Jack Frost

It's a "Jack Frost nippin at your nose" kind of day. The frost has stayed all day everywhere unless it was a place the sunshine hit. Got the laundry done, the dishes done, and the house picked up some. Watched the rest of season 3 of Castle last night on the Netflix that came while we were gone and mailed them back today. I found out today that I didn't get the GIS job at DPW. No surprise since they didn't even call. Guess it wasn't the right place for me.
The flight home went well but leaving was super hard. C is not doing well and just wants to be alone. Not a whole lot I can do to make things better so just leaving him be for now. We were planning to get our Christmas tree this week but not sure if he's up to getting one. We may end up with no tree. There's a Christmas party Wednesday evening at the station that I think we may go to.
We're currently looking for a room mate to help with expenses and hopefully be able to also get internet at the house. Our goal is to get someone in by the beginning of the year. We shall see. Might be a little hard with having to be gone so much for family stuff back east.
Yummy I am having a reuben sandwich on wheat bread, hot apple cidar, and chocolate chip cookies :-). Super amazing!

Flowers of Christmas & Faith

Mom N had a really good day today. She was up visiting more than most of the other days we've been here. It was good to see her smile, interact with folks, and even laugh a little. C & I had a good day too. We met up with his friend JimBo and went to lunch downtown STL, on a free tour of the brewery, and then over to see the Arch. This evening C & I went bowling near the house. It was a fun day. Tomorrow we head home. Not sure how things will go but hopefully ok. More family was by the house today, some new & some familiar faces. Aunt June is bringing a quilt over tomorrow that she started that she is giving me to take back with me to finish for her. Long day though and need sleep.


Holiday Cookies

Yesterday met a bunch of relatives. One of the aunts brought holiday cookies she had made and left a bunch for Mom N and all of us. She had made them herself and oh they were so yummy. It's been a slow day. Preacher came by earlier and a social case worker later this afternoon. C finished decorating the Christmas tree yesterday with her help of where to put ornaments. Went to dinner last night at 54th Street Bar & Grill with Aunt June, Dad D, and couple of family friends Beverly & Jimmy who were up from MS. That is a really good place to eat! A bunch of cousins came by after we got back and visited for awhile. Everyone went to bed happy :-). I think tomorrow C & I are meeting up with a friend of his that lives here and possibly seeing some of the sights around the city. We may go out tonight and go bowling or watch a movie.


Flurries, Boughs, & Cones

"Baby Its Cold Outside" defnitiely fits for today. 'Dad' said look outside and I saw flurries and a dusting of snow on the front step and felt the blast of cold air come in from the other side of the screen door just before he headed out to take Pepper the dog out. We had french toast, bacon, coffee/hot cocoa for breakfast. Yum! He made us all breakfast and now I know where C gets his love for cooking from :-). 'Mom' is sleeping a lot but she seems to be in decent spirits most of the time. Its good to be here and they are both awesome. Its nice to know more family finally and feel welcome and cared about even if time is limited. We're just enjoying the time we do have and making the best of things. Aunt June is a hoot but sweet. Everyone here decorates their houses real early for the holidays. St. Louis is huge too! I think C and I are going to go out exploring later today. Tomorrow we're all supposed to be doing some kind of holiday dinner which will be nice. More on our adventures later.

I called to follow up on the GIS spot and found out that they are still in the selection process and have an extension to follow up again with if need be. Hopefully they will pick me for an interview which leads to a blessing of a 'we want you for the spot'. Keep those fingers crossed everyone please.

Baby It's Cold Outside
I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - Baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry - Beautiful, what's your hurry
My father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
Well Maybe just a half a drink more - Put some music on while I pour

The neighbors might think - Baby, it's bad out there
Say, what's in this drink - No cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how - Your eyes are like starlight now
To break this spell - I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir - Mind if I move a little closer
At least I'm gonna say that I tried - What's the sense in hurting my pride
I really can't stay - Baby don't hold out
Ahh, but it's cold outside

C'mon baby

I simply must go - Baby, it's cold outside
The answer is no - Ooh baby, it's cold outside
This welcome has been - I'm lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm -- Look out the window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious - Man, your lips look so delicious
My brother will be there at the door - Waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious - Gosh your lips look delicious
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Never such a blizzard before

I've got to go home - Oh, baby, you'll freeze out there
Say, lend me your comb - It's up to your knees out there
You've really been grand - Your eyes are like starlight now
But don't you see - How can you do this thing to me
There's bound to be talk tomorrow - Making my life long sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied - If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay - Get over that old out
Ahh, but it's cold outside

Baby it's cold outside

Brr its cold...
It's cold out there
Cant you stay awhile longer baby
Well... I really shouldn't... alright

Make it worth your while baby
Ahh, do that again...


