Real Sadness

Today my thoughts are with my sister and brother-in-law and their horses. My wish for them - before the new year - is quick answers and no more losses. This saga may turn out to have the makings of a Dick Francis novel.

More Happiness

My latest source of happiness and gratitude is that today I learned that the new season of American Idol begins with a 2-hour season premiere on January 15! I went through a (brief) period of mourning when the last season ended. Mostly I think I was sad about the fact that I had to start actually thinking about how I would spend my Tuesday (performances) and Wednesday (results) evenings. Now that is really pathetic. Maybe I should avoid watching the new season altogether. Probably a good idea.

South Carolina

I am in Aiken with the family and I just learned this Christmas song about family:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37xPiRz1sg

First Day of Winter

Happy first day of winter!

But sadness because there will soon be no love in the house for awhile. I have to get Maddie to the kennel by 3 p.m. today even though my flight leaves around noon tomorrow. I have no idea how parents of actual human children ever manage to travel and leave the offspring behind. It drives me crazy every time.

Best Xmas Songs with Videos

Research on happiness has shown that you can increase your happiness just by deliberately paying attention to and feeling grateful - for each little good thing that happens as you go about your day.

Finding these today has made me happy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG9QyKxYUxw

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlf---13Q0g

For Susan

Yes! I will be in SC from Dec. 24 through Dec. 28. Then off to VA on the 29th and 30th for a wedding. Then back to NM on the 31st. Fantastic that you will be in SC at the same time!

More Saturday Photos

smiling girl

blowing ears

not allowed on this chair

the face of naughty

big yawn - finally

snuggle in the flannel snowflakes

Today we jogged 5 miles on the flood control dam - my favorite place to run in Las Cruces with panoramic view and nice surface and close to home. It was 50 degrees and drizzling when we started - fun to run in the rain!

Maddie at 6430 feet

Maddie and I went hiking yesterday to Baylor Pass - about 3.25 miles and 1500 feet of elevation change each way [we started at around 4865 feet]. This trail is the only developed footpath from one side of the Organ Mountains to the other and the views are spectacular. Behind her to the east is the Tularosa Basin and White Sands. She is facing the west and the Mesilla Valley and Rio Grande. It took us about 3 hours round trip. I was looking forward to Maddie being good and exhausted the rest of the weekend after the hike. But alas no - it seems to have energized her.

We could have started from Aguirre Springs at around 5540 feet on the other side of the Pass - I think it is about 2.75 miles each way. We may do that next or we may go all the way over and down and back up and down again. I am getting ready for hiking the Organ Needle - the highest peak in the Organ Mountains - in the spring.

Joy and Rapture

sweet joy and rapture - classes are done

My Little Hunter Gatherer

Since being home again, my little hunter/gatherer has been busily searching out the acorns in the backyard that have fallen from the trees as well as those that are still on the trees, and the scones on the kitchen counter that I brought back from the trip.

Love in the House Again

There is love in the house again - Maddie is home!

Map and Weather Station

http://www.pharrtrans.org/

SPI Day 8

Day 5 - Tuesday
I rigged a 5.5 [square meter] sail.
Ed rigged a 6.0.
Probably 30-35 windsurfers on the water.
Milestone - did not uphaul a single time.
Water starts and deep water beach starts all day long.

Day 6 - Wednesday
Ed and I picked Marco up from airport in Brownsville.
Then the fun really began.
I rigged a 5.5. Ed rigged a 6.0. Marco rigged a 6.5.
Temps in upper 80s and winds in upper teens.
Ed down rigged to a 4.5 at one point.
Milestone - sailed out to "open water" where the big boys/girls play.
And again did not uphaul a single time

Day 7 - Thursday
Happy Thanksgiving!
Everyone had been talking about the upcoming "Norther" for several days.
I woke up when it blew in around 3 a.m.
It's been blowing ever since.
We went to the water late and Marco rigged a 4.5.
Ed and I rigged a 0.0.
Steady wind from the north and cloudy and 55 degrees.
Six windsurfers on the water - warm according to Marco.
Then to happy hour and the Radisson for T dinner.

Day 8 - Friday
Steady drizzle and 47 degrees.
We are at Naturallys having coffee and breakfast.
Then perhaps some black Friday shopping.
And then maybe to the water.
Ed and I got jealous over the fun Marco had in the steady wind.

SPI Day 5

Yesterday was a light wind day so Ed and I turned it into an alternate sport day. We jogged and then played tennis in the afternoon followed by happy hour at the North Flats and fried baskets at Wanna Wanna. Need to try to eat more healthy today. Have eaten twice at Naturallys but evidently during the Fall they have a full menu only on Fridays Saturdays Sundays.

