Rainbows and Walt Whitman, the Evangelist?!?

I looked out my window a few minutes ago and saw the most vibrant rainbow...  (keep scrolling)

And while on campus today, I walked by Walt Whitman in the courtyard of my building...

What is that in his hand???

Ah, yes.  A statue of Walt Whitman that is handing out flyers and telling people about Jesus!

Update on my car window that got shot back in April

For those that didn't hear, back in April my car window was shot out.  Three individuals have been charged with the damage.  In fact, it wasn't just my car, cars and businesses had windows shot out with BB guns all over this neighborhood and the one on the other side of the highway.  I found out about it when I was awakened to a 4 am (or thereabouts) doorbell ring from a police officer who already had the report filled out and was letting me know.  They were out driving the neighborhood looking for damage and letting people know.
It was a little bit of an ordeal to get it fixed.  Had to wait for glass, didn't meet my deductible, etc.  And then the glass company accidentally disabled my door lock when replacing the window.  So then I had no door lock for awhile until they were able to fix it.  Yup.
However I just received a letter from the County Attorney's Office that they are seeking restitution from these individuals and I have some paperwork to fill out.  So there is a hope that maybe someday I will be reimbursed!

Food-named Art at Universities

I would like to comment on the naming of art installations at universities....

Sonoma State University has a piece of art by the math building called 'Bacon and Eggs'.

Bacon reaching to the sky...

Bacon with Blue Eggs?

Montana State University has 'The Noodle'.
The noodle is actually designed to move in the wind!
The wind catches in the notch in the either end of the noodle and causes it to spin.

Memorial Day 2013

I want to take a moment to remember those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom in this country.  And for the families who have lost loved ones who were serving.  And my prayers are with those who are still serving, and their families.

Last night we had amazing thunder and lightning storms and this morning I awoke to the sound of rainfall.  It was wonderful!  By lunchtime the sky had cleared and I walked to the post office and the laundromat to get quarters.

Ah!  I am so very much appreciating a more relaxing life.  In my previous job, this was the time when I would work an insane holiday weekend and then roll into summer staff training, schedules, and yikes!

I am adjusting nicely to a more normal life.  I love walking to the grocery store to shop and the post office to mail letters.  Walking down to the bus stop to ride into campus.  (My car is probably feeling quite neglected, but I am saving on gas money, doing something good for the environment, and getting some exercise.  Seems like a good choice!)  I hope when I graduate and find a job, I am close enough to continue walking to stores or riding my bike.  Not all the time, but a good chunk of the time would be great!

Now, to one of my current past times, taking pictures of graffiti on trains!  My neighbors get quite a chuckle when the train whistle blows and I pop outside onto my porch to take pictures as the train goes by.  Here are some of the pictures...  (there will be more to come, I am sure!)

Cute Little Machine that moves Train Track Ties

This morning there was a new machine I hadn't seen before on the train tracks.  To the left of the machine on the tracks is a little cart with railroad ties.  This little machine was zippy fast!  It was moving ties around so they were spread out better for the work that has to be done.  I am really excited to see them work on replacing the train track ties!

Thunderstorms!!!

The thunderstorms have finally arrived.  I was laying down for a nap and wondered what the noise was and then I jumped up and looked out the window.  There is goes again.  Thunder!  This is awesome!

Um.  Ok.  I am really glad I am in my apartment!  That last one was super loud and sounded like it was right outside my door!  Thankful to be safe and sound inside.  The bunnies don't seem fazed by it.

Visiting Yellowstone for my Birthday!

For my birthday I went to Yellowstone Park!  I did not see Yogi the Bear, but I did see BISON!

There is a bison behind me to the left.  Just sitting by the side of the road!

Here is a closer picture of the bison

More bison a little further down the road.  See the two baby bison?  How cute!

Old Faithful!

The view from a mountain I hiked.  It overlooks Yellowstone Park.  Still no sign of Yogi!

