Pumpkin PC

Gotta love the digital age.....reading my headlines on My Yahoo page today, I ran across this link from the cnet news site:

Pumpkin PC

Pretty amazing stuff.....

For more details and specs of the Pumpkin PC, click here to go to the University of Arkansas computer store.

Recap

So, this week has been completely crazy. Far more crazy than normal. And I'm pooped. Here's a quick recap:

Monday - work as usual.
In about 8:15, work until about 5:30.
Meeting at church at 6:00.
Dinner club at Brad's from 7ish until about 9:00.
Home.
Pack.
Bed.

Tuesday - up way before the crack of dawn (about 4:15am) to catch a plane to Yuma, Colorado.
Landed in Akron, CO about 7:00 local time (8:00 Dallas time).
Drive east about 30 miles to Yuma office.
Meetings in office until about 9:15.
Hop in truck. Drive to Kansas (via Nebraska).
Count inventory and visit compressor locations in and around St. Francis and Goodland, KS.
Lunch at the Crazy "R" in Goodland.
Drive back towards Yuma.
Visit our drilling company's (ADT) office about 5 miles north of our office.
Heard that the rig was out at a location, so we decided to visit.
Hopped back in the truck - drove about 15 miles north and 10 miles east.
Found the right section - we could see the rig, but couldn't find the access road in. Finally found some tire tracks through the corn stalks and drove on in.
Spent about 2 hours visiting with the rig hands and watching the operation. It was fascinating, but there was no place to sit and watch, so standing amongst harvested cornstalks and discarded corn cobs is not the most comfortable thing in the world.
Finally back to the office about 6:30.
Drove to the Nelson Inn, checked in, left to go eat dinner.
Back to my room about 8:15, finally made it to bed about 10:00 (11:00 according to Dallas-time).

Wednesday - up, breakfast at hotel, check out, head to office about 8:15.
Inventory of yard at office.
Worked on various projects in the office.
Lunch downtown Yuma.
Drive to Akron.
Meet the plane.
Fly home.
Drive home - unpack - crash.

Thursday - seminar to attend all day, but too much work to do. Up at 5:00, leave for work at 6:00.
Work until 7:45 am, then head downstairs.
Seminar all day (including lunch speaker). Not as bad as some, but still very hard to stay awake.
Out early! 3:00 instead of 4:00. Back upstairs to work.
Work until about 6:00.
Run home to change clothes.
Meet Allyson for dinner at 7:00.
Home about 8:45.
Bed about 9:15 - couldn't even stay awake for ER!

Friday - seminar to attend all day, but still much work to do. Up at 5:30, leave for work at 6:30.
Work until 7:45 am, then head downstairs.
Seminar all day (including lunch speaker). Morning was 4 hours of ethics - the teacher was great, but it was still very hard to stay awake. The afternoon sessions were awful.
Out on time at 3:00. Back upstairs to work.
Work until about 5:00.
Home.
Eat.
Catch up on bills, some TV.
Hopefully to bed early.


Whew. Even writing it all out makes me tired again! Thankfully, I can sleep late in the morning. Then I'm meeting my friend Kelly for a couple of sidewalk/bargain sales. Then, who knows? No agenda for the rest of the weekend!!!

Home Again.....

Well, only a slightly bumpy ride home, but we made it just fine. I'm pooped -- lots to do the rest of the week, so I'm headed to bed soon.....

Reverse Rainbow

This morning I had to set my alarm clock for about 4:15 am (aka 0-dark-thirty). As I left my house to head for the airport (about 5:35), it was still pitch dark. Living in the city, I hardly see even any stars. The lights from the building and those few on the tarmac were the only light to guide me to the plane.

It was full dark for the first 15 minutes or so of our flight. However, soon I began to see a streak of red along the eastern horizon. It is so completely clear this morning. The other times that I have made this trip, it has been at other times of the year, when the sun is already well over the horizon at 6:30 am – or it has been so cloudy, that I couldn’t see any of the sunrise until we were far above the clouds.

Today, as the sun began to make its appearance, the streak of red broadened into a reverse rainbow….red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and the dark, dark blue-black of the night sky. As I am writing this, it is about 7:20 am. From my vantage point, some thousands of feet in the sky, the rainbow is slowly expanding. The yellow streak is getting larger. I managed to take this photo through the window, but it really doesn’t do it justice. You’ll just have to use your imagination.



Soon, I imagine we’ll begin to see the sun peeking over the horizon. It really is amazing to see the sunrise from another vantage point!

