Christmas eve and an invitation from Terry and Robin to come for a visit and simple dinner. We had a lot of fun, even if I was pretty out of it. Yes, I'm still fighting the sleep causing illness whatever it is called. They fed us fabulous soup and munchies, played games and we were generally merry. Mary Lou was also in attendance which was also delightful. Personally, I had a great deal of fun asking and answering Harry Potter questions with Terry. Nick said it was fun and relaxing and Shanna only played on her game system a little.
Harry Potter trivia question: What was the name of Harry's Aunt's bulldog? What was the Aunt's name?
Jenny
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
Holiday party the second...
Or rather, the one that didn't happen. We're postponing it due to snow and sleep. :) We woke up and the world had gone white. Supposedly we were going to Logan to visit Nan and some of my other siblings tonight. Every Christmas Eve, Eve for the past 7 or so years Nan and I have gotten together to celebrate the season and family. The plan was to do it again. The weather had other plans. I think that if I hadn't been so tired because of this stupid virus I might have taken the jeep and risked it...
Still, it means we get another party after later. I think we're going to wait till Melinda gets back from Texas and then try again. So we'll see the official Holiday party the second post after Christmas.
Back to bed
Jenny
Still, it means we get another party after later. I think we're going to wait till Melinda gets back from Texas and then try again. So we'll see the official Holiday party the second post after Christmas.
Back to bed
Jenny
Monday, December 18, 2006
Holiday party the first....
Well, the first Semenza holiday party of the season went off quite well last night. We invited a bunch of friends over for a potluck dinner with an Italian theme. There was so much food. Nick made his famous Carbonara (bacon, butter, cream, pasta). I made a Risotto Primavera (rice w/veggies), Torta (rice, egg and parmesan pie) and Minestrone. Friends made homemade ravioli, lasagna, salad, asparagus, cheese fondue, brownies, Panatone (fruited bread), Panforte from Sienna (chocolate, honey, hazel nuts, almonds and mushed) which was AMAZING, Fuccidati from Sicily (like a filled pastry/cookie) also yummy, salad, antipasta (salami, mozzarella, mushrooms, anchovies, olives etc...) AND sourdough French bread from San Francisco that Nick's dad sent me home with. I'm still full this morning. I can't believe how good all of the food was. Next year, we're going to have to hold this party at a larger location!
Everyone who attended was interesting and fun to be with, I just wish I could have spent more time talking to everyone there. The house was packed with 17 of us, (though you know my Christmas tree really counts as another person or two). We had people eating and talking all over, though it did make a problem to go from living room to kitchen.
The pothos plant I had on my mantle, outgrew it this season. So I took him off and spread a lit garland of greens, gold leaves, white lights and red jingle bells. Then Nick and I took a coupon to Lowes and bought a huge pre-lit wreath also decorated with gold and red and he hung it over the mirror. :) I thought everything looked fine. I also finally figured out what to do with all the bears. I removed most of the normal doodadish decorations and replaced them with bears. SO there were bears on the shelves, and behind the plants, in with the pinecones and stuffed in the endtables, under the tree and at the front door, bears, bears everywhere. This year, for the first time ever, I think they finally looked like they were really part of the theme.
After Later
Jenny
Everyone who attended was interesting and fun to be with, I just wish I could have spent more time talking to everyone there. The house was packed with 17 of us, (though you know my Christmas tree really counts as another person or two). We had people eating and talking all over, though it did make a problem to go from living room to kitchen.
The pothos plant I had on my mantle, outgrew it this season. So I took him off and spread a lit garland of greens, gold leaves, white lights and red jingle bells. Then Nick and I took a coupon to Lowes and bought a huge pre-lit wreath also decorated with gold and red and he hung it over the mirror. :) I thought everything looked fine. I also finally figured out what to do with all the bears. I removed most of the normal doodadish decorations and replaced them with bears. SO there were bears on the shelves, and behind the plants, in with the pinecones and stuffed in the endtables, under the tree and at the front door, bears, bears everywhere. This year, for the first time ever, I think they finally looked like they were really part of the theme.
After Later
Jenny
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Back on the Road Again … Saturday October 28
Up at 5:00 am and gone by 5:30. Ron stuffed the car (or as I would like to call it, the big red traveling suitcase) completely full of stuff. This stuff included: a wall hanging, serving platters, 4th of July decorations, the family ravioli platter, a down filled vest for Nick, salami, and bunches of french, sourdough and grissini bread. Over the mountain and across the plains we drove. For the first time since the trip began, we finally felt, talked out and put in one of the books on tape. We chose Guns Germs and Steel, a book Melinda had to read for a class and that we had talked about off and on through the trip. Listening to it required one to really pay attention. It was interesting, but the guy reading it had the most soporific voice. Melinda got a couple hours of sleep and missed some of the reading and then we switched and I got to doze for a couple hours and miss other parts. Overall though, we got a sense of the book, though it was just a review for Min.
