slacker '09

Isn't it annoying when you read someone's blog and they apologize for not posting in so long? Ok, it's quite obvious that nothing has been written in days or weeks and really what can be done about it? it's in the past, so get over it and write something dammit. :) So, given that, i'll spare you all the details of where i've been for the past few weeks and just dive right into the good stuff! Cause there's lots. Here is what's been goin on:

1. Refinanced my house! yes rates are excellent right now folks so if you have an expiring ARM, LOOK INTO IT.
2. Completed a website equipped with a flash coverflow top piece (think itunes - it's redundant but the client really really really wanted it so they got it). PHEW - no more side jobs for me till the semester is OVER.
   
3. Fixed a dying car and dealt with associated insurance issues (so i get reimbursed)
4. Took a road trip with Jess to NJ and Philly area. Hung with the coolest fam and met up with slackass for a chill afternoon in suburban philly. So good to cya slackass!!
5. Realized I have a new, super cool, low key and not really medium sized friend.
   
6. Made Sushi - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Much better homemade than from wegmans.
7. Discovered new hip hop.
   
8. Ate pie.
   
9. Signed up for ornithology lab. For all who know me, you know how excited I am about this class. Now i not only get to learn about bird history (you know, presidents, wars, etc), and evolution of flight, speciation, etc, but ALSO, i get to examine stuffed and frozen birds on a weekly basis for intimate study (ok, again head out of the gutter, not that type of intimate, we are scientists in ecology OK?). Unfortunately this makes for 6 hours of class time and a good bit of out of class time commitment on top of the 40 hr week and my dissertation proposal but... it will be SO WORTH IT.
10. Started contemplating my early spring, birds of PA / CROSS CENTURY. yes folks, it will be 100 miles, all dirt / gravel, and all climbing cross bike goodness. Percs including spending the ENTIRE DAY listening to ME point out Birds of PA in the forest. YES! (ok, so maybe i should spare everyone and do it alone)
11. Resolved to stop taking on TOO MUCH. Unfortunately this means saying no to some more web volunteer work with a local shelter (this breaks my heart but my sanity, proposal and grades are all at stake).
12. REVISION: and last but certainly not least, ate indian food w/ERIC.

For those outside of PA, it's been COLD - ass cold(tm) in fact until recent days when we have been graced with the most beautiful fluffy SNOW. Unfortunately i've been holed up working so i have yet to ski but it's coming soon - this week in fact. Enjoy some picts below of recent adventures.

Early morning walk with chaya around riverton - robins everywhere enmasse!

The coolest little town ever. all of the houses were victorian or victorian-inspired.

State College in NJ? weird!

Tis the season... now if i put this in my front garden, I'd get a nasty notice and a 25$/day fine.

It's a VW thing, you wouldn't understand.

And the snow - we have a lot!

no need for words. (why did i write that?)


sometimes chaya pretends to be a playful dog.

othertimes, well most times, she's plain retarded.

the end. more to come soon!