Yes, I have been a bad blogger. The last school year was especially rough and stressful and I needed a mental break to get get my brain rebooted. But we got through the semester, took our trip to MN and came back to chaos. As usual. :P The car transmission decided to really start crapping the bed and the vacuum broke. This doesn't sound like much, but the car is a big deal. Or, should I say, was a big deal. Let me show you our newest addition:



We bought a 2009 Hyundai Elantra yesterday! It's my first new car; Jason's second. It's pretty! And it's tricked out, by my standards. We traded the Buick in, which I felt bad about because I'm most likely far too sentimental about cars.

Another minor project of mine was to clean up our front "yard". The apartment complex doesn't do any landscaping (aside from the few bushes present) and our front area was a mess of weeds. The only before picture I have is Jason "discovering" a birthday present left in the bushes by our good friends Bobby and Allison:



I brought some Lamium back from MN (Thanks, Mom!) and ripped up everything but the shrubs and planted the whole lot. So here's what it looks like now:



Much better, in my opinion! :D I'm just happy that the weeds are gone.

I'm going to make a point to post more; there's actually been a few developments that will take longer to explain that this short summary post. But for now, I'm doing research for the summer, Jason is teaching and we're muddling along.

Earth Hour is tomorrow!



This is getting to be a huge event -- even Norman is getting into it!

In other news, spring break was... interesting. I'll give more details later, but it involved trips around Oklahoma and trips to urgent care. Poor Jason!

It's been a long time since I posted anything, but there's nothing much to say! School has kept me extremely busy, even though I only have two classes. Both those classes have generated much homework and then I have research on top of it all. So I haven't forgotten about the poor, neglected blog -- I just haven't had a lot of time.

Spring break starts this weekend and the parents are once again heading down our way for some sunshine, flowers and other greenery. We've been fairly warm and I can only hope that trend keeps up for them.

I meant to post all this yesterday, but a pesky migraine got in the way. But here are some updates!

First, let me say that I did pass my Astro Qualifier. Woo hoo! I'm not sure what's next, but at least that's behind me...

We got hit by an ice storm Monday afternoon through Tuesday evening. It wasn't as bad as last year because we never lost power, but this one seemed to hit the roads harder. School was canceled Monday afternoon, Tuesday and Wednesday. I took some pics, but they aren't nearly as impressive as last winter:

This is Tuesday morning, after the initial front; the parking lot and our "backyard"




Here's Wednesday after the last 1.5" and second front


It's 65F today, so most of it is gone now.

I also wanted to share how I've been spending my evenings of late:



Somehow, all of the cats have managed to work out a way to lay on me. I got stuck like that Thursday night for almost 3 hours! I just can't bear to move the cuties.

We're attending the monthly beer tasting night at some friends -- this month it's Belgian night. I'll have to post the before and after pictures. :D

Wow, it has been a while since I updated...

Winter break went far too quickly after the chaos that was fall semester. We had a great time in MN, even if we didn't get to do half of what we had hoped. We're hoping to come up sometime after the spring semester when there are no holidays involved.

We've been back in OK for a couple of weeks, but immediately upon returning I had to buckle down and study for qualifiers, which were last week. I should (hopefully) get the results tomorrow. On a good note, I did pass E&M I. Woohoo! I was a bit worried about that, but now I'll just have to take Quantum II next fall. Classes started this week, though I'm hoping this semester will be less stressful and crazy, as I only have two classes and research credits. I'm finishing up E&M and taking an observational astro course, which already is so much better than the one I took as an undergrad. We actually have a text!

I know we pick on Oklahoma a lot (it does have it's disadvantages), but one advantage is the weather:



It was 70F the day of the National Championship bowl on 8 Jan and it's supposed to hit almost 80F today. Pansies are blooming all over campus, though they did look a little peaked last week when we got "cold".

Anyway, this was just a short little post to let everyone know I'm still here and brag a bit about the weather. :P I'll post again soon (not 6 weeks!)

