Breaking free...

I start a new job on the 7th - leaving the world of academics behind to work at a biotech company! It was a terribly difficult decision, but I am really excited to start work at a "real" job (even though it was really painful resigning from my current job).

Look out world, here I come!

Our Saturday adventure

See Phil's blog for the beginning commentary, then "Pacific Beach Standoff Ends After 11 Hours" for the rest of the story...

We were evacuated just before 11 am, when SWAT was called, and didn't get home until after midnight!! I guess they don't start counting time until SWAT shows up, the cops were there long before 11 am.

It's official!

I got my diploma in the mail today:


Just two days shy of seven (yes, 7) years since I graduated with my Bachelors degree.

My sweet nephews!

Clay loves Spencer, he's a sweet big brother!






Happy Spencer:



Mad Spencer:



I sure wish I was there!

Our wedding

Phil and I are happy to announce that we (finally) got married last month.


We semi-eloped; we got married here in La Jolla, and only a few close friends came. We will be having a "big" wedding next year on the same day - something more traditional, will all the family and friends we can fit in the church.

We had a lovely dinner at Piatti's afterward, and our very, very delicious cake was from the French Gourmet in PB. We "mini-mooned" at the La Jolla Shores Hotel, which was really lovely.




I can't tell you how perfect the day was. Libby came out and we had a mini spa day, and then we went to the hotel and chilled out with the rest of the ladies before the ceremony. The weather and lighting were perfect, and I couldn't have imagined it any better. It was amazing! Our friend Brian married us, Libby stood up with me and Ian stood up with Phil. Jo and Bjoern did the photos and video (and did them very brilliantly). Barry did a beautiful reading. It really was perfect. Truly the fairy tale wedding of my dreams :)


The whole gang: Ian, Ana, Barry, Phil, me, Brian (back row), Lichun (front row), Libby, Bjoern (back row), and Jo (front row)



Who doesn't love bubbles??



It was so romantic!


Happily ever after...

An Aunt again!

Spencer Brandon Aborn made his debut on Saturday, May 10. He weight just over 8 pounds and is 21 inches long! He has red hair like his brother :) I can't wait to meet him!

The streak continues!

I thought I left all my unfortunate incidents behind when I left Texas. Not so, apparently. It turns out that the "less than successful" bike ride left me with two fractures - a hairline fracture in my second metatarsal and a stress fraction in my third metatarsal. Sigh. Apparently it takes a really long time for these types of fractures to heal, and the more I use my foot, the longer it will take. SIGH.

Settling in...

I finally got a bike and have had several successful journies on it (and one less than successful journey involving a golf cart whose driver was on his cell phone and forgot to yield right-of-way...). I have to say that I miss a lot of things from home (in no particular order):
- Texas in general
- Family
- Friends
- Jason's Deli
- the heat (yes, really)
- Jamie Rae's magic spaghetti
- going to Target
- HEB
- the central time zone (I can't seem to coordinate PST with CST)
- having a washer and dryer inside my apartment
- Culligan water
- friendly drivers
- grass
- big trees
- lots of other things I can't think of at the moment...

FINALLY! Made it to California

Put a penny on Sully, wish me some luck...



We still have a LOT of unpacking to do, and things to finish up, but I did all my HR paperwork today, so the ball is rolling for a new start in San Diego!

Phil and I are very happy to finally be together, and Macy is too, sort of. She was really freaked out by the whole move, and has yet to settle in to our new place. Once she gets used to it, I'm sure she'll love it as much as we do.