Sunday Morning Update

We are having a rather lazy Sunday morning, indeed a lazy weekend in general. The only substantive thing being accomplished, other than sleeping and eating, is the spreading of more mulch, which is only getting done between rain showers.

The pictures below are from last Sundays lazy Sunday morning. Anja wanted to get dressed up in a pretty dress and also insisted that Isabel do so also. She picked out the dress she is wearing, which Anja actually wore on her first birthday. You can see her wearing it here.

Hope everybody is having a relaxing weekend!

 

 

 

 

Drum Roll....Lynne's New Website

After negotiating the tenure process as an assistant professor and having moved on to being an associate professor. After having succeeded in academic life for over five years and having amassed a vast number of publications which required several successful federal and corporate funding applications. Lynne has pulled together a research group website. She has wanted to do this for a long time but........she has been busy getting the group up and running......and having our two girls as a side project!!

This week she started to get familiar with OpenWetWare, which is a Wiki designed to allow researchers share information including hosting research group websites.

Here it is, The Taylor Lab which can also be accessed from her Purdue site.

A Few Pictures from Swimming!

Below are a few pictures from Anja over at the swimming pool at her swimming lessons this week. As you can see a good time is being had by all. They were sent over by Kristina from Daisyloophoto. As I mentioned earlier, Kristina is a photographer, you can check out her photography website which she is just getting started up.

My holiday day went well today, I feel very relaxed this evening. Whilst on my long bike ride I was incredibly lucky to avoid all the rain we had. Managed 63 miles (just shy of 100km) and my legs and bum are feeling it tonight! (no lewd comments please - David :)) Afterwards had a relaxing lunch, read the paper and got the weekend shopping done so a good day all in all.

Have a nice weekend everybody.

 

 

 

 

The Big Trip Nears

Well literally one year ago in a post here, I encouraged you all to start paying attention to my brothers blog. He and Sam were planning a big trip around the world.

Well they are off very soon and hopefully their blog should make for some interesting reading over the coming months. They actually each have work leaving parties tomorrow.

We so wish that we were joining them but this is their trip and we're at a different stage in our lives right now. We had our turn. Davey and Sam, we hope you have a great time, relax, take it eazy, explore, enjoy yourselves, be careful, keep in touch and be safe. Have lots of fun.

 

Brief Update

A few small items. Each of the girls have an eye infection so Lynne dragged them both off to the doctor this morning. Eye drops were called for which are really difficult to administer.....we literally have to hold them both down whilst they kick and cry. Funny how both seem to sit just fine while Kristina does it???

Anja has been learning to swim this week, actually getting lessons. It's mostly floating, paddling, head under the water, that kind of thing. She loves it.

I'm taking a day off tomorrow. Just to relax and get some time off. Literally first day I have taken off this year which is not a national day off. I'm planning a 60 mile bike ride followed by an afternoon at Starbucks with a good book and free refills. I'm hoping the weather holds out.

Lynne has been working feverishly on her research group website this week. She is doing it herself using openware software. It's starting to look good. I'll post a link here when it's ready for the big time!

I hope everyone's week is going well.

 

 

New Car......

Today I said goodbye to my trustee old Ford Contour, we spent hours and hours together, over 90,000 miles in total.

We closed on a 2008 Honda Accord EX-L V6. I'm looking forward to going to work now Monday, I'm sure the novelty will soon wear off. It comes with a free subscription to XM Satellite Radio offering over 60 channels of advertisement free radio. Generally I'm quite against having to pay a monthly fee for this type of stuff, especially radio. I'm curious to see how my 3 month free trial turns out, will I buckle and become a monthly fee slave or will I remain true? I'll keep you posted. I was listening to a dedicated bluegrass channel earlier which was good, music which is normally not available around here on normal FM radio.

 

 

Thinking of Mike and Lindsay

Most of of you will remember Lindsay who looked after the girls for almost two years. She and their entire family are going through a really tough period right now. They are 18 weeks pregnant but she is leaking amniotic fluid and confined to bed. You can find all the details on their blog which has daily updates!

We are thinking of you guys, hang in there!

Cool Picture of Lynne in a Bubble!

Last weekend we had breakfast at Randy and Lorraine's house. They had rigged this clothes hanger for blowing big bubbles which Anja thought was lots of fun. It was and Randy got this great photo of Lynne in the process!

 

 

Finally....Some Pictures of the Girls!

Apologies, it's been a while since I had some pictures of Anja and Isabel. The pink outfit Anja has on is from India. We have not put isabel in her Indian princess outfit yet!

 

 

 

 

A Long Overdue Update

So...what's been happening...lots it seems. I know it's been a while since my last real update, life has been hectic.

Just after my return from India, Lynne was away for a night, Isabel has not been sleeping that well, everybody is really tired and generally life seems like it's what you see when you fast forwrd a video or DVD recording!

The girls are doing great in general. Isabel is now fully mobile, climbing on everything, walking round the furniture and following Anja all over the place. Anja, totally oblivious of course, never slows down and is getting very defiant. Every daily activity is challenged!! Great, when can we ship them off to college??

Lynne and myself are doing well. Both busy at work. Lynne just received notice today of two successful federal funding appliactions. This is a big deal, she is really happy.

Håkan, who now lives in Sweden, was here for a few days holiday last week. It was great to see him again, he has not changed one bit. For those of you who do know him will appreciate that! We received pictures of their daughter, Tindra, which I will post later in the week.

The weather has been weird here. Dosen't seem like we had any Spring, but summer is certainly here now! Hot and humid (80's). Lynne and I actually got out for a 20 mile bike ride together yesterday. Lorraine kindly came over to watch the girls! It was nice to be out on the roads together again. I did not mention it at the time in case I jinxed us but the last time we did that together, Isabel had just been born and Lynne fell and broke her wrist. We got back just fine yesterday!

I will provide another update Friday, I actually travel to San Diego tomorrow morning but return Thursday! Have a good week.

Darn....having trouble uploading pictures!!

Back from India

I'm sure by now, you are all tired of the map of India. I made it back in one piece, boy what a country. A few key observations.

There are people everywhere. It's almost impossible to look somewhere where there are no people at any one time. I guess that's what happens with over 1 billion people. There is a lot of poverty. People on average clearly do not live at the standards of western society but everybody looked reasonably happy. Nobody seemed to be obviously hungry. The food we had was excellent. I ate Indian food twice a day for the entire week but admittedly I was ready for a salad when I returned.

The biggest impression I had however were the stark contrasts everywhere. From the houses, cars, people, buildings and many other items. On many occasions we drove on roads (barely roads) to get to the facilities I was visiting, would pass hundreds of people lying in the street dressed poorly and generally looking poor. We would then enter the building to meet some of my business contacts and it was like walking into a corporate office on Wall St. One would never know you were in India. the same was true of my hotel and almost all of the places we ate. It is a diverse nation.

It was a great trip and my hosts were wonderful. Vinay and Ram shown were my driver and assistant during my trip.