When it rains, it pours
So a LOT has happened this month, but no time to
write about all of that now as the immediate real
life is getting in the way. So, today, for example we
have: 1) woke up in pain from 3-day "sickness", tried
to get work done and in the end stayed home and only
did about 4 hrs of work off/on through the day with
head and gut aches, allergies, sinus gunk and joints,
2) kittens destroyed more today than ever before
including major claw marks on all 3 of the new
leather sofa pieces, 3) got two very large and
unexpected bills in mail and 4) basement is leaking
out of almost all walls and floors about 25 gallons
of water an hour - no, it didn't rain, but I pulled
the knob to turn on the lawn sprinkler system,
notices lots of water going through pipes, but
nothing in yard, so after a half hour turned it off
and then the flood began. Seems the basement has been
painted over real thick with water-soluable paint and
that there are lots of holes/cracks that weren't ever
sealed. Have no idea what to do next tomorrow
(besides continue to vacuum up water, be healthy as I
have to be at work for several meetings and many
others are awaiting email from me on various
projects), but the excitement will never cease.
What I do know: I) that stomach ache is likely related to stress and that I need to not let it or any other ailment own me, II) that my neighbors absolutely rock (from taking care of kittens while I'm away, lending me vacuum for flood, and just being good company when I'm down or up), III) that bills and work will get done and I'll do the important items first and enjoy the parts that are worth doing (ie. most parts - research, teaching, managing), and IV) that I feel incredibly fortunate to have people out there that care about me even if they don't live close by (most likely the same people who are reading this... yes, you!).
I look forward to sharing about other recent events including a) trip to Spain, b) beginning of summer midwest style & c) other reasons for taking pictures, but one step at a time. I think I have one more trip to the basement in me before bed...
What I do know: I) that stomach ache is likely related to stress and that I need to not let it or any other ailment own me, II) that my neighbors absolutely rock (from taking care of kittens while I'm away, lending me vacuum for flood, and just being good company when I'm down or up), III) that bills and work will get done and I'll do the important items first and enjoy the parts that are worth doing (ie. most parts - research, teaching, managing), and IV) that I feel incredibly fortunate to have people out there that care about me even if they don't live close by (most likely the same people who are reading this... yes, you!).
I look forward to sharing about other recent events including a) trip to Spain, b) beginning of summer midwest style & c) other reasons for taking pictures, but one step at a time. I think I have one more trip to the basement in me before bed...
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Cops and Weddings
Drove down with 3 co-workers for a fellow coworker's
wedding in Springfield, MO. Bit of a drive and I got
my 2nd ever ticket for speeding as I didn't notice
that the limit went down to 45mph in Clinton, MO
(previous ticket was near Concordia, KS many years
ago when they, too, had a somewhat hidden drop in
speed limit). Besides the ticket, had a good time
celebrating the wedding and doing best at dancing. It
was often lonely out there, but the group from Omaha
represented NE well on the dance floor. Pretty tired
and kitties won't leave me alone tonight (they missed
me).
Also, we stopped for lunch at Gates in Kansas City. Oh my goodness - wonderful BBQ! I know it's not the best in KC, but the ribs put everything I've had in CA and NY and most states in between to shame! A nice reminder of a "food stuff" that we have better here than on the coasts. Soo good!
Also, we stopped for lunch at Gates in Kansas City. Oh my goodness - wonderful BBQ! I know it's not the best in KC, but the ribs put everything I've had in CA and NY and most states in between to shame! A nice reminder of a "food stuff" that we have better here than on the coasts. Soo good!
Drugs and more drugs
Gave an invited talk last night (arthritis
foundation) about a couple papers that Fred and I had
done on lymphoma, RA and RA drugs (new one just came
out in A&R). It was nice food and
good company though a little awkward as everyone
in the restaurant could see (and hear if they
tried) what I was showing the group rather than
having our own private room.
Got to meet with a visiting professor from the Brigham yesterday and today we had lunch together. What surprised me was Warren Buffett, the 2nd wealthiest man in US and my neighbor of sorts, came in and had lunch with another guy right next to our table. Seemed so ordinary - no body guards, nothing else fancy outside of having a tie and business jacket on. Quite a different life he's living here in Omaha especially compared to what one rich man is now doing in India.