"Baby, Its Cold Outside" is a pop song with words and music by Frank Loesser. Loesser wrote the duet in 1944 and premiered the song with his wife at their Navarro Hotel housewarming party.

STL & GIS

So we are headed to STL tomorrow to spend time with C's family. I'm pretty stoked about meeting his mom, stepdad, and I just learned last night also his sister and her kids, and also his brother and girlfriend. I also get to meet his aunt whom we will be staying with. Thanksgiving went well spent it at the fire station. Watched the LSU vs. Arkansas game yesterday and today am watching the Ohio State vs. Michigan game.

I applied for the GIS position with DPW and hoping that I hear from them with good news soon. I did learn though after getting the mail today that I am eligible for another extension on UI from CA. When we get back we are getting our tree and decorating it, yay! Of course, that will definitely ensure us having tons of needles all over the house. Trying to figure out how to get my knitting on the plane but I'm thinking I may have to just take my quilting instead. Good thing Mom Nola is a quilter so I can borrow her scissors.

Needles Everywhere!

So I've been admiring all the wonderful lush green evergreens this past year. When you spend over four years living in the Los Angeles metro area you don't exactly see evergreens that much, its mostly palm trees or some exotic species that someone decided looked good growing in their yard but most of the time it doesn't! Or you end up looking at a lot of oak trees as those are quite prevalent too. Nontheless, since moving into the new house in early Autumn it was great having all the shade. Since late Autumn almost Winter though those same fir trees are shedding needles galore and they are literally everywhere in the house!!! Ugh and the vacuum has a hard time sucking them up out of the carpet. I think I would think twice about living directly under so many evergreens in the future even though I really love trees :-).

Having some difficulties at home lately with sharing of chores and stuff but I think we will soon work something out. One of my close girlfriends, Mel, is planning on taking me out tonight for something warm to drink and then hopefully come back to the house to play cards for awhile. Be nice change of pace.

Still trying to apply for the GIS position with the county. Haven't seen it posted yet. It's supposed to snow with accumulutation this week but we shall see. I have mixed feelings about snow: first, I like to watch it come down and don't mind standing there briefly to have the flakes catch on my nose & eyelashes or attempt to go snowboarding in it as sis will attest to that, but as far as driving in it no way I don't like it one bit.

Hoping to get to go with C when he goes to STL to see his family in a week and then to get our Christmakuh tree when we come back :-). I really want to decorate it with white and blue lights. I think it will look really pretty.

Trips & Turkey

So the Las Vegas trip is off indefinitely due to threats through email to M about having C & I go down there. Which as much as C & I would like to get away for a few days that isn’t what we had in mind. Hopefully we will here from Mom N. and can go see her soon. Other news, the fire commissioner election is over and the person we wanted to win did. Yay Tim! Everyone gets to keep their jobs and we have adequate coverage for the next four years for emergency purposes. There is also a GIS position coming up with the Dept. of Public Works that I will be applying for as soon as it posts on their web page. Hopefully that turns out to be promising (keeping fingers crossedJ).
Finally have the money for getting wood, now we just need the person to deliver it. I am getting the plastic up on the windows inside to help with making the house more energy efficient and so far it seems to be helping. Still in the process of putting things away in the house. Our vacuum cleaner quit working for some unknown reason. Should be able to get the full deposit back on the other house early next week which I know will be a blessing.
This weekend I am getting together with our friend Erin & her daughter Grace to enjoy an early Thanksgiving dinner for free at the community center put on by the local church on Saturday and maybe we can scrapbook or something afterwards.

