Bone Marrow Transplant Patient Reunion

Josephine and I went to the Cleveland Clinic's Bone Marrow Transplant Celebration of Life: Patient Reunion. This annual event was held this year at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I was touched by how many people have been treated and at the same time, how many people have been affected by cancer, particularly leukemia. The 800 people that attended was only a small part of the huge family that the disease influences; care-givers, family members, as well as patients. And to think that those in attendance were only the survivors. It was also a good experience for me to see how important my wife's work is. Her work, although she says indirectly, helps makes these peoples lives better. I think that's awesome. I enjoyed meeting all her coworkers and seeing the people she interacts with everyday. It was also my first time at the Rock Hall. I'll have to go again when I can actually go through the entire exhibit!

First Brown's Game

My brother and I went to the first Brown's game of the regular season. We got club seats so we had an excellent view of the field and good food too! Thanks dad for the tickets!

Although the Brown's lost, we still had a good time! It's going to be a rough year! But as usual, Cleveland fans always find something to cheer about.

GO BROWNS!!

Weekend in DC

Thanks to all our friends who meet up with us in DC. We had a great time. Special thanks to Kirsten for letting us stay with her and showing us around town. I hope we didn't cause too much trouble!

Josephine and I had a really fun time listening to all your stories of how life has changed and not changed since moving away from Cleveland and we are anxious to make the move ourselves. For a while I was in a slump in terms of my studies, but seeing all your successes, gave me a renewed spirit and energy. I'm going to buckle down and focus so that we can get out of here and on to bigger and better things. And from the commentary that Toshi gives while we were in DC, Boston seems like the next place we need to visit and consider for our next abode.

Shopping in Chevy Chase and an unplanned tribute to the Beatles.

The little dessert cafe we stopped at was very fancy. Toshi and I had fun taking pics of our food. Then, tackling the all you can eat crabs was an event.






It was fun to see everybody try it but I think I was the only one that got full! Thanks to everybody who joined me!







In the picture is Zhen, Me, Toshi, Mike, Matt, Laura, Karen, Kirsten, Josephine, and Connie (L to R). Congratulations to Matt and Laura and Zhen and Connie who will be proud parents very soon!

Next time we'll have to try this Moby Dick House of Kabob! It just sounds funny! Must be big skewers. In front of the Spy Museum.

And I have to add this last picture of Toshi with his $30 umbrella. After checking it for wind-resistance in the store, we both agreed that it probably would be worth the investment. Keep me posted Toshi! And by the way, I still think you should have asked for that girls number! She was DEFINITELY flirting with you!

Next to be added will be pictures from Josephine and I's trip to HK and Tokyo. Stay tuned! They will be added VERY SOON!

Happy Anniversary!

I can't believe it has been one year! Happy Anniversary to my beautiful wife.

I am the luckiest man in the world. Everything in my life is better now that you are in my life.

Sorry! Really have been neglecting the blog. Trip to asia hasn't been posted and I've been so enthrawled with the World Cup! I'm so sad that England lost. But they weren't playing up to par. Now I'm cheering for France. Go Zidane! Go Henry!!

josephine's bruise from paintball! more pictures to come!!

but in reality we were there to pick up lambo's new car. a brand new mazda3! it's a beautiful car! i like the color too. can't wait to see what changes you do with it! looks like it's time for me to get a new car...

josephine was quick to find a new car she wanted. she even suggested trading in the benz for this yellow elise! my wife is awesome!

josephine sold her very first car. lots of memories attached to that car! so many road trips! our first trip to chicago. it was the car we drove around in when we were dating. as you can see from the picture, she was sad to see it go. good luck corolla! hope your next owner treats you well!

and then a month later... josephine got one for me as an early birthday present! i have to stay young somehow!!

lambo and his firts gaming console. he was sooo happy!

i know i've neglected you guys. so here is an assortment of pictures to catch up. enjoy!

sorry i haven't been writing recently. i've been working extremely hard on my thesis proposal. my student seminar is on april 10th and my thesis proposal defense is on april 17th. wish me luck! and i'll post more as soon as i am done.

Congratulations! Class of 2006.

today was match day for medical students across the U.S. the day they find out where they will be doing their residency. i'm proud to say that my brother got into the cleveland clinic foundation for internal medicine! way to go eric! he is driven to be a cardiologist and there's no place better for him than ccf. we are all so proud of you!

Proud brother!

Proud parents...

