Arugula-Eating, Fancy Berry Tea-Drinking Celebrity

This is a pretty good segment from the Daily Show discussing the "Obama as Elitist" ad campaign being run by the McCain camp. And about the press' tendency to question whether Obama can deliver on his campaign promises. Pretty funny...and yet telling, as usual.

Run For The Fallen

This was a pretty impressive piece on the Evening News. It's a program called "Run For the Fallen" where a group is running from the west to east coast, planting a flag every mile for a soldier who has died in Iraq. They had originally planned on a straight line across the country, but had to modify the path because there are more dead than miles the country is wide.

For more info: http://www.runforthefallen.org/

Mammograms

Yesterday, I spent ~3 hours in the Women's Health Clinic for a mammogram recheck. While I waited between procedures I began to reflect on the etiology of the mammogram. Where did it come from? How long has it been with us??

I don't remember ever seeing one depicted on an Assyrian relief -- and what, with their penchant for skin flaying and impaling prisoners, I'm sure this would have been a welcome addition to their arsenal.

When at the Tower of London, there were indeed clear precursors to stirrups and the evil speculum, but I don't remember seeing any proto-mammography machines.

Maybe the Spanish Inquisition? Perhaps all Women's Health practitioners are actually secretly Black Friars. An Opus Dei hair-shirt type instrument? I'm gonna have to go back and read The DaVinci Code to check.

I bet if they have any females at Guantanamo, they've got one...I know I was about ready to divulge war secrets a couple of times.

Lemur PTSD

I took Lemur to the vet, and Mr. Mild Mannered kittie totally FREAKED!! They eventually had to wrap his legs in a blanket and muzzle him. Made my heart hurt, he was terrified.

The vet thought it might be because he doesn't like needles, but since this is only his 2nd visit to a vet, seems unlikely. The tech held him by the scruff of the neck pushing his face into the table, which seemed a logical hold, but I think that might have been what set him off. Maybe he got stuck in a similar position during his first year out on the mean streets. Don't know, but something clearly scared him silly.

When we got home, I opened the carrier and he flew into the guest bedroom (where he stayed when he first came to the house). I guess that's 'base.' He seems fine now, but what brought out "Mr Hyde" I don't know.


JEKYLL/HYDE UPDATE: I guess it was actually Lemur's 3rd visit to the vet. His previous trip was when he lost his manhood. Perhaps the shot in the butt triggered a flashback...

Yay Yorke!!

Congratulations Yorke!! He got a sweet position at The Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. It's finally official.

Welcome to what we like to call the Greater South Bend Region ;-) Come visit often!

Congratulations Erica & Bryan !!!

Back Home

Well, my theory that I was giving birth to an alien baby did not pan out. Ended up being severe dehydration causing gastroenteritis giving rise to moderate pancratitis (sp??). No idea how the dehydration happened, I have no recollection of not drinking. But eight IV bags, xrays, ultrasounds, enough Vikadan to keep House happy, and a ton of blood work later - it was dehydration. Hurt like nothing I've ever felt before, so I'll be drinking like a fish from here on out.

Served as a nice reminder of what kind friends and family I have. Thanks for all the help with this unexpected turn of events, and well-wishes.. I'm now home with some VERY attentive kitties who don't understand why 'mom' deserted them for 3 days.

Where's Dowgie Howser When You Need Him??

Here's a blog entry I never expected to be posting -- I'm writing from a hospital bed at the moment. I got very sick on Wednesday, went home in the afternoon, felt increasingly worse, got an appointment to see my doctor with only 15 minutes notice (handy when your doctor is also your next door neighbor), and she sent me straight to the hospital.

Jaime saved the day big time by pestering me to go to the doctor, and extending her stay in South Bend while I've been poked and prodded for two days. Still clueless as to what's wrong, but from all descriptions of the pain, it's a lot like a kidney stone.

So who knew hospitals had wireless internet BTW? Jaime, Leslie and Shannon came over to hang out, I chatted on the phone, and am now playing on the computer -- were it not for the IV in my arm, and the good pain drugs they're giving me (always a silver lining), it would seem like any other day this summer.

Sap Alert

When I came to the lab today, Jaime, Shannon and Lesley informed me I HAD TO watch this video, it would make me cry. Like a sap, I did...and, I did.

It's a good cry, and for anyone who remembers the movie "Born Free" (the three of them have never heard of it, making me likewise want to cry), the old man in the background is Richard Adamson of Elsa fame.

Baby Penguins

This is kinda sad. My cousin sent the link.

Hundreds of baby penguins found dead in Brazil
Jul 20, 2008
Comcast.net

Baby Chuck

Just back from a great dinner at Michael and Doug's. Lamb on the BBQ, terrific salads -- in celebration of Jerry Murphy-O'Connor's visit to South Bend. An every 2 year tradition when he visits to teach for the Theology program. Made me homesick for Jerusalem - haven't felt that in awhile.

We were also introduced to Chuck - a fetal opossum Doug found in the yard a few days ago. Surprisingly cute little guy. The prehensile tail is the giveaway, otherwise it kinda looks like a little pink rat. Doug has to feed it every 2-3 hours with an eyedropper. It's pretty adorable when it chews on its' tail, foot, and/or grabs hold of Doug's thumb.