Jenny
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Family… Friday October 27
We did not get to see the ocean today. This picture is from Thursday. There’s a sea otter playing with its food there to the lower right of center. It looks like a piece of driftwood in this version of the photo. Click on the photo and check out the larger version of this picture on my Flickr account.
We both slept in today. I had never been to a Kohl’s before and Elisa and Georgie had been talking about how nifty it was. So today was spent shopping for beads, baubles and baggage. Okay, we didn’t really buy bags, though we did fill our baggage with more loot. Melinda and I found the softest sweaters, jewelry, and oddments. Elisa found Shanna a scarf that Shanna is now wearing pretty much every day. It was a fun to hang out with Georgie and Elisa. For dinner, Ron got out the “Panini sandwich machine” and we all made these big, tasty sandwiches. Check out the Panini machines available here on Amazon.com
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Birds and Beads … Thursday October 26
We slept in. I tried to be vewy, vewy, quiet when I did get up, not because I was hunting wabbits, but so that Min would be able to sleep longer. Eventually, we had to get packed and get going. We started with Pacific Grove Beach then headed towards Moss Landing. I took a fortuitous wrong turn and we saw a White-Tailed Kite up close and personal. He was hanging out on a telephone pole wire near some farmer’s field. Beautiful!
At Moss Landing, we ate at our favorite Mexican Restaurant: The Whole Enchilada. In the parking lot, a humming bird was zipping about. At first we thought it might be a new species, but nope, just another stunning little Anna’s. We got to see a lot of different birds even though we did not do any trudging (reference to a previous adventure where we ended up hiking through sand for several hours). We stopped at Elkhorn Slough, Kirby Park, Pajaro City and drove over hill and dale and around the twisty trail.
- Western Gulls
- American Crows
- Great Egrets
- Brandt's Cormorants
- Snowy Egret
- Brewer's Blackbirds
- Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon race)
- Heerman's Gulls
- Brown Pelicans
- Red-tailed Hawks
- *White-tailed Kites
- Ferruginous Hawks
- Anna's Hummingbirds
- Mallards
- Black-necked Stilts
- Lesser Goldfinches
- Avocets
- Eared Grebes
- Marbled Godwits
- Willets
- Say's Phoebe
- Sanderlings
- Greater Scaups
- Great Blue Heron
- Double Crested Cormorants (chasing eared grebes)
- Golden-crowned sparrows
- Hundreds of Least Sandpipers
- Black Phoebe
- California Gulls
- Western Scrub Jays
- American Robin
- House Finches
- American Kestral
- Peregrine Falcon
- Turkey Vulture
- Ring-billed Gull
- *Glaucous Gull
:)
Jenny
Sunday, November 12, 2006
All work and no play … Wednesday October 25
Unfortunately, Melinda had to stay and do homework without distraction today. She got to see from our balcony the following:
Yellow-rumped (Audubon's Race) Warbler
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Crow
Prairie Falcon
I had a very different view from my favorite seat at the conference center. There were librarians as far as the eye could see… I ended up eating lunch at the hotel restaurant. If you love fish and chips Monterey is THE place to get them. I got back to the hotel around 4:00 pm and we headed for the Monterey Bay Aquarium walking to the aquarium we spotted an Anna’s hummingbird. We got there late enough that they gave us tickets good for that evening and the next day. I love this aquarium. I’m constantly surprised by their innovations and displays. Every time is different, and yet there are constants, like the jellyfish displays, the kelp gardens and Melinda’s favorite shorebird habitat and my favorite Sea Otter area.
The birds were pretty fun to watch. Buffleheads are one of my favorite ducks and the juvenile in the exhibit was quite active and entertaining. We were able to see up close (which helps in identification later in the wild).
- Empidonax Flycatcher
- Semipalmated Plover
- Ruddy Ducks
- Bufflehead, juvenile
- Black-necked Stilt
- Sanderlings
- Least Sandpiper
- Semipalmated Sandpiper
- Killdeer
- Avocets
- Black Oystercatcher
- Willet
- Whimbrel
- Snowy Plover
- Short-billed Dowitcher
- Black Bellied plover
- Marbled Godwit
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Black Footed penguins
- Common Murres
- Red phalaropes
- Red-necked Phalaropes
From the decks of the aquarium, overlooking the bay we saw:
- Great Egrets
- Pelagic Cormorants
- Brandt's Cormorants
- Brown Pelicans
- American Crow
- Rock Doves
And Sea Otters
Melinda took a lot of pictures, this is one of the very peaceful looking jellyfish. I however know that not all jellyfish are peaceful. The trip we took to Hawaii in 1978 made it impossibly clear that Man-O-War jellyfish are not to be trifled with. Ow, Ow, Ow!
We made our way to a nearby restaurant by the name of The Fish Hopper. Here, I think we had steak. Ironic, I know.
