Disney Birthday

On December 14th we flew down to Anaheim to meet my family and Bob's parents at Disneyland. We spent Saturday and Sunday in the parks, exhausting ourselves. By 9:30pm Sunday night, after the fireworks, after many rides with a smile stretched across my face from g-forces, I said goodbye to my twenties and it was great.

Merry Christmas!!

Here are photos from the holiday with the family, the dogs and with Cascade girls. It was almost a white Christmas!

Trip up to Oregon

Bob and I (along with Lulu, Izzy and Mani - J & R's little dog)headed up to Oregon on the 20th and here are a couple of pictures. We drove west and then north and avoided the snowy mountain passes.

Goodnight Dogs!

Lulu and Weezy in their matching beds! Now if only i could get the cat to lay between them...

The 100th Post and Almost 30 weekend

Happy 100th post little Blog!

Next weekend I am turning 30. This last weekend Bob and Jeanne decided to surprise me, big time. They both showed up at my office on Friday morning! I had no idea she was coming to us. Then that evening he surprised me with a dinner and a HUGE group of friends. There were 24 of us for dinner. When they all sang Happy birthday I had tears in my eyes. 18 months ago, I only knew 4 of the people sitting around the table. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful friends here in Davis. Thank you all for coming and celebrating my almost 30th birthday!

Now here are a few pictures from the weekend!

8 out of 9 is not too shabby

That is the score ladies and gents. I have taken all nine of my exams and passed 8 of them the first time around. Let me tell you the story from Friday....

I left work early and as I drove home I had to pull over twice because of a clicking noise I could hear but not find. When I got home I found it, a nail in the passenger front tire. Bob of course pulls it out only to hear the whistling sound of the tire losing air. So he shoves the nail back in and prepares to put the spare tire on so we can drive to Vacaville to have it fixed. I go inside and my phone rings. It is Sheila telling me Caitlyn wanted to say 'hi'. I love my niece dearly, but this really wasn't the time to chat in the language of a four year old. She says 'hi' and then I hear Sheila in the background, along with my parents. 'You Passed!' My response was, 'which one?' because I have been waiting to hear about two exams - one all the way back from October 1st, and the answer was, 'Both!'. I was jumping up and down at this point. I smiled all night long. This has been a long 8 months, but thank you again for all of you who helped me through it. Now we just have to wait for March 6th when I can retake (hopefully) my last exam. (Side note: I still have to take the state exam, but for Oregon it is an open book test followed by an interview and it could happen in June or September.)

Thanksgiving Post 3

What a weekend to need three posts! Saturday evening we spent with Bob's family playing games and eating more tasty food. Sunday, we visited our house and cleaned the frozen blocks of leaves out of the gutters. That evening before we had to fly back, we had dinner with some close friends. Thanks everyone for another great trip home! To those of you we missed, I hope to see you at Christmas.

Thanksgiving Post 2

For the second year in a row, Spencer and Amy have also been in Sunriver and we met up for a winter hike, some Wii playing and a soak in the hot tub, but I won't bore you with pictures of the latter.

Thanksgiving post 1

Thanksgiving weekend this year involved flying into Redmond and spending the first half of the weekend with my parents, sister, niece and grandparents. We had a fairly traditional dinner, but we also had wonderful breakfasts of beignettes and cinnamon rolls. We also celebrated Cait's 4th birthday (which is why we are all wearing princess shoes). From left to right - Bob, me, Sheila, Mom, Grandma and Cait in the middle.

I'm also thankful for...

My family. This includes my extended family and my in-law family. Thanks for the memories growing up and the memories we make together now. Thanks for the vacations and holidays together. Thanks for shared meals and game playing. Thanks for lengthy emails and phone conversations, for loaned money, for making small events big events, for visiting us and making it easy to visit you, for borrowed cars and trucks, for pet sitting, for house remodeling, fence building, manure scooping, garden helping, house painting. Thanks for teaching us things both the easy way and the hard way. Thanks for taking us out to eat, and bringing pizza over, thanks for advice and prayers. Thanks for understanding that we are very different, but most of all thank you for all you do. I am very grateful for you.

I'm thankful for...

