Merry Christmas!! (Part 1)

We hope you enjoyed your Christmas as much as our niece Hannah enjoyed her very first Christmas!

Christmas Eve ... at work ...

I braved the layer of ice (seriously) and came in to work early this Christmas Eve morn.

One car was in the parking lot -- my advisors. He's "jewish".

My labmate Joe joined us too. So, it's pretty much just our lab in today. Is that dedication or is it pathetic?

Oh, and the crazy grad student advisor was in too. She stopped by to chat with me in my office (while I had video cameras recording in the lab). She was shocked to see a grad student in and made some comment about that explaining my publication record. Then I explained that I wouldn't have come in, except my fish don't know it's a holiday ("Do they know it's Christmas time at all?"). And I need to rush to finish so I can join my future in-laws at church.

Which apparently is funny. Rushing to finish an experiment to make it to church. Hmm.

Well, hope your Christmas Eve was just as exciting as mine!

Can't wait to be in Buffalo! Just 2 more days!!

Big 10 Update = 6!!

As I wrote about in October, my advisor has this little ... goal ... for his grad students to publish 10 papers (not including dissertation work). Oh ... how I like a challenge!

Today, my labmate Joe got his very first first author paper (yes ... first first author)! Which is very exciting for him (CONGRATS JOE!!!!), but also exciting for me! Because I was second author on his paper, bringing me up to 6 publications (including the paper I got accepted just 2 weeks ago)!

Yep, 6! More than halfway to my 10! YAY!

Keep your fingers crossed that 2009 will be a very big publication year for me!

Snow in the Little Town ...

... is certainly a different experience than snow back home!

With the (less than) 3" of snow/sleet/rain that we got today:

1. Work closed at noon (not that anyone really came in anyway)
2. Ry's sister's Wedding Vow Renewal & Hannah's Baptism was cancelled (so that no one had to travel late at night in the snow (even though it stopped snowing by 6pm))
3. No one was at the movie theater, restaurant or high-end outdoor shopping center that's a mere 7 minute drive from my house!

Despite living in the Little Town for 3.5 years and Philly for 2 years, it never amazes me how people in eastern PA react to a snowy forecast!

PS -- Talked to Mom at home ... they got 12" of snow and she was headed to the casino! No snow stops us Buffalo girls from having fun!

UPDATE: He must love me

Ry also brought me home lots of cold medicine and diet gingerale (that he had to go to 3 stores for)!

I guess I'll have to take care of him when he catches this bug!

He must love me!

Back many years ago, before Ry & I had been dating very long, I knew that he loved me when he cleaned my toilet. Yes, that's right. I was away for 6 weeks doing fieldwork in Texas and before I got home, Ry cleaned my toilet (which gets really gross in the summer due to some gross black flecky things (which surely cause cancer)).

Of course, I never doubt that he loves me, because he's always super great to me and puts up with me all of the time!

But last night, I got sick (some strep-throat-like-infection) and only went to work for half the day today. When I got home, my mountain (literally about 50lbs) of laundry was gone! He had taken it to wash and dry for me! So sweet (even if he maybe dried a few sweaters that I wouldn't have)!!

Ry's the best (or I am easy to please!)!

The Big Date!

That's right!
Just 750 days until the December 31st, 2010 RyGuy-Sneks Wedding!


We're so excited about having a big, fun New Year's Eve party with our family and friends!

Just 2 years to plan it (and finish a PhD and get a real job and hopefully even live in the same state as Ry)!

But with a big wedding party and an excited family to help, I think we'll be able to have a super-great time!

(And don't you love the cute wedding countdown board? Thanks Mom!!!)

I couldn't say it any better.

Yep. That's my life.

(Especially in the last 24 hours!)

Very Thankful!

Well, things have been exciting since RyGuy & I got engaged! We met Ry's new niece and did some wedding planning!! More on both of those things soon!

We also travel to Buffalo for a wonderful visit with the family! We visited with Grandpa, had Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday, "tailgated" Black Friday on Thursday, had a great dinner made by sis-in-law and hung out with Nephew and then spent the morning with all of the crazy shoppers! Good times had by all!

A few photos (of course!):

Nephew, with his pilgrim hat and green tie. And sleeveless shirt.
**************************************

Ry, lil' bro & Kel in line at noon on Thanksgiving!
*******************************

We're actually second in line! With a nice tent to keep us warm!
*****************************

Gotta check those ads!
**********************

Food, family, fun, shopping & deals!! I am happy!
**************