Nashville!

Hey folks.....we are on the road!

This morning was a wonderful breakfast with my lab, and I am very sad to not have them in my life every day. I know I am a big block of cheese here, but when you work with a group like that you have to work really hard to be in a bad mood.



We are in Nashville now, after a beautiful ride through NC, VA, and TN mountains. John and I just ate a delicious dinner at a local joint (think Lucky 32, for you Winston-Salemites). We are still tired, but really happy to be on the road and headed west. Winston was an absolute angel in the car today, sleeping until we opened a bag of Cheetos.

Do I smell Cheetos?!?!

Tomorrow we head to Sulphur Springs, Texas. To be continued...

Monday night

Here was our post from early this morning, but a bit late since we had no internet connection at home:

Hey everyone (or the three people that read this)! What a crazy several days…sorry for the delay in posting. A lot of good-byes have been said this week (Dad, yours takes the cake). Many thanks to the Campbell Clan of Raleigh...they hosted a pool party for everyone to get together. During the week, we were busy between packing and finishing up in the lab and work. If you know me at all, you know how anxious I get about straying from my routine. If you know John at all, you know how chill he is about a lot of stuff. So, I drove him crazy, and he calmed me down…seems a bit unfair for him, eh?

This Saturday we had movers come to help us move into the truck, and that night my lab threw an awesome party at Jessica’s house. Sunday we met up with Louis Amoroso, of Temporary Reprieve fame, for Foster’s Market deliciousness (Winston says hello, Louis!). We spent that night with John’s Grandma Lamm on her farm in Nash County. Yesterday we finished up with the last of the boxes, and we were exhausted more than anything else. Four days of driving sounds really relaxing to us after all of that.

This morning we head out west, and I know it will be so bittersweet. Our next stop is Nashville, and hopefully we can keep posting along the way. To be continued…..

Farewell Dog Park!

Today was Winston's last play session at the Carrboro Dog Park, which has been a great place for him to burn his puppy energy. We met Minna and her pup, Miles, at the park. Miles and Winston have been BFF since they were very young puppies (they are only a month apart).

Here is a picture of Winston and Miles when they first became BFF:

Mid-week excitement

This week has been an adventure for the Campbell clan. This week, we took Winston for a trip at the groomer for the first time. Since Winston is a wiry-coated pup (most likely some sort of PBGV/terrier mix), the groomer had to "hand strip" his coat. Now, he looks like he's wearing just his underwear. Although he doesn't have that adorable shaggy look now, I know the summer in NC and AZ will be a bit more bearable.

Before
After

Earlier in the week, I rebelled against my lengthy education and grabbed the handle of a pan that had just come out of the oven. It was a very painful burn over the entire inside of my hand, but luckily it looks great today. The doctor gave me some good pain medication, and wrapped my hand for a few days. As requested by Brian, I've posted a picture of the mitten.

Happy Birthday to John!

Happy 30th Birthday to John! John celebrated his 30th birthday on Friday, and we had a wonderful time with Dad and Carol. We spent Saturday with some Demon Deacs on Lake Wylie in SC. The guys made John a homemade (classy) beer hat, and I completed the picture with a flower lei. After dinner I got to play nerd and catch a frog for Katrin, which she found absolutely hysterical.

Mom

This world is not conclusion,
A sequel stands beyond,
Invisible, as music,
But positive, as sound.

-Emily Dickinson



5 years have passed, but your memory is still alive and dancing. You are very missed.

Tour of NC

John and I are beginning to count down the days left to see everyone before our big move to AZ. Friday, we went to see Dieter's place (John's old condo) in Winston-Salem....quite the bachelor pad! Saturday and Sunday we spent time with Johnnie and Colon and the family. Grandma Lamm was there, and we got to celebrate John's birthday that is coming up this week. Johnnie and Colon got us a camcorder for our combined birthdays, so once I figure out how to edit those movies I will put some up.

Trip to LA

I flew out to LA for the International C. elegans Meeting, while John and Winston stayed in NC. Brian was the best big brother ever, and came to my talk on worm embryo stuff...it was so wonderful to see a smiling face in the crowd. I had a great time at the meeting, hanging out with past and current lab members (some are in the picture). Then I got to spend some time with Brian and Heather....we found a fun program on Brian's camera that occupied us for a long time. Then we grew up and enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Farfalle in their neighborhood.