Laura, November 12, 2009

Among the many cool things that happened at a conference this past weekend, I discovered a love of bourbon. Someone has been holding out on me! This stuff is fantastic!

Laura, 11/4/09

Harper, my niece, is one already! The last year just flew by...I want her to stop growing up so fast.

Sheree 11/2/09

How lame am I for not posting in FOREVER?! I finally decided I would like to start taking some quality pics of my kids again and really figure out this fantastic camera of mine. I did good today and it definitely inspired me to do this more often.

Mary

These are by far the oddest restroom signs I've ever seen, courtesy of SMU.

Mary

This was the coolest sunset I'd seen in a long time, but in accordance with the laws of lame photography, I only had my phone with me at the time. The whole sky looked was full of rays of sunlight like the ones that peek through the clouds.

Phyllis 265/365

"Dear Mommy,

Do you want to play something?

PS - I ♥ U"

I can't believe he's old enough to write all of that

and pass me a note.

Laura

I miss her cooking, and her giant hugs that squeezed all the air out of your chest. I miss her dresses and pantyhose - God, that cracked me up when I was a teenager. I miss her plastic covered furniture, her German lithographs, and her slippers. I miss the way she used to yell at Grampa, and I'll bet deep down, he does too. I miss her stories, her history lessons, and her preserved fruit plucked out of the orchard in the back yard. But mostly, I just miss her. And I wish I could turn back time today.

Becca or Cori

Kate's picture she made on the ipod touch

Mary

My friend and I used to joke about whether or not we were actually the same person, and whether we'd only cast one shadow if we stood together. Now I have evidence that we have separate shadows, as his is holding mine up with a marshmallow gun!

Phyllis 248/365

Troye

Our visit to Galveston over Labor Day weekend

Laura

This is a crappy picture, but I could barely sit still long enough to take it. I found the Portland ASEH conference schedule on the website and assumed since I hadn't heard back from them that I wasn't selected to present. That is, until I scrolled down two pages. Funny way to find out you're in the big leagues now!

That's me and my paper - my thesis, my baby - on the official schedule. If I could virtually insert *me, freaking out* right here, I would.

Angel

Starting on Thursday and ending, sadly, today, my mother and I took a short cemetery tour through cajun country in south central louisiana. This is one grave in New Iberia that was from the mid 1800s that someone had recently glued Mary onto. Her bottom was still a little pliant. I took most of the photos in black and white to capture the contrast and to also capture the essence of these beautiful graves and monuments. Nobody does cemeteries like Louisianans, mainly because they have no choice!

Phyllis 238/365

We have families of geckos that live on our porch

each summer. Here's one little guy, on my porch light.

If you could see the bigger version, he looks like he's

smiling at me.

Becca or Cori

Happy first day of school you big 4 yr old pre-schooler!

Mary 233/365

From my trip to San Antonio with doctoral student and good friend, Brian.  Note to self:  this is why you don't take gummy candy on road trips.  

Then again, it could've been worse.  He wanted to bring Whoppers.

Laura

Day 2: Arrived in NYC to begin my daily 2 hour commute to a teenie little sleepy hollow called Hyde Park. After day 2 I was a lot less diligent about taking pictures. And once I started doing research it was all over. Shivender, my bestest buddy and roommate for the first week, (who hates having his picture taken) and I had so much fun the camera was totally forgotten about.

Phyllis 232/365

An actual walk-thru sheet, after going through someone's apartment.
That bottom line says "Throw up along window sill".
See what I'm dealing with each day?

Mary 231/365

Sorry I haven't been on here lately, but I wrapped up my internship on Monday.  Everything before that was either too dull to write about or so chaotic that it left me no time.  Here's a terrible pic of me with the clinical director, my mentor, and the ABD anthropology student that I spent all my free time with.  He's 3 months younger than me and he'll get his PhD about the time I get my Bachelor's, the punk!

In honor of all the nerdy conversations that ensue when you get two anthropologists in the same room, I thought I'd share one of our favorite jokes.  Vin Diesel & a Neandertal... his features truly make a good argument for cross-breeding.

Laura

I'm backtracking a bit, but I couldn't post for two weeks while I was away because I couldn't find any wireless.



Day 1: NC to MD and I'm stuck in DC traffic. It really doesn't matter what time of the day you pass through DC - it just sucks 24/7.



End of Day 1: Post-DC traffic, I finally arrive in MD - my first stop - at my mom's family farm. Dinner with my Grandmom and estranged uncle is weird, but I love the farm. Its so bucolic.

Laura

Just got back from a 2 week long research trip (with lots of interludes to play...and LOTS and LOTS of driving). Eight states, two countries, and lots of time spent in the car. Will blog with pictures later, but for now...

This one is for Zach. Coldplay is even better in person, Zach. You have very cool taste in music :)

Becca or Cori

I love him so much it hurts. No matter what anyone thinks of him.

