Bay Area visit

It was a whirlwind visit, to be sure, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. I arrived Thursday night in San Francisco, and left Sunday morning. In the interim, I kept myself pretty busy. I didn't get much sleep Thursday night, because Sid had to stay up most of the night working, and we talked for a bit while he was doing that. Friday, I caught up with my old lab mates and professor at Berkeley, then took the afternoon to walk around the campus and check out some of my old favorite haunts. That night I met a friend from high school, Allison, and her fiancee for a quick dinner, joined by a former work colleague. Following that, Sid my friend Shirley and I met even more old friends and classmates for drinks, making Friday a late night as well. Saturday I had brunch with Amanda, an old friend, then returned to Sid's house to watch the football game and meet some former classmates who were coming over for the bbq. As it turned out, it was raining, so we cooked indoors instead of out, but it was still great to see all of my friends (Patch, Chris, Jenn, and even my sister Heidi!!)

Sunday was rather uneventful, other than cooking a quick breakfast with Sid, comprised of leftovers of the previous evening and supplies purchased from a market down the street. This was the first, and hopefully the last, time I pay $8.99 for a half gallon of orange juice, organic or otherwise. A pint of milk, orange juice, and three bananas: $18. Yikes! I thought food was CHEAPER in California!

In any case, I had a great time and realized how much I missed Cali. I can't wait for Christmas. Now, just a few more days until Rebecca returns from the wilds of Southeast Asia, and brings my studious scholarly evenings to an end.

L-R: Jimmy, Shirley, Sid, Tara, Dave and I, out Friday night on the town. Dave and Tara were nice enough to come out between 30hr shifts for their residencies, so they were a bit tired!
I didn't take any more photos on the weekend, unfortunately, but I did locate a few extras of the photos that I was handing out along with my costume on Halloween. These two haven't been signed yet...look out for good stocking stuffers!

billy no mates

Now that Rebecca is in Asia for a month, I am home all alone (well, not really because I live with two others), and I am spending more time studying, which is a good thing. I have two papers and a ton of work coming up in the next week or so, and I'm heading out to San Fran next weekend. I've been staying at school until 9 or 10 most nights. My nutritional well-being has definitely suffered, but I'm getting a bit more work done, or at least that's the idea.

Last night and tonight I am participating in a coed, intramural, innertube water polo tournament at school. I'm going to try to get some photos, because it's really hilarious. 6 on 6 with goalies, everybody in orange innertubes, and we play water polo. We are now in the quarter finals, due to 2 successive forfeits, but we got to practice last night in lieu of our game, and it was awesome.

It's getting pretty fallish here in terms of the weather. Most of the leaves have already changed, and in the mornings its been in the 40s - makes for a brisk ride to work.

Family weekend and Hallow's eve

Dad was in town for the weekend (thursday to Sunday), so good food and good times were in order. We got all of the errands out of the way on Friday (ie Costco), so Saturday and Sunday involved a lot of hanging out, watching movies, talking, and brunching/dining. We talked with the newest member of the family, Tryfan Lewis, Lisl and Rhodri's 3 day old son, on Sunday morning. We also went for a bike ride, had brunch at Eric and Kristin's, and dinner at mine, and went to the museum of the american indian to see a book signing and discussion with another family member, Uncle Joe. It was an awesome weekend, and the weather was gorgeous on Saturday and Sunday.

Now dad knows where Eric and I live, and he knows the shortest route to Costco from our respective homes.

Dad, Eric and I haven't just successfully completed our bike ride. Notice we all rode safely!

This (past) weekend, we decided to celebrate Halloween early by going to a couple costume parties. I went as Mitch Buchanan (David Hasselhoff's Baywatch character), and Rebecca went as a drowning victim/fisherman. Her makeup job was pretty creepy, and she really looked kinda lifeless. I, however, benefited from the surprisingly large numbers of David Hasselhoff and Baywatch fans out there (1), and from my incredible, handcrafted lifeguard buoy (2), so I got more recognition and catcalls while walking around town. It also didn't hurt that I had many color photographs of David Hasselhoff printed to hand out

Mitch with dead fisherwoman. She looks pretty creepy if you ask me!


