the last couple of days just flew by. I got back from Dc and hit the ground running with work. In fact, I had a meeting at 4:30 on Wednesday right after my plane landed at 3:45pm. Then yesterday I worked on this and that - grading, working on a grant proposal, catching up ata the office- and today I taught both my classes. They seemed to go really well. I do enjoy teaching.

I wish I could say that all sorts of exciting things happened, but they didn't. We had fresh ahi tuna for dinner and now we're watching a movie - at least G'pa is but I lost interest.

I am thinking about our trips this summer to Thailand and Greece. We need to buy our tickets but havne't yet. I have bought guidebooks for both places - but the Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia one hasn't arrived yet. I plan to get to Angkor Wat for sure on this next trip. In Greece I favor just finding a small island in the Aegean sea and staying there for a week or so. Just feels really good right now when it is still quite cold here.

Washington DC

I am at a conference in DC this week, just days after the presidential inauguration. There was evidence from the big event all over town. I am staying near the White House and Mall area so on Saturday a friend and I wlaked down to the White House. Here's a picture of me with President Obama!
Nice of him to see me on such short notice!


Today it's snowing - they expect 2 inches or so and all the schools are closed! Funny!

Now it's Thursday and still foggy on the Palouse. The fog has sat here for at least 2 weeks, maybe three, and I am ready to see the sun. We had a tiny glimpse of blue sky this morning but that window on the world quickly closed and the fog moved back in agian. the trees are all frosted with icicles which occasionally rain down. The weather is supposed to get cold and snowy this weekend. Wonder if that will change the fog?!

I am off to Washington DC tomorrow for 5 days, for meetings with friends and colleagues at NSF (National Science Foundation). I will be staying at the Renaissance Hotel on 9th St NW. I just looked it up and it's very near the Mall and the Capitol. I think I will have Sunday free so I will try to see something special. I am thinking that this time I will go to the Museum of American History - partly because it has just reopened after being closed for 2 years for renovation, and also because of the recent inauguration and increassed interest in things American!

I have to report that I did something today that felt pretty good! I have been trying really hard to not take on any obligations for the summer and so far have turned down quite a few things. I have been saving hard so that I will be able to pay the bills this summer without working. Not sure that I have enough to pay for my planned trip to Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam in May/June or for my trip to Greece in July but hey ...l I filled out a form that said "No thank you, I do not want to teach anything this summer!" It felt pretty good to turn that form in!!!

almost a week later

I can't believe it's been another week. But, here's what happened. I worked really long and hard last weekend to get a grant submitted by the 5 pm deadline on Monday. We got it done - by 3 pm! With two hours to spare. But I paid the price - my back was just aching from all that sitting and all the stress of the deadline, together with the first day of classes being last Monday. My back just got worse and worse all week - to the point where I couldn't sit, I could hardly turn over or get out of bed, and walking was extremely painful. but I knew that I had to walk to get better, so riley got more walks last week than usual. I tried to walk twice a day. It paid off, and now I am feeling much better. I was even able to get out of bed and not be gripped with back spasms and pain. At the same time this week our hot tub was delivered and hooked up and I have been in it at least twice a day most days. Nice because the weather is drab and grey and foggy. Every once in a while the sun breaks through and the trees look lovely with all the frost on them.
Today was a good day - a day off. I didn't get out and volunteer, but I did get some things done at home. slowly chipping away at the backlogged work that I need to get done. And now of course I have two more grant proposals in the works. I will need to be more careful about letting them sneak up on me.

I have been reading The Power of Now as my "bathroom book" It is pretty good for that - you really need to take it in short bursts and then just reflect on it. I am also reading a biography of Florence Nightingale. quite interesting! Quite an amazing woman.

In between, I am watching some TV - the pre-inauguration activities and also the Australian Open Tennis Tournament.
So that's my life.

Some catching up!

I didn't realize that I hadn't blogged in so long! Time flies when you're having fun! Except that it wasn't really. I had some weird digestive tract ailment for several days - thankfully it seems to have gone, but while I had it I felt nauseous, sick, headachy, stomach upset, etc. - and now just when that has finally gone, the last couple of days my back has been killing me. I took two long walks today, and have made a commitment to keep doing it - Riley (the dog) is really happy about that decision.

The reason my back is aching is that I sat for nearly four days working on a grant proposal that finally went in on Monday at 3pm - a full 2 hours before the deadline! I just can't sit like that, my back just won't take it.

So today I took the day off and just stayed at home. It was a lovely day - 50 degrees and sunny and I enjoyed most of it.


We had our new hottub delivered and it is sweet!! Here it is: It's the one on the bottom right - the Jetsetter. I couldn't seem to find a separate picture. Oh well ...:(











I am just waiting for it to heat all the way up and I will be in it! My back will love it. We also got DirectTV today. I am not so happy about that. The TV has been on in the living room most of the evening. I muted it twice, and then my better half unmuted it - then promptly left for the "boys room" leaving me to listen to it! this is exactly why I hate TV. but then, when Wimbledon is on I will be happy.


I talked with my brother Jeremy today too. He is a bit bored I think since he is not working having been laid off before Christmas.


He will possibly be in the US on a consulting job in March in Florida- I am trying to convince him that he would like to come and visit me.

He also sent me a couple of photos of me from Jocelyn's wedding earlier this year. Here they are:


You may notice my mother in the background of this one, and Jeremy to my left.












This next one is just of me - trying to understand the Portugese ceremony I think.






























I have also spent quite a bit of time this past week looking at Greek tourist guides. I am hoping to go to Greece this July - to a professional meeting for about 5 days - and then perhaps see a bit of the Greek Islands before coming back to the US. It has been fun to browse the books and try to decide where would be fun to visit.

Support Public Radio

Public Radio Market is a good place for book suggestions. They have a list of best books for 2008, both fiction and non-fiction. Plus, any purchases made there support Public Radio.

Here's the link for it -
Public Radio Market.

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