I've wanted to update for so long, but have had absolutely no internet. At home, the connection died and hasn't been repaired yet because they need to run new wiring throughout the entire building. At the lab, you need to register to even plug into the wall, much less use the wireless, and that process has been long and unnecessarily complicated. So I'm at the library until my bio building network application goes through.

Classes started last Wednesday, and although I'm finally on a routine, I haven't been doing it long enough for it to feel routine. I'm looking forward to settling into it more so that I have a real feel for how I should be managing my time. The commute feels routine by now and takes about 50 minutes each way. I drive or bike to the train station, ride one train, switch to another, then walk 15 minutes on the Penn side. I've been able to get a little reading done on the train, but it's quite interrupted.

I TA'd my first lab yesterday. I really enjoy TAing. It makes me feel smart, and the smartness is being put to use. The only thing is the time committment. Between 2 labs, prep meetings, prep on my own, 3 lectures, writing test questions, and doing the readings that the students do, it takes about 20 hours/week. In all, I expect all of my responsibilities and studying to add up to the neighborhood of 60 hours/week. I have two classes, ecology and seminar, plus an independent study. It's too early to know how much the classes are going to stress me out, but despite being challenging, I know I can handle them.

Ryan's mom and brothers came to visit 2 weekends ago. We went on a big shopping trip to IKEA, which is ginormous, and got a big wall hanging and nice rug for the living room. We also went downtown to the National Academy of Sciences, the Franklin Institute (aka science museum), and Penns Landing (waterfront).

Last weekend Ryan's dad and stepmom came down for Saturday for his birthday dinner. On Sunday the two of us went to Longwood Gardens, a famous botanical garden with a stunning conservatory, and the Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square, PA, which MM/MM (magical mushrooms, mischievous molds) people will remember as the birthplace of mushroom cultivation. We even went on a tour of a mushroom farm. It was interesting for about 5 minutes, but the guy giving the tour, despite growing button mushrooms for his entire life, had never even heard of a chanterelle when someone asked.

There are lots more opportunities for day trips down here. I'm looking forward to a trip to the ocean, Fairmount Park and the art museum, King of Prussia mall, more sightseeing and exploring Center City, and a theme park or two (Hershey? Great Adventure?). There still isn't a whole lot to do in the evenings over in Jersey, but now we have cable so we can at least watch TV.

I promise more frequent updates when the internet is repaired at home; I'm trying not to waste too much time at the lab doing non-acadmic stuff.