Today I am thankful for several things, but I'll focus on one. For friends in Davis and friends in Oregon, for friends all over the US from Arizona to Montana to DC to the midwest, for our friends all over the world (specifically Germany). For memories with those friends that make me smile and my heart laugh, for friends that email and message me, for friends that call, for friends that send packages, pictures, and letters. For friends that include us in special events even though we are far away (the baby websites, picture websites ect). For friends we can call any time of the day, for friends we can complain to, cry on the shoulder of, or hope for a better tomorrow with. For friends who take you out to a drink, or bring the drink over to celebrate, for friends that share cake together, take trips together, shop together and read together. Thank you friends, I am very blessed to have you in my life.

First weekend with no studying!

For me, this was the first weekend without studying since I started my tests last April. Did I do anything terribly exciting, no. But here is how my weekend went...Friday night I had a great fall dinner with two grad student significant others and another friend popped in briefly. We talked until midnight and it was really nice. Saturday I headed to Woodland to see a youth soccer game and then picked up Bob at the airport. That afternoon we played a great game of soccer and followed by some of the best Chinese food in California. Today has been full of household issues like laundry and carpet cleaning (they were too disgusting and I couldn't handle it!) Tonight I have our first book club meeting of the fall. It wasn't an exciting weekend, but a nice calm one.
This week I will only be working two days because on Wednesday we fly home to Oregon! We are hoping that it snows between now though. Later this week I'll be writing on what I am thankful for. Right now I am thankful for no more tests until March, and that it was another beautiful sunny day here today.

Product Problems

I feel I must clarify something. Yes, I am concerned about the number of cases of cancer being on the rise, but that is not my main concern with ingredients in our lotions, gels, and shampoos. Yes, I am concerned about the potential damage to reproductive and other developing systems in children. But that is not my main issue either. The biggest problem I have is that we shouldn't have to worry at all. These ingredients should be regulated. I should be able to put on any kind of lip gloss, use any kind of lotion and wash with any kind of soap, without wondering if their are KNOWN toxins, without wondering if what goes down my shower drain is causing frogs to have 4 eyes and 6 legs, without wondering if what I use a normal every day basis is causing an employee in a manufacturing plant to expose themselves to poisons. If the UK and EU have regulations, why doesn't the US? Why is there lead in lipstick and kid's toys? Why are their petroleum based ingredients in face wash and make up? If you won't rub gas on your skin at the gas station, why would you wash with it or use lotion with it? My point is there are safer ingredients companies can use, so why aren't they using them, and more importantly, why are they allowed to use the harmful ones in the first place?

Green Fest

I had a great time in San Francisco on Saturday at Green Fest. There was tasty food, samples, lectures, coupons, and all sorts of things to learn about. There were also a ton of people. Most of you know that one of the things I am interested in is the ingredients found in cosmetics (Note: Cosmetics are not limited to make-up, but include, deodorant, shampoo, lotions, gel, etc. as well). There is a website you can go to and either look up the products they have in their data base and see how harmful they are, or enter in your product (including all the ingredients) and it will tell you which of those ingredients is harmful. Now, when I say harmful, I mean carcinogenic, neorotoxic, disruptive to endocrine, reproductive and developmental systems, or are occupational hazards. My main issue is that there is currently little to no restrictions for these products. The FDA does not regulate the amount of lead in your lipstick, the government is not protecting us. In the US there are thousands of chemicals used that are banned in Europe, what is being hidden from us? Here is a list of some of the most disturbing products. So I encourage you all to go to Skin Deep and from there you can send a letter to congress about getting the FDA involved to make sure that all ingredients are listed and that the most harmful ones are left out of our products. When you get ready tomorrow morning, count the number of things you use on your body from gel to toothpaste to contact solution and I think you may be surprised. Make sure you dispose of your more harmful products properly, don't just pour them down the drain, because if they shouldn't be on your body, they shouldn't be in our water supply either.

Comments Day 5

Items to mention:
My sister hit a 'big bug' (aka a deer) on the way to pick up Cait last night. The car is still drivable, but has damage.
I'm ready for Thanksgiving, but sad Lulu won't be coming with us.
I'm looking forward to heading into San Francisco this weekend for Green Fest, and finding hippie Christmas gifts!
I am really tired today, but I hope to play townball with the history students this afternoon.
Today I've been working on a material and color board for the city to review, so look for that on here soon.

