Where did the Holiday Weekend Go?

What a crazy weekend!! Thanksgiving (x2), Charlotte shopping, Clemson Football, and a baby shower! It was fun, but I could use a few more days to recover.

I talked Don into going to Clemson for the big game, and we're VERY glad we braved the weather. Here we are cold and not too wet. I'm lucky to have a husband that loves me and found the biggest cup of hot chocolate you've ever seen! Peppermint Patty was back and thankfully she left at half time b/c I don't think I could have taken her the whole game. I know what you're thinking.. how could you leave at half-time?! Even the Gamecock fans stuck it out until the end of the 3rd quarter!

In Baby news.... only 32 days left! (or so we hope) She has to hold off through next weekend b/c that's when my cousin Kristen is getting married, I'm getting my Charleston haircut, and we have (non-refundable) reservations at a cute little B&B in downtown Chas. Below is a belly shot of me - a couple of weeks ago actually. I don't think I 'm that much bigger now. I like this picture because it looks like I'm wearing normal clothes.

I've promised several people pictures of the nursery, so here they are.... We have a mirror on order that will go over the dresser. I also have some art-work to hang before its perfect.

We have been showered with SO many incredible baby gifts, and have really been touched by everyone's generosity. We received lots of practical things and lots of hand-made things that you could never put a price tag on. I think the Target registry is almost completely fulfilled! Now I think we're just getting anxious to meet this little girl and see if she is as cool as we suspect. :) We'll keep you posted!

46 More Days!

We can't believe its only 46 more days until the due date. We have more stuff in the nursery but its still hard to imagine that we're ready to take care of a baby HUMAN! Jenny and I skipped the Duke game this weekend and made time for coffee Saturday morning, church on Sunday - a relaxing weekend as a whole. Jenny is still feeling strong but I'm starting to suffer from the fatigue that's typical late in pregnancy. Foster & Smokey can't wait for a new source of dropped food.

The Daily Flu

I get a lot of questions about everyone's medical problems: Why does my knee hurt? What is Leukemia? Why can't we cure cancer? What causes glaucoma? I never mind taking a stab at these after a little research, but I actually have degrees in Microbiology - bacteria, viruses, parasites, and the occasional prions. I always tell people that I can't give them advice on their wierd ailment, but call me when you have an infection (and I hope you never do). So, its a little frustrating when someone asks me about something I actually understand, and then they tell me I'm wrong.

This week I got a cold. I always get a cold when the weather changes. But! My Mom will swear that its b/c I got the flu shot the week before. There are 2 things that make this a scientific impossibility:

1. The flu vaccine is made from a DEAD virus. I think you will probably admit that you know of rare occasions when something dead comes back to life (the resurrection of Christ and perhaps the occasional palmetto bug). So, I hope you would then agree that it is highly unlikely that a dead virus would come back to life to make you sick. To me, this makes logical sense.

2. The flu vaccine contains dead INFLUENZA virus. Influenza virus doesn't cause colds - not even really bad ones. Colds are most often caused by Rhinoviruses or Adenoviruses, but can also be attributed to metapneumoviruses, enteroviruses, coronaviruses, human parainfluenza viruses, and human respiratory syncytial viruses. I hope that you would agree that you don't get the chickenpox from your measles vaccine - same principle.

So.. please know that you didn't get your cold from the flu vaccine. If you got the flu within 2 weeks after the vaccine, you also didn't get the flu from the flu vaccine - you caught the flu before the vaccine took effect.

Then Mom and I went on to have the discussion about why she should (or shouldn't in her opinion) get the flu vaccine. I'm all for you catching the flu if you don't want the vaccine (I didn't get it for years while in grad school). Yes, its not 100% effective. Yes, you can still get the flu if you've had the vaccine. This is b/c the selection of dead viruses that make up the vaccine is an educated guess based on surveillance of circulating viruses around the world. But remember that if you look after someone who is particularly susceptible to the flu and could possibly die from it (each year about 36,000 people die from the flu - mostly the elderly, but kids are also at risk), its better to do whatever you can to a) keep yourself well so you can care for them if they are sick or b) prevent yourself from getting sick so that you can continue to care for them. Its not 100%, but it drastically reduces your chances. Don had the flu a couple of years ago. I had gotten the vaccine. I looked after him and didn't get sick - totally worth it.

