Winter Traveling

Long time no see!

This winter I drove to Indiana with my fellow Hoosier Katie. It's a long drive, and fairly boring after leaving the mountains in Maryland. We spent around 8 long hours driving through dreary weather.
Click on pics to enlarge and see them in all their glory!

Quite a long interstate, 70.

Frost line in MD mountains

Frozen waterfall in MD

States traveled through, plus MD of course :)

Indiana! I got to see my Mom's new house for the first time, which thankfully has a spare bedroom. No more sleeping on a couch ;)

I got to visit Bloomington for a reunion with IU friends, and even got to see a basketball game in Assembly Hall!

Go Hoosiers!

Most of my time was spent catching up sleep, internet-ing, Netflix-ing, and seeing my family for holidays. It's so strange coming home ~twice a year and seeing how much my nieces and nephews have grown!!

This year I managed to secure some funding from STScI to attend the AAS (American Astronomical Society) meeting in Seattle. So, I went to leg 2 of my winter traveling- the Pacific Northwest!

Nice sunset on my flight from Dallas to Seattle.

Seattle was the location of my first AAS back in 2011, so it was fun to go back and visit! Seattle is a fun city with lots of great food and attractions, but dang it, my hair does not appreciate the humidity...

Most of my days were spent conference-ing, which mostly consists of getting up early, attending talks and poster sessions, shmoozing with other astronomers, running into so-and-so from a few years ago (astronomy is a small field, we all know each other...), and generally chatting astronomy and non-astronomy with friends new and old. Of course I did have to do some real work ;) ... I presented a poster about some data reduction methods I tested. I even got to meet the creator of the HST instrument I work on :)

I also got to try some awesome food and drinks at some of Seattle's restaurants and bars. Working for a government contractor has its perks- we get a GSA per diem, which is something like $70/day for food!! Some of my favorites were:

• Bathtub Gin, a very hard to find and easy to miss speakeasy-style bar with a great atmosphere and excellent cocktails
• Pike Brewing Company bar & restaurant, I had an amazing grilled cheese, and they have several yummy in-house brewed beers
• Taphouse Grille, they have 100+ beers on tap from all over
• Elysium Brewing
• Von's 1000 spirits, faaaaabulous scratch-made pasta, and amazing selection of liquor which they use to make delicious cocktails
• La Creperie Voila, a food stand outside the convention center. Looks meh but has perfectly-made sweet and savory crepes prepared by personable employees

Roberto flew from LA to meet me in Seattle 3 days into the conference. There is a tradition that on the 2nd to last day of the conference a large party is held at a local bar. These parties are always sooo much fun! Imagine hundreds of dork astronomers trying to dance... it was no less of a spectacle than usual this year! It's always the highlight of the conference to attend these parties. Bars usually host us pretty well (how often do you get 500+ space nerds in your bar?) by creating space-themed drinks or showing NASA TV/astronomy movies. This year they displayed astronomy paper proceedings and posters on projectors, ha! 

After the conference ended (Thursday), Roberto and I met up with our friend Jeff, who was also attending the conference. Jeff lives across the Puget Sound in Bremerton. So, we headed down to the pier and caught a ferry. 

Roberto, Jeff, and me waiting for the ferry to arrive

It was a rare beautiful and sunny day in Seattle! Perfect weather for enjoying the sight as we trekked across the Sound.

View from the ferry

On the ferry's deck, watching the ferry headed to Bainbridge. Mountains!!

Seattle skyline from the ferry

Mt. Rainier

Sunset as we arrive in Bremerton

Once we landed in Bremerton, it was a short walk to Jeff and his husband Nick's house. They have a nice house with an extra bedroom they let us take. Jeff is a hardcore-brewer who even had a kegarator (keg with refrigerator) in his living room for us to pour freshly brewed beers! Nick occupies the other aspect of gardening, cooking, and canning, so we got to have some of his food products as well. Jeff and Roberto went to grad school together, and two of their other grad school buddies came over (who also attended the conference). We spent a fun night playing cards and sipping Jeff's beers.

The next day we slept in and explored Bremerton. The USS Turner Joy, a Navy destroyer ship from the 50's that was built in Bremerton is retired there and open for tour. We spent the afternoon exploring the very expansive ship. It is self-guided tour that allows you to access most parts of ship.

USS Turner Joy

Keep Cool; DO'NT GIVE UP THE SHIP.

After that, we walked along the docks enjoying the sunset. It got chilly soon, so we headed home. 

Sunset on the docks

We all went out to dinner to the Silver City Restaurant. They had amazing in-house beers (noticing a pattern?) and I had some amazing Tillamook mac 'n cheese. 

Saturday we got up early and took the ferry back to Seattle. We walked around the infamous Pike Place Market (even saw some flying fish!). We bought some fresh salmon and veggies to grill later. 

All the seafoodz

We headed up to the Space Needle after that to catch a Duck Tour. Well. Our guide was absolutely RIDICULOUS, but it was a fun and convenient way to get a whirlwind tour of Seattle. It was fun to ride the duck into Lake Union. Also, we all got duck calls that I annoyed Roberto, Jeff, and Nick with all day (and the next day).

A foggy/rainy day in Seattle?!?! I'm SHOCKED!