So we’re sitting at this table near the windows, looking out at the ocean when a Western Gull comes up and lands on the sill near our window. His mouth is packed with this fairly large pink starfish. There’s much laughing and pointing and picture taking from the tables around us, until he flies away. Later as we’re eating, he comes back with his jellyfish walking around, mouth full, showing off. He takes flight again only to return and deposit the starfish near the window. This time he flies away for good. Apparently it is hard to eat a starfish.
Meanwhile, during the first visit by the starfish bearing gull, I struck up a small conversation with an Indian woman at a nearby table. When Melinda got back, I asked her (the woman alone) if she would like to join us. She did. Come to find out she’s a librarian too. She’s from New York City and is a librarian for a commercial real estate office. WOW. That’s a library job I didn’t know existed. Her name was Vandy and she was fascinating. After dinner we dropped her off at her hotel (she had walked over from the conference center and it was quite dark).
As we exited the restaurant, we found (or rather Melinda found) a date palm tree full of birds. Min was able to identify them as noisy roosting starlings.
When we got back to the Hilton, I got online and posted all of my blog entries as Melinda continued with her homework. Later we went over to the Hotel restaurant for dessert. Then back to the hotel for sleep. Okay, I got sleep. Min got homework. She finally got to sleep somewhere between 5 & 6 in the morning, after she emailed her paper to her professor’s assistant. EEEEEE
More later
Jenny
Friday, November 10, 2006
Conference and Wharfs … Tuesday October 24
We got up early so we could go look for birds before the conference started. First was the Commercial Wharf. This was so fish stinky that we had to hold our noses as we rounded the end. We did see a few more birds:
- California Gulls
- Willet
- Heerman's Gulls
- Pacific Loons
- Common Murre
- Brown Pelicans
- Rock Doves
- American Crows
- Pigeon Guillemot
And a Sea Otter
We got breakfast at the bright yellow bistro on the wharf. This bistro was my lifesaver a few years back when I had that keys & bay incident. It was still too early to get to the conference so we headed for the coast guard pier, where we saw more birds and to add to the stink, pikes of really, REALLY, stinky sea lions. One black turnstone was walking along the edge of the pier wall. He was really brave and bold and we got to see him up close.
- Brewer's Blackbirds
- American Crows
- Brandt's Cormorants
- Black Turnstones
- Great Egrets
Finally, we went over to the conference center for homework and workshops. “Back to the Convention Center for a day of classes and homework. Jenny and I decided this day to eat close by to the Convention center because of a short lunch time. We walked much farther than we expected and found a tiny Mediterranean diner serving the best vegetarian lentil soup.” –Melinda.
Much later we had dinner at this amazing Mexican restaurant, then drove to and walked through El Estero Park to see a few more birds. Melinda has a great picture of a goose on the water with a beautiful wake trailing after.
- Double-crested Cormorants
- American Coots
- Canada Geese
- Mallards
- Pied-Billed Grebes
Back at the Hilton for more homework for Melinda: I watched television, played computer
games and basically rested and slept. It was fabulous.
After later
Jenny
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Conference & Ocean ... Monday October 23
I felt a lot better this morning after a solid 12 hours of sleep. Melinda and I headed to the conference center. We parked up on a hill behind the hotel and walked down to the front doors. I picked up my registration tags and loot and headed for my favorite conference room. Min, went out to one of the many tables and comfy areas to work on her paper.
I have finally found a new methodology for choosing a conference session. Every session they offer is interesting to me. So instead of deciding on a session, I choose the comfy room. Most conferences are held in hotel ballrooms with narrow seats all crammed together. This conference center has those kinds of rooms, but it also has this stadium room with comfy kinds of seats and those hinged pop-up desktops. So I only went to sessions that were held in that room.
Over the course of the conference I went to many sessions. I took notes over on my Library Banter blog. Be aware that these can be incredibly boring entries. But I am really greatful for the notes:
- Search Engine Report
- Search Tips
- Searching the New Digital Formats
- Federated Search
- Overview of Podcasting
- Video Podcasting
- Listen Up!: Podcasts...
- Off the Rack: Podcasts...
- Introduction to Video Blogging
- Fun with flickr
- Flickr in Libraries
- My Space
- In Your Facebook
- Introduction to Wikis
- Fostering Collaboration
- An Agreeable Wiki
- Don’t Call it a Wiki!
- Wiki as a Research Guide
- What’s Hot in Social Softwr
- Syndication and Website Content
- Using Blogs for Internal Communication
- Public Libraries & Web Logs
At lunch time, I found Melinda and we walked down the wharf looking for someplace to eat. She had spotted a Mexican restaurant earlier so we ended up there, looking out at the harbor, the sea lions, otter, pelicans and multitude of gulls.
After the conference sessions we trudged up to the car. Melinda was at this conference center with Jessica and they entered from the top floor near where we parked. So tomorrow, we're going to find another way in...
Melinda really wanted to go out to the beach at Pacific Grove. I was tired. After all, I hadn't really slept for 2 or so weeks (excepting last night). On the other hand, I really, really wanted to watch the ocean. It was gorgeous, we even spotted a sea otter eating and cavorting in the waves.
