O Shenandoah, I long to hear you...

So, we made it back safe and sound from canoeing on the Shenandoah, if you don't count too much sun and and exceeding our yearly recommended allowance of redneck. Sam's flight was all messed up (One of these days, Air Tran, one of these days!) so she ended up coming on Thurs. - which was just as well, 'cause it gave us a bit more time to get our acts together. The river was cool - more rapids than the Delaware River, but not so much that it was scary. It wasn't pristine, but not too dirty, I have certainly seen worse. River and Trail Outfitters did a good job, more or less. They were really nice, but the map and directions could have been a bit better.

But now! I am without serious commitments in the near future! Yay! I am so excited about being a bit sane in the near future. I finally got in touch with my last reference that I need for BBBS, so hopefully I can move that along soon. I need to make an appointment for a root canal - which I don't really mind, I just hate organizing my work schedule around it, etc.

I went for a walk with Miss Clare today - and she got an iPhone over the weekend! Jealousy! I am in my contract with TMobile for the next year. I really like them, but the iPhone is tempting.

I will go sailing a few times this week, and maybe this weekend, Takoma Park farmer's market, church, maybe a movie - you know, normal life! I am so excited!

I just got a bunch of pics - old Bowdoin pics from Sheila, one of my cousin and I from last weekend, and I will get some from Sam from our trip, I will put some up when I have a sec.

Shout out to the best canoeing buddy a soul could have - I would canoe with you anytime, Sam! Maybe we could be the first transatlantic canoeists... ok, well, maybe that would take a bit more training and a lot better sunblock!

Slow Fat Triathlete

I won't write much tonight, except to divert your attention here. It is the funniest thing I have read in a long time.

I wish I had a Monkey's Paw!

Hi kiddoes!

Long day today - work, grocery, trying on too small shorts at REI - I won't tell you what size I ended up with, but lets just say that trying on pants that don't fit with an upside down kayak over your head when you are too hot cause their AC sucks isn't my idea of a good time. I did call Jennie B back today, who is in Illinois and is going through the DREADED job search. So, anyone who is looking to employ a smart and talented library scientist - let me know and I will put you in touch with the BEST!

Sunday, I went into work. Frustration with the email... But I got a lot done. Actually, I spent a lot of time working on something that I then realized was much simpler than I thought - and I could solve my problem in about 20 minutes! Sheesh.

So, nothing special. I will be paddlin' down the Shenandoah on Thurs through Saturday, so you won't see much of me for a while, but I will try to get in one good post before then. Sorry my posts have been so sparse lately, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with my schedule. I am hoping by next week or so, I will start being a bit more sane. If I owe anyone a call - remind me cause I forget and forgive me cause I crazy.

I have been listening to my Pat McCurdy lately - shout out to Jennie B and KA! Do you wish you had a Monkey's Paw?

Par-tay!

Tonight, Robin had us over for a swimming (didn't get me in a BS - bathing suit), dinner (Costco, so everything was delish), and game night (Apples to Apples, compliments of yours truly). It was fun, fun, fun, although I know a lot of work for Robin (thanks, Robin!). It was cool to get to know Corey a little bit better, and cool to hang out with the usual crowd + Bill's wife Juana. I said next time would be at my place in October.

I got to sleep in this morning - ultimate luxury! Then cleaned up a bit, which I dearly needed to do. Friday, I went on my third sailing class - I love it! There was so much wind, we didn't raise the jib.

Tomorrow, I will go into work. I have to be in by 11 AM, so no sleeping in tomorrow.

I will have some more to say tomorrow, maybe, but for now it is late and I am tired.

Boring day.

Major event of the day was the SRCA calibration. From 7:15 to 7:30, and I don't mean it was 15 minutes long! Long day, but lots of comp time, so all is well. Same thing tomorrow for Aqua.

By the way, Nova Science Now is on now. Watch it!

Not much else exciting going on at the moment. My brain hurts. Check ya later. I promise it won't always be so boring!

Sailing, sailing over the bouding main...

Phew! Another long day. Got some breathing room at work - I really love the people, I am so lucky to be cutting my teeth there. I had a bit of an introduction to a new (for me) aspect at work, which I am really excited about because it involves some optics. YAY! Tomorrow, we have a calibration and I have to be there around 7 AM, and I am going to try to grab some coffee on the way. Those days are kinda a pain in the butt, but fun, too, because there are only a few times that you have to pay attention and the rest of the time you can just read a book. Actually, I have a bunch of work stuff to read, but maybe not the whole time.

Went sailing today, too, my second time out. It was fun! I am kinda getting the hang of it. I feel kinda bad because the other guy has sailed a bit before and isn't doing as well. We practiced the man overboard drill with the little white ball - Wilson. All righty-roo, it is a short night tonight, I am wiped!

Pork and Beans

Long day today - I just got home a bit ago. Things are kinda overwhelming at work right now. I think I am going to ask my team leader if I can put one thing on the back burner for a few days. I think it will be fine.

Lunch with Robin at Time Cafe (really, what is that name about? I keep thinking it is some weird reference to Dr. Who or something). She continues to have bad sailing karma. Went for a great-as-usual walk with Clare at Greenbelt Park. I didn't realize how much I needed to go til I got there and felt a bit more relaxed. I was flattered and touched that Clare has not only bought and started Good in Bed, but is already halfway through it! Shout out to all my book buddies out there - Sheila, Kari-Ann, and now Clare. Any other takers? I usually have to hold myself back from the book recommendations, but maybe I will start a book review in this blog. What do you think?

As crazy as the day was, I managed to steal two new words/phrases that I am going to try to work into everyday speech as much as possible. You too!

"Whiteware" - euphemism for plastic utensils. As in " With all those people coming, I am going to have to pull out my whiteware and good chinet." Courtesy of Robin.

"Human problems" - these are problems that are byproducts of being human, i.e. not a "woman problem" or "man problem". Co-developed with Clare. Patent pending.

I am feeling kinda teenager-y tonight (you know, moody and rebellious), so I am going to leave you with the lyrics to the fairly new and SUPER excellent new weezer song, Pork and Beans. Check out the very cool video on youtube.

Pork and Beans - weezer

They say I need some Rogaine To put in my hair
Work it out at the gym To fit my underwear
Oakley makes the shades That transform a tool
You'd hate for the kids to think That you lost your cool

I'mma do the things That I wanna do
I ain't got a thing To prove to you
I'll eat my candy With the pork and beans
Excuse my manners If I make a scene
I ain't gonna wear The clothes that you like
I'm finally dandy With the me inside
One look in the mirror And I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot About what you think

Everyone likes to dance To a happy song
With a catchy chorus and beat So they can sing along
Timbaland knows the way To reach the top of the charts
Maybe if I work with him I can perfect the art

I'mma do the things That I wanna do
I ain't got a thing to prove to you
I'll eat my candy With the pork and beans
Excuse my manners If I make a scene
I ain't gonna wear The clothes that you like
I'm finally dandy With the me inside
One look in the mirror And I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot About what you think

No I don't care
I don't care

I'mma do the things That I wanna do
I ain't got a thing To prove to you
I'll eat my candy With the pork and beans
Excuse my manners If I make a scene
I ain't gonna wear The clothes that you like
I'm finally dandy With the me inside
One look in the mirror And I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot About what you think
Totally different?