The Laguna Lodge and starting my job!

Last week was my last week without work. Tomomi's condo was being fumigated for termites, so we had to vacate for two days. I took the opportunity to go on a little adventure out of the city. Turns out there is a National Forest (Cleveland National Forest) that is only an hour away from San Diego. And I found a lodge there that rented out cabins. So I got one for two nights and headed out to the mountains! It was a really nice little retreat. There were probably 15 cabins - I think I was the only one there. The only person I talked  to or saw was the guy that owned the place. Absolute solitude. It was nice just to be alone after a couple weeks with people everywhere! It was rather pretty as well. There were tall pine trees, and a family of woodpeckers outside my cabin. It still did have a desert look though. But a nice getaway that wasn't so far away!

But back to reality.  Monday was my first day at my new job. I work in a beautiful new building across the street from the Salk Institute and very close to the ocean. :) Some of the lab windows have ocean views. We are very close to the San Diego Glider Port, so those lucky few get to watch people hang gliding too. I can catch a far off glimpse through the window in the bay next to mine. But my desk is on the opposite side of the room as the window in my bay, and our view is blocked by an office anyway. They made all these offices in little squares that line the outside of the building floors, so you have to go outside to go see the boss. Its an interesting set up.
Anyway, things are going well. I'm just doing a lot of reading at first and trying to get all the proper usernames and passwords and email accounts and orientation classes. I can't wait til I really get to do Science!

And the nice part is, I got a holiday in my first week! Happy 4th of July! I decided to go on a little biking adventure. There is a mount called Mount Soledad. On the top is a war memorial. Its an 822 foot hill with great city views. I said to myself, "Well, Its only a 3 mile ride to the top from where I am. I don't know any other bike routes, I should just try it." I used to think that hill on Benton Street in Iowa City was killer. However, after I got slaughtered by this one, I think I little more kindly of Benton street. I did make it to the top, with rubbery legs and all. Unfortunately, it was little cloudy today, so the views were not spectacular. However, I shall include a couple anyway.
So the 3 mile hill up probably took me 45 min to an hour. I got home in about 12 minutes. It might be a while before I try that one again! :)