More photos

Keble College Chapel

Atop the Saxon Tower of St. Michael, the oldest building in Oxford (1040 AD)If you haven't had enough Oxford/London photos, I've posted a few more recent photos in a public album on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=31527&l=45af6&id=521578311

Adventure

"The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And wither then? I cannot say."

"Not all those who wander are lost."
- J.R.R. Tolkien

"I may not have gone where I intended to go,
but I think I have ended up where I intended to be"
- Douglas Adams

Touring London

Matthew traveled to England to visit this Easter break (I've been smiling since). Here is a glimpse of some of our exciting London adventures:

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

Donuts at Camden Market... they look better than they taste. That's experience talking.

Matthew and I thought about "feeding the birds" while enjoying a snack break at St. Paul's Cathedral. I was a bit disappointed to learn that it costs £10 ($20) to tour the cathedral. Fortunately for us, the architecture is still breathtaking from the outside.


To my delight, we attended a showing of my favorite musical, Les Miserables. It is the longest running production in London, first located at the Palace Theatre, and now performing at the Queen's Theatre.

After several fun packed days in London, it was time to travel to Oxford. I will be getting backpacking tips from Matthew.

Hallelujah

After watching American Idol, I started wondering about the origins of Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah. So here ya go:

Leonard Cohen (Canadian!) originally wrote and recorded Hallelujah in 1984. This is a later live performance. Can we say, I love the 80's?

The version we are all familiar with was initially recorded by John Cale in 1992...

...but was ultimately surpassed by the sheer greatness that is Jeff Buckley (combined, of course, with scenes from The OC!)

Today, Hallelujah has been covered and recorded by more artists and for more movie/tv soundtracks than I feel like listing. Happy listening.

38 hours and 30 minutes

Today was a busy day in lab. Lately, I have been in a mad rush to finish experiments because Matthew is arriving in Oxford in less than two days, and I am completely stoked!

Watching these videos has inspired me to travel and perhaps spontaneously dance a little more often.

Yes!

I'm ready for summer.

To remember

Last week an interesting article on a genetic mutation identified in a family with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis was published in Science Magazine. This research will have a significant impact on the field of ALS genetics. I mention this publication because it was coauthored by my friend Steven Ackerley who tragically passed away in January. At the end of the article, I learned that the publication was dedicated to his memory.

I do not consider myself much of a religious person. For the most part, I am a scientist at heart and believe in what I can see. Still, I try to keep an open mind about what I do not understand. Regardless of whether or not I believe in a land of eternal sunshine, I know that we will always live on in the memories and lives of the people around us. Steven was a genuine individual. He has clearly left a positive impact on so many people not only as a friend, but as scientist, dedicated to understanding the cause of the devastating and deadly disease ALS.

To read the advance online publication of Steven’s publication, go to:
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/1154584

The burrito is here.

Guess what?? I had a burrito for lunch!! I am now in a seriously happy mood (although oddly sluggish and lethargic at the same time). Mission Burrito on St. Michael's Street just opened today for lunch. It was a 20 min wait to reach the front of the line, and by the time I got there the carnitas and guacamole were gone (this would never have happened in socal)! But still, it's pretty hard to mess up a burrito, and despite the clearly English cheese, it was worth the wait.

Idol

So, I live in England, and I have no tv. Yet, somehow I've become a David Archuletta fan. Adorable!

Going back to Cali

Some exciting news this week. I was accepted into the UCI School of Medicine with full NIH MSTP funding and stipend starting in 2009. I love England, but as Biggie said, "I'm going going, back, back to Cali Cali."