As promised, here's the update . . .
I realise it has been a while since I last posted. There's just been too much exciting stuff going on to take the time, but I finally figured I'd better do so.
Anyway, I am now a mature 22-year-old (please, no rolling of eyes!). My birthday was March 15th, but my real present came on the 16th, when I flew home. I went to surprise my mom for her birthday (she turned FIFTY!), so it was officially a present for her, but it was just as much a present for me. We had a ball, especially because Dad flew out her best friend from college. They hadn't seen each other in 18 years, but it was like no time had passed at all. The best part is that now I know the person that Mom talks about.
I also got to see my brother and sister-in-law and their apartment (and pets), my mom's side of the family, plus the mountains and snow. :) So all in all, a very good trip.
The previous post's smiley faces, however, are due to the fact that as of 3:00 pm yesterday, I am officially a homeowner. Yay!! I signed my life away and cut a huge check, but I couldn't be happier. I cannot wait to get out of this apartment! I won't actually get to move in until Wednesday, but I have started packing all my junk. It's a good thing I only have an apartment's worth of stuff to move and not an entire house . . . .
¡Hasta luego! (that's for you, Mom. Just imagine me saying it with a gringo accent . . . ;)
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Friday, March 24, 2006
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
3/7/2006
Well, I believe that I have finally arrived at work. I got back to my office today after having wandered around outside, and found a little white box on my desk. Business cards! Yay!!! Now I can hand them out oh so casually, imagining all the while how they will be filed away in somebody's Rolodex. Oh, the bliss! :D
My mom sent me an email the other day that I found amusing. I hope you enjoy it too! (The parenthetical notes are all my own).
You know you're from Colorado when:
1. You switch from "heat" to "A/C" in one day.
2. You know what the "People's Republic of Boulder" means.
3. Your sense of direction is: towards the mountains and from the mountains (yes, I have gotten lost here without the mountains!).
4. The bike on your car is worth more than your car and you have your own special bike lane.
5. You're able to drive 65 mph through 13 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without even flinching.
6. You take your out-of-town guests to Casa Bonita even though you would never go there otherwise.
7. You think your major food groups are granola bars, tofu and Fat Tire Beer.
8. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit (as opposed to here, where they are purposely designed skimpy . . .).
9. You think that sexy lingerie is wool socks and flannel PJs.
10. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and blizzards.
11. You've been tear gassed in a riot to celebrate a CU/CSU victory (CSU all the way, baby!).
12. You can never figure out why your out-of-town guests faint from altitude sickness on a picnic to the mountains.
13. You know the "correct" pronunciation of Buena Vista (and it makes you cringe . . . ).
14. Your car insurance costs more than your car.
15. You have surge protectors on every outlet.
16. April showers bring May blizzards.
17. "Timberline" is a place you have actually been.
18. You know what a "Chinook" is.
19. You know what a "Rocky Mountain Oyster" is.
20. You know what a "fourteener" is.
21. But you don't know what a "turn signal" is.
22. A bear on your front porch doesn't bother you nearly as much as a Republican in Congress does.
23. Your golf bag has a 9-iron, a 3-wood and a lightning rod.
24. You know who Alfred Packer was and what he did.
25. You know who Baby Doe Tabor was.
26. SPF 90 is not out of the question (and is probably not strong enough . . .).
27. People from out of state breathe 5 times as often as you do.
28. Having a Senator named Nighthorse doesn't seem strange.
29. Thunder has set off your car alarm.
30. A full moon has never kept you awake at night.
31. You have an $800 stereo in a $300 truck.
32. A sudden loss of cabin pressure is not a big deal.
33. You think a red light means 3 more cars can go.
34. Where we're going, we don't need roads!!
35. You know where Doc Holliday's grave is.
36. You know where Buffalo Bill's grave is.
37. You know where the real "South Park" is (I get a lot of grief over this!).
38. You can recognize the license plates of all 50 states on sight.
39. Driving directions usually include "Go over ___________ Pass."
40. You've done "checking for ticks."
41. You've dressed in shorts, sandals, and a parka w/ a hood.
42. You've gone snow skiing in July and...
43. You've gone sunbathing in January and...
44. They were in the same year!
45. You've urinated on the Continental Divide just so it could "run into both oceans." (Mom said that this one is especially for my brothers. The sad thing is, I know it's true, as I hid in the car while they did their dirty deed!)
46. And the most important: You get a certain feeling of satisfaction from knowing that both California and Texas are downstream. (Mom said this one was for me. And all I have to say is: Go for it, Michael and Peter! ;)
My mom sent me an email the other day that I found amusing. I hope you enjoy it too! (The parenthetical notes are all my own).
You know you're from Colorado when:
1. You switch from "heat" to "A/C" in one day.
2. You know what the "People's Republic of Boulder" means.
3. Your sense of direction is: towards the mountains and from the mountains (yes, I have gotten lost here without the mountains!).
4. The bike on your car is worth more than your car and you have your own special bike lane.
5. You're able to drive 65 mph through 13 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without even flinching.
6. You take your out-of-town guests to Casa Bonita even though you would never go there otherwise.
7. You think your major food groups are granola bars, tofu and Fat Tire Beer.
8. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit (as opposed to here, where they are purposely designed skimpy . . .).
9. You think that sexy lingerie is wool socks and flannel PJs.
10. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and blizzards.