Hard to make out, but here you have a 70s track team (Robin, Leo, Tim, Robin), with Mitch in the background, and Magnum PI (jesse) off to the side
Here is the whole crew at a party that we all went to together

bbq at the house

This being a warm saturday afternoon, and us having a working bbq, it was decided that we should use both to our advantage. We put the word out around 10: byom bbq, starting before sunset. People trickled in after 7 (of course, it was already dark), bringing libations, cheap hotdogs, and appetites, and we whipped up a successful, whirlwind of a dinner.

About ten of us turned up, and merriment was had all around. Here are Jesse, Tim (Stallion), Rebecca, Robin (Luis), and Robin (Naidoo) around the back stairs


Fun with flashlights

Now with flash
Iciar and Rebecca chatting on back steps
All the happy campers gathered around the table
Including Stallion, Jesse, Leo, and Will Jr.
And Meredith (roommate) and tired Rebecca

Surprise!

Rebecca's surprise 30th birthday party happened last week, and it went down really smoothly. Her family drove all the way down from Canadia to participate, and they arrived just in time. It went down like this:

A bunch of friends gathered at another friend's (Jesse's) house for dinner. Everybody had prepared some food to share. Everybody had also provided me with photos of Rebecca. Meanwhile, her parents, sister and aunt made the trip down from the Great White North. Rebecca made her way over and all the friends surprised her when she walked in the door. Then she went to the bathroom, and her family came out of hiding, and they surprised her. She was in tears and really happy. We spent the remainder of the weekend with her family, and went out to a nice (and..err..expensive) dinner on her real birthday Tuesday.

At the restaurant we went to, called Hook, I tasted my entree (salmon) but didn't quite like it. Our attentive waiter asked how everything was, and, after confiding that I wished I had taken his advice on menu selection, he insisted that I sent back my dish and brought me a different one quickly. I'd never sent a plate back unless it had something obviously wrong with it....this place definitely earned kudos for that.

Rebecca getting surprised by her mom (in green), dad (in blue), and sister Sabrina (in white). Jesse, host, in background
Rebecca is all tears talking to Sabrina
One of the cuter childhood photos that made the photo slideshow
Rebecca and Sabrina on the water in Georgetown following her birthday party

No more K.C.

That's right: K.C., or Kristin Chadez, my former brother's girlfriend, is now my sister-in-law. Other than that, a few hundred people, who knows how many dollar bills and flower bouquets, not much has changed.
On Aug 18 the wedding was held in Santa Barbara, and the reception followed in the parents backyard. It was a well-executed wedding - just enough spontaneity (including an aggressive female dancer and a guy puking on a bench) to keep it exciting, but it ended too early to really be crazy (thanks a lot, dad!)

Sadly, nobody was able to learn the location of the bridal suite until the next day (when it was too late), so it couldn't be 'redecorated' in honor of the special day. I'm sure that somehow the cosmos will align to mete out their inalienable justice: Eric participated in a redecoration of his sister's hotel room, and she, let alone her husband, has not yet forgotten it. I was in attendance, but only participated at threat of physical violence from my destruction-crazed brother.

Anyway, the wedding was fun and successful. Here are a few photos to share the love.

Prior to the wedding was a two week vacation to Washington State, specifically in and around Lake Chelan, to visit family and friends. The trip began in San Francisco, then progressed up to WA via Portland. After a week of R&R, we returned southward, again through San Fran, to Santa Barbara, arriving several days before the wedding. Wedding photos will follow after I get them.

Uncle Jim and I load the canoe into the lake

We found a stowaway on board on the boat trip uplake
There was also a fire near Holden that was burning pretty heavily (our boat was loaded with firefighters)
A map of colonial Africa that was in the schoolhouse in Stehekin. We thought it was pretty cool.
The Buckner orchard with deer grazing
Grandma Bucky and I chatting on the porch
Rebecca ties her first fly, under the expert supervision of Uncle Keith
Some of the crowd in attendance at the little sister's quilt display, opening night. The 'Little sisters' are my aunts Christie, Cinda, and Adrian. Pictured is grandma Bucky and great aunt Hobbie.
Grandma Bucky teaching Rebecca the ways of the river.

