Waiting...waiting...and more waiting...for a new job that is

Ok...I should totally be working, but for the 16th time this month my boss has gone running for the door early and so has my motivation. As usual, my head is filled with everything except what I should be thinking about. (The above pic is one of Cory and I at his cousin's rehearsal dinner the weekend after Christmas...a whole nother story altogether.)

As most of you know I have been doing an internship in addition to my postdoctoral research and recently had the opportunity to apply for a permanent position at the office I'm interning with after my manager unexpectedly took another job with a venture captial firm in Arizona. I had anticipated this happening but not after only 2 months of me working there...so although I had my eye on the job I had reservations about applying with so little experience until my outgoing manager told me that he had already thrown my name into the mix. Well, after the couple months of waiting for the state process of hiring I finally interviewed last week and now am waiting on pins and needles until I find out something. Of course, I expect little since I'm so "wet behind the ears", but expectations and hopes are very different things. So I have my friends praying for a divine intervention and a nice blessing from above. Cory and I are starting to think about "grown up things" now like settling down and buying a house and I know that the visions of that house are growing in Cory's head as he dreams of me with a fatter wallet...no pressure or anything. :)

We have actually had a quiet couple of months since Cory has been furiously studying for his CPA exams and I have been doing my job along with the internship and also trying to get back into my running routine. He is doing great...he has passed 3 of the 4 parts and even got a 99 on the audit exam. He just took the last part 2 weeks ago and feels like this one may have been the one that actually got the better of him. I'm guessing he did just fine, but if not then he'll only have that one part to conquer. We should find out the verdict sometime in March.

As you can tell I'm not so good about keeping this thing up to date, but I guarantee that I'll put something up when I find out about this job (aka freedom from a postdoc). It will either be ridiculous enthusiasm or weeping and gnashing of teeth...but the good news is that I haven't even really tried looking for anything yet...so if this doesn't pan out then I think the real job hunt will begin.

My 1st Trip to New York City and Philadelphia

The last couple of months have been busy as always and of course there have been ups and downs, but luckily more ups than downs. I’m in midst of preparing for a career “jump”. I’m hoping that within the year I will be leaving the world of bench science and entering the world of technology development and intellectual property law. I’m not sure how this will unfold and I’m continuing to keep a foot in the door of a science policy career, but right now it seems to be steering more towards the law end of things. My boss is finally aware of these plans and I can’t say I made his day, but now that we both know where we’re coming from I’m hoping for a more peaceful co-existence. Cory is busy studying for the CPA exam. He took the first part in August and passed with flying colors. So he’s now preparing for the second part (of four) and will hopefully sit for that at the end of October.

We’ve been up to a lot and I will probably do a few entries in order to catch up with our goings on. So I guess I’ll back up and start with our August trip to New York and Philly first. Cory’s friend Tim lives in Delaware and of course, Ginger is in Philly so we decided to hit the road and do some visiting. It was also a convenient excuse for me to go see New York City and Philadelphia for the first time. So we hit the road after work that Thursday evening and began the long drive. We arrived in Delaware, at Tim’s place, somewhere around 4am Friday morning, hit the bed, and then awoke again around 7 to head into the City. Since we only had the one day I wanted to just walk around and get a general feeling for the city. So we did just that. We went to the site of the World Trade Center, the NY Stock Exchange, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, and Central Park to name a few. I managed to grab a great picture of Cory literally grabbing the bull by the horns…I thought this was a nice touch for my “super investor” boyfriend. I also enjoyed some spectacular silliness with Cory and Ginger in M&M World in Times Square. (We all know how much I LOVE silliness!!!) (The picture of Cory is below and the picture of the church beneath this is one I took of a church in NYC that I just thought was cool. I'm really starting to adopt photography as a hobby and it has been fun.)

On Sunday, Cory and I went into Center City, Philadelphia. It was fun just strolling around taking in the sites. We went in to see the Liberty Bell and enjoyed a nice downtown farmers market amongst the historic homes. Somehow we managed to find the only cheap parking in all of Center City and spent the day boasting of our $3 spot right next to the parking garage that I swore was charging $25 an hour (that may be an exaggeration, but not by much!). We ate lunch in a cool little pub downtown and then drove over to meet up with Ginger and Pete just in time to avoid a complete downpour. We went to go see SuperBad (HI-larious!) and then went back to their place to goof off and partake of the “Margarita in a Bag” that Ginger scored while interviewing in Texas. Well, let’s just say they were a little more toxic than we anticipated…so in my normal fashion, 10 minutes later I had become a giggling school girl and was very happy that Cory was in charge of getting us home that night. So all in all pretty good!! It was actually nice and cool up north, so it was a cruel reality when we got out of the car on Monday at a rest stop in Virginia where we were abruptly greeted by 100% humidity and burning temperatures. Although, I promise I’m not complaining. The traffic up north was unbearable and well the place is full of Yankees. I did have a blast checking out the sites but I’m so proud to be a Southerner!!!!!! I (along with some help) am doing my best to try to convince Ginger to come back down here to God’s country.

