{size six}

recently, I discovered that I'm not really a size 8 anymore in pants and skirts - I'm closer to a 4/6. While most people, I'm sure, would be happy about that, I've spent the past 4+ years building a wardrobe and developing patterns based on a body shape that hadn't changed for awhile. I discovered this change when making this skirt: 

Don't worry, the decrease in size is not due to a diet, I was perfectly happy with the way I looked - I can only assume that grad school stress, not-super-great eating habits (cereal for dinner more than once in the past month, though I do try to make dinner at least 5 times a week), but it's probably mostly due to my increased exercising with cycling and rock climbing. I love biking to school - not so much the hill on the way home - and apparently cycling slims your hips, dramatically. 

anyways, I'm slightly frustrated right now with how all my slacks fit - they all look at least a size or two too large - but I'm not sure I want to invest in many pieces in a smaller size, as I can't guarantee that I'll be this size forever :(  Unintentionally, I think I've been wearing more skirts and dresses because of this change, but as I get more into lab work, I have to wear pants more often. I guess it was good that GAP changed all their jean sizing recently, as the new 8 fits more like a 6, but I don't like wearing jeans every day (ironic, seeing as I probably own a dozen + pairs). Maybe this calls for a trip to goodwill? I've found some great pants there in the past, maybe I'll get lucky once again. Pants are tricky to tailor around the hips, so I don't want to try to take my current slacks in.

and yes, I know this should totally be classified with #firstworldproblems...

not biking

has been harder than I expected. I keep wanting to ride my bike, but then I remember there is ice on the roads in my hometown. And that my bike is still in Seattle. I refuse to ride a stationary bike and I'm so tempted right now to get a trainer for my lovely road bike, but I think my roommates wouldn't be too happy with a bike in our living room :)

Anyways, here are some funny bike (and pedestrian) related haikus I stumbled upon while procrastinating on finishing my DOE fellowship application:

also. watch this video. it's strangely fascinating. and scary.

3-Way Street from ronconcocacola on Vimeo.

I would also like to point out that in NYC, people stand in the street while waiting to cross. You could clearly pick me out as a non-new yorker when I was in the city a few week ago because I stood on the sidewalk. In seattle, our streets are too narrow to stand in the road! alas, I found myself the day after I returned to seattle waiting in the street more than once.....

{summer interruption}

I planned to video blog through the summer, completing my final internship at NASA Ames in CA...

Take a look how many blog posts happened from June - Aug... Zero. Whoops. Apparently, I was too busy to blog, but that doesn't mean I didn't keep taking pictures and videos!

So, after about 2 months of sitting in pieces on my computer, here are highlights from the entire summer in one video! (Covering 10 weeks of fun means it's kind of a longer video and has lots of titles...)

Done. Summer adventures blogged :)

Thanks friends for a fantastic summer!