Big News

I got a new job!

I'll be starting as the Faculty-Alumni House Manager at UCSF on Monday, February 7. I'll be managing the facility, helping with events, and continuing my work in Alumni Relations. Bonus: I get to work with Andrew sometimes. Woohoo!

Macarons

Look what we made!

Special thanks to I Love Macarons and Martha.

Skiing!

This weekend we headed up to Truckee for some skiing with Cat & John and Tak's mom & aunt.

Tak on the slopes at Sugar Bowl

I think it had been about 13 years since I last went skiing. And this was my first time skiing anywhere other than Mount Kato.

Luckily Tak was a great teacher.

I caught up with Susie and Frances on the slopes for a little photo shoot.

There they are in down the hill. It was a gorgeous (and surprisingly HOT) day.

We were all glad to get our boots off.

We stopped at the vista point on the way back to Susie's for a photo opp with Donner Lake.

On Sunday we enjoyed a leisurely brunch and strolled around downtown Truckee before watching/napping through the Jets/Patriots game (see, I love sports).

Falafel fun

Last week Jeff and Manisha came over for a cooking extravaganza. We made falafel!

yum, yum

deluxe dinner

xmas bonus

Big Buck Hunter

Big Buck Hunter Pro was the official game of our trip to Minnesota.

The Friedmans didn't get the memo.

Chrishmosh

I headed back to MN this holiday season for 10 action-packed days of fun.

So. Many. Presents.
We had to take home an extra suitcase! But it was well worth it. Thanks, everyone!

Cal got lots of awesome Star Wars stuff and these cool spy gear goggles (from yours truly).

And Sada got some crafting items that even made me jealous!

On Christmas day, Mom and I braved the Midwestern tundra for a visit to the Kennedys' in Mason City, IA.

We celebrated in good company.

The next morning, Mom and I picked Tak up at the airport and headed down to Mickey's Diner for lunch with Herta!

It was a very Minnesota experience.

We rounded out the day with dinner at Olive's with Jerry, who introduced us to the blue martini.

We toured Mankato with Mom and enjoyed some jumbo margaritas (and El Burro Chocho, of course) at Mazatlan.

dinner photo shoot!

We stopped off in Blue Earth to visit the Jolly Green Giant, on our way to ...

Iowa! It was Tak's first-ever time in the Hawkeye State.

He was pumped.

We were welcomed in Algona's new welcome center, and met up with Aunt Sandy for a tour of the town.

And we fit in our annual pilgrimage to West Bend's Grotto of the Redemption.

Brother loves the Grotto the most.

But Tak liked it a lot, too.

Allie posed for this artsy shot in the Grotto museum.

Randy & Sandy

Back in Mankato, we met up with MacKenzie, Alena and Nancy for lunch.

Finally, we squeezed in some post-Christmas cheese straw making.

Yum, yum, yum.
Fine holiday fun.