mondays...yuck

Aghhh... Back to the grind (as my mom likes to say!).

Mike and I had a nice weekend. We went to his sister's house down in NC. We rode down in our new CR-V with his parents. This was the first trip our CR-V got to go on... so I was excited to see what kind of mileage we would get on the highway. It was GOOD!! Better than what they advertise, so that is always good. Definitely gets better than double the gas mileage of the durango ... which was around 12 mpg! yeah, I know...that is why we got rid of it!!

Overall, we had a nice time down in NC. It was a little smokey down there...as the forest fires aren't too far from where they live. So being outside at various times of the day wasn't very pleasant because of the haziness and smell. Mike and I tried our hand at playing badminton in some strong wind... doesn't work to well. We laughed so hard that we almost cried though. Mike was trying to hit into the wind and no matter how hard he hit that darn birdie, it would only land a few feet in front of him. Many times... it would start coming over the net, but the wind would catch it and blow it back. I, on the other hand, had the wind at my back... so I could just tap it and it would take off like I had some Popeye spinach power! We also spent quite a bit of time doing something I absolutely hate... watching the kids play video games. that is all they want to do. kind of sad actually, and it reinforces my belief that if we ever have kids, they will not own a video game contraption of any kind (although Mike has a PS2 and recently got a PS3--but it has the functionality of also being a blue ray DVD player). But, we did get to see what the hype of the Wii is all about. and, I have to say...of all gaming systems... I kind of liked this one. Particularly, Wii Fit. As it has a purpose other than entertainment. and some of the other games require you to be active also. I like that. Can't say that I am going to go out and buy it...but it was kind of neat. It was hilarious to watch everyone trying to do some of the balance stuff on the wii fit. I am sure I looked like a big goof too. Mike's dad surprised us all and did really well on all of the balance exercises. The yoga exercises were a different story...

Anyway... we were only down in NC for a little over 24 hours. We got stuck in beach traffic on 64 on the way home.. .that was no fun. Yesterday was also Lexi's birthday... she would have been 6. I plan on going and getting her plant this afternoon. I am actually thinking of getting two for her... a guardian angel hosta and a little fat dazzler day lily. I hope to get them in the ground this evening... as I was hoping to have it done for her b-day.

well... I guess I better get back to work!oh yeah... I weighed Stachio last night... he is somewhere between 15 1/2 and 16 lbs!! (for those of you who thought Lexi was chunky...she was only 12 lbs!!).

Internationally renowned VCU researcher Billy Martin, Ph.D., dies

The head of the department that I work in passed away this weekend. They posted a really great article about him on the university website... I have posted it below. Not only was he internationally known for his work...but he was a great role model. Dr. Martin has been battling cancer (various types) for many years now. He has gone through chemo, radiation, surgeries...etc. All the while, he continued to come to work, to pursue his research and remain chairman of the department. He even continued to come to work after he went blind a few months ago from the cancer. He didn't want any special treatment. He wanted to continue on as normally as possible.




Billy Martin, Ph.D.

Internationally renowned VCU researcher Billy Martin, Ph.D., dies
6/9/2008
Billy R. Martin, Ph.D., chair of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine’s Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and internationally renowned for his research in understanding addiction and drugs of abuse and how they affect the brain, died Sunday in Richmond. He was 65.

Martin played a prominent role in developing the department’s reputation for landmark research in drugs of abuse. For more than 30 years, Martin’s primary focus was researching the effects of marijuana’s principal psychoactive ingredient, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. In the late 1970s, Martin was the first to show that most of the behavioral effects of marijuana were attributable to the compound THC, and his contributions to the study of cannabinoid receptors in the brain brought new life to what was once thought to be a dead-end field.

“Billy was a groundbreaking researcher whose work changed the landscape of addiction research in this country,” said Francis L. Macrina, Ph.D., VCU’s vice president for research. “His advice also was sought worldwide by those who would set marijuana-control policy.”

In 1997, Martin was awarded a National Institutes of Health Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award for his work in understanding the affect of marijuana on the brain. Martin also was asked by the National Institute of Drug Abuse to head an international program project grant on marijuana. Martin directed a team of prominent marijuana researchers from the United States and abroad in investigating anandamide, a naturally occurring marijuana-like substance in the brain.

Martin served as director of VCU’s NIDA Center for Drug Abuse Research, which attracted more than $20 million in federal funding.

In 1998, Martin was honored as a top contributor in science with a Virginia Top Scientist Award and received the VCU Distinguished Scholarship Award in 1996. He also was the first recipient of the Outstanding Inventor Award from the VCU Tech Transfer Office in recognition of his multiple patents based on his research.

Martin was to receive the Nathan B. Eddy Award on June 15, the highest honor awarded by the College on Problems of Drug Dependence. He also was scheduled to receive the VCU Award for Excellence, the highest honor that this University bestows on a faculty member, this fall.