Just Another Day At the Office...

Last week our lab hosted several guests...three from Colorado and one from Harvard. Of course, we decided to show them a little Southern hospitality and planned what we called the "Redneck Picnic". So last Wednesday after lunch, we locked the doors of the lab and headed over to the lake. My boss brought his boat and another co-worker pulled out the waverunners, we stopped along the way for a vat of BBQ and baked beans, and somehow a mini keg showed up. Did I mention that a couple of people brought guitars, banjos, and a fiddle...oh yes, my friend...this was gonna be good times had by all. So here we have it, co-workers in bathing suits running around the lake drinking beer and bloated off too much BBQ and cheesecake...nows the time to drag people behind the boat on the knee board. At this point I'm the lookout...watching to alert the boat driver of whether or not we've lost our 3rd member in the water. First up...the bossman from Colorado...he is catching on quickly, smiling huge and swallowing buckets full of lake water. Suddenly out of nowhere he goes flying off of the board. We turn around to get him and he is laughing hysterically...apparently, the water had ripped his pants off...oh yes, scientists naked...on a work function...why does this stuff always happen. So I am doing my bit on the boat and now its my turn to get out and play...as I'm getting out of the boat...POP...hmmm...that was my bikini top coming undone...and who is on the boat with me to "help"...that's right my boss. Next thing I know my straps are being tied together with fishing line...however, tying my straps together has made this little piece of fabric twice as tight and now I can officially rest my chin on my breasts...hmmm...not optimal (did I mention this is a work function?!). So here I am tied together with fishing line and racing around the lake on the SeaDoo...after scaring the crap out of our undergrad (she was my passenger) we settled in to eat dessert and listen to a bluegrass concert. It seemed like all the craziness had ended until the end of the journey when I realized that I would require help getting out of my suit. So I quiety aproach our lab manager for help...when she screams (and I mean screams) out to my boss..."Hey, can you come over here and cut Kelly out of her bra?". So here he comes with a huge knife and laughing the whole time. Well, somehow I managed to not expose myself and the next morning my boss greeted me in my office with a "Good morning! You gone bikini shopping yet?"...well, maybe one day he'll forget.

I'll continue to put up some pics from Hawaii...for your enjoyment and mine...my goodness that place was gorgeous! I'll just keeping dreaming about it and looking at these pics till I get to go back. The first is Cory and I on a secluded beach on the Southern half of the island. The second is a pic of our journey through the Waimea Canyon (the Grand Canyon of the Pacific)...unbelievable.

Yes, I'm a Slacker!

Alright, alright...I'm writing a new entry. Sorry Allyson to leave you hanging so long...as much as you gripe about the blog you get so whiny when I get lazy about it...so prepare yourself for another one of my "novellas". :) (Above are some more pictures from my trips to San Francisco and Kauai.)

It has been forever, and I must say it will be hard to think of everything that has happened since the beginning of April. On the work front things are good...I finally got a paper published this May and am currently working on two more. However, my co-worker is out on "man-ternity" leave at the moment so I'm doing my project, his project, and managing three undergrads...so I spend WAY too much time in the lab. I will taking some serious time off when Jason returns from learning how to change diapers. I also got a lead last week about moving into an industry job...I don't think anything will come of it at this point but the significant pay raise would be a strong draw towards the door. It's especially attractive since Cory and I have been busy house shopping for the last couple of months. Somehow we always wonder into the REALLY nice neighborhoods...imagine that. But seriously, what do these people do for a living???!!! We have 4 college degrees between the two of us and I doubt we'll be able to afford any of these houses at any point in our lives...incredible. Although, honestly I don't think I'd want to have to clean that much house...well, unless Amy would move back in with me...she is the domestic godness.

