Aiming for the GHGs (Official)

[Cyn]

Hi,
Found out there is a brief pre-exhibit of a fossil that seems to be the link between birds as we know them and the dinosaurs at the Field Museum, and it's free admission day for Chicago residents today! So, off to the museum! I'll check out their  ornithology and geology collections while I'm there!

[V]

Morning.

YF was supposed to call after her meeting last night so we could get out for 5 or 10k. She did not. I did nothing else. After the day I had at work, I am ok with that.

Today is starting much more calmly.

[gadgetgirlil]

Greetings!

I also slept better last night pepper! I'm ready to tackle all my errands today.

It wasn't too cold in my building yesterday but I still turned on my space heater in the afternoon. Got done what I needed to do as I can only go so far on drafts of letters for a guaranteed interview agreement we have until the committee letters are done. No word about a summer stipend - my department chair supposedly had a meeting with the provost but maybe that was only about her stipend? Chairs get compensation for the summer although there has been talk that it would be reduced in light of all the budget issues. I will check in with her on Friday and then set my out of office message accordingly.

I have several different weather apps that I use for predicting weather on my bike rides. The models are not in agreement for next Monday. I might shift my start to Tuesday but will wait until Saturday evening to make that decision. The few hotel reservations that I have made are all changeable without penalty.

Have a great day!

[newmoose]

Good morning!

Last day of classes here! I have a bunch of paperwork to get over to the School Board Office, but otherwise I am done. I do need to clean up my room a bit.

DH and I went out for dinner last night. It was ok, but I won't run back to that restaurant any time soon. Tonight is trivia. Tomorrow night is GN, I guess--I haven't heard anything else about it.

I hope you all have a great day!

[sherrydorlando2]

Morning Ladies:
No internet this am. Annoying piddling with it. All is good, tho it is 89 by 11 am.....yesterday was good. After book club (no pie..just a kids meal of scrambled eggs) also got caught up on Mt. Laundry. Today is housework....boo/hiss.
Enjoy your day!

[pepper]

Howdy!

I LOL’d for real at gadgetgirlil’s comment to Sherry. I left the building for lunch on Tuesday and thought it seemed cold out. It was in the upper 80s. Brrrrrrr!!! 😝

My main road home from work was closed yesterday, so it took me an hour and a half to get home, instead of the usual 20-30 minutes. I need to remember to check traffic before I leave the office today, just in case they do that again. It’s a very busy highway, so a zillion people crowded onto smaller roads and no one had a good time, especially the whackadoodle who kept laying on the horn like any of us could go faster through clogged neighborhood streets where traffic was almost at a stand still.

The week is flying by. I have puff pastry class on Saturday. That should be fun.

Have a good day!

[gadgetgirlil]

Greetings!

Productive day yesterday running errands after I got in a nice long workout at the fitness center. Things are coming together for my trip. I'm getting excited to be on the road.

47 degrees here this morning. pepper & sherrydorlando2 would need to break out their down coats I'm just adding tights and another base layer and probably starting out with my long-fingered gloves. It will get into the upper 60's today. I'll probably ride about 50 miles as I'm riding to/from our meeting place from my house. I have plenty of storage capacity on my bike for when I peel off layers.

Got an email from my department chair yesterday afternoon to expect to see a contract for a summer stipend today. No idea for how much but a few extra bucks will help pay for my biking adventure!

Have a great day!

[Cyn]

All the way up to 55° here! I'm on the bus up to Montrose, may regret not grabbing my windbreaker to put on out at the waterfront...

Field Museum fossil was really cool-so interesting to see actual feather impressions in the stone.

Down 2.4lbs since last WI. Squeeee!

[newmoose]

Good morning!

Today is my penultimate work day EVER! I have some stuff to clean up and paperwork to file, but otherwise nothing. I am going out to eat with my co-workers for lunch. That's something different.

We won trivia again. We won't be back until the end of June between baseball and our trip west.

Speaking of our trip, I need to start making actual lists of things and getting them together so that I will be ready to roll out of here early on the 10th! I am so excited to do this adventure. I just hope DH and I don't kill each other along the way.

