the incredible disappearing July!

hard to believe that it's already August. my StL summer has passed by like a bullet train barreling towards Autumn. but before the evening smells of lighter fluid and charcoal are replaced with burning leaves and hickory, there is much to report. and much more still to savor...

the end of June passed quickly; even with MJS still being in PDX, a plethora of events were to be had. Romer's birthday party which ended with our intoxicated wrestling re-match. me = dunked into the kiddie pool multiple times. guess that puts the score at 1-1... bring on the final showdown! the StL Pride Parade where I marched with the ACLU group. lots and lots of bike rides, including one ending in a sheared rear derailer (sorry Alissa!) plus discovering the ridiculously amazing cocktails of the Shaved Duck. cocoa nib infused bourbon manhattan with a bourbon soaked cherry- heaven. at the end of June I also made the decision to keep the house and get a new mortgage in my name only. that decision has been one of the first in a long time that has felt like moving forward. not a reaction, but an honest choice as to what's best for me and not prompted by the behavior of others. I must say that it feels really good to be here.

July unfolded with more drinks, more fun, and more things from my summer wish list. 4th of July parties, cheap beer, new neighborhood friends. trips to the Tower Grove market and to the Gardens for Jazz on Wednesday nights. our softball team finishing the regular season at 10 and 3. the longest bike ride of the season: a metric century (65 miles) with MJS in Illinois farmland. new food experiences, like Onesto in SoHa and Tower Tacos as the inaugural venture of the Cherokee Street Eating Club. plus Veruca is now serving milkshakes and paninis from Niche at lunch on Saturdays. shows at Off Broadway, made lovelier by the smokefreeness and O'Fallon Wheech on draft. reading for book club, reading for fun. late nights and wine with the knitters. and of course, work. helping with E's RO1. my experiments. teaching neuroscience to a couple dozen high school teachers from all over the country. showing middle and high school kids the wonders of the human brain.

not bad for the last 6 weeks, huh? hopefully I won't be suck a slacker at posting in August.