Snowy Aloha?

Something is seriously wrong with this picture...



This sign is in my backyard. It reminds me I'll be in Hawaii in a few weeks. WHOO HOO!

Snow, Snow and More Snow

We're getting hit again with snow today, but I received permission to work from home. THANK GOODNESS. I hate burning vacation days for no good reason and I don't like risking my life driving in he snow.

Anyway, the snow is still coming down and the ice continues to accumulate. Ginger absolutely loves it and runs in crazy circles, burrowing her face in the snow. (Why is that, do you think?) For now, I'm staying inside where it is dry.

I took a few photos through the window though of the snow and ice. Here they are:





Fortunately, we have power.

Snow Day

I decided to forego driving in the four plus inches of snow (which is still coming down) to work today. The main campus is actually on delay until 10 a.m., but we are considered "essential staff" since we work on the CoM side of things. And since one of my former coworkers abused the priviledge to work from home, we can no longer do that either. So...I decided to take a vacation day and do some more studying for the GRE.

This past weekend, Brandon and I broke down and went to China Gourmet for dinner Friday night. It was excellent as usual. I spent nearly the entire day Saturday studying algebra for the GRE. Talk about an ego-killer. Yuck. Sunday was housework and shelter duty, as usual, and a little more studying.

Sunday we also had to face that horrible chore that comes twice a year: time for Brandon to crawl in the hole to clean out our drainage pipe from the bathroom sink into the stack. It is a nasty, tedious job that we both dread. Brandon hates it because he has to crawl in a tiny work space behind our toilet. I hate it b/c I'm relegated to the "assistant" role, leaning over into the cavern holding a flashlight at just the right angle handing him tools and trying note to puke from the pressure on my diaphragm. Here are some pictures of Brandon in the hole...





...and just because, here is a picture of one of my favorite cats at STAF, Mac. He's awesome, if anyone is looking for a cuddle bug who will let you hold him like a baby. Who could resist that face?

Ding, Dong Bush is Gone!

After eight very, very long years, Bush is finally no longer our president.

I'm not a very patriotic person, but it sure does make me feel better about America with Barack Obama now leading our country. Let's hope for change, fiscal responsibility and alleviated suffering in the coming years.

In other news, I started the unpleasant task of reviewing test material for the GRE, which I am taking Feb. 7. I'm dusting off the files stored way, way down in my brain that hold my knowledge of square roots, alegbra, geometry, etc. I spent a fair amount of time over the weekend reviewing and will continue to do so until test day arrives. If I fail, you won't hear anything else about it because I'll pretend it never happened!:)

I also attended a seminar on composting, something else I'd like to start doing as part of my earth-friendly ways. It's a simply thing to do that will keep even more out of the landfill. It's also a great way to naturally replenish our soil. More to come on that...

Paula and I went to lunch on Monday to catch up and see Revolutionary Road. The movie was depressing, but lunch was tasty and the company great as usual.

Feelin' Good About 2009...

I’m feeling pretty good about 2009 so far…

We rang in the New Year with great friends (Anna and Andrew) and in good health with jobs. Our families and friends are also well. We also have only five more weeks until we’re back in the most serene, wonderful place in the United States: Hawaii! It will be great to get away from the gray Ohio weather. Here's a picture of us in our matching New Year's Eve outfits.



In other news, I’ve decided to join a community supported agriculture program. The past year I’ve been buying mostly organic produce and naturally raised meat/chicken in an effort to extend my earth-friendly practices. I love it—the food tastes better and I know I’m at least minimizing our consumption of pesticides and supporting sustainable agriculture. Through this change, Brandon and I have been eating a much larger variety of vegetables and, overall, less red meat. (I can’t believe my husband will now eat radishes, turnips, sweet potatoes brussel sprouts, green beans and lima beans. How awesome is that?)

Anyway, I’ll be getting my CSA box from the Eaton Farm, a small family-owned operation in Madison, Indiana that uses natural growing practices and raises grass/pasture fed cattle and chickens. It only costs about $17 a week, which I would easily spend at the grocery, and I get fresh, locally grown seasonal produce while supporting sustainable agriculture and local workers, minimizing my carbon footprint (from food transportion) and avoiding excess chemicals in my food. It’s such a no-brainer. I’m super excited.

If you are interested in sustainable food and community supported agriculture, check out localharvest.org. I’m excited to get my produce from 50 miles away versus 3,000. I absolutely loved visiting the farmer’s markets in Hawaii and buying locally grown produce and flowers. Here is a picture of me with my flowers from the Kona farmer’s market and a shot of the Hilo Market up north from last year's Hawaii trip.





Lunch is over. Back to work. Have a good day!