Snow Advisory

It was 6:30, and my alarm clock was buzzing in the annoying manner it does. I hit snooze. I repeated this action five times. At 6:50 I finally emerged from my very toasty flannel and down nest. My head was pounding. I got ready for class and was out the door by 7:30 feeling particular pleased with myself because I wouldn't be late for class. So, i'm buzzing through Oregon - over the river....it looked dirty as ever. The Maumee is so disgusting. The annoying detour around the construction zone is always a tour of the early to rise bums of East Toledo. I exit I-280 to I-75 and am greeted by stopped traffic. It took me an hour to go the 4 miles to the I-475 exit. Not only was that frustrating enough, but I arrive at the exit only to find it blocked. This all resulted in me getting lost in Toledo (again) and finally arriving on campus at 9:15. A few more minutes and class would be over. What was the point? I went to the gym and worked out just to spite my pounding head.

The thing that amazes me the most is that the reason for all this trouble was that Toledo recieved a grand total of 12 snowflakes over the course of last night. The people of Toledo found it necessary to then rush out and crash their vehicles first thing this morning. While waiting in traffic, I heard on the radio that we were under a secondary snow advisory. I looked out the windshield. A snowflake fluttered down and landed in front of me. Half a minute later, a second snowflake, probably a friend of the one on my car, fluttered down and landed on the VW 6 cars up. This heavy snowfall has remained steady throughout the entire day. Roads are nearly impassable. If it keeps this up much longer I fear all of Toledo may perish. If not from deadly car crashes, then at least from starvation after their pantries run dry and they are all too snowed in to retrieve sustenance.

*blink*

The human species amazes me. Not for their wonders in technology and architecture, but for their complete inability to adapt. I mean, Ohioians can't drive to begin with, but to have so many accidents as the result of such mild winter conditions. Its unbelivable. Its not like its even a southern state. North Carolina gets an inch of snow and the whole state shuts down. Pitiful, but slightly more understandable that one of the Great Lakes States! It sure makes me glad I learned to drive in northwest PA winters. Now, if only I can avoid getting hit.

Thoughts of the Trail

"To make a long story short, Don't tell it."

I was driving back to Ohio yesterday after a few days at home. I had the Two Towers soundtrack playing, and Radar was snoozing soundly beside me. A few raindrops were speckling my windshield, just enough to put my wipers on low. This was the perfect environment for thinking, reflecting on my weekend. Naturally, the number one thing on my mind at this time was Steven. Driving back to Ohio is always so hard. It feels as if I might as well be driving to the other side of the world. It is times like these that I realize how incredibly lucky I truely am. For even though he does the occasional thing to anger me or make me grit my teeth, he is everything I could ever ask for. He is sweet and caring, smart and funny, and so passionate about the things he cares about. I could not be more proud of him for his talent in photography. He's finally getting around to doing something with his ability and submitting prints to magazines. I can't even begin to describe how I feel about him other than I love him with all of my heart. He is my best friend, and he is Home. I realized this over 2 years ago, and with each day, this feeling has only grown stronger. Sure, home is still the rolling hills and forests of Pennsylvania, but if he were no longer there, it would loose much of what makes it truely feel like home. I said this two and a half years ago, and I will say it again: Home is where your sweetheart is. And I'm finding myself to be extremely homesick.

I miss you, babe.

Dine in style -- Dine at EAT!!

I had a doctors appointment today in Portersville, a middle of nowhere town located right between two major state parks. Needless to say, there isn't a whole lot there. Jamie, being the dear that she is, agreed to ride along with me for the company. We arrived in this nowhere town super early, so we decided to grab some lunch at one of the 2 local resturants. We chose the EAT resturant. This lovely diner style resturant was fully decorated in a hunting theme. Deer, ducks, and pheasant lined the inner walls and overhead lamps. The crate paper turkeys and pumpkins created a festive atmosphere. The scary locals added even more charm. Upon enterance, were were warmly welcomed by all dinners by the silent turn and stare. Just when we were feeling extremely out of place, a group of mexicans came and sat at the next table and rattled on in spanish. *shrugs* At least the food was decent.

I was a random rebel today as well. I made an illegal Left hand turn. I really didn't see any reason for the restriction, and I wanted to go left. So I did. Ha! I continued this rebelious streak after my appointment (which involved an untolerable amount of waiting) by making an illegal U-turn on I-79. Again....Ha!!

While on I-79, we got nodded at my a couple of creepy guys in a truck. And then later, I got hit on my a 17 year old kid. Jamie found this quite amusing.

