Friday, October 14, 2016
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Delayed Gratification
One of the best decisions I've made lately is not to take on the extra grading job (the old side job from last year). While I harp about the busy semester, the truth is that I do have time now and again during the week to watch a TV show or have dinner w/G. Or just to stare at the fall decorations, or take a nap. This was not the case last year.
Here's the thing, though. This decision that I'm so proud of? I made it back in April. Just now, six months later, I'm seeing the positive effects and reaping the rewards of that decision.
Half a year later.
The tricky thing about delayed gratification - especially for us Americans - is that whole delayed part. My first reaction was to credit myself today, now, for not having the side job. But that's not realistic at all. I need to credit the B from last spring. But! What can the B of today choose to do (or not do) that will enhance life for next April?
So my question is, where else can I pay attention to delayed gratification in my life? What choices can I make that will enhance my life six months from now?
Hmmm.
Here's the thing, though. This decision that I'm so proud of? I made it back in April. Just now, six months later, I'm seeing the positive effects and reaping the rewards of that decision.
Half a year later.
The tricky thing about delayed gratification - especially for us Americans - is that whole delayed part. My first reaction was to credit myself today, now, for not having the side job. But that's not realistic at all. I need to credit the B from last spring. But! What can the B of today choose to do (or not do) that will enhance life for next April?
So my question is, where else can I pay attention to delayed gratification in my life? What choices can I make that will enhance my life six months from now?
Hmmm.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Reality
Look what I put up last night! Isn't it a beauty? I got it at Home Depot - they mostly have scary stuff, not cutesy Halloween stuff, but I couldn't resist the candy corns. I mean, a candy corn wreath? Are you kidding me? I had to. I wish we could dress up Loo Loo Bell in a candy corn costume. That would slay my heart.
I did have some time last night to stare into space and enjoy the fall decor. Honestly, though, in reality, these pictures sum up life around dawrighthouse.
While we were with family over the weekend, G's brother gave him his old X Box 1, so he went to town hooking it up last night. Because he was on the floor (aka Lucy's territory) she had to supervise. Observe the foreman at work:
At one point, she actually hopped away with the instruction manual in her mouth. Nothing is easy with that one. Also, that last picture shows how fat she is. Look at that! Over 5 pounds.
And just like that it's time to back to work. Back to the needy students and their needy needs.
I did have some time last night to stare into space and enjoy the fall decor. Honestly, though, in reality, these pictures sum up life around dawrighthouse.
While we were with family over the weekend, G's brother gave him his old X Box 1, so he went to town hooking it up last night. Because he was on the floor (aka Lucy's territory) she had to supervise. Observe the foreman at work:
At one point, she actually hopped away with the instruction manual in her mouth. Nothing is easy with that one. Also, that last picture shows how fat she is. Look at that! Over 5 pounds.
And just like that it's time to back to work. Back to the needy students and their needy needs.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Settled
After the general craziness and travel of the last couple of weeks, I'm ready to settle in, stay home for a while, and unwind as much as possible in the midst of the semester's chaos. Pretty much every moment of the day (and night) has been designated to a certain task and I'm needing to just stare at pumpkins and fall decorations for a while in order to cope and regroup.
The calm before the storm. This is what Lucy looks like right before she goes insane and tears around the living room.
Lucy gives major side eye to the Razorbacks. They are starting to lose games. Mama and daddy aren't happy.
Tuesdays are usually the most insane day of the week for me, but I've made a command decision to cut my class short today. Also, the Fem Thought class that typically caps my day is cancelled, which means I'll get home at a decent time and won't really have to deal with traffic. Which means that tonight I can lay around for a bit and just stare at the pumpkins and fall decorations. Perhaps with some Chipotle, or perhaps not.
A few more shots from this weekend:
OK, this last picture needs a bit of context. G's parents made chili, but I also scrounged through their fridge because they have homemade sour kraut, home made kimchi, and pickled (spicy) banana peppers. I may or may not have had this for breakfast yesterday. I'm just sayin.
OK, loves. The name of the game today is Fake It Til You Make It and can get home, jump into your jammies, and veg out.
The calm before the storm. This is what Lucy looks like right before she goes insane and tears around the living room.
Lucy gives major side eye to the Razorbacks. They are starting to lose games. Mama and daddy aren't happy.
