Peepul R Dumm

When on vacation last week my glass of iced tea was placed upon this cocktail napkin depicting the southern coast of Maine.


A closer look at the napkin reveals this important warning: "Not to be used for navigation"


It reminds me of the therapeutic whirlpool at a clinic I used to work at. On the side of the tub it said, "WARNING: DO NOT HOLD THE PATIENT'S HEAD UNDER WATER WHILE IN WHIRLPOOL."


Of course, it's probably better to be stupid enough to try to navigate from a napkin or hold your patient's head under water than to be a PLANT KILLER! This is what I came home from vacation to:

I've been watering them hoping they bounce back. But, it doesn't look good :( (especially the middle one)

Vacationland

Maine, that is.

Old Orchard Beach with it's cool tidal pools and patterns in the sand

Portland in the fog

Orr's Island

Lands End

Bailey's Island Bridge, the world's only granite cribstone bridge being repaired

Random vacation thoughts:

- One of these days I am going to learn to take pictures of water with the horizon actually horizontal.

- Boston drivers = crazy

- Connecticut waiters = rude

- Maine = beautiful, but rainy

- Me = Had fun and glad to be home :)

Sideling Hill

I went to meet with a friend today, and on the way I passed Sideling Hill in Maryland. You can see some pretty cool strata in the rock where they cut through Sidling Hill for the highway. There is a pedestrian bridge over the highway that I wanted to go across to get some better pictures. But, the wind was blowing so hard it felt like the loose fitting top I was wearing would get blown away if I even raised my arms over my head. So.....these pictures will have to do.

The view the other way was pretty nice too.

On the road

(Now with pictures!)

I have been away for the past week to attend a work related conference. Here are my impressions:

1. I live in a beautiful state.

2. I drove through/visited five states that I have never been to before.

3. Chatanooga Tennesee looks like nice place.

4. Alabama looked pretty nice too.

5. Mississippi? Hmm...flat and kinda boring. (sorry any Mississippi visitors)

6. Louisiana? Um...flat, swampy, and huge juicy bugs plastered on the front of the vehicle. Saw a snake. Looked for an alligator but didn't see one :(




7. New Orleans? Yikes, the damage. The humidity. The above ground graveyards (what would you call that? Crypts?) were pretty freaky too.




8. Texas. Good food (but eastern NC barbeque is better than Texas barbeque). Saw an armadillo. I didn't realize there would be palm trees in Texas. Flat. Boring terrain. Hot. Humid.(sorry Texans....especially Ame!)

9. I was very happy to get home to my mountains.

Oh, and the conference was great too :)

North Carolina: Barbecue and Pottery

I spent a relaxing and enjoyable long weekend in North Carolina visiting some friends. Saturday I attended a pottery festival in a cute little town in North Carolina where I purchased this beautiful hand made tea pot.




I also got to experience the two types of North Carolina pork barbecue. Saturday I had the eastern North Carolina style of pork barbecue which has a vinegary/ mustardy flavor and was good, but I wouldn't necessarily order it again. Monday I had the western North Carolina style of pork barbecue which has a sweet and smoky flavor. It was absolutely delicious on a sandwich topped with red slaw (a vinegar dressed coleslaw). I definitely preferred the western style.


On another note, I also got lost for about an hour in Greensboro. So, perhaps I should not blame New Jersey for bad signage and accept that I am becoming a directional moron!

Dear New Jersey

Dear New Jersey,

Why is your road signage so bad? Do you enjoy getting non-New Jersey people lost? I think you do.

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After a long weekend away from home it was a good day today to make some soup....



....and talk to my niece on the phone. Isn't she sweet?

I am a Nerd

I am a nerd.

I enjoy setting up a statistical data base. I even find it relaxing.

My friend Jonathan says I am a nerd/geek because he has never seen someone use formal citation in a blog post before.

Wonder Woman says I am a nerd too.

In fact I am such a nerd that I am looking forward to spending next Saturday through Monday 1. participating in a panel discussion at a professional conference in Pennsylvania, and 2. attending a seminar/workshop in northern New Jersey.

See? NERD

When I mentioned having to drive to northern NJ just outside of New York City and being concerned about getting lost (I went to a conference in DC last year and ended up getting so lost I drove around the ‘hood for a half hour) a friend offered to come with me and do the driving. When I am at the seminar Sunday and Monday she will be in NYC seeing a show and shopping. My employer pays for the rental car, gas, and the hotel room so she gets a “free” trip to NYC and I get a driver. I am very happy to have the company.

I have never been to NYC before, but I will have Sunday evening free to do something or go somewhere…what should I do?