And, then we went to the Woodburn Outlets :-) for some post hike shopping.
5/4/11
The best part about all that rain...
The best part about all that winter rain: WATERFALLS. We spent Wednesday April 27th hiking Silver Falls State Park.
And, then we went to the Woodburn Outlets :-) for some post hike shopping.
And, then we went to the Woodburn Outlets :-) for some post hike shopping.
What happens when...
What happens when you give your undergrads an unlimited supply of straws and tape... and 15 minutes to build a structure. This.
5/2/11
Ah, the Oregon Coast
Monday April 25 we woke up to grey, rainy Oregon skies in Corvallis. I had planned for us to go to the Oregon coast, but I wasn't sure the kids were going to have any fun if the weather was bad. I had been given some advice to "just go... the weather may not cooperate during their visit but just try to get it in and maybe there will be enough of a break in the clouds to actually see something". With that in mind, I hit the road with my sister, my niece and nephew. We went to Newport and started the day with lunch at Rogue Brewery - my favorite place to eat in Oregon.
We did Hatfield Marine Science Center. It is like the aquarium, but with a strong emphasis on education and it's free (well, we made a donation, but in theory, it is free). We happened to be there when they were feeding everything... including the octopus. They feed him by putting his food inside a PVC toy (which he has to open - It helps keep their hunting instinct high).
Then we headed to the historic bayfront area of Newport. We were hoping to see seals and sea lions. There were a few, way out in the harbor. (But it worked out: we got to see more when we went to Crescent City on our way to the Redwoods)
Then we decided we had to see the actual Pacific ocean, not just the bay. As expected it was windy and cold so we only stayed long enough to write our names in the sand and take a few photos.
We got some ice cream at the Newport Candy Shoppe. And, since Curtis is studying lighthouses in school, we went to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse and natural area. They charged us $7 to get into the park at 4:00 in the afternoon. The lighthouse closed at 4 (which we didn't know until the went in the visitor's center).
We found a "seal" (statue) at the visitor's center. He got his picture taken... a lot.
About the time we got out to the end of the rock, the rain hit.... it was that cold, blowing, stinging rain... not the funnest part of the day.
We made the trek back to Corvallis, got out of our wet clothes, and ordered some pizza while we huddled under blankets. It was a good day.
Then we headed to the historic bayfront area of Newport. We were hoping to see seals and sea lions. There were a few, way out in the harbor. (But it worked out: we got to see more when we went to Crescent City on our way to the Redwoods)
Then we decided we had to see the actual Pacific ocean, not just the bay. As expected it was windy and cold so we only stayed long enough to write our names in the sand and take a few photos.
We got some ice cream at the Newport Candy Shoppe. And, since Curtis is studying lighthouses in school, we went to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse and natural area. They charged us $7 to get into the park at 4:00 in the afternoon. The lighthouse closed at 4 (which we didn't know until the went in the visitor's center).
We found a "seal" (statue) at the visitor's center. He got his picture taken... a lot.
About the time we got out to the end of the rock, the rain hit.... it was that cold, blowing, stinging rain... not the funnest part of the day.
Once we made it back to the car, I asked what the plan was. Curtis said, in a very sweet voice from the backseat, (as we are all drying off and taking off soaked jackets) "let's not do that again". We waited on the rain to stop and we went down to the tidepools and snapped some great photos (and mostly tried to dry out before driving back to Corvallis).
Easter with friends AND family
I had family with me on Easter... that hasn't happened in a while.
We went to my friend Betsy's house and enjoyed easter with her family. Her dad cooked brisket and the kids had an easter egg hunt. Betsy is a photography genius and started snapping photos. Enjoy.
We went to my friend Betsy's house and enjoyed easter with her family. Her dad cooked brisket and the kids had an easter egg hunt. Betsy is a photography genius and started snapping photos. Enjoy.
Betsy's niece Katie "helping" my niece Desiree get an egg that was hidden up high...
Desiree and Curtis went for the same egg... so Curtis sat on her head and as she fell to the ground, he snatched it and ran.
Victory.
Even though it was raining, we had a blast. There is nothing like family.
I had a great time with family in town. I am also woefully behind on work. Between the trip to Fresno and the fact that today and tomorrow are CDE days on campus, I am swimming in tasks that need to be done.. I promise: coming soon I will have pictures (and maybe even video) of our trip to the Oregon coast, Silver Falls, Crater Lake and Redwood National Park.
4/28/11
Oregon Garden...in April
No two days are the same in one garden. ~Hugh Johnson
One of my first weekend adventures after arriving in Oregon was to visit the Oregon Garden.(Read that post here). This past weekend (after I got back from Fresno, but before the family arrived Saturday night) I made a second visit, this time with my new friend Jennifer. I have been told I need to see the garden during all seasons (I skipped winter - too wet and too cold for me). I plan to go back sometime in the next 6 weeks. This past weekend the garden was at the point where bulbs were up and crabapples and flowering cherry trees were blooming, but most things were just starting to leaf out. It warrants a return visit. I snapped some photos.
I was completely obsessed by the snake skin pattern on the blooms. I have never seen anything like it.
There were hellebores everywhere.
A happy little bear-shaped shrub to mark the entry to the Children's garden.
I am a sucker for a fern... I just love the way they unfurl....