Last night's lecture was pretty good. Eric is one smart guy. He went through why 'liberal' has come to mean something negative for so many people. Personally I'm proud to be one (along with 20% of Americans). He spoke of some major items in history that either liberals did or had done to them that have left a negative feelings towards liberalism from Truman trying to continue what FDR had been doing, to Kennedy and Johnson. This was very interesting to me, but lightly touched on (understandingly so most of the room was filled with historians that may have been bored with this part, yet I hadn't had it phrased to me that way before.) So the country leaned more and more to the right. There is an opinion of those truly on the left that things must get worse before they can get better and the 2006 elections were enough for some people to see that and begin leaning left again. Although he mentioned there were still many more democrats elected in 1994, (maybe he was hinting that Reagan/Bush era was worse than this Bush era?) He spoke of the upcoming election with hope. To me, hope that middle class, middle state America would realize that the things they most value, have not been paid attention to and the left is ready to listen.

Comments Day 4

My goal of blogging every day has almost been realized, except that I think the only one reading is my faithful commenter, Katie. Today I am not particularly inspired to blog about something controversial, I have no rage towards a news event or article that I need to share. I am looking forward to a few things however, one is a lecture tonight and the other is Green Fest this weekend in San Francisco. And in the upcoming weekends I want to go to Apple Hill and a huge craft store in Sacramento.

First things first, the lecture is by Eric Alterman, a professor from Brooklyn College, City University of New York. He has written several books including, 'What Happens when Presidents Lie', 'Why We are Liberals', 'What Liberal Media: The Truth About Bias and the News', 'How George W Bush (mis)Leads America' and 'Who Speaks for America?: Why Democracy Matters in Foreign Policy'.

At the end of November I'll also be going to listen to an author Luis Alberto Urrea speak about immigration and the US/Mexico border. Sometimes I love living in a college town, which does bring me to this point. The election here in Davis only had three issues, a school bond, a library bond, and a school board member. Both bonds passed with over 70% support. Someone commented on how it is nice to live in a town where you are the majority and the majority is doing the right thing.

Comments Day 3

First let me say, I passed another test. That makes one retake, one left to take, and one I am still waiting to hear on, but 6 known passes.

Today I was going to comment on the price of the oil barrel and mention an article in the NYT magazine from Sunday about Oil and Venezuela, but instead, health insurance.

I have health insurance through my employer, but no dental, so I picked up an individual plan. Well I finally made a dentist appointment, by looking online at who was a member and then calling them. I found two disconnected numbers and one listing that was recently accused of assaulting his patients. So I picked the only one listed, went, and then got the bill. Turns out she isn't a member any longer! I spent 15 minutes on the phone with someone and have decided to cancel it. They only covered 1/3 of the cost! Since I have not had problems in the past, it just isn't worth me paying for both bad insurance and then dentist. Why is this such an issue? Why does it cost $300 to go to a dentist and not have problems? Anyone know how to fix the problem? Everyone knows there are big problems, what I really want to know is why socializing medicine has such a negative meaning to some people?

Comments Day 2

The topic today is voting! Happy Voting Day everyone, or for Oregonians, happy drop off your ballot day if you did not mail it earlier. I know there aren't many issues in this election (in California), mostly library and school board issues, but go exercise your American right and participate. (I do look froward to seeing the results for measure 49 in Oregon.)
http://www.designobserver.com/archives/029268.html I must be on the edge of two generations. I feel myself agreeing with her, yet I don't feel I need to be pushed to vote. Interesting at the very least.

One year from today we'll be voting for a new President. With so much hype for the primaries and so many candidates, if you haven't done so already, check out this website. It provides an interesting look into which candidate matches with your views. If anyone wants to list their top or bottom three, just for kicks, go ahead. I took this a couple weeks ago, I'll do it again and post my results.

http://www.dehp.net/candidate/

Possible topics later this week - Oil, Education, Water, Laws.

Comments?

In an attempt to encourage more comments, I posted a 'list five things' survey, but instead, if you find yourself on my page please take a look at this http://www.sojo.net/ Faith, politics, and culture. Check out the magazine, the prayers for peace, and other articles. It is so easy for me to get worked up lately, but maybe this is a better outlet. I will try to post things instead of flying off. I do not understand how two people can read or listen to the same thing and hear completely different things.
So that is today's page. I hope to have a page a day this week.

