Kind of a mixed bag this weekend to be honest. I ran my last planned 2's volleyball tournament of the season on Saturday with a really nice turnout of 28 teams for the day. It was a little hard to get all of the brackets set up but we managed to run 3 full elimination sets by the end. I had a tough day personally, just could not get the motor running at ALL!!! I would say it was my worst emotional meltdown of the summer by far, not the way I wanted to end the summer at all. It's frustrating as I feel like I battle against myself emotionally all day long, something I have been pretty good about this summer and made significant strides at in the last few years. I just seem incapable some days of bringing down my competitiveness a notch while still playing the way I would like, not sure if there is an answer to be honest. The one good note was that my partner and I finished better playing 4 straight string games at the end to finish 3rd in the middle bracket, losing 19-21 to another team that could easily have been in the upper bracket and ended up winning the middle one. My brother played in this event as well and it was great to see him as usual, having Janelle, Amy and John there certainly helped me keep somewhat of a lid on things for most of the day. Sunday I played in the D&D event and was able to manage MUCH better. I think not having to worry about the organizing side of things does wonders for my psyche as I am also trying to pla. I finished 4th out of 16 guys and managed to beat both Dave Dickman and Jesse Paulson (True top-flight AA men in the area) in my pool to win it. I then lost 2 1-1 splits by points in my next matches. Oh well.....at least my string of 5 straight top 4 finishes is intact for the D&D tournaments over the last 2 summers. Not too shabby I guess. I am in the planning stages for my final hosted event of the summer, that being a reverse coed 4's grass event on Labor Day for charity. Looks like we might have a nice turnout for the event and I am excited to see who might show up. I am really ready to get back indoors for some indoor play, my first love of volleyball, and getting back together with my men's team. Most of the leagues and play for this format start within a month or so. Other then that work and the usual life stuff keeps me out of trouble for the most part.

Another gorgeous weekend of weather here in Seattle. Man have we been spoiled rotten this summer. I played in a VERY competitive volleyball tournament on Sunday with a good friend Billie Hwang. She is one of the more outgoing/competitive players in the region and we made quite a duo with our high energy and loud natures on the court. I did not feel all that well and she cramped at the end of the day but we were right there in all of the matches and were able to beat several of the teams I really wanted to by the end of the day. Saturday was a great day as we celebrated the nuptials of my friend Mike Repka. Included here are a few images of him with Chantelle & Mark and also with John and Amy right before the ceremony. Mike was a dancing machine at this event!! Really fun to see him having such a great time on his big day. Tashana looked great in her dress and things seemed to go really smoothly for the most part. I wish them all the best as they start off on their new adventure in life as a married couple. Busy week here at lab as my tech is gone on vacation and I have double-duty for the next 2 weeks of that stretch. Should be good though as I finish experiments and work out some manuscripts before my time here is up. I host my last 2's event of the summer this Saturday and it looks like by initial numbers that it will be a nice sized one as well. I know my brother John plans to play which always makes for a fun time for me with him in the mix. I have had a great v-ball summer overall. Maybe not the best results all the time but competitive at least, a lot of new partners to share the fun, and a success with my running events once again. I think the JWI was one of the v-ball highlights of the summer for the region. That is all for now as I grind out the week and get ready for the next weekend full of activities!!

Nice week on the science side so far I must admit. A little success with my sub-cloning and some transfection of mammalian cells does one's heart good!! I have also been better this week watching what I eat and getting some exercise every day. A walk around Greenlake, 2 trips to the gym, and a soccer match. Not too shabby for me. I hope to be in much better shape with my weight as I head into the indoor season here in the Northwest. This weekend holds a wedding of one Mike Repka (pictured above with good friend Todd Moore). Reception and event are to take place at the Seattle center, cool venue for sure!! I also am scheduled to play a reverse coed tournament on Sunday with friend Billie Huang. We might have as much potential to blow up as any team in Northwest V-ball history, I am sure we will have fun though. We will see if that happens as The Northwest Volleyball event have a habit of not happening these last few seasons. I am also getting excited already for possible indoor fun this season as out Bellevue league is starting a few weeks into September. A really great group of guys, we have won this league the last few seasons (4 out of 5) and look to continue the run. We will have to see what kind of competition there might be out there this year. I am looking forward also to possibly making an indoor team to field with my good friend Jesse Paulson as we make a more competitive season and look towards another nationals run?!? Only time will tell I guess. I will report back after the weekend to fill in the adventures.

What a great weekend with the Weaver Parental Units in town for a chunk of fun in the Emerald City. We had gorgeous weather almost the entire time. It is always a fun time with my parents as we laugh almost the entire duration of the visit, no matter the general circumstances. Ever wonder where I get my stunning good looks? Just look at my mother and there is nor disguising the source of my genetic make-up.
Starbucks did us right on a few mornings as we got fueled up for the adventures to come including the zoo, the Seahawks first pre-season game and other times to sit and chat. The Seahawks looked a little sloppy in their first time on the field this season but one can expect that with a lot of expectations for their season after last year's amazing run into the playoffs and all the way to Detroit for Superbowl XL!!! Thanks again my bro John for being the awesome Seahawk hook-up for tickets and gear, it has been great to have someone we know on the inside of this great organization. Ask to see his NFC Championship ring sometime...Impressive to say the least!