Trunk or Treat

So this Halloween we were at our community's Trunk or Treat. I had never been before and it was awesome! Aside from both of us being sick still we had a lot of fun (and yes Mom we were both dressed warmly). So I'm finally all moved out of the old house and moved into the our new house...woohoo!! Now just have to put things away.

This month we are putting plastic on the windows to help make the house more energy efficient and getting our cord of wood next week after we get back from Las Vegas. Mike is paying for our travel expenses and for Chris's missed work. We're taking the schnauzer's down to stay. Hopefully it will be a good trip with lots of great photos. Thankfully there has been some job free lifts by the state so that there are more work opportunity possibilities for me in my field. There's another possibility coming up in December of doing some contract work with Mike for King County but we're still waiting to get more information.

Thanksgiving we will be doing at the fire station and should be lots of fun with a good turn out. Our friend Erin and I are still trying to work out the details of getting together for our scrapbooking night once a week. She has lots of photos of her 16 month old daughter, Grace, that she wants to put in albums and I am looking forward to helping her.

Sunny October Days & Family

So the Navy bid fell through but Mike has been working with me on getting my resume to be more marketable for my field. The visit with Chris's family and Jenny's wedding (I got to hold her bouquet while pictures were being taken-is really pretty & smelled amazing!) went well earlier this month. He passed both his class exams that weekend and if the fire commissioner election goes well in a few weeks then he should make his promotion to Lt. :-)! It's getting too cold to really enjoy the hot tub but we are thinking of the holidays ahead. Halloween is just around the corner and we were thinking of possbily doing a potluck for that but that is still in the planning stages. Thanksgiving we will be probably having at the fire station. Then we can go Christmas tree hunting after that & decorate. Can't wait!

Diggin for Treasure

Maggie came for a 2 month dogcation and we went quite often to what became known as the dog park "Lake Isabella". As usual she wanted the ball thrown (imagine that lol :-p ). Apparently the grass had grown quite tall during spring and the county had to mow it and bail it later. Meanwhile before it was bailed Maggie had great fun jumping and digging through the "sea" of grass. Half the time she couldn't find it and I would have to walk in the general area before she did. This time though she decided to find it herself. I swear you can almost hear her saying from afar 'I know it's in here somewhere Mom. I'm diggin diggin diggin for it. Must find the treasure of my ball for Mom to throw it again' and meanwhile I"m just tellin her 'find it girl! you can do it!' . Naw we didn't have fun at all lol ;-).

In all honesty though the real treasure wasn't the ball, it was being able to spend time with her in this park. We made it a daily ritual almost to go here since she could run and be safe and I didn't have to worry about her by the road at the house plus there was way more for her to sniff/explore.

Too bad she can't be at the new house but at least she can come for visits and stay at Grandpa Mike's and we can go visit our favorite park again.

Magnolia

Wow it's almost September already and yet it seems like we just got summer warm days here finally. It's been a very mild cool summer here. Been working at a variety of things all summer but mostly doing my usual pet care/house care/personal assistant work with Mike. We are asking for yet a 2nd extension on our bid proposal as we still do not have all of our questions answered for the contract with the Navy yet. Will be glad when we do and can actually get our bid in to do the whole "hurry up & wait" with them that hopefully ends in a 'Yes we are awarding you the contract'. I am anxious to get started on the GIS portion of that contract :-D!

Been packing up stuff slowly but surely as moving is looming on the horizon. Also been able to get quite a few quilt tops finished just need to find the resources to put them in to get quilted. Maggie is home and healing nicely from having had surgery to drain the absess on her neck earlier this week. She is so happy to have the drain out lol she was running around the yard tail wagging and looking at me it was cute.

Chris and I still haven't been able to get away for our camping trip yet but we are hoping maybe sometime in Sept./Oct.

Classes start back up next month and I still need to register for half time to get more work done on my GIS certification. I currently am still trying to figure out the whole funding aspect though.

Softballs are not SOFT :-p

Went by to visit C last night and unexpectedly he asked me if I knew how to catch a ball w/ a mitt. I was like 'um I think I can lol' so ...we went in the driveway and tossed a softball around and I learned how to catch. The first throw though I caught with my forhead lol :-p...ouch, that left a mark! The good news is that I literally just laughed it off and kept going because we were having fun. The bad news is that it did leave a bruise but that's what arnica cream is for ;-). Don't worry mom, I"m ok and apparently sis isn't the only one who is able to bounce off things like rubber lol.

