Oh yes, it has been a while since our last post. Life has gotten the better of us. Marc has since gone to DC twice, and will be headed there again tomorrow-Wed. These past few weeks have been somewhat intense as we faced decisions surrounding where we will be for the next 6-7 years (at least) and what our career trajectories will be like. We've had many discussions with each other, with mentors and friends, over the phone or in person with Deans and search committee chairs. We even started a spreadsheet to help us try to more objectively evaluate the options before us.

Marc has been quite marketable, getting 3 offers from the 3 places he has visited & interviewed at: UT-Austin, Duke, and George Washington... more in a week or so on our decisions.

On the mundane side of life, Boston training is going pretty well, and I managed to hit 50 miles/wk this week, despite a snow storm that thwarted my plans for a 19 miler (did only 14.5 miles in the end). Having some great ladies (Amy, Tricia, Mickey & Shannon) to run with here in town has helped tremendously. 3 of them (Tricia, Mickey & Shannon) will be attempting an insane 40-miler trail race on a very technically challenging course in Uwharrie National Park this weekend ... Good Luck! I lacked the guts to even contemplate something like this -- or perhaps I had some brains to not do so!

Our friends, Karen & Drew who are currently postdoc-ing in Denmark recently had a new baby girl, Clara Grayson Steen, on Jan 26th, 2010. Welcome Baby Clara!

~ Shuwen

ps: Finally got around to posting the pics from our travels in Dec (see "Photos" on the right) -- seemed like I didn't take photos while in France, Singapore or the US, but Mali & Thailand made it in!