Jaime's Birthday Wish

Jaime's one and only request was that we go to Chick-fil-A for lunch because they were giving away free chicken sandwiches to celebrate their 4th anniversary (the store, not the company). And in the raffle she won a breakfast sandwich thing, a pencil, and a sticky note pad that she's now using on the bone drawers. Yep, that was our day.

Indy Fun

Went to see the new Indiana Jones movie today with Jaime - a wise choice to wait, there were no crowds (everyone was at Batman I think). It was fun, I'm not sure I understand why there was a hubub about this one. It didn't seem any more/less silly than than the previous 3.

Fun escapist afternoon, glad to have seen it on the big screen.

2008 NSF-REU

Today was the last day of the summer REU. Topped off with a pizza lunch and dinner at The Olive Garden (they chose it). Oh, and an ice cream cake (jealous Alicia??)

The lab is all cleaned up, the projects are done, reports are submitted. Great group this summer, with some terrific projects! Here are some pictures of the groups in action:

Zzzzzzzzzzzz ??

The answer is no. If the globs of goop all over your head with electrodes stuck to 'em doesn't feel odd enough, then perhaps the electrodes taped to the sides of your eyes, chin and forehead will bug ya. If not those, then the electrodes attached mid-calf with cords that you get tangled in regularly will do it. For me however, it was the nasal tubes, that kept either stabing me in the tops of my nostrils and/or tickling my nose that made sleep difficult.

But the room was nice and cold, which I loved! And in truth, my sleep didn't differ much at all from home. As I was filling out the paperwork the tech said "I've never met an actual insomniac, most people fall asleep if the room is cool and the bed is comfortable." When she came back 5 hours later to move my chin electrode she said she was convinced, since I had yet to sleep a wink, and had the printouts to prove it. I did apparently finally fall asleep from 3 to 5 am, so they got a little data.

All in all, it was pretty interesting. But since I've now only had 2 hours of sleep in the past 48 hours while trying to teach the field school, I'm pretty much shot. I ain't 23 any longer, Auntie Em!!

Zzzzzzzz (not!)

I'm still having a lot of trouble sleeping, so Jaime nagged me into participating in a sleep study. I'm off to have electrodes glued to my head in an hour, then see if I can sleep that way. I'm not holding my breath. I did pull close to an all-nighter last night to make myself exceptionally tired - so hopefully.

Maybe it'll answer why I have so much trouble sleeping. Must be a guilty conscience. Maybe if I was just alittle nicer to my father...

Kittie Caper

I left a shopping bag on the kitchen floor tonight, that apparently turned into a cat toy. I could hear playing in the kitchen for some time, which seemed to increase in intensity while I listened. Then all of the sudden three cats started flying around the house, in line.

Turns out Lemur got his head caught in the handle and managed to wiggle both front legs thru too. That led to panic...on his part, but also the other two, who he seemed to be chasing all over the house.

I closed him in my room and managed to get the bag off (trying not to laugh TOO loudly), the poor little guy was scared silly. I went back out to check the 'damage' to the house, there was barely a rug left in place.

I opened a can of cat food to give them a midnight snack, and even that didn't bring the three of them out from hiding for some time (yes, even Wiley).

Whew! It's tough being a cat!

Bone Camp Crunch Time

One more week of the NSF program, and things are ramping up. The students are cruisin' along, this is a great group.

A few pictures are included below -- Jaime showing off some cut bones (a beheaded monk??), along with various lab shots. It may be a long weekend in the lab, but these should be some pretty great projects when done.

Oh...and never hold a skull as shown to the left!!

Mmmm Mmmm Good!!

The Vietnamese restaurant in Mishawaka re-opened and we made a pilgrimage tonight. It used to be Jaime's favorite place in town, but it closed about 4 years ago. We checked back several times that summer, but alas, no new Vietnamese food. Apparently however, they reopened that Fall.

The 'humerus' part of this story -- aside from Jaime's unabashed glee throughout dinner -- is that for the past 4 summers she's complained (dare I say "whined"??) about the lack of said cuisine. All the while, there it was.

I have a feeling there won't be much cooking at Chez Ullinger over the next two weeks...

"Fair and Balanced"

Uh-huh. Fox "Noise" is at it again. 'Tis a shame The Daily Show is on hiatus this week, they'd have had a field day with this one and likely brought more attention to the matter. Read the article first, then watch the video. More high school antics from Steve Doocy and "the brown haired guy who's not Steve Doocy" (as Stephen Colbert refers to him) passing themselves off as journalists.

Fox News airs altered photos of NY Times reporters
Wed, Jul 2, 2008
MediaMatters.com

July 4th

My blogging delinquency continues. Sorry, lots going on...and I have to confess, I've been 'stepping out' a bit with Facebook of late.

This Friday the students went to the South Bend Silverhawks for the 4th, after a long day in the lab (bah humbug, no vacation for them...tho' I did buy 'em an ice cream cake ;-) From the photos, it looks like big fun was had.

Chicago Field Trip

Sorry for the lack of skeleton action figures - didn't have my computer for several days, and we were away from campus on a fun visit in Chicago. Although I was bitterly disappointed by missing the Apple Store, it was otherwise a great visit. First to the Field Museum with Jim Phillips and Ed Maher, dinner at Giordano's Pizza, next day at the Oriental Institute with Emily Teeter, then to an amazing lunch at the Nile Restaurant with Hisham's brother Abdullah. Nice couple of days, great weather.