Moving on to Bigger (not necessarily better) Things...

Jellies at the Aquarium!
View from Point Lobos

My Summer Travels

I realized that I never concluded my seaside adventure. Here is my departing entry, summing up my last few days in Monterey and hinting at future things to come. I worked hard to finish everything up by Friday the 8th, technically the first day of finals, so that I could play! This made the weekend a lot more exciting.

On Friday evening, most of the Belden complex went out to dinner at Tillie Gort's. It was nice having everyone together. The next day I had a lovely time lunching with a family friend and exploring Point Lobos and cozy little Carmel. I must get out there again, some time! And then, of course, I had to hold a B-Break for the poor toiling Bio Core kids! Sunday was rather boring...I'm not sure what I did besides pack.

Monday, Laura and I went to the Aquarium!!! So much fun. Oh, and that night I baked again and packed! Tuesday afternoon, we went back to campus after a fiasco of a laundry morning! Anyways, after a couple of days on campus, talking to my advisor, going to the Earth Systems GPP (graduating persons party), I came home.

Now, I'm off on another adventure (boy I'm getting tired). I am leaving on Sunday for Madagascar, where I will be conducting botanical surveys on epiphytes. This is to compare the availability of a staple fall-back food item for the sifaka in pristine versus disturbed habitat. We'll see how that goes. So far, I'm just worried about packing everything and carrying around a few thousand dollars in cash! Yikes! I will finish that little expedition with a few days in Paris (an extended layover). I will not have access to internet, and so you will not be getting the exciting updates as you have for the past year. But, I promise an excellent 7 week summary!


-Hasta Lavista, Baby!

I'm Still Alive!

Potluck Fun! John Steinbeck's House?

I know that you may all have been a little worried about me, since I haven't posted in ages, but here I am! Apparently the last time I wrote was May 28th...and not too much has happened since then. I went to in-house draw at East, got stuck in a one-room double with a random roommate, and now I'm on the waiting list for another house! I imagined senior year better than this!

Thursday was our Disney themed potluck! Granted everyone was really stressed for finals the next week, so it wasn't as wild and crazy as was hoped for, but still fun! Of course, my favorite part was Winnie the Pooh-zookie!

The weekend flew by; I had a lot of work. I still managed to squeeze in the farmer's market on Tuesday and a B-break on Wednesday. Finally, our presentations for the research class came on Thursday and I finished up my finals on Friday! Woohoo...Junior year is over. I'm not a...shhh...don't say the S-word!

Maintenant, je vaise regarder un film en francais!

Life or something like it...

Hmmm, when was the last time I wrote? I can't imagine that anything drastic has occurred since then. Let's just go over the hi-lites, shall we?

Ok, potlucks have been non-existent due to midterms and missing persons. B-break was incredible last week with a middle-school dance theme and muddy buddies/rice krispy treats to hold the crowd. Unfortunately, halfway through, our toilet started leaking out the bottom and we were without it for a day. How do people without dorm-like neighbors handle this? Anyways, things are just peachy-keen again!

Friday, I disected a mussel, decided that I can't understand the appeal of eating these slimy critters, and vowed I would never eat one again (not that I was going to...). That afternoon, I mailed out my visa applicatio (Madagascar, here I come). My Les Miserables cohorts and I went to an exciting production of Pirates of Penzance, learned what makes up a Model of a Modern Major General, and decided we should not attempt to drive in the dark any longer. Unfortunately, 10:30pm that night I started packing for the weekend. But, I got distracted by Orange County and more importantly, the draw results. I'm in EAST house (no Kairos, tear), don't know anyone, but hopefully I will get a single and can EA in Cbae (oh yeah, I'm a poet)! 1:30am and finally I'm in bed.

Why was I packing? Well, my cousin got married today! I left my apartment at 5:00am Saturday morning (j'aim ma camarage de chambre!) and got into Denver that morning. My dad and I trecked out to Boulder for the day, picked out an awesome internal frame pack (which I found cheaper online), and went to VG Burgers, with which I am enamored! Sunday was a lazy day during which I did none of the work I had planned on doing, but ate plenty of junk (mmm...lemon bars). And, the wedding today was very nice.

Let me fill you in a little about Friedman weddings. My eldest uncle has four kids, three of which have married since October 2005. At these functions, I meet the hordes of relatives, close and distant, that I have only heard of by name or never even knew existed in the first place. I got the "what do you want to do with your life" question a bazillion times. And, my grandpa of course "introduced" me to a nice Jewish boy who lives in San Fran. But, most of these relatives are orthodox and/or East Coasters who live a lifestyle I can hardly begin to understand.