I hope you all have a great day!

[sherrydorlando2]

Good Morning Ladies:
Yesterday I was very proud of all of the jobs I got done. Movie this afternoon, then dinner at home with DD (she is cooking their favs) and 3 of my grands. I will be making some brownies in a minute. I still have some mopping to do which will be very soon as it is a matinee.
NIce days all around!!

[pepper]

Howdy!

I am peopled out. Today may be a Closed Office Door kind of day, if possible. Which it probably isn’t. Oh well. Weekend’s coming.

Have any of you seen any good movies lately? I’m in a mood to go to a movie. I’m also in the mood for a Cinemark hot dog and a giant, icy Diet Coke and sitting in the dark with no one talking to me or needing anything from me.

It’s storming here right now, which makes my get up and go very lazy.

Enjoy your day!

[gadgetgirlil]

Happy end of the academic/fiscal year!

We got an email earlier this week from the president that the board did pass the budget without changes from what the president presented on 5/15. That's good since I don't see how we can make any more cuts. I haven't seen a contract for summer, however. Maybe today?

Had a very nice 55+ mile bike ride yesterday, 34 miles of it with my dear friend. When we stopped at the midpoint to take a break, we saw another group of cyclists at the picnic shelter. As we were sitting there, I kept thinking that the one woman looked just like my dissertation advisor. When they stood up to leave, I said her name and it was her!!! I didn't even know she rode bikes, albeit an e-bike. We chatted briefly and will make plans to have lunch later in June when I get back from my trip. How random is that? I finished my dissertation in 2012. My dear friend was the reader on my committee but this woman didn't seem to remember her, but they had only seen each other in person maybe twice. My advisor has worked with hundreds of people on committees with her students over the years so I can understand not remembering someone from 12 years ago. I will clue her in.

I got a shower when I got home and then I made a batch of cookies to take with me for my dear friend and her family in Minnesota. They are letting me park my car at their house and I will spend the night when I'm done cycling before I drive back home.

Today I'm on campus. I need to write a letter of recommendation for one of my students for physical therapy school plus I have a bunch of other loose ends to tie up. My work friend and I will get Mexican food to celebrate surviving another crazy year.

Tomorrow is a 14.5 mile hike up in Wisconsin. Sunday is a 5K on campus to support an organization that I've been heavily involved with since 2010. Then I need to make sure I have all my gear ready for my bike trip. Still planning to leave on Monday but will double-check weather forecasts tomorrow night and let my friend know. She can ride with me either Monday or Tuesday.

Have a great day!

[Cyn]

Lots of really good things in your post, Regina! Safe travel and comfortable, dry weather mojo heading your way!
Yesterday I got up and out early up to the Montrose site, and got a text that a rare migratory bird was right next door at the South Pond. I spent some nice time at Montrose, then managed to get back down to see the shy, pretty little Least Bittern peaking out of grass clumps. It was an absolutely glorious day, weatherwise!
I also got the tabouli salad and Pepper's chili made-I'm back in prime weight loss mode mentally. Making sure I have quick assembly meal options readily available has been a big part of past successes.

This afternoon I'm going to the Art Institute as Sophia's guest for the member pre-show of the Georgia O'Keefe "My New Yorks" exhibit. I'm really looking forward to seeing NYC through her eyes, albeit from an earlier time period.
Afterwards, I'm making the WW asparagus risotto recipe for us and Erik for dinner. I'll swap out the chicken stock since she's vegetarian.
Happy Friday, friends!

[newmoose]

Good morning!

HAPPY LAST WORK DAY EVER!!!!!

GN was really fun. WF and I left the restaurant and went to a local brewery to see the guy that plays records of local musicians. It was so much fun!

Tonight we are going to Black Mountain, NC to see Sam Bush and The Jon Stickley Trio. We are only going for the night, because there is a small festival in Bristol tomorrow evening. That will be the last of the music for a bit.

I actually do have some work to get done today, so I better get to it.

I hope you all have a wonderful Friday!!!!