11. You've been tear gassed in a riot to celebrate a CU/CSU victory (CSU all the way, baby!).
12. You can never figure out why your out-of-town guests faint from altitude sickness on a picnic to the mountains.
13. You know the "correct" pronunciation of Buena Vista (and it makes you cringe . . . ).
14. Your car insurance costs more than your car.
15. You have surge protectors on every outlet.
16. April showers bring May blizzards.
17. "Timberline" is a place you have actually been.
18. You know what a "Chinook" is.
19. You know what a "Rocky Mountain Oyster" is.
20. You know what a "fourteener" is.
21. But you don't know what a "turn signal" is.
22. A bear on your front porch doesn't bother you nearly as much as a Republican in Congress does.
23. Your golf bag has a 9-iron, a 3-wood and a lightning rod.
24. You know who Alfred Packer was and what he did.
25. You know who Baby Doe Tabor was.
26. SPF 90 is not out of the question (and is probably not strong enough . . .).
27. People from out of state breathe 5 times as often as you do.
28. Having a Senator named Nighthorse doesn't seem strange.
29. Thunder has set off your car alarm.
30. A full moon has never kept you awake at night.
31. You have an $800 stereo in a $300 truck.
32. A sudden loss of cabin pressure is not a big deal.
33. You think a red light means 3 more cars can go.
34. Where we're going, we don't need roads!!
35. You know where Doc Holliday's grave is.
36. You know where Buffalo Bill's grave is.
37. You know where the real "South Park" is (I get a lot of grief over this!).
38. You can recognize the license plates of all 50 states on sight.
39. Driving directions usually include "Go over ___________ Pass."
40. You've done "checking for ticks."
41. You've dressed in shorts, sandals, and a parka w/ a hood.
42. You've gone snow skiing in July and...
43. You've gone sunbathing in January and...
44. They were in the same year!
45. You've urinated on the Continental Divide just so it could "run into both oceans." (Mom said that this one is especially for my brothers. The sad thing is, I know it's true, as I hid in the car while they did their dirty deed!)
46. And the most important: You get a certain feeling of satisfaction from knowing that both California and Texas are downstream. (Mom said this one was for me. And all I have to say is: Go for it, Michael and Peter! ;)
Monday, March 06, 2006
3/6/2006
Well, I have two more incidents to chalk up to my ability to attract older men. Not only did I flirt with my instructor at Rescue Training so I could get photos like this (see more on my photo page, they extend to the second page on that site), 
I also managed to pick up a guy at the grocery store today. Or rather, he tried to pick me up. I went shopping right after work (still wearing my coveralls, which I know better than to do if I want to shop in peace!) and sure enough was hit on by some random old guy. After ascertaining my marital and dating status he tried to give me his number, poor guy, but I told him it wouldn't do him any good. I did, however take pity on him, since he had just moved to the area, and gave him directions to the local bar in that area . . . The only problem is, I really couldn't remember quite where it was located. I'm pretty sure I gave the right directions, but I might have led him on a wild goose chase. Oops! Oh well, I figure if I did it should teach him not to try to pick up young women in the supermarket. Oh, and he said I didn't look like an engineer!!! Harrumph! Serves him right if he's wandering around Nederland in the dark! :)
I also managed to pick up a guy at the grocery store today. Or rather, he tried to pick me up. I went shopping right after work (still wearing my coveralls, which I know better than to do if I want to shop in peace!) and sure enough was hit on by some random old guy. After ascertaining my marital and dating status he tried to give me his number, poor guy, but I told him it wouldn't do him any good. I did, however take pity on him, since he had just moved to the area, and gave him directions to the local bar in that area . . . The only problem is, I really couldn't remember quite where it was located. I'm pretty sure I gave the right directions, but I might have led him on a wild goose chase. Oops! Oh well, I figure if I did it should teach him not to try to pick up young women in the supermarket. Oh, and he said I didn't look like an engineer!!! Harrumph! Serves him right if he's wandering around Nederland in the dark! :)
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
2/21/2006
I love getting to play and getting paid for it! Today I started my four-day rescue training class. Instead of going to work, I got to sleep in and drive half the distance to go jump off towers. Woo hoo! We played with knots, learned how to set up rigging, and practiced lowering each other off a 60 (or so) foot building. Very fun! Tomorrow we're going to practice patient packaging and lowering. Man, I can't wait to be dropping to the ground while strapped to a backboard . . . .
I was one of two females in the class of 27, and the other was quite a bit older. While this in no way bothered me (Mines taught me nothing if not to be used to being in the extreme minority), I found it interesting that there was always a guy waiting to help me unhook after being lowered. Even more interesting is the fact that none of the guys in my group received any help unhooking when they were lowered. So the question is, did the asistees think I needed more help, or did they just enjoy getting up close and personal with the sole pretty young girl? Hmm . . .Fortunately, I am either a) easygoing or b) egotistical, and have decided it was the latter. I found it very amusing. We'll have to see if that continues through the week!
Oh, and I've decided that BBQ is to (SE) Texas what pizza is anywhere else. Lunch is provided with this course, and what else did we get but BBQ. This has been quite the trend in most of the lunches I've had in the past month or so. However, I don't think I've had pizza yet. The amazing thing is that the BBQ is always the same: brisket and possibly sausage, baked beans, dirty rice, flimsy white bread, onions, pickle and banana pudding topped with vanilla wafers. The drink is always iced tea. Today I was really excited, because there was potato salad too. Amazing! I guess I really can't complain (and honestly, I'm not, the food is generally pretty good), it's just another way to tell that I've a moved into a whole other culture!
