You’d think that I’d be used to being occupied, that I would stop stating that I’m busy, and just be used to the usual amount of lack of time (like everyone else over time?). In fact, it’s not that I’m complaining, it’s just that I have higher expectations of what I should accomplish which are often at odds with what actually occurs. I’m extremely happy with my life, though I do wish I could do more. Guess never being satisfied may keep me going?

Ok, enough existential thoughts - the Life of Kaleb updates!

July 28-Aug3
I started and finished a grant application (a new record, not something I am proud of, due Aug 1 at 3pm, submitted all 14 sections at 2:59pm, 2 minutes “better” than last year), hosted a Mummy movie marathon, and helped my summer student get her poster ready for display - an hour later, headed out to Lincoln to join the family gathering at the grandparents as Grandpa had a new brain implant to control the palsy in his other arm. Continuing that first weekend of August: parents, sis, Uncle Garry, Aunt Paula & Justine visited in a mini-reunion (since we couldn’t make it to our real reunion the following weekend). We played tourist downtown, lots of ping-pong, games, a little late-night badminton, cooking, and trying to survive the heat - lots of fun! That same weekend (Sunday afternoon), I flew out to California.

Aug 3-10 - in CA
Worked at Stanford for a week staying at Stacie & Mike’s (a month after being wed, and they still rock ), though enjoyed seeing friends/colleagues during most lunches and evenings (including a memorable game night at Doug, Melissa & Emily’s). Got a lift with new friends, Aaron & Masumi Fries, for the weekend up at Point Reyes for Yony & Amy’s wedding. So many great people were there, but the first night Cindy & I (we weren’t in the wedding party, so we had lots of free time), crashed another wedding dinner party at the local pizza parlor, and then played several games of Race For The Galaxy (RFTG - my current favorite “board game&rdquo. The next morning Cindy & I decided to take the 5 mile hike to Arch Rock and back to the lodge (it was 10am and the wedding started at 1:15pm). Our precarious start foreshadowed the hike as we first left the grounds and Cindy got stung by a small wasp or two (behind me I heard “Ow! Damn! Ow! Run, Kaleb, Run!” only 15 minutes after others warned teasingly to keep her in front of me at all times). A 15-minute delay by choosing the wrong path, and we were off in the right direction (which I knew because my iPhone got great reception once we were out in the hills/fields, as opposed to the small town we were in). At the halfway point (timewise), we were 0.9 miles away from Arch Rock - so we decided to run. Mind you, I’m not sure I’ve ever run so far, and especially in street shoes/jeans. We got there, enjoyed the 3 minute breathless view (see pics) and hurried back. Our new dilemma - the path goes right through the wedding ceremony and we weren’t going to make it in time (ie. we were about to be true wedding crashers). After deciding against committing a couple bike-jacking offenses, we convinced a trio of understandably nervous tourists from Michigan to give us a lift to the lodge (a different path). I did the 2 minute shower, changed (watching the ceremony process outside my window), and then changed again as my new shirt’s button popped off (first (and last?) purchase ever from Von Maur). Snuck in and enjoyed a marvelous ceremony, followed by lots of good food, fellowship, dances, bubbles, cake, more sun, and then relaxed with pizza, beer, billiards, and RFTG (~6 more games until 3am with 3 other PhD’s - 2 string theorists, 1 mathematician - all who were intent on “solving” the game. A great challenge amongst new friends!) The next day we did brief wine tasting, a mandatory In & Out stop, and I was back in Denver the next morning.

Aug 11-13 - in CO
I originally had a couple work meetings in Denver to take care of, but my 6am flight hung out on the runway at San Jose for some time before “The hydraulics aren’t working, we’re bringing it in for inspection”. I first wondered which part - the landing gear or flaps, and then decided that neither would be good to lose(!). 4 hours later, we were finally off, but so were my meetings. I stayed with my close childhood friend, Katie, and her three little ones: Archer (4), Sylvia (2), & Clark (9 mo’s). Randy, Kate’s hubby, was called out of town for work at the last minute, so I got to help with some parental duties. Oh my - going from 2 cats to 3 children was not a jump I was prepared for and I have renewed respect for Katie and so many of my other friends who are parents. Overall, since I was just helping, it was a lot of fun. Especially going to the library and swimming! After kids were asleep, Katie & I played some games (yes, including RFTG, of which she won on her first game, something none at the wedding can say). A slight brag-detour: 7+ years ago I had a streak of winning 30+ games of Settlers of Catan in a row among 40+ different people. Katie broke the streak over the holidays in 2001 which was a huge relief since I couldn’t talk about it until it was broke (as it’s easy to gang up on someone in it). I also saw fellow U Rochester classmate, Thuy, who also looks amazing despite a family of 5+ keeping her plenty busy!

