Random Update

I'm doing a rare thing today and updating from work. I'm taking my lunch break, and then I'm headed out to teach a class. I feel like I should be updating more often, but as the course of life moves, I just don't get around to posting. Part of the problem is that I have some nice big thoughts, big posts to write. Unfortunately, they don't easily spill out onto the e-paper unless I take a chunk of time and focus on it. I suppose I could just start writing in stream-of-conciousness style, but I've been informed that most people don't fully appreciate the Mrs. Dalloway-Virginia Woolf style. Silly people. If I just started spilling my thoughts down on the page without a little editing and organization, I'm afraid that I would quickly find myself being sent to a mental health institution!

It is supposed to get to a high of 76 degrees here today, but it is currently only 56. For some reason, the air conditioning has decided to turn on though, making my office rather chilly. It's also windy - 16 mph - typical.

Anyway, I'm not anticipating getting much posting done this weekend, with it being Easter and all. There's probably more important things to focus on rather than ranting about flowers and such. Have a blessed Easter!

Exhaustion

I have now worked for 13 straight days, and more than 10 hours/day for several of them. I'm tired. The Wichita Garden Show went well, although apparently it was much more sparse and scaled back than it has been in past years. I have no frame of reference, so I try to stay out of the speculation ring. This past week was busy with meetings and playing catch up, but I didn't really feel as though I accomplished much because the last two days were spent in Manhattan at Hort Agent meetings, so the pile I cleared off my desk at the beginning of last week is right back where it was a week ago. This morning we had a Master Gardener work day in the demonstration garden. We had about 6" of old, semi-composted wood chip mulch to dig out and haul away from around all the raised beds. As I said, I'm tired. And I know I'm going to be really sore tomorrow. This coming week will be busy, but hopefully much more routine. I'm thinking about taking Friday off, just to rest and catch up some.

I have a couple of different blog posts rattling around in my head; we'll see when I get them written and posted.

Power Shopping!

I decided this week that this weekend would be a shopping weekend. Now, in general, I avoid clothes shopping like the plague. It's just not my idea of a fun-filled afternoon, particularly when I have a list of things I need to get. Ugh. But, for whatever reason, I seemed to be in the mood this week, and I know better than to let that sort of mood slip by. Of course, the mood could have been brought on by the fact that spring is quickly approaching here, and my hurriedly slapped-together work wardrobe is certainly only appropriate for winter. At a bare minimum I needed some good khakis that were dressy enough for work but not so dressy that I couldn't get a bit of dirt on them.

So, off I went to the mall. I got there just before 10 a.m., when most of the stores are just opening. I have to say that it was a quite successful day. In just over 2 hours, I ended up with 5 shirts/blouses, 3 camis, 2 pairs of pants, 1 pair of capris, and a dress. Happily, JCPenney had almost everything on 50% off before 1 p.m., so it was a great value! (I've been accused of only shopping when there are sales going on...sure, but when's the last time you were in a clothing store that wasn't running a sale of some sort?!?) It is also impressive that I was able to get almost everything I wanted to get so quickly. A lot of times I can spend several hours shopping and not find what I want. This was almost a miraculous shopping venture. I am also very happy that bright, saturated colors happen to be "in" this year. I found some really nice colored shirts that aren't a hideous shade.

In other news, the Wichita Garden Show is this week. www.wichitagardenshow.com We are going to be busy setting up Monday and Tuesday. Then I'll be at the show Wednesday-Sunday. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. plus tear down on Sunday. So yeah...not getting a whole lot else done next week, needless to say. I also have a short TV appearance on Tuesday and a fairly important meeting to fit in on Monday. Yikes! Then next week I have Entomology/Plant Pathology update Tuesday and Hort agent training Thurs-Fri. in Manhattan.

In other words....don't expect to see much updating for a couple weeks. Sorry, no live-blogging from the Garden show, fun as that might be. If you desperately have to talk to me, your best bet is likely to be calling my cell phone.

Web Safari

1. Apparently my generation struggles with transitioning to the work world. Not a great surprise, that.

2. A blogger opines on the benefits of "old fashioned play." Can't say but what I disagree with her.
3. The NPR story the previous article was based on.

