a new job!

i have officially passed my background check, so i can *finally* make this announcement public - i will be starting a mendenhall postdoc at the u.s. geological survey in santa cruz in march 2013!!! if the exclamation marks didn't convey it, i am incredibly excited about this upcoming adventure.

my postdoc at the center for ocean solutions was supposed to come to an end in september, but my boss graciously extended my term until march so i can finish a number of projects that i am working on. i will also be heading to new zealand for much of january and february to work with a scientist from the national institute of water and atmosphere (NIWA) on a visiting scientist project. it is going to be a crazy six months, but i am hopeful that i will be able to wrap up some loose ends by the end of that time. i am also grateful to work with my colleagues for another six months...i am going to miss them a lot when i leave. what a fun crew!

when i start at the usgs, i will be stationed in santa cruz (at the same office that pete works in) but will travel to washington state to do fieldwork. my project is yet to be totally determined, but it will focus on the effects of dam removal on the elwha river on the olympic peninsula. i was lucky and got to travel to my field site last week to see the watershed, dive in the ocean, and hear many talks about the work that is currently going on up there. the dam removal project is cool - the largest removal in the u.s. the impetus for removal was mainly salmon, but there have been a number of other deleterious impacts to the watershed and coastline since the dams were built in the early 1900s. here are some of the highlights from my field trip...

glines canyon dam being removed - about 70 more feet to go

the old reservoir that was behind glines canyon dam. this is a constantly changing place right now and much of this sediment will ultimately be moved downstream by natural high river events. notice all the stumps - this area was logged before the dam was finished so the submerged trees would not be a hazard to boaters.

this is the old reservoir behind the lower dam. it is kind of other worldly to walk around this place. despite being underwater for 100 years, these stumps look remarkably fresh!

the beach! this is the likely end of the watershed where i
will be doing my work - mostly in or on the ocean.

the lower klallam tribe has been a partner in all of the dam removal work - politically and scientifically. during the conference, one of the tribe members cooked us a traditional salmon feast. it was delicious! we also heard stories about the tribe, their ancestors, the language, and what the elwha looked like before the dams were built. it was a great week and i am so looking forward to spending more time up there in the coming years. 

equally important on the trip was my brief visit with tish and the first chance to meet our god-baby melina! we are also currently with them now, so there will be more photos to come, but this is from our first meeting. sweetness.

melina florence bond!

minnesota. one year later...

i spent last week in minnesota with my family to observe the one year anniversary of my dad's death. it is so hard to believe that we have crossed that one year threshold. truth be told, it felt no more significant than some of the other days that have come and gone throughout the year. but we have now navigated all the "firsts" and are embarking on round #2. we gathered at the cemetery on the 27th to support each other, remember, and even laugh. i have felt my dad's presence on many occasions since he's been gone and know in my heart that his grave is a place for remembrance but not a place where he dwells. irregardless, the headstone is such a stark reminder of the permanence of loss. 

the weather somehow managed to cool off a bit while i was there and the thunderstorms were plentiful for the first part of the week. the dogs and i made it into the house just before these clouds opened up.

lily and stormy skies

stormy skies over lake rachel while katie fishes and
koda swims laps (no kidding - koda swims back
and forth for HOURS while katie tries to catch fish)

the weekend i was there was officially small town festival weekend or so it seemed. sarah spurred us all to run a 10k in glenwood as part of waterama - the first race all four of us have run together. there have been multiple combinations of two and three of us running races or relays together, but not all four. sarah beat the pants off of all of us. she might be the oldest, but she is still the fastest! 

stephanie, melissa, matthew, and sarah - the running quartet

i also got to spend some quality time with my nieces and nephews - swimming and croquet were the highlights. and yes, i was beat by a six year old. good work kieran!

 kieran the croquet shark

 luke taking a rest between wickets

 miss madeline getting her game on

 who knew croquet could be so exhausting?!