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Just posted the highlights of 2007 (so far) on my Flikr page. Check it out!

Wedding Party

Everyone had fun at the wedding, even Fernando, whom I dragged along. My good friends Noel, Erin and Christina were all there (as was Nicole, but since her brother was getting married she had to sit at the Family Table). The wedding programs were five sheets of paper that were fastened at one end and swung out to create a little fan. Very cute. 

My Friend's Brother's Wedding

My friend Nicole's older brother James finally got married after dating the same woman for 9 years. The wedding was really nice. My favorite part was the 6-piece Dixieland band that walked the entire wedding from the ceremony to the reception. We walked 3 blocks in a parade. Fernando knew several of the New Orleans songs 

JDRF Walk in San Francisco

I volunteered at the JDRF Walk in the City that my friend Noel was in charge of. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is a nonprofit that raises money to fund a cure for diabetes. Lots of families came for the one mile walk. I put up signs for the route, unloaded the trucks, set up tables and chairs, and manned the "Kid's Corner" where kids could draw, get fake tattoos, and put on animal masks (the theme this year was "WILD!") Noel doesn't even looked stressed... 

Back to School

We moved my sister back to Riverside (45 minutes east of LA) this weekend. The 8-hour drive with the fam was enough to remind me why I don't live at home with my parents. I'd never seen Nicole's school before (University of California at Riverside...UCR). Honestly, it was hot, dry and somewhat ugly. There are dirt hills that surround the school and the downtown part is really small. I've also heard that there is a homeless problem...not students, but real homeless. My sister likes it there, and that's what matters.

Ye Old Renaissance Faire

This weekend we went to Truckee which is a little town about 30 minutes south of Lake Tahoe. We celebrated Fernando's birthday on Saturday and went to Reno to see George Lopez. On Sunday we went to the Renaissance Faire. No one planned on dressing up, but we stayed with Kelly's aunt and uncle and they had costumes for about 30 people. From left to right: Ben, Elisa, Me, Fernando, Jenn, and Malique (also 2nd year PhD students) 

Last Summer Hurrah

Since some of us paid $50 for a season pass to Great America (the local amusement park) we had to go a second time to get our money's worth. This ride is called the Vortex and you stand up while you ride it. My roommate Kelly is on the far right. She's super nice and really easy-going. I love living with her this year. 

My Other Grad School Gang

Here I am in New Orleans with Natasha and Fernando. They're my pals in the program. Fernando is from New Orleans and he was an excellent tour guide. We came for the APA conference, but we stayed for the Swamp Tour and the Shrimp Boil. 

Working at the 4H office

Working at the 4H office
Originally uploaded by Kristin718.

I worked the Junior Livestock Auction at the Alameda County Fair last week and it was really interesting. I love to eat meat, but I never really thought about where it came from. My friend Kara was in 4H and she got me and my friend Natasha to come help out.

People came from all over to bid on steers, cattle, sheep, goats (the up-and-comming meat) and rabbits. The auctioneer calls out the price of meat by-the-pound.

I had to learn weird lingo like "cut and wrap" (where you want your meat cut and packaged) and "harvesting fee" (aka "kill fee). Some buyers resell the meat to supermarkets, and Safeway bought meat at the auction directly as well.

The animals were raised by kids in 4H who learn about how to manage and take care of livestock, so the animals were treated well during their lives.