happy new year, again

Looks like my posts are about yearly at this point, but what the heck, its still fun to update. 2010 came and went with a lot of things in between. Some of the highlights-in July we adopted a 4 month old puppy and named him Chapter. He's amazing. Part cattle dog, part either pit bull or boxer, we're not entirely sure. Everyone tells you that puppies are really hard work and that they will change your life and your schedule. All are true. But in addition, puppies are so much fun and provide such great motivation to get outside and run around. To the park, to the trail, to the mountains, to the beach, Chapter loves everything and wants to play everywhere!

In May my PI Charlie explained to me that the lab I was currently working in might run out of funding. So in a matter of a week or two, I interviewed at a new lab and accepted a position as an RA II. My main focus in this new lab was stem cells and cell culture. I believe I will skip through the 6 months I worked in this lab and just say that life is too short to be working 50 hours a week in a job that you hate. And so in December I interviewed at a new lab and was offered a position. I signed the offer letter with a "hell yes" and started the new job in January. Things are going great already.

Brian and I also moved in 2010 into a new house up in the SW hills. We have our own little bungalow atop the trees which has access to a huge network of trails just up the road. It has really been perfect for us and we're loving life in Portland. The bike ride up our steep hill is tough but I'm getting better and better at it!

Whenever it comes time to reflect on a year gone by, the immediate feeling I get is how quickly time flies, and it truly does. And so as I get older I realize that it becomes even more crucial to set goals. For me, some goals are solid, such as apply for a medical program by 2012. These goals keep me on track and motivated. On the other hand, some goals are extremely loose and so I suppose they are more like ideas to live by. Be adventurous. Be positive. Make everything fun. Be happy. Make friends. Keep friends. And what I've realized is that if one area of my life is lacking, everything else suffers. I'm not work-obsessed but I work hard. I need to love what I do, and part of that means that I need to be constantly progressing and working towards something. Outside of work I find happiness in spending time with Brian and Chapter, but what I've realized recently is that I need to make time for myself as well. It sounds cliche but its important.

2011 has started with excitement and optimism. I am so happy with every aspect of my life and I love the idea of working to make things happier instead of fixing things that aren't working. Cause right now everything is running as smoothly as can be.

hey, hey, it's catch up time!

Yeah, I know I said you should refer to Flickr for all future photos and news but I still have this dream of keeping up a blog. I dunno, maybe it's just the trend right now but hey, I want to be included! I doubt anyone reads this anymore but it's sort of nice for me to be able to look back at pictures and memories. So anyway, it's probably best to check Flickr still for pictures but I figured I could at least provide a story here.
This past September marked the one year anniversary of our move up to Portland. You know how everyone says that the older you get the faster time goes? Well, it's true. Each year seems to pass more quickly than the last and I feel I'm constantly rushing through the week and trying to slow down the weekend. That isn't to say that I don't enjoy my weekdays. I'm still working hard at OHSU in the Robert's lab as a research assistant. Our focus is currently on isolating islets from the pancreas in hopes of providing treatments for diabetic patients in the future. I love working hands on with tissues which only heightens my inner voice telling me I should go into medicine. No future plans yet but hopefully some plans and goals will come together soon.
When we hit our year mark in Portland, we also welcomed Bethany and Todd. They moved up in October and have just settled into their new home. It's great having them up here to share dinners and weekends with. We've been enjoying playing with the dogs and helping them get settled in a new town. It's also a nice feeling having both of my sisters in one place. The last time we all lived near each other was about 6 years ago. Oh wow, I just had another moment of time flying by.
This fall also marked the beginning of the cyclocross season. Brian participated in several races riding his single-speed 29er. He's been having a great time. We drove out to Astoria, OR a couple weekends ago for the annual Halloween race. Beth, Todd, Brian and I dressed up as lumberjacks! I crocheted beard+mustache hats for all of us and we donned flannel shirts, suspenders, and boots. We looked sooo good! I also crocheted a Totoro hat for Carly that came out surprisingly good---I've never attempted to make ears and ear flaps. We stayed in a cabin at the Astoria KOA and enjoyed lots of Jenga and good times.
I love watching Brian race and cheering him on but this last weekend I figured it was time I participated already! So, Beth and I signed up for the Woman's beginner race. I was so nervous! We started the first lap together and then about midway through I realized I was on my own! I made my way over barriers, through water, up hills, and across the muddiest terrain I have ever been on. I had such a good time! The race was even harder than I had predicted, mostly because it was so difficult trying to navigate through the mud. In the end I was happy I did it and I'm already looking forward to the next race.
Well, I think I will have to save more updates for a separate post cause I'm pretty sure this is getting long and boring. I'll just end this by saying that even though it's getting cold and rainy in Portland, life is good and we're happy.

oh yeah, I forgot about flickr

So I decided it's going to be way easier to just upload pictures to flickr.  I had such good intentions of keeping up a blog, but who has time for that really?  So please stop by: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aubreegator/

a quick hello

okay so I have no idea where my cord is that connects my camera to my computer. The funny part is that I definitely have two of them and both are nowhere to be found. I don't know how this always happens...
So in the meantime, please stop by Bethany's flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontbe10/) for some really great photos of her recent trip to visit me and Brian in Portland. She also has some photos from her last trip on there in addition to many other really amazing shots in california.
This weekend we leave for San Diego to watch Bethany graduate and to enjoy some mexican food. Check back soon for some photos, I'll search a little harder for the cord :)

This one comes with some great stories . . . . . they will follow but for now these are worth a thousand words.

Rocky Butte and Kelly Point Park

Just some pictures of a couple day trips we took. The first, to check out some outdoor rock climbing at Rocky Butte, about 20 miles NE of Portland. At the top of the hill you could see Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and downtown Portland. The second, an amazing park called Kelly Point that we stumbled upon while taking a drive. The park sits along the Columbia right in the center of an industrial park. Even in the most developed or industrial areas of Oregon, there always seems to be a hidden park. I always find the contrast so incredibly beautiful. Along one side of the park there were several groups of fisherman. We sat here for a while and Brian played the harmonica he just picked up at a local music shop.

Red to Red

Last weekend we took a long, beautiful drive out to Echo, Oregon. Never heard of it? That's okay, most people haven't. It's a tiny town outside of Pendelton...you know this one, famous for the plaid, wool jacket. The weather was drizzly on the way out and we hit some slushy snow near The Dalles. But hey, nothing a warm cup of coffee couldn't cure.
Echo was so great, the perfect place for the mountain bike race. The scheduled departure was 11am. The racers lined up for their numbers and took a couple laps arround the town to warm up. The race started and ended at the Red Express Cafe. It then traveled up the road past some horse corrals, an old boarded up church, and some small farms till the riders hit the dirt. You'll have to get the rest of the details from Brian, but apprently the ride was a little bumpy with lots of uphill. As for me, I enjoyed a stroll through the town and little reading in the warmth of the cafe. It was especially fun because you could tell from the excitement of the locals that this was the biggest thing thats happened in the town in quite a while.
It was a great day and we took some videos with the RCA small wonder.