The zoo was a real highlight for me. I have loved going to see the animals since I was a small kid and my enthusiasm never seems to dim no matter how old I get. These monkey put on a great show for us with much swinging, sliding down poles, and sunbathing. They then had a grooming session that was hilarious as their facial expressions of "strained patience" was recognizable to a male of any species!! Great stuff, great trip, great family time. Looking forward to the next trip to see some additional Weaver-type faces!!

I had a great midweek visit with my uncle Tony (my dad's younger brother) and his lovely bride Sally. It sounded like they had a great trip through Alaska enjoying the gorgeous scenery and ruggedness of the Northwest get-away. They also were able to indulge in the favorite pastime of my uncle, that of fly fishing. We heard some of the "whopper" tales and had a grand old time catching up. I must say it is a little eerie how similar Tony and my father, and for that matter the older brother Walt, all look more alike in my mind as they age. Not a bad way to go I guess, I have been accused of looking like my brother once or twice as well in my time. We had a great meal, thanks for the treat Sally and Tony!! It is great to be able to stay in at least some touch with the relative spread out all over this great country of ours. I will have to get in a visit with uncle Walt, aunt Gwen, and aunt Julie and I will have seen all of my dad's family within the year!! Quite an accomplishment for me with how spread out we all are. Nice to have a night to hang out with family and catch up with good friend Dave Hoadley afterwards for a few beers at the Lava Lounge close to my brother's condo. Great way to get ready for the Weaver parent's arrival in the Seattle area tonight to have fun all weekend with the boys!! I am looking forward to some good family time with lots of laughs, pictures, silliness, football, and non-stop fun that almost all of our visits seem to produce. More to come as the craziness ensues!!

What a fabulous weekend or relaxation, fun, and adventure. Janelle and I drove up to the always lovely Leavenworth (very cute Bavarian-style town in the North Cascades) and were able to spend a relaxing weekend enjoying one more glorious weekend here in the Northwest. We were able to stay in a cabin belonging to Janelle's aunt and uncle, thank you so much Carolyn and John for the kind use of the lovely facility!! We played a few hands of cards, some trivial pursuit and spent many a moment on a very complex puzzle we found while staying there. In between we found time to hit the nearby trails for a quick, if not steep, hike into the woods and got some additional Northwest wildlife photos which I seem to be really stocking up on this summer. I know dad would be proud!! We were also able to hit the local Starbuck's with the glorious backdrop of the Cascades, sure is a nice way to enjoy an iced Chai in my mind!! We were then off to a childhood passion of Janelle's in the form of one Slidewaters water park!! We had a great time hitting all of the attractions in the park, had some yummy park burgers and chicken nuggets and cruised back to the cabin for another relaxing night without phones, TV, or even radio. Just some time to cook some pasta, hit the puzzle once again, and take it easy. 10 hours of sleep later I felt rejuvenated for sure!!! I am looking forward this week to get in a meal with visiting aunt and uncle Tony, the parents arrive on Thursday and then some Seahawk action!! Full weeks ahead as usual. This sure was a nice time to re-charge the batteries for all of the fun left in the month!! A few planned volleyball tournaments, parents visit, friend's (Mike Repka) wedding at the Seattle Center, and who knows what else I might cook up on short notice. It has been a great summer so far and I expect nothing less in the remaining weekends and warm days as we send this one out with a bang!!

Hey look at this...2 posts in one week, a new record!! I have had the great opportunity these last 2 seasons to play with a coed soccer team composed of mainly people from my work at Benaroya Research institute (BRI). Pictured here is the majority of our team under out anniversary banner with Jack (CFO) who helped us get some money for the snazzy uniforms you see pictured here. ;-) It has been a TON of fun and has reminded me of how much I like to play other sports besides volleyball, at least now and then anyway. I think my mother would be proud that I am getting some exercise in the fresh air at least once per week as well. I was brought up right!! I helped to organize some pick-up volleyball last night as well, a good time to be had for all. People also seemed very appreciative which is nice to hear of course. I also have been in contact with a new group in the area that might be running a fundraising 4's volleyball tournament during Labor Day weekend that I would help organize/run. More to come if that turns into something real or not. I think I caught a cold just the other day and the lack of sleep in recent weeks has finally caught up to me. Hope to get some good rest tonight and get back on the mend for the rest of the plans for the month, I cannot afford to be sick with the parents in town (Mom would not like that)!! More to come.......

I am recovering at this point from a weekend of v-ball fun....still. On Saturday was the 9th annual JWI event I run in honor of my bro. It was a great success with 56 players in total and over $1000 raised for a local charity, tough to beat that. The next day I did something I rarely do, play volleyball in the sand. I had a great group to play with and by some stoke of pure luck made it all the way to the loser finals to finish 3rd in a group of 30 teams, what a day!! I had a blast but am exhausted and have been for the whole week. The special wristbands that my good friends Jesse Paulson and Todd Moore gave me carried me through the day I think (nothing like a little Penguin Power!!). I am just really glad both events went off without much of a hitch, people had a good time, and money was raised for some great local organizations. How can you not have fun when looking like this at a v-ball event? I think I won the costume section of the day hands down!! I know at least I was able to put a few smiles on people's faces for the day, that certainly counts for something. I am now gearing up for a visit from my folks out of Denver, a trip to the east side of the state with my girlfiend and my final events of the summer later this month. No rest for the weary I guess. Until then...