Today is Relay for Life and it seems weird to me to be doing this in June since I'm used to doing it in October. We're both walking today in rememberance and in support of those of our loved ones who have battled cancer. This one is for you: Mom Nola, Grandma L., "Mom" Sherri, Mary, Uncle Jim, Uncle Lyle, the regular guy Tom @ the coffeeshop wife, ...and many others :-).

Beach Creatures

We went to the beach yesterday and it was really nice. Came home and crashed lol :-). Today I spent time doing my online class exam ...yay I passed! Now I just have to finish some drawings for my night class and take that final on tuesday night. Then it's back to everything else.

MXDing my Mind

Look Mom, I drew that (ignore the scale though as I put miles and it should be something else)!So I got a new project to work on the side for the fire department while finishing up the quarter. Instead of digitizing river data it's golf holes & hydrants :-D!

Still am not having much luck with finding some really great place to have the QG this summer. Kind of frustrated with that. Every place wants so much money it's crazy. I still have a few ideas to chase though.

Thinking of doing something special for Maggie's 6th birthday this weekend. I know she will be pleasantly surprised lol but then again she always loves whatever I do for her especially if it involves treats!!

The Girl Who Trilogy

Ok I am so hooked on this trilogy lol due to sis leaving a book behind on her most recent visit oh which I literally read the whole first book in like under 4 days! I found the second book and have yet to put it down since yesterday but did long enough to enjoy an amazing day out with C.

We went to Oly to check out the new REI that opened and of course oowed & awed and mentally putting together wish list's at least a mile long, then grabbed some lunch, and headed to the beach since we were both wanting to go for a drive. I had been wanting to show him the beach I survey for some time and he was definitely interested in seeing it. While at the beach we did my survey which was awesome. We froze because of the wind and didn't find any birds but did find this really interesting skeleton of a fish that had all kinds of armor like features to it and was well over a foot long. We talked endlessly and laughed like a couple of kids, just enjoying ourselves. He had never been to Ocean Shores so we stopped there on the way back and he drove us home.

Tree Frogs & Tidbits

Last friday I was house & dogsitting and it was pouring rain. Dogwalks consisted of exchanging of the dogs to the backyard as there was no way I was walking all dogs in the pouring rain and get sick. Trying to payoff the medical bills not create more ;-). So I'm sitting there in the recliner and watching tv and I keep hearing something that sounds like a frog. I'm texting C and telling him this and he isn't surprised. I come to find out this weekend from him that apparently there are tree frogs in the area. I had no idea. He said they were these little small frogs that sound like big frogs lol! So I looked it up and sure enough there are Pacific Tree Frogs in the area.

I'm not sure what is crazier, the sound of small frogs that sound like they are coming in the house or the dogs barking up a frenzy at the squirrels that were trying to scratch holes through the rafters a week ago in the roof over the backyard at C's house.

Less than a month to go for this quarter of school and then we will see what becomes of the internship. I'm hoping that it will continue and I'll get paid for my time which would be really nice.

Pomp & Circumstance

Time to throw the caps in the air again since officially yesterday I was notified my Bachelor of Arts in Geography & Urban Analysis was posted at California State University Los Angeles!!!!! My diploma will arrive the end of April. Woohoo!!!! Extremely happy even the morning after :-D!

Accessed my online class yesterday and it's being taught through ESRI's website. I like their training module and classrooms. I found my text for my on campus class for half the price than at the bookstore. Just have to find the rest of my drafting tools. Nice to have the week going well so far.

Spring Time

You know its spring time when the bulb flowers start showing up. I took this recently when I went to check out the campus last week and get my bearrings on what part of campus my classes will be at. Its a good thing I did too since it took me a few hours of driving around the city to find it. On a different note, I met my landlords and they're really nice. They don't have a problem with Maggie visiting and she can come as often as I want. Yay :-)! When I was looking online Thursday for some class information between doing loads of laundry, I came across a research paid internship opportunity that I'm going to inquire about (had to register for access to the site this morning). It would be great if I could do that in addition to what I will be doing. So we shall see what I find out.

