Week in Pittsburgh

Quick update from the road.  Wade and Jessi had a beautiful wedding in Farmville, VI, with close friends and family coming in from all corners.  I've been in Pittsburgh for the following week, working and catching up with old friends.  It's been a little hard to keep up the pace of work that I have at home with fun distractions like meeting friends for lunch, but I'm glad I chose to make this a working trip because it means I can spend more time here.

My manuscript (the bulk of my graduate work has been unpublished so far) was submitted, and FINALLY accepted.  This is the last thing that needed to be finished out from my time in graduate school.  There is still some discussion of other brilliant ideas we might toy with later, but getting that paper published will actually make by CV look like I am a scientist again. 

But the real reason I opted to come at this time was for my labmate and classmate Karen's defense.  That happened yesterday.  She was very poised, and gave a very thoughtful, scholarly seminar.  Her defense took hours, but was very friendly.  She emerged as a doctor, and the lab swept into action to make a big departmental party.  It was perhaps not quite as amazing as the party I had, but we are all holding back since she is hosting a party this afternoon.  There is going to be inflatable jousting.  It should be fantastic.