So I'm caught up with my grading and my presentation is over. Now I just have an assignment due Friday, a paper due next week and 2 finals next week. Then I'm done! Woo hoo! And we can go back to MN for a little while. :D

Speaking of MN, the hubby told the story quite well, but I have the pics. :P

To start, on Wednesday I got to see one of my best friends for the first time in something like 10 years:



Jamie and I have been friends since junior high, but lost touch when I went down to Mississippi in '98. I'm so glad we got the chance to meet up! The funnier part is that she knows Jason's friends Sean, Becky and Mike. Jamie knows them from Normandale Community College; Jason knows them from Mankato. What a small world! Sean, Backy, Mike and Jess joined us that evening, in addition to my friend Andri and her fiance, Brian:



Thursday was day full of good food and we both ate too much. My stew turned out well and we were still eating it last week. :D It was great to spend time with my brother and sister-in-law:



The kitten previously known as "Gollum" is now known as "Casey" is getting along well at Jerry and Heather's:



I'm so glad they took him, as we really would have liked to keep him. This is the next best option!

Friday night led us to Carbone's to meet up with Mike, Rich, Dave, Nik, Denny, Jerry and Heather. I managed to get a picture of the five guys:



On Saturday we stuffed ourselves with Jeff's eggplant parmesan and I got to dote on Kaylee a bit:



Wash is also enjoying his new home:



We had to leave on Sunday, but we got a traditional MN send-off!



And the girls survived their trip to MN and back. Think they've settled in to the new place?

I'll post more later this week (I'm so behind in my grading it's not funny) with lots of pics. We survived the trip up with 5 cats, returned with 3 and everyone is well.

It was a great weekend. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

OK, we're done moving everything over and have the old place clean. They say that it's not the day after hard work that hurts, it's the second day. Yep, today is that day. And tomorrow we get to sit in a car for 13 hours... My arms feel like jelly and my legs, knees and back are cursing me. I can only imagine how Jason feels!

Now the unpacking begins, though I really won't have time for serious unpacking until after finals. There's only 2 weeks of classes when we get back on Sunday and one week of finals. Hopefully I can get enough of the kitchen in order so we can cook! We'll also be adjusting for stairs -- I haven't lived in a house where I had to climb the stairs regularly in a long time. At least I can't complain that I won't be getting exercise! The cats seem to really enjoy the stairs, especially Sprite. This will be good exercise for them all.

I hope we get to see a bunch of you this weekend; otherwise, we'll be back in about a month!

Here are the pictures I intended to put up before the kittens:

Sprite loves the bathroom and the shower curtain



Jasmine joining into the dorkitude



Jasmine sharing her basket with Sprite



Sprite telling Silke "I gotcha!"



Silke's response of "Oh yeah?"



Silke stretching and thinking "it's all mine"



And finally, just for Mom, Sprite on the blue afghan :P



We're moving tomorrow and heading off to MN Tuesday. Expect a lag in blogging, but I will return with adventurous stories! Yeah, right. :P

25 months to the day after finding Zoe and 42 days after finding Sprite, we've been invaded times two:



Some kids in the complex found these poor little boys and they knew right who to bring them to. I don't doubt they were being truthful when they said their mothers said "no" to them when they asked to keep them, but I'm really glad we're moving!

So here's a close up of "Zorro" (who has a mustache):



and "Gollum":



Oh, and Jason named them. :P

I've been told by a couple of friends who found a kitten a few weeks back that the shelters and rescue groups in the area are overrun by kittens and not accepting anymore, so we'll spend the week trying to find a home or else they're comin' on up to MN with us. We sure can't keep 5 cats!

This wasn't what I meant by "I'll be posting more cute kitteh pics soon"...

*EDIT: ... and they might have found a home. Well, at least Zorro, who will now be known as Wash, will have a home. I'm still trying to convince them to take Gollum as Simon. ;)

more animals

I did end up dropping a class, which will set me back, but is better in the long run. I also had an E&M exam on Friday, which meant I was insane last week. But I don't have anymore exams until finals!