There were a lot of gulls flying about. Melinda had a lot more energy than I did. I was back in the car reading and dozing early and she was still walking and looking.
Birds of the day:
(Melinda saw in the morning from the balcony at the Hilton -- Townsend's Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Slate-colored Junco and Western Scrub Jay.)
- Brewers Blackbirds
- Starlings
- Rock Doves
- Brandt's Cormorants
- Pelagic Cormorants
- Brown Pelicans
- Pied-billed Grebes
- Willets
- Whimbrel
- Black-bellied Plover
- Heerman's Gulls
- Western Gulls
- California Gulls
- Black Phoebe
- Black Turnstones
- Crows
- Great Eagrets
- Canada Geese
- Domestic Mallards
- American Coots
- Western Meadowlark
We had dinner at the nearest, interesting restaurant advertising steak, seafood and pasta. What we didn’t see from the road was the “Latin” menu, which made Melinda quite happy. When we got back to the hotel, I, of course, fell into that comfy bed early and slept very, very well.
More soon
Jenny
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Birding on the Ocean ... Sunday October 22
Well, I didn't sleep well the Saturday night, so getting up at 6:00 a.m. was a bummer. Still, I LOVE the ocean and the prospect of being out on a boat was exciting. We got dressed and checked out. Following the directions and signs we made it to the parking lot in plenty of time. Unfortunately, the automated ticket taker wasn't giving out any more tickets. Some Yahoo had broken the arm thing. We gave up (after Melinda took pictures as evidence that we tried) and drove on in and parked the car.
Then we walked down the pier to the shop we were supposed to gather at. Apparently we were the first ones to complain about the broken parking station. The guy convinced us that we'd still need to go get a ticket and to try the other entrance. He also assured us that since he was the captain of the boat, he wouldn't leave us. Anyway, we trudged back out to the parking lot. The first parking station we came to, didn't go to the right parking lot. So more trudging ensued, we finally came across another flock of birders and they said, since there were so many of us (who hadn't gotten a stub from the ticket booth) not to bother. So back to the shop. This time when we talked to the guy, he sheepishly allowed that we were fine and he gave us a validation paper thingy to hand in.
Next we congregated at the boat dock. There were a LOT of people waiting for this boat. Normally, Melinda and I have gone out on a weekday, when there aren't that many people free from work. Normally, we also only go out on Whale Watching cruises. Since this was a Birding Cruise things would obviously be different.
After clambering onboard we learned how different. Apparently this very boat had spotted three rare birds on the ocean the previous weekend (Brown Booby, Manx Shearwater, and another one who's species name I don't remember). So there were approx 15 die hard birders, most with really big cameras ready to go look for birds.
This cruise includes a number of guides, who don't get paid, but do get to go out on the ocean for free. One of the guides was this very knowledgeable woman who came up front with us. Although the side of the boat really does show off the birds to great advantage, sitting was more important for us. The female guide, (I think I will call her Superbirder) kept up a running commentary about birds, and her son (who was also there) who studies birds and where he has gone to study. He was also a great guide.
Superbirder was willing to point out each bird species and help us learn to identify it on the wing. I can now probably spot pink footed shearwaters and bullers shearwaters, but the nuances of the black vented shearwaters escapes me still. In any case, I think we were very lucky to have her with us in the front for so long. She finally gave up the front when her knees gave up.
We saw:
Brewers Blackbirds (on land)
Eared Greabes
Western Gulls
Brown Pelicans
Western Grebe
Brandt's Comromrants
Heerman's Gulls
Black Turnstones
Surf Scoters
Great Egrets
Common Murres
+Pigeon Guillemot
Elegant Terns
Common Loons
*Sooty Shearwater
Northern Fulmars
+*Pomerine Jaegers
*Pink-footed Shearwaters
+*Short-tailed Shearwaters
+*Cassin's Auklets
*Rhinocerous Auklets
*Flesh-footed Shearwaters
+*Black-footed Albatrosses
+*Black-vented Shearwaters
+*Bullers SHearwaters
+*South Polar Skuas
+*Manx Shearwater
Bonaparte's Gulls
Rock Doves (on land)
American Crows (on land)
Red-necked Phalarope
OTHER MARINE LIFE
Harbor Seals
California Sea Lions
Sea Otters
Mola Mola (a fish)
Blue Sharks
7 (YES SEVEN) Humpback whales
+*Northern Fur Seal
+*Stellar Sea Lion
(those with an asterisk are new for Melinda, those with a plus sign are new for Jenny)
Yes for all those die hard birders who had joined our cruise we did see a Manx Shearwater, and there was much rejoicing. :) I couldn't believe how nice this was. Usually Melinda and I are trying to identify birds as the boat is moving. This time the boat would try and put the sun in the right spot for us to really see the birds. AND the leader of the expedition made sure we had all seen the Manx before we moved on to another location.
