The home stretch!

Here's Miss Doggie in her hot pink winter-wear, looking very chec! We are well into the spring, of course, so she is cozy and warm in her own natural coat. At first, without her pink sweater, she looked oddly naked. Then, after a bath, she was so soft to pet and even smelled good for a couple of days.

We're in the home stretch with the semester, just 7 more days until the week of final exams. I didn't count weekends. After commencement on May 16th, I am off to London for vacation! Woo-hoo!

Spring break

My spring break was last week. Instead of staying home for some rest or working in my office to catch up on some work without student interruptions, I decided to go on a trip. This was not just any ordinary trip or vacation of any sort. Some students at the college spend their spring break somewhere warm, like Florida or Mexico, where they rest a lot and drink a lot. Some students choose to go on service trips. I was a chaperone on one of such trips. Our group, 23 in all (I was one of two adult chaperones), spent the week in Alleghany Highlands, in the western end of Virginia. We did lots of painting - indoors, outdoors, sheds, window panes, pillars - picked up trash, and built a step for a porch. I got to know my students outside of the classroom which was a great experience (they also got to know me). Only two students in the group are also currently in one of my classes this semester. It was a tiring trip, but very rewarding. We loved all the people we met there.

I did not take any pictures, maybe someone will send me one or two of theirs.

Snow, grant proposal, and baths!

We haven't had any big snow storms this season. So far, the most snow fall we've had was about 5 or 6 inches of accumulation. It was one of the prettiest. Here are a couple of pictures from the University, right outside of the science center that houses my office, lab, and classrooms. Grounds crew had already cleared the paths around campus. These pictures were taken about 2 or 3 weeks ago, I've lost track...

Until this past Tuesday and since returning from Christmas break, I've been hard at work, putting in long hours, and getting a grant proposal submitted. It was finally submitted today! I've decided to take a day off tomorrow to celebrate, catch up on some sleep, get some chores done including taking my car in for scheduled service maintenance and giving Doggie a bath. Miss Doggie is quite stinky at the moment, but tomorrow she'll be lavender-fresh! You see, the last time she got a bath was Thanksgiving, about 3 months ago. She's long overdue for a bath!

Monkeys!

Monkeys have always been my favorite animals. They have funny mannerisms and facial expressions. I think God created them so we can laugh at ourselves when we see how similar we are to them. Monkeys in picture above have been in my possession for over 20 years! White monky (Bean Bean 3) on the left is similar to what the middle monkey (Bean Bean 2) looked like new. Bean Bean 2 was always brownish gray; he's become skinner and balder over the years. Momma Monkey recently had her tail reattached; it was hanging by a thread for a long time. Baby Monkey got his full smile back, too; he had lost it in a fight with Lifu.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Merry Christmas, blog readers!!

Less than two more days until Christmas and the celebration of the Savior's birth!

I am happy to have some time off after a difficult semester.

Christmas!!

Ten days until Christmas!! My colleagues at work have been of special holiday cheer this year and have decorated the doors of the offices. Mine is the one with the Nativity scene... Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and a donkey.

Snow!!

We got our first snow of the season. It's another month until it's officially winter. But, early this morning, we got a nice 1-inch blanket of snow. It caught many people by surprise. Traffic going to work was pretty bad. I was sure thankful for my 4-wheel drive! I wonder if this is an indication of a long, cold winter ahead...

Phillies & a new President

Last Wednesday, the entire city of Philadelphia erupted in jubilation! Our beloved Phillies won the World Series! Two days later, 2 million people gathered in Center City and celebrated with the players, coaches, and management. Nothing quite like this has been seen in Philadelphia since 1983 when the Sixers won the NBA championship. The last time Phillies won the World Series was 1980!

Philadelphians and baseball are deep in superstition. A statue of William Penn, founder of the city and for whom Pennsylvania was named, sits on top of City Hall. No other building in the city was taller than he until 1987 when Liberty Plazas were built. It is thought that when no more Philadelphia professional sports teams had won major championships since 1983, William Penn had placed a curse over the city for being overshadowed. A new building is nearly finished in Center City, taller than any other. On the top of this building, a new, albeit much smaller, statue of Mr. Penn has been placed. Perhaps because of that, the curse has been reversed?

About 24 hours from now, this country will have a new President awaiting to take over the Oval Office and reside in the White House. These are interesting days! Stay tuned!

Random...

Picture of my office... looking out. It is a nice size office with 2 large desks, 3 book shelves, 6 chairs (one for me, one for my stuff, and the rest for students). I can't complain! It could be more homey, with a nice rug, more pictures on the walls, etc.

The Philadelphia Phillies have made it all the way into the World Series. The city is buzzing with excitement. The Series will begin tomorrow (Oct. 22nd) in Tampa Bay, Florida. They will play 2 games there before moving to Philadelphia for 3 more games. The first team to win 4 games will win the Championship. If necessary, they will play 2 more games in FL. If it weren't for the Presidential elections in exactly two weeks, there would be tons more ado about it.

Speaking of the elections, I think the entire country is sick of all the campaign, candidates vying for votes on TV, radio, every media possible. Since Pennsylvania is a swing state (it could go to either McCain or Obama), both have been campaigning around the Philadelphia region. We've seen an avalanche of advertisements trying to convice the people how good or how horrible one candidate is over the other. I've already made up my mind.

Mushrooms et al

We've had lots of rain in the last few days, between Northeasters and hurricances (or reminants of them). Huge mushrooms have popped up in one corner of the backyard. These are huge!! They are almost as big as Doggie's head! I tried taking some pictures with her in them for perspective. But, it was getting dark and Doggie wanted nothing to do with them.

Here she is, happy as a clam, indoors, and getting very sleepy! She's not going to like the winter. She won't have the nice fluffy carpets to lounge around on. Carpets throughout the entire house was recently replaced by hardwood floors.