continuation of the great blizzard of aught nine

took dad's advice and went sledding on a cardboard box. Didn't go as well as you might think. this is me launching myself down the hill.
and chloe's turn
my AWESOME, violent snow angel. the snow is over my knees in the front yard.

Aaaaand work is canceled for tomorrow! Now what am I going to do??

the great blizzard of aught nine

more pictures coming!

ruby + snow

This was taken at about 10 am this morning. Now it's up to Ruby's chest and armpits. It's 3pm and we have broken the record for snow in Dec, and it's still coming down!

Harper's Ferry hike

Where I ate my PB & J.

Along the George Washington Parkway. You can see the outline of the DC skyline in the background - this is where I called you from Mom!

The merging of the Shenandoah and Potomac into one, with the town on the right.

I took myself to Harper's Ferry for a walk in the sunshine and 70 degree weather. I'm thinking it's the last time I'll get to enjoy it until March or April. The colors were still hanging on, although the rain from the week knocked off a lot. I love this place and I can't wait to explore more of West Virginia and the Shenandoahs.

October we hardly knew ye

Where oh where did you go, tenth month of the year? You are gone, and so is my old roommate. My new one is here, and, thankfully, a little more compatible with me. She's so west coast Seattle, in a good way.

Any who, here is a recap of the trip that I took to Indiana...

Fall colors (for you mom!) at the Purdue Research Farm, where I 'helped' Sam gather samples for work. I also helped conduct some groundbreaking wheat genetics work (ie. I put lots and lots of samples in numerical order and then weighed them).

Sam and I at an outing to a downtown bar. I miss cheap drinks and good friends.
More spotting of "the LEAF," this time on Anna (and Sam's) street. They live close enough to downtown you can walk. Although I'm not sure how they do it once it's below freezing.
Anna and me at the corn maze! It was the scariest and funniest thing I've done in a long time.
Helping to make spaetzla: German egg noodles. See? I'm GERMAN! Also, we were watching the Florida - Arkansas game on Anna's laptop, trying not to throw things (like wooden spoons) at it.

I'm so thankful that I got to spend time with friends, and I didn't have to pay for my plane ticket. I think all work conferences should follow my friends around so I can visit for cheap.

pumpkins and a pup

Yesterday, Alex and I ventured out to (Western?) Northern Virginia to enjoy the lovely fall weather. It was a high of 70, with clear skies and a light breeze. I brought Ruby along because she's been lonely since Scooter left and doesn't really know what to do with herself. We visited Sky Meadows State park and Hollin Farms pumpkin patch in Delaplane, VA.

Having no pumpkin patches of the real kind in Florida, Alex and I had never been to one and didn't really know what to expect. It was big, with no discernible rows (I guess it would be hard to keep the vines in line...). But I was mostly surprised by all the thorny weeds in the patch. Pigsweed was a huge problem, as well as other stickers that I couldn't identify. Then the vines themselves were very prickly. I should have brought my work gloves!


Ruby found a pumpkin she liked. They also had free-range pigs fenced off to one side of the patch. Ruby didn't know what to think of them and started barking and growling at them before getting closer. In her defense, they were really big.
Alex and her pumpkin. Her's weighed 14 lbs. Mine weighed 16 lbs. I had no idea they were so heavy!
Before we hit the farm, we went on a hike in the park. We went up a trail with lookout in the name... we should have realized that meant hiking up a steep incline. Alex and I were huffing and puffing, while people kept passing us on the way down, completely unaffected. Little children, dads pushing strollers, old ladies smoking cigarettes. I think we chose the wrong direction to start the loop... But we got to the top and had lunch. It was a beautiful view!

dig chivalry a hole, I think it's dead

I've often heard that chivalry is dead, but I've never really thought there was much truth to it. I've always had guys hold open doors, pay (or at least offer) for movies, food, etc, even when it's not a date, and generally be nice. Maybe I just know very sincere guys, or perhaps the Southern stereotype prevails.
But I've noticed since moving North a definite lack in this area. Guys I've met here don't come to the door when they pick you up. It's happened to me a couple of times and happened to my roommate tonight. The guy calls or texts and says they are outside. Really? you can't walk 20 steps to my door and knock? And holding the door open... well that is truly rare. It's disheartening that my generation can't get these simple actions right. I'm all for independence, but I think these actions are more about respect than anything else. I guess I have a new standard to measure my dates and friends by.