Now I'm back having frittered away another weekend. I have no paper written, no advisor meeting arranged, and I can't even pay my for my plane ticket until they send me the damn paperwork! (breath, Rachel, breath. You have all of tomorrow - it's only due tomorrow or you lose your ticket...)

Sorry for babbling, it's been an interesting week and a not-so-interesting week before (did I even mention it? what did I do...)

-Au Revoir

Surprises and Sailing

TThe happy crew...but where is Rachel? See the pair of legs and bit of green shirt in the back? That's how I was for 99% of the trip! :(

Since nothing ever seems to happen in Monterey, of course I have an exciting weekend back on campus. Yesterday, I skipped out of my class early and went back to campus. I went to my advisor's surprise birthday! It was so much fun to see everyone and hang out with Earth Systems kids and faculty. AND I got to tell everyone that I now have enough funding to go to Madagascar and try out the unknown. Oh my goodness.

Then, I had a lovely Hillel evening, made cupcakes with Kaitlin and Amanda for Kairos' special dinner (pink and orange frosting, woohoo), and watched a couple of episodes of Sex and the City.
Ok, fastforward six hours later to when I woke up this morning. I went sailing with a few friends in Santa Cruz. Bad Idea. I should have roamed the boardwalk instead. About halfway into lunch (luckily only a piece of challah and strawberries at that point), I began to feel very sick. Loss of lunch and 4 hours of sleeping on the top deck later, we arrive back to land. Phew, I'm still feeling a little woozy, but much better.

Going to take it easy now...

Mad Scientist's Lab

My mad scientist's experimental set up!
This is what I get at B-Break...the Cottage Boys' Traveling Band - guita, ukulele, etc
Laura models the Butterfly House
My beautiful creation of swiss chard, sweet potato gnocchi, yams, and flame grilled chik'n. My other culinary pursuits include carrot spaghetti, breaded eggplant or tofu cutlets, and made-for-one apple cobbler...impressed?

I really don't have anything to say, but I have a few pictures to post. I haven't done anything interested, just worked more on my experiment, watched a few movies, stayed by myself all weekend, got some more grant money, started freaking out about summer, finished freaking out about draw, and made some exciting culinary masterpieces.





The End

Les Petits Miserables

Il fait du soleil au jourd'hui et je vais a la biblioteque tot. J'ai eu une semaine interesante, mais je n'a pas encore des photos. Vous vous demandiez porquoi j'ecrit en Francais. Puisque seulement certains de vous parlez Francais, j'ecrit le reste en Anglais.

Excuse my French. Now, where were we? Oh, yes, Wednesday. I believe I started a mussel aggregation experiment so that I would have something that actually worked. I don't think I did much else except have B-Break, for which Liz made funfetti cake. Now, in your mind is Funfetti frosting the sprinkle kind or the rainbow chip? I always thought it was rainbow chip, but I was sorely disappointed to find out that that is not the true funfetti!

Thursday was a blast. I made chili cornbread pie for the potluck (Cinco de Mayo theme). Basically, make a beautiful 3-bean chili, pour it in a pan, mix up some Marie Callender's corn bread and pour it over the top. Cook for 30 minutes at 375! Cet soir nous avons regarde le film "Le Grand Voyage." It was ok, but kind of slow.

Yesterday was amazing. Well, besides sitting through a two-hour lecture on Antarctic Cenozoic climate and ice conditions by a guy way too obsessed with rocks. After playing around with data (yay, I have data to play around with!) I joined three others in an excursion to Les Miserables. This was the student version, however, so no one was over 19. It was pretty amazing for such a young cast. Jean Valjean was particularly good and I thought he would make an excellent Colehouse Walker in Ragtime. Epinine also had an amazing voice.

So, that is why I was writing in French. Movies, musicals, and constantly planning my voyage to Madagascar has got me hooked on French. In fact, I'm going to go see if I can find a French film at the library now!

C'est Tout!

Has it really been 9 days?!?!?!

Cutting them amazing Better than Beach Cake!

Beautiful Bodega Bay...but not quite up to Monterey's standards.

Um, sorry for not keeping up my posting...it's not as though nothing exciting has happened in the last week, I just have been waiting for some pictures. Anyways, where I left off...

