We usually try to keep the site up-to-date on what’s going on with us; haven’t been but so successful lately. So here’s what’s new (or the same) with us:

Katie’s still working on her Master’s in Medicinal Chemistry. She’ll hopefully be defending late Jan-early Feb. We’re hoping she’ll get a job around here since we’ve gotten attached to all of our wonderful friends here in Richmond. But as any scientist knows, research just doesn’t go the way you expect and always takes longer than anticipated.

Chase is still one of three in the IT department at G.D. But he loves the fact that it’s small enough that every day is different. Right now his department is in the midst of writing a new piece of software for their accountants to use so he’s been quite busy.

In the pet department all of our fish have died, probably due to a fungal infection. But Gizmo and Teddy are doing just fine. Gizmo is just as ornery in the morning as always about going in the kitchen. Teddy has had thankfully much fewer seizures. And this fall they got a new little sister, a little roborovski hamster named Kobito.

But here is a recap from the beginning:

We rang in the New Year here in Richmond with some friends just as we plan on ringing in 2009.

Katie and her friend Mary-Jane spent Valentine’s weekend back in Blacksburg for the fourth production of the Vagina Monologues at Virginia Tech. After working with the second and third productions it was fun change to just be an audience member for Katie.

We spent Easter in Florida with Mom and Dad A. Chantel, her fiance, and his son. We had a lot of fun dying eggs, visitng the grandparents, going to Sea World and attempting to teach Jay (Chantel’s fiance’s son) how to swim.

In May Katie presented some of her research at the Virginia Academy of Science annual meeting in Hampton, VA. And as with most of her family and friends her peers had the chance to be bored with her babbling about molecular modeling and docking of ligands to receptors.

As most of you know we tied the knot in June. We had a beautiful ceremony and reception at Whitehall Manor up in Leesburg, VA. Gorgeous setting in country. One of the pictures Dad A. keeps saying we should photo shop in some cannons and civil war soldiers. Thanks to Mom O’s help everything turned out perfect and like everyone had warned us, it was a whirlwind of fun then over before we were ready.

We spent the week after the wedding recuperating in the sun in the Grand Cayman Islands. We stayed in Chase’s parents timeshare right on the beach. Our room had a view of both the golf course and the ocean. We snorkeled with fish and an eel, swam and fed the stingrays, shopped, went sight-seeing, and of course relaxed. I think the best food I had all year was the food we had there.

Fourth of July was spent up in northern Virginia with Mom and Dad O and saying good-bye to Amanda (since she would spend the next 5 1/2 months in Australia). We drove out and watched the fireworks from the side of I-395 next to the Pentagon.

Celebrating birthdays in August was fairly uneventful. Just spent it here hanging out with friends. Although going out to eat wasn’t quite as funny as is with Mom A when we have to explain to the server that we’re really celebrating three birthdays at once.

Labor Day weekend was spent in Florida. We went out to Homosassa Springs and Katie did not take a hundred pictures of manatees like last time (Jan 2004); instead it was just the fish jumping.

For Halloween we once again went out to our friend Dustin’s uncle’s house. Where we all dressed up in scary masks to scare the kids coming through the haunted walk. Katie went as a ghoul and Chase went as death. I think we scared more adults than kids though.

Late October Katie’s car stopped producing heat. After the diagnosis of a clogged heater core we decided we had put enough money in the car that it wasn’t worth it for us to fix. So early November we bought Katie a new car; a Chevy Cobalt. So now we have a giant orange snowfall and a cobalt cobalt.

Thanksgiving was spent here in Richmond with friends. We enjoyed our first experience of hosting a big dinner as a married couple. The turkey came out perfect despite not having a pop-out timer. All of our made-from-scratch side dishes turned out well too. Although I think everyone’s favorite were the bottles of Copperridge wine (same blush we had at the wedding).

Christmas will be spent out in Colorado with Mom and Dad O, Melissa, her husband, Amanda, her boyfriend, and the two exchange students. Katie isn’t being allowed near any snowmobiles and is only skiing three days so hopefully we won’t have a repeat of Jan 2006 where Katie broke her arm.

And that brings us back to New Year’s. Happy Holidays again and enjoy the pictures!

Second thing, I got a watermark placed on all of our images.  I don’t want people stealing them.  Not cool.  Especially since the some of the wedding photos that we paid for are up there.

Speaking of wedding photos, Katie got the wedding photos uploaded and I got the honeymoon pictures up.  Now everyone. . .stop complaining!

After returning back to the villa for lunch we took our Jeep out to the Botanical Gardens. It was definitely hot! But we did see some really cool looking flowers and a couple captive and two wild iguanas. I believe they all were the rare blue iguana that can only be found here in the Cayamans.

Next stop was a little turn-off known as the Blowholes. It’s an area where the water has receded from an older reef so when the waves crash on it the water gets sprayed up through holes making it look like the blowhole on a dolphin or whale. It was pretty amazing. I took lots of pictures of the waves crashing here because of how neat it looked.