------------------

After a long day driving all over northeastern Colorado, southwestern Nebraska, and northwestern Kansas, we ended up at our drilling rig out on a location. It was fascinating to watch the process as they set up the rig (aka “rig up”) and started drilling. I still have no idea what they were really doing – and have no desire to learn all the intricacies of that task – it is messy and hard. But it is definitely interesting.

As we were driving back to the office, we were able to see the sunset over the plains near Yuma, Colorado. What a great way to start and end the day -- watching the sun rise and set!

It Is Cold!!

Ok, well maybe not COLD like this:



but definitely much, much cooler than it has been around here. And I LOVE it! Ok, maybe I don't love the blustery wind, but I do love the cooler temperatures, the smell of fall in the air -- and like Chris, the soon to be Christmas season! Not so much because I love the commercialism of Christmas, but because all the decorations make me happy.

Now off to a birthday dinner for a friend....

It's official

I no longer have a home telephone.

Remember a few weeks ago when I ranted about the taxes and surcharges on my home telephone? Well, after much thought and consideration, I finally decided that it wasn't worth $25 a month for me to have a home telephone. I only get a few calls a month, and (in theory) my calling habits shouldn't change enough to warrant a different cell phone plan.

So, Wednesday I called MCI and asked them to cancel my service, effective immediately. They agreed and by yesterday morning it was gone. It's kinda strange, but at the same time quite liberating.

So, now that I've unplugged the three phones I had in my apartment - anybody need one?

Anniversary Lunch

October 16, 2000 -- the day that I started my current job .......

About 3 years ago, my company started having an Employee Anniversary Recognition luncheon to recognize those employees who were celebrating their "5" anniversaries (5, 10, 15, etc). The lunch is at the Crescent Club and is a very nice luncheon. They also have a gift list (with values varying by years of service) that the employee gets to choose their gift from.

So, today, I was appreciated at lunch with 28 other people who had an anniversary this year. It was so very yummy -- and a reminder that I really do work for a great company. I can't imagine having the perks, benefits, flexibility, etc that I have now anywhere else. (I remind myself of that on icky days!)

So, here is a photo of my new glass bowl:

Home again

It was a great trip home for Homecoming......I've got lots of fun pictures from the parade, but I'm too tired now to deal with them. So, here is one photo of 2/3 of "the girls" after the musical "Seussical" on Saturday night.....


Mollie, Sara, Katie, me
(we're missing Sarah and Dara)

Firsts and Lasts

I was tagged by Elizabeth (sorry it took so long-I had a hard time coming up with some of these!)....here it goes!

First Memory: waiting for my spanking after playing in my daddy's truck and causing it to roll out into the street -- I don't know how old I was, and surely there are other memories from earlier, but that is what is coming to mind right now

First Kiss: college

First Concert: The Sharks @ Westgate Mall in Amarillo

First Love: hasn't happened yet (unless you count my parents)

First crush: there were far too many to even remember which was first!

First thing you think in the morning: do I really have to get up?

First book you remember loving: I read so much growing up that I don't have a conscious memory of the first book I loved. But I did love the Nancy Drew and Little House book series.

First pet: we weren't much of a pet family, though we did have some goldfish for a little while - til they all died.

First question you'll ask in Heaven: there are so many that I can think of now, but I'm sure they'll all fly out the window once I'm there

First thing you think of when you hear the word vacation: sleeping in, relaxing, mountains, cool weather

First best friend: probably Krista Shewmaker

Last time you dressed up: formal - my friend Heather's (somewhat) annual Oscar Party

Last thing you ate: chicken tender salad

Last CD you bought: Bon Jovi "Have a Nice Day"

Last time you cried: I don't remember, but it has been in the last couple of weeks

Last time you told someone you loved them: Wednesday night at church

Last really fun thing you did: meeting all my new blog-friends at Zoe (I've done fun things since, but that was the last really fun thing)

Last thing you watched on TV: the Today show this morning

Last Halloween costume: some 50's sock hop type (ponytail with scarf, white button down shirt, rolled up jeans, etc)

Last Concert attended: Michael W. Smith, Third Day

Platelets

Donated platelets again today....that makes 12 donations this year. Gotta make 14 to get an invite to the Donor Appreciation Banquet (used to just be 12, but I guess they are trying to encourage more frequent donations!!).

