Am I an old lady?

I don't really think I'm an old lady, but I'm starting to have hobbies that aren't school. Or work. And it's pretty nice. I started a compost bin in the backyard. I don't really care about the compost that comes out of it in terms of gardening. I'm using it as an environmentally friendly way to get rid of some of our garbage. Basically, any organic material can be thrown into it (not dairy or meat, so animals aren't attracted to it), and nice soil comes out, instead of being thrown into a landfill, where it may or may not decompose.

On the gardening note, I started my seeds today. I planted a bunch of flowers, and for the first time, some vegetables. Pretty excited for that.

Jonathan, Cade and I are exploring the county, state and national parks of Morris County. We've been to Pyramid Mountain, Tourne Park, and Jockey Hollow. Everything's still dead here, but the first 2 parks have views of NY at the top (30 miles away). It will be much prettier once it gets green.

While writing this, I found out I'm getting a pretty nice chunk of change back from my taxes, so a new bike + paying off most of one of my smaller loans will be in order when that comes in :)

I'll leave you with 2 pictures of Cade, and the hope that I'll update this more often.

Panting after playing with Lady Easter weekend in Hazleton

Stalking Jonathan at Jockey Hollow

Spring Ahead

Happy Spring! Not too much going on here. I am currently in Hazleton for Easter with Jonathan's family. What's happened since I last posted?

• Jonathan went to Puerto Rico with 3 of his friends
• A big nor'easter blew threw NJ, dumped a lot of rain, and knocked out our power for a day. Neighbors on 2 sides of us had power, it was my street and maybe 6 more blocks in our town, plus a lot of other homes in the tri-state area
• I worked, and thanks to Daylight Saving, I drive home in the light now
• I was HOME for 2 weekends in a row! WHOA! That hasn't happened for 2 months!
• We went hiking in 2 places in NJ. Yes, trails exist in North Jersey
• Molly visited
• Cade grew
• Spring arrived

See? Nothing terribly exciting. I have more pictures of Cade (of course), but I'll post them sometime when I come home. Happy Easter!

Wii Are Family

I was home this weekend visiting family. The slightly confusing back story: My Aunt Heynie moved to Utah 10 years ago. One of her sons, Josh, went to California to live with his dad's family. Her other son, Rick, lived with her in Utah. She just moved back to PJ this past week. Rick drove out with her and her 2 cats and a dog. Josh flew out to unpack and have a mini-reunion. Josh and Rick left, and now Aunt Heynie is living with Gram for the time being.

Friday night I set up the Wii at my gramma's house, and we all took turns bowling, boxing, and shooting things.

Me: Gram, if you turn your wrist, it curves the ball.
Gram: DON'T TELL ME HOW TO BOWL!!!

Gram Wii bowling, and Jack looking particularly demonic

Saturday we played some more Wii, Molly came home, and we all went out to brunch at the festively decorated Westfall Family Restaurant. Jonathan and I went up to Middletown to visit my grandpa in the afternoon. After that, we stopped at Renee's house, where Cade left the only in-house present all weekend. She's getting better!

Saturday night Josh, Rick, Jonathan and I went bowling (for real) in PJ. The bowling alley looks exactly the same as the last time I went, which was 4 years ago, the last time they were in town. It was entertaining. One cousin, who shall remain nameless, threw a bowling ball at his brother in the bathroom, and broke the mechanics on the lane next to us after the ball he threw bounced into their lane at full speed. If the place wasn't almost empty, we probably would have been kicked out :-P

Sunday morning we ran around the yard with Cade, then Jonathan, my mom, and I hit the road and went up to New Paltz to see The Promise Keeper, which Molly was assistant stage managing. Her roommate Rachel puppysat Cade in the dorm (shhhh don't tell) while we watched. It was a good play. Then, it was back to NJ after a fun-filled family weekend. It was really good seeing my cousins, and I'm glad my aunt is back in town.

THON 2008: Hope Finds a Way

I spent a good part of my weekend at the BJC in State College. Why? THON 2008! I was there to support our fine EMS dancers and the UChoir dancers (who happen to be EMSers as well!) I was so glad I went. THON is an absolutely amazing thing. I've been trying to explain to co-workers what it is all about, and you don't really get THON weekend unless you've been there.

I was there from about 3PM Saturday till 11:30AM Sunday, with about 5 hours out for food and sleep. I was able to get on the floor to see our dancers in the wee hours of Sunday morning, which was awesome.

The EMS THON dancers and their special delivery from Alaska. Smooch the moose! 7:35 PM Saturday

Our second EMS THON family, the Ws, was there on Friday and Saturday. Mariah and Lauren sang in the Talent Show again this year, and did a GREAT job. It's amazing to see how the kids have grown up over the past year...plus, they have a new addition to the family, baby boy Andrew! Michael finally has a brother to go with his 3 sisters :)

Mariah and Lauren singing for the Talent Show. 9 PM Saturday.

The line dance was really good this year...I can't figure out if I like it better than the '04 line dance. The stage was also set up in a really cool way: Four Diamonds! The floating Four Diamonds above the stage looked really cool too on the webcam.

The support from EMS was awesome. Our section of the stands contained no less than 10 EMS representatives the entire time I was there. The combination of alumni, EMSers I know, and the new faces of the freshmen was so encouraging, and I know it gave a big boost to the dancers.

