Happy Thanksgiving!

I am reminded everyday of everything that I have to be thankful for, but this Thanksgiving I am especially grateful for my amazing family and awesome friends who have been so supportive of me as I moved halfway across the world to continue my dream to be a coral reef ecologist! I couldn't have made this important journey without you!
I wish everyone a safe and stuffed Thanksgiving!

Weekend fun

Paula, Ann Marie, Annette, Jeff and my Lava Flow hang out at Duke's


Me and Cococheznaynay

Pudge says "La la la"!

Getting back into the routine

I love being home, but it's a little strange having to take care of myself again. I developed such a routine while at sea that now I almost have to remind myself that I can do anything whenever I want- I have options! I have yet to do any laundry and last night I went to the grocery store for the first time since September 12th!

It's Good to be Home!

After a whirlwind of a weekend, I'm back at work and find it hard to believe that I was actually gone for two months. I came home to find two very happy cats waiting for me (thanks Jeff!) and it was great to be able to relax in my own place.


We went to see the matinee showing of Cirque du Soleil Saltimbanco on Saturday- it was so much fun and I highly recommend it! It's a travelling show, so it may be coming to a city near you!

Annette, Jeff and Paula demonstrating their Cirque talent!


Afterwards, we had dinner and then hopped over to Kevin's kareoke birthday party. Kareoke is big over here (partly due to the large asian population) and this was my first experience at an actual kareoke bar- you rent a room with a bunch of your friends and the you pick out songs to sing off of the big screen TV. Much more fun than embarrassing yourself in front of strangers!

Home Sweet Home

Since we have been working around Oahu for the past two days, we have all been able to see the island that we call home and it reminds us of how close we are to being finished! It's been a long, fun, cold, educational and amazing trip and we are all very happy with all that we have accomplished. It's been so awesome to experience the Hawaiian islands with such fantastic people and work with the team that I have become a part of. Although I'm SO happy to be going home, I'm sad that the trip is over and I'm ready to go again.......

Um, can we get off now?

(Photo courtesy of Marie Fergueson)

My job here is done......

Unfortunately, my underwater adventures on the Main Hawaiian Island cruise have come to an end. Yes, we are still at sea and there are two days of diving left, however I will be relying on my team members to bring me the fantastic views of the benthos.
I injured my left ear while diving on Monday- negative pressure middle ear barotrauma (or something important sounding). I was descending to 60 feet when my ear just popped and then I felt pain. My buddy and I surfaced and I received medical attention back on the ship. I did not rupture my ear drum, but the tympanic membrane was red and bulging outwards. I woke up this morning feeling much better, although there is still some pressure and my hearing is a little muffled. I am expected to make a full recovery (probably within a week or so) and it should not affect future diving!

Paula- that's exactly how I feel! I'm going to miss diving and I'm a bit sad that I won't be able to complete my mission out here. We are so close to the end though so I won't be missing too much.........and I've already seen such spectacular things.

To the rest of the crew.....Keep up the good work and stay safe!

Manta!

I finally got to see a manta ray today (and to rain on my parade.....the O team saw a humpback whale)! Some of the teams saw some yesterday so we specifically dove in an area hoping to see one. I was actually at the end of my safety stop when I spotted this one coming near us!

We worked around Lehua and Niihau- I find the topography here so interesting. So many little holes and the sedimentary rock is so much different from the basalt boulders and pavement that we have been seeing at the other islands.

We are seeing more fish diversity and abundance too....check out the prime real estate on this Pocillopora colony!

The fish were funny- when you came near them, they would all hide within the branches!