Harry Potter Land!!!!

A life dream came true for four of us the weekend after Thanksgiving.  We went to HARRY POTTER LAND in Orlando, Florida!!!  [For all of you Sean fans out there, Sean unfortunately is not a part of this story.  That just means I'll have to go again with him!]


The four of us:
Jessica: Lab mate at SDSU, dear friend, and Hufflepuff House
Luisa: Teach For America friend, flew in from Delaware, Gryffindor House
Samantha: Former SDSU lab mate, dear friend, Hufflepuff House
Me: Goofball, enthusiast extraordinaire, Ravenclaw House

Ready for this life experience to begin!!!

From the parking lot at Universal Studios, we could see Hogswarts castle!  This meant that I wanted to run the entire way there.  This was not actually possible (something about having to buy tickets first).

Can you see it?  Can you see it?

After buying our tickets, we quickly wound our way through Dr. Seuss-land (which would have been a lot cooler if it wasn't between us and HP Land).

Directions to Harry Potter from Seuss Land

And, finally, FINALLY, we were there.  Diagon Alley in Hogsmeade lay before us in all of its wintery glory!

Outside of Hogwarts!

The first thing you see when you walk in is, of course...

The Hogwarts Express

And the shops of Diagon Alley!

We pretty much ran from one store front to another (starting with Zonko's).

The girl had eaten Puking Pastilles!

The Owl Post, complete with owls!

Luisa entering Honeydukes!

Outside the Three Broomsticks, where
we of course had lunch!

The inside of the shops was, if possible, even more wonderful!

Wearing our respective house colors

Inside Zonko's Gift Shop

Honeydukes with its amazing candy assortment,
including blood and acid pops (which I'm holding)!

We saw both the Beaubaxtons and Durmstrang students perform...

The strong Durmstrang students

The lovely Beaubaxton students

and even got to meet them!

After exploring Hogsmeade, we ventured up to Hogwarts,

A sign pointing the way

Jess and her butterbeer leading the way!

which was, of course, magical!

Dumbledore's office guardian!

The Mirror of Erised!

A room of moving, talking pictures!

We drank butterbeer,

Jess's commemorative mug

tried out wands

Sam holding the ELDER wand

Testing whether or not the want chose us (this one didn't)

(in some cases buying a wand),

Luna Lovegood and I have the same wand
(even though no two are exactly alike, obviously).

rode broomsticks, 

I think I chose the wrong size broom...

and ate delicious Bertie Bots Beans

and disgusting Bertie Bots Every Flavor Beans. 

And, when the time (eight hours later) came to go, I did not handle it well.

"I don't want to go!"

But, then, neither did Luisa!  (Ignore the fact that I'm in both pictures!)

Expressing our extreme sadness at having to leave
such a magical, magical place!

While it was very bittersweet leaving the Wizarding World to return to the Muggle world, I know that as a true wizard, I'll be back (hopefully with Sean too next time).

Library Shame

It might be shocking to some of you, but not very many esteemed engineering graduate schools also specialize in marine (mammal) biology. One of the rare exceptions is Oregon State University, which has an excellent marine mammal program and a respectable mechanical engineering department. With all that (both of the criteria satisfied), how could Sarah and I not apply to OSU?

The application for OSU was unlike any of the other applications I filled out that year. Most applications can be completed entirely online – transcript requests, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation are all submitted electronically. Apparently the state of Oregon exists in a space-time paradox where it is perpetually 1993 (just like that movie Groundhog Day, where coincidentally it is also perpetually 1993). The OSU applications required that I go to Trinity and pick up a transcript in person, then photocopy (not scan) it twice, then mail (not fax and definitely not email) those copies to the admissions office. If I recall correctly, their online application was only compatible with Netscape Navigator.

I used to love watching the animated logo.

Being lazy, as I am, I did not want to stray far from my apartment to make the already inconvenient photocopies. I racked my brain for minutes before I realized that there is probably an old Xerox machine at the library down the street. The Tobin Library was maybe two blocks away from my apartment, and while I had never been there before, I was exactly right that like every other public library, it contained an old coin-operated copier.

See?  The library really is not very far away.

