WASHINGTON DC!

I flew straight from Seattle, Washington to the other end of the country...Washington DC to interview to be a professor at a university in Kazakhstan! I was only there for about 24 h, but I used every minute I could to see the sights. I'll be honest, I fell in love with DC and would LOVE to go back. I felt super cool getting to be an expert at the metro and going wherever I wanted to go.

The interview was a really great experience and I felt like it went well! We will see...

S*E*A*T*T*L*E

BYU doesn't get spring break. I went out of town for a week anyway. I roadtripped with old friends (the Murris and Cannons) back to SEATTLE!! Nothing can top a super great group of people partying it up in my favorite city. Going to Seattle always feels like going home. I didn't have time to visit a tenth of the people I would have wanted to, but I cherished the small amount of visiting I did have. It was always AWESOME to get to visit some places I'd never been to and experience more of that beautiful area. There was much laughing, driving, poem-reading, singing in the car (in perfect harmony...of course it was the Murris and Cannons!), staying up late, ferrying, watching movies, chatting, playing games, kayaking in the puget sound, visiting Pike's Place, visiting Leavenworth, taking pictures of us sleeping everywhere (random tradition that started the first day), dancing, and eating! Yay for my fake spring break and good friends!!

getting a little excited!

T - 15 days until Washington DC. This girl is getting pretty excited. I just looked up how close my hotel is from everything, and I'm feeling like I have a pretty great location. 2 weeks!!!!!!

Arts & Culture

• The Phillips Collection  0.1 km/0.1 miles
• National Geographic Museum  1.0 km/0.6 miles
• Washington Monument  1.6 km/1.0 miles
• Smithsonian Institute  1.6 km/1.0 miles
• National Gallery of Art  1.6 km/1.0 miles
• Corcoran Gallery of Art  1.8 km/1.1 miles
• National Museum of Women in the Arts  1.9 km/1.2 miles
• Lincoln Memorial  2.4 km/1.5 miles
• International Spy Museum  2.6 km/1.6 miles
• National Museum of Natural History  2.9 km/1.8 miles
• National Museum of African Art  3.1 km/1.9 miles
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum  3.2 km/2.0 miles
• Arlington National Cemetery  4.8 km/3.0 miles

Community

• George Washington University Hospital  1.5 km/0.9 miles
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial  1.6 km/1.0 miles
• Georgetown University Hospital  1.6 km/1.0 miles
• George Washington University  1.6 km/1.0 miles
• Georgetown University  1.6 km/1.0 miles
• Washington National Cathedral  3.1 km/1.9 miles
• Howard University  3.2 km/2.0 miles
• University of the District of Columbia  3.2 km/2.0 miles
• Washington Hospital Center  4.7 km/2.9 miles
• American University  4.8 km/3.0 miles
• Sibley Hospital  7.2 km/4.5 miles

Corporate Offices

• Dupont Circle  0.2 km/0.1 miles
• The Advisory Board  0.3 km/0.2 miles
• Deloitte  0.3 km/0.2 miles
• Akin Gump  0.3 km/0.2 miles
• Marsh Inc.  0.8 km/0.5 miles
• McKinsey  0.8 km/0.5 miles
• The World Bank  1.5 km/0.9 miles
• International Monetary Fund  1.5 km/0.9 miles
• Danaher Corporation  1.6 km/1.0 miles
• Allied Capital  1.6 km/1.0 miles
• Accenture  1.8 km/1.1 miles
• PricewaterhouseCoopers  2.3 km/1.4 miles
• Ernst & Young  2.7 km/1.7 miles
• Fannie Mae  3.2 km/2.0 miles
• Blackboard Inc.  3.2 km/2.0 miles
• Carlyle Group  3.4 km/2.1 miles
• Corporate Executive Board  3.9 km/2.4 miles

Government Offices

• Embassy Row  0.0 km/0.0 miles
• Portuguese Embassy  0.1 km/0.1 miles
• Embassy of Sudan  0.1 km/0.1 miles
• Greek Embassy  0.1 km/0.1 miles
• Indonesian Embassy  0.1 km/0.1 miles
• Gabon Embassy  0.2 km/0.1 miles
• Embassy of Luxemburg  0.2 km/0.1 miles
• Embassy of Estonia  0.2 km/0.1 miles
• Dominican Republic Embassy  0.2 km/0.1 miles
• Embassy of Morocco  0.2 km/0.1 miles
• Togo Embassy  0.2 km/0.1 miles
• Embassy of Cyprus  0.3 km/0.2 miles
• Latvian Embassy  0.3 km/0.2 miles
• Embassy of Georgia  0.3 km/0.2 miles
• Armenian Embassy  0.3 km/0.2 miles
• Costa Rican Embassy  0.3 km/0.2 miles
• Egyptian Embassy  0.5 km/0.3 miles
• Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany  0.5 km/0.3 miles
• Haiti Embassy  0.5 km/0.3 miles
• Embassy of South Korea  0.5 km/0.3 miles
• Argentinean Embassy  0.5 km/0.3 miles
• The White House  1.6 km/1.0 miles
• Capitol Hill  1.6 km/1.0 miles
• Bolling Air Force Base  14.5 km/9.0 miles
• Andrews Air Force Base  24.1 km/15.0 miles

Local Attractions

• Kennedy Center  1.6 km/1.0 miles
• Congressional Country Club  14.6 km/9.1 miles

Transportation

• Metro Station  0.2 km/0.1 miles

purchased

Purchased:

*1 plane ticket from Seattle to Washington DC
*1 plane ticket from Washington DC to Salt Lake City

(The best purchases are those that will be reimbursed...let's be honest.)