I was one of two females in the class of 27, and the other was quite a bit older. While this in no way bothered me (Mines taught me nothing if not to be used to being in the extreme minority), I found it interesting that there was always a guy waiting to help me unhook after being lowered. Even more interesting is the fact that none of the guys in my group received any help unhooking when they were lowered. So the question is, did the asistees think I needed more help, or did they just enjoy getting up close and personal with the sole pretty young girl? Hmm . . .Fortunately, I am either a) easygoing or b) egotistical, and have decided it was the latter. I found it very amusing. We'll have to see if that continues through the week!
Oh, and I've decided that BBQ is to (SE) Texas what pizza is anywhere else. Lunch is provided with this course, and what else did we get but BBQ. This has been quite the trend in most of the lunches I've had in the past month or so. However, I don't think I've had pizza yet. The amazing thing is that the BBQ is always the same: brisket and possibly sausage, baked beans, dirty rice, flimsy white bread, onions, pickle and banana pudding topped with vanilla wafers. The drink is always iced tea. Today I was really excited, because there was potato salad too. Amazing! I guess I really can't complain (and honestly, I'm not, the food is generally pretty good), it's just another way to tell that I've a moved into a whole other culture!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
2/19/2006
Just a quick note to let everyone know that I placed a bid on a house and it was accepted. Yay!! :) I will now be going through the lending, inspecting, etc. process, but assuming that it all goes well, I should be in the house within 2 months. I cannot wait to get out of this apartment!
For the curious (Dad), the address is . . . well, just email me to find out. While I haven't actually driven from the house to work (I'll try that on Monday), I'm sure it is no more than 10 minutes from work. Much better than the 30/45/60 minute drive I have to and from work now!
Also, I've posted some pictures online, so visit my photo page (link is to the right), check them out, and let me know what you think! :)
For the curious (Dad), the address is . . . well, just email me to find out. While I haven't actually driven from the house to work (I'll try that on Monday), I'm sure it is no more than 10 minutes from work. Much better than the 30/45/60 minute drive I have to and from work now!
Also, I've posted some pictures online, so visit my photo page (link is to the right), check them out, and let me know what you think! :)
Thursday, February 16, 2006
2/16/2006
I must apologize for my deliquency in posting. I do have a somewhat valid excuse, however. My cable was down for a week, which affected not only my TV viewing, but also my ability to et online. In fact, it was the internet part that was more bothersome than the TV part. I can live without TV, not so the internet! Although, had the cable not gotten fixed 5 hours before the Olympic opening ceremony, I would have been one unhappy camper! Fortunately, I have been able to enjoy the Olympics from the start and am looking forward to the men's free skate tonight. :) :)
Despite the fact that I haven't posted in a while, you haven't missed much. I was pretty sick last week, enough so that I missed work on Friday. I was worried I was going to get the lingering cough, but gallons of water and cranberry juice must have staved that off. Sadly, though, I had to miss a camping trip, Settler's of Catan game night, plus a discussion on limited atonement at church. I would gladly give those up again, though, if that's what it takes to keep from getting the seal-like bark.
Other than that, nothing too exciting. To show how boring my life is and how completely pathetic I am, I must confess that this afternoon I spent some time using my digital camera to record myself talking and singing. I've always wondered what I sound like and after today I can confirm that I cannot sing! Ouch, I was terrible! I sang along with songs off my computer and boy, did I butcher them. Not that this is any surprise, but I thought I could at least carry a tune! My church singing volume is going to approach zero from now on. Either that, or I'll have to sit far away from anyone else!
Oh, and I had not one, but two guys call to wish me happy Valentine's Day. Very odd!
Despite the fact that I haven't posted in a while, you haven't missed much. I was pretty sick last week, enough so that I missed work on Friday. I was worried I was going to get the lingering cough, but gallons of water and cranberry juice must have staved that off. Sadly, though, I had to miss a camping trip, Settler's of Catan game night, plus a discussion on limited atonement at church. I would gladly give those up again, though, if that's what it takes to keep from getting the seal-like bark.
Other than that, nothing too exciting. To show how boring my life is and how completely pathetic I am, I must confess that this afternoon I spent some time using my digital camera to record myself talking and singing. I've always wondered what I sound like and after today I can confirm that I cannot sing! Ouch, I was terrible! I sang along with songs off my computer and boy, did I butcher them. Not that this is any surprise, but I thought I could at least carry a tune! My church singing volume is going to approach zero from now on. Either that, or I'll have to sit far away from anyone else!
Oh, and I had not one, but two guys call to wish me happy Valentine's Day. Very odd!
Saturday, February 04, 2006
2/4/2006
I have just finished reading The Chosen (for the second time) & The Promise (for the first) by Chaim Potok. I have discovered why a book is such a harder entertainment than the TV, and not just because it requires the trained ability to read versus the natural ability to see & hear. The TV is easy. I can come home, turn it on and be absolutely passive. I can get up and move around while it's on, preparing my dinner, cleaning the house, checking my email. It only requires a portion of my brain & none of my heart or soul. It is just as easy to turn it off as it is to turn on. When I am tired, it is no great difficulty to leave it and go to bed. When errands need to be done or chores be completed, it is no great hardship to leave the TV because, since it has required nothing of me, I have given nothing to it. I fee no great sympathy for those on-screen and no compulsion to continue viewing. My life continues, unchanged.