Obsessed I tell you. If you click on this one and make it larger, you will see the pattern. Love it.
Afterwards, we had lunch at the Creekside Cafe in Silverton, OR, and stopped by The Chocolate Box for a snack. I had a peanut butter cake ball (delicious), but it wasn't as cute as these little guys... so I took their picture.
Wordless Wednesday (A day late)
I am glad they came all the way to Oregon to text while playing on their ipod and dirt bike race on my laptop see their Aunt Misty.
4/26/11
FRESNO
The Western Region AAAE Conference was held in Fresno April 20-22. Yup, Fresno. It was actually my first trip to California and it almost didn't happen. Here's the story:
I met up in Corvallis with my colleagues (4 of us total) at 6am to drive to Portland to catch our flight. I drove the 2 hours. We parked. We caught a shuttle. We made it to the check in kiosk and everyone successfully checked in - except me. No matter what approach I took with the machine (entering my name, confirmation number, flight number, swiping a credit card) nothing was finding my reservation. It kept telling me to see the ticket agent. I gave up and stood in line and saw a ticket agent - Martha was her name. Martha was convinced (like me) that it must be a glitch with the kiosk. She looked me up. No reservation. Martha asked me if I was sure I was traveling on the correct day. I confirmed that not only was this the correct day, everyone else in my party (booked on the same day by the same travel agent) had already checked in and were waiting on me so we could clear security together. She began working on the phone. She called the travel agent (which was, but is no longer, the University's travel). The problem: their reservations were confirmed by our office manager, mine was cancelled (an apparent oversight). Martha was ready to re-book me when a new problem surfaced: that flight was now full.
She told my group to go on without me. They left - blissfully together. Martha told me to go sit in the corner while she went to work (in a back room) on getting me to Fresno. Altogether, I stood or sat at the ticket counter for about 45 minutes. Martha was able to make it happen - on a different airline and thru Salt Lake City. However, I arrived only 35 minutes after the rest of my group. Martha from Alaska Airlines in Portland was my hero.
The conference was great. There was a chance to soak up some California sunshine between sessions. There was a chance to catch up with friends, mentors, and colleagues, and meet a new crop of grad students. There was the chance to consume research papers and posters. There were business meetings. There was this one "free" prime rib dinner that I could have done without. There was a chance to drink :-) and forget about said dinner...And, apparently after some drinks, there was the chance to get myself appointed to a committee.
And, I get to do it all again next month in Idaho at the National Meeting of AAAE.
Currently Enjoying: Having family in town
Currently Anticipating: A trip to Crater Lake, Silver Falls and Portland
Currently Procrastinating: ALE reviews
I met up in Corvallis with my colleagues (4 of us total) at 6am to drive to Portland to catch our flight. I drove the 2 hours. We parked. We caught a shuttle. We made it to the check in kiosk and everyone successfully checked in - except me. No matter what approach I took with the machine (entering my name, confirmation number, flight number, swiping a credit card) nothing was finding my reservation. It kept telling me to see the ticket agent. I gave up and stood in line and saw a ticket agent - Martha was her name. Martha was convinced (like me) that it must be a glitch with the kiosk. She looked me up. No reservation. Martha asked me if I was sure I was traveling on the correct day. I confirmed that not only was this the correct day, everyone else in my party (booked on the same day by the same travel agent) had already checked in and were waiting on me so we could clear security together. She began working on the phone. She called the travel agent (which was, but is no longer, the University's travel). The problem: their reservations were confirmed by our office manager, mine was cancelled (an apparent oversight). Martha was ready to re-book me when a new problem surfaced: that flight was now full.
She told my group to go on without me. They left - blissfully together. Martha told me to go sit in the corner while she went to work (in a back room) on getting me to Fresno. Altogether, I stood or sat at the ticket counter for about 45 minutes. Martha was able to make it happen - on a different airline and thru Salt Lake City. However, I arrived only 35 minutes after the rest of my group. Martha from Alaska Airlines in Portland was my hero.
The conference was great. There was a chance to soak up some California sunshine between sessions. There was a chance to catch up with friends, mentors, and colleagues, and meet a new crop of grad students. There was the chance to consume research papers and posters. There were business meetings. There was this one "free" prime rib dinner that I could have done without. There was a chance to drink :-) and forget about said dinner...And, apparently after some drinks, there was the chance to get myself appointed to a committee.
And, I get to do it all again next month in Idaho at the National Meeting of AAAE.
Currently Enjoying: Having family in town
Currently Anticipating: A trip to Crater Lake, Silver Falls and Portland
Currently Procrastinating: ALE reviews
4/25/11
Happy Birthday Emily
April 29th will be the third birthday of my niece Emily Ann - my brother's oldest daughter. I haven't been around for Emily's birthday yet. In fact, I got a voice mail during my ANOVA class to let me know she had been born. (My little brother was stationed at Ft. Drum at the time so the whole family was at a distance for that one). Late April is a tough time on the academic calendar, but perhaps one day I will be around to celebrate her birth. Until then, I mail presents and hope that she remembers me the next time I see her.
I think my favorite thing about Emily is her range of faces. You always know what this child is thinking/feeling because it is all over her face. I can relate. See some of my favorites (of those captured on film) in the collage below (click on it to make it larger). Happy Birthday Emily Ann!
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