Mother's Day

Just to make my life way more confusing, Mother's Day in the UK is not on the same day as in the USA (although Father's Day are on the same day). Mother's Day in the UK is the last Sunday in March, so before the US day which often makes it a challenge to remember as I don't have all the constant reminders that you usually get on the build up.

Anyhow, I did remember and sent a card to my mum (not my mom) that arrived in plenty of time! I couldn't find a recent picture of the two of us so here is a picture from Boxing day of the whole family (minus Matt, the dogs and cats).

Looking Like a Fool in San Fran

Thankfully, I didn't look like a fool at my research presentation or poster (as far as I'm aware anyway) and the actual conference was excellent. I love SF and it was great being there for a week, sciencing, eating, drinking, accidentally riding in limos and meeting up with almost every person I went to grad school with. That's where the embarrassing part comes in (more later on that).

My poster - Science did happen!

I didn't have a lot of free time during the day, but I did head out on the cable cars one afternoon to Fisherman's Wharf. I didn't take many pictures, but did get to watch a cruise ship sail past Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate bridge. And drink some amazing Ghiradelli hot chocolate. And watch an impromptu masked escape artist get straightjacketed and tied to a lamppost. At least, I assume it was some kind of show and he isn't still there.

Alcatraz

Golden Gate Bridge with cruise ship

The bay on a really beautiful day!

 Our CSU grad school reunion was the most fun night of the week. When we realized so many of us would be there we knew we had to have dinner and drinks. We (Rachel, Melissa and I) started at a speakeasy where I had some amazing homemade Pimms and this was followed by dinner at a Moroccan restaurant with the whole group. It was so nice to see everyone and catch up. We also realized that we all had been having very similar problems in life after grad school - it's good to know you aren't alone!! Anyhow, I'd been told there was a belly dancing show. What we weren't told is that the ladies would be made to join in. It was pretty funny, and I'd say this picture just about sums it up. I appear to be taking it quite seriously.

At least they wouldn't let us play with the sword :-)

There were more drinks afterwards (in a hotel bar as everywhere was packed with people from the conference) and the following night a few of us met up again and enjoyed "Drag Queens on Ice" (only in SF) in Union Square under the Christmas tree.

Yes, I'm posting a Christmas tree picture in March

This doesn't do justice to the queens!

I was super excited to be upgraded on one of my flights home but that was beaten well and truly by the proposal when I got home :-)

Snow Hole

A long time ago we went on a hike up to a snow hole on the border of New York, Vermont and Massachusetts. It was a nice pretty easy hike but we hardly saw anyone. This was so long ago it was before it got too cold outside to do anything. It was actually fairly warm that day!

Most of the trail was like this

Some great views from the ridge, even in winter!

We made it to the snow hole 

Venturing into the depths

Inside

It was too chilly to eat lunch inside the snow hole but we still managed a picture

On the way home Matt saw a sign for a peace pagoda so we headed off the beaten track and randomly came across this. Pretty amazing and in the middle of nowhere New York!

The peace pagoda

This monument is for walking meditation

It was very peaceful and a great end to a lovely day in the winter sunshine!