On the boat we were told to "pay no attention to the flashy mammals (meaning the humpbacks -- they were right by the boat) we are here for the birds." I couldn't help watching the whales though. I must say that I really, truely love the whales. I saw seven of them. One I saw as I was walking back to another part of the boat. I was the only one on that side (the birds were on the other as were the people). And this whale came up, not that far from the boat. I yelled Whale, and pointed, but no one cared or came. That was just too weird. I watched him until flukes out he dove into under water. Another one was frolicking and actually came over to check the boat out. What I did like about this was that I never felt like we were harrassing the whales. Very cool.
The blue shark was pretty amazing too.
I ended up attempting to take a nap in the early afternoon. It didn't work very well, but at least I tried. We left the harbor around 7:30. We headed back in around 3:00. I was ready to head back to the harbor around noon. We disembarked and were walking on the wharf around 4:00. Eight+ hours on the ocean is a very long time for people who had just been in a car for 14 hours. A lot of motion. We were tired kittens.
We ate literally at the closest restaurant we could find. And then drove to the grocery store for breakfast and dinner snacks and then to the Hilton to check in.
The Hilton was gorgeous. It had these HUGE pillow top beds with feather beds over that, and down comforters and pillows and I tried to stay up, but at 7:00 (shortly after we got there) I went to sleep and for the first time in a couple of weeks, really and truely slept. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh
More to come...
Jenny
Monday, November 06, 2006
Driving with Melinda... Saturday October 21
On Saturday October 21st Melinda and I headed for Monterey. We left Rebecca's house early in the morning (around 7:30 or 8:00 am) and with the sun rising behind us we headed west. West across the Bonneville Salt Flats, which I had never seen. They are amazing, all white and shiny. It had rained the day before so they weren't blinding (good). The ground sparkled as the sun reflected off those little cubic salt crystals.
Driving through Nevada and the salt flats we saw many curious things.
And thus commenced the California part of the trip. We decided to try a shortcut to Monterey, instead of driving over through San Jose and the cluster of other cities, we drove down I5. For awhile, ... a long while. I'm not altogether certain it's a shortcut, but you never know. So I5 to 156 and 156 to 1 and Monterey. So we continued to drive and drive and drive...
Melinda is trying new things. :) At the quick stop where we gassed the car at the junction of I5 and 156 (it's dark now, approx 7 pm California time) she decided to try these spiced lima bean snacks. :) Sounded good to me too. After all, I love lima beans and spicy ones could be fabulous. The gagging and spitting next to me changed my mind. Apparently they're the worst things imaginable. So Min decided to toss them out the window for the birds. So we're driving down the dark freeway with all this California traffic and she's tossing lima beans out the window, and the wind is whipping them around her and back into the car and smacking me. :) :) TOO Funny. (2 weeks later and I'm still getting lima beans out of the car. *grin*)
We arrived at the Motel 6 in Monterey around 9:00 pm their time. I had to wait a long while to get our room cause everyone was looking for a hotel that night and everything was full. Thank heavens for reservations. Hooray, we made it!
I didn't sleep well that night, a holdover from the stress of the previous week I guess.
Bird list:
Jenny
Driving through Nevada and the salt flats we saw many curious things.
- Ravens on fence posts. Lots of Ravens on fence posts.
- Curious arrangements of old electrical wire insulators.
- One very large sculpture
- Dark rocks in various arrangements, I heart X, words and designs
- An emergency training facility that looked like a prison without a fence
- Fernly (an oasis of trees in the desert)
- Pronghorns
- One white couch on the salt flats
And thus commenced the California part of the trip. We decided to try a shortcut to Monterey, instead of driving over through San Jose and the cluster of other cities, we drove down I5. For awhile, ... a long while. I'm not altogether certain it's a shortcut, but you never know. So I5 to 156 and 156 to 1 and Monterey. So we continued to drive and drive and drive...
Melinda is trying new things. :) At the quick stop where we gassed the car at the junction of I5 and 156 (it's dark now, approx 7 pm California time) she decided to try these spiced lima bean snacks. :) Sounded good to me too. After all, I love lima beans and spicy ones could be fabulous. The gagging and spitting next to me changed my mind. Apparently they're the worst things imaginable. So Min decided to toss them out the window for the birds. So we're driving down the dark freeway with all this California traffic and she's tossing lima beans out the window, and the wind is whipping them around her and back into the car and smacking me. :) :) TOO Funny. (2 weeks later and I'm still getting lima beans out of the car. *grin*)
We arrived at the Motel 6 in Monterey around 9:00 pm their time. I had to wait a long while to get our room cause everyone was looking for a hotel that night and everything was full. Thank heavens for reservations. Hooray, we made it!
I didn't sleep well that night, a holdover from the stress of the previous week I guess.
