The first weekend of the New Year finds me SURPRISE! in the lab. I managed to survive the ASH meeting, Dad's birthday, X-mas Eve, X-mas Day, and New Years. I will admit that it was really really hard going through the holidays without Dad. We through a New Year's party at Karen house. Mom traveled from ND by flying (out of J--town!) and I made the tapas for the party. It was a LOT of work, but I was pretty happy with the fruit of my efforts. It was great getting so many of our friends from different parts of our lives together. I was SO happy Jenny and Nancy could come. Plus, Tyler A. is now back, after a few years of being a little distant. Brian's new girlfriend is really nice. I hope she stays around because it is nice to have someone to talk to when the Fargo boys get together. Doug's wife is not much of a conversationalist. All I can say is that I don't know how my mom does so well. She amazes me. Karen does as well. When I think about the last 14 months of Karen's life, I am so proud of her. A lesser person would have not ridden out the breakups, disappointments, move, and loss half as well as she has. I hope that 2008 will be a MUCH better year for my little sister. I also hope she keeps dating, as it provides me with some entertainment. Things around the Lar-Beck household are not half as drama filled. Karen, with her buds Tellanovela and Short Circuit should provide me with some vicarious living situations (and plenty of laughter). About the only drama I have in my life is how angry I get at Matt for not doing more. How can one person spend so much time playing video games, then turn around and complain about not having friends? YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE TO MAKE FRIENDS!!!!! I worry a lot about this summer. If he spends only 2 weeks of his "vacation" working, and the rest playing video games when he could be earning us some extra money or taking a class, or working out to lose some of the 20lbs. he has put on over the last 2 years, I am going to start getting mean. It is hard work pulling the load for two at home AND at work. Something has to give.....


I am concerned about someone I work with. For several months I had heard some rumors from other people about his behavior in the lab after hours. Last night I had these rumors confirmed, as he called me, obviously intoxicated, asking for the door code because he "couldn't remember". This is a door code we use up to 30x a day! Plus he had been in lab at least 6x that day alone! I am really torn about if I should 1. confront my co-worker with my suspicions or 2. let our boss know about my concerns or 3. just forget about it. My mother, who has dealt with a similar situation at her workplace wants me to do option 3. However, I am afraid that due to the inherent hazards of our work, that my co-worker might put himself or others in danger. I would hate to have my complacency lead to a tragedy. Man....they don't prepare you for this type of stuff in medical school OR in graduate school.......all that high priced education for naught!

Matt starts school and BB stats up again on Monday. I am attempting to get another project started while writing up my first paper. I hope this process will go quickly, however the first attempt at thawing cells does not appear to be going well. Julia is out of town next week, so I will have to dust off my cell culture prowess to problem-solve. It will definitely be an interesting New Year in the lab, as the behavior of two of my co-workers makes me suspect she might not be with us at this time next year.

Well, I better get back home. Our unseasonably warm weather today might lead to icy roads if I wait much longer.