Wearing of the green!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Or, as it should be known, Happy Sneks' Day!

I mean, a whole day devoted to wearing green and drinking beer.  Might as well be my day!

Hope you enjoy your day!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from RyGuy's family!

(With it being Hannah's first Halloween, Ry's sister has requested that we begin a new family tradition -- family photos every halloween!)

Happy Halloween!

This halloween we decorated quite a few pumpkins with our niece & nephew!

Ry painted a vampire Mickey pumpkin for Hannah & Hannah painted a very pretty little pumpking that she was very proud of!

When Nephew came to visit, he carved his very own pumpkin (on the left with the awesome purple glitter!) and he helped Ry & I care some too!

Hope you all had a nice halloween too!

Easter Cuteness!

We had a wonderful Easter with Ry's family and I just had to show a bunch of cute pictures of Hannah, because her princess dress was so adorable! She also had a cute pink bonnet, but she didn't feel like wearing it at that moment! She did like wearing my bunny slippers (a gift from Nephew!)! And seems to be very excited about the sidewalk chalk we got her (Can't wait for summer)! Enjoy the cutie pie!

Merry Christmas (Part 2)

Though Christmas was weeks ago, I feel like Ry & I are just recovering from all of the fun!

The day after Christmas, we shuffled off to Buffalo to spend a week with my family and friends! In addition to the usual tiredness that comes along with a whirlwind trip home, I started off the week recovering from my sinus infection/bad cold. And then, just 30 hours into the trip home, I came down with another horrific cold! I was coughing like crazy and went through 3 boxes of my mom's tissues. Oh, and 2 bottles of mine/Kel's cold medicine. So, I spent the week in a drug-induced haze! But none the less, we managed to squeeze in some good stuff:

• a wonderful night celebration with Anna & Gorgeous, BF Kimmy & her hubby and ADORABLE Ally!, and Feen, his super-cute son, his baby's mama and her two other really sweet kids! Yummy drinks from the awesome margaritaville blender and lots of video games and chatting! I miss everyone already!
• a fun morning with Steph, Katie & Andrew! That Katie grows so quick!
• a fun celebration with the family (mom, dad, lil' bro, Kel, big bro, sis-in-law & Nephew)! They were all nice enough to wait 2 full days before opening Christmas gifts so that Ry and I could celebrate with them! Such fun!
• Ry went to a football game with Gorgeous while I shopped with mom & Kel! I LOVE after christmas deals!
• 2 awesome trips with Nephew: the Aquarium & the Science Museum! Super fun! He is such a little grown-up now (I mean, he's 5!!! Jeez!)
• New Year's Eve with my future husband (just 2 years now!!) and my great mom at the casino having a GREAT time!
• Playing board games with the family -- we enjoyed the Yatzee and Mad Gab that we got for Christmas! Mad Gab is absolutely hysterical!! Kel and I almost peed our pants we were laughing so hard!!
• Dinner at Chili's with the whole family on my lil' bro (to make up for him accidentially giving our christmas gift to my other brother!)!
• An awesome lacrosse game! The family now all has season tickets, and they got us a few seats too!
• And the girls and I finished off the trip with a Bridal Show, which even led to a a few wedding deals (YAY!)! Plus it was so fun to hang out with my mom, sis-in-law, Kel and Anna (we missed you Kimmy!)!

Can you believe we did all that and more? Even with our illnesses?? Crazy! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everyone!

A few photos ... I think the illness made me less likely to take a picture! Probably too busy coughing or sneezing to get the shot!

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!!

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.
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Ry, lil' bro & Kel in line at noon on Thanksgiving!
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We're actually second in line! With a nice tent to keep us warm!
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Gotta check those ads!
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Food, family, fun, shopping & deals!! I am happy!
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Happy Easter!

While many family's are searching for colored eggs and easter baskets, I am at work, forcing my fishies to search for their babies.

When questioned by a senior professor as to why I was in so early on Easter Sunday, I replied "My fish don't know that it is Easter."

His response: "Perhaps they're Muslim."

Perhaps they are.

Hope you all have a Happy Easter!

