On July 22nd, Cara and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary

Because our anniversary fell on a weekday, we decided dinner at the Oasis would be enough, but I booked a room and a massage at the Driskill Hotel for the weekend. It was a badly needed retreat for both of us.
Here's Cara at the Oasis:

Sunset at the Oasis:

A view of the Oasis deck:

Departing the Driskill Hotel:

Mom visits for the 4th of July

Myles is 7 months old

My nephew, Myles, is getting bigger. I wish I was in North Carolina so I could see him.

Toobing on the Guadalupe River!

These are the only pics I can show you from this misadventure. Here's the recap: Arrive late, wait, wait, wait, shiver me timbers, it's way too cold, pass me a cold one, it's okay, it'll float, I do what Jamie does, mommy, I want to go home, excuse me mam, do you have your driver's license? are there any fritos left? yes, she's single, is that a thunder storm cloud? check his head and make sure he's not bleeding, oops there go my sunglasses, where is everyone? it's over? I'll have the chicken fried steak. Trust me, she's not drunk. I'm sorry I ruined your bushes...

Cara inspires her students

As you may know, Cara is a clarinetist, therefore she spends a lot of time with the clarinet section in addition to the entire band. This year some of her students were inspired to perform a piece of music for her and she asked them to play it at the spring concert. I think this is a testament to Cara's commitment to her students.

Every June brings the Henry Middle School Spring Concert

This year Cara and Robert decided to let the 6th graders demonstrate their talents. It's not perfect but it's only their first year. I think it's fantastic!

Notice all the trophies displayed on the left side of the stage. AHMS Rocks!
Cara makes me so proud to be her husband.

While we were in California, we decided to do some tourist activities

We absolutely loved San Diego! These pictures will show you why:

We took a road trip from San Diego to Los Angeles. I definitely preferred San Diego over Los Angeles and Hollywood. LA and Hollywood are surprisingly old and dirty. I wasn't a fan. Of course, it could have something to do with the fact that I had a terrible cold while we were in Los Angeles, but we still made time to see our friend Stephanie who is studying Opera performance at USC.

While we were visiting San Diego and Coronado, there was a Red Bull Air Racing Competition taking place. Here's some video of these amazing pilots at work.

In La Jolla there were these great sea lions basking in the sun. Here's some footage of them:

Carrie and Erik got married in May

Here's a little video of their wedding pics.

Cara takes her symphonic band to Dallas for a competition

In typical Henry Middle School Band form, all three bands performed well and they brought home lots of brass. The Honor band and Symphonic band received superior ratings and HMS received Overall Outstanding Performance. Very impressive!

In April, we hosted a baby shower for our friends Jessica and Damien Gonzales

Cara has another successful UIL performance with the Henry Middle School Symphonic Band

Cara's band was the only band in the district at their level to receive a perfect score in all categories! She and her band were truly extraordinary.

We hosted a wedding shower for Carrie and Eric.

Cara went to graduate school at UT with Carrie. We were there from the beginning of Carrie's relationship with Eric. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science and got a job with Intel in Portland. Their wedding is in Ramona, California.

In March, we went to the Rodeo!

The DeFranks came for another visit in March. We always do new things when they come. This time we went to the Austin Rodeo. Yeehaw!

This is one of our favorite up and coming artists in Austin - Ruby Jane!

We met Ruby Jane when she was 12 years old. She played a free concert with Aubrey Slackey for my campus organization, the Paul D. Gottlieb Lecture Series, during a visit by Dr. James D. Watson. Now she's 13 years old and on her way to becoming an Austin celebrity. She does regular shows throughout the city of Austin playing with some of the biggest acts in town.

Jamie joined the Barack Obama Presidential Campaign

I began volunteering for the Obama campaign at the Texas headquarters in downtown Austin. After receiving training from the Obama campaign leaders, I became the Precinct Captain for our voting precinct in Williamson County. I was responsible for getting several thousand voters to the polls to defeat Hillary Clinton in the Texas Primary. I made hundreds of calls and knocked on countless doors to make sure people got out and participated in the primary and caucus.
Eventually, Cara and I organized and ran the caucus in our voting precinct. I was elected the Precinct Chair and Cara was elected as the Precinct Secretary. Together we collected the votes and organized the caucuses for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Barack Obama won our precinct 66-33%.
It was the most rewarding experience I've ever had in the democratic process.

Maddie and Cooper attend a doggie Birthday Party for Lulu and Morgan.

Cooper had his first Frosty Paw doggie ice cream.

Maddie couldn't have any because of her allergies.

Cara goes to the Texas Music Educator's Conference in San Antonio

Attending with her are the band directors from Leander Independent School District.

Christmas 2007

Our laboratory is in the news!

My boss, Dr. Lambowitz, and Paul Paukstelis, a former grad student and current post-doc in the lab, were on the news for a recent publication in the scientific journal Nature. Pretty cool!

Amazing efforts to save trees at UT Austin

Soon, ESB will be history, so the wise old trees that were growing in front of the building were facing their ends. Fortunately, the powers that be chose to save them. I recorded this video just last week as they moved the trees for transplantation, elsewhere. Amazing!

