Anyone still here?

Hi! If you are reading this, it means either that you have me on RSS or that you have no life or are my mother (hi, Mom!).

I have been wanting to come back to the blog for a while now, but I don't want to make a big deal out if it in case I don't stick to it again. If you know me well enough to be reading this blog, you know that sometimes I am not so much with follow through (well, I am with critically important things, which is why I am sometimes bad at the other stuff).

Well, it has been so long, I am not sure where to start. How about with my day today? It was nuts! First of all, the government is threatening to shut down, and no one knows what will happen with work, etc. However, just a few minutes ago, apparently they have reached *another* temporary fix, this time just until Thursday. So we will get our lunar roll in next week at 2 AM (woot). Also this morning, I had a court date. Believe it or not, it was kinda fun! In November, I parked at my building in a spot that had previously been a handicapped spot, but wasn't anymore. Well, the markings were very faded but still kinda there. However, there was no upright sign in front of the spot marking it accessible. Well, I took pictures and printed out parts of the ADA, and sat through many people saying "Well, I don't know how fast I was going, but I wasn't going that fast, I don't think." (This is a lame defense - at least make up a number and stick with it.) So there I was, reading law out to the judge, bailiffs, clerk, and citing officer, and they were getting a heck of a kick out of me. Well, the judge wasn't sure if they were allowed to give a ticket if the spot wasn't marked with an upright sign like I was saying, so he just found me not guilty. Yay!

Then it was happy hour at Franklin's with a couple coworkers, one of whom is leaving for hopefully greener pastures. It was so fun! Those guys were really funny and I was being helped along with two "Hammers of the Gods". Don't ask. No, I don't usually drink at all, much less beer, but it was just one of those days.

So that was my day, more or less. I am currently in training for a 10.6 mile race in Big Sur, CA, with Clare, Chanda, and Eric. I am really excited, but also really nervous. I have been training really hard, maybe even more than for my half marathon last October. The races go so much better if I am well trained (duh!). I have missed or cut short some of my long runs, though, so that could be bad.

I joined the Bowie Southern Comforters Quilt Guild in November. I went on retreat with them in February and helped out with the big show a couple of weeks ago. Some of the quilts would take your breath away. If you ever have the chance to go to a show, you definitely should. I really believe they are works of art, even the traditionally pieced quilts. They are very beautiful and very calming.

Well, that is probably a pretty good start for my gentle foray back into blogging. I am really glad I just took the plunge and jumped back in. And if you are reading this in the future, that is good, because maybe it means that I have been consistently blogging, and you are just catching up!

EDIT: I just looked back and saw that on April 8, 2010, I wrote a post saying I am back! That is just weird! Now let's hope I get more than one more in before this time next year....

Summertime and the livin' is easy...

It is now summer, regardless of what the calendar says. Basically, whenever I feel like I can't not turn on the AC anymore, it is summer. Ugh, it has been really hot, although it was nice Monday and Tuesday.

I have had several things percolating through my mind these last few weeks as subjects to write about here, but of course, at the moment I can't think of any of them. I do want to mention that my Aunt Theresa died about a month ago. She was an amazing woman, and is sorely missed. I hope to write a tribute post about her sometime soon.

I am having a bit of a lazy weekend, or at least a lazy Saturday. I think I really needed it, though. Tomorrow, I hope to get to church, then do some housework and chores, then I am seeing a friend in a choral concert in the city, and them a cookout at my friend Stacy's house. Yum!

I want to congratulate my friends Tiffany and Matt, and Mel and Clare - I am so happy for you and wish you all the best for a long and happy life! It makes me so happy to know my friends are happy. Thanks for being in my life, I feel so blessed.

I haven't been running for almost 2 months due to a foot injury. I finally went to a podiatrist, who took X-rays, and determined it was just overstretched soft tissue. I think it is feeling better, but I am afraid of hurting it worse, but I think I need to just get back to my regular routine now. Nothing like running in the summer!

The house is coming along - I have a garden in, which my dad made for me - 3 yards of dirt! We have 3 kinds of corn, 4 kinds of tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, green onion, daikon radish, cilantro, basil, zinnias, and violas. Can't wait to eat them!

Hope you are all well!

I'm baaaackkkk....

Hello bouys and gulls!

After a considerable time away, I am returning to my blog. I know you're excited, too. I finally broke down and decided to pay to get internet. I have had it for a few weeks now, and I am still not used to it.

Sailing season has begun! I am all out of classes to take and still not up to taking a boat out on my own, so I am going to really try to take advantage of the club sails and hopefully, Bill will ask me to skipper a couple times.

Every day that I walk out my front door, I am greeted by purple and/or yellow pansies, daffodils, and hyacinth. And guess what? The lilac has started to bloom! It took quite a beating from the crazy snow (just several weeks ago - can you believe it?), but is rallying. I remember in Maine that when you walk outside the smell of lilac was so pungent it could knock you out. Thanks to my parents, the house is so much better than when I left off in the summer. (Hi, Mom!) I am really enjoying having a yard. I planted a bunch of seeds in little pots inside, and they are all coming up - sometime in the next few weeks my dad is going to make a couple of little raised beds, and I will plant them! Let me know if you want some heirloom tomatoes! I also started a compost pile - I just dumped a bunch of stuff in there tonight - I am worried it is going to attract rodents before it is going to fertilize my lawn. Any tips, blogoshere?

I think I need to join EA - exclamation points anonymous. !

Did I tell you I am in training for a half marathon? A friend convinced me to go to the Hoover Dam half marathon with her - she is doing the full marathon. It isn't until Oct 30 - so I have plenty of time, but I have been nursing some low level foot issue for the last three weeks. It doesn't really hurt or anything, but I just don't want it to get bad. Also, I am excited to be meeting Mel in CT in a month for a 5.5 mi race - hope my foot is feeling better by then.