Thats about it for the really interesting happenings of today.

Check out Jamie's blog for her rendition of the day.

Home Depot

I just got back from Home Depot. I love that store. It has all sorts of fun toys. The thing that really rubs my fur the wrong way though is how I get bombarded by every male employee of the place. I can be looking at something, and one will come over and ask, "Can I help you?" Okay, not a crime, right? Thats fine. What bugs me is the look I get when I say No. Its like they're completely dumbfounded and thrown off gaurd. And half the time I get the "Are you sure??" Yes, I'm sure.....Dick. I was able to walk in the door and find what I wanted without your masculine assistance. I may be female, and I may be blonde, but damnit, I'm a very handy person. I mean, seriously. I carry my own leatherman tool. That, by the way, definatly impressed some of the guys out at the lab the other day. *smug look*

Anyway, I got the shrink wrap stuff to put over my very drafty bedroom windows. When I woke up this morning, there was actually a layer of ice on the INSIDE of the window. At that point I decided I needed to do something about that. So the shrinkwrap shall be installed this evening. All by myself, I might add.

Flannel sheets are the best things ever. Despite my shitty windows, with my flannel sheets and down comforter, I was super toasty. I would have slept wonderfully had Radar not continued to wake me up throughout the night by pulling my hair. I'm not sure if he was playing with it or just trying to groom me. He's so werid sometimes.

Its Friday. That is happy. Only one more week until I get to see my sweetie again. *glee*

Swim'n with the Fishes

Yesterday was actually kind of interesting and fun. I got into the aquarium to clean and put in some more drift wood and the plants. It seemed like the whole lab knew I was going to do it. All morning I heard, "So, when ya go'n in?" And, to everyone's amusment, I eventually did. All gathered around to laugh and take pictures of me in the tank with the fish. So, eventually those will surface and if not too horrible, I might even share them with you. Maybe.

We put the bowfin into the tank. He looks so awesome in there!! He immediately started prowling around on the bottom like a little Tiger. All the little perch were pretty freaked out and had thier spiky dorsal "do not eat me" fins up. I'm sure a couple of them are gone by now.

The crayfish in the tank finally showed himself yesterday too. He is huge!!!! Definetly much bigger than when we put him in. We couldn't believe it. He's a monster!

Last night was a meeting/seminar about the study done on the e.coli at Maumee Bay beach and where its coming from. Public meetings are always so much fun. Stupid people who don't have a clue about what they're talking about just talking to hear themselves say something. All we can do is just sit back, laugh, and shake our heads. Its very frustrating in a way, seeing the stupidy and closed-mindedness of the general public. One guy wanted to point out that one of the source ditches wasn't actually in Oregon. My question is: What difference does that make? *Shakes head* I can't stand people.

It started snowing here yesterday too. Not enough to stick, but bitter cold. It wouldn't be so bad if not for the wind.

Today was just a typical thursday. Not much to talk about there. I'm just glad tomorrow is friday.

Tornado Watch

There is nothing more uplifting then a cold, windy, rainy November day. Well, there's always that shitty rain/snow mix, but thats for tomorrow.

Tornado watch until Midnight here. Weeee..... Twisters are cool. Really....i mean that. But would be slighty more so if I had a basement.

Quote of the day: "There's an alcohol for every climate" ~Ecology Prof. Daryl Moorhead

Hoping I'm not getting sick.

Mmm...yeah...that's all i got.

Bowfin bliss

Another morning spent out at the lab getting things ready for the President's reception. Thought, most of todays tasks called for some shopping. So Josh and I, with the LEC's van and credit card, set out to buy all sorts of interesting things: chain and S-hooks, an electrical timer, some aquarium glue, lots of high-density drift wood, and some slates. So that was fun. I saw that the aquarium store has freshwater stingrays. I've decided that when I have my freshwater aquarium, I must have one. I love rays, they're right up there with Sea dragons. Anyway, Wednesday holds some serious aquarium work. And by serious I mean actually getting in there. I have to remember to take shorts to work.

Josh caught us a little Bowfin fish to put in the tank. He's so awesome and pretty. (The fish, not Josh.) I think i'll name him Bo. Pretty original, eh?

I got a brand new Dell computer today. Well, technically, its not mine, but my professors, but its for me to use, and i'll be the only one using it for the next 2 years. So its as good as mine, right? But now my lab finally has something in it other than dead bugs and dust (most of which i swept out today.) Its exciting.

