Attack of the Bob

So many of you may know that my mom's house is frequently invaded by a dog named zona, we'll we have our own version.....

BobCat...his name is actually Robert....if we close the front door, he'll come up on the balcony....he is a total menace and attacks the precious tiger.....i have taken to fending him off with a spray bottle...it seems quite effective.....

here is a photo of the little bastard invading our house

poor little lost penguins

apparently these little guys go adrift on ice flows, and end up in brazil....not a bad place to end up....

Being stuck in Lebanon

Well, I am not there, I am in the peaceful confines of CA, it might be hot, but no one is bombing us.

As many of you may or may not know my favorite celebrity chef is Anthony Bourdain, he is brash, obnoxious, but also incredibly insightful and gets to travel the world trying out new and exciting foods....sweet job, no?

Well, Anthony was in beirut filming a show when the bombings started......check out his tales of beirut...

Mid week update

Hello faithful readers....I know you miss my updates from the beach....I am back in steaming hot CA....it has been in the high 90's and the low 100's....totally icky....

but in other news....i hate Dell....totally the lamest company ever.....so i had an inspiron 5150, basically its motherboard died twice.....which is 500 dollar repair....totally lame...so i said screw you and got a new laptop....my new compaq and I are very happy.....I am busy moving files, and keeping my life together....

The ASA is in a few weeks and I need to get my presentations in order....I haave two, plus, I have to get ready for the job market, I already have 20 jobs to apply to, and I am getting a couple of papers ready for publication....completely crazy......

update on the status of the dissertation....it should be read in august, so i should have it in september, which is good, b/c i have a class to co-teach with karen at the end of september....oh the joy.....

Beach update

So...today was the annual gerbil clan putt putt tournament.....this year held at Tim Buck 2. And I am proud to announce that I won!!!! Sir GB second, Zach attack third and Meg came in last....poor thing....

In other news....we went to manteo yesterday, and I got to play with pirates...which is always fun...and go to another lighthouse.

And before I forget, today is Meg's birthday.....So wish her a happy day as well...in another year she can rent a car!!!!! Yippee!!!!!

So here are today's photo entries!

Hi, I'm a shark....

you might wonder what the appropriate response might be.....if you are my mom....the response is.....

"i'm a shark too, you asshole."

This is a classic of the beach house....basically you can say anything and add the tagline, you asshole and it is awesome.....

today is juji's birthday, so if you know her, or if not, wish her a happy day!

if you want to see pictures of the trip...click here

oh by the way the official sport of a gerbil family vacation is spongebob jellyfish game...if you don't know it, you are really missing something from your life.

Update from the Beach

All is well here in NC....no hurricanes, although there was the threat of a tropical storm....but we survived. We went Kayaking today, which was fun...although it took me about a half an hour to get used to it, but Sir GB was a natural....

Joss the niece is having quite a good time with all of her aunties and her grandparents doting on her....she is a very sweet little things.

In other news, Sir GB mastered the duck, which is clearly important.....

So the Gerbil is actually traveling

So Sir GB and I are currently in Richmond, VA en route to Whalehead, NC, home of the Gerbil clan beach house....with two new additions this year, baby Joss, and Sir GB....let's hope they both survive....

At least I have my book about the effects of stresson all sorts of biological and psychological outcomes, why zebra's don't get ulcers. don't get all stressed about it being sciency...it is the easiest science book to read ever....ok...maybe that isn't true, but I have found it fascinating....

So....we'll keep you posted on our progress....but sir gb is ready to go...so i must away

Set my dissertation free

We have now reached day 90 of captivity. My dissertation has been in the clutches of my advisor. We haven't heard if it is alive or dead, no lovely pictures of it with a newspaper, so we know it was alive that day. We can only hope for the best, and that maybe we'll hear something in the near future regarding its whereabouts. If you have any information regarding its location or progress please post a comment!

Things I think the cat does while we are out

well...i found this on the interwebs the other day...frankly it is easier to clean up beer bottles than catch mice, either way, those are both Sir GB's jobs, so we'll let him decide.

Congrats to the Homeland

Italia pulled it out today. Sure they needed penalty kicks...but we'll take it. Especially against the French.

Although the most ridiculous moment of the game, Zizzou headbutting an Italian player. Not a classy way to retire from international soccer.

Adventures with Tiger

So some of you might be wondering how I am adjusting to living with a cat (and a Sir Grizzly Bear)....well, everything was going fine....until yesterday....