Yesterday, after I got off of work, Cory and I headed to Lewisville, to his parents' house, to hang out and watch the fireworks at the town square. Although, Peaches...I must admit I'm a little jealous to hear about you being in D.C. for the 4th. My college boyfriend and I went down to the Mall in D.C. one year for the full day of festivities and I must admit it was absolutely incredible...well, except for the 3 hour wait to get back on the subway and the worst smelling port-o-potties in all of history.

Then there was San Francisco...incredible! I was the only American in the crowd that I hung out with for most of the week...so it was a bit surreal to have two Irish girls pick on my accent all week...WHAT? ...However, I do now have a great appreciation of European politics and culture as well as extensive exposure to reactions to the French elections. It is always good to get a little culture into a country girl from Virginia once in a while. I was present for the annual Bay to Breakers Race in SF. This run is notorious for its strange costumes and excessive nudity...and it certainly lived up to its reputation. It's one thing to see ugly fat guys naked on the secluded beaches of Hawaii and a whole nother offense to see them running down the street in the middle of a huge city for 12 miles (are you imagining the sweat...just wanted to help you appreciate the full experience :) ). On a more pleasant note, the food in SF was to die for...my traveling companion Camille (she is a postdoc here at Carolina from France) introduced me to many a wonderful French cafe in the city. If you ever find yourself in Union Square I highly suggest making a stop at Cafe Mason for an order of cheese blintzes with fruit. I did have a full day and half to explore the city before I presented on Sunday. I walked the entire city and left no stone unturned. My favorite was the dock full of seals at Pier 39. I took a boat tour of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz and saw the Picasso exhibit at the SF Museum of Modern Art. Once again I put my digital camera to work and took almost 500 pictures.

Another bright piece of news to report...I had mentioned Cory's friend Mike who is battling cancer and had another surgery last month to remove a spot on his liver and to examine an odd spot in his pelvis. They were both cancerous, but surgeons at Duke successfully removed both growths and as of today he is cancer free. Considering he had stage 4 colon cancer this is truly miraculous. He will be having another round of preventative chemo which will begin shortly, so please keep praying for his continued health.

We were up in Wilkesboro to see Cory's family at Father's Day and the Benny's vineyard is coming along nicely. They will be opening a temporary site for wine tastings shortly that will be a good distance from the actual vineyard until they can get the construction finished at the family's land. We are eagerly awaiting our first taste.

We did make it to Virginia a few weeks ago and most of the discussion focused on my brother's impending purchase of his corvette. If only he could decide what color he wanted then maybe we could make some progress. hehe We finally set a date in August to head to Manhattan...we'll get to see Ginger and Cory's friend Tim.

Well, hopefully I'll make the time to write more often so it won't be so scattered...but considering my lifestyle these days...scattered is probably what you will get.

ALOHA!...Welcome Back

HEY EVERYONE!! Yeah, I know it has been forever since I've posted anything...but I've been busy, busy, busy. :) So I guess it's time to start catching up. Cory and I just arrived home from a long (and much deserved) trip to Kauai Hawaii! It was absolutely incredible! Cory gave me a digital camera for Christmas and I managed to take over 400 pictures and a bunch of movies of our trip...so expect the blog to be filled with the photos of our journeys. Kauai is one of the least developed islands which made it perfect for me. It had miles of beaches that we only had to share with 2 or 3 people at a time...except for the popular tourist beach called Poipu which had a fair amount of visitors including a cute monk seal that I laid out next to. We got to kayak and hike...and go swimming in the middle of a rain forest in the pool underneath a ginormous waterfall. Except for the painfully long flight there and back, we both loved it and are already talking about planning another trip back to see Oahu and the Big Island. As you will see in the pictures that I'll post we also enjoyed a luau during our stay. A Hawaiian in a loin cloth chose me to hula dance with him on stage...NICE!...I can't say I actually "hula-ed"...but I did get my groove on with a pretty hot native. :) So good time had by all!

This weekend Cory turns 30!! YIKES!!! So we will be celebrating on Friday and Saturday and then on Sunday we will celebrate Easter with his family in North Wilkesboro. It should be a great weekend, however, there still is a somber mood in Wilkesboro after the death of his cousin Benny earlier this year. Benny's wife has decided to proceed with the construction of the winery that will be a part of Cory's family's land. I know everyone up in Wilkesboro is excited to see Benny's dream come to life so that they can honor his memory in their own special way. If you'd like to check out the progress then you can go to the Rendezvous Ridge Winery website...and maybe before too long you'll be able to order a bottle or two.

On a similar somber note, please continue to pray for Cory's friend Mike. He was in remission from colon cancer for only few short months before they detected a spot on his liver during a checkup last week. He will be traveling to Duke for surgery and treatment over the next few weeks and he will need all the prayers he can get.