Tomorrow’s Rum Point and to see the north side of the island on the east side (we reside on the north side of the west side). Evidently it’s supposed to be one of the best beaches to go to on the island; we’ve already been to the other of the best beaches — Seven Mile beach.

1. Driving around the island. Here they follow the British driving laws. That means driving on the left side of the road. I have had no problem with this. Especially since the Jeep we rented is a left hand drive. One less thing to worry about learning. The thing I am still having trouble with are all the rotary’s (Traffic Circles for all our US friends). I’m still not sure exactly how they work, but I haven’t come close to hitting anyone. The other thing is the Jeep’s big numbers on the speedometer are in km/h, but the posted speed limits are in MPH. Sometimes I catch myself going a lot slower than I should be. At least I know I won’t get a speeding ticket.
2. The food. The food on this island is the best I have ever had. I have yet to find a restaurant that has bad food. Even the resort restaurant has god-like meals. The Fillet Mignon I had last night was the best steak I have ever had (probably one of the most expensive too at $24.95 CI). I am afraid when I return home from the trip one of three things will happen.
   1. I’ll have gained 10 to 20 pounds.
   2. I will die of a coronary.
   3. I will never be satisfied by any restaurant in the US again.

Then it was off to Hell. Yes, we went to Hell, and survived nonetheless. It consisted of these interesting rock features that look like they should be from hell. And the corny gift shop where we, of course, picked up a shot glass and took pictures.

After that we had lunch at this little coffee shop and tried Turkey Mango sandwiches. It was like turkey salad with mango mixed in, kind of like a chicken salad but with turkey instead. Then we hopped across the street to the Butterfly Farm. They were quite beautiful. I got to walk around during the tour with an owl butterfly on my hand. It had just come out of it’s chrysalis and wasn’t quite dry enough to fly yet so stuck with me. I tried to get some pictures of the different types we saw, but I’m not positive how they’ll turn out. Overall, it’s was a day I’m happy I had a camera so I can share with everyone! OK, pool time!

Today was fun. Katie and I did lots of shopping in George Town. I got myself a new Citizen watch. Some of the prices here are excellent. The same watch would have cost me almost double back in the U.S. I also got Katie a black coral necklace. It is in the shape of a stingray with gold spots and a gold tail. I also got her a chain to go with the necklace.

Besides those two big gifts, we also picked up some t-shirts for us, a limited edition pirate (YARRR!!!) bear from the Hard Rock (only sold in the Grand Cayman), a shot glass, and some stuff that each of our mothers will enjoy.

We had lunch at a restaurant called Breezes by the Bay. I had the jerk chicken sandwich and Katie had the coconut shrimp that came with a rum and honey mustard dipping sauce. My god both of them were delicious. I have yet to find a place on this island that serves bad food. I also has a local beer called Caybrew, the beer was just recently introduced in March of 2007. It was different tasting, but still good. We are going to tour their brewery when we make it to that side of the island later in the week.

Well there isn’t too much going on at the resort the remainder of the day, so Katie has gone down to send out 2 post cards and pick us up some drinks. I guess we will play cards, maybe watch TV, and cook dinner in house. We will be picking up the car tomorrow and then we will be off to explore the island. Maybe at some point between then Katie will make a post.

Katie and I went to Seven Mile Beach today. Apparently it is also a public holiday here to celebrate the Queen of England birthday. There were a lot of festivities on the beach. They were doing a Jet Ski race around the whole island. Some of these guys were very serious, having gloves and helmets. I am wondering one thing though, if you fall with a helmet on, does it fill up with water?

Before we even left, we put on sunscreen, I reapplied it later in the day and yet we both have mild sunburns. See what I mean about the sun being intense?

We also had lunch while at the beach. It was good local food. Jerk chicken and roasted conch with some other vegetables. It was excellent! We decided that 3 hours at the beach was long enough, so we returned back to the villa.

We just finished playing cards and going down to the pool bar for a drink. Now I believe it is just time to relax in the room for the rest of the evening. We did get a jeep reserved for Wednesday through Saturday, so that is when we will begin our trip around the rest of the island. As for tomorrow, we are going to George Town to shop and stuff. Thursday is the day to avoid that place though. . .4 Cruise ships will be in port. That equals around 12,000 extra people.

Today we’ve already been “oriented,” sunbathed on the beach, swam in the pool, ate a Caribbean lunch and it’s not even 3 PM yet! We’re just going to take it easy, relax and take it all in today. Tomorrow we’re planning on going to the beach to watch this huge jet ski competition, Tuesday we’ll go do some shopping in George Town and so far the only other thing we have planned is Stingray City and snorkeling at the Barrier Reef on Thursday.

But now I’m going back to watching the golfers try to hit their balls over the giant water trap / lake outside of our balcony. Especially since Chase has just informed me that the current golfer hit a bird with his ball. Oops!

Edit by Chase:  I haven’t written in a while, but I will try to keep up since we found that we, as “owners” of the timeshare, get free internet in the room.  First thing, Katie looked absolutly stunning in her wedding dress.  The only thing I could do to keep from crying was to look at my father and nod.  Second thing, the internet connection here is not the fastest.  Therefore there will be no pictures uploaded until we return.