Not so with a book, however. A book requires your whole attention and therefore captures your whole being as a result. To read a great book is to abandon living for a moment. No longer can you go about your daily routine. You are trapped by the images it evokes. Meals go unprepared & uneaten, sleep is no longer a necessity. You cannot leave it to use the restroom, so it come with you and, should you have been foolish to start on a day when you had to be somewhere, well . . . you will most likely be late. A good book makes you tardy to work, keeps you holed up in your office during breaks and leaves you daydreaming in the office. It even keeps you from driving home after work; so intent is your devotion that you sit in the car to finish it. For however long it takes, that book and your life are the same. You feel the characters' pain, you laugh in their joy and drown in their sorrow.
Then, the inevitable comes. You finish the book. You set it down and slowly come back to reality. You look around, slowly realizing that you are no longer in 1950s New York, or 16th century Europe, or wherever else the book may have taken you. You are here, in your house (or at work, or sitting in your car) and you are a person with a life independent of the book. You have events to attend, responsibilities to be taken care of, friends and family to connect with. You know this. And yet, for a few moments, you can't leave the book behind. You may try to capture the feeling by re-reading a favorite passage but it is not the same. So you set the book aside and wander aimlessly, trying to collect your thoughts, trying to re-enter the world in which you live. "The kitchen should be cleaned," you may think, "but what are mundane chores compared to the suffering I have just experienced?" Or, "I should really call my friend back . . . but how can she share in this inexpressable joy?" Slowly, slowly, your senses return and you move on, realizing that part of you has been left with the book, but part of it has come with you. Life returns to normal, tasks are completed and you are once again your own self . . . until the sweet seductive song of another book ensares you.
That is why it is easier to watch TV than read a book. Yes, much easier to remain a neutral observer than an impassioned participant. But oh, how less satisfying . . .
Not so with a book, however. A book requires your whole attention and therefore captures your whole being as a result. To read a great book is to abandon living for a moment. No longer can you go about your daily routine. You are trapped by the images it evokes. Meals go unprepared & uneaten, sleep is no longer a necessity. You cannot leave it to use the restroom, so it come with you and, should you have been foolish to start on a day when you had to be somewhere, well . . . you will most likely be late. A good book makes you tardy to work, keeps you holed up in your office during breaks and leaves you daydreaming in the office. It even keeps you from driving home after work; so intent is your devotion that you sit in the car to finish it. For however long it takes, that book and your life are the same. You feel the characters' pain, you laugh in their joy and drown in their sorrow.
Then, the inevitable comes. You finish the book. You set it down and slowly come back to reality. You look around, slowly realizing that you are no longer in 1950s New York, or 16th century Europe, or wherever else the book may have taken you. You are here, in your house (or at work, or sitting in your car) and you are a person with a life independent of the book. You have events to attend, responsibilities to be taken care of, friends and family to connect with. You know this. And yet, for a few moments, you can't leave the book behind. You may try to capture the feeling by re-reading a favorite passage but it is not the same. So you set the book aside and wander aimlessly, trying to collect your thoughts, trying to re-enter the world in which you live. "The kitchen should be cleaned," you may think, "but what are mundane chores compared to the suffering I have just experienced?" Or, "I should really call my friend back . . . but how can she share in this inexpressable joy?" Slowly, slowly, your senses return and you move on, realizing that part of you has been left with the book, but part of it has come with you. Life returns to normal, tasks are completed and you are once again your own self . . . until the sweet seductive song of another book ensares you.
That is why it is easier to watch TV than read a book. Yes, much easier to remain a neutral observer than an impassioned participant. But oh, how less satisfying . . .
Thursday, January 26, 2006
1/26/2006
I'm beat.
This has been a long week, and it's not even close to over. I've been working like crazy trying to finish up something that's due by Monday. Plus performing a HAZOP review. Plus planning a shutdown on one of my units. Plus reacting to an unexpected occurrence at my other unit. I was so tired last night I almost fell asleep driving home. Now I've got to work twelves tomorrow, and probably a decent portion of Saturday and Sunday. I think I'm going to keel over . . .
In happier news for me (although not so much for my pocketbook), I succumbed to the cardinal sin: I went to Joann's for their store closing sale. They are moving to a new location and are trying to get rid of all their inventory before they do. Consequently, everything was 50-70% off already reduced prices. So, in a moment of weakness, I proved that I am my mother's child: I bought a significant number of needlepoint kits (we won't say how many). I've already started two! Which is really sad, considering I have two that I'm already working on. Oops! :)
In the "It'll be a new experience" category comes a very odd tale, at least for me. My production spec (of "why paw" fame) is going to try to set me up with his sister's nephew by marriage. He's moving back to Texas after having lived in Colorado (yay!) ever since he was a small child. He even went to CSU. If for no other reason than that we can chat about good ol' FC, I'm excited to meet him. Don was going to try to call him tonight to a) ascertain that he is still single and b) see if he'd like to meet me. How weird is that? I've never been set up before, but hey, "it'll be a new experience." :) Keep tuned for updates!
Have a wonderful day!
This has been a long week, and it's not even close to over. I've been working like crazy trying to finish up something that's due by Monday. Plus performing a HAZOP review. Plus planning a shutdown on one of my units. Plus reacting to an unexpected occurrence at my other unit. I was so tired last night I almost fell asleep driving home. Now I've got to work twelves tomorrow, and probably a decent portion of Saturday and Sunday. I think I'm going to keel over . . .