So, there's your virology lesson for the day. The flu vaccine is safe, and while I really don't care if you get it or not, just be educated. :) If you're interested, you can visit the DHEC website: http://www.scdhec.net/flu/

SC State Fair

Corn Dogs! If you think about it there has to be a better name for them...



Guess who has a gambling addiction?! Tan, not orange... every time.



It was crazy looking guy that hasn't been arrested night at the fair. I fit right in with that psycho killer stare.



Candy apples! The best way to end a night at the fair.

Monday is Crib Day

Jenny sitting on the branch of a Magnolia tree at the Capitol Building.



Foster takes being held like a lamb very seriously.



Crib parts...



We hired this guy to put the crib together. Looks like he works out a lot.



Jenny & Dog modeling by the crib. Dog thinks its his new big boy bed.



Dog sees ghosts...

South Carolina Loses A Good One

This is Robert Sanchez, Jenny and me at The Flying Saucer this past weekend. Unfortunately, Robert has decided to follow a great career opportunity back home to Houston, TX. Robert is a good friend and his eternal optimism really stands out from the first moment you meet him. I've never seen him without a big smile on his face - trust me, that's no minor feat over 5 years here at Cooper Lexington. Fortunately, work will take me to the Houston area semi-frequently so the drinks will just be less frequent and a little more expensive.

Go Tigers!

Well, we finally made it to our first home game of the year to see the Tigers beat up NC State (although it was only a mild beating). The stadium is always amazingly beautiful on bright sunny days - I love all of the orange - contrasts so nice against that blue sky. Anyway, it was hotter than Death Valley CA and we have the sunburns to show for it. If the lady behind us (who would sound a lot like Peppermint Patty if she added "you know Chuck," "Hey Chuck" to every sentence) has season tickets, we're in for an interesting season. She, like all of the other fans around us, is an expert in Clemson Football, and could play better than all of the players if given the chance.

One point shy of a taco. No, we've never cashed our tickets in for free tacos, but its always nice to have the option.

Here we are allowing the other team to huddle. I quote Peppermint Patty: "we can't let them huddle like that!!!" Don and I are still trying to figure out how to defend the huddle.

Here's Don doing the C-L-E-M-S-Oooo-N thing. He doesn't look very "into" it, but he was.

Here we are - sufficiently burned at the time, but finally in the shade of the second half!

Isle of Palms 2008

As days turn into weeks and weeks into months we don't get older - we get closer to another vacation in Charleston!



Jenny enjoying a cap at City Lights in Charleston.



Don riding an 8 foot monster wave on IOP. Something was wrong with the camera lens so the wave looks much smaller here.



This face first wave entry is one of my new innovative moves this season. I'm sure you'll see the pros steal my style on the tour next year.



Jenny & Foster enjoying some shade.



Bikini model.



Hey dad, "I taste salty!"



Family portrait.

Peaceful Weekend

Sometimes the simple things in life are the best. We enjoyed the weather, good coffee, good Thai and a nice sermon this morning. Add in a little sewing (followed by un-sewing and re-sewing) and some yard work and you can't ask for much more.



Jenny & Foster at Starbucks



Foster begging for cookies from dad



More proof that people from Ohio can't drive

Confessions of a Tree Hugger

I have to admit something. I think I might be a tree hugger... Don has been called this on several occasions, usually in the context of "What are you? Some kinda tree hugger." As much as it pained me to see our wacko neighbors cut down every tree in their back yard that didn't require professional tree removal, today I feel like I've lost a member of my family. The moron that we sold our quaint little cottage to has cut down the most beautiful 80 year old magnolia I've ever seen:

There over to the left you can see what wonderful shade it offered to the entire house. I'm not sure what the reason was, but I'd guess that since he hasn't touched the yard in the 2 years since he's been there (other than to tear everything out), he's a) too lazy to clean up the leaves b) he's been told that he can't grow anything in the yard with it there, or c) he's crazy. I'm sure about c, and a is a poor excuse to cut down any tree. And before you haters go on about how bad it is to clean up after a magnolia tree.... I did it for 2 years and it wasn't so bad. I'll take a magnolia over an oak or pine any day! So.. goodbye old magnolia - I sure did enjoy you while I could. And if there is any fairness in the world, his power bill goes through the roof.

