ME IN 120 SECONDS

It is hard to believe that I have been a cancer researcher for 17 years now. During that time, I have worked in three medical centers and directed two laboratory teams - first in Portland and now in Ann Arbor. 

During that time, I have give innumerable presentations about our work. However, COVID has made all of our presentations virtual on formats like Zoom. While platforms like this have been invaluable for continued communication and "meetings," they do not take the place of a face to face meeting. Furthermore, staring into a screen and watching one's self can evoke a sense of self-consciousness. Simply put, I will try to minimize Zoom use when this pandemic is over!

Our cancer center recently put on a virtual retreat for basic scientists like me, and they asked us to record a two minute "elevator pitch." distilling our work down to the essential. Yes, I realize that these pitches are usually much shorter, but I used nearly every second of the allotted time for mine!

FAMILY PHOTO

We do not often take a family picture - mostly because we do not have a photographer beyond ourselves. 

I bought a ring light tripod this year for doing virtual visits with my phone and to have better lighting on zoom calls, so we decided to use that to take this beauty.

Coming to a holiday card near you, and yes Nicholas is now officially taller than me! 

GO HILLS!

This is Nicholas' second year of high school at Greenhills. He has really stepped up in his classes and is excelling academically. This is a big improvement over his first few weeks last year when he struggled to study effectively or take tests. This was understandable because Arbor did not have tests, and much of the schoolwork was communal. 

Nicholas has also been involved in several extracurriculars, including Mock Trial and Model UN. Indeed, he had a virtual Model UN event last weekend for which he dressed up both days. Kid looked pretty sharp!

Cate decided to join Greenhills this summer after initialing declining admission last spring. Thank goodness because the virtual experience at Greenhills has been fabulous. I just reviewed her first report card, and I was glad to see that Cate is stepping up and engaging her classmates and teachers online. Go Cate!

I feel very grateful to have found Greenhills and appreciate all their efforts in such difficult educational circumstances. As we say, Go Hills!

STRONG YARD SIGN GAME

Portland had a pretty strong yard sign game, and perhaps they do again this year. However, I have been so impressed by the yard signage in Ann Arbor. In addition to the homemade wooden yard signs with messages painted on, one of my favorites is shown below.

I thought it was particularly fitting that this sign was tilted and falling down - crooked, if you will, and just like the pathological liar and deeply flawed human being that Trump is.

Good riddance and bye Don!

A VERY BIG TREE

This past weekend we picked up a Christmas Tree at a local produce stand. For us, this is an annual event, but we went particularly big yesterday!

We brought out the decorations, and the tree has brought much light to the house. Happy holidays!

A GOOD DAY

We have had many hard, painful days this past year, but let’s not lose sight of how good yesterday December 14 was. 

Thousands of Americans were vaccinated with a vaccine using brand new technology that was developed in record time! That is a tribute to science.

 

An election was certified after one of the most disturbing and disruptive periods in our nation’s history! That is a tribute to the American people and all the civil servants and judges who rejected Trump's lies and attempts to subvert demoncracy. 

The sun shined especially brightly this morning, and I see brighter days ahead. It's about time!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

It is no secret that Football Club Barcelona has been one of the loves of my life this past decade. However, the club has dropped so far in that time with countless embarrassing losses and examples of self-destruction.

Tonight's 3-0 loss to Juventus was the last straw. I am done and will not be watching this team play another game this season. 

It is a tremendous shame because the world's best player, Lionel Messi, has literally wasted away these last 5 years at Barca under their mismanagement, revolving door of hapless coaches, and inexeplicably bad and expensive transfers.

It breaks my heart to see this club fall apart, but I am not one to enjoy slow motion firing squads. Enough!