In happier news for me (although not so much for my pocketbook), I succumbed to the cardinal sin: I went to Joann's for their store closing sale. They are moving to a new location and are trying to get rid of all their inventory before they do. Consequently, everything was 50-70% off already reduced prices. So, in a moment of weakness, I proved that I am my mother's child: I bought a significant number of needlepoint kits (we won't say how many). I've already started two! Which is really sad, considering I have two that I'm already working on. Oops! :)
In the "It'll be a new experience" category comes a very odd tale, at least for me. My production spec (of "why paw" fame) is going to try to set me up with his sister's nephew by marriage. He's moving back to Texas after having lived in Colorado (yay!) ever since he was a small child. He even went to CSU. If for no other reason than that we can chat about good ol' FC, I'm excited to meet him. Don was going to try to call him tonight to a) ascertain that he is still single and b) see if he'd like to meet me. How weird is that? I've never been set up before, but hey, "it'll be a new experience." :) Keep tuned for updates!
Have a wonderful day!
Sunday, January 22, 2006
1/22/2006
Short post, 'cause I'm really tired, but I just wanted to say that I had a wonderful weekend. I think that many of you know that I've had a somewhat difficult time making the transition down here, especially in the friendship arena. That's been really hard, because I'm such a people-person and a people-person without friends is a rather sad person . . . Anyway, short story is that I ended up spending most of the weekend with people from Lit, my Sunday night church group. I served some at a halfway house, went and saw End of the Spear (great movie, go see it), visited a church (great church, I'm really excited to go back), and helped lead worship at Lit tonight. All in all, a great time, especially because I feel so much more comfortable with everyone. In other words, this weekend has been such an amazing answer to prayer and I've got to thank God for it!
The only fly in the ointment was the rather sad performance of the Denver Broncos. I have to admit they were rather pitiful. I can't even think of anything to say it was so sad. But I'm still going to wear my Broncos orange tomorrow. I am not a fair-weather fan!! It was fun to go watch the game, though, as my bible-study leader agreed to go watch it with me at Buffalo Wild Wings. I was afraid that she was just coming because I asked her and she wouldn't enjoy herself, but she ended up be a pretty big football buff and we had a great time (fellowship-wise, not sports-wise, of course :( ). Here's a picture of Melanie and me and the restaurant:
The only fly in the ointment was the rather sad performance of the Denver Broncos. I have to admit they were rather pitiful. I can't even think of anything to say it was so sad. But I'm still going to wear my Broncos orange tomorrow. I am not a fair-weather fan!! It was fun to go watch the game, though, as my bible-study leader agreed to go watch it with me at Buffalo Wild Wings. I was afraid that she was just coming because I asked her and she wouldn't enjoy herself, but she ended up be a pretty big football buff and we had a great time (fellowship-wise, not sports-wise, of course :( ). Here's a picture of Melanie and me and the restaurant:
Anyway, that's about all. Sorry it's such a short, not funny post. I promise I'll be more interesting next time! ;)
Monday, January 16, 2006
1/16/2006
In regards to my 1/13/2006 post . . . I just talked to my grandparents, and they informed me that "lungs" is often a euphemism for, well, what guys would probably be looking at were I not so, um, less than abundant. Wow, I definitely didn't know that and while it is rather hilarious and I can't say I wouldn't have put it in had I known, I must admit that it was a totally unintentional play on words . . . (very red face) . . . I think I'll say good night now . . .
Sunday, January 15, 2006
1/15/2006
Yay! The AFC championships are in Denver!! :)
In other news, I knew there was something else I was going to write about in my random thoughts posting, and I just remembered it as I was driving home yesterday (from work, but that's another story . . . I try to keep this blog upbeat! ;)
There are electronic signs along both the highways I drive to go to work, and for the past few weeks they have been blinking the message "Statewide Fire Danger" . . . "Burn Bans Enforced." But just this past week, the message has changed. Now it says
Arson/Burn Ban
Violations Call
1-877-xxx-xxx
Arson violations? Are there any times when arson is appropriate? I guess it just sort of struck me as a little funny . . .
In other news, I knew there was something else I was going to write about in my random thoughts posting, and I just remembered it as I was driving home yesterday (from work, but that's another story . . . I try to keep this blog upbeat! ;)
There are electronic signs along both the highways I drive to go to work, and for the past few weeks they have been blinking the message "Statewide Fire Danger" . . . "Burn Bans Enforced." But just this past week, the message has changed. Now it says
Arson/Burn Ban
Violations Call
1-877-xxx-xxx
Arson violations? Are there any times when arson is appropriate? I guess it just sort of struck me as a little funny . . .
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Friday, January 13, 2006
1/13/2006
Random thoughts from Naomi . . .
I think I have figured out why so many older men are interested in me. Yesterday morning I had a physical done so I can join the rescue team at work. One of the tests they ran was a pulmonary function test, using a spirometer (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/1142.htm). Basically, it's a tube that you have to seal your lips over and then blow as hard as you can. Based on your age and race, the machine gives you a reading on your lung capacity and ability to blow and compares it to what it should be. I was in the 107th percentile for lung capacity, but only in the 87th percentile for blowing ability (insert whatever jokes you feel appropriate here). The computer also calculates your "lung age." And what was my "lung age?" 30. So I guess all those guys must be attracted to my lungs . . .
I saw a pretty good ad on TV the other day (you can see it at www.dontmesswithtexas20.org, under the "On the Air" section. It's the one titled "Trash Toss"). It consisted of what I later figured out were famous Texans (I recognized four of the 13: Owen Wilson, Chuck Norris, Lance Armstrong and Matthew McConaughey) throwing a wadded up piece of paper to each other until it reaches McConaughey, who throws it away and says, "The real Texans don't litter." Unfortunately, I was drinking at the time, and almost spewed my beverage across the room. Cute ad, but incredibly incorrect. I have never before encountered the number of people who view the highway as their personal trashcan as I have here. Do you think I could sue them for false advertising? . . . ;)
Have a good day!