I'm off to work and hang out with Ry before he heads back to the land of ice and snow!

Merry Christmas, Happy 2008 & Adios!

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! Ry & I enjoyed our time in WNY tremendously!

And we ushered in the new year in our pjs ... while I fought off a cold and packed for my field adventure!

Now I am off to Costa Rica for 6 whole weeks of fieldwork! I'll write when I can!!!

CHEERS!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Awesome PEEPS gifts courtesy of Kathryn!
I really should post about our PEEPS phylogenetic analysis ....

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

(I'd kiss him, even though he's not actually Irish!)

Happy Valentine's Day

I know, I know. It is a "hallmark holiday" and blah blah blah.
(By the way, Hallmark employs 18,000 people PLUS all of the people at the 43,000 retail stores -- so shouldn't we support them?)

But I like getting flowers and presents and extra lovin'!

And you're a darn liar if you say you don't!

And yes, technically, this is only the 2nd year I had a real live valentine. So I hear all of you single people saying that valentine's day sucks.

But when you find "the one" and he brings you a dozen roses (with eucalyptus even!) and wonderfully cheesey valentine's gifts -- you'll agree with me about the fun of this silly day.

And when else would I get to wear awesome conversation heart socks and a pink sweater?

(Even if no one braved the weather to come to work to see my festive outfit!)

Freaking Out!

It's the last day of 2006.

And I am spending the day freaking out.

This stupid Q test. Just 4 days away now. And I am not ready. Not at all.

And this whole holiday season has sucked. I wish I could have gone home for Christmas to see my family and I wish I could be down in Virginia with my friends tonight.

It was super nice to see Anna & Gorgeous yesterday! They stopped by on their way down to visit BF-Kimmy & the BF-in-law, who have an exciting New Year's Eve party every year!


But, seeing them was bitter sweet, because they left for the party, and I stayed here to study some more ....


I am conflicted about the test. I want to do well, because everyone wants me to do well and I want to please them; and because I gave up my winter "break" for studying; and because I want to get a phd, teach college biology, and do awesome research. But, at the same time, I have NO motivation to study. I can only read and write and study for a few hours before I just start crying and have to take a break. It's just too much for me at this point.

I just hope I know ENOUGH.

Please keep me in your thoughts/prayers/mediations these next few days.
I could use a bit of luck!

Oh, and enjoy your New Year's Eve! I am lucky in that I have the BEST boyfriend in the whole wide world, and he is giving up his New Year's fun to hang out with me while I study some more.

There will surely be some champagne involved!

Merry Christmas!

Taking a little study break to share my christmas joy!

All of the pictures are my first "practice" shots with my NEW CAMERA!

Yes, Ry, the best guy, gave me a kick-ass new digital camera!!

I may have been mentioning it to him daily since my old camera tried to kill itself during a ridiculous hike in the deserts of West Texas!

YAY for the new camera!
(And the 2GB memory card Ry won me on eBay!)
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And did I ever show you the BEAUTIFUL necklace Ry gave me for Christmas?

He couldn't wait until Christmas and he gave it to me after our awesome trip to Buffalo and our Black Friday adventures!
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The tree with all of our wonderful gifts from my parents!
Notice the comfy pjs, the cozy flannel sheets, and (sigh) Ry's new Met's blanket!
******************* Flannel Sheets -- I put them on the bed this morning!!
(After a nice washing at Dancing Fish & V's house!)
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Here's our favorite ornament on the tree!
Ry & I got it in Buffalo at Thanksgiving!
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Do my parents know how to have fun?
I think the beer-pong table set may come in handy for the Superbowl & Birthday Celebrations!
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Mom & Dad got me this awesome ornament with Santa riding an orca with a little dolphin friend!
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Speaking of whales, Dancing Fish found these awesome bookplates for me at One Good Bumblebee! They say "Don't be a blowhole. Return this book to:"
Seriously Cool.
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My labmate N gave me this cool green necklace and Hamster Grrl had spoiled me with lots of fun stuff -- a veggie steamer, mitten-shapped post-it notes, and a fridge-pack of Diet Coke!! WOOHOO!
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The Southern Yankee always amazes me with her Martha-Stewart-Skills and sent me this beautiful hand-made christmas decoration that looks perfect on my blue dresser (that is serving as a mantle this year!).
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Thanks family and friends!
I was completely sad about not being able to go home for Christmas this year, but all of the cards and photos and gifts helped to lighten my spirits!

