Common Science: Adieu, 2011

2011 has passed, & I would like to say:

So long & farewell

to one of the most tumultuous years of my life!

Although the bad this year often overshadowed the good,

looking back, there were definite highs to match the lows.

Here are the highlights from the 12 months of 2011...

___________January___________

I kicked off the new year with a soiree my sister's house:

& as per the usual,

we celebrated my sisters birthday at Benihana:

I had high hopes for 2011...

I was working at UCLA,

waiting to hear about grad school interviews

& living with my wonderful grandma in the valley of LA ;)

But January 3, 2011,
changed the person I am
& altered the course of my life forever.

Rest In Peace Matthew Wesselink,
you were the love of my life & I miss you every single day.

If I had to find one good thing that came out of January 2011,
it would be reconnecting with the
second family that I had lost & missed dearly.
So I am thankful for that.

__________February__________

I found out that I had interviews at 6 of the 12 schools I applied to!
Oregon Health and Science University,
University of Texas at Austin,
University of California Santa Barbara,
Arizona State University,
University of Nevada Las Vegas
&
Washington State University.

After interviews at OHSU, UT Austin, WSU and UCSB
I decided to cancel my interviews at ASU and UNLV.

I got the amazing opportunity to visit my dear friend James in Austin
& had an amazing time.
If you ever visit, I recommend stopping for a beer at
Spider House Cafe
& S'mores at Halcyon :)

I also attempted imagining my life as a graduate
student living in the desolate eastern washington landscape in Pullman,
or the beautiful college infused beach-town of Santa Barbara.

But when it came down to it, I chose Portland.
I am not sure what made up my mind, but something told me
OHSU was the right choice for me at that time in my life.
Everything that had happened up until that point somehow made the decision for me.

__________March__________
Mammoth!
For mine and Jesse's birthdays we took a trip to mammoth.
We got a killer deal at the Mammoth Mountain Inn
which included 2 days worth of lift tickets for all of us
& amounted to the best snowboarding of my life.

At the beginning of 2010,
Mammoth had the most snow in the entire world!
And the weekend we were there, we got dumped on!
More than 7 feet of fresh powder!

Needless to say, we had an amazing time!

__________April__________

One word: COACHELLA

Coachella 2011 was quite an experience.
Just me, Brittany and 100,000 other hipsters.

__________May__________
.:Santa Monica 10k:.
My first race ever.
I had never ran more than a couple miles in my entire life!
With training & encouragement,
me, Anna and Jesse finished in 60 minutes!

It was a beautiful day on the beach:

Before....

After...

& You could never forget that I got the mini!!!

__________June__________
Tattoos...
Jesse and I got memorial tattoos for Matt.
Enough said :]

__________July__________
Havasupai Falls
My first backpackin trip ever.
10 miles in 100 degree heat
to reach paradise in the middle of the Grand Canyon:

__________August__________
First and foremost, I finally defended my thesis!
You can officially refer to me as Monique Smith, M.A.
Woo! Hoo!
...The very same day, Jess & I began the worst roadtrip of our life!
Read more about it, here.

& Robyn & Shawns wedding :)

I feel very lucky to have been a part of such a beautiful day :)

__________September__________

First and foremost...

I started my PhD program in Behavioral Neuroscience at OHSU :)

Jess & Jesse came to visit :)

We toured breweries, visited the falls, &

overall hit up everything that is very Portland:

Powell's Books, Edgefeild, Kennedy School,

Stumptown Coffee, VooDoo Doughnuts...

__________October__________
I went home to say goodbye to my Grandpa Fred.
I miss him dearly.
It has been difficult to accept that the two of the most influential people in my life
left us to be in heaven in the same year.
Rest In Peace, Grandpa, I love you.

On a lighter note, some good things did happen in October...
Portishead (!!) in Seattle with Gaby:

All Hallows Eve:
Robyn and I proudly dressed up as the crazy, nasty ass Honeybadger :

__________November__________
I remember a lot of studying in November...haha.
But I also I spent a lovely Thanksgiving with my roomies and their families.
I also said goodbye to my first real Autumn:

& hello to winter.

yes, thats ICE. Brrrr.

__________December__________
I put my first quarter of grad school behind me,
with all A's thank you very much!
I ran the Portland Holiday 5k
with my friends Rachel & Tara, in 30 degree weather!
Brrrr.

& came to soak up the sun in California for the holidays :)
I got to spend time with loved ones & enjoy the beautiful sunshine:

Self Realization Fellowship Gardens in Cardiff, CA: