Smiles abound

Just went to the talk of a woman who was almost my grad school mentor (I chose another school, lab & area). However, she's always been very friendly to me ever since and remembers me at meetings, etc. After her talk, a group of students and postdocs met her for lunch and I got to ask my favorite question of visiting scientists:

"what has been the lowest point in your scientific career?"

She said she had two and explained each and how she got out of each one. Everytime I've asked a visiting speaker (and it's been about 5 times now), I get such a great and varied response. It gives me a sense of perspecitive since others have experienced similar things, yet these are all people who have pushed through whatever downturns to have success in their own labs, life, etc. There's definitely not one answer on how to get through things but most responses seem to include the following:

1. Hard work isn't everything.
2. Being social is enormously helpful in science
3. The downturns give a chance for reflection
4. Downturns are normal

In other news, Ken posted this picture today on a chatboard. Thought you'd get a kick out of it. I know it's Ken's mom's favorite picture:

Dear Experiments,

I know you've enjoyed teasing me these past few months. But seriously, it's about time you start working. 2005 was a beautiful year for both of us. Now it's one day away from June 2006 and out of many, many, many replicates we've tried together, you've worked (in part) a total of twice.

Twice.

And twice does not good science make. 6 months for nothing. Ugh. I'm glad I have multiple projects on the stove else I'd have Ken put me out of my misery with a water gun shot between the eyes.

Pretty pretty please, will you reveal your impish ways?

Your faithful but frustrated servant,
Lisa

I am a Happy Widow

Adam got assassinated last night as he was walking into dodgeball. Ken walked in a few minutes later only to hear a guy say "Ken." Ken turned and saw the guy with a water gun as he got shot. Nuts.

"Did you find us through Adam's MySpace account?", Ken asked, since I looked earlier in the day to find Adam was still totally searchable by his name, email address, etc... with full links to his pictures (including the one of him as Starsky) and links to all the games we like to play and the game schedules therein.

"Yep"

Turns out the guy used to play dodgeball himself and showed up in his old dodgeball tshirt to blend in. obviously, as nobody saw him coming.

Alas, team Ken & Adam are toast but I have my sweet wuz back... meaning we can walk to the park together without Ken looking over his shoulder. That also means I have a warm body to sleep next to me every night (beat that tree!). It was fun while it lasted but I'm happy things are going back to normal.

And yes, Ken's playing again next time the game starts up.

Day T(h)ree

Via Ken:

just to give you guys a quick update, Adam and I didn't get a kill last night. We staked out our target's house until 3:30am (with me up in a tree for three hours). The drove by numerous times but were too scared to go inside knowing that we were there. I drove by this morning and their car still wasn't there. Why is it that I love the fact that we're completely disrupting their lives?

And so it Continues

Kill #2 complete.

Kill or Be Killed

It's the first day of PDX Assassin. Our team just confirmed that they have killed their first target.

I owe them each a pitcher.

Before & After Garden, May Edition

My mom has been patient. Very patient. So here are some pictures of what we've been doing for the past three weeks. Actually, here's the progession from the start so you get an idea as to the extent of the overhaul.

When we moved in to our house in Fall 2004, it started out like this:



(note: I planted the grapevine stock just after we moved in; imagine nothing there, but with higher weeds)





Last year, we were busy taking care of things inside the house and spent little time in the garden with the exception of creating two makeshift beds (one next to left fence and the other surrounding the overgrown rosebushes) and planting some veggies. You can read the description of what we did here:








Over the course of the year, I had to reseed the grass multiple times in areas. Apparently Oregon rain + foot traffic = a big mess. Then it hit me, why not put in a path so that I can get around to my beds with ease... and without becoming caked in mud. Ken took measurements earlier this year and put the backyard into AutoCAD, an architectural drawing program. Based on his dimensions, I drew up the garden plan which incorporates a winding path (large enough for a wheelbarrow) that surrounds a jelly bean-shaped lawn. On the outside of the path are beds that will hold flowers, herbs & vegetables. Small footpaths will be worked into the beds at a later date. Also on the plan, but not in the pictures yet, are a fence that will go around the backyard and an arbor that will support the grapevine and provide seating underneath.


Ken has the work-in-progress pictures on his computer, but here are a couple movies showing the backyard as of 6 pm last night. We laid the sod on Friday night, dug the remaining rosebushes on Saturday and then I spent the rest of the weekend running irrigation lines and unloading 3 cubic yards of dirt, mulch & gravel.