[sherrydorlando2]

Good Morning Ladies:
The movie yesterday was picked by thew kids--therefore, loud and violent...not terrible-- Furiosa. Today I need a trip to Publix for drugs and BOGO's.

[gadgetgirlil]

Hello June!

This is National Trails Day, thus the reason I'm up stupid early to drive to Wisconsin to hike 14.5 miles. Today is also the start of Meteorological Summer and our weather certainly will be warmer than the past couple of days.

I did get my letter yesterday for my summer stipend. I was pleasantly surprised that is was for more than I was expecting given our terrible budget situation. Not as much as last summer, but about 60% of that amount which will go a long ways towards covering my Colorado trip expenses. This is the first time in 4 years in this role that I have had both my contract for the academic year and my summer stipend settled BEFORE the new academic year started.

Lunch with my co-worker/friend was delicious! It was good to see her again and catch up. I'll be back on campus 6/13. Figure I will work 2 days a week until I head to Colorado.

Weather forecasts for my trip are favoring a Monday start. I'll check one more time tonight and let my friend know.

Have a great day!

[pepper]

Howdy!

I’m going to have a quiet day today. This past week was a LOT. Much was accomplished but I’m beat.

I’m kind of in a mood to tune my violin. I haven’t touched it since last August when that ear thing started and made some sounds painful. I’m able to listen to and enjoy recorded violin music now, so I have high hopes. I need something non-work-related to occupy my brain, and that does.

I might need to find a new cleaning lady. The one we’ve had for years retired in January. (She is the one who bought Mom’s car.). She referred one of her previous employees, so we’ve been using her. She has become extremely unreliable. She is supposed to come at 3:30 every other Friday, but she is frequently late. Yesterday she arrived around 6:00 p.m. I told her we would need to reschedule. Sigh.

We’ve had several inches of rain this week, so I’m eager to visit my garden plot.

Enjoy your day!

[sherrydorlando2]

Good Morning Ladies:
Going to the monthly tea party in a few. This one is going to be at a small community center and pot luck. I am taking deviled eggs. 1/3 w/black olives; 1/3 w/ bacon and 1/3 with smoked paprika and capers. Should be fun. Plus, I found a t-shirt that has a mad hatter on it and the phrase "It's Always Tea Time" and the name of our tea group is "There's Always Time for Tea". More casual than usual, but I'm wearin' it!
Got several errands done yesterday plus had lunch with a friend at Cracker Barrel--so of course it is big enough for 3 days. This afternoon is earmarked for dog baths and teeth and nails.
Have a great Saturday!!

[Cyn]

Hello,
It's gloomy and rainy out, I'm so glad I have a nice bowl of chili for late lunch 🙂.
I made myself a lovely spinach/feta omelet for breakfast.

The Georgia O'Keefe in NYC exhibit was just gorgeous. She lived there in the 1920's, so the bldg she lived in at 30 stories high was the tallest bldg in NYC at the time. Pre-Empire State Bldg.
It was really lovely to see the city through her artist's eye. There was a gorgeous painting of one of my favorite bldgs- built as The Radiator Building, now the Bryant Park Hotel. My Mom and I used to love to go in there for drinks after going to the NY Public Library. And, I found out that the bldg was designed by the same architects who designed the wonderful Tribune Tower here in Chicago! I adore serendipity.

It was another glorious day, we walked home from the museum. Dinner turned out really well, I used fresh lemon juice instead of wine and added a big load of lemon zest to the risotto, and made a nice romaine salad. We had some really nice wine, and a lot of laughs. We watched the cats enjoy some catnip, too.
I am so thankful they moved in next door!

[gadgetgirlil]

Greetings!

I will be starting my bike trip tomorrow. Lots of loose ends to tie up today but first I am walking the 5K fundraiser that is being held on campus.

Yesterday's Hike-a-Thon was nice although it rained the entire time. This was the longest hike in continuous rain that I've ever done. I believe the previous record was 9.4 miles although I think on that hike it did stop raining before I finished. All I remember about that hike was that the rain did not deter the mosquitos at all. I ended up buying a head net after that miserable experience.