Several recent disappointments:

Yesterday was a light wind day so no sailing
Ed cannot get his laptop connected to wireless internet at motel
We discovered the Brownsville turkey trot 5k already happened
The Beach Bums band has disbanded
Wes and Chieri decided they could not join us down here after all

Several good things:

Picking Marco up at the airport in the morning
Eating seafood every day
Sleeping long and good after a day of sun water sail
Having about 25 windsurfers on the water on Sunday
Having about 40 windsurfers on the water on Saturday

SPI Day 4

Day 1 - Friday
Leave Las Cruces 6 a.m. - 2 cars and 2 drivers
Drive 14.5 hours - 5 stops
El Paso - coffee
Van Horn - restroom
Fort Stockton - restroom gas
San Antonio - coffee restroom gas - driving through at rush hour
Raymondville - restroom gas
Arrive Port Isabel 9:30 p.m.
Home Sweet Home at Cecelia and Ron's Southwind Inn

It is funny that each of us always remembers The Weather Channel channel - 34 - it is the most frequent channel that we watch. Some of us turn it on right when we get here and first thing every morning and often last thing every evening.

Day 2 - Saturday
early coffee SWAP MEET coffee breakfast sail beverages fish sleep
I bought a 3.5 sail for $20
Ed bought a 5.7 sail for $30
I rigged a 5.5
Ed rigged a 6.0
Milestone - sailed my very own brand new sail for the first time ever

Day 3 - Sunday
JOG coffee breakfast sail beverages fish sleep
I rigged a 5.5
Ed rigged a 6.0
Milestone - got up on Ed's 80-liter board - smallest prior was 150 liters

Day 4 - Monday
coffee breakfast at Sandi's cafe - now work - might be light wind day

Funny Quote from the Web

Hair tells you a lot about a person.

Sometimes it tells you that they like mullets.

A Week From Today

A week from today I will be dropping Maddie off at the kennel - SADNESS - and then heading back home to pack for South Padre Island. The drive each way is about 900 miles and this will be my 6th trip. The usual trip length is 10 days so this will make about 2 months that I have lived in Port Isabel, TX - the mainland town just across the Queen Isabella Causeway to South Padre Island. Pulling into town has definitely begun to feel like coming home and my traveling companions have definitely begun to feel like family. First trip was summer 2003, then summer and Thanksgiving 2005, then summer 2006 and 2007. Yeah!!

I will be missing the annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society this year. I also skipped in 1993 when I was finishing my MA and in 2000 when I was finishing my PhD. I have been every year but those since starting graduate school in 1991. That sure is a lot of Psychonomics.

1991 San Francisco
1992 St. Louis
1993 Washington DC
1994 St. Louis
1995 Los Angeles
1996 Chicago
1997 Philadelphia
1998 Dallas
1999 Los Angeles
2000 New Orleans
2001 Orlando
2002 Kansas City Missouri
2003 Vancouver British Columbia
2004 Minneapolis
2005 Toronto Ontario
2006 Houston
2007 Long Beach

Extra - too much information. Last night I was stressed and decided to take an aromatic bath and turned on the jets while in the tub and a whole bunch of black gunk shot out - probably old soap scum - but GROSS. Good thing that cleaning the tub was relaxing.

Also - when Maddie is outside and her best buddies Dakota and Jake walk by with their people - Maddie RUNS into the house and to the front door desperately hoping that their people will ring the bell and ask for an impromptu play date. Sometimes the back door is closed when Maddie tries to run into the house and then she bangs into it and it is a bit sad when a play date does not then ensuue. This happened just now.

Tonight I am meeting friends at High Desert the brewpub.

Recent Happiness

Watching the new season of Everest: Beyond The Limit
Discovering Mr. Clean Magic Eraser cleans nonslip tile floor crevices
Beginning to think about going on sabbatical next year
Sitting between Ian and Erik at Saturday dinner with Dom Laura Keith
Enjoying Sunday morning doggie brunch with Kim Cheryl Dakota Jake
Ordering my first complete setup of new sailing gear except for a board
Eating well with Ed
Debriefing happy hour after faculty meetings with Dom and Justin
Anticipating an end to my house being in disarray
Discarding non-needed papers from files and organizing the rest
Starting up with jogging again
Laughing at Maddie acting cute after being caught being naughty
Being able to have Indian food for lunch any weekday I want
Learning that I ran a marathon faster than a celebrity
Having this as an outlet for my thoughts

Thoughts

It is going to be in the 80s today - hard to believe it is November.
My hair is getting long.
Maddie needs a bath.
The backyard is still not bunny-proof.
I am not looking forward to Christmas.
People have idealistic/unrealistic expectations and stress predominates.
Easter is my least favorite holiday.
Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday.
I decided not to move the TV cable in the master bedroom.
I decided not to move/replace the ceiling fans.
I cleaned the ceiling fans and removed a superfluous decorative element.
The chip in the finish of the guest bath tub will be fixed on Wednesday.

