience I can learn from
5. Someone's gotta help find a better diagnostic test for colon cancer
6. I love change
7. Redmond had way too many cops watching radar
8. 5 weeks of vacation!
9. I wasn't about to try to commute to Redmond everyday with the construction of replacing the viaduct, renovating SR-520, and widening I-405.
10. I missed molecular biology

On a serious note, it was an excellent opportunity for me and I gained a lot of experience. I met a lot of wonderful people at EGS who I will miss very much. I wish the company the best!

I'll be sure to update with my new experience in a few weeks, wish me luck!

The End of the World is Nigh

(Hey Hans, where does this wire go?)

Here are some awesome pictures of the construction of the Large Hadron Collider - latest "on" date is September 10th...it'll be a bummer if it destroys the earth, we leave for vacation in Connecticut on the 12th. Oh well...

Garage Sales of Yore...

So two weekends ago, we got around to offloading the little amount of useless junk we had lying around the house in our neighborhood garage sale...Really, we're young still, and we have no closets, so honestly it's been difficult collecting a whole bunch of crap...though we do what we can.


Anyway, we awoke bright and early Saturday morning, August 16th and modestly set out our two tables full of "stuff" to peddle to the masses. Neighbors Carter and Dan did an awesome job advertising and Chris put up some great signage! It was an absolutely beautiful (if slightly warm) day, and in the end, we walked away with about $80 - sweet! Granted, we were going up against some serious contenders. Our neighbors Chris and Yvonne, who were offloading a TON of kids stuff (they have a 4 year old daughter) walked away with a figure well above $1000. Please don't tell the IRS. The good news was that as a result, they had to buy dinner for Jaime and I, and our neighbors Carter and Dan! We had some great company throughout the day as well. Thanks to Craig, Brooke, Eric and Cameron for stopping by! (Edit - Also major thanks to Michal and Ryan and Kendal for stopping by too! I can't post pictures of the naked two year old in the kiddie pool!)

After a long day in the sun, we headed over to Brooke and Eric's house to relax for a drink and hang out in their deck pool...classy!!! (Thanks again!!!!) We then headed back over to Chris and Yvonne's and enjoyed pizza and drinks.

This is how I classify a winning Saturday - 1. I don't have to go to the gym 2. I get to relax in the sun 3. I make money (even if only a little) 4. I get to spend time in a pool (even if it's only 2 feet deep and inflatable) 5. I have pizza for dinner 6. I can imbibe as much as I want, because I only have to stumble back across the street 7. I get to enjoy family and friends

There was no way this day could have been better!