Nearly everything ended up wet by the end yesterday. It is really hard to keep things dry when you are out on the trails/roads for 14.5 miles. At least the temps were in the 60's so no risk of hypothermia. Glad I wore my knee high gaiters as I didn't have water in my shoes. Plenty of other people probably had puddles in their footwear. I was grateful that I had a full set of clothing plus shoes to change into when I was done before I drove home. Just a few pictures on FB as I didn't want to get my phone too wet. The wildflowers in the prairies were gorgeous!

Have a great day!

[pepper]

Howdy!

Yesterday was a completely lazy day. My only outing was a trip to Home Depot to get taller tomato stakes. Then I took a very long nap and read in bed for the rest of the afternoon.

I need to leave my cocoon today. I’ll bet there’s a whole grocery bag of beans to pick in my garden plot. And the tomatoes and pole beans will graduate to 6 foot stakes. That should make them happy.

Enjoy your day!

[V]

Morning.

I got home Wednesday and started to paint the peak on the house. On the second trip up the ladder to the top (one of only two on the house, so limited time) I got up there and was hit by a wave of nausea and dizziness. It wasn't severe, but enough that I needed to get down and stay down. I stayed home the next day too only because if I go to call out I like to give the girls plenty of heads up so they can be properly rested for the 6am start time. I didn't do much Thursday anyway, but that wasn't all bad either. Friday I got up on the lower ladder and did the front eave and part of the front porch. Yesterday I patched up the holidays where I missed lots on the front porch because it was too dark when I was working to see I was missing stuff. I was going to get out and either try the high spot again or do the back eaves, but I got sorta lazy. I took a break after finishing the front and went to grab a drink when MG asked if I was taking a break for lunch. I decided to grab all the bags of Hello Fresh he had stowed in the garage fridge (out of sight, out of mind). The veggies were all still good with the exception of one cucumber and a couple of cherry tomatoes that had turned. I chopped up all the veggies and roasted them and some garbanzos. I made a big pot of rice and dished everything out for the week. So while I didn't accomplish a lot on the house, I did get something done.

It was raining this morning, so when I blow off the painting this afternoon, I have a legit excuse. YF has been wanting to go see IF (Imaginary Friends), but CSO says she heard it is a real tearjerker and doesn't wanna go. We finished last season with Run Across America and have started the next. Our team has grown to about 10 of us and we just missed 2500 kilometers. That is still more than our original goal and the girls that pushed us that high were ROCKSTARS. We have a team goal of 2k k this round and hopefully we will be able to crush it.

[Cyn]

Rained most of the day yesterday, so I had a lazy lima bean day. Twas lurvely.
The end.

[sherrydorlando2]

Morning Ladies:
Yesterday was a lot of fun at the tea. This am has been a very long dog walk as it was cool and breezy. Then, to Walmart for groc pickup. Nearly had a hissy fit as waited 45 minutes and about 15 cars that arrived after I did all got their stuff and left. I would stomp my foot and never do it again---but it is sooo easy and I had a good book to listen to. LOL
Didn't get the dogs done yesterday. Maybe today......unless I can think of an out.

[newmoose]

Happy Sunday!

Boy are my legs tired! Too much standing and dancing the last few weeks. I will take the pain to get to listen to all the wonderful music!

I need to go through my pictures and post them from Rooster Walk and this weekend. I have some really good pictures and some real duds.

Today we are going to West Jefferson, NC for wings. There is a place there that has the absolute best wings ever and I have been craving them. DH must have read my mind, since he suggested we go.

Tomorrow starts the "get ready for our trip" week. We have never done anything like this, so it's all new to us. The key will be to not overpack--we can always buy new supplies as we run out than pack for two weeks. Things like lunch meat, bread, and fruits and vegetables, dog food, etc. can be bought as needed. We will do laundry every 5 days or so, so no overpacking clothes. The dogs have a vet appointment on Wednesday (and will get a bath on Tuesday). I have a list of things to bring to the kids and a few things that I need to purchase for comfort as we travel.

I had better get off the couch and get ready for the day.

Have a great day!