I wasn't sure I wanted to do another marathon ever after I finished Marine Corps last year, but I guess I forgot the pain and the long hours of training and all the bad things.  I signed up for another one.  This time it's the Suntrust Richmond Marathon (rated as one of the best in the country).  The local sports commission, Sportsbackers , organizes a training team that gives the training plans...

I can knit socks!  That makes me useful!!

It's been a long time since I wrote any Perl.  I'm trying to use some old code, but adapt it as part of a different program.  I have to open input and output files and couldn't remember how to do it at all.  Not a good sign.  I think this is going to take a little longer than I originally thought with all the other programs I'm going to have to steal code from to make this work.

On Monday, we found this on our doorstep Is this a practical joke?  Perhaps done by a certain cousin who lives in Korea?

We joined a food co-op this spring.  Every week, we order whatever food we want from the group of farms that are delivering this week.  I like this arrangement more than a CSA because we don't end up with things we don't like or too much food. That being said, I have been making an effort to try new food.  This week, we bought mescalin mix, orange beauregard sweet potatoes, strawberries, and hanover...

I've been working on two knitting projects for quite awhile. First is a pair of socks.  I finished the first sock in October, but I haven't had the motivation to do the second one.  Right now, I'm knitting the foot part of the second, so I probably have about 8 inches left to do.  Not bad, but if feels like it's taking forever. Second is a lace scarf.  I've been trying to work on lace for awhile...

Taji is our grey two year-old cat.  We got her from a farm in Wisconsin when she was about 7 or 8 weeks old.  I don't think she's forgotten that she's a farm kitty.  She loves being outside and even will walk on a leash. Unfortunately, she tries to run outside every time we open the door.  If she gets out, she runs underneath cars and stays there.  Today it took over a half an hour to get back in...

After all the stressing out about my oral exams, I did pass.  It was kind of uneventful. I was very nervous at the beginning and couldn't explain p-values versus q-values.  At least my committee let that go and chalked it up to nerves. The best part of my day was that right after my exams, my younger little brother called and asked me how to make hamburger helper.  Awesome contrast.

My oral exams are in 9 days. I'm freaking out. Grant is almost done.  I have to give it to my committee on Wednesday (4/15). Have I mentioned I'm freaking out?  I don't even know what to do anymore to get ready.  The whole thing is a very NOT FUN experience.  I guess that's the point.

I've been working on my grant most of the month, but I've still been coming to work, doing lab work, having meetings with people, etc.  The writing is stressful, but I don't think I can do it 24/7. Today I asked a professor for some help on how to analyze data for my project.  I was willing to meet pretty much any time, although sooner rather than better so that I could incorporate it into my grant...