ohio

Being back in Ohio is weird. Not as weird as it would be if I were in Cincinnati, but still. I sort of feel like I could run into someone I know out of the blue. Even though I'm totally old, and wouldn't know any of the students here (most likely), it is possible that some of the women I'm interviewing came from cincy and maybe even went to McAuley. Not that it would be a super tight connection, but I do feel some sort of possible connection.

I haven't had skyline chili yet. I did get a hamburger at Frisch's---it was very disappointing. I remembered the burgers and being quite yummy but this was just a regular fast food burger but with tarter sauce stuff. No need to go back there again.

garden

Here are a few photos of the pumpkins from the garden and our maple tree which is brilliantly red right now.
We had 13 pumpkins grow. Two are still on the vine--these 11 were on vines that were getting kind of mushy so we took them off and will hopefully use the pumpkins for baking and cooking.

Here are a few I could carry in our glass recycling bin.

Here are the two still on the vine. The one up top is actually suspended in the fencing. It is probably 3-4 inches off the ground.

Here is a view of the pumpkin that is suspended in the fencing. One side grew a lot more than the other side.

A view of our beautiful maple (and Sam).
The maple from a different angle.

life safety?

I'm at UC Irvine for a meeting. Yesterday we were on campus for the meeting. One of the times I went into the bathroom I noticed something which I thought was funny.

You know those paper toilet seat covers some restrooms have? Sometimes they are called sani-seat or something along those lines.

Well, this brand name was "Life Safety". Don't you think that is a little over-dramatic for a toilet seat cover? I mean really- is the toilet seat cover going to save my life?

It made me laugh and I had to share.

stomach 'flu'

I am not sure what I caught, but I was sick all last night with what the doctor called gastroenteritis, which is commonly known as the stomach flu. I haven't been sick like that for a long long time. I'm feeling better today, which is good b/c I am in the airport waiting for a plane to take me to Southern California. My stomach still hurts, but I've eaten some rice and toast and so far I haven't had another episode. Even though I want to watch election coverage tonight I may have to sacrifice and go to bed early so that I can get better quicker.

and

I Voted! (absentee, so technically I voted 2 weeks ago)

wisconsin

Last week end I was in Wisconsin for work and fun. I worked in Milwaukee and I had fun in Madison. Below are a few photos I took from my trip.

Here is the Milwaukee art museum with the 'wings' up. I was lucky to see them up. I went the night before to see the outside and saw it as below.

MAM the evening before my focus groups.

Here I am in Madison. We were waiting for the bus on State street by the UW. We were munching on some spicy cheesy bread we got from the farmer's market. It was yummy!

The capitol building in Madison. The farmer's market goes all the way around the capitol. It is big!

Melissa and Emily in this photo....this was great fun. I'm so glad I got to see Madison and hang out with the newlyweds.