I think I have figured out why so many older men are interested in me. Yesterday morning I had a physical done so I can join the rescue team at work. One of the tests they ran was a pulmonary function test, using a spirometer (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/1142.htm). Basically, it's a tube that you have to seal your lips over and then blow as hard as you can. Based on your age and race, the machine gives you a reading on your lung capacity and ability to blow and compares it to what it should be. I was in the 107th percentile for lung capacity, but only in the 87th percentile for blowing ability (insert whatever jokes you feel appropriate here). The computer also calculates your "lung age." And what was my "lung age?" 30. So I guess all those guys must be attracted to my lungs . . .
I saw a pretty good ad on TV the other day (you can see it at www.dontmesswithtexas20.org, under the "On the Air" section. It's the one titled "Trash Toss"). It consisted of what I later figured out were famous Texans (I recognized four of the 13: Owen Wilson, Chuck Norris, Lance Armstrong and Matthew McConaughey) throwing a wadded up piece of paper to each other until it reaches McConaughey, who throws it away and says, "The real Texans don't litter." Unfortunately, I was drinking at the time, and almost spewed my beverage across the room. Cute ad, but incredibly incorrect. I have never before encountered the number of people who view the highway as their personal trashcan as I have here. Do you think I could sue them for false advertising? . . . ;)
Have a good day!
Monday, January 02, 2006
1/2/2006
Well, I think I'm approaching SE Texanship. No, I didn't leave a broken down car on the roadside! I was watching Jeopardy and knew all the answers to the "Houston" category. I even knew the hardest one, even though none of the contestants did. Here are the questions (as near as I can remember them) with their point value, so you too can see if you could pass as a SE Texan.
1. NASA's mission control center is located at their Houston space center named after this former U.S. President ($200).
2. The Spindletop discovery of this in 1901 led to big changes for Houston and the state of Texas ($400).
3. Two of the three teams that represent Houston in professional sports ($600).
4. The Houston international airport is named after this president, who himself hailed from Texas ($800).
5. This river was the site of General Houston's decisive victory over Santa Anna in the Texas Revolution ($1000).
In other news, I went out and spent a lot of money today. I figure if I am going to try to get healthy and lose weight I not only need to start exercising (which I am) but I also need to start eating real food. Along that line I went and bought a toaster oven, a tiny George Foreman grill, and lots of food. I didn't really get to enjoy any of it today, since I was too tired after going to work (yet again!) and carting all this stuff up to my apartment to make anything. I did have some of the hummus though. Yum! I also had some chocolate milk. You should be happy, Dad, I'm getting calcium. I'm really excited about all the food I did get, though. It'll be nice to have something besides chips and salsa for a change.
Also, I've started posting some of my pictures online. You can see them at http://www.flickr.com/photos/naomieott/ . I've put the link on my list of links to the right as well so you don't have to scroll through all the blogs to find the link when you want to look at them again. Of course, you could also add the link to your favorites. :) I'll try to note on my blog whenever I've added new material to the photo site. One thing to note, there is no difference between the photos on the main page and those in the sets on the left. I think it's a little nicer to look at them in the set, because I've arranged them chronologically there. Also, I'm not sure if you can take pictures from my sight and save them or print them for your own use, but if you can't and there are some you'd like, let me know and I can email them to you.
Well, that's about all, except for the trivia answers, with my own rating system for your Texas knowledge:
1. Who is Lyndon Baines Johnson? ($200)
2. What is oil? ($400)
3. What are the Houston Rockets, Houston Astros, and Houston Texans? ($600, $300 bonus if you knew all three)
4. Who is George H.W. Bush? ($800)
5. What is San Jacinto? ($1000, $1000 bonus if you knew, like I did, that it's not pronounced the Spanish way, but rather San (as in sand) Juh-sin-toe)
$0-200: foreigner
$201-600: alien (illegal or not)
$601-1000: Coloradoan (enough Texans have infiltrated your state that you've picked up some knowledge of the enemy ;)
$1001-2000: Trivia buff
$2001-4299: Texan
$4300: Died-in-the-wool, true-blue, SE Texan! (wait, what does that make me? . . . )
1. NASA's mission control center is located at their Houston space center named after this former U.S. President ($200).
2. The Spindletop discovery of this in 1901 led to big changes for Houston and the state of Texas ($400).
3. Two of the three teams that represent Houston in professional sports ($600).
4. The Houston international airport is named after this president, who himself hailed from Texas ($800).
5. This river was the site of General Houston's decisive victory over Santa Anna in the Texas Revolution ($1000).
In other news, I went out and spent a lot of money today. I figure if I am going to try to get healthy and lose weight I not only need to start exercising (which I am) but I also need to start eating real food. Along that line I went and bought a toaster oven, a tiny George Foreman grill, and lots of food. I didn't really get to enjoy any of it today, since I was too tired after going to work (yet again!) and carting all this stuff up to my apartment to make anything. I did have some of the hummus though. Yum! I also had some chocolate milk. You should be happy, Dad, I'm getting calcium. I'm really excited about all the food I did get, though. It'll be nice to have something besides chips and salsa for a change.
Also, I've started posting some of my pictures online. You can see them at http://www.flickr.com/photos/naomieott/ . I've put the link on my list of links to the right as well so you don't have to scroll through all the blogs to find the link when you want to look at them again. Of course, you could also add the link to your favorites. :) I'll try to note on my blog whenever I've added new material to the photo site. One thing to note, there is no difference between the photos on the main page and those in the sets on the left. I think it's a little nicer to look at them in the set, because I've arranged them chronologically there. Also, I'm not sure if you can take pictures from my sight and save them or print them for your own use, but if you can't and there are some you'd like, let me know and I can email them to you.