I'll skip Sunday (4/22), because I can't remember what happened, so it probably wasn't too interesting. Monday was probably more of the same. Tuesday was only exciting because I went to the farmer's market and got a Naan Burrito. It was a delicious piece of naan wrapped around mixed veggie curry. That was it for Tuesday.


Wednesday, nope, nothing exciting, except it was ANZAC day...if you don't know what it is, look it up. Oh, we did have our first B-Break, for which I made flourless peanut butter cookies. Sooo good: 1 cup PB, 1 cup sugar (brown and/or white), 1 egg, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp vanilla (opt). 350 for 10 minutes or until a tiny bit browner. Let sit for 2 - 5 minutes until set.


Thursday, um, potluck. Beach theme and Better than Beach (AKA Better than Sex) cake. If you want that recipe, let me know!

Ok, we are getting to the meat of the week. Friday I make it back to campus, meet with my advisor and talk Lemurs (well, actually epiphytes), find out I'm a student advisor for Earth Systems next year, and have Shabbat at Rabbi Mychal's (homemade challah, OMG!). Saturday, I see people, eat in the dining hall again, and stay up late talking on the floor of my friend's amazing Kairos single (that will be me next year - cross my fingers). Sunday was bagel brunch, dish walk, finish Cannery Row, and watch too much Sex and the City. Good Times. Monday: Bodega Bay, mussels, chat with UCDavis researchers, drive a really long time.

Tuesday, we've come past full circle. My whelks (sea snails) are finally eating my mussels. I've got my experiments lined up and ready to go, and I spent way too much at the farmer's market. I also ate half a monstrous brownie carmel apple. "Death By Chocolate ~ What a way to go! Caramel, walnut brownies, chocolate chips drenched in your choice of semi-sweet or milk chocolate." It was on sale, what can I say! Well, I ought to go do some work, but it's basically my bedtime, so I ought to go to sleep instead. Enjoy my update and hope that I don't wait this long again!

-Ciao!

Predation and Power Rangers

A momma harbor seal and her newborn pup...I kind of scared them away...

Post-Potluck Euphoria

I guess I've had a pretty exciting last three days. Thursday was chill. I had stats and then started my predation experiment. I would put a picture up, but it's really not that exciting seeing four whelks (a type of sea snail) and mussels in a tupperware container. Once all that was done, Laura and I sat in on our professor's lab meeting. It was a little over my head and made me realize that I could not devote 3, 4, or more years of my life to trying to get a PhD working in a lab!!! Anyways, went back for lunch and then out to TJs! That was exciting, but I convinced myself that I was fine with just chocolate chip meringues and not mini cookies and now, two days later, I am sad and regretting that decision. But, I will be strong and hang in there until I next need to go to TJs.

The main reason for going to Trader Joe's, however, was to buy cornbread mix for the POTLUCK!!! It was Power Ranger themed and our house was yellow! As you can imaging, it was pretty crazy stuff. Ok, so I didn't like most of the food, but the blue french fried potatoes were delicious and the hot-pink frosted cupcakes were really cute. We played a rousing game of mafiah afterwards; I was god, of course. Then, back in Belden B, we watched the 3rd Harry Potter. One more to go!!!

Friday, hmmm. I check on my mussels and everyone's still alive. I got stats help. I went to Polar Biology and had a lovely time learning about Adelie Penguins (only enhanced by the pre-seminar coffee and cookies [and brownies!]). Unfortunately, I can never work with penguins because I will freeze to death, end of story. The afternoon was uneventfull...I think I read (Monkeyluv is really good). Then, a bunch of us watched Sliding Doors and ate cookies. Nice day.

Today, I got a library card and subsequently a French movie, Cannery Row, a book on environmental careers, and two vegetarian cookbooks. There is also a festival going on in Pacific Grove (PG), but it was not terribly interesting. I finished up my grocery shopping (seriously low on ice cream...) and then wrote an essay. Yay for being productive. Oh, yeah, I turned in my Honors Thesis application yesterday as well. Finally!

I should probably let you go, since I have blabbed on for a good while.

-Signing off!

I've Got Mussels!

I really am a tree hugger! Don't forget Earth Day on Sunday!

No, I'm not really getting all buff and muscle-y. I'm playing with mussels! The scary thing is that I don't have nearly as much free time anymore. On monday, Laura and I learned how to record mussel heart rate (for her project). We hook them up to a little machine and let it roll - a lot harder than that sounds. Then, we played beauty shop in the afternoon and painted the different species pink and hot orange! Unfortunately, salt water is almost as corrosive at nail polish remover and the paint started coming off. After we worked that kink out, we set up our aggregation experiment, where saw whether or not the native and invasive species self-segregate. Well, they don't; they're not prejudice but peace-loving and friendly. Oh well!


