Another note... here are some highlights from the New year's pics (finally!). I've got about two dozen more worth sharing, but the process of uploading them here is annoyingly slow so I'm going to just share them when I see you.

t

I'm blogging, I'm blogging... I can do it to, Amanda... I knew I'd eventually prove it you all. I actually have less time than ever right now because those 4 weeks and counting are a really big countdown for me. I've never felt so much pressure about time or had so many things to do at once that were all priorities, but so far I've survived. I've been working hard to tie up loose ends in my research with people here, teaching two summer classes, and getting ready to move, all of which are a huge deal. However, I've been putting the most effort into enjoying my time with Dmitrius, a few close friends here, and the gorgeous Pacific NW scenery. Though I've barely had time to think about it, I'm totally stoked to see you all, too.




Speaking of the outdoors, I love to see the pics of your adventures, Amanda and Shyama! Those critter pics are fantastic (even though you didn't take them all!). Hopefully after our drive, Steve and I will have some crazy wildlife sitings to post about, too. I've been doing about a hike per week around here, too, which has been good for my soul, but I've not seen much wildlife. I have, however, seen some great wildflowers, which have been blooming late this year because of the onset of the summer. The ones in this pic were on the edge of a cliff on the Cape Horn hike that I re-did after doing it with Steve like 3 years ago, and the other shot is just a good one looking straight down the Gorge, which I'm sure you do miss!

I also coached Dmitrius' t-ball team, which was an experience that I can only describe as being akin to trying to herd cats, since this was the first organized group activity for most of these kids. It was great though because it was a bonding experience for he and I, he's an awesome ballplayer already (good coaching, I'm sure!), and most of his teammates were kids recruited from his preschool. I'm putting our unofficial team photo up, too, but the photos are coming out in the wrong order because I'm an idiot with this blog.

He and I have been taking lots of other adventures, including a trip to meet my old VT friends, Sam, Sam, Ashley, Andrea, Corey, and Corey, in Pinchord-Giffort Nat'l Forest. We had a cabin for a night that was on a river that ran right between Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens, and we brought a pinata (D's idea!), squirt guns, and lots of beer. You can see him chasing Sam with a squirt full of snow melt river water that was about 38 degrees! He was a trooper though, as he even got all the way in with me.

He's also been a huge reader and writer at school (or learning to be one), and before school let out he would draw pictures and write a few words to make about 2 books per day. He also says he wants to be a teacher and an author when he grows up, which doesn't suck to hear! His teachers say they've never seen a kid take to writing these books so much, and they have a junior author hat that he's wearing in this other picture.

My favorite activity that he and I have done together has to be the composting that we set up at his school. I even got to come in and teach the kids about it and show them how it works, then they got to help us put the dirt and newspaper into the bin to get it started. That's where the shot of him on my lap is from, as well as the one of him reaching into a bucket.

That's about all that I have time to post right now, but know that I love you all and can't wait to see you!

taj

Mostly Work...mostly Play!

Hey guys! I'm blogging! and for the first time this year:( sooooo sad! Well you are in for it:) I only have the photos that i have on my work computer so most are from work, surprise, surprise! I hope you enjoy them regardless:) and i will try to stay on top of this...but no promises......

Here is the happy couple at Cabrillo NAtional monument. it's real beautiful!

Shyam got this great shot of pelicans passing over us.

you can walk along the tops there

relaxing with thoughts

Shyam with his #1 fan near the top of Viejas Mt.

Happiest dog on top of Viejas Mt.!

Happy dog and her stepmom:)

Another happy dog on top of Sycamore canyon!

Happy dog = Happy mom!

Shyam and i sporting our new hats...you will see his in PDX but not mine!

View from the chopper

You may have to dbl click to see it but there is a sherd and a flake. A sherd is a piece of pottery left from native americans and a flake is a piece of rock that has been chipped away from a stone they used for making arrowheads. I usually always have an archeologist on site with me nad it has been awesome to learn all about the native people and their culture.

This was an amazing day of hiking. CAGF are opening the big horn sheep areas soon and i got to go with the ESA team to mark out waterbodies and culturally sensitive sites. This is the rocky grade on the I-8 heading eastward towards AZ. was beautiful!

Alright, so below are photos that i would like to take credit for but cannot. They are some awesome photos taken with a camera way better than my own. I have been tossing around the idea of spending some $$ on a new camera with some special lenses......this is the time that you convince me that i should....:)







Colorado desert shovelnose snake. These guys are real small snakes and sooo beautiful! I love the way they aren't ringed but looks like someone paintedtheir stripes on them!

Rosy boa...still haven't seen one of these.....plenty of time though!

Southern Pacific rattlesnake....a great example of why i want a new camera! same guy below.

Long nose leopard lizard. In this species the female exhibits the difference in coloration to attract a mate.

Ummmm, this would have been one of the most amazing things to walk up on. A pair of male red back rattlers fighting for territory and (i heard) a female was close by.

Back to my photos.....

A CA legless lizard. he is a lizard because he has no ear openings and cannot unhinge his jaw to eat. He can also drop his tail if need be.

Coronado skink sans tail....if he did have one it would be blue and beautiful!

shovelnose snake that i saved onsite.

san diego coast horned lizard in a compromising position. they get real docile when you turn them on their back. i love him!

This desert iguana was a monster and he looked so cool in the creosote.

This is a flat tailed horned lizard a sub species to the above. The differences are markings on the back and belly. We took a training class on identification and came across like of these guys. it was pretty badass!

This was like a dream come true. These two were just about to start or had just finished making babies. It was super cool to see them together!

sidewinder hiding in the sand.

This was a nice surprise on my way home from work one day. A CA kingsnake.

The largest meatiest gopher snake i have ever seen!

profile of the san diego coast horned lizard.

full frontal:)

This guy was just posing for me all day! I was goingto include like 4 photos but figured you guys would think they were all the same:)

Southern pacific rattler

Speckled rattlesnake

As usual i ended up deleting some photos...that is just what happens with the amount of space inserted b/n pictures. It's alright, Taj, we don't expect you to understand:)

Anyways guys We are so excited to get some friend time in and say goodbye to Portland again:) Just under 4 weeks and counting, it's gonna be awesome!

Steve was asking about money owed for the rooms and we decided that we are gonna cover the Jupiter hotel costs because it was our idea and we know that we coulda just stayed at Taj's. The coast room was $45 a person. Don't send a check just pick up dinner or drinks one night and we're all good:) Again and again We cannot wait for vacation!!!!!

xoxo, ac & ss