We've had a great Spring here on the island. Andy prepared for and passed his qualifiers in April. This was a big milestone for him and his work on campus. His final project was to defend a grant proposal that he had written before a committee of professors. He spent about an hour presenting his work and then his committee fired away with questions for another hour. The thought behind this portion of his schooling is to prove that students have learned enough in their classes to begin independent research in the lab. While stressful for candidates, I can tell that this is a really valuable exercise as its completely applicable to what future PhD's will be encountering in the work world after graduation.
He celebrated in great style and headed up to The Briar Shoppe in Houston to purchase his first professorial accoutrement: a pipe. Maybe by the time he graduates he'll have a tweed jacket and a leather recliner. For now, he's enjoying the art of weekend puff on the porch with his buddies.
We had visitors the following weekend for Easter. Alex and Cindy Myers and their son Charlie came for a visit. Alex was a roommate of Andy's in college and they have remained friends ever since. An amazing feat considering the tales I've heard of smelly feet and conflicting bedtimes, among other things. We love their friendship and had a blast showing them around town.
To round out the spring, we were able to head off for a week of vacation in May. Andy's brother James graduated from college in Boston and so we took the opportunity to tour a bit of the northeast. We visited our friends Jenna and Kim in Providence and then headed off to Cape Cod for a couple of days. I ate more lobster than in my whole lifetime combined and loved it. The highlight was a whale watch tour where we were able to see humpback whales out in the Atlantic. It was awesome! Made me want to give Moby Dick another shot now that I was "on location".
By the end of the week we realized how much Galveston island has had an effect on us. Andy became his typical goofy self and started channeling his favorite scene from his favorite cartoon: Spongebob Squarepants. I leave you now with the lyrics of "Texas" - written and sung by Sandy the Squirrell.
(Spongebob)
"What's wrong with Sandy?"
(Patrick)
"Maybe it's just a squirrel thing... "
(Sandy)
'Wish I was back in Texas,
The ocean's no place for a squirrel,
'Wish I was in Texas,
Prettiest place in the world, oh no.
I guess deep in my heart I'll always be a Texas girl
I wanna go hommmme hooommmmmme hommme oh oh
Yoldle ay e oh, yodle ay e oh, yodle ay e oh, a lay-ee,alay-ee.
I wanna wake up in Texas
I miss those wide open skies.
I miss my 20 acres, bar-b-ques,
And pecan pies, oh why?
When I'm so far from you, Texas, all I can do-o is cry.
Yoldle ay e oh,yodle ay e oh,yodle ay e oh,a lay-ee,a-lay-ee
I wanna go ho-oome,
Ho-oome, (a guy)I wanna go ho-ome!
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