HCC

It's rainbow season again in Hawaii which usually means getting caught in the rain at some point during the day, but it's a great way to make you forget the inconvenience!

Scene from the parking lot at work!

I attended the Hawaii Conservation Conference and presented a poster about my work on spatial (differences between sites) and temporal (difference between years) benthic (stuff that's growing on the bottom of the ocean) community structure (what do the reefs look like?) at Necker Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. I analyzed underwater photos taken at survey sites during 2002-2006 research cruises to identify coral and algae species.

It was nice to attend a conference and learn about what kind of research and conservation activities are taking place around Hawaii.

And.....I learned a new skill today! Unfortunately, my friend's car would not start, but I helped him out by "dumping the clutch" and getting it started so he could make it home. Good lessons to learn!

Happy Birthday, Paula!

With the summer, comes lots of BBQ....and Paula's birthday. We celebrated in style with a huge BBQ/party at her place. Lots of food, fun and flip cup!

Photo courtesy of B. Richards/P. Ayotte

Happy Birthday, Girl!

How do you make cheese?

Life is good- the weather has been beautiful which has allowed some excellent beach time, some snorkeling and some kayaking last weekend out in Lanikai. Work is busy and deadlines are looming.

The girls are doing well- Pudge and Trouble are both gaining weight on their new diet of rabbit and green peas (luckily I don’t have to go out and hunt their food- it’s available at their vet!). Trouble still occasionally pulls her hair out due to skin irritation. She gets it stuck on her chin and looks like a little billy goat!

With some embarrassment and a lot of disgust, I said goodbye to the ¼ gallon of milk which has been sitting in my fridge since late March. I forgot to clean out my fridge before leaving for the cruise, so it sat there through the cruise and my vacation to Thailand. Then it became one of those things that I was afraid to open and pour out so I could recycle the plastic. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it……until this morning. Adieu!

Wild Pacific

I really hope everyone has been able to enjoy the series "Wild Pacific" on the Discovery channel. It's a great series on the amazing nature of the ocean and islands in the Pacific. There are places so raw and untouched, as well as, places which have been completely changed over time either due to humans or natural change by the elements. It's an awesome look at some of the places I have been lucky enough to work on from the main islands of Hawai'i and French Frigate Shoals where they filmed tiger sharks feeding on fledgling albatross to and the wonderful reefs of Kingman which I hope to visit during the cruise to American Samoa next spring. Check it out!

Independence Day 2009

I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July!

I watched the fireworks at Ala Moana with Annette and Jeff!

I love Target!

I used to be a Target-a-holic when I lived on the mainland (yes, I admit it!), but when I moved to Hawai'i, I had to go without since there wasn't a store on the island. But, not anymore- a new store opened in March, so Kerry, Paula and I decided to use our day off today to do a little shopping!

Oh Target, how I have missed thee!

Playing Tourist

Sometimes it's just fun to go to the beach, get too much sun, do some snorkeling, have lunch looking out over the blue water of the Pacific ocean, people watch and pay $11 for a fruity drink on Waikiki beach!