Here is a movie from the deck showing the back garden. You can see the bed on the left side is still there, the rose bushes we just planted in the bed between the grass and path (left center), the 1400 lbs of weeds and branches that have been cleared out behind the path, Ken's beloved cherry tree on the right side behind the garage (the arbor will go in the back right corner). You can also see all of our tomato plants in the bed right below the porch; some of tomatoes will be transplanted when the other beds are finished:


And looking from the garden back to the house (kind of from where the arbor will be):



Extra Bonus! It slices! It dices!
Here's a movie of the front yard showing the front parking strip that I planted last fall with perennials. Few things are blooming right now except the catmint and aster, but you get the idea that the strip will be filled with flowers at some point. If you're looking at the house, you can see the front right bed is new (as of last fall) and the front left corner bed is new as of yesterday. I dug out all of the old clay and replaced it with fresh soil. Can't wait to see it in full bloom.


Quite a difference from what things looked like when we first moved in:

More Fun with Photoshop

Enjoy the uncanny similarity between a friend of ours and the inside cover art from a record I used to have as a kid.

Another Reason to be a Good Driver

On Saturday, Ken went to play dodgeball which was followed by a BBQ & kickball game in SW Portland. I stayed home to garden but told Ken I'd meet up with him after my shower at the BBQ and bring Kinley (since there were other dogs at the party as well).

I was running late and had my mapquest directions in hand. Over the speed bumps on Stark. Rumbling through the pot-holed Naito Parkway. Down the highway and exiting onto curvy, poorly marked SW portland streets. Oh, I missed my turn. Turn around. And that one. Turn around again. By this time I hear Kinley in the back of the car starting to prepare his stomach contents for ejection, black marlin style*. Good thing I fed him before we left. I stop and run around to the back of the car to let him out. The back door was locked. Crap!

Blaeeccht. Blechtttt. Hurrrlll.

I am too late. By the time I open up the back door, Kinley has puked.

In the pocket of my favorite jacket.

I console my poor dog for my bad driving skills. Then start laughing at the humor in it all. I learned my lesson. Drive slowly. And steady. Or I will pay for it later.



*Indigestible items in the stomachs of Black Marlins are purged out in a manner where the whole stomach is turned inside out (kind of like a giant pool strainer getting emptied and cleaned out from the other side.

Feeling Hot Hot Hot

92 yesterday. A Portland record high and everyone let you know about it. Very steamy ride home, indeed.

Kinley wasn't even out in the heat very long before he started panting harder than we've ever seen him. I hosed him down with the backyard hose -- which he wasn't so sure about. Then we all (ken, kinley, me and hughes) sat on the front porch in the shade while Ken & I played cribbage until the sun set. Then to the dog park to play followed by grilling out on the back deck.

Luckily, our sod didn't arrive yesterday due to it being so hot which means we got to postpone its arrival until Friday (when it will be 60 and partly cloudy). We're mighty happy about it too. I couldn't even be outside yesterday. Which was killing me since I have 2 cy of dirt to lay.

Oh Ken, will you pick up some more mulch for me sometime this week if you're out with the truck?

_________________
Visitor Update: Julie Miller's coming to visit for Memorial Day weekend. Brian & Marsha just booked their trip for the Oregon Brewer's Fest in late July. Can't wait.

Potlatch 2006

Taryn loves ultimate frisbee. LOVES it. So when she heard about Potlatch, an ultimate frisbee tournament in Seattle where teams camp out ON the fields for the weekend and drink lots of beer together while playing her favorite game, she was determined to play. The only problem is.... EVERYBODY seems to want to play so the event is by invitation only. And so started Taryn's quest to get a bid for her team. I helped her with the photoshop image and she sent off her bid for the event.

Per Taryn's Blog:

Our team has been accepted to Potlatch, a big ultimate tournament in Seattle on July 1-2. We still need players, so let me know if you want to join us! Here's the bid I sent in (thanks to Lisa for her crazy photoshop skills).



30-year-old Taryn Jackson has done quite a few things in her life. She spent a long time getting her PhD while playing a lot of ultimate, she finally landed a real job, she's got a cute little house with a proud collection of beads earned on Bourbon Street, good friends, a nice attitude. But there's just one little thing she hasn't quite gotten around to doing yet--something most people have done by her age. Done a lot. Taryn's never, ever, ever played at Potlatch--not even by accident. So is that such a big deal? Well, for Taryn's buds around the country, it sure is. Although they think she's a bit of an oddball, they just can't believe that a woman who loves playing ultimate and partying has never been to the biggest ultimate party on the planet. They consider it their duty to help Taryn out of her dire situation and form a crazy, fun, and spirited team for Potlatch 2006. Please help Taryn's teammates, a bunch of really fun ultimate players who all played together in Tucson, AZ, lure their dear friend out of lifelong Potlatch chastity by giving their team a bid to Potlatch 2006!

