Sydney Aquarium

-the largest collection of Australian aquatic life in the WORLD

Canberra Cycling

A weekend in Canberra to catch up with rellies. We managed to fit in a nice bike ride around Lake Burley Griffin in a slight drizzle. It's the ride I missed on a second grade school excursion because I hadn't yet learned to stay on a bike

Jenolan & the Blue Mountains

A day drive (in the shiny new car) with the parental units to Jenolan Caves. We descended through the Orient cave (the one that goes through to China?).
We stopped by the Katoomba on the way home, just in time for a stunning view of the three sisters in the late afternoon sun. This was quite an improvement over our last attempt to see the sisters which was a total white out - if you held out your hand you could barely see your fingertips.

Visa Ready

I'm visa'ed up and ready to go back to work in the US (after a decent holiday). The consulate now appears to take the perfectly sharp photos submitted and extrapolate to how you look at immigration after a 14 hour flight - somewhat out of focus.

Dad's new toys

Dad went on a shopping spree while I've been gone. Not only is he the proud owner of a shiny new car but he's got the big TV he always wanted. Just some of the perks of being semi-retired.

via SFO

We're flying home for a 2 weeks break. For the first time we're going through SFO which is a big improvement on LAX - cleaner, brighter, better food and enough art displays to keep you entertained during a 5 hr stopover.

Sharks sighted near Lake Michigan

SNAP

We're down in Oak Ridge, Tennessee at the new Spallation Neutron Source for a fun little meeting. After a few weeks brushing up on where neutrons come from, everything is making a lot more sense.

Most of the instruments are still under construction and full PPE was required in the experimental hall.

NaperDucks

The ducks have paired-off in time for spring. With any luck we'll be seeing fluffy yellow ducklings sometime soon.

My brother's a monster

I picked up a great T-shirt after Halloween, but was waiting for the ideal occasion to wear it. To be fair, I got one for Ben too. Something about sisters being witches. Jason - your's is on it's way.

More snow

In keeping with the edict that the weather shall be inhospitable whenever we have visitors interested in sightseeing (and the corollary that the weather shall be perfect whenever we have beamtime), Ben's stay in Naperville has again been punctuated by snow and, correspondingly, an extreme case of hat hair.

Body Worlds

The Body Worlds 2 exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry purports to mix art with science, specfically anatomy. Plastic-infused "authentic anatomical specimens", otherwise known as corpses, are dissected and posed to reveal the architecture of the human body in all its gory detail.

The Deep Freeze

Several weeks far below freezing and the river is almost ice. Not ideal weather for Ben to explore town but it will prepare him for life in Toronto.

Weather like this makes your freezer seem warm.

Ben stops over

Ben arrived for a short 14hr stopover en route to his Toronto audition. He fit in all the important things: Chicago style pizza, laundry, borrowing clothes suitable for -20oC temperatures.

To those arriving in Chicago...

...over the next couple of days. Dress warm.

Chemical Safety

Safety is taken very seriously here and all experiments are checked carefully. An easy solution is to only use small quantities - much less than could be dangerous. Take this "nano" gas cylinder for example.

Chocolate &Toothpaste

My brother Ben is on his way to Chicago to visit his favourite sister. (While he's happens to be in the US he's going to try to fit in some piano stuff too). Of course in exchange for free accommodation he gets to courier my essential Aussie groceries -chocolate & toothpaste (a combination any dentist would be proud of).

Shopping Spree

A successful trip to the mall.