Before joining VCU in 1976, Martin received postdoctoral training at the University of Uppsala in Sweden and the University of Oxford in England. He received his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of North Carolina in 1974. Martin served as the first president of the International Cannabis Research Society, adviser to the World Health Organization, a member of the Institute of Medicine Advisory Panel and president of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence.

“In the face of progressing disease, Billy was undaunted,” said Jerome F. Strauss, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the VCU School of Medicine. “He taught us all how to face the toughest of challenges with grace and dignity. Virginia Commonwealth University, the School of Medicine and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology have lost one of their treasures.”

Martin is survived by his wife, Jean Y. Martin; his son, Zachary Lee Martin; his daughter, Lindsay Brooke Martin; his brother, Donald Lee Martin; and his stepbrother, Elmer Mabe Jr. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Massey Cancer Center, P.O. Box 980037, Richmond, VA 23298-0037 or to The Foundation of Pharmacology, P.O. Box 980613, MCV Station, Richmond, VA 23298.

our new fire pit area and the lilies on the hillside...

more scenes from the yard...

some random pictures...

I took a whole bunch of pictures the other day... most of them were pretty random shots from around the yard and of the cats. Here are my favorites

This is our "observation deck." We built this deck so we could sit and look out over the swamp. We recently moved the bench we made for the deck to our fire pit area... so I moved my little bistro set onto the deck. The lantern thing on the table was 30th b-day gift from our friend Allison. The first night I tried to sit out there with the citronella lamps going... a storm started to roll in. It got really windy, really quickly. When a large tree limb fell close to where I was sitting, I decided to call it a night and go back inside.



I know that I have already posted pictures of a hydrangea in bloom. Well, that was a hydrangea I got for my birthday last year. This picture is of one of four hydrangeas Mike and I planted the first year we were in the house. Anyway... this is the first year that these guys have bloomed!!!! Mike and I are very excited...we had all but given up on these guys!



I love this picture! It is a close up of an annual I recently planted. I don't normally plant annuals. Put I fell in love with these when I saw them at walmart. I bought three... Once I got them in the ground, I wanted more! Of course, while I was at walmart again last night... I couldn't find any of these. I guess everyone else liked them too!



This is Mr. Froggy... he has been hanging out in our pond the last few days. Well... I guess he could have been there longer, but I recently cleaned the pond out and now we have clear water...instead of yucky, murky green stuff. Anyway... I thought this was a good picture of Mr. Froggy.



This is our hanging basket... her name is "Minnie # 3 or 4". We got a hanging basket back when we lived in our townhouse in Salem. It was the same kind of flower... a bacopa. Anyway, we named her Minnie b/c of the small white flowers. We have since gotten quite a few re-incarnations of Minnie throughout the years. This one, I got on clearance at Lowes. It looked as if she hadn't been watered in a few days, so it was marked down to $2.50!! Well... with all our experience from all of our other Minnie's, I knew that a good healthy watering would liven her back up! I used some fish pond water on her...and look, she is already flowering again!!
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The next two pictures are of Milo and Emmy playing. I particularly like the look on Emmy's face... what a little stinker she is! Milo is such a good big brother... he is very gentle while playing with her.



The whole time I was taking pictures of Emmy and Milo playing, Lydia was in the basket watching. It took me a while to even realize she was in there. Of course, as soon as I started taking her picture... she got out. Oh well. At least I got one good one.


And lastly... a picture of my monster man Mustachio! I sware it feels like you are picking up a lead brick when you lift him up (and I am someone who owns a lead brick (seriously, I have one) and they are heavy!!).

Pie Iron Recipes -

To follow up on yesterdays blog about camp fire pies and pie irons... Yes, I did buy one! a double pie iron! Unfortunately it was just too darn hot yesterday to make a fire and try it out (or at least that is what mike said... I said, it is so hot outside, we really wont notice the heat from the fire!!). Anyway... in addition to the pie iron, there was a pie iron cookbook!! yeah, they actually have a cookbook for this sort of thing!! who knew... and, as many of you know.. I have a thing for cook books, so I had to buy it too! I am really wanting to try the peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich!! mmmmmm....

anyway... here is a site that has a bunch of recipes for pie irons.

Pie Iron Recipes - Chuckwagon Diner Outdoor Camping Recipes

Tipsy...

The vet called... Tipsy's ashes are ready to be picked up. At least they (the cremation company) now provides urns... I requested a black one for Tipsy (the choice was black or white). Lexi came in a plastic box which made a sad situation that much worse... luckily Mike's parents were able to find an urn from their work for her (one that matched Wheezie's ...only a little bigger, which was certainly appropriate). Ok... enough rambling... just wanted to let yall know....