The Gluten in Communication

Gluten is what makes things stick together. Being able to communicate well is what keeps things together in one way or anther and for most that is what keeps relationships 'sticking together'.

My recent post about frustrations caught some people's attention. I admit I was having a difficult day that day and things were irritating me more than they probably should but we all deal with stress differently and not all stress is bad. Sometimes the bad stress turns out to be good because it pushes us to look at things we're doing differently and change. I'm happy that the person who made the changes stepped forward and apologized. Thank you. Like I said in my email back though, it's better if we can work together than against each other especially when it is for a good purpose like the family quilt blog.

On a different note, someone's dogcation is coming to a close sooner than expected as the owners apparently have shown up next door. When I opened the door this morning and looked out and saw their car..I was like 'uhhhhh cross your legs Maggie & hold that thought while I get dressed and we go sneak out to the car quietly to go to a park' :-D lol! Yeah sure she can visit and she has been but next week is going to be crazier than normal with classes starting, house & pet sitting for M (C's dad), and I don't need to have the owners wondering anything they shouldn't. Besides, I think she misses her dog friends at Grandpa's :-). I'm going to plan for her to come back again sometime next month or early May to visit again.

Frustrations

So as it was explained to me late last night, I should not start all conversations off with "hey, how was your day?" because apparently it is annoying to some. Argh, the frustrations only start there as I logged online this afternoon to find out that what I had tried to be helpful with over the past several months of keeping up the family 'webblog' for the quilters...well, it has been yes, rearranged and no one actually was asked to do that. It would have been very much appreciated if I was included on the loop of the changes (since I've been doing a lot of legwork with sending out the QGN every month and then adding stuff to the blog).

I'm done with all of it. It's just too frustrating to me when people do that.

Those points being made..the day has slowly gotten better but it has definitely been a quiet one. I have heard from my best friend more today though which has been really nice :-).

More later as time is running out on the library computer.

New Eco Way of Doing Things

So I started a new blog lol...yeah I know, like how many writing projects am I going to have right? Ummm I'm innocent (halo supporting horns look). Anyways, y'all should check it out. Went and found the college yesterday and I am glad I did because it was not easy to find. Bremerton is not the easiest city to navigate in that is for sure! Finally got the software for the internship digitizing work I'm doing running smoothly and will be able to do some later today. If not we have to figure out a way to add the software to my computer. The boss lady is trying to find all kinds of ways to utilize me to get work done ( I might be helping with tagging elk or working with the fish hatchery folks? I don't know..but I'm sure it will be entertaining).

Enjoying all the sunshiney moments we keep getting :-).

OMG we have sunshine! Woohoo!!

Oh you have no idea how happy I was to wake up this morning and look out my windows and see sunshine! I looked at Maggie and said "look we have sunshine lol no more rain and having to get the moss & twigs out from between our paws/toes" and her response was several tail wags :-).

We are headed for a walk on one of the local trailheads this morning. I also have a date with the gym later ;-). I've been doing a lot better about drinking water and eating my fruits & veggies every day too. It's amazing how much better food tastes when it is healthy for you. I came across a book called "The Raw Truth: The Art of Preparing Living Foods" and ordered it from TRL. I came across it in the Oly Co-Op. Can't wait to read it.

I heard from the SDNR and yes we are confirmed to still meet on Friday to go over the project. I will be meeting with SDNR (Skokomish Department of Natural Resources) and MCD (Mason Conservation District) to get the details, shake hands, figure out what they hoping I have for skills er I mean wanting me to learn :-D/expand on, and go to the project site. Should be an amazing day! I just learned that they are looking for the project to be similar to what the Nisqually Tribe did recently on a project they had. You can check it out here.

I have officially moved up 2 slots on the waitlist for my second class and hope that continues. I am actually looking forward to returning to school in a few weeks. Sure hope I do well and can get everything done to have my GIS cert by next spring to go with my BA.

Paws for a Picnic

Maggie is on a dogcation and we're having a really good time. Thursday we went on a 2.5 mile hike over a 500 foot elevation gain, most of which was in the first half of that loop at Twanoah State Park just up the road from my house, in the pouring rain. Saturday we went to see cousins, a quilt store, two parks and have a Jewish picnic lol ;-). Apparently my dog likes Challah bread with hummus as much as I do and we also had fresh strawberries and water.