One more link - a fellow rheumatologist and friend of Fred's, Norton Hadler, just posted a thought provoking OpEd about drugs that possibly don't do much for us at abcnews.
Got to meet with a visiting professor from the Brigham yesterday and today we had lunch together. What surprised me was Warren Buffett, the 2nd wealthiest man in US and my neighbor of sorts, came in and had lunch with another guy right next to our table. Seemed so ordinary - no body guards, nothing else fancy outside of having a tie and business jacket on. Quite a different life he's living here in Omaha especially compared to what one rich man is now doing in India.
One more link - a fellow rheumatologist and friend of Fred's, Norton Hadler, just posted a thought provoking OpEd about drugs that possibly don't do much for us at abcnews.
Clouds
Jun 01, 2007 23:59 | Observations
| Permalink
It's been cloudy a lot lately. Not complaining as the
temperature has been perfect and I haven't had to
figure out how to use the sprinkler system, yet. Also
been wonderful views in morning and night. Then I
found these pictures of clouds in
Nebraska and wanted to share. Amazing.
Behind again? Summary of May
So this is long overdue, but I was actually expecting
more photos from this trip to choose from. After the
ACR abstract deadlines of May 3 (work) came, I flew
to CA. That weekend Mandi & I drove up to visit
my family in Oregon (see pics of Aunt Dee previously)
and then went caving again with a great group at the
Lava Bed monument.
Then spent a week working at Stanford, meeting up with colleagues I've missed, enjoying the evenings and was treated to lots of good food (Korean dinner party - does anyone have a good group pic from this?), watched Spiderman 3 & Hot Fuzz (the latter was hilarious!) and a game party at Doug & Melissa's new home (same question for here) where I also got to see a very pregnant Melissa! (OK, Kemmeo, you were pregnant, too, just not very pregnant
)
I returned to NE only to drive down to Mt. Hope, KS (my home since I left in '92 for college) to pick up new kitties (see previous post) and spend the week working at the NDB offices in Wichita. Also got to see high school classmate, Christine, who is also pregnant (ack! this is an epidemic!).
The last two weekends I got the ping pong table set up (took hours with the help of Andy, Erin, and Uncle Mark), and had an Indian themed party over memorial weekend. That same weekend Stacie, from CA, came to visit (my 2nd visitor to NE, yay!) and see the sights of Omaha as well as just hang out and catch up. Also, memorial weekend, my sister Sara, Mom & Grandma came to visit and Sara stayed over as well and helped out at the party. They had a rabbit show on Sunday and on Monday I got together with most of my Mom's family and then hung out with my Dad's parents. Long overdue and a very full weekend! As for the party - had lots of great Indian food - some made/bought from local grocer, other was brought in from Tandori Fusion restaurant. Had the movie Lagaan play (almost 4 hrs long, but you'll learn how to play cricket after watching), played ping pong and then some party games later on.
Good times this month!!!
Then spent a week working at Stanford, meeting up with colleagues I've missed, enjoying the evenings and was treated to lots of good food (Korean dinner party - does anyone have a good group pic from this?), watched Spiderman 3 & Hot Fuzz (the latter was hilarious!) and a game party at Doug & Melissa's new home (same question for here) where I also got to see a very pregnant Melissa! (OK, Kemmeo, you were pregnant, too, just not very pregnant
)
I returned to NE only to drive down to Mt. Hope, KS (my home since I left in '92 for college) to pick up new kitties (see previous post) and spend the week working at the NDB offices in Wichita. Also got to see high school classmate, Christine, who is also pregnant (ack! this is an epidemic!).
The last two weekends I got the ping pong table set up (took hours with the help of Andy, Erin, and Uncle Mark), and had an Indian themed party over memorial weekend. That same weekend Stacie, from CA, came to visit (my 2nd visitor to NE, yay!) and see the sights of Omaha as well as just hang out and catch up. Also, memorial weekend, my sister Sara, Mom & Grandma came to visit and Sara stayed over as well and helped out at the party. They had a rabbit show on Sunday and on Monday I got together with most of my Mom's family and then hung out with my Dad's parents. Long overdue and a very full weekend! As for the party - had lots of great Indian food - some made/bought from local grocer, other was brought in from Tandori Fusion restaurant. Had the movie Lagaan play (almost 4 hrs long, but you'll learn how to play cricket after watching), played ping pong and then some party games later on.
Good times this month!!!