T- 2 weeks until we move. I've packed up almost everything we're not using, with the exception of glassware. I need more newspaper, which means I'll be raiding the OK Daily stash and recycling bins at school again.

I'll post more cute kitteh pictures soon. :D

The little kitteh has insinuated herself into our lives. She's crazy and kitten-ish and flies from one room to the next and can stop on a dime. She's dragged all the toys out and is learning many "tricks" from the older kittehs, from drowning tinsel balls to chewing on plastic to wake us up. She sure has made herself at home!



And she sure fits right in with the dorkitude:



Jasmine and Silke don't seem to mind her for the most part, but once is a while Silke objects and yells "Ma! Lookit what she's doin'!":



"She usin' me as a mattress!"



And Queen Jasmine just covers her eyes in exasperation:



But really, it's one big happy crazy family!

and Happy Halloween! We're once again participating in the annual Halloween party, but our costumes are much less make-up intensive this year. We'll post pics tomorrow. ;)

I was also very bad and didn't get around to downloading the pics of Sprite and promise to do that this weekend as well. We will officially inaugurate her into the family this weekend by purchasing a collar and tags. We're crossing our fingers that no one points out in the new place that we have 3 cats. *crosses fingers* All the shelters and rescue groups are full to over-crowded with cats and kittens, not that we'd give her up now, anyway. I guess it's just that time of year here!

I'll post more this weekend, but here's wishing everyone a safe and fun Halloween!

After a crazy, busy yet satisfying and happy weekend at home, I came back to a wild and wacky week full of homework and exams. Oh, joy! But it's over and I spent a good chuck of the weekend packing. I did some damage, but the kitchen is usually the hardest part. :D 4 weeks and counting!

It was great to be back in MN (i.e.: civilization) for a couple of days. I saw a real grocery store and didn't get taxed in clothing! I also was able to partake in yummy Oktoberfest at Granite City. The weather was even beautiful. And, of course, the baby was too cute:



and Josh, as well:



We still have the little kitteh and will be questioning the new place to see if we can manage to keep her. She gets along well with our cats, surprisingly, and keeps them moving, which is great. She is a little monster, as all kittens tend to be, but she is a cute monster. I'll post more pics after I download them from the camera. But we are still looking for a home, just in case...

Take a break and make Josh pamper you! :P

Here's also hoping that we'll be celebrating another birthday very soon... *crosses fingers*

And we are celebrating another birthday: Welcome to the world, Kaylee!



Born today at 1:48 PM; 8 lbs, 13 oz and 21" long. Congrats, Erin and Jeff! I can't wait to meet her this weekend...

Remember our last invasion? Almost 2 years to the day, we're being invaded again. At least this time we have an extra bathroom...



She jumped up on our window sill, crying and trying to come in. Yeah, like I was going to leave her out there. She was ravenous, but doesn't look like she's been on her own too long. She's calmed down immensely and is just a sweetheart. She loves any and all attention given to her; in fact, she's downright frantic for attention.

The people in the office think she was dumped, but we're still hoping someone calls for her. If no one has claimed her by next week, I guess we'll have to fork over the office visit cost to get her checked out so she can come out of the bathroom while we look for a home. We're again in the situation where we can't have more cats, even if she does get along with ours. So far we've been fortunate enough that she hasn't done the "Vibrating Ninja of Needly Doom" routine. :D

So... anyone want a cute, adorable, affectionate kitteh?

Time has been a precious commodity lately -- between 4 classes, teaching and home life, it's a wild and wacky world. Our lease ends today and we've been tossing around the option of moving, since we're out of the public transportation loop and far away from pretty much everything. We found a 2-level townhome for rent much closer to OU and within walking distance of a bus stop. The rent is $250 less a month for the equivalent square-footage, but it's an older property, so there may be maintenance issues. But we'll be saving a lot of money, so we're biting the bullet and moving again. We may be moving again in 9 months, but we'll just cope.