Sometimes...

Sometimes I love the life of a grad student's wife. I have a pretty good network set up of other significant others, topics of conversation are usually interesting, people have pretty similar interests and concerns, we do fun things together (from movies to camping to soccer) and it is a unique group from all over the world really. And yet other times I think I am ready to be the professor's wife. Have students over, have tea for the other professors wives, slow down a little. What does this say about me? Am I on the edge of becoming old? Am I tired of the adventure? Nah, but maybe I am ready for winter with hot chocolate, reading, and knitting. Maybe I don't need a 'summer of George', but a winter of.

Be afraid...

Not of Halloween. With less than 60 days until primary elections begin, I find myself troubled and scared. I should find it hopeful and educational. I should be able to vote for the best candidate that I feel is worthy of being the big 'P'. I've been told I cannot vote out of fear and yet in my very short voting life, I have already done so. Its no secret I'm a pretty liberal person, married to a more liberal dude (I can say that we live in California). I'm not ashamed I voted for Nader, but I wish I could vote for the Green Party more often without being afraid that it would cause another ugly election like in 2000. Something is definitely still messed up with our system. How about this quote from a blog on the NYT
'Mr. Obama is lagging far behind Mrs. Clinton in the polls because he still hasn’t positioned himself as a unique candidate, reports Scott Helman of the Boston Globe.
“It’s Wal-Mart and Kmart - they’re occupying the same space,” said Benjamin Ginsberg, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.'
I don't want Kmart and I certainly don't want Wal Mart in charge of cleanup for the next 4 years. So here it is, attack me now if you need to. I'm voting for Edwards, not out of fear, but out of hope. And I hope I can do the same when it comes to next November.

Halloween Hound

Happy Halloween! Here is a picture of Lulu from last Saturday. I hope to have one of Weezy (friend's dog) and maybe even one of us after tomorrow night. Until then, enjoy Lulu-bug. (Not a piece of watermelon)

Sister Weekend 2

Sunday we caught a cable car to Fisherman's Wharf where we took a great little tour of the bay. We caught a bus back through China town and then did a little shopping before heading back to Davis.

Sister weekend

Sheila flew in on Friday and we had dinner with friends and went Contra dancing with more friends. It was quiet the experience, here is part of the group resting. The next morning we headed to Santa Cruz, saw the butterflies and the boardwalk, had lunch and then headed to the city to catch the sunset from Telegraph Hill and drive down Lombard - which also meant I had to drive poor Teddi up some of the steepest hills.

Fuming all night...

Last night I logged in and saw that some one named 'anonymous' had posted to my blog. This happens occasionally. I don't usually post controversial topics so I don't usually get negative feedback. I didn't even mean to post something controversial with my environmental day blog. However, it seems to have gotten someone rather worked up and I am not sure why. Then I posted in retaliation, but I am still thinking about it. I am very confused as to why this person was upset. I didn't tell them what they could or could not do. I believe that recycling is the easiest thing we can do and there really is no excuse not to do it. I didn't tell anyone what to do on their property, I didn't tell anyone to become a vegan, or give up any modern conveniences. And calling me a fascist, that is interesting. Call me a socialist, an environmentalist, but a fascist? So let me be controversial now. I believe health care is a human right. I believe women have the right to choose. I believe in free speech, freedom of the press and freedom of religion. I believe church and state have two completely different roles in our life. I believe in taxes. I believe that people are innocent until proven guilty. I believe men and women should be regarded as equals - equal pay, equal rights, equal abilities. I believe global warming is happening. I believe if you are an industrial polluter or a Hummer owner, you should be taxed for it. I believe we all need help now and then. I believe every action has a reaction. I believe in prayer. I believe we can make a difference. So if you want to attack me, get to know me first and please have the guts to post who you are. Comments will have to be approved by me and can not be anonymous. And if you don't know my fellow bloggers attached to this page, leave them out of this. Now, I suppose you can tell me that I told you what to do. If you still can't figure out that we all benefit from living a little bit 'greener' life, then I am sorry. You are no longer hurting yourself but those around you in the long term. I believe if we don't start changing the ways we use energy and consume goods, that there will be a problem in the near future. So why wait until we are forced to recycle and conserve, why pay the higher prices for fuel and products made with petroleum bases, why wait until garbage dumps are located inside city limits, why wait until all children have asthma, why not start now. For those of us that can afford to do so, should.
On another note, my sister comes to visit this weekend so I hope the picture posting problem is fixed soon!