I spent most of today sorting my mussels by size so that I don't make the little snails biased against any one prey species. My fingers got so cold in the 11 degree Celsius water that they turned blue. I'm a wimp and wore a long-sleeve shirt, t-shirt, fleece, and a sweat-shirt. There is no escaping the wind, though! That was all fun and dandy, but tonight's pick-me-up was much more appealing. We made pizookie!!! Had it with breyer's vanilla, mmm. We EVEN shared with the two guys next door (of course, one of them was Liz's (one of my roommate's) boyfriend, but that's besides the point)! Now, I'm content, but sleepy. I should read stats, but I think I will go to bed instead...that happens a lot here.


This weekend is promising to be busy, as I am going up to campus Friday afternoon and coming back Saturday night. I need to track down my advisors and get the next two years figured out... eeek!

-gnight!

I am NOT a Slacker!

It's a log, it's a hot dog, it's a harbor seal!

So, I've spent a good portion of the past two days actually doing work! Ok, and looking out at the lovely harbor seals...Anywho, I've stepped up and decided on my independent project. I am looking at the differential predation on the native versus invasive species of blue mussel. woohoo! I also get to paint one of the species with Wild Shine Flirty Rose Creme nail polish, so we can distinguish the two species! I'm going to cite that in my paper, as well. So, that's basically been my life for the past two days.

We also had our first potluck last night. The theme was House Warming and Comfort Food. We had more sophisticated grilled cheese sandwiches (ie. sourdough with sharp white cheddar and ciabatta with mozarella), tomato soup, asparagus, scalloped potatoes, meatloaf, and birthday cake. It was quite fantastic. Looking forward to next week.

zzzzzz

Am I a Slacker?

My view from the library reading room...well, actually this random guy's view that could have been mine had I been sitting there in his stead contemplating the crashing tides of life .
"You looking at me?"

The Seven Gables Inn...ain't it cute? Don't you want to come visit me and stay here?

So, I wish I could tell you about all the crazy cool classes I'm taking or the million different activities vying for a place in my schedule. Except, I can't. I had basically no class last week and I have very little class scheduled in general...once I figure out my research project, I can dictate my own hours, mwahahahaha!

Anywho, on Wednesday morning my prof decides that it would be a fantastic idea to romping about the tidepools at 6:30 in the morning. Granted, it was totally AWESOME, but it was really early and still pretty chilly. With that over with, I was free until 1:15, unlike the lowly sophomores in biocore! haha! Then, I learned about intertidal zonation, talked about my independent research, and decided I didn't want to take History and Philosophy of Science after almost falling asleep during the first class.

Ok, Thursday...stats and that's about it...oh wait! I went apartment shopping at Target. Can I just say now how much I like being independent, having my own (with three others) apartment, and living like a normal human being. It's fantastic!

Friday capped my wonderful week with a lovely lecture by none other than Prof. Kevin Arrigo. This is for my Polar Biology seminar. We listen to a guest speaker and then discuss with him/her. It's pretty cool. Also, on Friday I got my free bike from craigslist, which I thought would be a piece of crap, but is so nice that I need to find a way to bring it back to campus and store it over the summer now...

Saturday, Laura and I went on a picnic, because it was sunny! Mmmm...how I am loving matzah at every meal. We're celebrating on Tuesday night by going out to dinner; the end of Passover! Today, I just kind of lazed around. Wrote my response paper for Polar Bio and read some of Monkeyluv, by Sapolsky. I also looked into volunteering at a pet shelter, but the closest one is not really close at all.

That's my week, tune in next week for Rachel's Life in the Real World of Monterey (real world is maybe a bit too strong).

Toodles!

Belden, Apt. B

Hey All and welcome back to Rachel's Blog!

This quarter we will be spending a delightful time journeying through the wonders of coastal Monterey! I am living in apartment B at 651 Belden Street, with three other wonderful Stanford students. It is seriously the best house!

Got in last night, but I already feel at home. I'm taking stats, a 10-unit research course, either philosophy of science or polar marine biology, and a little slice of heaven. And, if you've been to this gem of Cally, you'd know what I'm talking about! We're 5 minutes from the water and an amazing biking/walking/running path. I went to the outstanding farmer's market today, as well.

I'll keep you posted...that is if I survive Passover!

Adios!