Friday, March 30, 2007

Photos

Today I unloaded my camera's memory card from spring break and chose a handful of shots to share. Below we have Tommy, wondering if I had any treats for him.



Meryl and Jak, doing that thing with the lips...



Ruby. Waiting for me to throw the ball.



Jessa and Joel had their wedding. Here's the first dance.



Me and the bride.



Me and Brian.



Meryl and Sukha.



And, here are the first signs of spring in our back yard.



And a more general view of the back yard, from right outside the garage.

Sun, Horses and Stomach Flu

So, I lost all motivation to have anything to do with a computer for quite some time. This may seem odd coming from someone who makes a partial living off of a computer and will (and regularly does) spend hours tinkering with code not just to make it work, but to make it work the best way it can. But, the truth is sometimes I'm sick to death of the sight of a keyboard and monitor and will go for days without even pressing a power button.

That's what happened the last couple weeks. And not just while I was on spring break, but even when I got back. I'd walk into the office, look at my desktop. Waver. Think about all the emails I undoubtedly needed to answer. Then I would just walk on by.

Spring break was undoubtedly a factor. We got to Tucson and I rode, rode, rode. I knew I was missing the horses but I didn't know how much until I was out there alone (not a house, road, or power-line in sight) in the middle of the sun-blasted desert, bareback on Tommy and running as fast as a little mustang can go. There's nothing quite like that feeling anywhere else in the world. I have decided my most immediate goal for my current life in Iowa is to find a way to ride horses. My sanity requires it.

Beyond the horses, it was great to see my family and friends. The trip to Flagstaff was lovely. The wedding was a drunken gala (although potentially only for the four of us that went in our car).

Now I'm back in Iowa. The first thing that happened upon my return is I got a stomach flu. That was bad. Suffice it to say I do not like the stomach flu. That is all.

I have worked at The Mansion almost 40 hours this week and have small glass cuts all over my hands again. I've already learned more in a month working with Nick than I learned in the year and a half I framed at the museum. I have decided to consider this an apprenticeship (and thus make my psychological peace with my somewhat low hourly wage).

It's been rainy here, but there are little purple flowers blooming in the back yard.

And that gets us up to date.

Monday, March 05, 2007

Moments

While we were taking care of Lance the lab for Brian's parents, I learned he can be remarkably intent on eatings things he really wouldn't be able to digest. I guess that's what dogs do though. It took Brian a few minutes to get this plastic bag away from him. I was no help, standing off in the distance taking photos.


Here's a little peek into a quiet moment in our domestic life.


And this I noticed outside this morning. I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that this is called a "bud" and these things appear on deciduous trees in the early spring and will later grow into "leaves."


I never knew it would be so exciting to have four seasons.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Ladybug, Ladybug


No, this doesn't mean spring has come to Iowa. I just wanted to commemorate the lovely little fellow who's been hanging out in the bathroom since we moved Brian in, back in August. I don't know what this intrepid insect has been living on, but he shows up from time to time to let us know he's still trucking. Brian and I have decided we'll release him to the outdoors as soon as we see a living ladybug outside. For now, he's the pet we can love, but don't have to take care of (other than being careful not to start the shower if he's in there or close the medicine cabinet on him).