This picture is from watching the sunset over Capital Lake while we were walking around it and then back to Marathon Park while there was a break in the rain before heading home.

I got the internship after all but it's with the tribal natural resource department as the majority of the project is with them and not with the county conservation district. There is the opportunity for more work and they will be having me start as a non-paid intern with the opportunity to eventually be hired on in a paid position! I'm totally excited about that as you could imagine. Meeting with folks next week to find out more details. Classes start at the end of the month toward my GIS cert with OC for in the evening and I'm looking forward to that too.

NeoGeo Stuff

New word for the night as I was puruising through sights for geography work I came across this term "neogeography" and thought ..'neo what?' I looked it up and it is the combination between cartography and online blogging. I was like "oh wow that is really interesting"! Then I started thinking about what I really want to do which is biogeography and was thinking 'neobiogeography'..'neogeography biogeography'..hmm wonder what that would be like ;-). I went looking more and came across another term "geofence" and was again thinking what the heck is that. It is a virtual boundary on a geographic region.

So I went to one of my sites I check for jobs/internships (The GIS Jobs Clearinghouse) and oh my goodness I came across an awesome internship position opportunity that is still open until March 11th that I definitely would love to have. It's even a PAID internship for $12.50/hr and it's in Illinois (which could be interesting....been there once..it was alright) but I that was an amazing find. I'm so putting in for it. Keep your fingers crossed that they really want me for the spot :-). What is really nice is that the deadline is the day AFTER I register for my classes for spring quarter which I will be starting to take my autocad classes. They are looking for someone preferable with autocad experience.

Been spending lots of time walking dogs this week and in some very interesting weather too (rain, hail, sun, wind, any combination of the above). Friday probably going to go get the boat so I will get to drive the truck back from the other end of the peninsula while the guys drive the boat back down the Canal. Never a dull moment ;-).

Conserve This Buddy

So its been about a month since I was told 'oh yeah we'd love to have you be an intern with us and we'll get back to you on all the details'...yeah right! I'm standin here on my soapbox and basically if you are too busy to make time to return people's calls & emails after you said you would especially when they want to HELP you then you are ...read my lips "TOO BUSY"! So yeah...conserve your resources buddy boy lol.

On to the next advendture/mis-adventure in the Rainforest...err Snowforest lol :-D.

I've decided that even though my dog of 5.5 yrs isn't currently living with me doesn't mean she shouldn't come for visits. Hey even pets need a vacation. She needs to vacation herself on over here for a couple weeks a month. So as soon as snowfest ..I mean...its decent again...time to get Maggie and take her on a dogcation to spend time with me.

T-minus 23 days until my Bachelorate of Arts in Geography & Urban Analysis from California State University Los Angeles is approved and posted provided there are no additional problems. Then it will be time to celebrate!

I've been thinking that maybe I will explore the idea of being a GIS consultant at some point. C is seriously thinking of starting a dive business with his best friend April in the next year or so and having me do all the GIS work for the business.

I still want to write a book with my friend Audrey though. If I could just get her to stay out of college long enough ...wait doesn't that remind me of someone else I know lol...err I'm innocent lol ;-). Anyways it is good to have goals & dreams.

Playing with Color & all that stuff..Digitizing Here I Come

Best way to start a day off (well one of the best ways ;-) )...to be called and notified that you have been accepted as an intern doing what you were trained to do and enjoy! Yep, I got accepted as an intern for the county conservation district today and will find out Friday when I start and all the other great details. Hopefully it will be a paid internship but if not that is okay too as I will totally enjoy the experience gain. I am so stoked you have no idea. I have been looking and waiting for almost exactly 3 years for this opportunity and it is finally my turn.

Exchange of Bottomless Wisdom

The Incomparable Joy of Being Heard

"We all want to be heard, but it is so hard to really listen - even to ourselves! Just about all of us have come to think of education as being about bringing knowledge from the outside in, not from the inside out, but it's really an exchange between one bottomless well of wisdom to another." By Bracha Goetz

I came across this in one of my TheJewishWomen.org emails that I get regularly and just thought that was really something worth putting out there. Each of us has knowledge/wisdom worth sharing with others.
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I'm really taking to heart the finishing of projects that I've started for others not just so others can enjoy them but also because I"m much more spatially conscious and am trying to de-clutter. It's amazing how much you can collect ;-)!
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Pics of Roosevelt & other Bits

So here is what Roosevelt B. looks like from the end of my camera lens view. It was an absolutely gorgious day to survey and I got really lucky last Saturday. I'm hoping that when I go back in February that I will luck out with nice weather too. I spent part of today uploading my data to COASST.