And spending time with Ry and his family was nice too
-- though nothing can compete with a Sneks family Christmas.
Those of you in Buffalo know what I mean.

Here's a picture of the Sneks family house that I took last year.
(I know it just looks like the house is on fire ... gives you an idea how many lights are up!)

Hope you all had wonderful holidays with your family & friends!!!

Christmas, in the Christmas City

Well, it's Christmas Eve Eve and Ry and I are going to celebrate our own little Christmas, here in the Little Town. We have lots of presents under the tree from my family and cookies and chinese food to eat!

I wish I were home in the Snowy City with my family.

Stupid Q exams. I have less than 2 weeks to cram everything into my brain, so 15 hours driving back and forth to see my family just didn't seem like the wisest choice ...

Back to studying ...

Department Christmas Party

6 hours later ... home from the department holiday party.

How does that happen??

I don't think I said anything too bad ... though Ry did grab me and kiss me and told many people that he loved me.

At least I could drive home on my own accord.

Many drinks later.



All the best to Dancing Fish as she heads to my favorite little town in west Texas.

And thanks to Hamster_grrl and Natalie for wonderful christmas gifts!!

The semester is over! Time for Christmas!

YAY!

My semester is officially over!

I handed in my faux grant proposal this afternoon (after staying up until 3am finishing!)!

And, yes, I used the word ubiquitous. And, yes, I shamelessly cited one of my own stupid little papers.

Now, I will be totally focused on studying for the Qs! 16 days ....

Here's a picture of the beautiful christmas tree that Ry & I put up a few weeks ago!

It's a very full douglas fir and smells amazing.

It just makes me happy about christmas, despite not being able to travel home this year to spend the holidays with my family.

Here's the tree in the light, with all of the wonderful presents my family sent us home with at Thanksgiving! The silver garland was hung by Ry and the ornaments are some green glitter balls we bought together and all of my favorite ornaments from throughout the years!

I convinced Ry that white lights were the way to go and I purchased some of the LED lights this year (despite owning about 5,000 regular white lights -- I am my father's daughter). They save energy and are SUPER WHITE! They're beautiful. The blue LED lights are also gorgeous and I might invest in some during the after holiday sales next week!!

Hope you're all getting into the Christmas spirit too!

pjs and papers

An entire day in my pjs and I am 97% done with my faux grant proposal! I am staying up until it is complete and I am turning it in tomorrow, for sure!

Once this is turned in, I'll be able to be completely focused on the Q's.

Oh, and celebrate the holidays and what not.

Buffalo, Black Friday, and Fun

Our visit to Buffalo for Thanksgiving was so wonderful! We visited with lots of friends and spent a good amount of time with the family. It makes me sad that Ry & I won't be there for Christmas!! But maybe we'll make a spring trek to the snowy city ....

Here's Ry & I with Anna, Gorgeous, Nes & Marc in Anna & Gorgeous' new place.

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Mom, Dad, little bro, K, Ry & I squeezed into the Jimmy and headed over the border to see the Festival of Lights.
There may have been a little-bitty "hit and run", but no one was hurt.
(Is it a hit and run if the car is in neutral?)
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My cutie nephew! Seriously cute.
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Getting ready for Black Friday shopping!!
Gotta check all of the ads, make a list, and check it twice!
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It's a cold, cold night in front of the Circuit City.
Ry & K are all bundled up and ready to fight the crowds!
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Are we being attacked by a masked man or is that my little bro?
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If we hadn't been under the Circuit City "Video" sign ....
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... how would the pizza man know where to deliver our pepperoni pizza at 3am?
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Ry was able to get a nice TV and we got lots of great deals, but a lesson was learned: we are never sleeping overnight (in Buffalo) for any sort of good deals. Especially when we need to drive home the next day! (See Black Friday ... for more details!)