4. A NY Times article explaining the complexities of superdelegates and such.

5. An intriguing look at how the brain comprehends numbers and math.

6. An interactive map of Dante's Inferno!

7. A series of articles at Parchment and Pen theology blog about the emerging church.
- Would the Real Emerger Please Stand Up
- An Emerging Definition of Emerging
- Comparing Fundamentalists, Evangelicals, and Emergers (Be sure to check out the "Circle of Importance" charts. It's a great visual of one of the main differences between these groups.)
- Are You Emerging?

(If you want to take on the whole thing at once, instead of in sections, go here. )

The Ring

Okay, so a word of explanation about the ring. Obviously it isn't a traditional solitaire. The band is called a "slide-through." Basically, the wedding band, or another ring, will slide between the two bands of the engagement ring. It's pretty sweet! Of course, it had to be sweet because it came from a pretty sweet guy!

Ramping Up!

Work is definitely starting to get busier, as everyone here can just about taste spring and is starting to think about their yards and starting seeds and such. I'm slowly getting the hang of some of the everyday tasks, like interpreting and writing up soil test results. I have also quickly absorbed the Extension "mantras" like "take a soil test" and "water deeply and infrequently."

Last week and this next week I have several appointments, including talks I'm giving at senior centers about container gardening. I've also had a couple different meetings with groups interested in starting an urban garden in the inner city of Wichita. I think it will be a really good project, assuming that the people starting the project are able to round up some committed volunteers and the funds to support it.

We are also busy getting ready for the Garden show and numerous other events throughout the summer. I'm glad to be busier, although I'm sure in a couple months I'll be ready for a break!

Web Safari

I've been sitting on these links for a week or two now, so I might as well post them for you to enjoy.

This first link is a really happy-sad story about a couple that was married during the Russian revolution and then lost all contact with each other shortly after their wedding day.

If you have heard anything at all about the "emerging church," you should find this article about the four models of emerging churches intriguing.

Some recently discovered pictures of Lincoln's inauguration.

Cute polar bears.

A fun blog if you like jokes, physics, and math.

My Apartment

I have been requested to post some pictures of my apartment. Here's some photos of my kitchen, dining area, and living room. I apologize for the slightly cluttered look...I am still kind of getting everything set up.

Bread Photos!

I know you've all been waiting breathlessly to see pictures of the breads I've been making, so here they are. Ginger Scones

Basic Hearth Bread

Raisin Pecan Bread

Veggie Top Ten

I have to come up with a bunch of Top Ten lists for a newspaper feature for work, so I figured I might as well test run them here.

Top Ten Seed Catalogs
1. Seed Savers Exchange
2. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
3. Johnny's Selected Seeds
4. Wild Garden Seed
5. Gourmet Seed International
6. Kitazawa Seed
6. Evergreen Seeds
7. Totally Tomatoes
8. Thompson & Morgan
9. Seeds of Italy
10. Burpee

Top Ten Tomato Varieties
1. Chocolate Stripes
2. Big Yellow Zebra
3. Berkeley Tie-Dye
4. Sungold (Cherry)
5. Sugary (Cherry)
6. Green Sausage
7. Northern Lights
8.Cherokee Purple
9. Striped Roman
10. Striped Red Furry Hog

Top Ten Vegetable Varieties (except Tomatoes)
1. Kazakh Melon
2. Flying Saucer Scallop Squash
3. Mexican Sour Gherkin
4. Siberian Garlic
5. Christmas Lima Bean
6. Red Noodle Chinese Long Bean
7. Shimonita Negi Onion
8. Flashy Butter Oak Lettuce
9. Chioggia Beets
10. Magic Molly Potato

Top Ten Herbs
1. Lemon Verbena
2. Chocolate Mint
3. Pinewood Thyme
4. Mexican Tarragon
5. Pesto Perpetuo Basil
6. Thai Basil
7. Lemon Thyme
8. Orange Mint
9. Lemon Myrtle
10. Golden Sage

Ultimately, all my favorites are things that I want to eat or cook with...Maybe there will be a Recipe Top Ten coming up soon!