Aug 14-17 - back in Omaha
My “aunt” died while I was in Denver. I had sent her some of the pictures of the basement that she helped me color-coordinate. That weekend her family held services in Kansas and in Seward, NE, a small town west of Lincoln. It was a gorgeous day, and it was so nice to see so many relatives (many of which had met a week earlier for the reunion I missed). You’d have to be a stone not to be moved by the words shared on Connie’s behalf. She had clearly touched so many and will not be forgotten. The for-fun themes about Connie were about her ability to create beauty and her love of Nebraska football, of which several spoke about. (Not to take anything away from the service, but it was hard not to escape how important football is here when it’s mentioned so much at a funeral. Definitely like its own religion and something so many of us can come together over, like so many others out there.) Since it was the last I’d see a lot of family for a while, some had surprised me with birthday cards/gifts. I enjoyed being with distant family and wanted there to be pictures/videos as everyone looked so good and after the service were in higher spirits as we remembered Connie and caught up. Guess it’s not good form - can’t remember the last time I saw a picture taken from any family funerals. Hard to still imagine how Shana, Connie’s daughter and one of my favorite cousins, is handling it all. But we keep on...

Aug 18-24 - birthday week
Prea made a visit for my birthday - her first trip to Omaha from DC. It was an overdue, but very welcomed surprise, even if only for 2 days. I took 1.5 days off of work (another strange thing for me) for her trip, and had fun shopping, cooking, and just catching up. The gang at work got me a carrot cake for the bday and a nice card, the game-night crew got me a brownie cake with a group-card, and my inbox and Facebook were filled with bday wishes - something that did overwhelm me with gratitude. So fortunate to have so many great people in my life! On Saturday Dennis & Lizzy (in honor of Lizzy’s bday back in July) led us on a 4 hour innertube ride down the Des Moines river (I still don’t know where we were, I was operating on 4 hours sleep). It was so relaxing and fun, though the only scare was when a river snake was headed right towards me (I was armed with a plastic squirt gun which I used to get me wet (more than others), as an oar, and here as a possible snake-whacking device. Smartly, it decided to avoid me. Apparently using loads of sun-block wasn’t enough as I ended up with a lobster-red sun burn over the entire front of my body. I did fall asleep briefly while floating downstream which brought memories of sleeping on a raft at Cheney lake when I was 10 and subsequently getting a 3rd degree sunburn which resulted in the white archipelago on my right leg. All 11 of us on the trip were completely spent. What I haven’t mentioned is that in honor of the bday, I had been hosting a few 80s-themed events in Aug (since I was born in the 70s). This same Sat night was the climax with an 80s party - dance music, decorations, lots of 80s foods (thought mostly bad-for-you snacks), big hair/outfits, trivia, arcade games all followed by a group viewing of The Breakfast Club. For the few that showed, they were true troopers. See the wonderful new picture section dedicated to them. Kudos to Dennis/Lizzy for their amazing outfits, for helping me decorate the night before and their unlimited energy.

Aug 25-31 - wrapping it all up
Keeping busy with per usual, showed Real Genius (surprised as to how well it has held up over the years) and hosting a game night this past week (with Jamaican jerk chicken and beef patties). Working on possible settings for the murder mystery party this fall (the zoo, most likely). Hosting another Fantasy Football league (we draft on Monday). Saturday had two great BBQs to attend, and the later one didn’t end until 4am or so. Surprised how untired I was - makes a difference having good company! Trying to get lots of time with Dennis before he moves to NM. Took a nap with the cats with college football on (yes, it was very cute). So now I’m getting into the mundane, but also happy to have my hands and mind full as I wrap it all up.