Skipping the last 673 for now:

I got to see my brother defend his diss and it was AWESOME. The first half (background) I didn't really understand (it was lingo heavy, but he clearly knew what he was talking about) but the second half, about the experiments themselves, I did, largely due to his talking about them to me over the past 4 years, and providing lay translations back then. He got some tough questions (and this was after his private defense with his committee) and fielded them well. It was so cool to see my brother clearly the expert, and confident in that. Also, him in a suit. He wears them frequently enough, but I haven't seen him in one since my college graduation. So I'd be watching and there'd be this realization that this smart-sounding, grown-up, good looking dude was MY BROTHER.

We keep calling him Dr. Josh A. and he's quite discomfited by it. So we use it measuredly. Like when we want to annoy.

He totally used the picture of me and the Rover in his dedication and said "and my sister, who shown here is about to hit the Rover with a rock." Ah, siblings.

I got plenty of time with the nephews. D glommed onto me (he'll be 6 this xmas) and I was clearly The Person To Do Stuff With. Which is just awesome. I did a lot of coloring and reading books. When I arrived, I picked up him & T from daycare and took them to the airport to pick up my parents. Now, T is 16 months and can't possibly remember me from a year ago, but he was excited to go with me and clearly felt totally safe with me. Which is a nice feeling.

From the airport, I called my brother on my cell and put D on the line (remember, he didn't know I was coming.) My brother was so confused! It was great. I love sitting around with him, just shooting the shit like we do on the phone and I got to do a lot of that.

Great 4 days. More later, as I think of it.

I really want them closer.

Loki is BONKERS which is making Devi BONKERS. Tonight will be interesting.

And I DON'T have a build tomorrow.

Shuttle mission was moved to 10/14.

That sounds like a wonderful weekend, sara. Congrats to Dr. Bro.

Had a good but crazy hectic weekend. Had dinner with Polgara and bon bon and bon bon's fiance.

That sounds lovely (the dinner.)

Turns out, I think my brother and I were the calmest of the crew. PJ hasn't been able to eat well for the past week. My mom's stomach was all knotted up. My dad was uncharacteristically circumspect in not arguing with anything and everything under the sun.

I *knew* Josh'd do fine. He knew he knew his stuff, he doesn't get nerves. He channels all his fear into excitement (c'mon, he races cars) and totally knows he does that.

Now? He's worried about getting a postdoc.

I can see worry about getting the postdoc too. The defense is a Big Deal. But then the post doc is the rest of life.

I just watched In Bruges. Not all of it, but enough to know I still love Colin Ferrell and I am reminded of how much I loved Bruges when I visited.

I'm trying to articulate why the politics from the pulpit thing irks me so much.

I *knew* Josh'd do fine. He knew he knew his stuff, he doesn't get nerves. He channels all his fear into excitement (c'mon, he races cars) and totally knows he does that.

Um, he's a PhD who races cars? ::hearteyes::

Also, I will be happy to never watch a Presidential debate with my dad ever again. As it was, I was merely hearing it from the bedroom as I drew, colored and named weird monsters and that was more than enough.

Congrats to the bro, sarameg, it sounds like a great weekend.

He's happily married, sorry. Not stock cars. He's souped up his 1990 Nissan 300SX that he takes to the tracks when they have amateur driving sessions (that the participants pay for.) They pair him with a trainer and run 'em through the course.

Oh, I don't like stock cars. Sports cars are puuuurty.

He's happily married, sorry.

::makes chaste hearteyes::