I thought that the library would probably be empty on a Tuesday at 4pm, but instead it was filled with preteens. Apparently the Tobin library is where Garner Middle School students go after school until their parents come to pick them up. With all the adolescents talking and yelling and loitering and using the computers (some might have even been reading) the librarian was completely swamped, so I decided I could find the copier on my own.

The Tobin Library information window conveniently covered Garner Middle School.

As I wandered through the shelves, I soon realized that I was being followed by a guy dressed in a white shirt and black pants. He couldn’t have been a day older than 18 and as I rounded the next corner I got a good look at him. He was extremely skinny, had a patchy mustache, and his shirt indicated that he was “Library Security.” On the scale of intimidating security, where the secret service is listed as the most intimidating, library security is the complete opposite end of the spectrum. This guy’s job is to protect books that the library loans out for FREE.

The intimidation scale.

I remember thinking, once I’d found the copier, “Why is that guy watching me? Do I look like I am going to steal some books or something?” Then it dawned on me – I was a single adult male in a library full of unsupervised children. Worst of all, since I couldn’t find the copier right away, I had been lurking in the shelves! I was that SKETCHY GUY!! How do you explain to a security guard that you’re not really a creep without sounding like more of a creep?

Once my copies had finished, I quickly left the Tobin Library never to return again.

The Great Escape

One of the best parts of being a Teach For America corps member (besides the students, the teaching, the life changing experiences, Rio Grande City...) was the friendships I made with my fellow corps members.  


My second year of teaching, several of us realized that the whole working 24/7 thing was a bit exhausting, and we needed a break to feel human at least once a week. Hence, our Thursday Night Dinner Club was born.  Once a week for about two hours, we would meet up at someone's house for dinner, conversation, wine, and relaxation.  I'm pretty sure these dinners helped me keep my sanity during the chaotic days of teaching in Rio Grande City, Texas.  Since leaving Rio Grande City and spreading out across the United States, many of us have started our own respective weekly dinner clubs with new friends in new cities.  But, we missed each other and our weekly dinners.  

Thursday Night Dinner Club

Luisa, an inherent planner and extremely organized individual, decided the time had come to plan a girls' weekend, and months ago she sent an email around asking who would be interested in such a trip.  Of course we all replied affirmatively!  


And so, this Labor Day weekend, we held our first annual Great Escape.  Six friends, one location, three days, and many adventures!  We traveled from Delaware, south Texas, southern Arizona, and California to Phoenix, Arizona to meet up for a reunion weekend.  Luisa, despite changing jobs and moving from  Costa Rica somehow planned all of our weekend activities, from meals and airport pickups to shopping outings and pool time.  


Being a planning type personality myself, I thoroughly enjoyed having absolutely no idea what we were doing the whole weekend.  In fact, in order to keep myself totally in the dark, I would plug my ears and hum every time a discussion of what our next activity would be came up.  


Our first activity on Saturday morning was (unbeknownst to me)...

Pedicures (and, in Stephanie's case, a manicure)!  After starting off on the right foot (get it?), we then headed to our second destination...the Desert Botanical Gardens. 

While I appreciate plants and understand their importance, they don't hold my interest nearly as much as animals.  Therefore, I was most excited that I saw a marmoset for the first time scampering about through the cacti! Unfortunately, it refused to pose for a photograph.  I do really like the saguro cacti, of which there were MANY in the gardens!  I learned (from Luisa) that they don't grow limbs (or arms) until they are at least 50 years old, meaning all of my favorite ones are really, really old!  

A grandpa saguaro cactus

After spending as much time in the Arizona heat as we could (which wasn't very long), we went to lunch and had a wonderful taco meal.  Several times during the trip, the original places we had planned to eat at were unexpectedly closed; luckily, every time we ended up someplace else equally or even more awesome.  Our lunch was the first taste of that! :) 

Our third (and final) destination of the day was The Mall.  Some of us (cough*Amy*cough) are tireless shoppers, while others of us (cough*me*cough) are instantly overwhelmed and tired at the very thought of mall shopping.  However, we all found stores and things to buy (I know, shocking, right?), and when we finally met up again, we each had more bags and less money than we originally started with.  By this point, it was time to eat again (and more importantly, get ice water), and we found a fabulous restaurant within walking distance from the mall (more specifically, from outside of Urban Outfitters where we were not-so-patiently waiting for Amy to finish up shopping). 