I'll be flying to MN a week from Friday to see my new niece, who is due to make an appearance at any time. Unfortunately, I won't have time to socialize, since I'll be flying right back out Sunday afternoon. But I'm going home! :) We'll be heading up for Thanksgiving and will hopefully have some time to socialize then.

As a side note: I was driving up to a potluck in OKC last week and saw a tarantula crossing the road. Yes, a tarantula. I knew they existed in the wild here, but this is the first I've seen. I shuddered sporadically for the next couple of miles, very grateful that I was in a car. *shudders some more*

I never knew this existed until I got a bunch of "hugs" via text message. So go out an hug your veggie friends!

P.S. More later -- off to class now!

You'd be surprised how broad that title is. First, I should mention that I did not pass either qualifying exam that I took. That said, I came very close to getting a Master's pass on the astro, but since I didn't pass the sophomore level question (excuse me for thinking it was harder than it appeared -- I thought I was taking a PhD exam), they chose not to pass me. From what I've been hearing about current politics in the department, we've got 2 astro profs retiring and one going on sabbatical next year, leaving barely enough astro profs to cover the undergrad classes, never mind the grad level courses. Besides, there's not enough interest in the grad level astro, so nothing will be offered next year. Needless to say, this is not happy news for me.

So, I've been seriously thinking about my future here, my 2 choices being: 1) keep on trekking, take the quals and maybe pass or 2) switch to the Master's track, do my thesis by the end of next summer and move on. I'm leaning towards option 2, since I can't see myself passing the quals the way they currently stand. Though I have achieved at least one goal that I set for myself upon coming here: I have a much better handle on physics. It's not great, probably not great enough to pass the quals, but it's a lot better than it used to be. Right now I'm in the middle of the 2 choices; I know my research adviser is dying to keep me here and a part of me doesn't want to let her down. But I need to be realistic, as well.

Now onto more science and politics. I've been reading the Bad Astronomy Blog for many years, but he recently posted a link that made me very hopeful that perhaps there's some actual intelligence left in our politicians. I've made no secret that I'm an Obama supporter, but he's the first candidate that I'd be voting for because I wanted to (rather than because I didn't want to other guy in office) in a long time. McCain and Palin's stand on animal rights, the environment, science and just general public well-being scare the crap out of me. If the Republicans get elected again, I'll be looking into grad school in Vancouver.

Hope everyone has been well -- it will continue to be crazy here, but I'll try to update more. :P

I finished quals on Friday -- I definitely didn't pass the classical/stat mech qual (not a shock) and the astro qual could go either way. I think we find out this week, but my brain took a vacation this weekend after the weeks of endless study. It's still hurts right in the center of my head, but it's getting better.

Not too much has occurred since I last posted -- the last 3 weeks have consisted of studying, studying, oh and more studying. Classes started today, but it was a fairly easy day: I had my supernovae seminar this morning and a TA meeting this after noon. I'm also taking E&M and quantum II this semester. Yippee. I'm really excited about the supernovae course, though. It's more of a reading, discussing and learning class rather than "here's this huge problem set, have it done it a week" type thing. Which I'll get tomorrow, for sure.

Jason started a third job, so it's going to get very interesting trying to figure out the whole transportation thing. With one car and no public transportation, it's going to be a crunch. An adventure, right? It's going to be an interesting semester...

Let's see... I'm currently attempting (for the first time) to freeze some peaches for the winter months. A friend made this fantastic peach crumble dessert that I want to make for Thanksgiving and I want to use fresh peaches from the farmer's market; hence, the freezing of the peaches. I'm also hoping to pick up a ton of tomatoes for salsa and freeze that, as well. I wish I'd been thinking ahead and grown a tomato bush on my patio!

OK, so at this point I'm doing the typing version of babbling, so I'll just stop and post more when something happens. :P I do have some cute pictures to post, but first I need to download them from the camera. Kitteh pics!