It's been a busy week. I had the opportunity to work a few hours this week but for whatever reason the assignment didn't last. That's ok I have some leads for some other opportunities I am looking into that some of the regulars here in town gave me a tip to look into.

This next week I will finally get my long awaited for Red Cross badges. Three months is a long time to wait. I have also submitted an application to try to do some online freelance writing.

Survey Seabird Adventures

Recently I took some training to become a survey volunteer for COASST (Coastal Observation And Seabird Survey Team) an organization through University of WA to assist with surveying beached seabirds. I'm going to be surveying all of Roosevelt Beach in Grays Harbor county one weekend (possibly 2) a month collecting data about each bird species (identifying, photographing, tagging, etc.) and also all the other impact factors (e.g. dogs, people, etc.).

I went to Roosevelt Beach (that is a picture of it that I found googling but not when I was there) this weekend and it took me three hours to find it. I am glad I went this last weekend though so that I know where I will be going and it will only take me two hours the next time I go since I wont be spending an hour wandering around trying to find my way and having to stop for directions. The beach itself size wise isn't too bad but I'm thinking it may look different in the sunshine and earlier in the day instead of the pouring rain and almost dark.

Spent time this weekend trying out some different recipes and practicing my cooking skills making dinners for C as he had to work a 48 hour shift at Mason 6. Nice to have gotten to spend each evening with him for a few hours though. It was really slow with hardly any calls. Nice to be able to cook and feel inspired to for a partner who likes what you cook/do and is actually around and also helps with clean up. Totally opposite from what I have had in the past.

Been quilting like a crazy lady too lol. I think it must be something in the air ;-).

Oh oh so good news to share. Recently I learned what my final grade was on my last incomplete that I finished in December. I got an "A-"!!!! So happy you can only imagine. Now comes the task of getting the degree posted. Hopefully that will be soon.

Still training for my race this late spring/early summer. Haven't been as diligent as I have wanted but trying to get back to being diligent. C and I are going to be working out together and that will be nice too.

Mountain Sunset Over Paradise

I went exploring this past weekend. I hadn't planned on it. I had only just planned to drive along the Canal to Btown and explore the rest of it. Then I happened upon this road that said go this way to Tahuya. I was like hmmm Ta what? lol ok I'm game and off I went down that road. I found the state park in Btown and it was closed for the season. After lots of twists and turns I came across the area called Tahuya. Cute little place. Then I saw the water and the view. Oh wow! So this is what it looks like from the other side of the Canal :-). Kind of the same feeling I had once several years ago when I experienced sitting on the other side of the Pacific on a beach in Australia. Hehe...pretty cool. Y'all should try it sometime.

I digress though..so I just went moseying along enjoying the view and periodically stopping to take snapshots of things. I kept driving thinking eventually this road will hook back up with the 101. Well not exactly. It went 20 miles on pavement and then 6 on no pavement through the woods and up hills and then 1 mile on pavement before it ended at a "T". That was North Shore Rd. ended. I looked up and wow there were the Olympics with snow hovering just above the clouds and the trees. I went left and down the road for another 7 miles or so past district 2 station 8 where I came to another "T" and decided to go right back toward Btown. After another 10 miles or so I came to another "T" lol and went right again on the old Btown highway. During that last 10 mile stretch though I went up over some hill tops and this was the sunset I saw. Absolutely breathtaking! Came home and was glad I had decided to go exploring that day.

Holiday Lights in Union

My attempt to capture the holiday lights around town here didn't exactly turn out well. The best one is of this tree in the parking lot of the resort near my house. I still think it captures the beauty of the season though. The droplets? Yeah those are rain drops on the front lens as it is pouring out while I am trying to quickly take the picture from the car with the window down.

Santa, next year I'd like a cover thing for my camera please so I don't get those water specs :-).