Found out while I was there that the girl that has been running the donor center at Baylor has been granted a transfer and promotion to the new donor center at 635-Preston in North Dallas. So, now all the folks that were at Baylor when I started have all moved on/up to other centers across the metroplex. Which means that I'll have to break in some new phlebotomists! I might go visit Mia at her new place which does have slightly better/more flexible hours, but it isn't quite as convenient.

I'm off to Abilene for homecoming this weekend.....it's ACU's centennial this year, so there's lots of hoopla. Then I think I'll finally be at home for a few weekends in a row!

p.s. Elizabeth, my list is coming, I've just got to think of answers to all those questions!!

Peanuts Quiz

Ok, so I took the quiz twice. I was so close on so many of the answers! So, I consider it a tie......


You are Charlie Brown!



You are Marcie!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Pei Wei

I went to dinner tonight at Pei Wei with my friend Jessica in celebration of her 29th birthday, which was last Thursday. It is so fun to get to hang out, catch up and just sit and be with a good friend for a few hours. We always have so much fun together.

So, after a delicious dinner, it was time for the fortune cookies. Jessica opened hers and read the fortune (although I have no idea what it said). I opened mine......empty. So, she made me put it down quickly, and take one of the two left on the table. Open cookie number two......empty, again! What does that mean?!? The third cookie I tried had a fortune in it, not that I can remember it now. I know that fortune cookies are just for fun - there is nothing real about them. But still. Two, in a row, empty?!?

10:00 PM

.....is what time I finally got back home yesterday from Zoe. I knew that I wanted to go to church at Otter Creek when I was making my plane reservations, and I wanted to leave my time flexible enough to go have lunch with people, if the opportunity arose. So, I was booked on the 4:10 flight yesterday afternoon.

After meeting Donna and Terri for the (very early!) 8:30 service at OC, I went back to my hotel to finish packing and kill time. In retrospect, I should have found a movie theater or something to waste some of my time. But, being in an unfamiliar city, I didn't really want to risk wandering around and getting lost.....which I did anyway.

So, about noon I checked out of the hotel and headed for the airport. Needed to fill my rental car with gas, but wanted to do so closer to the airport. Should have gotten gas by the hotel. The exit to the airport off I-40 takes you straight in -- no access road, no gas stations, etc. So, I just took the next exit, found gas, and got back on I-40 going west. Well, you can't exit to the airport from that side! When I realized that I had truly gone past the airport, I exited, thinking that I would just cross over and go back. I didn't count on construction detours! So, after driving around an industrial neighborhood for a little while, I finally found a major street that was on my map (thank you Google maps!) and got back on I-40 going east. Whew!

So, now it is about 1:00 and I am hanging out in the airport. No problem - I have a book and some work, so I can definitely keep myself occupied. It just gets old, sitting in the airport by yourself!

As they are getting ready to board us for the flight to home, they ask for a volunteer to wait for the 6:10 flight. Well, a $200 travel voucher was worth it to me, so I volunteered. Then they tell me that I'll also get a bump up to first class! That was very nice. So, two more hours in the airport. While I was waiting, I talked with my friend Heather and it turned out that her mom and uncle were going to be landing a little before me and actually needed a ride home. So, I told her that if they didn't mind waiting on my flight to get in, I would be happy to take them home, since I would already be at the airport.

Got on the 6:10 flight. Landed around 8:15 - but my bag had come on the 4:10 flight and was over at baggage claim in Terminal A (I landed in Terminal C). Hopped on a bus and headed over. Got my bag, no problem. Whew! It is always a little nerve-wracking to think about your luggage not making it home.

Got to the car about 9:00, dropped Briggs & Cindy off at their home about 9:30, and finally made it to my casa about 10:00. Whew.

Headed home

The second day of Zoe was even better than the first. Made it to Blogger Breakfast .... met JettyBetty, met all the children of the Cox clan, finally got to meet Donna and Terri.

Donna, Terri, Mae and I went to lunch at yummy P.F. Changs. It was so great to get to visit in real life and get to know these women better. This blog-relationship is a crazy thing -- you read and read about people's lives (at least what they show you). But it really makes those friendships a bit more real when you get to talk and learn more about each other's lives. At dinner the same four of us were joined by JettyBetty.

This morning, Donna, Terri & I went to church at Otter Creek. It was completely packed! From our row second to the back in the balcony, it was a little hard to see what was going on. But it was still so good to be able to worship with that extended family. One of these days, I'd like to visit on a "normal" Sunday - they had all the Zoe participants stand at the end and almost half of the congregation stood!