Now its time it cozy into my couch with a mug of tea, get into some school work, and wait for my Sweetie to get online.

I can't wait to go home.

Nothing to write home about.....

Well, it wasn't a very exciting weekend. My parents decided not to visit. Between Dad not feeling great since the surgery and leaving the dogs in the house all day, they just decided to wait to see me when I came home for Thanksgiving. So, instead I cleaned my appartment and did some laundry, got a lot of sleep (11 hours last night), got some reading done, and watched a few movies. I woke up this morning (after having a really stupid, shitty dream about that one aweful person I do all I can to pretend doesn't really exist) with a pounding headache. I took a bunch of Advil, but to no avail. Hopefully it'll be gone by tomorrow. Over all, not feeling too hot tonight.

But on a positive note, the Steelers are currently kicking the hell out of the Browns. So...thats happy. Keep it up guys! Show Ohio what PA is all about!!

Jell-O

Today was a good day. Even though I'm finally going to a school that is closed on federal holidays, I still went into the lab to do some work. (After sleeping in of course.) Josh and I scrubbed down one of the living streams (basically, an aquarium with water flowing through it) and got it all set up. We put in sand and gravel for a patchy environment substrate, and even added some driftwood. It looks nice. So it has water going through it so its all ready for the fishes. They will probably go in Monday.

That only took us until about 2:00. After that I went to Wal-Mart to pick up a few needed things, got gas, and went to rent videos. I've discovered a very nice video rental store near where I lived that has really cheap rentals. All rentals are $1 and $2 for new releases. And a lot of times they have good deals. For instance, i rented a new release and a regular video for only $0.53. Yes...that is 53 cents. I couldn't believe it either. But I was quite happy. I rented Kingdom of Heaven and Master and Commander. So those shall be watched this weekend.

I have a "date" tonight with Steven. We're disgustingly cute, I know. But ..... *big grins* This "date" is just meeting up on AIM to chat and watch the same video and drink tea together. Its very cozy, really. Not nearly as good as the real thing, but I'll take it. Tonight we're watching the Peanuts Valentine cartoon. Gotta love Snoopy!

Oh, and I made strawberry jello today too.

Another day at the office.....

So today wasn't anything special. Biostats class, where i had to hold my eyelids open through some very boring student presentations. But then Dr. Moorehead came in to talk to us about a new statistical method. He's hilarious though. He threatened to take his shirt off after overhearing a conversation on body hair. It was quite a frightening moment, but the shirt stayed on and no hairy parts of Uncle Daryl were revealed. He then proceeded to inform us that statistics are bullshit imposed upon us by "sadistic assholes". I really couldn't agree more. (Too bad i'm taking 2 statistics classes next semester.)

After class and working out, I headed out to the lab for a full afternoon of fish maintence. It is what I get paid for afterall. I'm in charge of the 1000 gal. aquarium at the facility--water changes, fish feeding, adding new fish species, making sure everything is nice and asthetically pleasing as well as educational. So i scrubed algae off the sides and did a 1/3 water change and fed the fishes. They seem to recognize me as their keeper/feeder. Whenever I come around the school around expecting to be fed. They're kind of cute in their own little fishy ways. I suppose you could say I enjoy this job. There are certainly worse things I could be doing for my measly stipend, including dealing with undergrads.

"My" aquarium: http://lakeerie.utoledo.edu/html/rotank.htm

So, thats about my day. One thing is for certain: This week is going much too slowly.

Here goes nothing.....literally

Alright ...well.....with a little nudging from a friend, I have decided to start a blog. Considering the depressing lack of excitment in my life in recent months, I can't see how anyone would be interested in my daily events. You see, in August, I picked up and moved to Toledo -- a city located 4 hours from friends, family, and my beloved partner in crime , all in order to obtain a special sheet of paper often refered to as a Masters of Science Degree. This particular one in the field of Ecology.

So, here I am, just me and my cat, Radar (who i'm sure you'll be hearing a lot about in future postings). My time is mostly spent reading, or doing some other sort of school related work. I suppose the upside to all this studying is that I've been doing really well. The downside, well, I don't have a whole lot else going on.

But i suppose, things do happen. And I suppose thats what this blog is for -- to document all these little interesting things, and perhaps even some of the thoughts that go through this brain of mine.

So, if you're interested because you know me, I'll try to keep this updated. If you're reading this because you're life is boring enough to read about my boring life, then I would have to suggest a hobby -- perhaps learn a musical instrument or pick up a pencil to write or draw. Seriously.