Isles of Maine

During the midst of a hot, sticky DC summer, a little trip to Maine was in order. Rebecca and I packed our bags and flew to Boston to begin the New England weekend. First, we stayed the night with Ed and Sue, Ed being an old friend from work. Their little boy, John, was very social, and very happy to meet us. It was a great visit, and it will be fun to see them again, hopefully soon.

The next day, we ventured north to Portland, Maine, where we departed for Peaks Island, which, among other things, is the home of my dear Aunt Carol and her partner in crime, Jackie. These are two of my favorite people, and, living in such a wonderful place, it really makes it hard NOT to visit more often!

We arrived Friday afternoon, and set about some serious relaxing. We read, napped, ran and biked around the island, helped with dinner, and fished! We were also treated to a delicious lobster dinner that will not soon be forgotten!

On the ferry ride over. yes, I needed a haircut.
The view on arrival, disembarking from the ferry.
The house on winding way: home sweet home
Working hard on dinner
We set out the next day to try to catch dinner
I soon took the helm of this majestic vessel
Sadly, we didn't catch fish, and had to settle for lobster!
A fitting end to a wonderful day.

a NY minute

Happy belated fourth of July! I went to a Nationals game with some friends, where I got to meet Screech, the mascot. Apologies for the low resolution on the camera phone.

This past weekend saw Rebecca and I go up to NYC. Saturday, I went out with friends Katie and Laura while Rebecca went to the 'Live Earth' concert with some of her friends. We all met up Saturday night to cause a ruckus.

Apart from the lack of sleep, everything was grand! Katie and I went shopping on Saturday to buy some ridiculous sunglasses ('stunna shades'), and outfits to go with them, including fake earrings... And...we took photos!

Here we are planning the days events
Katie and Laura ('Kitty' and 'Mina') on the prowl
en route
Mina and Carlo on the subway
How to you put a caption on this?
Carlo's Friend Billy, wearing my earring and Kitty's shades.

Done and Done!

It's weird having a normal life again. I can no longer decline social invitations solely on the basis of 'studying' priorities, and I am forced to engage with real people in discussing things other than school! It's scary. So, yes, I've been released from captivity. I've spend the past two weeks (other than working my day job) relaxing, catching up with old friends, and enjoying the summer. Speaking of, the summer plans are really shaping up nicely: This weekend, I go to New York to visit friends. The following weekend, camping in West Virginia. The following weekend, to Boston and Maine, the following weekend, Nick comes to visit, and, finally, the following weekend it's off to California and Washington. And that pretty much does 'er on the summer. I feel rushed already!

Yesterday, for the 4th, Rebs and I went to a brunch and two bbqs. We started the day with a bike ride through Rock Creek Park. The weather was really nice in the morning, but it absolutely poured on us as we rode through DC to get to bbq #2. we had to borrow clothes when we got there while ours were thrown in the dryer. Rebecca was none too pleased with having to ride through the downpour, (I thought it was fun), but her anger was mitigated by several sausages and some beer when we got to John and Carrie's. The brunch was delicious too - they made biscuits and gravy, and it was excellent. So, as I was reflected last night, we basically spent all day eating and riding bikes, and there were fireworks - basically the perfect summer day!!!

It's been a pretty good week already anyway. I found out Monday that I passed both of my qualifying exams, so I don't need to take them again! It's a huge relief, to be sure, and now I am a 'Ph.D. Candidate' (and I have to actually start to figure out what to do with myself)

I've also been looking to buy a bike. The test results made it easier to justify, as a reward for myself, and Rebecca's looking too, so it's been a nice distraction. I'll keep you posted on how the search goes. In not so fortunate news, I had a bit of an accident cooking dinner last Saturday night, and it left me with a marginally-reduced left thumb. It's still ugly to look at, but I'm definitely on the mend.

