Wow, this week has just flown by. With the arrival of my postdoc last weekend, my research is really accelerating. Art wants to submit an R01 this June to look at image processing methods for measuring respiratory motion during imaging and therapy, that should be interesting and very helpful for our PET results. I just sent off a seed grant application to look at developing reporter genes to image oxygen concentrations in tissues. I'm very excited about that project (especially since i received several reassurances this week that i would be supported in my efforts to perform biology-oriented research) ... i think it will spark a lot of studies. And Bill and i are beginning to use some software i developed (remember my geometry problem?) to look at the impact of PET on radiotherapy planning. The rollercoaster ride continues.

Chelsea managed a 1-1 draw in their Champions League showdown with the Arse on Wednesday. I didn't even read the live commentary, basically because i was very busy and the nerves of watching the match unfold would've brought my work to a grinding halt. In typical Chelsea vs. Arsenal fashion, we scored first then gave up an equalizer shortly thereafter. Apparently we played a strong match though. The pundits point out that we gave up an away goal (soccer tutorial: two legged encounters are decided first by goal difference, and if that's equal, then by the number of goals scored away from home). However, from the outset i thought that to advance we needed at least a win and a draw from the two matches. We've got our draw, now it's time to throw down at Highbury.

I used a $50 Best Buy gift card to pick up the newly released Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow on Wednesday. As i was diligently creating Veronica and my wedding website (to be released shortly), i didn't get a chance to play it until last night when V and Kevin headed to Popscene. Ooh boy. Picking up right where the brilliance of the first left off. The big news about this installment is the innovative multiplayer game, where you play a cat-and-mouse game as either a spy or a mercenary (ie, hunter). I'm not big into multiplayer (getting my ass kicked at Quake 3 Arena by some 12 year old in Norway wasn't my idea of fun), but this may convince me to get on Xbox Live.

In my continuing musical education, i discovered that Nick Cave's first band The Birthday Party are awesome. I was never much into Nick Cave, but the dark, aggressive sounds of his first musical forays are wonderful. I may have to start at immediately post-TBP Bad Seeds Cave and see where that takes me.