Well, that's about all, except for the trivia answers, with my own rating system for your Texas knowledge:
1. Who is Lyndon Baines Johnson? ($200)
2. What is oil? ($400)
3. What are the Houston Rockets, Houston Astros, and Houston Texans? ($600, $300 bonus if you knew all three)
4. Who is George H.W. Bush? ($800)
5. What is San Jacinto? ($1000, $1000 bonus if you knew, like I did, that it's not pronounced the Spanish way, but rather San (as in sand) Juh-sin-toe)
$0-200: foreigner
$201-600: alien (illegal or not)
$601-1000: Coloradoan (enough Texans have infiltrated your state that you've picked up some knowledge of the enemy ;)
$1001-2000: Trivia buff
$2001-4299: Texan
$4300: Died-in-the-wool, true-blue, SE Texan! (wait, what does that make me? . . . )
Sunday, January 01, 2006
1/1/2006
Happy New Year! Too bad I had to go in to work last night because I had weekend duty. Bah humbug. Oh well, at least I came up with an 11th item for my top ten list of "you know you're a Southeast Texan when . . . "
11. You feel confidant leaving your broken down car on the roadside for days . . . weeks . . . months, since you know the police aren't going to do anything to it, and, unlike Louisiana, no one will torch it.
(SE Texans don't always have the nicest things to say about Louisiana).
11. You feel confidant leaving your broken down car on the roadside for days . . . weeks . . . months, since you know the police aren't going to do anything to it, and, unlike Louisiana, no one will torch it.
(SE Texans don't always have the nicest things to say about Louisiana).
Friday, December 30, 2005
12/30/2005
As many of you know, I wear fire retardant coveralls to work every day. While very convenient in the fact that I don’t have to decide what to wear nor bother with makeup, hair, etc., they have the side effect of often times feeling less than lovely. So, a while back, I decided that on the Fridays I have to work, I’ll dress up (normally meaning jeans, a nice shirt, and done hair). Fridays are an ideal time to not wear Nomex, because there are fewer people around and less chance of needing to go outside to the unit (which is why we wear the Nomex). With the hurricane, holidays, and other happenings, I haven’t been able to do this to regularly, but today I figured I could.
Last night, in preparation, I washed my clothing of choice and set my alarm for half an hour earlier. I normally get up at 5:45 am so I can leave by 6:00 am, but with a morning shower (as opposed to afternoon), doing my hair and makeup, and etc., I figured I’d need a little more time. When I woke up at a quarter after I jumped out of bed (instead of trying to steal a few more minutes) and started getting ready. Shower: check. Hair blown dry: check. Hair curled: check. Teeth brushed: check. Clothed: check. I was just getting ready to put on my makeup when I decided I’d better check the time. I had a feeling I was running a little late, which would limit the amount of makeup I’d have time to put on. Sure enough, it was a minute after. . . except, not a minute after 6:00 am like I expected. No, my bedroom clock read 1:01 am! I thought something had happened to it. I rushed to the living room to check the clock there. Same time. Finally I pulled out my cell phone, since it automatically updates. Sure enough it was just after 1:00 am. I must have woken up naturally at 12:15 am (only 2 hours after I went to bed) and still been so tired I somehow missed that a) the alarm hadn’t gone off, and b) the clock said 12 and not 5! I felt so stupid! To make matters worse, I didn’t know what to do. I just stood there for a few minutes trying to wrap my head around what had happen and figure out what to do next. Eventually I put on some clean jammies and went back to bad, but not to restful sleep. No, no, I had terrible dreams about being late to work because I was right and the clocks were wrong. Just as I was calling my supervisor to let him know I was going to be late, I turned to look at the time, and as I did I woke up and was looking at my clock: 2:40 am and it was still dark out, so I figured I wasn’t missing work. I finally fell back asleep, woke up at 5:45, got all pretty (minus the shower and hair, since that was already done) and sure enough, was late to work, though not the three hours I had dreamed.
The kicker? I ended up having to go outside anyway, with my Nomex pulled over my nice clothes. And since it was a pretty hot day, I was all sweaty when I came back inside. Too bad for looking pretty!!!
Last night, in preparation, I washed my clothing of choice and set my alarm for half an hour earlier. I normally get up at 5:45 am so I can leave by 6:00 am, but with a morning shower (as opposed to afternoon), doing my hair and makeup, and etc., I figured I’d need a little more time. When I woke up at a quarter after I jumped out of bed (instead of trying to steal a few more minutes) and started getting ready. Shower: check. Hair blown dry: check. Hair curled: check. Teeth brushed: check. Clothed: check. I was just getting ready to put on my makeup when I decided I’d better check the time. I had a feeling I was running a little late, which would limit the amount of makeup I’d have time to put on. Sure enough, it was a minute after. . . except, not a minute after 6:00 am like I expected. No, my bedroom clock read 1:01 am! I thought something had happened to it. I rushed to the living room to check the clock there. Same time. Finally I pulled out my cell phone, since it automatically updates. Sure enough it was just after 1:00 am. I must have woken up naturally at 12:15 am (only 2 hours after I went to bed) and still been so tired I somehow missed that a) the alarm hadn’t gone off, and b) the clock said 12 and not 5! I felt so stupid! To make matters worse, I didn’t know what to do. I just stood there for a few minutes trying to wrap my head around what had happen and figure out what to do next. Eventually I put on some clean jammies and went back to bad, but not to restful sleep. No, no, I had terrible dreams about being late to work because I was right and the clocks were wrong. Just as I was calling my supervisor to let him know I was going to be late, I turned to look at the time, and as I did I woke up and was looking at my clock: 2:40 am and it was still dark out, so I figured I wasn’t missing work. I finally fell back asleep, woke up at 5:45, got all pretty (minus the shower and hair, since that was already done) and sure enough, was late to work, though not the three hours I had dreamed.