I'll post photos when back from NYC, and may even introduce everyone to the newest pony in the stable (if I buy a bike).

finish line in sight!

The first of the two exams that have occupied much of my thought and attention for the past year takes place tomorrow. The second exam is scheduled for the following Thurs, June 21. For the uninitiated, these 'qualifying' or 'comprehensive' exams are hurdles that one must past in the pursuit of a PhD. Theoretically, they are supposed to measure one's mastery of the fundamentals that will guarantee a minimum level of proficiency for the advancement to candidacy, but, as there is a 'curve' to the exam, official or not, whereby somewhere between 20-30% of the class does not pass, the exam is a bit more devious than advertised. Anyway, it will be done in two weeks, and it will be a relief.

I've had a lot of time to ruminate on them, given that finals finished in the middle of May, and I've spent the last month preparing. I would like the first year to a docent-led art museum tour. A group of you, some versed in art history, some masters of particular artists, some completely clueless, embark on this tour. The idea is, all of you want to become artists yourselves, but you have to become well-versed in the techniques and works of previous masters in order to learn from their mistakes and apply their good ideas. So far, so good. Well, in order to prove that you have this understanding, there will be an 'art quiz' at the end of the tour. In order to continue in your pursuit of artistry, you must pass this quiz. It is virtually guaranteed that not everybody will pass (you are competing against the other people on the tour). Finally, to spice things up, the tour will cover art from every conceivable style and time period. In order to make it through, the tour will be conducted somewhere between a light jog and a flat out sprint. You are encouraged to take notes.

So, that's my piece on the first year of this resource economics program. Let's hope the art quizzes go well. Just after my finals, I went to a farm in Virginia for a weekend of relaxation. We helped harvest some snow pieces and weed for a bit in exchange for a place to camp and a pond to swim in. It was fun!

The farm on the afternoon of our arrival. The line just visible on the left is actually an electric fence. Of course, I had to give it a go, and it really hurt!

We built a campfire to cook dinner/breakfast.
Then we swam in the pond.
Then people napped before the trip home.
All in all, a great way to relax! I hope the summer to come is full of trips like this!

Visits, birthdays and finals

Now the first year of classes is officially over for me, and I breathed easy over the weekend. It was surprisingly nice to discover that there is life outside of the 4th floor of Symons Hall, where I had spent the last few weeks preparing for finals and writing papers. In April, after Katie's visit, I had visits from two more friends, Laura, and Kiki. Both stayed at my apartment, and I was able to spend a little time with both of them, although school got in the way of my normal hosting activities. Nevertheless, I definitely enjoyed the company.

Eric, Kevin, Laura, and Kristin - all out to dinner without me (I was studying)

On our birthday, Eric and I, along with Rebecca and Kristin (and Kiki, who was in town), went out to a really nice dinner for our birthday. The food was delicious, and it was great to be able to spend my birthday with Eric, something that I haven't been able to do for the past few years.

Eric and I post birthday dinner
Rebecca and I after dinner

Eric and Kiki and I (she went to high school with both of us)


The following Friday (4/27), Eric and I threw a birthday bbq at my apartment, and a lot of friends and classmates came over to celebrate. It was a fun, although exhausting.

Me with my classmates and their family (no, Anna is not that prodigious!)
Janessa, Eric and I on my front porch
With Rebecca and Janet
Post parties, I had to buckle down and finish off the semester, which I did as of Friday. I haven't received the results yet, but it feels nice to be done anyway. Now, the real work begins. Two make-or-break exams, June 14 and June 21, to determine who advances to candidacy in the department. The exams are 3hours, written, and test the material learned over the first year (for the uninitiated, we learned a LOT of material in the first year). I will be spending the next month getting ready for those. June 22, I plan to do as little as possible.

Lest you think that my summer will be over at that point, fear not: I have to work full time until classes start in the fall, to make up for my less-than-halftime workload during the school year. It will be a nice change from schoolwork, though, so I am looking forward to it. They don't yet know about my vacation plans though...hmmm.