OMG, I sat with Newt!

Newt Gingrich was the keynote speaker for the Genetic Alliance. I'll add more about some of what he said later, but I must share the way we met. One of the staffers was teaching people to knit as a way of communing with others and relaxing at breaks. I was learnign how to cast on and knit my first row, when I looked up and Newt was standing there watching. I was laughing inside. He commented that he had heard that it was known to lower the blood pressure, and I noted that mine seemed to be going up a little (it was partly because I really don't have a history of liking this man, and partly because I was concentrating on the needles so hard). He said I would probably feel the benefit once I got better. Does Newt Knit??? I doubt it. But it's kinda fun to be able to say that when brought face to face with one of the most visible faces of the Republican Party, we talked about knitting, not politics!

Not What You'd Expect

Francis Collins, MD, PhD is the Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute. He and his team are responsible for mapping the human genome. He's on eof the most brilliant men I've ever met, but the things that is so interesting about him is how he connects with people. He travels the country attending conferfences and speakign on issues of genetics and genetic conditions, and always ends by picking up his guitar and leading the group in song-- songs of inspiration and hope for a better tomorrow. He sucessfully integrates his passion for science and genetics with his faith and beliefe that God does have a place in science. He is the kind of guy that hangs out with the crowd after hours, and leads the sing-along. Last night we drank beers and sang John Denver and Beatles songs. What an informative and inspiring evening!

Riding Harry Potter's Celebrity Coat-Tail.

Check out this link. I dressed up to work at the Harry Potter Midnight Magic Party for the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" last friday night. A photographer from Reuter's was there and took a bunch of shots of me as the "Trivia Wizard." I circulated the store (when I could move-- I was mobbed most of the night) asking tough questions from all 6 books. I was amazed at how much detail the kids knew! Anyway, just before midnight, I became a bagger on the cashier line. It was surprisingly fun. As you can see from the link (if you look close at the first picture and caption) the Reuter's guy found me again. I made international news! :)

I also found the link on Yahoo News, where the photo is a little more clear...

Dr. Bush knows best...

The Final Frontier...

Rachel's fab boobs! We were out for a night of Tequila and beer. This is what happens... I'm reduced to the Hooters Lifestyle.

Ralaxing with Harry Potter

The view on a perfect summer evening as I sit at home reading the new 'Harry Potter.'

A Wonderful Evening with a Good Friend

Leslie is my dear friend Judy's sister, and also a friend. Here she is picking me up for a relaxing evening of wine in the garden and a fabulous dinner at a local Mexican restaurant in Walnut Creek. The car suits her festive personality.

Obedience

BART in San Francisco is so civilized compared to NYC subways. People actually obey the signs and line up in such a way as to allow people to exit the train before crowding on. It would NEVER work in New York.

Temptation #3

And again! And I STILL resisted. Nobody knows the trouble I've found. Nobody knows my sorrow!

Temptation #2

...twice! Is it a conspiracy?

Temptation in San Francisco

I resisted...

With Friends at the Marfan Conference

NMF Annual Conference in Palo Alto kicked off with a wonderful BBQ event for almost 400 people. Here with some of my good friends I met through work!

Spreadin' the love of God?

Hate everywhere!

Passed by a small team of God's Flock, spreading his message of love on the streets of Palo Alto, CA.... Poor, poor, clueless people!

Mom's Birthday

Today is Mom's birthday. It was the first thought I had when I woke up, and the last thought as I fell asleep. People who say that it gets better with time don't know what they are talking about... you just learn to deal with it better.

I do dream about her more than I did, which I am grateful for, but the dreams never make sense, and I can never really put all the pieces together when I wake up. I usually have fleeting memories of the dreams sometime the next day, out of nowhere. Today I have vague recollections from a dream last night of us flying, as if on a kite or something-- not on a plane. But there was a sense of conflict, or something very wrong. Grandma B was there too. And Dad. They weren't flying with us, but we were trying to get back to them when we crashed on a beach. And we had to avoid someone, for some reason. Craziness in my dreams...

I was happy to find this heart on her birthday. I kept seeing it on the floor across the room, but never looked closely. I kept catching it out of the corner of my eye, and each time I felt like I needed to look more closely. When I finally did, I saw that the glasses are covered with hearts... :)

Sad news...

Last December I posted that I found out my friend and college roommate David was diagnosed with melanoma that has spread to his brain. His mother emailed me today that he passed away. I'm stunned.

Here is a photo of us a few years ago when I visited him in San Diego. He was one of those truly friendly people was SO EASY to like. Great sense of humor, grounded, giving.

Craziness going through my head...

Laugh-in Legend

Jo Anne Worley and me at the stage door of "The Drowsy Chaperone."

Who says there are no jobs...

Playing tourist in my own town...
I can always grab a guitar, don my skivies, and stand "naked" on the streets of Times Square and take dollars for pics with tourists...