Obedience School Winner

Fixing up the House

I decided to have the floor tile cleaned rather than replaced - after picking out tile. I decided to replace the carpet with carpet rather than laminate flooring - after picking out laminate flooring. Both decisions were made with Maddie in mind. We like to play fetch in the house and this will keep the floors less slippery. Plus getting new floor tile would make me want new countertops and appliances. That would be too much.

I had a guy come out and fix the grout and drywall in the master bath shower that had water damage. He replaced the broken grout and replaced the damaged 'green board' with 'cement board.'

I had a guy come out and do the measurements for the new carpet. It will be installed after the walls are painted and the tile is cleaned.

I had a guy come out and measure and give me an estimate to clean all the floor tile and seal the grout. This will be done after painting and before carpet installation.

I had an electrician come out to consult about moving the cable from the SW to the NE corner of the master bedroom. The actual work is supposed to happen next week.

I have a guy coming out next week to consult about fixing the finish on the tub in the guest bath.

Then I will get another guy - the one who did the master bath shower - to install the new bathtub door. He may also replace some broken floor tiles and refinish the wood edges of the bathroom and kitchen countertops and install a big curtain rod in the living room when everything else is done.

I need to finalize the wall and trim paint colors.

Maddie's Backyard

For the Anonymous commenter known as DAD (aka Maddie's Grandad and backyard benefactor)

This Past Week

I rigged a chicken wire type device on my back gate to keep the bunnies out of the yard.

I ate pumpkin ice cream and it was weird.

I checked out the new outlet mall just outside of El Paso and it is huge with lots of good stores - generally not cheap though. They have a BCBG so maybe I can use that to entice my sister to visit.

I started keeping track of the number of miles I run each week - thanks to the help of my nifty Garmin Forerunner from Santa Dad last Christmas. I am trying to work up to 30-35 miles per week.

I did some more little tasks to try to get my house fixed up - very time consuming with lots of stages.

I started planning my Christmas shopping.

I lamented the dearth of toddler toys not requiring batteries - I was trying to shop for a new-big-brother gift.

I realized that my planned Thanksgiving trip to South Padre Island overlaps with my planned trip to Psychonomics in Long Beach - aaaggghhh!

I hosted a tapas party at my house last night - it was red wine and potluck with friends/neighbors/colleagues Kim Cheryl Ed Dom. I made a hot dish with chorizo potato & rosemary and a cold dish with mozzarella tomato garlic & olive oil.

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Apres Sail

From left to right: Ed - Melissa - Madeline - Marco - Wes

We had another Caballo lake day on Saturday and the hand gestures are our new gang sign - we are expressing that we are missing our sailing friends who are not there with us - Tom and Chieri and Kevin.

It was a beautiful day but the water is getting cold!

This Past Week

I renewed my driver's license.

I took Maddie to the vet.

I ate Indian food, Chinese food, and Thai food, but not all at the same time.

I went to hear a favorite Las Cruces band, formerly called Flashlight, currently called Chain of Fools.

I discovered that bunnies are coming into the yard in the evening, which necessitates shooing them out of the yard before letting Maddie into the yard. I don't mind live bunnies but I don't want dead ones.

I bought peppermint ice cream. I have been looking for this every Christmas season for the past few years, but maybe the stores had already sold out by the time I started looking.

I bought five discounted Spode Christmas china salad/dessert plates and so now I have a complete set of six.

The first outlet mall opened between Las Cruces and El Paso and seems to have a great assortment of stores.

The happiest news is that my friend/colleague gave birth to her second son this week and mom and baby are doing well. Erik was born on 10/10/07 and joins mom Laura, dad Keith, and brother Ian who was born on 03/03/06.

Water Start at Caballo Lake

I went to Caballo Lake on Saturday to sail with friends and did my first ever "water start" at the lake. I've done one many times at South Padre Island where the winds are steady and strong but never before at Caballo Lake where the winds are usually weak and/or gusty. The picture shows me trying to control the board with my feet while trying to maneuver the sail with my arms to catch the next gust of wind. If I can control the board and the sail, then the gust of wind will practically lift me up onto the board. And that is exactly what happened next although I do not have a photo of it.

New Area Code

Today the area code for Las Cruces (and the whole rest of the southern and eastern parts of New Mexico) changed to 575. Both the old 505 and the new 575 will work here for the next year however. The northwest quadrant of the state gets to keep 505.

Evolution

"Creationists make it sound as though a 'theory' is something you dreamt up after being drunk all night."
- Isaac Asimov

Our House

Good Quote

"If I were scrupulous about paying bills, balancing my cheque book...and the rest, I would spend my entire life rolling the rock of diligence up a hill of someone else's making."
- James Wood, The Book Against God