Tuesdays are usually the most insane day of the week for me, but I've made a command decision to cut my class short today. Also, the Fem Thought class that typically caps my day is cancelled, which means I'll get home at a decent time and won't really have to deal with traffic. Which means that tonight I can lay around for a bit and just stare at the pumpkins and fall decorations. Perhaps with some Chipotle, or perhaps not.
A few more shots from this weekend:
OK, this last picture needs a bit of context. G's parents made chili, but I also scrounged through their fridge because they have homemade sour kraut, home made kimchi, and pickled (spicy) banana peppers. I may or may not have had this for breakfast yesterday. I'm just sayin.
OK, loves. The name of the game today is Fake It Til You Make It and can get home, jump into your jammies, and veg out.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
A Good Luck Wedding
Hello from the east coast! We flew to DC on Friday night so we could attend Em's wedding yesterday. And, because of the hurricane, it rained...hard. But they say that's good luck for a wedding, right? If so, this couple is set.
Is it weird to see a picture of Em and I dressed like actual human beings instead of hiking in the middle of nowhere? Yes...it's weird.
I haven't blogged during the week lately because my head is just barely above water. Thanks to the dinosaurs and the weddings, I'm having fun on the weekends instead of doing work, and that means my weeks are spent with the ole nose to the ole grindstone.
We're spending a couple of days w/G's parents since we're over on the coast. Fall is settling in and it's so beautiful. I wish fall in CO lasted longer than like two weeks.
Candy corn is effective for extending the season. And for extending the waist line. I made The Best Dessert Ever for a work event last week.
Ok, I must get off the computer and drink coffee while reading Vee Dub in the garden side room. Must watch the wind blow and see the leaves change color. Must also get more caffeinated.
Happy weekend, peeps!
Is it weird to see a picture of Em and I dressed like actual human beings instead of hiking in the middle of nowhere? Yes...it's weird.
I haven't blogged during the week lately because my head is just barely above water. Thanks to the dinosaurs and the weddings, I'm having fun on the weekends instead of doing work, and that means my weeks are spent with the ole nose to the ole grindstone.
We're spending a couple of days w/G's parents since we're over on the coast. Fall is settling in and it's so beautiful. I wish fall in CO lasted longer than like two weeks.
Candy corn is effective for extending the season. And for extending the waist line. I made The Best Dessert Ever for a work event last week.
Ok, I must get off the computer and drink coffee while reading Vee Dub in the garden side room. Must watch the wind blow and see the leaves change color. Must also get more caffeinated.
Happy weekend, peeps!
Monday, October 3, 2016
This Amazing World
G and I, in our travels, have seen some pretty amazing things. I have to say, though, that some of the most amazing things have been in our own back yard, right here in Colorado. Like, Mesa Verde. Like the dinosaur footprints out by Red Rocks, outside of Denver.
And like the multiple dinosaur tracks that we saw outside La Junta, in the Purgatoire River Valley.
As I mentioned yesterday, one of the big deals about this area is that the direction (and sheer amount) of these prints suggest that the large plant-eating dinosaurs traveled in herds, or perhaps in family units. The size of the foot prints ranged from large to medium to small, suggesting that perhaps parents and juveniles hung out together.
Here's an idea of the scale of the tracks:
This entire valley used to be a river, and over time the footprints settled into the sediment and then (as we learned about fossils in our science classes) the minerals eventually turned to stone, thus preserving the water ripples, tail marks, and foot prints.
Predator tracks can be seen trailing behind those of the larger herbivores. It was like real live Jurassic Park in action! It was incredible!
On our tour we also saw a replica of a shoulder/clavicle bone that was found here. The actual bone is on display at the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of our tour on Saturday was the sheer combination of things that we saw in this relatively small valley. We saw petroglyphs from two separate groups of ancient Indians, separated by hundreds of years. We then saw the dinosaur track and geological examples of millions of years of rocks and sediment that shifted and settled. Then we saw a Catholic church and cemetery built in the 1800's, and a ranch that operated from 1871-1971. Seeing these things in close proximity and knowing that they represent such a wide spectrum of time was incredible.
The landscape wasn't bad, either!
I highly recommend this tour if you're ever in La Junta! Now, back to grading papers...