Fall!

It rained today, but here are pictures from the last couple of weeks of our 'fall' weather.

Lulu and Mani after the soccer game. Mani likes to steal the frisbee! The beginning of my fall garden.

National Environmental Blog Day

I believe I still have a couple hours left to leave you with my thoughts on the environment. Don't abuse it. Respect it. Recycling is probably my biggest pet peeve, or I should say the lack of it and the misuse of it. It is so easy to do and yet either people can't figure it out, or aren't willing. No, your used paper towel is trash, but your box from the crackers you just chewed with your mouth open, is recyclable. No, you don't put recyclables in a trash sack and then in the recycle bin. Yes, your Starbucks cup, lid, and jacket are recyclable, but hey why not take your own cup or at least reuse the jacket?

Let's talk about School

It is fall after all, so let's talk about school. I hope to have pictures of fall in Northern California soon, but in the meantime, check out this article about statistics of the PhD. Graduate Student Article

I'm Okay with it, I guess

I failed a test. I think there is only a 5% chance that one passes everything the first time, so it was bound to happen with one of these tricky tests. I now have to wait 6 months from when I took it, to take it again. It is a little bit of a bummer, but what can I do. I was marginal in only one of the seven areas and I don't know whether to feel good about that or be even more frustrated for being so close.
I took another one yesterday also. I fell good about 70% of it so let's hope that is enough to pass. If not, then March 6 and April 1 will both be retesting time. I hope to take test 8 on October 19 and number nine in November. Thanks again to everyone for pushing me forward and cheering me on!

Approaching Burn-out

Me. I am.
I'm taking test number 7 on Monday and finding it very difficult to study. I don't think it is the beautiful day outside, but rather the fact that I am getting tired of this. It is a good thing I only have three more tests to go because it is getting harder and harder to study. I'm not terribly excited about these last three and I think I will be retaking test number 6. Don't get me wrong I look forward to November so much (that is when I plan to take number 9, before the holidays begin) that I will not take a vacation from the tests, but I sure do want to!

The life of an acedemic

http://crookedtimber.org/2007/05/30/parents-and-children/#more-5916

The above is a recent blog entry from someone in the acedemic profession. Bob and I can clearly relate to them.

I'm having trouble knowing what to post after my last one since nothing seems quite as important as it. Thank you all for your comments. I am thankful God made us passionate people and I just need to be reminded what to do with that energy.

Its not supposed to be

Every day we lose more young men and women fighting a war that we shouldn't be fighting. Most of the time I can turn my head or simply speak my disgust about it and our administration dragging us into it. But today I grieve. I found out that one of my former co-workers lost a son last week. I want to do something for her and even though I am sad and angry, nothing can compare to what they are feeling. It is times like this where I want to carry the weight of the world, I want to stop the genocide in Africa, I want there to be no more child soldiers, no more starving people, no more children without healthcare, but how can I, one small person with a regular job actually help. How many peace rallies, how many fundraisers can I attend? And it leaves me feeling pretty miserable, pretty worthless, because what does my job do to help anyone? And so today I will trudge on with a heavy heart for the world and a sad heart for my friend.

Pizza Tonight

Fall is here, classes are starting, and it is time to meet the new history grad students, tonight. I remember a lot from this night a year ago. I remember most of the people I met and I remember some of the thoughts I had. I also remember being the only spouse in Bob's class and how I left feeling very sad. I remember it all being a whirlwind and Bob trying to tell me about the program, about the students, and about his 12 hour day with them. The days that followed the pizza night I learned I was not alone. There were five significant others (SOs) joining my plight. By the time Halloween came, there were six and then I started meeting second and third year SOs. I must say that two of these SOs live outside of Davis, one of them has remained a friend but is not a SO anymore, and one I have not met (so really there are 2 of us). Now I'll be a second year SO. There were 13 students in Bob's program last year, now there are 11 (and the new class has only 9). I look forward to tonight, not only to see who Bob will be working with, who we'll be hanging out with, but to see what the SOs are like. Graduate School is a funny thing, being the wife of a graduate student is even harder to explain, but I think I like it most of the time.

