Grass

March 23, 2010 | Ridge behind the houses

I might have more interesting pictures to share, like the pictures from the boat. But I think it would be better to write about one of the last things that we did together. I like Catalina, it's vegetation, sunny weather (it's a good thing the weather was sunny last week). And this ridge that we've explored once and went up on twice more. It's a good place to hang out when there's a little time left over. On one side is a bench with ocean views. On the other: a green grass field with a view of the bay, cacti nearby, and a comfortable surface on which to sit share the moment.

So we went here just before your afternoon class. And then we had class, and then I saw you again on the dock. And then I boarded the boat, and it pulled away, away from the island that you shared with me in those 6 days... toward the mainland.

More pictures: Catalina - March 23

Sleeping

March 22, 2010 Pull-out couch

Here is where we slept. It is surprisingly comfortable. I have to go back to sleeping on a single now. :(

Today I had class. And in the afternoon, we went kayaking and saw lots of sea lions. I almost died from fear of being turned over.

Students

March 22, 2010 | View from WMSC cafeteria

Those are the houses that USC students stay in. Jessica's house (where my couch is) is the right half.

Anyway, we just got our breakfast (I got freshly-made pancakes) when I spotted groups of students heading up the path. They are the other students, and they arrived on the morning boat. We went out to wave to them. These girls saw Jessica and waved back. Then they saw me and got really excited.

More Pictures: Catalina - March 22

Ridge

March 21, 2010 The hill from the ridge

You can see the hill from the ridge. We climbed that together! Which for me is always a feat and for you, the climb was probably like a walk at a flat elevation.

Harbors

March 20, 2010 | Harbor Reef Restaurant in Two Harbors

Yesterday, Jessica and I decided to go to Two Harbors for dinner. There's only one restaurant in Two Harbors, so where to go was easy. The hard part was figuring out what to order. We ended up splitting a salad and a plate of ravioli. The food was very good.

We took a harbor boat back. It was fun. It's a harbor patrol boat — convenient since it goes back and forth along the harbor anyway, and it's very small.

More pictures: Catalina - March 21

Fog

March 20, 2010 Two Harbors and a creepy fog

Today was the first day of spring! It didn't really look like it though because it was pretty foggy yesterday. We're still having a hard time finding foxes and bison. :/ I liked dinner at Two Harbors. It was yummy. And the boat ride back to Wrigley in the dark was fun.

Library

March 20, 2010 | WMCS Library

Studying / working in the library is more fun when the library is just one room on the second floor of the laboratory complex, as is the case here. There's a few shelves of books, a few drawers of shells, a table, and a four computers. We spent a few hours here today.

More pictures: Catalina - March 20

Cliffs

March 19, 2010 Warnings

If you go beyond the cliff, you will fall backwards like the blob in the triangle. Looks fun. We should go cave exploring, except I'm really tired and sore because you made me walk a lot yesterday.

Upward

March 19, 2010 | 33.442 N, 118.479 W

Today we went on a mini-hike (about 2 miles) after breakfast, and a bigger one (about 6 miles) after lunch. This is near the beginning of the big hike, when we were happy after just climbing the hill behind WMSC.

After this hill, we climbed another ridge and went along it, making our way through cactus plants and bushes, along bison tracks and past a scary spasmic lizard tail. Unfortunately we didn't see any bison on our hike.

More pictures: Catalina - March 19

Bench

March 18, 2010 Secret Bench

This is our bench. It hides well in the bushes. I almost couldn't find it...I think it has an okay view. The vines are pretty, except they get all over the bench.

Helicopter

March 18, 2010 | USC Wrigley Institute Helipad

Catalina is a quiet island. Here at the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, there are very few people and very few cars. It's a fun place. When the helicopter landed today (something that rarely happens here), we came to watch.

More pictures: Catalina - March 18

Changes

March 17, 2010 Luck of the...Asians...

It's Saint Patrick's Day! And without intending to, I've worn green all day (lime green Hello Kitty pajama bottoms for the wiiiinnn). I am no longer at home, but I wanted to document some of the changes around the house for my brother who is abroad and for myself. It's a bit cleaner. A lot cleaner. And brighter in the dining room and living room. The curtains are different. And the house has gotten exponentially Asian-er.

However, because matter is conserved and can be neither created nor destroyed, other parts of the house are much more stuffed. Example, I came home on Friday to find the coffee table and a bookshelf in my room.

Lamppost

March 17, 2010 | Southwest corner of Suzzallo Library

Today I finished with Spring quarter finals and left with Jessica for California. We'll spend a few days on Catalina island where she is staying this semester, and then I'll spend a few more days visiting friends on the mainland.

UW cherries are blooming, and today was my first day to try out my new lens. So, after my finals were over, I took a few pictures.

More pictures: Catalina - March 17

Choir

March 16, 2010 Third Place Commons

I came to Third Place with my friend to have cake this morning. Coincidentally, a group of children were here. They serenaded us for about thirty minutes. This is the group as it was gathering. There were a lot of children.

The little girl hanging out with the pawns is adorable.

Package

March 16, 2010

Here is what arrived at my door on Monday. A new lens, smaller than my present one,and it takes very nice pictures. It's good for indoors and for flowers.

I'm excited to try it out on Catalina. As well as for Catalina itself, of course!

Quad

March 14, 2010 Pi Day at the Quad

The Quad is very pretty, and the trees go well with the buildings. And the people go well with the Quad. I especially like watching people play in the field. And the children chasing bubbles, even if those bubbles aren't theirs.

Q-pies

March 14, 2010 | Northeast side of Quad

Happy π-day!

Today was π-day, so we went to a pie bakery for lunch. Unfortunately, they were out of pies, and we got these quiches instead. Technically, a quiche is a pie (hence, "q-pie").

Pi Day at UW

After pie, we went to Suzzallo to study.

Slant

March 13, 2010 In bloom

We have two apricot trees. They are slanted. And blooming! Our cherry trees are a little on the slow side and are just beginning to bud. They have beautiful blossoms. It is unfortunate that I will be missing them. I'm excited to be back during the spring though. Last year, I didn't come home for spring break and stayed in LA instead. I don't know if you know this, but even on my commute from USC to Children's Hospital LA, LA is essentially a park of buildings and palm trees and cars (I might be exaggerating).

Departures

March 12, 2010 LAX Sunset

I was so excited about making stand-by for the 4PM flight and quite disappointed that it was delayed by nearly 2 hours. I also saw two people, separate parties, who missed their flights to SF because they were told that the flight was delayed by 2 hours instead of 1. I felt so sorry for them! And the way Virgin announces boarding is very confusing, I think. At least for Alaska, they flash on the screen who is boarding and probably also whether a plane is left. Virgin is so hip, as you will see soon. It's very interesting and colorful.