I was sitting in my office (aka the couch) working on something or the other, when I notice Tiger has come in and she has one of her mouse toys...until that is I realize the mouse toy is moving.....it is not a mouse toy...it is in fact a baby mouse...luckily Sir GB was home, and I requested politely that the mouse be removed (i.e. "Get that out of here"). He promptly did his duty, after which he explained to me that Tiger does this about once a year...so I figure I am good to go for awhile.....when about 10 minutes later, who saunters in with another mouse....Tiger Cat....what an evil little thing she was. But apparently we have two years of mice out of the way. Sir GB promptly removed it as well..... Needless to say Tiger Cat was given a time out......she had to stay in Sir GB's office for a couple of hours until she could behave....who knew having a cat was kind of like my visions of having an evil toddler.....

But here are some pictures of the cat, and one of Sir GB

Flip flop adventures

So several weeks ago I lost one of my favorite flip flops while wandering from the gym to my office...which is like a five minute walk. I suppose it had fallen out of my bag. I spent a week looking for it at about every lost and found on campus. Then yesterday, on my trek from the gym to the office, what do I spot....the mysterious flip flop, just hanging out in front of the financial aid building....

How strange! So the flip flops have been reunited...and are happy again! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dr's tom and kathy's excellent adventure

so...many of you may know that my parents, the aforementioned drs tom and kathy came all the way from historic lewiston, ny to palo alto to see me graduate....well....dr kathy has posted many of her pictures on her blog...i suggest you check them out...

dr kathy's blog


this has inspired sir gb to want to go to yellowstone....hmmm...i declared only if i didn't have to stay in a tent or walk too far.

also an fyi...thank you all for the graduation good wishes and pressies....thank you notes will be on their way shortly...the damn move got in the way of good manners...i hate it when that happens.

oh and good luck italia tomorrow....i need a team to cheer for to battle off sir gb's england squad...

moving time

so we are in the new place. it is very charming....

All of the books are unpacked (Sir GB has 7 bookcases full, many shelves double stacked), I am about halfway through the clothes, so now we are just trying to organize.

Tiger is adjusting nicely to her new surroundings...I am adjusting to living with a cat. Tiger has not noticed Cheetah (the life sized ceramic cheetah, who is not actually life sized, but i like to pretend), but she does love Grandmother's coffee table....she doesn't have claws, so she isn't doing any damage.....I'll have to get some good pictures of her lounging on it.


I have to publically give a big thank you to our helpful movers, Curtiss, Ena, Tahu, Terri and Phillip....yes, Phillip the dog...he was quite helpful.

May I introduce Dr. Gerbil

So, yesterday I walked through my graduation ceremony. My dissertation should be finished in August or September, but I went through anyway. Next year I'll be a research associate at Stanford (that is my offical title). But it was a good time....Here are a few photos.... one of me and my boys....Sir GB and Curtiss and one with the parentals...Drs Tom and Kathy.

European Adventure

So Sir GB and I are headed to Europe for Christmas and New Year....

The original plan was to fly probably into London and go to Otley to see Mum and brother Michael and his wife Penny, and then head to Sleaford to see Dad and Anita. Then on to London for a few days....

Well that wasn't really working out on airmiles....so....instead we are going to Paris first, then flying to Manchester going to Otley, then Sleaford, and then Madrid. It will be exciting nontheless I have never been to any of these places. So we'll be gone for about 2.5 weeks...at which point after a hectic summer and fall, we'll both need the break....

So it should be an interesting winter break!

In Honor of the World Cup

I present....

Penguins playing Ducks in Football!!!!

The tale of the tam.....

So...I am lazy...I have had my regalia for about a month....It has been sitting in a box in my bedroom....ooops...

Tonight I took it out of the box...and I must say I am a big fan of the hat....who knew I would look cute in a tam....I will have to take some pictures....perhaps when sir gb returns i can make him take some....

maybe this means i can transitions to berets....what a wide world of hats for me....although there is one i can never wear....that sweet pope hat. But you can learn how to make one here.

Grim and Mandy aka the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy

I have realized that I call this show Grim and Mandy, I feel it is because Billy is inconsequential to my existence.

Back about a year ago, when my hair was significantly blonder, people noted my physical similarity to mandy (yes I have a pink dress with a black ribbon around it...if it only had a flower). In addition apparently I have a personality to match. I think it might be the sneer....

But I must say, this is one of my favorite cartoons....which is actually a big component of my television viewing.....much to Sir GB's dismay....

Any show with an angry little girl bent on world domination who enslaves the grim reaper...well that is ok with me.....