Granite Lake

This weekend, Bob and I (and Lulu of course) headed to Tahoe for one last summer camping trip. We hiked in a mile and a half and camped at Granite Lake. The weather was great and we had a wonderful time. The pictures say more about the area and our trip than I can.

These views are of Tahoe and Emerald Bay and Cascade Lake.

5 for 5

I have to admit, it feels really good. I was so happy all of last night after my mom called to tell me they got the letter on my 5th exam and it was a pass! This was the test I thought for sure I would fail the first time around. It was not my strong field in school. Thanks again to everyone for your support, thoughts, and prayers for each test. So I have one left to be graded (Lateral Forces) and three left to take (Pre Design, Site Planning, and Construction Documents). I hope to take two in October and one in November. I started this process in April, without such high hopes, and now that seems like so long ago! Thanks again everyone, I couldn't do it without you! And for those of you now wondering why my parents get the letter, here is the story. NCARB is the national accreditation board and they are notorious for losing track of people who move, change their name etc., so I have always left my address at their house, knowing that they were less likely to move than I was (since graduating and starting my record with them I have moved three times). Some people chose to have it sent to their offices, but I have had 3 different jobs since then also. So the letter goes to my parents and they call me. The first one was difficult because no one knew where to look for the pass or fail and they had to read the whole letter to me. The third test I took was actually my first multiple choice (there are 3 graphic exams and 6 multiple choice) and my dad called me with the results. I had felt so disappointed after taking the exam I was sure it was a fail and I asked him if he was lying to me. I told him it wasn't funny to joke around, I really didn't believe him. The likelihood of me passing all 9 on my first try is slim. The odds and statistics are against me. Of course it would be great, but I just want everyone to know what could be expected in the next 4 letters. At then end of all this I will have to take an open book test on Oregon's laws and then have an interview with the Oregon State Board. After that I'll get a license number and the precious rubber stamp! I will have another exam to take after this is all done though. I want to also become LEED certified (which stands for Leader in Energy and Environmental Design) but they tell you right away if you pass that exam or not. I would then get to add AIA, LEED after my name. The light at the end of the tunnel is a little brighter today.

September 9

Tomorrow will be our one year Davis anniversary. I think we have adjusted pretty well and the newness has worn off. The new grad students are arriving and some old ones have already left. We have made wonderful friends, but of course we miss the ones back in Oregon. I suppose when we leave here though, there will be things we will miss also so let me focus on things I like about Davis. I like the weather and being able to swim outside and have bbqs and picnics for four months out of the year while not worrying about if it is going to rain. I like wearing my chacos for nine months of the year. I like the farmers market and the co-op. I like how close we are to a convenient airport. I like being able to purchase alcohol at the grocery store like it isn't a forbidden item. I like the fresh tortillas and a bakery that makes tasty sticky buns. I like that the plants outside live year round. I like having strawberries for six months out of the year. I like not having to walk Lulu in the rain. I like playing soccer on Saturdays. I like my book club. When I first started this blog I heart CA was a joke, I was a hard core Oregonian dragging my feet. I did not want to become the Californian I was supposed to hate. Now there are things I like and dislike, but I don't hate California, or the people who live here. Are they bad drivers, yes. Do they have ridiculous prices for housing, yes. But they also have a beautiful state that I have enjoyed exploring this year. Am I proud to be one of them? Maybe not yet, my Oregon roots are pretty deep.

Labor Day Weekend

What a full weekend! It started with a trip to the beach and ended with a bbq on a new deck.

More pics soon

I'll have a wrap up of the month as well as labor day weekend up here soon, after I take test number 6 tomorrow.

Weekend in Davis

This was my first August weekend in Davis. I'm sorry I missed everyone at home this weekend, including my nephew's third birthday party, but it was nice to not have a flight to catch for once. Here is a little photo wrap-up of my weekend spent with some girlfriends.





This was my attempt at being artistic. It was light both inside and out and I have no idea what setting the camera was one, but those are the Napa hills through champagne flutes.

To the left is Lake Berryessa.