Can't even think of an exciting title for this one.

We bought a new comforter. Here I am at the laundromat, washing it. Because it's too big to fit in our washer.

I'm sorry. Some (most) of my days are just this dull.

We gotta fill this hall, people

I'm involved in a big course for first-year students at my university. Here's the kick-off day. We have four lecture halls like this filled simultaneously.

Oops, I did it again

Somehow, seven months slipped by without a post. I've got some pictures, so I'll be uploading the missing months over the next few days.

Here's a nice sunset shot, taken from my parking lot at work. You can see Mt. Baldy and a bit of the rest of the long San Gabriel mountain range. The peaks are snow-covered for winter, and sunset often paints them salmon and purple.

Retrospective II: When life gives you lemons

Better late than never, I suppose. I completely forgot to do my year-end retrospective, although I did take this picture on December 31st. It's the lemon tree from our front yard, and it fits the title well.

Here's last year's retrospective post.

Without further ado, my reflections on 2009.

As 2009 began, I had a steady work consulting for a failing university in D.C. I split my time between Minnesota and DC for the first three months of the year. I hated the job but needed the income. On January 8-9, I chronicled (with pictures taken at LAX!) an interview in California. That interview led, eventually, to the job offer that brought us to the West Coast. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Minnesota had a typically cold, snowy winter. I did my usual whining about temperatures in the -20s and our attempts to manufacture indoor fun. I had a few more interviews, most notably a visit to Urbana-Champaign in February, but by this time the California school was making serious noises and we were starting to negotiate.

By the end of February, we had agreed to take the California job. This was a big change for our family. We weren’t close to anyone in southern California, and it meant that Rachel had to give up her job and become the trailing spouse. Financially, it was the best choice. Personally? That remains to be seen.

The second quarter of the year, we prepared for our move. Lots of packing, staging, home repairs, and showings. Also, as a reward for finally deciding on a job, we treated ourselves to a quick Caribbean cruise in April. We had a lot of bittersweet “lasts” during this time – last Passover dinner that we hosted with friends Patrick & Ilene, last visits to favorite restaurants, a farewell party with our friends.

Minnesota sent us off with a lovely spring. At the beginning of June, we packed up the house, sent Ellen and Rachel to Chicago, and I began a cross-country drive. Alone with my thoughts, some books on CD, and the cats, the change became real, as the landscape went from lush farmland to dry prairie, to desert and mountains.

In California we marveled at the luxuriant, colorful foliage and flowers, and the abundant produce. Also, the earthquake kits and booklets, the air-choking smoke from giant burning fires on the mountains, and the stretch of 100+ degree days in the summer. And for Ellen: Disneyland. It took some time to get acclimated to our rental house, which was plagued with plumbing problems yet gifted with exotic fruit trees of all kinds. We had bounties of figs, kumquats, Asian pears, jujubes, lemons, pomelos, longanfruit, and loquats. Living close to mountains for the first time in my life, I was fascinated by them, and many of my California pictures feature the San Gabriels.

We made a handful of trips back to the Midwest over the fall and summer, to visit family, attend weddings, and so on. Driving or a quick 90 minute flight were no longer options. We did try the red-eye once. Doable, but not much fun. Fortunately, Ellen is pretty well-behaved and easily entertained on planes. She likes the Where’s Waldo books and watching Backyardigans episodes on my iPhone.

Our house in Minnesota took eight months to sell and was a major stressor for us. We dropped the price several times, and I went back in September to oversee a fresh round of painting and cleaning. Finally, in December we got an offer that was low but bearable. It was a relief to get this off our hands.

Settling into my new job, I had a bit of business travel in the fall – trips to Houston and Indianapolis – but nothing like the schedule I was on when I was interviewing.

Ellen moved into preschoolerhood this year – dance recitals, her own iPhone apps and TV shows, full-on Disney princess worship, and a whole new array of misbehavior. She also started learning to read, developed her imaginary friend “Elina”, and showed off her blossoming intellect with an endless stream of singing, chatter, observations, and small talk.

Rachel gave up her job in Minnesota for this move. She had some interviews, a few of which were very promising, but nothing has turned into an offer yet. The economy and job market are even worse in California than in Minnesota. She’s been as patient about this as anyone could be, but it’s difficult.

As the year wrapped up, we held our traditional Hanukkah Party with a house full of new friends. We spent Christmas having Jewish deli in Studio City and traditional dim sum in Monterey Park. For New Year’s Eve, we walked through the tailgaters along the Rose Parade route in Pasadena. This is a different way to live. But we chose to live here. And we are.

Lebensraum, teddy bear style

The new bed has plenty of room for Ellen's abundant stuffed animals.

Full size

The grandparents insisted on buying Ellen's first full-size bed. Here we are at the mattress store, where much intense jump-testing was conducted on mattresses.

The Dampest Place on Earth

It never rains in Southern California...

Except this week. When it rained and rained and stormed and stormed. For days. It all started on Sunday, when the grandparents took Ellen (and us) to Disneyland. Fortunately, Disneyland will happily sell you Disney ponchos.

A Chorus Line it's not

Ellen's first ballet class. Not quite ready for the Nutcracker.

Spared no expense

Here's one of dozens of study rooms in my university's new education center. These soundproofed rooms are equipped with giant flatscreen monitors, for collaborating on documents or, I dunno, watching Harry Potter movies in Blu-Ray. Nice. I'm still kind of envious, though. When I was in college, a blackboard with actual chalk was the height of luxury.

Toasty

This little breakfast joint up in the foothills in La Cañada has toasters on the table. They bring you slabs of bread and you toast them to your specifications. Nice.