"Internal Medicine. Cleveland Clinic Foundation." YEA!!!!

whopper crave

whopper crave... i had a craving for whoppers... so i decided to eat three of them. thank god we have a new hobby... also thank god they were only a dollar each.

we have a new hobby!

josephine's new bike! josephine has finally decided to join me in my hobby of cycling! i know that you'll enjoy it!!

front fork as well as seat post suspension should make that 42 mile trek in NY more comfortable!

shimano alivio deraileurs with some 101 component in there.

i'm going to be suffering! 42 miles on my bike is going to be a bit painful. i think i'll have to buy some padded shorts!

my beloved ocr1. still in great condition. i really need to get more use out of it. hopefully now that josephine has a bike we can go out together!

complete shimano 105 drivetrain.

baron's game

jo and i went to our first hockey game on saturday. the cleveland baron's. it was fun! the best part was the end when there was a huge fight!

too bad they are leaving after this season...

the fight! all the gloves came flying off!

really! i'm not crazy! but i think there is something in certain japanese snacks that puts me to sleep. eric brought a snack food back from japan and about half an hour after eating it, i was in a narcoleptic state! this is not the first time this has happened to me. there are several other japanese candies that have the same effect. i first noticed this when i had the kissmint gum. i bought it to chew while driving home to mansfield. while i was driving, i about fell asleep behind the wheel! if anybody else out there know what i'm talking about please tell me i'm not crazy!!

no kevin... not yet...

cheers eric! all the best to you and mari!

i'm glad eric knew what to do...

the infamous black&tans

oh the memories!!!

mmmm....

Eric's Bachelor Party

josephine and i are planning a trip to miami. that should be sometime in april after my first student seminar. i'm so excited. check out the clubs and relax on the beach. just thinking about it makes this cleveland weather seem a little more bearable!!

olympics

the olympics have been great to watch. however, i can't wait until they are over so that i can finally get back to focusing on work and studying. if the tv is on i just get pulled into whatever sport if on! no matter if i even know what the sport is about! nbc does a great job of making anything seems exciting. especially the clips right before the event with the dramatic music. i think they could make a game of tic-tac-toe seem like a battle for world domination!

happy valentine's day!

happy valentine's day to all! today, josephine and i went to classics at the intercontinental for dinner. it was a very nice dinner. probably the best french cousine i've had in cleveland. the squab that josephine ordered was really good, but my sea bass left a bit to be desired. the seared tuna was excellent and so was the duck liver. and of course the dessert was really good! josephine ordered the mona lisa which was a tangerine puree rapped in chocolate mouse and covered in chocolate and topped with almond spoom. my dessert was better! i had a mocha parfait infused with 14 yr old scotch. so good!! i would definitely recommend it! of course i had to trick josephine into going. i told her that i was cooking and that i wanted her to dress up. she actually fell for it! she deserves to be treated like a princess! she's the best wife in the world!!

amazing but a little freightening!!

DARPA Grand Challenge

Created in response to a Congressional and DoD mandate, DARPA Grand Challenge is a field test intended to accelerate research and development in autonomous ground vehicles that will help save American lives on the battlefield. The Grand Challenge brings together individuals and organizations from industry, the R&D community, government, the armed services, academia, students, backyard inventors, and automotive enthusiasts in the pursuit of a technological challenge.

The Grand Challenge 2005 was held on October 8, 2005 in the desert Southwest. The Stanford Racing Team won the $2 million prize with the winning time of 6 hours, 53 minutes. A total of five teams completed the Grand Challenge course which was 132 miles over desert terrain.

Four of the DARPA Challenge finishers.

Stanley, the fastest robot!

Drove 132 miles without a driver! Can we say Terminator??

josephine and i have been sick like crazy for the past week. unable to really do anything productive. not really a good time to be sick since we both have tons to do. i have a journal club to give on thusday. i will be ready but it would be a lot better if i wasn't sick.

it's been over a month since i've blooged and i apologize for the long absence. it's been too long i know! but i'm back in 2006 with a renewed spirit! i hope that everybody had a wonderful holiday break. mine was spent with family at home. josephine and i had both sides of the family over for ham on christmas. it was very meaningful to have our first christmas at our place as a married couple with both families together. i'm so happy we pulled it off.
for new year's jo and i went to mansfield and watched the ball drop there. is it just me or does it seem like it's becoming less and less important as each year passes? by the way, it was great to see dick clark back on new year's rock'n eve but at the same time, it was sad to see what the stroke had done to him. but not to get anybody on a down note! HAPPY 2006 to everybody!
i wish you all a wonderful and productive new year. best of luck and good health. may each day be filled with friendship, family, and love. for all you still looking to establish yourself in the world, may this year bring you great success. and for all you looking for love, know that love is looking for you too, so open your eyes and heart and let this year be your lucky year!