5 years and counting

Five years ago today I walked off an airplane in Honolulu for the first time. It seems like a lifetime ago. When I think back on everything that's happened in the last five years I feel like I'm a completely different person, and I probably am.

I picked out some pics from each of the 5 years - I tried to hit some highlights which was a pretty interesting experience in itself. SOOOO many memories! It was also funny to watch the progression of Dave's photography skills and then the sudden absence of any pics as I had to start remembering to have a camera with me all of a sudden - which was actually a pretty funny thing to realize had become such a habit!

2003

still in MI

1st apt on Coolidge with Nick


2004

trip to the big island with Jesse and Erica in June

Thanksgiving on Maui with Dave


2005

Jesse's visit in March

skydiving (in the un-intentional twins phase) with the REU's in July ..Claire!

Kolekole

Sunset Beach with Sean and Claire

December visit from Rosie and Special K


2006

Oh Anne... it begins


Hanauma - I really like this pic!

Camping at Kualoa with Dave, Cassie, DnA

Xmas on the summit


2007

Trip to the Big Island with my parents, Dave, and Nick

reconnecting with Anne


Kayaking to the Moks with Sean and Dave

August trip to Maui with Dave

Olomana hike


2008

28th birthday

Kuliouou hike with DnA, DnA, and PJ

Just in case you haven't seen it....

Hanalei

I'm in Hanalei! Most of the CRAMP lab is out here doing the annual survey of the coral reef in Hanalei Bay. Dan, Claire, and I have been helping Carl with sediment sampling and with experimental floating plants mats which are supposed to remove excess nutrients from the irrigation canals in the taro fields. It was a physically laborous day (much needed for me, I have to admit) but it was a lot of fun. I was lazy and didn't bring my camera (and scared of dropping it into the water, but Claire and Dan were using theirs and I'll do my best to steal theirs and post them later!

new recipe!

I posted a new recipe on the foodie blog! I could use some suggestions on it so take a look if you're interested!

quote

"The main things which seem to me important on their own account, and not merely as means to other things, are knowledge, art, instinctive happiness, and relations of friendship or affection."

Bertrand Russell

Good grief

It seems like nowadays everyone wants to blame their personality deficiencies and lack of self-discipline on 'diseases' (like obesity and alcoholism)... and now we can add another one to the list.. from the LA Times:

Some men carry 'commitment-phobia' gene

Forget the prenup. Couples pondering whether to tie the knot should proceed straight to gene testing.

Well, that's one conclusion you can draw from a study in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Researchers at the Karolinksa Institute in Sweden examined a gene allele 334 in people enrolled in the Twin and Offspring Study in Sweden. This gene can affect the production of a hormone called vasopressin, which has been shown to influence monogamy in animals. They found that men who had two copies of allele 334 were twice as likely to have had a marital or relationship crisis in the last year compared with those who lacked the gene variant.

These men seemed less able to bond with their partners, says lead author Hasse Walum, a postgraduate student in medical epidemiology and biostatistics. "Women married to men who carry one or two copies of allele 334 were, on average, less satisfied with their relationships than women married to men who didn't carry this allele.

But, men, if you're tempted to use genes as an excuse for bad behavior, forget about it. Walum notes that though the study may shed some light on the genetic underpinnings of human bonding, "there are, of course, many reasons why a person might have relationship problems."

Walum's research is aimed at improving the understanding of vasopressin and its role in disorders such as autism and social phobia.

The weekend

..was pretty low key for me in general. i didn't really do anything other than cook and hang with Matt and Sandra, go to the garden meeting, write a paper while watching Lost, laundry, hanged with Liz and Tyler, play with the food blog, talked to my parents and taught them how to skype (it's funny that it sounds like a lot of stuff when I list it all out)... but THEN! Sunday night DnA and I played a Settlers marathon. It was good fun even though I lost every single game. We played one Settlers of Catan and two games of Settlers of the Stone Age. I really like the Stone Age game. I've gotten a little bored of regular settlers and it's been great to try and figure out this new one. The main difference is that the board is always the same. You always have to start in Africa and then try and populate the world. Overall a very fun night of getting frustrated with probability and realizing that I have no strategy.


Monday I went to NADA in the morning and then lazed around until it was time to go to the garden and do our part of the clean up. We were set with the task of removing diseased banana trees - we filled (and I mean FULL) 11 giant bags full of trees and dead fall. We're very proud of ourselves and will hopefully be returning soon to get our root veggie section ready to go. I need PARSNIPS!!