When heading back to the hotel, we had grand plans of going out after taking time to shower and refresh ourselves.  However, we all ended up in one of our hotel rooms lying on the beds just talking...and it was perfect.  It ended up being one of all of our favorite moments from the trip!


On Sunday morning, we had plans to pow-wow at 9:15 am before heading out at 9:45am.  So, when there was a knock on our door around 9:15am, I went to answer it still in my pj's with my hair a complete morning mess, while Luisa and Amy hadn't even moved from under the covers of their bed.  In walks Stephanie, Julia, and Jenny not only dressed but looked adorable!  Apparently there was a miscommunication about what time we were leaving.  I was just thankful I was in the room that got to sleep in!  After ALL of us were ready, we found a brunch place (and by brunch I mean we were eating about 11:30am).  

A good looking group of girls

After brunch, we drove part of the Apache Trail, which took us up through the mountains and Sonoran Desert.  Our first stop was at a restaurant that looked like the set of an old Western, which of course meant we needed to take pictures.  (I feel like I need to point out that we weren't eating lunch already; we only stopped to catch up with each other since we were in two cars and the place happened to be photogenic).  

About a mile later, we stopped at a Ghost Town.  Now, I've been to a real ghost town before (Terlingua, TX), and this town was much more of a tourist trap than an actual ghost town.  It had shops, a train, a soda fountain, ice cream, and old timey photos (which are apparently ridiculously expensive!)--no real ghost towns I know of have old timey photo booths.  


However, by far the best part of this town, and well worth our stopping, was the Mystery Shack.  

How could we NOT see it?

Intrigued?  We were!  As a scientist, I obviously needed to know what could possibly defy all laws of science!  Since Amy was already feeling dizzy that day, she opted out (a WISE choice as we found out) and Stephanie stayed with her.  However, the rest of us NEEDED to go to the Mystery Shack, and go we did.  

Pre-entering the Mystery Shack.  

Although we didn't realize it, we had to pay to enter the Mystery Shack--it cost four whole dollars!  After a quick check to make sure everyone was willing to pay four whole dollars, we paid and headed inside with our tour guide.  Simply put, the Mystery Shack was more than worth my four dollars.  


I've been in fun houses/ tilted rooms before...but this shack was the most extreme version of one I've ever been in.  Jenny, Luisa, Julia, and I spent the whole time cracking up as we watched each other stand at the most incredible angles and indeed, as the sign predicted, defy the rules of gravity.  

Luisa, defying science, by standing on
strangely slanted stairs.

I know that I did this, but it is hard to
believe looking at the picture!

Jenny, not falling, after standing up

Julia, the zombie.

"Do I need to tip the can?"

When we finished with the Mystery Shack, we decided to continue on the Apache Trail for a little longer before heading back to the hotel.  We ended our journey at a lake in the midst of the mountains.  There was a nice overlook that afforded us nice views of the Tonto National "Forest" (I use quotes since, being in the desert, there was a distinct lack of trees) and lake.  

Looking at the water and standing in the extreme heat, we unanimously decided it was time to head to the pool back at the hotel.  

The loungers

The non-loungers

Like shopping, we have distinctly different ideas of what pool time should include.  Julia, Luisa, and I took full advantage of the floaties provided to make up absurd games (such as the one above where we saw who could balance on top of a giant beach ball the longest).  Stephanie, Jenny, and Amy were more of the lounge-and-read type of pool people.  


After fully enjoying our pool time, we got dolled up and walked to dinner--an Asian tapas bar.  Now, for those of you who know that I'm a picky eater, this was a giant step in the non-picky direction for me!  I'm not a big fan of Asian food (although the stuff I ate last night was delicious), and I'd never had tapas.  It was a long meal complete with dessert and drinks.  

Then, as it was the last evening of our Great Escape, it came time to discuss next year's trip.  As a group, we came up with different potential destinations (Hawaii, St. Louis, Miami, etc.), then went through and vetoed some for different reasons, and came up with our top choices.  At that point, we then went through and ranked our top three.  Overwhelming the top choice for next year is...drum roll, please...Amy's beach house outside of Portland, Oregon!


I'm already looking forward to next year!