OK, I think that is a good intro back into my blog. Congrats to all my friends that have given birth in the last several months - Kirsten, Chris, and new Oliver; Sam, Jason, and little Griffin; and congrats, too, to Molly and Andy - can't wait to meet the little one! I also have 2 weddings, a shower, and 2 graduations parties in the next couple of months. Sheesh!

Take care, my friends.

Live from the MODIS Science Team Meeting

I am liveblogging from the MODIS Science Team Meeting. Yesterday, I gave a brief summary of the state of the instruments - it went fairly well, and I think I was successful in relating that both instruments are in pretty good shape, but the consensus is that I came accross as quite nervous.

There are some plans in the works that might allow me to keep this blog updated much better - I don't want to get anyone's hopes up in case it doesn't work out, but stay tuned!

I DARE you not to smile.

This is what I want to be when I grow up. Pure joy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6Akkmwz38M

PS - Sorry for the busted link - hopefully I corrected it.

I'm from New Jersey

I just heard this song sung by John Gorka on Heartland Public Radio (out of MN). Brilliant! I definitely recommend downloading, or at least a good listen. But beware, non-Jersey folk - only Jersey boys and girls are allowed to pick on our home state, kind of like picking on your little brother.

I'm from New Jersey
I don't expect too much
If the world ended today
I would adjust

I'm from New Jersey
No I don't talk that way
I watched too much TV
When I was young

I'm from New Jersey
My mom's Italian
I've read those mafia books
We don't belong

There are girls from New Jersey
Who have that great big hair
They're found in shopping malls
I will take you there

I'm from New Jersey
It's not like Texas
There is no mystery
I can't pretend

I'm from New Jersey
It's like Ohio
But even more so
Imagine that

I know which exit
And where I'm bound
The tolls on the parkway
They will slow you down

New Jersey people
They will surprise you
Cause they're not expected
To do too much

They will try harder
They may go further
Cause they never think
That they are good enough

I'm from New Jersey
I don't expect too much
If the world ended today
I would adjust
I would adjust
I would adjust

I know postings have been few and far between, but I am finally going to break down and try to get internet at home, so stay tuned!

In the EOS cave

Hi! I have been completely without internet for several months now, although since I got my iPhone a month or so ago, it has been more bearable. I am observing a calibration over at GSFC today that has long breaks, so I am able to avail myself of the free and speedy wifi to catch up on some things. I can get internet at home, but I more or less haven't gotten around to it yet. One more thing to do.

I have been well, though. We made the transition to Sigma Space in August and everything has been pretty smooth since then. The word is that we will move to our new office space at the beginning of Dec. I am excited because there is a really nice bike path that goes almost directly from my house to the new office, although it is about an 8 mile ride, so it is more something I would do on the weekend than during the week (especially since I would be sweaty all day long).

I am *really* looking forward to the long weekend! My long suffering, but completely wonderful and saintly, parents have come down the last two weekends to work on my house, and as a result, we almost have the family room done! Well, we still have to paint the walls, lay most of the floor, finish the electrical, grout the hearth, reposition the wood stove, replace the window, and move the furniture in, but, you know, except for that! It is SO exciting to be getting closer to done in that room. We replaced 80% of the drywall (which my dad decided to take down, as there wasn't any insulation behind the walls!), redid all the electrical including adding in an outside motion detecting light, covered the disgusting popcorn ceiling with new 3/8 in drywall, replaced the sliding door with a window, redid the two doorways, leveled the old slanted garage floor (after ripping up all the old parquet flooring - I hurt for three days after that), replaced the sketchy hearth, and fixed the defunct air vent. OK, when I say "we", I really mean my dad did everything with me and mom helping when possible. One room almost down, 7+ rooms to go! At some point, I will post pictures, whenever I get my act together.

In VERY happy news, Cat is coming to visit one night with her family - I can't wait to meet her cutie patootie kids! My house is still a hot mess, but I can't wait to see them and just hope that they forget their glasses...

At the end of October (the 25th) I am running the affiliated 10k at the Marine Corps Marathon. Brave and superfit Clare is running the whole marathon, though! Sheesh! I am super nervous - I still haven't run that many miles in a row yet, although I will before the day, I hope. I have been having motivation issues this week, coupled with the early night it is is a killer. So any positive vibes you'd like to throw my way, I would be most appreciative! If you would like to come, let me know and I can advise about where to be to see Clare...

My work colleague of 1.5 years, Ben, is leaving in a week - we will miss him, but I know he has been itching to move on for a while now, so it is for the best. Good Luck, Ben! Have fun in sunny LA!

I am happy to see the cooler weather here. It was a bit chilly last night even under the medium weight blanket. Pretty soon, I will have to break out the down comforter! Yay!

A bunch of random people from HS FB'ed me recently - people that couldn't have cared less about me in HS, or even went out of their way to make a point of not liking me. I am happy to report that I eventually accepted their request, but couldn't really care less about them either way. Complete ambivalence. Fabulous!

My aunt (from B'more) got married this past weekend, or more precisely had a vow renewal. It was more low key than I expected, and I got to see 2 sets of aunts and uncles that I haven't seen in many years, so that was really nice. A good excuse to put a dress on!

I am really liking my new community. I feel like MD is very much a suburban wasteland for the most part, but Bowie is a bit more established and community oriented. My neighbors are all really nice. Just this past weekend, one of my neighbors went around distributing home grown zinnias, which are colorful and beautiful in my construction zone home.

Hope this holds you until the next update! I do plan on getting broadband sometime soon, maybe before winter sets in...