Deep Gap Backpacking Trip

Dad & I hiked the Deep Gap Trail at Mt. Mitchell this past weekend (7-19 & 20, 2008). Mt. Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River at 6,684 ft. The Deep Gap Trail starts at Mt. Mitchell and tracks the ridge line of several 6,000ft peaks before reaching a grassy knoll named Commissary Ridge. The trail is steep and rugged and there was almost no water to filter but we were prepared and all ended well.



Dad & me on Mt. Craig.



A nice view of the Black Mountains (part of the Smokey Mountain Range).



Yours truly - the trail follows the ridgeline in the background.



Sections of the trail are STEEP.



Another great vista.



Wild irises at Commissary Ridge.




Sunrise at 6,000 ft.




Watch that last step...



Nice photo of a weathered tree and the Smokies in the background.



Me relaxing - almost done.



King of the hill!

You'll Sleep Better Now

Today I got a great question at work and decided to post the answer here so you would sleep better at night (and would have some useless trivia to thrill your non-sciencey friends with)

Q: Does a commercial dishwasher kill the rabies virus? For instance - if I took my [rabid] dog to a restaurant and he ate off of one of the plates, would washing the plate kill the virus so that the next person eating off of that plate wouldn't get rabies?
A. Before I answer this, let me ask what restaurant allows dogs to eat off of their plates? Or better yet, who takes their dog to the restaurant and thinks: Oh yeah, it will be fine for Mr. Bojangles to lick my plate clean. Anyway, in the event that you are worrying that the last user of your salad plate was a rabid dog, rest assured that the dishwasher should do a great job of killing the virus. 1. It should wash the virus right away. 2. Its a virus - needs mammalian cells to replicate and survive. 3. I've include the diagram below to demonstrate that the rabies virus is enveloped (and you've probably always wondered what it looked like). Enveloped viruses don't hold up well to the environment - meaning heat, detergents, etc. I read a bunch of stuff, but in general everyone agrees that if the virus is outside of the animal for very long, it dies. 4. Pastuerization temperatures kill the virus (>160 degrees F), and commercial dishwashers are required to have a final rinse of 180 degrees F.



Rabies virus is found in saliva, so be careful whenever you kiss a rabid animal. You laugh, but plenty of people do, and plenty of people let rabid animals play with their pets. The only way to test an animal for rabies is to kill it and test its brain... so.... play it safe and stay away from all of those cute cats/dogs/raccoons/foxes/kittens that are stray. You'll feel a strong desire to save them all, but in the end it could be more trouble than its worth.

Foothills Trail - Bad Creek Access to Oconee State Park

Dad & I were back on the FHT this weekend. I took Friday off so we could squeeze in 30 miles between Bad Creek Access & Oconee State Park. This finishes the FHT for me - dad reminds me AFTER he finished the FHT. I'm only 34 so the way I see it he's had a lot more time to get it done. We had good weather for most of the trip. To avoid some severe thunderstorms Sunday morning we woke up at 11PM Saturday and hiked the remaining 8.3 miles out in the pitch dark. That's an interesting way to experience the trail - just be careful!



Trillium - these were in bloom all along the entire hike.



Whitewater River - this is where we had lunch on the first day



Nice view of the sky near the Whitewater River.



Steps - lots and lots of steps - then a few more.



Upper Whitewater Falls



View of Lake Jocassee from the Grassy Knob escarpment near the Upper Whitewater Falls.



Blaze azaleas on the trail near Round Mountain.



Foothills trail - close to Sloan Bridge (SC107).



Kings Mountain Falls



Small wildflowers by the side of the Chatooga River.



Dad & me at the Whitewater Falls overlook on the first day.



This is a photo of me finishing the FHT. 5-10-2008