a little bit about me

I've never been big into reading or writing blog, but lately I've been feeling that it would be nice to have one space where I can collect all my thoughts/experiences/interests.  As of now the target audience for this blog is just me and so please excuse me if it is super boring :).

Quick facts about me:

• I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and now live in the Silicon Valley so, yes .. I am a valley girl for life.. like totally.
• Received my Bachelor's (2000) and Master's (2001) degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.  My area of focus was Mechatronics aka Robotics (218 alum.)
• Currently work as the lead hardware engineer at NASA Ames Research Center in the Intelligent Robotics Group.
• I am a actually contractor through SGT, Inc.
• I also do a bit of project/product management 
• VERVE Project
• Gigapan Voyage for NEEMO
• Gigapan Voyage for DRATS 
• I am also the Technical Area Liaison for Autonomous Systems and Robotics Area 

Interests:

• Dogs! I have two hilarious rescues, Bobby and Sammy.
• Started taking ballet at Western Ballet in Mountain View, CA about 2 years ago and love love love it!   
• Gardening.. currently have a booming homemade planter's bed with lots of veggies and fruit, and lots of fruit trees (persimmon, lemon, pomegranate, pluot, and tangerine)
• and of course ... Robots, Space, and all things tech.

Other ways to see what I've been up to:

• www.linkedin.com/in/susan175/
• twitter.com/susan175
• http://www.gigapan.com/profiles/susan175 
• http://www.gigapan.com/profiles/neemo15 
• http://pinterest.com/sus175/ 
• youtube