Congrats Taryn!

Garden Update

The paths are dug. The gravel is finished, thanks in large part to Ken (2 cubic yards). The beds are formed. Top soil is 1/3 finished (1 cy in one bed which is now finished; 2 cy to go). Irrigation lines were run this week. The veggies are going in the finished bed today. Rest of the top soil will go in this weekend along with 2 cy of mulch.

And then the sod gets delivered on Monday, meaning by Tuesday morning we'll have a self-watering garden filled with paths, plants & grass. Can't wait. I LOVE the garden. Perfect timing too, since it's supposed to get hot next week.*


* Hot here is mid-80s. I love this town.

Your pistol shoots water, right?

Ken has decided to join PDX Assassin, a local game that gives players 'contracts' where they have to stalk their target and "kill" them with a water weapon (water balloon, water gun, super soaker).

Ken is excited and joining up with Adam:

 

But since neither of them are very inconspicous (see picture above) and the fact that this blog comes up as soon as you Google Ken's name, he's asked that we take down the calendar on the sidebar for the month (May 22nd-June 23rd).

If you are curious as to our plans during that time, just email me and I'll let you know. Unless you the team that has the Ken & Adam contract, in which case I'm sure you and I can negotiate something (I'm seeing information in exchange for plants. Hmmm.)

Let the games begin. 

Easter 2006 Pictures

via Taryn.

Ode to Ken

Some women want flowers
candy, too.
But when you’re married to Lisa
only gravel will do.

I came home from work last night to an empty pick-up truck. My spirits dropped since we were going to lay the first bit of gravel on the garden paths. So imagine my surprise and delight to find Ken had already FINISHED laying the first truckload. I was so excited. It looks awesome. Another truckload tonight.

Congratulations Sara & Drew!

Per Marsha & Brian's Blog:

Monday, May 08, 2006
Congratulations are in order

...for Sara and Drew! Congratulations on your recent engagement! I'm
soooooooo excited for you both!

posted by marsha | 10:42 AM | 0 comments

Exerpt of the confirmation from Sara:

Hi Lisa,

Wow that went up fast! That is sweet. I was going to call you tonight to give you the scoop. I almost called you this morning but it was 6am your time and I didn't think that would be appreciated. Anyway, I got back from visiting (name deleted)in Colorado last night and Drew proposed to me in the backyard while we were drinking full sail session beer. I was really surprised and really happy....

Exerpt from Kristen:

I think Dave & I were living together when Sara and Drew met. Is this
correct? Please advise.

Exerpt from me:

I just talked to Sara. She said their first official date was the night of yours and Dave's 4th of July party in 2004. So you were living together when they started dating. (although they first met in february of that year at recruitment, then again when he scoped out houses on June 11, then started dating July 1st-ish at your party). Funny.

Exerpt from Kristen (Note: Dave's nickname is Cruise Director):

The Cruise Director just got bumped up to Love Boat Captain.

Fruits of our Labor

Hot and steamy date nights can lead to a bundle of joy nine months later. Only our hot & steamy date nights on Friday & Saturday will produce a bundle of joy much sooner.

Friends and family, we're having a garden.

I'm so excited. On Friday night, we rented a rototiller and tore up our whole back lawn & garden. Ken did the rototilling; I pulled up the grass pieces. Then we leveled the once bumpy ground. By the end of Friday, we were sweaty with a blank canvas of a yard with which to work.

On Satuday, Ken & I returned the rototiller, picked up a cubic yard of top soil & decided on the look of gravel we wanted for the paths. Then, I outlined where the paths would go. Where the beds will be. Then I dug. And dug. And leveled. And dug. And put down weed-cloth. And installed the beginnings of an irrigation system (so I wouldn't have to disrupt the gravel path later). The path totalled 85 feet in length X 2 feet 7 inches wide. 3 inches of gravel deep. By the end of Saturday, things were all ready for the 2 cubic yards of gravel that we would get the following day.