Cara's Christmas Concert

The 2007 Artie Henry Middle School Christmas Concert was Cara's third Christmas Concert as Assistant Band Director at HMS. Each year the HMS Band gets better and better. This year is no exception. I'm so happy when Cara's on stage, because I know how much work she has committed to her students. It's great to see them all rise to the task. Just listen to those clarinets! Dede attended this concert and I know Cara was very happy to have friends in the audience. Cheers, Dede!
Enjoy the music!

Fanglei is due!

As if we aren't already surrounded by babies and pregnant friends, my friend and co-researcher, Fanglei is expecting a baby boy. She's due on January 8. His name will be Troy and I can't wait for his arrival.
He's obviously going to be a big boy since you can see here that she can balance a coffee mug on his head...or should I say on his behind.
In case you're wondering...of course, we have the baby bug!

Eric Graduated!

We also attended a graduation party for our friend Eric. He completed his PhD in Computer Science. Eric is engaged to marry Carrie, our friend who attended graduate school with Cara for music performance. We'll be going to their wedding in San Diego this summer. For now, Eric is heading to Portland to start his new job with Intel. Carrie will remain in Austin until the wedding. Good luck, Eric!

Farewell, Chad and Mireya!

Before the Christmas break, we had a "Sweet Goodbye" party for Chad and Mireya. They both completed their PhD's in 5 years and are heading to Oxford, England for post-doc postions. It was really great to get several of the original gang together along with some of our newest friends.
Cheers, Chad and Mireya! We'll miss you!

My latest adventure in filmaking

We had to give a gift to another lab in the Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Department. It so happened that the particular lab to which we were giving the gift had recently had a few members who were infected with laboratory bacteria. So, we decided to make a video demonstrating what NOT to do in the lab. The video features Travis, Fanglei and Joe from our lab and I was the editor and director. If not for their excellent contributions, this would not be nearly as enjoyable. Let me know what you think...email me: hoxjock@hotmail.com.
Cheers!

Meet My Nephew Augustus Myles Hathaway

He was born on November 28, 2007 at 7:06 pm. He entered the world at 7 lbs. 15.9 oz. and 20 3/4 inches.
Shaun and Christin are doing well and the baby is healthy and happy. Couldn't ask for more.

Cara and I meet Barack Obama.

Well, the word "meet" may be a little strong for our encounter with the next President of the United States, but regardless, we got to shake his hand and wish him luck. He seemed to like Cara. He gave her a big smile and, as he was leaving, he waved at her a second time. He's a charmer! Check out the video:

Friday Mornings at the Pentagon

I can only take the word of the author that this is a true story, but I hope that it is.

By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY
McClatchy Newspapers

Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines, sailors and Air Force
personnel have given their lives in the terrible duty that is war. Thousands
more have come home on stretchers, horribly wounded and facing months or
years in military hospitals.

This week, I'm turning my space over to a good friend and former roommate,
Army Lt Col. Robert Bateman, who recently completed a yearlong tour of duty
in Iraq and is now back at the Pentagon.

Here's Lt. Col. Bateman's account of a little-known ceremony that fills the
halls of the Army corridor of the Pentagon with cheers, applause and many
tears every Friday morning. It first appeared on May 17 on the Weblog of
media critic and pundit Eric Alterman at the Media Matters for America
Website.

It is 110 yards from the "E" ring to the "A" ring of the Pentagon. This
section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the hallway is
broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire length of the
corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants and some civilians, all
crammed tightly three and four deep against the walls. There are thousands
here.

This hallway, more than any other, is the `Army' hallway. The G3 offices
line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army. Moderate
conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends who may not have seen each other
for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way and renew.

Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air
conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this area.
The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares. "10:36 hours: The clapping
starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost of the five rings of the
Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to the building. This clapping is
low, sustained, hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion behind it as it
moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway.

A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier in
the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is the
first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his wounds are
still suppurating. By his age I expect that he is a private, or perhaps a
private first class.

Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and
nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described
one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different. The
applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for not having shared in
the burden .. yet.

Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the wheel-chair,
also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I think deepens the
sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier's chair is pushed by, I
believe, a full colonel. "Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E
to A, come more of his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted
as need be by a field grade officer.

11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I
laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. My hands hurt.
Please! Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after soldier has
come down this hallway - 20, 25, 30. Fifty-three legs come with them, and
perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall came 30 solid hearts..
They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for a
private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the
generals. Some are wheeled along. Some insist upon getting out of their
chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this
hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching handshakes and
smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade. More than a couple of
them seem amazed and are smiling shyly.

There are families with them as well: the 18-year-old war-bride pushing her
19-year-old husband's wheelchair and not quite understanding why her husband
is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who had never
shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps
more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given
on their son's behalf. No man in that hallway, walking or clapping, is
ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne Ranger
wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in this crowd
have themselves been a part of this parade in the past.

These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our
brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every single
Friday, all year long, for more than four years.

Did you know that?

The media hasn't yet told the story. [and never will]"