And like the multiple dinosaur tracks that we saw outside La Junta, in the Purgatoire River Valley.
As I mentioned yesterday, one of the big deals about this area is that the direction (and sheer amount) of these prints suggest that the large plant-eating dinosaurs traveled in herds, or perhaps in family units. The size of the foot prints ranged from large to medium to small, suggesting that perhaps parents and juveniles hung out together.
Here's an idea of the scale of the tracks:
This entire valley used to be a river, and over time the footprints settled into the sediment and then (as we learned about fossils in our science classes) the minerals eventually turned to stone, thus preserving the water ripples, tail marks, and foot prints.
Predator tracks can be seen trailing behind those of the larger herbivores. It was like real live Jurassic Park in action! It was incredible!
 |
| Ripple marks from the water |
 |
| The parallel marks that run from top to bottom in this picture are tail marks. As the dinosaurs walked, the drug their tails and those marks were preserved. |
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of our tour on Saturday was the sheer combination of things that we saw in this relatively small valley. We saw petroglyphs from two separate groups of ancient Indians, separated by hundreds of years. We then saw the dinosaur track and geological examples of millions of years of rocks and sediment that shifted and settled. Then we saw a Catholic church and cemetery built in the 1800's, and a ranch that operated from 1871-1971. Seeing these things in close proximity and knowing that they represent such a wide spectrum of time was incredible.
The landscape wasn't bad, either!
I highly recommend this tour if you're ever in La Junta! Now, back to grading papers...
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Jurassic Park, For Realz
To kick off the fall season, we headed out of town this weekend. We're in La Junta (a one horse town if there ever was one) because of the dinosaur tracks!
I'll give you more of the (truly fascinating) details in the next post, once I'm able to transfer pics to my computer from the good camera (we forgot that transfer wire in our haste to get out of town on Friday). But, these tracks are the longest-known tracks found in the world, and are famous because they provide convincing "proof" that herbivore dinosaurs traveled in herds, or perhaps as families. The thing that really blew my mind was seeing the predator tracks behind the herbivores. It was insanely fascinating.
We made reservations in advance with the forest service. In order to see the tracks, you have to drive your own 4-wheel-drive vehicle and bring your food for the day. We were part of a group of about 40 people (they cap attendance at 45) comprising about 11 vehicles. We stopped at various sites besides tracks, (pictures tomorrow!) such as to watch tarantulas, see Native American petroglyphs, discuss geological changes that have occurred over time, and to see an historic church, burial ground, and ranch house.
Also? We were the youngest people there by a good decade which is not something we experience much these days. We enjoyed being the youngsters, let me tell you.
Meanwhile, back in the hotel room...
We brought her with us because (1) this is a family vacation, (2) she loves the car, and (3) it's too dang expensive to board her. We shouldn't be stuck in a one horse town while she's basically at a rabbit resort.
Ok, tune in tomorrow for some great pictures and information about this world-renown site in the middle of southeast Colorado.
We're on our way back home.
I'll give you more of the (truly fascinating) details in the next post, once I'm able to transfer pics to my computer from the good camera (we forgot that transfer wire in our haste to get out of town on Friday). But, these tracks are the longest-known tracks found in the world, and are famous because they provide convincing "proof" that herbivore dinosaurs traveled in herds, or perhaps as families. The thing that really blew my mind was seeing the predator tracks behind the herbivores. It was insanely fascinating.
We made reservations in advance with the forest service. In order to see the tracks, you have to drive your own 4-wheel-drive vehicle and bring your food for the day. We were part of a group of about 40 people (they cap attendance at 45) comprising about 11 vehicles. We stopped at various sites besides tracks, (pictures tomorrow!) such as to watch tarantulas, see Native American petroglyphs, discuss geological changes that have occurred over time, and to see an historic church, burial ground, and ranch house.
Also? We were the youngest people there by a good decade which is not something we experience much these days. We enjoyed being the youngsters, let me tell you.
Meanwhile, back in the hotel room...
We brought her with us because (1) this is a family vacation, (2) she loves the car, and (3) it's too dang expensive to board her. We shouldn't be stuck in a one horse town while she's basically at a rabbit resort.
Ok, tune in tomorrow for some great pictures and information about this world-renown site in the middle of southeast Colorado.
We're on our way back home.
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