Toy Drive

The last few years I have been in charge of getting money from faculty, staff and students to buy toys for children in the CPS system. We raised over $300 dollars for Chasity and Melvin this year. Both are 12 and we found it difficult to buy for such an age when we don't know if they have DVD players, a video game console or what size they are. But Ryan and I bought some fun stuff I think.

Midway through this fundraiser we were asked to get donations for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Galveston. This is the 1st time we have helped them out but because of the islands state they were in need. So I emailed friends and family and you all came through. We collected $180 so those kids could have a present at their Christmas party. Thank you all!

I think that this was a very successful year!

Christmas decorating

I know we won't be here for Christmas, but it is my favorite time of year and I love to decorate.

We went to a lot and spent $80 on a 6 foot tree and it doesn't even smell! But it is still better than having a fake tree.

Olive sure enjoyed helping put the tree together. Everyday we come home and find a few ornaments on the ground. We think she is just batting at them... we are praying that the tree doesn't come down too.

Ryan putting up the lights. He did a great job of making them straight! The first day that we were doing this it was in the 70's and the icecream truck drove by! Not very Chirtmas-like weather.

Our outdoor lights- our neighbors have several of the blowup lawn decorations (ugh)

Committee Meeting!

So I had my first committee meeting on Friday and it went really well! It had been postponed due to Ike. I was worried because Alison had hers a few weeks ago and it didn't go well. I was told that I have 1 year and then my mentor wants me out. So I cross my fingers that I will be home next Christmas for a long while. It was strange b/c they didn't ask many questions and they certainly we not trying to stump me. I was also expecting them to send me out of the room at some point to talk behind my back, but they didn't! I also expected that it would go for 3 hrs or so since the majority of them had not heard about my finished work, but it only went about an hour and 45 min. It seemed all too simple. I hope the rest of my time here goes so smoothly.
So Ryan and I went out with some of our friends for some Mexican food and margaritas to celebrate.

Vaccine conference in Boston

So last week I was in Boston for the Vaccine Congress conference. Alison, my labmate, and I did some sight seeing while we were there. I followed the Freedom Trail around town and saw many historical sites. It was my 1st time there. We also ate at several great restaurants. One meal we had a whole lobster! I wasn't brave enough to eat the body. It was very cold and we saw snow one day! Of course the day we went out and did most of our touristy things it rained off and on all day. It felt like OR. On our return trip to Houston it was brought to our attention that it was snowing at home. And it did! Alison has a photo of my house with snow all around (my camera's battery died- I'll try and post it later).