T-day and winter

Thanks giving Day ..... has come and gone. Family gathered and we ate abundantly. This remains one of my favorite holiday's of the year. 25 of us gathered at my brother's house for the seasonal celebration of thankfulness.




Winter is upon the northern hemisphere. In Oregon we are having strangely cold days where temps do not get above freezing. Finally we breached 30F today after 5 days of below freezing. Snow in the forecast for tonight.

The fall term of school has come to a close today. This past week I handed in my term papers, my thesis corrections, and made my poster for the AGU conference I am attending/participating in next week in San Fran. Time to take a breathe ....... finally.

Visiting Friends and GSA on the Columbia River

Attended the Geological Society of America's annual conference this year. It was my first time to present at and to attend the conference. Great fun. Especially interesting to be around thousands of geologists/geomorphologists from around the world.

Besides connecting with some good friends, the highlight of the conference was a GSA field trip I took along the Columbia River, OR -- about the Pliestocene floods of Lake Missoula. VERY COOL!


Columbia River, OR -- just upstream from the John Day River along the JD Ridge (looking upriver to the east).

In addition to seeing some good folks at the conference, I got a good boost of "soul food" from a few dear friends that came to visit (or I visited them) in October.

Larry Wyatt -- visiting us in Eugene and teaching/attending the annual Yuketober Fest.


Orla and her momma Tina -- I visited them in Pdx.


Max, the GREAT DANE, -- all the way from the Czech Republic. This was the surprise and treat of the year. AND Julia D ..... magic!

October -- bike ride home

I commute on my bike just about every day -- to and from home and the University of Oregon campus. As luck has it, I ride much of the approx. 4 miles along Eugene's river path (car free). It is always a pleasure -- even in the rain or snow. This time of year its all about red, gold, and orange autumn colors.

These are pics as I traverse from UO to home (sorry about photo blurriness. pics taken from the seat of my bike while riding). I only have a few blocks of "street" between the path and my home. I am lucky! -- yes....and I appreciate it.

Cascadia Wildland HoeDown!!!

Another fabulous Cascadia Wildlands HoeDown -- October 10th!


Music, food, dancing, costume contests, 100's of people, bon-fire, three-legged races, and more. It is an event of celebration and awareness for CW's great environmental conservation work and the community of folks that pulls it off. Always feels good to be a part of the festivities and see old friends.

The event is held annually at Avalon horse stables -- covered and massive. I recommend putting it on your calender for next year. Many have said "that it is the event of the year!"

October 9 -- Incredibly Beautiful DAY!!!

A truly perfect Autumn day!
After class, work, and meetings I headed out from the University on my bike. I rode up to Hendrix Park to put some time in on my favorite swing set. Then I walked through the lush gardens and looked over this small city of Eugene.












Bright blue skies broke the crisp morning that gradually gave into a 70F sunny afternoon. The air was warm and smelled like cut green grass and drying leaves. The seasonal colors have just began -- they are vibrant as they flit and glint in the autumn winds.















Feeling blessed and grateful today. Remembering.

Oct 2-5: Autumn Birthdays

We (Steve, me, Gabby, Missy, Grif) gathered at the Hill for the weekend -- using mom and dad's birthday's as the excuse.

Spent Saturday working in the woods with dad bringing in fire wood.

Sunday was the birthday brunch -- 25 people, super yummy food, and lots of silliness.

Griffin got a ride on the pond with uncle Steve and pumpkin carving with gramma.










Dad's all excited about his new hard-work'en "man truck!"

PhD --

Sept 28 .......... my PhD program at the University of Oregon has begun.........

New York CITY

Sept 22 - Sept 26

I hadn't been to NY for 8 years ....... time to visit friends and family.
Seeing my cousin Jesse and his family was a fabulous treat of the trip.
Also got in a couple of visits my dear friend James. Filled up every minute with the urban scene.

I stayed with my lovely girlfriend/sister Meera!!! at her place in Brooklyn.











Brooklyn Botanical Gardens:



















Surprised by two great friends visiting NY at the same time: Noah and Amy --
Happy Naked Girls have a day at the Museum of Modern Art--

Costa Rica

Sept 12 - Sept 22

10 DAYS in Costa Rica!!!

This trip was dedicated to connecting with university personnel, collecting data, and to make personal connections with scientists and managers from Costa Rican agencies (I.C.E). Except for a one day field trip to a dam construction site on the lower Reventazon River with ICE and one day at the beach in Cahuita to visit family, I was in the capitol city of San Jose ....... running from one meeting to the next.

PURPOSE: To set up my PhD research project. And it was a success!
Now I have the daunting task of getting funding for the research -- grant writing here I come....




-- Erick Campos -- ICE office, San Jose.










Guaria Cardenes, Universidad de Costa Rica, Central American School of Geology (mi agima!)





Idependence Day -- San Jose, Costa Rica (9/15): Parades of children in the streets.



Field Trip to the Caribbean-side with ICE --

The confluence of the Rio Sucio (dirty river) and Rio Honduras (natural sediment colorations)









Canyon of the Rio Reventazon -- where a dam will be built in 2010.
A day at Playa Grande (Cahuita) with my girls!!



----- Aunt Jo and Cousin Gayle





Me and Mom -----

Aug 29 - Sept 11

Back the west (lush) side of ORegon for a couple of weeks.

Cousin Shane arrived for a quick visit from Minnesota. And we (Shane, Gabby & I) headed for a day in the big trees and deep cool/clean rivers of the western Cascades (Fall Creek).















Some time at the HILL in the southwestern mountains of Oregon.
Pappa John, Cousin Curtis, and Sadie Dog:














Momma Sue's Birthday!!!


PREPPING FOR A TRIP TO COSTA RICA!!!

August 17 - 28

Middle Fork John Day -- trip #3 of 2009

I remember how quickly I adjust to living and working outside in the high mountains. It makes my spirit happy ..... I am easy and comfortable.

Crew: Jessica P, Pat McD, Elissa P, and ME.............






















Jessica:

Elissa:

Pat:


What happens when you have an All-girl geomorphology crew collecting data in remote areas:

Some play time in the John Day:

-- Coyote Bluff, Middle Fork John Day









Picture Gorge, John Day River ---