Sorry for the lack of posts

Its been about a week since I posted - not like me at all. We had a tough week around here - I had an outpatient surgury last Wednesday and didn't feel like myself again until Saturday. But I'm back feeling like my regular self now.

What else has been happening - its been hot! Really hot! Last night we went to the movies just to cool off. Saw Pirates of the Carribean - it was ok. It left you hanging just so you have to go see the next one that comes out. Didn't really appreciate that much. We also just hung around all weekend. I read a few books from the library and played board games with the neighbors. Our neighbor Peter is great at any game we play - we haven't found one yet that he isn't good at. So Steven and I have to practice at home first before we go over to play. This weekend it was Scrabble. Maybe we will get a new game to try, not tell Peter the rules, and see how we do against him. He'll probably win...

This week should be hot here. Maybe 100 plus on Wednesday. Yick. But the weekend should be in the high 70s - just in time for someone's birthday. I have to take some pictures of the yard and my flowers. They are coming in nice. We also have to get ready for the fall and I'm not sure where I will plant my mum's yet. Since everything else is doing so well. No progress to report on the windows yet - we did buy paint last week but haven't even opened it yet. Maybe this weekend.

Croquet anyone?

We found out last night that I'm pretty good at croquet. We played with the neighbors and everyone was really impressed with my swing. I must say that it was more fun to see how far I could hit the ball than to be accurate. Of course nobody really knew the rules except for Peter - and at times he might have been making them up. So I had to look them up today and he was pretty accurate. There might be a rematch tonight depending on the weather and if the lawn gets mowed. Our yard would have not made a good spot to play because the balls would probably get lost in the grass.

Finally - good weather!

Last night and today have been awesome! It was like 65 degrees last night - great sleeping weather. Today is supposed to be 83 and sunny and dry. Finally it feels like summer - and not humid. But I hear that its supposed to be getting humid later on this week. Steven is off today - he may move rocks in the yard or go fishing - I think fishing might win out. So we have also found out that I am the best Pictionary guesser in the neighborhood - well out of our house and Debbie and Peter's. We ate dinner with them last night and played Pictionary with their family. Nothing like taking on two architects with Pictionary... good thing I am a good guesser!

catching up

Wow - is it already almost the end of July? Where does the time go! The summer is passing by very quickly. I returned from Indiana last night with a little flight delay. But Steven was nice enough to come pick me up at the airport so that was nice - didn't have to wait for the later shuttle and get in at like midnight. Had a doctor's appoitment this morning - not the thing you want to go do after being gone for almost three weeks! Oh well - needed to happen. Its nice to be back and I can't wait to spend the month of August doing nothing. We have nothing planned and its good. Maybe we will make it to the lake at some point if we are lucky. The gardens are growing - well not exactly gardens but more like all my plants that I have in pots around the yard. So Steven did a good job watering while I was away. The fridge is still empty so shopping wasn't high on his list. He lived the bachelor life this week.

Professional philosophy

That is what we talked about today at IFI - it wsa strange to think about now that I am a few years into my career and not just fresh out of grad school like so many of these kids are. Well- once I figure one out it will be time to move on - just kidding!! Well - it is hot here like home and the next full days will be really interesting! Can't wait to see what will happen here.

You know you've traveled a lot when...

A leaky ceiling in your hotel room isn't that big a deal - well I would have moved rooms but the hotel is full. ARGH - let's hope it isn't too bad tonight - we leave in the morning to go to IU anyway so its only one night. The ceiling by the window has a line of drips that left a puddle on the table by the window. I have two beds in the room so I will go sleep in the bed furthest away. Also - gotta love the free high speed internet! I like this and can get used to it! Well - the ride into the airport was not too bad - a bit of traffic but got there in plenty of time. I thought we might be late but we pulled in right at 4 PM like CT limo promised. Anyway - everyone should call Steven and bother him this week - he's home alone :(

TGIF

Well its not raining for once - bright blue skies outside - which will probably turn muggy later this afternoon. Not much going on here - busy busy this morning trying to do a few errands and pack before leaving this afternoon. Work is quiet right now - the phone hasn't rung at all which is nice. I'm doing a few little projects before I leave at 1:30 do go catch the shuttle to the airport. I'm excited for IFI - which is where I go now. I hope that I know enough to act as a mentor to newer people in the field. Never thought of myself like that. Steven will probably catch up on his sleep while I am away. He's been reading Angels and Demons this week and stayed up the last few nights trying to finish it. The yard needs some attention and I'm sorry I'm not here to help. Weeds are taking over the back. We've got to do something back there but we aren't quite sure what to do yet - grass if it can grow will be good.

