As promised...

Here we go. Pictures from:

3.2 for 32. This event was a memorial run for those who lost their lives in the April 16th 2007 shooting. I ran it with my friend Mona. We showed up at around 7:30am to register and each runner was given a balloon. The race started with a moment of silence and the release of 32 white balloons. Then the runners (and walkers) released their balloons and we were off. I heard they approximated 8000+ people at the run. I don't know if you have ever looked up to see 8000 balloons in the sky but it is quite a site. Also, I don't know if you have ever run 3.2 miles with 7999 other people, but its crowded.

Here was a professional picture of a whole lot of Hokies taken after the run. Mona and I are in there somewhere.

Later that day, I went to the Chateau Morrisette with some fellow food scientists. We went as a reward for participating in one of our colleagues research projects, which was to test some sensory characteristics of blackberry wine. We each put in a few hours of training for the research, so to reward us Research Conducter Robert set up this pretty cool event. We did a tradiational tasting, and then we were invited to the back of the winery for tastings of the wines that were still fermenting in tanks. If anyone is interested in going to a winery next time you are here visiting, this would be a cool spot.

Here we are at Chateau Morrisette, lovingly referred to as "the chat" (chat? shat? not sure how to spell that).

Behind the scenes: Barrels of wine.

Pulling samples from the tanks

The packaging operation! (nerd alert)

Here I am with my homies: Me, Anibal, and Mona in front of The Chat

All the while, Ian had a fever. Finally on Sunday he got better and we went to Pandapas Pond to get some fresh air. Ian was encouraging Neit to put his paws in the water. It took some coaxing but once he got in, he went full force towards these Canadian geese. It caught Ian off gaurd and he let go of the leash. Neit came "THIS CLOSE" to catching one of those geese when we convinced him to come back to us. It was entertaining, to say the least.

Neit and Ian, post-goose chase.

We are leaving tomorrow morning for Richmond to see Tim and Janet and their new baby. Judy and John will be there too. Maybe even Grammy? So that is what you have to look forward to next time!