So, anyway. Now I'm gonna finish packing up and head to the airport.

Nashville

So, flight was completely full, but uneventful to Nashville. Ran into a couple from church, David & Valerie, that were on my flight. An unexpected surprise!

Landed, got my bags, got my car, made it to the hotel. Nice room - king size bed (beats the twin that I normally sleep in)! Worked a little bit to justify carrying the laptop with me (at least more justification than the fact that I hate feeling disconnected from the world).

Off to Zoe.

Checked in.....ran into one of my elders from my church, Larry & Janet. Met Matt & Lela. Sat with Mae Anne, Beaner, Dwight. Saw Fajita and family - looking forward to meeting him tomorrow morning. Was lead in an amazing time of worship by BST and all of Zoe. Mike's lesson was great and was emphasized with some amazing drama by Donna Hester. Caught up for a minute with Ryan. Met Clarissa & Rob. Chatted for a moment with BST.

Saw soooo many people from my home church (Highland), my Dallas church (Preston Road), and several folks from my ACU days.

So looking forward to meeting Donna and Terri and so many more of you at breakfast in the morning (at 7:30, YIKES!!)!! So, off to bed with me.

Wicked

Ok - I don't really have time to post about this right now, but I can't help myself. I just got home from seeing Wicked - this year's State Fair musical. It was amazing. The costuming was great. The vocals were great. The writing was hilarious, witty, and sappy - and it tied in so well to the original "The Wizard of Oz" story. If you get a chance, I highly recommend it.

Now, off to pack for a weekend at Zoe. I might be posting on the fly, but don't hold your breath -- especially since many of my regular readers will be with me in Nashville (aka Nashvegas per Mae).

Question

So, if someone were to be in the Nashville area, say, this weekend and plan to visit Otter Creek for worship on Sunday morning, which service would be best to visit?

Family blogs

My new brother-in-law Phillip is now a blogger! Welcome to the family, Phillip-in-law.

My parents are doing some remodeling on the house and are documenting progress on my dad's blog - the pictures are crazy. I can't imagine living there while all that mess is going on. I'm so excited to see everything in person in a couple of weeks!

My sister has a blog, too, but it was mostly updates for the wedding. I think she's put up links to some photos, if you are interested.

Weekend wrapup

Well, I didn't end up going to Joe T.'s last night for dinner. I just wasn't really feeling well still and didn't think I should risk it. I laid on the couch and watched a couple of movies that I had rented: Sahara and Monster-in-Law. Then, early(ish) to bed for me!

Today, the normal church deal this morning. Then came home, ate lunch, vegged a bit, read the paper. A few errands, then I headed to my friend Kelly's house to visit her small group tonight. I've met a couple of the folks in her group before, and knew one guy from college, so it was fun. Then I stayed a bit to visit with her -- realized that I hadn't been to her place since January!!! Way too long. Must do better!

Now, it is WAY past my bedtime, so I must jump in bed.

Mid-weekend Update

Well, so far it has been a productive weekend, although not too busy, thankfully.

Last night, I ran by the library (before 5:00 when it closes) to pick up the newest book by Diana Gabaldon "A Breath of Snow and Ashes." I will own this book sometime in the future, but I don't want it in hardback (and I don't want to pay $28.00!!). This is Book Six in a great series and I can't wait to read it!! It'll be great to read on the plane next weekend going to Zoe (although I don't know if I can wait that long to start it!!!).

The I went to Super Target to stock up on a few things, plus buy some groceries. Definitely, one of my all time favorite stores!!

Then home, to bake a cake for the ChristianWorks for Children annual "Celebrate the Children" auction. This organization is fairly new to me, but my dear friend Martha's husband, Cullen, ran it for the last few years of his life (after retiring from a long career at SWB). It is primarily a Christian adoption agency, but also provides counseling for children and families. The annual auction raises quite a bit of money, so this year I donated an Incredible Edible (chocolate chocolate chip cake) to be sold. Hope whoever buys it, enjoys it!!

This morning, I was up early to finish packaging the cake and then took it downtown to the Anatole where the auction will be held tonight.

Back home by 9:30 am, started laundry, finally finished labeling and sorting electronic photos from the summer....managing my checkbook....etc.....etc.....

Supposed to go to Ft. Worth tonight to eat dinner at Joe T. Garcia's in celebration of my friend Brad turning 30. But, I'm not feeling great, so we'll see if I'm up to it......in a few hours when I must make a decision.

Now, off to run a few errands....TTFN!