But on Sunday they were closed. Nuts. Project temporarily halted. So instead of the beeeauuutiful paths I was hoping for come Sunday night, we have weighed-down weed cloth. Kinely is so confused on what's going on although he does love to smell the upturned dirt -- there are worms in there and apparently worms smell very interesting. I've also been running around with my arms up trying to chase the robins away from eating the soil-improving worms. No wonder Kinley is confused.

So instead of laying gravel yesterday, Ken went with me to the veggie plant sale. Behold the start of the bounty:

Romaine lettuce (4), broccoli (6), a red & a chocolate bell pepper, eggplant, brussel sprouts, a yellow and a green zucchini, and lots and lots of our favorite, TOMATOES (can see pictures and read descriptions for all of them here). We realized last year that we can dry & freeze the tomatoes for awesome sauce in the winter, so we added on a few extra plants for more yield:

1. Siletz - Determinate, 52d, 4-5 ft spacing, Excellent flavor. Medium to large fruit. Best in full sun; Deep-red slicers 10-12 oz. Yield well even in cool weather. Good acid taste and excellent interior fruit quality for an early tomato.
2. Sungold - Indeterminate 57d 4-5 ft spacing Small orange gold cherry tomato. Very sweet. Best in full sun
3. Sugar Lump - Cherry Indeterminate 65d Aka Gardener's Delight. Big yield of sugar sweet tomatoes. Crack resistant fruit that is 3/4-1.5 inches in diameter and arranged in clusters of 6-12.
4. Super Sweet 100 Indeterminate 65 hughe multiple-branched clusters of 1/2 inch very sweet fruit with high vitamin C. Mouth-watering flavor. Vigorous vines bear abundantly until frost and need staking.
5. Pik Red - Determinate 72d 3-4 ft spacing Reliable; great flavor, large fruit. Full sun. 6-7 oz, smooth meaty fruit. Almost solid interiors. Sturdy vines are dwarfed in size but have high yield. Good for growing in containers
6. Big Beef - Indeterminate 73d 4-5 ft spacing Rich flavor; large; high-disease resistance; 1994 all america selections award. Hybrid. Large yields, 10-12 oz. Smooth tomatoes with old-time flavor.
7. Amish Paste Indeterminate 74d Height to 5 ft Heirloom paste tomato; full sun; 8 oz oblong oxheart fruits that are solid with outstandingly good, sweet flavor.
8. Old German Indeterminate 75d 4 ft high Heirloom from mennonites; one of the best for slicing; full sun; Bicolored variety featuring large yellow fruit with streaks of red throughout starting on the blossom end. Fruit often weighs more than a pound and has lucious, sweet flavor.
9. Plum Dandy Determinate 76d Large roma type with high yield; full sun
10. Yellow Pear - Indeterminate 78 5-6 ft spacing Yellow Cherry; low acid; old-fashioned; best in full sun
11. Aunt Ruby's German Green - Indeterminate 80d 4-5 ft spacing Heirloom; green beefsteak, green flesh wutg a tint of yellow and pink blush underneath. Sweet flavor, yet spicy and quite delicious. Fruit weighs 12-16 oz and has the smoothest shape of any large green tomato. Best in full sun
12. Black - Indeterminate 80d Compact plants bear wonderfully rich, dark-mahogany-brown tomatoes that average 4 oz. Fruit is smooth and elongated with pointed tip. Delicious blend of sugar and acid and a distinctive complex flavor that is to be savored. One of the best-tasting black tomatoes. Russian heirloom. This variety is what some gardeners grew as Black Prince years ago
13. Mortgage Lifter - Indeterminate 85d Old pink variety still in demand. Well-shaped, meaty with few seeds.
14. Yellow Brandywine - Indeterminate 90d 5-6 ft spacing Large, semi-irregular fruit of exceptional quality, creamy texture and delicious flavor. Fruit size is 12-24 oz. Extremely rich tasting tomato; Heirloom.
15. Nebraska Wedding - Determinate 97d Height to 3 feet Full sun; heirloom. Deep orange. Globe shaped

We kept them inside yesterday since it was so cold. We'll plant them once the paths and beds are finished. However we did decide on our favorites (based on what we've never planted before, what seems most exciting, etc.:

Ken's Top Three Most Exciting Plants for this Seaon: brussel sprouts, eggplant & Nebraska Wedding tomato
Lisa's Top Three Most Exciting Plants for this Season: Old German tomato, Amish paste tomato & eggplant (it has giant leaves & we've never grown eggplant before).

Still on my wish list to get for this season: Opalka paste tomato (for making tomato sauce), Magical Michael Basil (amazing last year; we picked that sucker clean), mint (picked that sucker clean too).

