Whoa, it's HOT

Many of you may be aware of the fact that summer came a little late in the Pacific Northwest this year. Approximately on the first day of summer actually..... We had a few days in February I think it was, where the thermometers read 33C or higher, but since then it has been near risk of frost every night. Well today there are several reasons to celebrate, 1. the thermometer did read 32 today in the shade! 2. I think I sprayed enough pesticides in the yard, and surrounding barkdust areas to actually rid this place of fleas. It was not a super dangerous pesticide - permethrin is synthetically formulated from a plant oil, but extremely effective at knocking out fleas. Before I started spraying the yard down with water and plant oils, I sprinkled boric acid all around my doors and windows to prevent the buggers from seeking refuge inside my house. Don't worry, Yoshimi has no fleas - she got a round of Frontline last week. I just wish they made something I could put between my shoulders to keep the fleas off. Ick. So I think the battle is won.... Yoshimi battles the pink robots, Molly battles the rat bastard fleas.

Another reason to celebrate, I have officially been offered a post-graduate internship with the DHS - Public Health Division, Office of Community Health and Health Planning (whew that's a mouthful). Woot! I will be assisting the office in researching ethics in human trials and HIPPA guidelines, in order to create a web based training program for the department. It is an internship, which means it will be for 12 weeks, but the great news is, I will have internal employee status, and get more than just my foot in the door! A reminder, my degree is titled, "Health Promotion and Education, Community Health". I think it's a good sign when your diploma has the exact phrase as the office you'll be interning in. I hope.

So this all sums up to one point: It's time to crack open a bottle of pink wine. Celebrate with an ice cold glass of rose... 'Cause it's freaking hot!!!!!

Last day at work

I have enjoyed working at the Plant Clinic so much, I can hardly describe what an experience it has been. I learned a ton about molecular science, plants, and conducting research, but I also learned a lot about myself, what I'm capable of and what I need to work on more. Coming into the final term of my undergraduate experience at Oregon State, I feel very prepared for whatever is out there for me.

Above: Preparing some samples for PCR.

Above: Lunch at Oasis with the M's on my last day.

itty bitty pillow hog

Somebody new to my home became very accustomed very fast. Yoshimi is almost exactly one tenth the size Alex was and she can hog ten times more the space he did. It's okay though, sharing my pillow with her isn't that bad...

This morning I went out to help bottle wine at Nuthatch. John and Jane always have a fun bunch of people helping out and today was no exception. I met some interesting folks and had a really awesome time learning more about wine. Today we bottled a syrah, and a temparnillo - both of which I helped with in the fall. It's super pleasing to taste it and see it get labeled and packed into boxes. Jane made an incredible spread for lunch, including three fritattas with chard and peppers in them. Yummmmy!

How would you like your meatloaf? Wrapped in bacon.

Ahhhh.... Food in Portltand. Amazingly satisfying when you never leave Corvallis. Not that I don't love some of my regular places in Corvallis - like La Conga - but it's the beauty of the food that Corvallis lacks. Here are a few of the delicacies from this weekend.

Cute Italian cafe off of Broadway in SE Portland. Mom had the lunch deal (above), $10 for fresh mozzarella and tomato on a bed of basil and a glass of wine. I ordered a formaggio panini with a cup of Italian Wedding soup (below). Ooooooh, yum.

For lunch yesterday, Josh ordered the stuffed meatloaf, wrapped in bacon, with mushroom gravy. Daaaaaaaaaamn. Who ever thought of wrapping meatloaf in bacon is clearly a genius.