Summer time

It was so hot and muggy here last night and this morning. I guess summer had really hit. Its supposed to get up to the 90s this weekend and into next week. Good thing we put the air conditioner in last night. We got more pictures developed that Steven took with a disposable camera. I'll have to post some of the better ones. But I leave again tomorrow for another conference. This one is pretty cool - Interfraternity Institute. Its for new Greek advisors and new headquarters staffs. I went when I worked at Lynchburg College and now was asked to return as a fellow. At first I thought - I haven't been around long enough to be an "expert" in the field. But as this past weekend at FEA showed me - I have! There were only a handful of us who had been around almost ten years. Technically I've been about 8 years and a bit - but I guess I get lumped into the older crowd! But - I leave tomorrow afternoon and won't be back until next Thursday night. I'm not bringing the computer this time and because Steven hasn't figured out how to post to the blog - you'll just all have to go without updates!

Back to CT!

So we got in late (or early this morning) last night- about 2:30 AM by the time we dealt with the parking lot (dent in my car) and an hour's worth of traffic over the Whitestone Bridge because of construction. You know its going to be bad when you see it from the airplane... oh well... Steven went to work for 6, came back and got me and we went to pick up his car which was in being fixed while we were gone. I've got to get to the office in a bit - but wanted to share at least a few pictures from the vacation. These are all from the Grand Canyon trip last Wed - hard to believe a week ago we were there!

going home

hey everyone- so we are sitting here in the airport getting ready to fly home from vacation - so you'll here more from us later - but it was a good relaxing week!

Flagstaff

Steven is still almost asleep on our last morning in Flagsaff. He's definitely relaxing now - after not being able to sleep earlier in the week. We went to the Grand Canyon on Wednesday - wow! Cloudy but neat. Yesterday we hung around town, went for a hike up a great hill which had a wonderful view of the entire valley - you could even see where the forest changed to desert. Last night dinner was at Black Barts's Steakhouse and RV park... yes- RV Park - strange combo... Then we met our innkeepers, Michael and Richard, at the wine bar for a drink. They had raved about the ginger ale at that place so Steven had to try it! It was pretty good. Anyway - pictures are on the camera and we didn't bring the cord - so none to post. Maybe when we return. Today we are heading south to Pheonix. Maybe through Prescott to see the National Park there. Tomorrow back to Tuscon and the heat!

Flagstaff is much better than Tucson

We drove all day yesterday - stopped along the way a couple times - from Tucson to Flagstaff. Oh - and we stopped at a Wal Mart in Happy Valley - Mom and Dad will appreciate that! There really is a Happy Valley. Anyway - along the way we stopped at some ruins, then made our way to Sedona - neither Steven or I really liked the town. Too touristy. Beautiful - but we don't care if we stop on the way back or go back while we are here. Made it to the b&b about 4. Drove around town first - its cool! Sort of like Juneau, a mountain town and definitely better weather than down south. Last night I could have used a sweater. We are staying at the Starlight Pines. In the Firefly Room. I like the bed - Steven thinks its too hard. The Innkeepers are great - two guys who left corporate America and moved from Chicago to here two years ago. Anyway - we are still waking up early - up at 4 am this morning ( I think Steven was up way earlier) and now he's back to sleep. Its almost 7:30 but breakfast isn't until 8:30. We are taking it easy today - there are no fireworks in this part of the state because of the wildfires. The 4th of July parade is at 10 AM but we probably won't go. There is a craft fair downtown though. So we will probably relax, maybe go for a walk, and eat at another good place tonight.

Arizona!

We made it! Took all day - but we are here. And 99 degrees is 99 degrees - dry heat or not its hot. Tucson is ok - not much to downtown -but maybe we are missing something. The University of Arizona was pretty - we walked a bit but a thunderstorm and lightening seemed to start so we drove around. Saw the AEPhi house. Tomorrow we drive to Flagstaff where we are staying in a B and B for four nights. Can't wait for the drive. The mountains are neat - sort of pointy in a way. Well - we have the laptop with wireless internet - so people may hear from us every now and then.