Time is moving! One more week in Davis, so ends an era. I packed up my office today, a trip down memory lane primarily because I have not cleaned out my desk in the 5 years I have been there. Weirdest thing was welcoming in the newest student. Out with the old...
Luckily I have not had much time to think about it. Working on the dissertation, moving, setting up the new place, taking down the old, staring in awe at my tv... I started freaking out that the truck we ordered would not be big enough. So I measured out 22' in our apt. It is nearly 2/3 the entire length of our apt. So we might actually just be able to set up the rooms inside the truck! Ha. Packing it up on Wednesday, driving to Portland Thursday. I think I am going to go solo to Pullman on Friday and get stuff somewhat setup. I got a guy from the new lab to help me with the big stuff and the rest I will just throw in the garage until everyone else arrives. I am excited about the new place. It will be nice to be in a house and out of the apartments. It is exciting to think about what life will be like. Getting to know new people, trying to find a church, and so on. Hopefully our transition to Pullman will be easier than our transition to Davis. Good thing is two years goes fast. My masters stint seemed so quick. Of course the bitter cold winters might stretch the time. Well that is the update, likely this will be my last blog in Davis. I'll catch you all in a while in Pullman.

I win! I have lost the nice car, owning a house, having a real job- but as for the big screen tv, I win! I totally stole it off craig's list from some guy in Modesto. Basically got it for half price, which still was a ton of money. Graduation gift from Dad, THANKS! So the coolest and weirdest thing ever is that I can get HDTV programming (the best resolution) over a cheap $30 antenna that I bought 5 years ago and gave me the crappiest reception (still does with the analog signal). Apparently, the digital signal is all or none. So if you get any signal, it comes in perfect- and above that, I get a better picture than I can with all that fancy directv equipment. So needless to say I am living it up now! I just keep staring at it... I can actually read Conan's notes on his blue cards! So awesome... 

I graduated last night!!! It was awesome. I feels somewhat surreal actually, having worked so hard for so long and to have finally reached this point. If I think about it, I wanted a PhD since 1992- so that is 14 years, almost half of my life! Of course back then I wanted it in Psychology- and was even enrolled in a Psychology PhD program for most of a year before deciding that was not the field for me. One Masters in Biology and 5 years later -bam. To graduate in the field of Ecology from UC Davis is somewhat unreal as well. Particularly since it was just ranked by US News and Reports as the #1 graduate program in ecology and evolution. To give you some perspective, Harvard was #3! Soon I'll be off doing the post-doc thing, and perhaps before I realize it actually realize my dream of becoming a professor. A proud day for sure. The best part of the whole ceremony was right after I was "hooded" I looked up to see Lucas in the stands and he pointed at me. Weird how being a dad puts a whole different perspective on things... 

Blogs are slow to post these days... Too much going on. I am sure when I get to Pullman I will be blogging every day. So to update all- graduation next Thursday! I am excited! I went to pick up my cap and gown today and the line was over an hour-needless to say I left it and will go back later this afternoon with the hope that it will die down. I am having a graduation party at Slide Hill park on Saturday at 4pm- feel free to swing by and watch me make a fool of myself. Apparently, my lab has all sorts of traditions that I will be re-enacting. The most entertaining being that I get to sing a song in front of everyone. Embarassing for most, but I will suck up the lime light- particularly with the song I am using. Only one person knows what I am singing...
That's the fun news, the sad news is that our car was broken into a couple nights ago. Someone punched in the back window of the Altima and tried to steal the stereo. Dummies couldn't get it out. They didn't take anything, not even the CDs. Of course, it was Rachel's car so a bunch of Christian music CDs- wonder why they didn't take those? Ha.
Lucas is getting bigger and smarter everyday. Check out the various photo sites to see him grow. One day, I'll eventually add video to the site. I aint got that kind of time these days. Speaking of, I better get back to work.