Oh...did I mention I get to go to Seattle for almost a week with friends in March? And did I mention I will head straight from that excursion to DC for a 2nd interview for a position as an Assistant Professor of Biology? (When did I grow up?) Oh...and did I mention the job interview in DC is actually for a university in KAZAKHSTAN?

Seriously?

more Philly

2 more highlights from Philadelphia 2013:

ROOM SERVICE!

PRESENTING MY POSTER TODAY!

Philadelphia!

I am currently in Philadelphia for the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting. Translation: a bunch of scientists from all over the world gather to present their research to each other. Secret confession: I LOVE IT. This is my fifth year attending (see this post, and this one, and this one, and one more) and it's fun to see my progress since 2008. I understand a lot more, I feel more like an equal with the professionals, and I even have friends I recognize every year! I present my poster tomorrow, but I thought I'd share some pics of our sight-seeing adventure today! Dr. Bell, Alyssa, and I walked in the bitter cold (only about a half mile from our hotel) to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution were drafted. It got me all fired up about US History and made me want to read some good books about it.

I've also loved staying right next to the Reading Terminal Market! There are sooo many places to eat (Mexican, Chinese, Sushi, Greek, even the Amish are here!), jewelry shops, bakeries, flower shops, and fresh produce (where the man gave us a discount because we are students...awesome). It reminds me of a mix between Pike's Place in Seattle and indoor renoks (spelling??) in Russia! LOVE IT.

Also, I've loved hanging out with Alyssa! We even got free matching t-shirts because we're cool like that.

Riding the subway to church on Sunday and discussing research ideas with Dr. Bell have also been favorites! Once again, I've realized how much I LOVE visiting big cities and how much I do not want to live in one haha. I do love visiting though. I love seeing the sights and getting a feel for the city's personality. Also, my favorite part of some of these cities back east is how you will have these BEAUTIFUL old buildings mixed in with the new ones downtown. Favorite.

Liz's 2012

The years seem like they're flying by these days! I can't help but feel a little pensive as we send out the old year and welcome a new one. How will I remember this one?

2012 was a year of science!

I had two papers published this year! I am the first author on both and they will be the first 2/3rds of my dissertation. 

2012 was the year I completed my comprehensive exam for my PhD!

Completing the written portion was probably the most stressful month of my life, and completing the two hour oral portion was probably the best feeling EVER.

2012 was a year of travel!

SEATTLE with Diane to see our dear friends John and Rosemary sealed in the temple!

ST GEORGE and VEGAS with Steph and Kelli for my birthday! This one was a mystery until we were in the car on the way there.

SAN DIEGO with my lab to present at a conference.

BEAR LAKE with William, Mitch, and Alyssa for some intense four-wheeling and jet skiing.

SAN ANTONIO to see Jenny, Jonathan, James, and Ella!! This included a night camping on a beautiful beach...such a sweet visit.

HELSINKI, FINLAND with Mom and Dad! It was my first time out of the US and a wonderful place to see my Papa for the first time in a year (Mom traveled with me since she came home for Grandma's funeral).

A brief but exciting layover in MOSCOW, RUSSIA!

And a fantastic 3 weeks in NOVOSIBIRSK, KRASNOYARSK, TOMSK, and BARNAUL, RUSSIA with my amazing parents! There are no words to describe how incredible this experience was.

And lastly, DISNEYLAND with Steph and Marissa! This one was also a surprise! They didn't tell me where we were going until we were about to enter security at the airport. I am so lucky.

2012 was the year I lost Grandma Glenn.

I'm so grateful I know I will get her back someday!

2012 was the year of Darrell!

I was the lucky girl who got to date this guy and thus catch my first fish, go to my first RSL game, discover the exciting world of podcasts and homemade salsa, and experience all kinds of other adventures.

2012 was the year I became the activities cochair in my ward!

This has been a lot of work, but I have had so much fun and made so many wonderful friends! I've also learned how to feed 150 at a time and how to grill the perfect hot dog.

2012 was a year of some firsts!

First time dying my hair.

First time being a soccer coach.

First time running a half marathon without really training.

2012 was the year I got to team-teach PDBio 120 at BYU!

Loved. Every. Minute.

2012 was the year Annie, Abby, Ryan, and I bonded! A lot.

Holidays, birthdays, random hang-outs, the good times never end. Ron sure is a champ to put up with 3 girls all the time.

2012 was the only entire year I was Josh-less.

Man I miss this guy.

What's coming up in 2013? I will get 2 new nephews. Josh will come home. I will graduate with a PhD. I will get a real grown-up job teaching college (hopefully). I will likely move. Seems kind of intense eh? I guess I'll git 'er done the same way I did 2012, one beautiful day at a time!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!