Eve of New Year's Eve....

I really can't believe an entire year has passed. It was one year ago that I was blogging about Emma's journey to South Africa. I made an attempt to blog about her trip day to day. I was reading my posts from last year, and remembering what it was like. Looking back on it all now, it was without a doubt a trip and experience of a lifetime for her!! Even though old mom was lonesome for her the whole time, I am so glad she took the opportunity to travel to one of the old home lands, even though it's not her homeland! ha!

Now, she's been invited to work on a fully paid research project this summer at Purdue Univeristy to enhance and further her studies in the environmental field. This is a project she can also use toward completion of her BS undergrad in Environmental Studies at BSU, and further her goal of getting her Master's in the same field, Purdue is actively recruiting her for their graduate program!!! It's pretty exciting.

I received a phone call this evening from the U of M, they're inviting her to present/participate in an Environmental Studies workshop in March. I have a feeling in the next year, this will escalate. Her ultimate goal is to complete her doctoral studies in ES at the University of Hawaii, or go into environmental law possibly in Oregon, and then....move to Hawaii and live for a few years. She really connected with the indigenous culture of the Island People when she was there a few years ago, I think she kind of fit in there.

I'll only let her do this if she takes me with! ha. Like I could really stop her. So, as you can see...I am very proud of her and completely supportive of whatever she decides to do.

Merry Christmas!!

This is how I was feeling the other night! Ha. Feel better now, it's already Thursday tomorrow. Things will be quieting down at work after tomorrow, our students will be gone for about a month...I mean it will be dead quiet. No students in the hallways, everything will be shut down, just the employees that keep the place operating will be around.

I have no plans for the holiday season, just staying home and trying to get things done as usual if I don't get lazy like I usually do and relax with a good book or get into movie watching mode.

Just want to get through the next few frigidly, deadly cold days.

Holiday Potluck Tomorrow @ Work!!!

Well here she is creating her signature fruit pizza! Tomorrow is our holiday potluck at work and Emma made fruit pizza, I made boring old 3 bean hot dish. She made this last summer for grandma/grandpa's summer cookout and it was a hit! I think it was gone within minutes...that's how good it is.

I have no idea what I will do when she no longer works in my office, life and work will not be the same. I know her boss think's she's pretty adorable.

DISTURBING.....To say the least...

I know we've all seen this cute little image in the last few days, I had to comment.

I've been very disturbed lately about how a young mother can take the life of her innocent, beautiful little girl. Who knows what her reasons were in her obviously mangled, f'd up mind??

In our American justice system, I hope that every single step is taken to make sure that this monster pays for taking the life of this innocent little baby. Hopefully in this case, the death penalty will apply.

When I saw the video of her sitting on her great grandpa's lap and he was singing to her, it was so apparent to me that she was not in a good situation. Any trained eye can see that this was an abused little girl. At that time this cute little baby was CLINGING to safety in her great grandpa's arms.

Makes one wonder, what were the grand parents thinking, I personally think that the grandmother was one fucking controlling person with many of her own issues!!! And the grandfather is this weak ass that can't even conclusively decipher that the smell in his daughter's vehicle was a death smell. Even though he has many years of training to include police training?? WoW uh! Very sad to say the least.

This will undoubetedly turn out to be the crime of the decade if not the century!! One to watch and follow for sure.

Whew!!!

Ok so here I am again after being on a blogging hiatus. Life has a way of taking over everything....just everyday life. Things were pretty busy, stressful, hectic, bitchy, and so on. I have a feeling things will begin to taper a little, even with the Christmas season upon us, speaking more for myself when I say that. It's a weird time of year to feel this way I know, but that's how life goes for me, things happen at the weirdest times. Just finally figured out some important financial things that needed to be figured out, that I've been struggling to figure out and finally it is working out!!! So slowly....over the next months, I'm hoping things will get a little better. And, I am so thankful for that. I'm keeping my fingers (and ugly toes) crossed that nothing major or dramatic happens.

And yes, by the way this picture was taken on my deck this past summer as I was lounging one afternoon with camera in hand and with a good book - probably contemplating what I was going to grill.

In my old age, I still can't believe how our seasons change so drastically from one month to the next! Here we are already in December with the winter wind and snow blowing like hell.....and wind chill temps below zero. Next thing we know, the next 3 months will be over and it's spring again, and we'll probably get a few more feet of snow in April, but that's how it is here, I can hardly wait because that will all melt in a week and it's finally spring.

I'm looking forward to trying my hand or should I say my green thumb at gardening again in the spring. I will start out small this time, none of this trying to be like my gourmet gardener neighbor shit, I can't keep up with that.

I just want to grow simple, like tomatoes, beans, onions, carrots, a few peppers. Maybe I'll plant my wild flower seeds somewhere by my veggie garden. Anyone know how to plant mushrooms?