There was SNOW during finals week (back in April)

The week leading up to finals was beautiful.  I even opened the window in my apartment to let some fresh air in.  Tuesday of finals I got up, it was super sunny and warm, so I wore flip flops with my jeans.  (Although I prefer tennis shoes, my left foot, because of the RSD in my leg, prefers flip flops).  I went to school, did a bunch of things, like work on take home finals and do a four hour review for my calculus students who had their final the next day.  I finally went to leave campus around 11 pm, and it was snowing outside.  I was like WHAT is that?!?!  The janitors were on a break at the bottom of the staircase and said, just pretend it is white rain.  I can't pretend that, I told them.  They tried to comfort me by saying, at least it isn't a foot deep.  And I responded with, be glad it isn't because I would just sit on these stairs and cry.  They were sweet and tried to cheer me up, and then I decided to brave the snow and go home.  Flip flops and snow are NOT a good combination.  I slip and fell several times, and ended up completely soaked.  It was a 20+ minute drive home, and I didn't see doing that soaking wet and freezing cold.  My car had a layer of snow, so I was like, PERFECT!  I have an old blanket in the car, I can peel off the outer layers of clothes and wrap in the blanket and no one can see me change.  Once I was wrapped in the blanket I realized I couldn't drive with snow on my car.  So I got back out, still wrapped in the blanket and attempt to brush snow off my car so I could drive.  Thankfully it was so late that no one was out to see me make a complete fool of myself!  Although honestly, I probably would have laughed with them, knowing what a silly sight I must be!  Then I drove home 5 under the speed limit the whole way, because there was no way I wanted to get pulled over and explain to a cop why I was wrapped in a blanket!  Thankfully I made it home safe and sound!

Here are some pictures from one of the last light snows we had.  These are the rocks in my front yard.  I thought the way the snow piled against the rocks was really neat.  Almost reminded me of the ocean and sand around the rocks.

Rainbows and Rain..... No Thunderstorms yet

Today I went to campus to meet with the professor with which I am working on the grant.  It went well and she was pleased with how much work and research I already had done.  I gave her quite a bit of material (well-organized) to go through.  I have a few more things to work on, but not too terribly much.  Mostly it is in her court to make decisions now.  And I tutored someone in calculus for 2 hours. Interesting day.  Hard to believe it is nearly 8 pm and still so light outside!  Guess that is what happens when I live so far north.  The bunnies and I are watching National Treasure and still hoping to see thunderstorms.  (None yet, but plenty of rain!)  We also have a puzzle to work on if we get bored!  That is if the rabbits don't nibble on the pieces  :)

Rainbow!  A reminder of God's promise!

The sky is amazing here!

On the drive home...

I just thought those low lying clouds were so amazing!

I love the trains that come through!
After my last job, I have really come to love the trains even more than I used to.

Possibility of Thunderstorms!

Excited - the forecast for the next few days calls for scattered thunderstorms, 

possibly even tonight!  That would be really neat!

The clouds start to roll in....

Getting darker.... This is a good sign!

Can't see the mountains and it started raining....
Now I am waiting for the thunderstorms!

Jack and Pi are prepared.  They are hiding under the couch just in case!

I'm back.... Sorry for the long hiatus.... AND The train

Hi!  Sorry!  This semester was nearly the death of me!  But I did well in my classes, by the grace of God.  I taught business calculus this term.  It was a LOT of work!  I don't think students realize how much time professors put into writing good and fair exams for their students.  My students did quite well!  I was very happy for them!  All 11 sections take the same final at the same time written by the supervising professor.  That way they can't claim one teacher wrote an easier final or too hard of a final.  My students had a median score of 87%, which means a little less than half got an A on the final!  They worked really hard for it.  Many of them came to the four hour review session I did for them the day before the final.  

I have more pictures to post from this past semester, and I will work on that.  My goal is to try and post something at least once a week, but hopefully more often!

I miss my family and friends very much and am looking forward to graduating next year and hopefully finding a teaching position, either at the junior college level or adjunct/non-tenure track at a university.  I love teaching, it is truly a passion of mine!

These are the train tracks near my apartment.  I shot this video from my front yard of rocks.  It is a little hard to see.  Sorry.  If the train comes back I will try to get closer.  A few weeks ago I saw new lumber by the tracks to replace the railroad ties that are too old.  I saw the train come by once and drop off lumber but wasn't fast enough to catch it on video.  Finally caught it today!  There is a crane that sits atop the train cars and the train drives a short distance, stops, and the crane lifts stacks of railroad ties from the car behind the one the crane is sitting on and leaves them beside the railroad tracks.  It is pretty cool!