This past weekend I got to go back to Chesapeake, VA to see my family. My mom kept the kitties while we were in Hawaii, so I went to pick them up. However, I think my mom wanted me to leave them longer...but the house was just too quiet without them. I didn't get to see my sister-in-law though because she was busy organizing the 1st annual Isle of Wight County Civil War Re-enactment. I can't wait to here her talk about it...according to my brother there were LOTS of interesting people and stories. I'm thinking about getting some period dress and joining the fun next year. :) Well...we are entering our "traveling season" once again. The weekend after Easter we are headed to a friend's beach house in Beauford, NC...a very beautiful place! And then sometime later that month we will be heading back down to Isle of Palms and Charleston, SC for our yearly visit. We are hoping to make it to Philly to see Ginger and then to Nashville to see Amy. In May I'll be heading to San Francisco for a week for the American Thoracic Society Conference. We are also planning a trip to New York City sometime this summer...I've never been and Cory has a friend who lives near the city so we'll have a place to crash. I'm looking forward to it...although I imagine is will be quite the opposite experience of going to Hawaii.

Love you all!!! and miss you bunches!!!! Drop me a line when you can!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Ok, I know it has been awhile, but I wanted to at least throw an update up here for the holidays. I am horrible about Christmas cards...so I want to wish each and every single one of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Things are good on my end. I actually have all of next week off, so I'm going to Virginia to spend some long overdue time with my family. Sadly, Cory has to be back at work bright and early on Tuesday this year, so we will be celebrating our Christmas together on Saturday before we part ways for a few days as I travel to Virginia and he heads to North Wilkesboro to be with his family. I know that we are both ready for a break, but considering that we have little to complain about we know that a vacation is just icing on the cake for us.

Cory's childhood friend Mike was in the hospital last week having another surgery for his cancer. Mike had a very severe case of colon cancer (at the ripe age of 35) and it had spread to his lungs...they had already removed his colon, but we visited him last Saturday at Duke hospital after they went in to try to remove the cancer from his lungs. So far, so good...the x-rays show that the spots on his lungs are gone and now we're all praying that maybe his nightmare may just about be over. Cory's cousin Benny has also (very publically) beaten his lung cancer...but now is suffering from permanent lung damage from the treatments. However, I guess any of us would take an oxygen tank over death anyday. So I guess long story short...don't take your good health for granted because you just never know.

On a brighter note, Cory and I are headed to HAWAII!!!! We're both really excited. Cory surprised me a few weeks ago...we were sitting on the couch and he turned to me and said "You wanna go to Hawaii?"...well sure I said, "but who's paying for this" I asked. Well apparently, Cory's friend Tim's mom has a very nice time share there and since she isn't using it this year she offered for us to use it. It has been a nice kick in the butt to get me back to the gym faithfully since I don't want to be all fat and nasty at the beach. :)

The picture above is just to give you guys a little taste of the faces that I see everyday...we were having a good time with frosting in this one. Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!! I have lots to be thankful for this year! There are certainly things in life that make me question that fact somedays (mostly my boss! :) ), but despite the pitfalls I have so many wonderful things that are mine only by the grace of God. I first and foremost have my faith...and in spite of my stumblings a God who still thinks I'm worth the effort. I write this blog from the comfort of my very nice and spacious apartment with the smell of a cake baking in the oven wofting down the hallway. I will drive to work tomorrow in the car I have wanted ever since I started thinking about driving...and it's still under warranty, even better! :) I'm certainly not rich yet, but I already make multiples more than my mother ever dreamed of making while she worked her butt off to bring in a few bucks. I have a great boyfriend who I have been to hell and back with and we have managed to come out on the other side closer than I ever imagined possible, all the while wondering what we where ever fighting about in the first place. I have a list of friends so long that I find it difficult to keep up with and they are all forgiving enough of my poor scheduling to still talk to me when I finally call them back. I have traveled and done things that no one who has been poor and a permanent student for so long should have ever had the opportunity to do (note the picture of me above with one of God's coolest creations). And last but not least, I will go to Virginia, the best state in the Union ,this Thanksgiving to spend the holidays with the family I love and when I return home I will be greeted by two of the cutest furballs I know of.

I pray that each and every one of you take a few moments this Thanksgiving and Christmas season to remember the blessings God has bestowed on you and the never ending wealth of God's love and grace that can make even the worst situations seem like light burdens to bear.