Can't wait.

Mom & Dad, I'll take pictures of your grandplants soon. They grow up so fast and before you know it they'll have babies of their own.*


* Ah, I crack myself up.

I get too excited

I'm sure you've seen a dog who gets so excited that as he wags his tail, his whole body moves. This is my dilemna. But instead of wagging my tail in excitement, I've started interrupting. To be honest, I've been interrupting for a long time now but my attempts to fix it have been in vain and that bad habit of mine has gotten worse, not better.

Example: Last night Ken started talking about an idea for the arbor we're going to build in the backyard. I love talking about gardening. I love it more when he talks about gardening. I got so excited as he was pitching his idea, I kept interrupting... literally trying to guess what he was going to say next.

Yeah, that doesn't work. And I'm sure you can imagine his frustration of trying to tell someone something but they won't let you get a word in edgewise. Like I said, this is my dilemna. I need to just shut the hell up. I know this. Having the virtues of patience and listening, like Hawkins and Ken possess, would be amazing. Both of them know when to be quiet, which is probably why they do so well in social and business situations. Instead, I am my father's daughter and interrupt all the time while often putting my foot in my mouth. That, in itself, is quite a skill. Rachel and Taryn say that they'll stick around sometimes just to hear me botch some conversation and make things awkward. It happens all too often.

Ken said he's going to start using the word "Beetlejuice" when I'm starting to say things that I shouldn't or if I'm interrupting without noticing. Hopefully, it will get me to think more before speaking. Especially if he has to say it three times.

No More Travelling

for a long time. We are exhausted.

Ken and I flew east this past weekend for Ken's family reunion at Woodloch Pines, a resort Ken's grandmother used to own until she sold it in 1958. We flew into Boston on Thursday. 2 hour drive up to New Hampshire to Ken's folks' place. Next morning was a 5.5 hour drive to Hawley, PA (Scranton, the closest major town was an hour away). We spent the weekend there before driving back to New Hampshire for the night, then down to Boston in the morning to fly home. Too much travelling for one weekend; however it was really great to see everybody. 15 family members attended and the resort had a nice tribute to Ken's family.

Woodloch was a mix between the resort from Dirty Dancing and summer camp. Lots of games and activities. After breakfast (held between 8:30-9:30am) but before lunch at noon, Ken and I:

1. Raced go-carts (I was trying to pass a really slow 13 year old girl -- who in her most whiney voice said "stoooop hitting meeeee". I passed her anyway. Doesn't she know that rubbing is racing?).
2. Entered a Skeet Shooting tournament. After we finished go-carting, they were just starting the tournament, so we both entered. Neither of us had shot before, but why not. I loooooved it. LOVED it. Who knew? I didn't hit a single thing in 10 shots (well, except coming close to a building about 500 feet to the right of the course -- ooops). Ken got 2/5.
3. Played Miniature Golf. I lost.
4. Went to the Batting Cages
5. Played Shuffleboard. Two games on the big concrete courses. I lost again. Both times. A group of elderly men told Ken that it would be in his best interests to let his wife win. "Trust me, I know", said one of them, before his wife came to meet him to go to lunch.

Other events from the weekend include bocce ball, dancing, meeting a group of 23-year-olds (one of which was the owner's grandson & went to my elementary school & lived three blocks away from me growing up), me winning "Name that Tune", Ken doing karaoke (he sang Billy Joel's "She's Always a Woman"), Ken's family winning "Family Feud", and seeing fellatio being performed on the beach*.

In all, it was a great weekend. Kinley, who stayed with friends, was very happy to be home as well. Monday afternoon we just relaxed before catching up with everything on Tuesday. Now it's Wednesday and almost the weekend. Can't wait.


* We were sitting at the end of the dock facing the lake when a couple came down on the beach. We didn't pay any attention until we heard some 'sounds'. We turned around to see a bare bottom and knew we were trapped (since they were literally at the entrance to the dock -- they couldn't see us since it was dark). After he, um, finished, we decided to get out of Dodge before anything else started up. We walked quickly and kept our eyes away from them. As we pass them, we hear the guy say "Ken?". Oh my goodness. Turns out, it was the 23-year old we met the day before -- the one from my town -- with some girl he picked up in the bar. She was mortified. He was rather calm and happy, go figure. We told him we'd see him later and as we walked inside I told Ken, "well, at least now you can say some guy has called your name out during sex". Ah, the joys of Woodloch. Nobody puts Baby in a corner.