The Summer is really starting up here in Waco, and Kristin and I have been keeping pretty busy.

I had a bachelor stint for a bit while Kristin was off to San Antonio as a collaborator. Kristin’s lab skills were put to use doing a little neuroscience, and she’ll get her name on a publication for it. She's also hoping to nab another honorable mention adding some toxicology tests to a study that's coming out of Yale. On her trip though, K ended up only being gone one night (and one very long day), so I wasn't able to do much damage on the home front. I've been pretty busy myself lately; we have two coworkers out on sick leave. One of whom fell and actually had to come through the ER. We're keeping Her in our thoughts, and we're bringing over some homemade dinner next week!

Speaking of the homestead, Kristin and I recently agreed to be part of our apartment building's Welcoming committee. Since the only folks that can live here are all Baylor Grad students, the GSA (grad student association) gives us a generous stipend to keep their members happy. We've given out maps, toilet paper, etc. to two new tenants now, and will be greeting more newcomers in August.

OK! Sports time: Tonight is Game Six of Lord Stanley's Cup! Those that follow facebook may have already noticed that I'm rooting for the Blackhawks, but Kristin has persisted in her Underdog Strategy, and is rooting for the Flyers. Personally, I think that Chicago has been one of the best teams in the NHL all year... but they've still got to take four out of seven to bring the cup back to the Windy City.

We've tried to be a bit more active ourselves... we've both put on a little weight since X-mas, and we're trying to stay fit. So, we bought a 'sports trainer' game by EA Sports Active. We've just completed our 30-Day challenge, and we're glad to be getting into a routine. Also, we finally found a hiking trail in Waco that we really enjoy. Best of all, it is trail-running friendly. If we ever get really crazy, that may be our next adventure.

Feline Update: Finnegan is gaining weight (a whole half pound, the little porker!), Loki has the sniffles. Our new kitten, Finnegan has been adapting nicely to our home. He's been getting along with Loki (for the most part), and is being slowly weaned off of wet food. Other than his missing whiskers, he is growing up fine. Loki however, just started a cold. Finn has no sympathy for a tired big cat and has been taking full advantage of Loki's slower pace.

What else is there to talk about? Well, how bout the weather! K and I are entering our first Texas Summer, and we're not too excited about the heat. Neither of us have had to live through the Summer season anywhere but MN, so pardon us if we don't clamor for multiple weeks of 100+ degree weather. And no, it's not a dry heat here. I don't know why people think Texas is a dry heat; we are not Arizona, we are not New Mexico, and No, Texas is not all desert. Only the Western part of the state starts getting all desert like (and nobody lives there anyway).

Rant = Done

So we're even more excited to be visiting Minnesota in..in... !? Two Weeks!?

"Wholy wow," I said to myself the other day when I realized that in two weeks time I'd be going to bed early so that I could drive up to the DFW in the morning. Your units change once you get under the two week mark; you start talking in days. So, for the first time in our lives K and I will be leaving on a vacation to visit Minnesota (and not the other way round). It's exciting to say the very least, and I know it's going to be great to see everybody again. We are sincerely excited to see you all again. And... we get to take a little break from the Texas weather :)

I hope you all are having a wonderful, wonderful Start-of-the-Summer! And we'll be adding a few images to this post after the game! (or during, if Kristin is board).

Love to you all,

DJC