Bird list:
- Black-billed Magpies
- Mallards
- Western Grebes
- at least a Hundred of Common Ravens across Nevada
- Red-tailed Hawk
- House Sparrows
- Starlings
Jenny
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Monterey and the Internet Librarian's conference
Melinda and I are sitting in the hotel working on our respective computers right now. She's finishing a paper and I'm catching up on my blogs. I have a new one, for library stuff at: http://librarybanter.blogspot.com The conference has been very interesting, if you like internet stuff and social software. Just ask me about wiki's or blogs sometime... :)
We've had a great time eating at fabulous restaurants, watching birds and hanging out. Tomorrow, Melinda will be through with her paper, and I will be through with my conference so VACATION is definitely on the menu. I think there's a good chance we'll go birding. We're staying with Nick's wonderful parents tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday. Early Saturday morning we'll get in the car and head back to Utah.
So what's happened so far? There's so much to cover, it'll have to wait.
:)
After later
Jenny
We've had a great time eating at fabulous restaurants, watching birds and hanging out. Tomorrow, Melinda will be through with her paper, and I will be through with my conference so VACATION is definitely on the menu. I think there's a good chance we'll go birding. We're staying with Nick's wonderful parents tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday. Early Saturday morning we'll get in the car and head back to Utah.
So what's happened so far? There's so much to cover, it'll have to wait.
:)
After later
Jenny
Monday, September 18, 2006
MIA
I've been missing in action for awhile. Just too darn busy to post. So it's time for an update.
Shanna and I have been taking a middle eastern dance class together this fall. So far it's been a great deal of fun. She recently purchased a notebook computer for herself, which is so cool. She's taking philosophy and english this semester also.
Nick has been hiking straight up the hills and mountains near us with his geology classes. He's taking paleontology and spending a lot of time in the lab drawing fossils. The other night he picked up my chambered nautilus and started talking about it. Very interesting. I can't wait to get out my shell collection again. :)
Me? I'm working. A lot. Today was the last of the deluge of subject specific workshops. So far this semester I've taught:
undergraduate education
graduate students in education
phd students in education
undergraduate sports law
graduate sports science
undergraduate business
graduate geology
undergraduate engineering
Most of the time there are 2-4 classes for each of these topics. I've had to learn how to do research in law, business, education, geology and sports science. I think my brain is full.
To further complicate my life they're working on the building. They felt it necessary to attach the brick facade to the building. I think they were worried about killing people with falling brick during an earthquake. Funny how things like that seem important. Don't they know I have ALLERGIES and am suffering immensely because of all the dust, debris and fumes they are causing???
In cool news, work decided I could be the test case. I no longer have a big desktop computer. Instead I have this amazingly fast notebook computer with a docking station. It's waaaaay spiffy.
Barkley has become a mountain dog, happily following Nick up any mountain he wishes to climb. Boo has become a house dog. Apparently this past weekend she could not get into the jeep on her own, and followed Nick back into the house (I think he was getting her a stool). In any case he just left her there. She's got arthritis and is just tired. She's also old at 12 or 14. I can't ever remember which.
This weekend we're working on a float for the homecoming parade with other librarians (my house, Friday evening). Saturday we're going to Logan to party with all the relatives. Mom and Dad are coming up from Texas. I get to meet the new baby Thomas (Dave & Jen's newest addition) . And last but certainly not least, we get to celebrate Jessica's marriage to Doug. They're getting hitched on Thursday, but I have class that night till 7 and teach first thing in the morning on Friday. Theretofore, I can't go to that, but I can make the party. ;)
Wow, I've actually made an entry on my blog. I must be feeling better...
After later
Jenny
Shanna and I have been taking a middle eastern dance class together this fall. So far it's been a great deal of fun. She recently purchased a notebook computer for herself, which is so cool. She's taking philosophy and english this semester also.
Nick has been hiking straight up the hills and mountains near us with his geology classes. He's taking paleontology and spending a lot of time in the lab drawing fossils. The other night he picked up my chambered nautilus and started talking about it. Very interesting. I can't wait to get out my shell collection again. :)
Me? I'm working. A lot. Today was the last of the deluge of subject specific workshops. So far this semester I've taught:
undergraduate education
graduate students in education
phd students in education
undergraduate sports law
graduate sports science
undergraduate business
graduate geology
undergraduate engineering
Most of the time there are 2-4 classes for each of these topics. I've had to learn how to do research in law, business, education, geology and sports science. I think my brain is full.
To further complicate my life they're working on the building. They felt it necessary to attach the brick facade to the building. I think they were worried about killing people with falling brick during an earthquake. Funny how things like that seem important. Don't they know I have ALLERGIES and am suffering immensely because of all the dust, debris and fumes they are causing???
In cool news, work decided I could be the test case. I no longer have a big desktop computer. Instead I have this amazingly fast notebook computer with a docking station. It's waaaaay spiffy.
Barkley has become a mountain dog, happily following Nick up any mountain he wishes to climb. Boo has become a house dog. Apparently this past weekend she could not get into the jeep on her own, and followed Nick back into the house (I think he was getting her a stool). In any case he just left her there. She's got arthritis and is just tired. She's also old at 12 or 14. I can't ever remember which.