Becca or Cori

My hottie hubby the bday boy. Happy 41st bday to my amazing guy :)

Becca or Cori

Lil' foodie... she closes her eyes when she eats something she reallllly loves!

216/365

My girl getting herself psyched for the game at Nationals.

Phyllis 214/365

The time our phones at work started ringing.
We open at 9:00am.
Sigh.

Laura

My little baby niece is walking already (she decided crawling wasn't her style)! She is growing up way too fast.

Phyllis 200/365

That about sums it up.

Phyllis 196/365

Our first apple blossom ever!  After nine years of 

babying this apple tree, it finally came through.

Hooray!

Laura

My normally thin and trim dog got into a bag of trash. Look at the size of her stomach!

Becca or Cori

Yup... these are my two. Her being a supa freak & spazzing out... Him... as one of my best friends Mom from Ireland says... "He's got a bit of the devil in his eye"... (add Irish accent)

Mary

The lady in the sky was curling her hair last night...

Becca or Cori

I guess he plays with the dog too much?!?!

Becca or Cori

Words from one of my dearest friends who is fighting cancer. I love her so much it hurts.

I pray for a miracle everyday. Tomorrow she gets her scans.... that miracle would be wonderful tomorrow.

As I sit in this big recliner watching the clock on the wall tick, I am emotionally conflicted. I am planning a wonderfully happy event. I am planning my little boy’s birthday party. He is so excited and I can’t help but be excited for him. Reid is turning 5 this weekend. I never thought I could love something so much. He is funny, frustrating and fantastic at four and contrary to his wishes, I want time to stand still. Like every parent, my heart aches as I realize my baby turned toddler has disappeared…my “big” boy has emerged and is growing by the minute. However, as a mom diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, time has an entirely different meaning to me.

When I was diagnosed with late stage breast cancer in 2005, I was so worried Reid would never know me, much less have me at his side blowing out 5 candles. Ironically, “time” is both my friend and my enemy. Each morning that I wake up, I am so thankful for the time I have with my friends and family. Life is so very good. On the other hand, time is running like sand through my fingers. I am desperate for a cure to this dreaded disease or at least for more medical options to extend my time with Reid. We scan next week to see if my current chemo is working. My tumor markers are up, so there is need for concern. If this chemo is not working, there is only one drug left to try in the current “FDA approved” arsenal. NOW is the time for a cure. If we can put a man on the moon, surely we can figure out a way to stop this madness.

I pray I get the opportunity to plan Reid’s 6th birthday. Actually, I will shoot for the stars and pray that I get to plan his 16th birthday. So it is time to climb out of my big recliner. Chemotherapy is over for today….time to get on with life and on with the party!!"

Becca or Cori

See this bunny? Her name is Bunny... It's Kate's lovie. I was a smart Mama and got 3 of the same lovie and would rotate them out between washings. It was hard to find 3 of these. They no longer make them. Guess what? Its harder to find them now. Kate lost 2 of the 3! I KNOW they are some where in this house & CANT find them! So a friend happens to have one & is sending it to me... Then I got Phyllis to get me one on Ebay. (I dont do ebay) These bad boys where running up to $40 plus!!! We found one cheaper.... I went ahead and bought 2 more of Luke's lovie. These "best friends" are just that... Bunny was getting very thin in certain spots.

Hopefully this works :)

Troye 193/365

How I'm spending my weekends now that it is hot as fire outside. Just watching my girl playing ball. In a couple weeks we'll be headed to Illinois for the 12U ASA Nationals.

Phyllis 192/365

Febreze has outdone themselves with this scent.

"Winds & Springtime"

Becca or Cori

Sorry I have been MIA! I got a new camera & have tons of pics on it.I had not gotten around to doing the software yet... Come to find out, I did not need the software.

Anyhoo.....

My girl getting her grub on at MaMa Fus!

Phyllis 190/365

Good morning.

Mary 185/365

Had a mellow night of watching fireworks from my balcony in between movies.  Since the fireworks were so far away, this picture isn't the most amazing thing ever, but I like it...

Mary 184/365

Sunrise from my balcony at 6:10 AM.  It's the only good thing about being awake that early, if you ask me.  I really will miss this camera at the end of the summer!

Phyllis 184/365

I love taking pictures of the moon.

Laura

In doing archival research, I came across this photo of a 1933 Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Rock Creek, California entitled "Wash Room" (courtesy of the FDR Library Archives). It moved me. How happy they all look. They remind me to never take a hard day's work or an honest day's pay for granted. I am humbled by this photo.

I am struck by the power of art to transcend spatial and temporal boundaries. Photos like these remind me of how resilient the human spirit truly is.

Mary

What a goofball he is!

Phyllis 175/365

My most recent favorite material possession -
my "things to do" mug, with dry-erase marker included.

Laura

I know this may sound strange, but I think wind turbines are beautiful. I'm kind of in awe of them. I get a weird Emersonian feeling when I see them...machines and/in nature. Some things change, but my freakish love of nature-machines runs deep.