Joe's Halloween Party

Last night we attended our first Halloween party of the year. Joe and Bethany hosted the party at "the Playgirl Mansion." The costumes are always creative and often very funny. I wasn't too fond of the backwards James D. Watson, who speaks out of his a**, but I gave kudos for creativity. If you don't get the joke, don't expect me to explain it. Other costumes included Shawn from Shawn of the Dead, Little Bo Peep, Dude and The Stranger from the Big Lebowski, Hugh Hefner and Holly (the hosts), a Texas Hockey Player, John Lennon and Yoko, Lucy in the Skies, Two Butterflies and the Big Bad Wolf.
Cara and I dressed as Donald Trump and Miss USA aka Miss Guided. Here's a few pics from the party:

Happy Halloween!

I found this video on YouTube. It is footage of a ghost captured on security video in London, England. It will make you think twice about venturing out on Halloween Night.

Another great one!

Yesterday, we had another successful Gottlieb Lecture. Dr. Mario Capecchi, Winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology, gave the 6th Paul Gottlieb Lecture. Dr. Capecchi was a wonderful guest. We organized a breakfast and lunch for students to meet with him during the day. He was a very good conversationalist. He told us some great stories about his past and he shared some insight into the research that he is currently doing at the University of Utah. Travis, Joe and I had particular interest in speaking to him because his research is extremely relevant to our own research. We got a few bits of information that will help us with our experiments, but so many people wanted to talk to him that we didn't want to monopolize his time. Fortunately, he welcomed us to email him. Last night, we had a potluck dinner and a party for him. We celebrated his recent Nobel Prize Award with a cake that had the Alfred Nobel Medal on it. At the end of the eventing, I gave him a bottle of his favorite wine and we all said goodnight. He seemed to have a good time and after he left, everyone was very happy to have the opportunity to meet him. Some people are just great!

Pugkin Fest - Pug Costume Party

This weekend we attended our first Pugkin Fest. There was easily 100 pugs there, all dressed in cute costumes. Maddie and Cooper were Wonder Woman and Superman (Cooperman). It was a really nice day at the park. Here's some of the funny costumes:

Jenna Bush

Last week, Jenna Bush returned to Austin to promote her new book, Ana's Story. Now, a lot of people hate anything Bush, but I've come to respect Jenna for trying to do her own thing even in the face of so much adversity for the Bush family. She did an internship with UNICEF last year during which she used her teaching skills to educate children in developing countries about HIV and AIDS. Some have said that the Bush daughters should be sent to Iraq to fight their daddy's war, but I think Jenna said it right, "Obviously I understand that question and see what the point of that question is, for sure," she said. "I think there are many ways to serve your country. And I think … what's most appropriate for me to do is to teach or to work in UNICEF and represent our country in Latin America. But you know I don't think it's a practical question. I think if people really thought about it, they know that we would put many people in danger. But I understand the point of it. I hope that I serve by being a teacher." It was nice meeting her at her Book People.

Kayaking on Lake Austin

Last week, Cristin and Shawn came to visit for the weekend. We had a good ole Austin time. We went to an Esther's Follies show, did Sixth Street, had some Texas-style BBQ at the Salt Lick and went Kayaking on Lake Austin. I still insist that the Pug video says, "Boop, Boop" despite the fact that they won the democratic vote that it is actually "Woop, Woop." Here's a few pics from the kayaking trip.

Henry Middle School Fall Concert

Cara had her Fall Concert on October 11, 2007. As usual, she worked incredibly hard to get the kids up to the task. All the work paid off, because they played great! The Concert Band directed by Chris Arnold and the Symphonic band directed by Robert Herrings were also wonderful! All in all, it was a very successful night for the Henry Middle School Band Program. I can't wait for the Christmas concert!

Beth and Glenn Are Married

On October 6th, Beth and Glenn tied the knot. It was our first Jewish wedding. The ceremony had all the familiar hallmarks of a wedding, but featured some nice touches that were very new to me. My favorite part of the wedding occurred at the very beginning. After approaching the chuppah (the canopy under which they were married), Beth circled Glenn seven times and Glenn circled Beth seven times symbolizing that each is the center of the other's world. The wedding took place in downtown Austin at the Omni Hotel and the reception afterwards was at the Thistle Cafe. Here's short video of the wedding:

I can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last December, I sent an email to Dr. Mario Capecchi to invite him to come to the University of Texas at Austin as a guest lecturer in our Gottlieb Lecture Series. He accepted the invitation. On Monday, they announced the winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Who happened to be the winner? MARIO CAPECCHI is the co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize along with Oliver Smithies of UNC Chapel Hill and Sir Martin Evans. He'll be coming here on October 25, 2007!!! How cool is that? We have been pretty lucky over the last few years, but this timing is incredibly lucky and it comes on the heels of our recent visit from Dr. James D. Watson, 1962 Nobel Laureate, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA and founding father of the field of molecular biology.

And, here's a pic of me with Dr. Watson during his visit.

Soon Cara and I will be an aunt and uncle for the second time

Shaun and Christin are expecting their first child in November. Can't wait!

This is one of the many reasons I love the University of Texas at Austin

You never know what you're going to see on campus.

Al Gore presenting his Inconvenient Truth lecture at UT Austin

I added some music to make it more dramatic.

Recent visit to Sin City

I recently attended a bachelor party in Las Vegas for Thomas and Jason who are both getting married next year. The guys in this video are not my friends, but they sure did have a good time at the pool.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...right?

We stayed at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino.

We had dinner at the Social House, a Sushi Bar, and we met Carrot Top. He's huge!!!