The future looks bright!

Well, I've always said that I would like to start my own business (a start-up biotech company). Fortunately for me, three of top five cities in which to start a business are my potential final destinations. Cara is from northern Virginia/DC, I'm from NC and occasionally claim Raleigh to be home and we are currently residing in Austin, TX.

Paul's Birthday

Friday, we went to the Crown & Anchor to have a few happy hour drinks to celebrate Paul's 30th birthday. Things were great until we started discussing the impact of college athletic programs on the quality of education at a university. Then things got a little heated. I'm not sure what was the distinction between people who supported one or the other arguments. We're all academicians so it wasn't nerds versus jocks. It was more like nerd versus nerd. I use the term "nerd" in the most positive sense of the word. My argument was that no matter how good or bad the football team might be, it had very little bearing on the quality of faculty who actually accept positions at the university. I mean, the school invests millions of dollars to support the athletic programs, but I really don't see much benefit from this money when it comes to the classroom. If anything, athletic programs attract undergraduate students. I don't think that a university professor says, "Hmmm, I have an offer from Harvard and the University of Texas at Austin. Hey, Austin has a great football team, so I think that I'll go there!" Anyway, if you have any comments on this, please click the link and reply.
Cheers!

If you've ever wondered what I do in the lab everyday, you can check out this web video. The movie shown on this website was created to advertise a product that was developed in our lab. The movie is designed to show that we have the capability of designing group II introns to target specific sites within a DNA sequence and disrupt that sequence by inserting a group II intron (Targetron). In a few years, I hope that we will produce a new movie that demonstrates targeting in eukaryotes based on my research. 

Welcome to the World

Click here to be amazed: The World Video

Do you think that this is reality or fantasy?

The answer, amazingly, is reality.

Maddie made it into the Pug Club Photo Gallery

That's her taking down Motley. Get 'em girl!

Alas, Cara and Maddie have left me here in Austin while visiting the family back home in Virginia. It's no vacation, though. Cara's mission is to find a venue for the wedding reception and begin the wedding planning. By the way, the wedding is set for September 23, 2006. We need the extra time to plan since we're all the way out here in Austin. If you're reading this then you should probably save the date, because you'll surely be receiving an invitation. In the meantime, I can't wait for my girls to come back to Austin. 

BEHOLD!!! AUSTIN CITY LIMITS FESTIVAL 2005

NOW, YOU'VE BEEN INFORMED. ACL FESTIVAL 2005 IS COMING. BUY YOUR TICKET TO AUSTIN, TODAY!!! If you love me, you'll be there!

Music recommendation - Garden State Soundtrack

I haven't suggested any music in a while so I thought that I could recommend a very chill, very relaxing CD for you to put in the player while you're sittin' in your rockin' chair on the back porch drinkin' lemondade and watchin' the sun slip behind the horizon. What?! We all do it. Don't we? Anyway, you've gotta buy this CD. It's my #1 new recomendation, well, second only to the new Wideawake CD.
Click here: Garden State SOUNDTRACK

So, on Saturday morning, we went to our first Austin Pug Meetup! Maddie was, as usual, the biggest ham in the park. She gets so much attention. It's ridiculous! I wish that she could stay a puppy forever. We had a great time and can't wait to officially become members of the Austin Pug Club.

 

Last weekend, we went to Sculpture Falls, somewhat of an Austin secret swimming hole. Usually, you'll find local Austinites of all walks of life cooling off in the cool water as it flows over the shallow falls. The water was amazingly refreshing. Maddie had her first swimming experience and most of us got our first bit of sun before the summer hits. 

We had a lot of fun showing some of Austin's attractions to Yates and Joanne, friends of the DeFranks'. Anyone who comes to Austin in the summer has to see the bats.  

The DeFranks with Cara after the recital. 

It was great to have so many friends and family members at Cara's recital including Beth and Glenn.

Cara's Recital

Cara's recital-I wanted to post a recording of Cara's recital, but I haven't gotten access to it yet. At some point, I'll get my hands on it and you'll see just one of the reasons why I think that I have the best girl in the world. In the meantime, here's a shot of the star of the day.

THE BEST BAND IN AUSTIN, TEXAS! HANDS DOWN...

Went to the Wideawake CD release party April, 22 with Cara's sister, Cristin, Margot, Beth and Glenn. Cara was at home getting ready for her big recital. I was not happy that Cara couldn't make it to the show, but I was really stoked to see that Wideawake sold out Antone's in downtown Austin. This is a fairly big venue and they rocked it!!! I'm wishing the boys in Wideawake all the best. It's time for them to break out! If you're at all curious, buy the CD. I'm on the Wideawake bandwagon, big time!!!

My Dream Job

I've found my dream job!!! I had lunch with Dr. Gerald Rubin, HHMI Vice President and Director of Janelia Farms, on April 14th. Dr. Rubin described the Janelia Farms Research Institute and I knew immediately that I had to work there. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute intends to carry out what I consider to be the ideal scientific philosophy at Janelia Farms. I must find a way to work there.

Blast from the past!

It's always great to run into an old buddy and Matt J's recent visit to Austin was a refreshing blast from the past. You see, Matt was my "little brother" in the fraternity back in the day. I've only seen him once since leaving NCSU and that was the last time he was in Austin. Thanks for dropping in and saying hi. I'm hoping that you'll be moving here soon.
Cheers!
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April 4th, 2005-The Tarheels Win the National Championship!

I still can't believe it. I'm so torn. I'm glad that the NCAA champs are from the ACC and it's even better that they're from tobacco road, but why, oh, why did it have to be the tarheels?! As an always optimistic Wolfpack fan, I will now issue our timeless battle cry, "Just wait until next year!" The Sweet 16 is just the beginning!

2005 National Champions