Doing Our Part

Matt emptying our very handy IKEA SORTERA recycling bins.

As part of being eco-friendly and thrifty, Matt and I have started taking our recycling to a center where we turn it in for cash. Our last visit--after accumulating bottles and cans for a month--netted us four dollars (we don't waste any fuel getting there as we stop when we're already nearby). That's 5/6 of a gallon of gas!

Torrey Pines State Park & Tijuana Estuary

Cliffs at Torrey Pines. Dramatic--and when you hike up them you are higher than the helicopters!

Since our gym is closed on Sundays, we've been trying to get out and spend some physical energy exploring the parks and reserves in the San Diego area. Recently we've been to Torrey Pines State Reserve and the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. The former is across the street from Matt's office in La Jolla and the latter is just south of Coronado, with a view of the fence separating Mexico and the US and the massive Bullring by the Sea in Tijuana, Mexico.

Spending time together in our new town is our main goal with these outings, but I could tell Matt was a bit disappointed with the lack of birds at the Tijuana Estuary. We had brought our good binoculars and the spotting scope and tripod my dad had given us at Christmas. It did help us get a good view of a Western Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, few Brown Pelicans, group of Snowy Egrets and group of terns (perhaps Elegant Terns), but the quantity of birds was a bit low.


Western Meadowlark and Red-winged Blackbird

A group of Snowy Egrets and an adventurous juvenile on its own.

We went on a free bird tour at the reserve, and even our guide said that this was not the best time of year for birding. We actually only came across a Northern Harrier (named Harriet by the staff) and a few Belding's Savannah Sparrows on the tour until we were heading back and Matt spied the beautiful Yellow-crowned Night Heron crabbing in the marsh. It paid us no attention as we gazed and snapped photographs: it was too busy catching its dinner. After that, Matt was a much happier bird watcher.


Yellow-crowned Night Heron, spying and then catching its dinner (can you see the crab?)

When we went to Torrey Pines, the weather was much hotter--most people were in the water not hiking. Matt and I tend to don hiking boots not bathing suits, and the breeze off the cold Pacific is all we needed to enjoy our day. While Torrey Pines is not a large area as far as California parks go, it does offer "2000 acres of land are as they were before San Diego was developed -with the chaparral plant community, the rare and elegant Torrey pine trees, miles of unspoiled beaches, and a lagoon that is vital to migrating seabirds."


Beach goers at Torrey Pines and the eroded sandstone up above.


Two forms of Torrey Pines wildlife--Matt and a lizard.

San Diego Game Night

I just love this photo of Shawn relaxing in in the sun, reading Wired and petting Titchou.

She and Tyler came down a few weekends ago for a Game Night (board games, ingesting copious amounts of food and watching somewhat obscure videos). Mr Eric J Lawrence, the progenitor of our LA game group, was suppose to caravan down as well, but he had to cancel due to more 'important' obligations. (He mentioned something about two of his oldest friends' birthdays--really, where are his priorities!) Matt filled in as the fourth gamer, and he came in a very respectable second--much more respectable than my sad, way behind, last place finish.

Shawn picks a card as Matt contemplates his next move, and Tyler a bit crazed over his win.

Tyler came in first, a familiar position for him. Ticket to Ride is his game however, so he's played quite a bit more. He was kind enough to leave it with us for a while, and we've initiated Matt's parents and our friends James and Michael, during our time in Cambridge (yes we brought it with us), into the this world of trains, destination tickets and routes. James also found it to be a mini lesson on U.S. geography.


A happy, full bunch of gamers outside of Chopahn, and our Glamour Shots pose, which Matt wasn't quite prepared for.

In true gaming tradition we also went out to eat, however we opted for healthier, higher-end fare versus the burger and fries, IHOP, Bob's Big Boy type meals we normally eat. Matt and I were excited to take Tyler and Shawn to Chopahn, a favorite Afghan restaurant within walking distance, and we were very happy that they loved the food (but how can one not with dishes like kadu--sweet, honey sauteed pumpkin served with yogurt and meat sauce).

The video portion of the night was accomplished with Tyler's aid--he brought a projector since we don't have a TV but we have bare, high-ceiling, white walls. Tyler also provided the material via YouTube: the BBC spoof science program Look Around You.

Although I won't be able to participate in Game Night every month, I do hope to make a couple of guest appearances throughout the year.

Considering Changing My Name To Justin Ross

Remembering bucolic scenes such as this recent one from Cambridge help ease the pain and drudgery of looking for a job.

Applying for jobs is so not fun. Not hearing back from anyone you've sent resumes to is not fun. Getting phone calls offering work to the former owner of our telephone number--well that's just really, really not fun. As one recruiter told me, after I informed him that this was no longer Justin Ross's phone number, "Well you sure must be getting a lot of phone calls. He has an impressive resume."

Next time I get one of those calls, maybe I'll just say, "It's actually Justine," and see how the interview turns out.

The Graduate

10 May 2008, University of Cambridge
Judge MBA 2006 Graduation




Here are some other photos of the weekend's activities.

Manuela and Matt at the class picture, and Matt, Shelley, Manuela and James at New Hall dinner.


Our self portrait outside the Senate House after the ceremony, and Manuela, the class photographer, snaps a picture of us after the class photo.


Michael, Steve, Matt and Taro at the Judge BBQ, and Judge football team after their (unsuccessful) match against the current MBA class.

Even If I Wanted To, I Don't See How...

I could climb this 400 year old 'tree'.



As the sign was in a planter outside of the Green Man pub in Grantchester, I'm thinking it may have been removed from its original home after one too many pints.

We Arrived Just In Time For The Lilacs!

Lilacs will always remind me of 36 Sequams Lane East.

It has been 70º degrees and sunny since our arrival in Cambridge: the cows are back on the commons; people are in the punts; layabouts are lazing on the lawns; and the plants are popping out petals. It's just lovely. Seeing as how last summer was 55º and rainy most days, we feel like we earned such glorious weather.

More images of springtime in Cambridge (click for more detail)

Golden fields of rapeseed.	Punts by the pub, The Granta .
Robin in mid call.	Flowering rosemary.
Sweet buttercups.	And no lack of pheasants.