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.