From our home to yours, wishing you peace and love this holiday season.

Madrona Woods creek again flows free

For those of you that live in Seattle, here is an interesting article about a local creek restoration project. (Note to Mom and Dad: Judith Starbuck is interviewed)

Snow!

I had to head north for a job today and since it was a long ride, Bailey tagged along to keep me company. While this wasn't his first snow experience, it was definitely one of the most entertaining. We had lunch at a local park. Bailey single handedly cleared the entire area of approximately two hundred ducks in the space of about 30 seconds. It was quite a feat. Our fellow park patrons were not too impressed.

He also went swimming, coat included.

Just Chillin

It is so nice to be done with school!!! We actually have free time now.

Thank you to all eleven of you that have voted in my presidential poll!! I guess things will get a bit tighter in January as the primary numbers start coming in. For those of you that haven't votes (hint, hint), you still can. The poll should appear on the right hand side of your screen (directly above the posted photo albums)

Workplace Hazards

These pictures are from an email that has been making the round at my company recently. As an environmental engineering and science company, we're frequently at work sites that require extensive PPE (personal protective equipment) due to workplace hazards. Thankfully I've never had to use a piece of foam as a hard hat or climb up on scaffolds that were supported by my buddies.

Scaffolding Hard Hat

Welding Masks

The Crocodile Closes

Well this is a bummer. I once dragged two of my housemates (they were both very good sports) to the Crocodile Cafe to watch Death Cab for Cutie play one fall.

Finger Painting

My friend Jen sent out these photos the other day. Aren't they cool? I'll have to ask her who the artist is...He/she is fantastic.

Seattle Trip

We flew up to Seattle last weekend for a quick trip to see family. The weather was beautiful but really cold. It's amazing how quickly one becomes used to the mild California climate. I start complaining when we go below 60 degrees down here; it was significantly cooler than that in Washington. We had some lovely views of the Cascade range on our way up. This one is Mt. Shasta. Clear cut forested areas outside of Portland, Oregon. For some reason, this picture reminds me of the small pox victim that we saw this weekend on the film documentary by Jared Diamond (Guns, Germs, and Steel).
Here is Mt. Saint Helens (top missing) with Mt. Adams in the background.

It SNOWED in Seattle!!

This is a gold crowned kinglet that couldn't handle the cold weather.

Christmas Parties

We made it through the company Christmas Parties this year. Both were quite fun and filled with laughter and good food. Here are a couple of photos from the Waterstone Party.
Those are black bow ties. Waterstone has their annual party at a restaurant called the White House. Each meal is named after a president: Chris has been dreaming about the Ronald Regan Filet Mignon all year. The napkins were adorned with paper bow ties which were evidently quite a hit at our table.

Too funny. My friend Jenny found this article about the richest dog in the world receiving death threats: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7126411.stm

Girls take all in science meet


NEW YORK — Girls swept a prestigious high-school science competition for the first time Monday, winning top prizes of $100,000 scholarships for their work on potential tuberculosis cures and bone growth in zebrafish.
It was the first time girls had ever won the grand prizes in both the team and individual divisions of the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology.
Isha Jain, a senior at Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pa., won the individual prize for her biology project on bone growth in zebrafish fins.
Janelle Schlossberger and Amanda Marinoff, seniors at John F. Kennedy High School in Plainview, N.Y., won the top team prize for their research into tuberculosis treatments.
The entries were judged by a panel of scientists led by Joseph Taylor, winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in physics and a professor emeritus at Princeton University.
Five other individuals and five teams also won scholarships ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.
The Siemens competition was begun in 1998 to recognize America's best math and science students. Finalists were chosen at regional competitions. The contest has also been known as the Siemens Westinghouse Competition.
Jain, whose work has already been published in the journal Developmental Dynamics, said she chose to study zebrafish because they are a good animal model. "They're simple creatures, and if you amputate their fins, they regenerate," she said.
She said her research should lead to understanding bone growth in other vertebrates along with bone disorders in humans.
Schlossberger and Marinoff said their research could lead to more effective treatments for drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Read the article: click here.

Happy Birthday Megan!!!! We can't wait to see you in a couple days!!

-Chris and Sonja

Happy Elfin

Happy Holidays, Courtesy of Peter: click HERE.

Geology Field Trip

We had a geology field trip for our class this morning. Unfortunately, we discovered that it had been canceled only after we arrived down in Dana Point. We decided to take a walk along the beach anyway.

The meeting place was at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, the same place where we took our sailing trip from last weekend with my padres.

Yummy! Lobster tail.