This weekend we're working on a float for the homecoming parade with other librarians (my house, Friday evening). Saturday we're going to Logan to party with all the relatives. Mom and Dad are coming up from Texas. I get to meet the new baby Thomas (Dave & Jen's newest addition) . And last but certainly not least, we get to celebrate Jessica's marriage to Doug. They're getting hitched on Thursday, but I have class that night till 7 and teach first thing in the morning on Friday. Theretofore, I can't go to that, but I can make the party. ;)
Wow, I've actually made an entry on my blog. I must be feeling better...
After later
Jenny
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Quiet but Busy
I've been quietly busy for the past couple of weeks. Over the weekend Nick and I went to Palisades (more on that to come soon, with pictures!). Work is speeding up as we get ready for the impending semester. It kinda feels like the sword of damocles is hanging overhead. We've been re-writing/working the library web page and once it goes online, we'll have to change every one of our instruction handouts, guides, powerpoints and worksheets. EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
We miss Sarah and Jamie, they were here for most of three weeks. One entire day was spent with Jamie on the computer and me on the couch, watching middle eastern dance videos. Sarah and I got to spend mornings talking, evenings hanging out and one particular night watching the WORST disaster movie ever. It was so bad I've deleted it from my Librarything account and am giving it to the DI.
Well, more updates soon
Jenny
We miss Sarah and Jamie, they were here for most of three weeks. One entire day was spent with Jamie on the computer and me on the couch, watching middle eastern dance videos. Sarah and I got to spend mornings talking, evenings hanging out and one particular night watching the WORST disaster movie ever. It was so bad I've deleted it from my Librarything account and am giving it to the DI.
Well, more updates soon
Jenny
Friday, July 28, 2006
Townsend's Ground Squirrel
Last weekend was very busy, we packed the equivalent of 8 days into 3. On Friday afternoon we went up to Scout Mountain with one of our friends for an overnight. Nick was off hiking around when this little ground squirrel started moving about the campground. He was way to forward and has obviously been given food. I thought I'd scare him off with a pointy stick (3' hot dog fork with 5" tines) but all he really wanted to do was lick the ends. He's located at the top just left of center on this picture. Slapping the fork on the ground chased him away. Being this unafraid of humans is not good for wildlife. We didn't feed him. And he didn't come back to visit us again.
I also went to Idaho Falls to visit with another friend. Shopped, cleaned house, caught up with my sisters who were/are visiting. ...
This weekend may be just as fun filled. :)
After later
Jenny
I also went to Idaho Falls to visit with another friend. Shopped, cleaned house, caught up with my sisters who were/are visiting. ...
This weekend may be just as fun filled. :)
After later
Jenny
Hot Springs in Palisades Reservoir (July 2006)
A couple of weekends ago (14, 15 & 16 of July) we went back to Palisades. We were out on the lake early enough in the morning to spot this strange phenomenon. Steam rising from the lake. Apparently there's a hot springs that is emptying into the lake. I got out and swam around later in the day and yes indeedy the water near this stream was significantly warmer than elswhere. We took GPS coordinates so we can find our way back. We didn't catch fish, but we had a LOT of fun. Go check out my Flickr account if you want to see more pictures from this trip.
After later
Jenny
After later
Jenny
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Digital Natives Conference
Hi all,
I'm posting on Kris' blog Russet Vixen http://russetvixen.blogspot.com/ about the library conference we're both attending. Go take a look. :)
Jenny
I'm posting on Kris' blog Russet Vixen http://russetvixen.blogspot.com/ about the library conference we're both attending. Go take a look. :)
Jenny
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Scouting Hebgen
On Sunday, Nick and I left the house to go scout out a new campsite. We've taked about camping at Hebgen Lake, but have never done so. We left relatively early (okay, so it was really 9:00 a.m.) and drove on up. I was surprised at how close it really is. 2.5 hours later we were turning onto our first dirt road.
Denney creek road runs through field, over stream, past horses and cows and fabulous houses next to working houses and eventually arrives at the Longhurst campground. The lake is gorgeous from this side, but the boat ramp is too short for our boat. Good thing we we did this scouting trip. Nothing worse than travelling fully loaded with Jeep and Boat to the middle of nowhere only to turn around and go back...
Anyway, we drove through the cute little campground then turn around and headed back to U.S.20. (The main artery from Idaho Falls to West Yellowstone). This time we drove north into West then hooked a North and headed for the next campground site. We found one without a boat ramp at all, and one that's a private site where you too can pay a large amount to camp for the day.
Finally we crossed the Madison River, turned left and followed the dirt road to the Rainbow Point campground and boat ramp. YEAH! It has a great boat ramp and over 84 camping spaces. Yes I know which one is best, but I refuse to share that information unless I know for certain you're not camping on the same weekend I am. :) :)
There are certain criteria we use when scoping out camping sites. Things we've learned through shrewd observation and unfortuante learning experiences.
