It's been a Long Time

So what can I say? There hasn't been an update since around Halloween. Even I didn't realize it had been that long. Time flys I guess!
Life has been clicking right along here in Utah. Thanksgiving was good, aside from a not-so-nice stomach flu over the holiday weekend. This may have been the first Thanksgiving on record where I actually lost weight! ;) I spent Christmas studying for the GRE (which went well), working a bit more than I'd like to admit, and readying my application to start grad school here at the U of U next Fall. I've decided I still really love my job, and since I'm not ready to leave it yet, I should get on with my Master's degree as planned. No use waiting around or I'm afraid it will be even harder to go back to school.
Work is crazy-busy and quite enjoyable lately. We had a new research study come through the biomechanics lab, looking at the long term outcomes of two types of knee surgery techniques. I'm still busy editing the data from that. Around Christmas we hosted a football combine for HS athletes which also gave me about a week worth of "extras" to do. This past week was nuts because TOSH recently became the sport medicine provider for USA cycling. It will be a relationship much like with USA speedskating, and USA skiing, in which we provide sport medicine coverage to the teams. This week 18 members of the USA junior national cycling team spent the week with us doing lab performance testing, nutrition consults, bike-fits....you name it. There were bikes, bags, and computrainers everywhere....and the constant sound of spinning pedals. I admit I was a bit jealous of their bikes...most of which cost more than the average used car. At the same time it will be nice to get back to normal next week; even though these guys are pretty elite athletes they still created the clutter of any average 18-24 year old guy.
The acceleration training schedule is also busy. Thanks to having a marketing guy for our department for the first time ever, our schedule is summer-busy even though it's still winter. Chris and I joke that we're financially stable enough to buy food again, but no longer have time to eat lunch. Just like summer...only colder, and darker.
Speaking of cold, Utah has had way more snow in the valley than last winter....however less snow overall in the mountains. We've also had quite a bit more of the inversion than I remember from last year. "Inversion" refers to a temperature inversion that happens when we get high pressure. The valley becomes cooler and the moutians become warmer. Pollution becomes trapped in the valley and things get rather smoggy until another storm comes through and cleans things out. Luckily it only lasts on and off for a few months each winter. Lately we've been a bit inverted...so it's been a much colder winter this winter than last. I'm ready for spring!!
My next trip to Wisconsin will be the first week in June for Larissa and Mark's wedding. I get to be a bridesmaid (yay!) It's going to be so much fun! I'm also planning to take enough time to get to catch up with everyone back home again. I just returned from a week at home, and I apologize I didn't get to see as many of you as I'd like. I'll be making the rounds in June though...so watch out!
I think that about sums up what's new in the world around here. I do look forward to hearing what you've all been up to. Take Care!
Steph~

ps. Next Thursday is my Golden Birthday....I'd love nothing more than for any/all of you to call to remind me just how old I'm getting :)