The kicker? I ended up having to go outside anyway, with my Nomex pulled over my nice clothes. And since it was a pretty hot day, I was all sweaty when I came back inside. Too bad for looking pretty!!!
Monday, December 05, 2005
12/05/2005
For any of you who know my mother's "hah faws" (high falls) experience with southern accents (and even those who don't know), you may be interested in knowing that I have had a "hah faws" experience of my own.
I was out at the unit picking up some samples to take to the lab. I had gone over straight from the morning meeting and hadn't been able to get a little go cart, so I was driving my own car. As I was taking the samples out to the car, Don, my production specialist, told me I better protect my little car by taking some "why paws" to put underneath the sample basket.
"Why paws?!!" As in, why would paws protect my car? And what paws are we talking about anyway? No way I'm letting one of the many feral animals we have near my car! I was utterly confused and I'm sure it showed. "You know, why paws," Don repeated as he handed me a few of the heavy duty napkins we use in the refinery. When the confused look remained, he got out the box they had come in. "WypAlls" was written on the front.
"Oh, WIPE ALLS," I said, exaggerating the 'p' and 'l' sounds. "Yeah, why paws. Don't they teach ya'll to speak up there in Yankee country?" By this time, the rest of the operators were practically rolling on the floor in laughter and I had to stick up for CO. I pointed out that at least in CO, we learn how to spell. No wyp instead of wipe for us! At which point he ungraciously had to point out that "WypAlls" were made by a Denver company, which he backed up by pointing it out on the box to me.
"Well," I replied, "it's probably a company created by some of you Texans who are taking over our beautiful state!" So we diverged into discussing the relative merits of our respective states, the truck versus shoebox (as he calls my car) debate, and all other manners of friendly banter.
Gosh, it's hard work being an engineer! ;)
I was out at the unit picking up some samples to take to the lab. I had gone over straight from the morning meeting and hadn't been able to get a little go cart, so I was driving my own car. As I was taking the samples out to the car, Don, my production specialist, told me I better protect my little car by taking some "why paws" to put underneath the sample basket.
"Why paws?!!" As in, why would paws protect my car? And what paws are we talking about anyway? No way I'm letting one of the many feral animals we have near my car! I was utterly confused and I'm sure it showed. "You know, why paws," Don repeated as he handed me a few of the heavy duty napkins we use in the refinery. When the confused look remained, he got out the box they had come in. "WypAlls" was written on the front.
"Oh, WIPE ALLS," I said, exaggerating the 'p' and 'l' sounds. "Yeah, why paws. Don't they teach ya'll to speak up there in Yankee country?" By this time, the rest of the operators were practically rolling on the floor in laughter and I had to stick up for CO. I pointed out that at least in CO, we learn how to spell. No wyp instead of wipe for us! At which point he ungraciously had to point out that "WypAlls" were made by a Denver company, which he backed up by pointing it out on the box to me.
"Well," I replied, "it's probably a company created by some of you Texans who are taking over our beautiful state!" So we diverged into discussing the relative merits of our respective states, the truck versus shoebox (as he calls my car) debate, and all other manners of friendly banter.
Gosh, it's hard work being an engineer! ;)
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
11/30/2005
As promised to a few of you, here's a link to John Hofmeister's (President of Shell Oil Company and U.S. Country Chair) testimony before a joint hearing of the Senate Energy Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee on November 9.
http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=us-en&FC2=/us-en/html/iwgen/news_and_library/press_releases/2005/zzz_lhn.html&FC3=/us-en/html/iwgen/news_and_library/press_releases/2005/senate_testimony.html
en/html/iwgen/news_and_library/press_releases/2005/zzz_lhn.html&FC3=/us-en/html/iwgen/news_and_library/press_releases/2005/senate_testimony.html
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and there's a link to a pdf file of the transcript.
I've talked to a couple of you about the nature of working in the oil business and how, even though we may be making record profits, it's not all a bed of roses. I could go on and on about my personal experiences (and am more than willing to, if you care to ask for more), but Hofmeister actually makes all the same points.
Anyway, on a lighter note, since I'm talking about work, here's a couple pictures of me as the "Diversity Defender." Don't ask!! ;)
http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=us-en&FC2=/us-en/html/iwgen/news_and_library/press_releases/2005/zzz_lhn.html&FC3=/us-en/html/iwgen/news_and_library/press_releases/2005/senate_testimony.html
en/html/iwgen/news_and_library/press_releases/2005/zzz_lhn.html&FC3=/us-en/html/iwgen/news_and_library/press_releases/2005/senate_testimony.html
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and there's a link to a pdf file of the transcript.
I've talked to a couple of you about the nature of working in the oil business and how, even though we may be making record profits, it's not all a bed of roses. I could go on and on about my personal experiences (and am more than willing to, if you care to ask for more), but Hofmeister actually makes all the same points.
Anyway, on a lighter note, since I'm talking about work, here's a couple pictures of me as the "Diversity Defender." Don't ask!! ;)
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