First, if you are looking for solitude and quiet always look at the outside part of the ring of campsites.
Second, you want shade in the afternoon if it's going to be hot, so look for trees on the west side of the tent/table site.
Third, shade is more important for where the picnic table is than it is for your tent (unless you want to nap then a different set of rules apply). You usually won't go to sleep till after the campfire has burned out and the dark has fallen. So trees to the west of the TABLE is important. Alternately, plan on bringing an awning or sunshade of some sort.
Fourth, sun in the morning is all well and good unless you like to sleep in. Check out the trees to the east before you make your decision.
5. It's great when the bathroom is in walking distance.
Six. It's not great when said bathroom next to your camp. This means all kinds of talking, laughing, giggling and noise at all hours.
Seven. It's okay if the water tap/spigot is nearby, but don't let it happen next to your tent.
8. If you like sleeping to the sound of running water then pitching your tent near the creek is great. If it is going to keep you up all night, it won't matter how picturesque it is, nor how much shade it has.
9. Silence is golden, watch who you're choosing to camp next to if you can. The trailers with the ATV's are guaranteed to be noisy. Although in bear country I don't mind camping near atv's, kids and especially dogs...
Ten. Shrubberies are great. They help screen out the visuals of other people in the area and can give immediate shade.
I have a notebook where I'm keeping a list of all the campgrounds we've scouted and our favorite and acceptable campsites at each. Not that they'll match up with everyone's needs.
So why do I stay in the campgrounds? First, I like to leave as small a footprint in the wilderness as possible. I'm also too old not to have some sort of bathroom facility nearby. I like having drinking water instead of having to pack it all in. AND I don't mind the company. It's kind of fun to watch the activities of the other campers. From kids on bikes zooming through to the groups with horses.
After Later
Jenny
Denney creek road runs through field, over stream, past horses and cows and fabulous houses next to working houses and eventually arrives at the Longhurst campground. The lake is gorgeous from this side, but the boat ramp is too short for our boat. Good thing we we did this scouting trip. Nothing worse than travelling fully loaded with Jeep and Boat to the middle of nowhere only to turn around and go back...
Anyway, we drove through the cute little campground then turn around and headed back to U.S.20. (The main artery from Idaho Falls to West Yellowstone). This time we drove north into West then hooked a North and headed for the next campground site. We found one without a boat ramp at all, and one that's a private site where you too can pay a large amount to camp for the day.
Finally we crossed the Madison River, turned left and followed the dirt road to the Rainbow Point campground and boat ramp. YEAH! It has a great boat ramp and over 84 camping spaces. Yes I know which one is best, but I refuse to share that information unless I know for certain you're not camping on the same weekend I am. :) :)
There are certain criteria we use when scoping out camping sites. Things we've learned through shrewd observation and unfortuante learning experiences.
First, if you are looking for solitude and quiet always look at the outside part of the ring of campsites.
Second, you want shade in the afternoon if it's going to be hot, so look for trees on the west side of the tent/table site.
Third, shade is more important for where the picnic table is than it is for your tent (unless you want to nap then a different set of rules apply). You usually won't go to sleep till after the campfire has burned out and the dark has fallen. So trees to the west of the TABLE is important. Alternately, plan on bringing an awning or sunshade of some sort.
Fourth, sun in the morning is all well and good unless you like to sleep in. Check out the trees to the east before you make your decision.
5. It's great when the bathroom is in walking distance.
Six. It's not great when said bathroom next to your camp. This means all kinds of talking, laughing, giggling and noise at all hours.
Seven. It's okay if the water tap/spigot is nearby, but don't let it happen next to your tent.
8. If you like sleeping to the sound of running water then pitching your tent near the creek is great. If it is going to keep you up all night, it won't matter how picturesque it is, nor how much shade it has.
9. Silence is golden, watch who you're choosing to camp next to if you can. The trailers with the ATV's are guaranteed to be noisy. Although in bear country I don't mind camping near atv's, kids and especially dogs...
Ten. Shrubberies are great. They help screen out the visuals of other people in the area and can give immediate shade.
I have a notebook where I'm keeping a list of all the campgrounds we've scouted and our favorite and acceptable campsites at each. Not that they'll match up with everyone's needs.
So why do I stay in the campgrounds? First, I like to leave as small a footprint in the wilderness as possible. I'm also too old not to have some sort of bathroom facility nearby. I like having drinking water instead of having to pack it all in. AND I don't mind the company. It's kind of fun to watch the activities of the other campers. From kids on bikes zooming through to the groups with horses.
After Later
Jenny
Friday, June 23, 2006
The Kraken pt 1
Once upon a time, two naïve people went fishing. As they skimmed across
the lake they saw a large and interesting creature against a rocky
outcrop.
the lake they saw a large and interesting creature against a rocky
outcrop.
The Kraken pt 2
Moving in closer the fisherman decided (with the nudging of his wife) to catch the large interesting creature. Little did they know what would happen next…
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