revelling

salmon creek falls

the last couple of weeks have been filled with revelations that my dissertation research is actually coming together (i think there may be a light at the end of this tunnel!) and that i have been so fortunate to work in an amazing place. i had a committee meeting a couple weeks ago that helped to spur many of these revelations. i have been working like a fiend in the lab for the last 3 months to get data together for this meeting. it wasn't until i actually started looking at the data a few days before the meeting that i realized the degree to which things are falling into place. for the last three years i have been collecting samples and data with the hope that something cool would come of it all, but i wasn't sure that moment was going to come...until now. i have to say that it is a pretty cool feeling. i just got back from three hard days in the field and am excited about the rest of the field season rather than dreading it. my assistant kate is home from kenya and working for me again this summer...it is great to have my right hand lady back. our dives were beautiful but soooo cold. the temperature at depth was a mere 47 degrees (no amount of peeing in your wetsuit can keep you warm in that water)!

yesterday we celebrated mother's day with pete's family in oakland. almost the whole extended family lives in the bay area so they are able to get together for lots of occasions throughout the year...it is nice. last weekend we celebrated pete's 31st birthday with the traditional 'motor monkey birthday ride' and a nice dinner out.