EMSers in the stands supporting our dancers. 3:49 AM Sunday

Around 10AM Sunday, we spotted our first THON family, the Bs, wandering around the floor. It was so great to see them...we hadn't seen them in close to a year (since Julie's rockin' bday party). I couldn't stay through Family Hour or to see the final total, but I was so stunned when I got the text message from my friend (I was sleeping in the car on the way back to NJ). THON 2008 raised $6,615,318.04 for the kids. I can't even describe how that makes me feel. I am so proud of everyone involved. THON will always always always hold a special place in my heart.

For Michael. In memory of Troy. For the Kids.

End of London, Paris, Sweet 16 and SNOW!

I'm back in the US. I've been back since Sunday, but I've been catching up on everything since I've been back, and haven't had a chance to update.

The rest of London was great. Didn't do anymore sightseeing, but went to the pub a couple nights after work. It's fun talking UK vs US differences.

And then......



Paris was good. Montmatre, Sacre Couer, Tour Eiffel, Louvre (from the outside, it closed at 5:30 on Saturday), Notre Dame, Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe. I hit most of the toursity things. Friday was cold and dark, Saturday was sunny and beautiful. I was worried about rude Parisians, but I did not encounter any. I learned that I'd really like a travel buddy when I visit another country where English is not the primary language. But, it was a good trip.

Sunday I got back and immediately headed up to PJ for Sierra's Sweet 16 party. It was a fun party...lots of food, dancing, and high schoolers :)

The fam, and the birthday girl looking beautiful

Back to work all week, but today was a work from home day because WE GOT 6" OF SNOW!!!!

Cade likes the snow

AND, THON is going on RIGHT NOW in the BJC!! I just watched the line dance on the live video stream, and I'm super pumped to be there tomorrow!! FTK!

London, Days 7-10

Friday, I went to the local pub (meaning the closest one to the office), The Walrus and Carpenter. I drank 2 beers (gasp, because I usually don't drink beer!), and had a fun time discussing cultural differences with co-workers from around the world. After that I went to a Spanish tapas restaurant with some more co-workers, and wandered around for dessert with another co-worker. It was a pretty entertaining evening.

Saturday I went to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard (pretty lame), and then headed off to Greenwich, which was the highlight of my trip. I was in Greenwich Park, which is this huge expanse of green space. And I mean green, in February! The best part? I crossed the Prime Meridian!!! I am so nerdy, but I thought that was incredibly neat.

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

Look, I'm .00000000000000001 degrees east AND west of the Prime Meridian!

On Sunday I met up with a NJ co-worker and went to Trafalgar Square to see some of the Chinese New Year festivities. It was incredibly crowded, and they set off fireworks in the middle of the day in Leicester Square. Fireworks in bright sunny daylight are exactly what you think they might look like. Not very impressive. Following the fireworks, I wandered through St. James's Park, where everything was nice and green. It felt like spring this weekend. After that I went to Westminster Abbey for Evensong, which is the afternoon prayer service done mostly by the choir. Hey, it was a free way into the Abbey, which was beautiful. I am so amazed by the architecture of centuries-old churches.

Hi, I'm a crocus blooming in FEBRUARY in St. James's Park

Blue skies, Big Ben and a part of the London Eye

Following that I went to Harrod's, which is a HUGE department store. I can't even describe it. Think Macy's in NYC, but with only designer labels. In incredibly gorgeous, separated rooms (halls). They had A ROOM DEDICATED TO CHANDELIERS. Come on!!

Tonight a co-worker I met at Boot Camp invited me to go bowling in the Elephant and Castle district of London (which is apparently a shady section). The alley was pretty cruddy, and I bowled probably my worst games since I was 10, but the company was nice, and I had fun.

My time is running out in London; it's flown by, but I feel like I haven't been home in months! My hotel is booked for Paris, and I'm finishing up what I can at work.

Oh, and today is my sister Sierra's 16th birthday. Man, do I feel old!!

London, Days 5 and 6

Happy Chinese New Year! I went to Chinatown to see what was happening tonight, but there wasn't much going on. More tourists in Chinatown than Chinese. I think it's a family holiday. There's a parade and market this weekend that I'll probably be checking out, amongst other things.


Some more observations:

-I can see why they call bathrooms water closets. There is a full length door on a stall (or toilet cubicle, as they're called in the office). The ones in the office also have 2 different buttons to flush; one is bigger than the other. I'm still trying to figure out the difference between the two.

-The printed press is very...uh...liberal. I opened up thelondonpaper, a free evening (tabloid) newspaper. On page 5 was a picture of a topless dancer from Carnivale in Rio. Was NOT expecting that. Maybe from France, but not the Brits. TV is pretty liberal too; VH1 is one of the 10 channels I get in the hotel room, and I heard quite a few f-bombs being dropped while flipping through.

-The British really do love their tea. I think it's only little old ladies that take tea time nowadays, but it's still the hot beverage of choice.

-Had my first proper British meal for lunch yesterday: sausage and mash. And it was delicious!


The office is warming up a bit more...they don't ignore me or stare at me when I'm walking around, they actually say hi. Very happy about that!