Gas Works, as seen from the duck boat on Lake Union

After that, we took a bus to Pioneer Square to go on the Seattle Underground Tour. This was probably my favorite part of the day. The history of Seattle is fascinating, and the whole "city under a city" thing is mind-blowing. There is wikipedia page for it here. We had a great tour guide to boot.

Underground Tour

The original wooden sewer pipes used in Seattle circa 1854

Afterwards, thoroughly tired, we went back to the ferry station to get back to Bremerton. The ferry is about an hour long, so by the time we got back, we were all too tired to cook or go out. We ordered pizza and watched the NFL playoff games ;)

Sunday, our last day there, was spent relaxing at home, and I got to watch the Colts kick Peyton's butt. For dinner we grilled up the salmon and veggies we bought in Seattle. Then Roberto and I packed up our suitcases and trudged back to the ferry to return to Seattle to catch our flight home to Baltimore. 

Seattle skyline at night from the ferry

Ferris Wheel makes cool reflections, ooooh

We took a red-eye, with a layover in Boston. This was my first red-eye in the US (overnight trans-atlantic flights shouldn't count!). Never. Again. It was awful, I couldn't sleep, was uncomfortable, and grumpy. Boo. Finally I stepped back in my apartment after 3 weeks away to a crazy Moka who my neighbor/co-worker had been cat-sitting.

Phew, what a trip! It was great to go home and then visit Seattle again- it's a great city that is also very vegetarian-friendly considering its reputation for seafood ;) But it's always nice to return to your own bed, own shower, and own kitty :)

'Twas the Eon Before Christmas

'Twas the eon before Christmas, when all through the house,
 Not a kitty was stirring, not even a mouse;
 The undies were hung by the chimney with care,
 In hopes that St. paul soon would be there;

 The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
 While visions of seaweed danced in their heads.
 And mom n her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
 Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

 When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
 I sprang from the desk to see what was the matter.
 Away to the window I flew like a flash,
 tossed open the shutters and threw up the sash.

 The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
 Gave the lustre of mid-afternoon to objects below.
 When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
 But a miniature train , and eight tiny reindeer.

 With a little old driver, so shiny and quick,
 I knew in a moment it must be St. paul .
 More rapid than walri his coursers they came,
 And he whistled, and kicked, and called them by name!

 Now Dasher! now, Johnny! now, Tommy and Vixen!
 On, Elaine! On Christine! on, on luftwaffe and Blitzen!
 To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
 Now punch away! punch away! punch away all!

 As dry phones that before the wild hurricane fly,
 When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
 So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
 With the train full of Toys, and St. paul too.

 And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
 The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
 As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
 Down the cupboard St. paul came with a bound.

 He was dressed all in corduroy; from his head to his foot,
 And his clothes were all tarnished with tupperwares and soot.
 A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
 and he looked like a occupier, just opening his pack.

 His eyes-how they smiled! his foot  how merry!
 His pinkytoes were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
 His smelly little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
 And the beard of his chin was as eroded as the snow.

 The stump of a pipe he held in his teeth,
 And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
 He had a broad thigh and little round belly,
 That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

 He was fat and plump, a right jolly old elf,
 And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
 A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
 Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

 He spoke not a word, but went straight to work,
 And filled all the undies, then turned with a jerk.
 And laying his finger aside of his nose,
 And giving a nod, up the cupboard he rose!

 He sprang to his train, to his team gave a whistle,
 And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
 But I heard him scream, 'ere he drove out of sight,
 Happy boxingday to all, and to all a good-night!



------------------------------

I'm cool enough that I write madlib programs in Fortran on Christmas Eve. This one took quite a while to write... it was worth it though!

Happy Winter Holiday of Your Choice!

In a very festive blogpost, here's some Christmas topics for you. Also, I just realized blogpost is an anagram of blogspot... interesting.

A couple of weeks ago we had a Christmas Friday Dinner, complete with Ugly Sweaters (although not many partook, and Alec came in a suit just to be the best-dressed...) And we had a champagne tower that (sort of) successfully worked. Yes, we're that good.

From top, L to R: Steven, Elaine looking classy, Jenny, Eric's caramel onion, Chris with a very unhappy Nyx, and my dazzling smile.

Maybe you're wondering what that caramel-covered onion is all about? Well, you should be. A while ago, Jenny suggested we make caramel apples, but make one a caramel onion and give it to Eric. The idea was of course very well received. After putting it off until well after proper caramel apple eating season, she did the deed. To ensure that Eric took a whopping bite out of the onion, we made it a caramel apple eating contest (we affectionately, and jokingly, call Eric 'Fat Eric' even though he is very much not fat... he just eats an ungodly amount of food). As we started the contest and everyone took bites of their respective apples and onion, we realized the caramel had not quite cooked correctly and was incredibly brittle. Instead of getting the hoped for large first bite, Eric got a few very disgusting small bites. At which point expletives left his mouth and the rest of us erupted into laughter.

We are such good friends :)

I'll leave you with a photo of my once-beautiful tree that was massacred by my cat. Notice that there are NO more ornaments on it...

Some Christmas cards I hastily made, but they still turned out okay.

 HAPPY CHRISTMAS! :)