Remember that really crazy song that they play on the Ed Sullivan show when the guy is spinning the plates? That's kind of how I feel right now!!! I have homework, housework, yardwork, and taxes all to get done, and that's just today! Ok, maybe things aren't that bad, but I am definitely feeling pretty stressed right now. It's going to be a full blast run all the way to the end of the semester (which is a short 5 weeks away), so I have to keep running or I'll get lost in the process!
Our computer at home is currently "Out of Order" so I am using the laptop today. I also don't have any pictures for this week. :(
I hope everyone is doing well - hang in there and it will be summer before we know it. Vacation, here we come!
Jenny
March 28, 2006
March 16, 2006
March Already?
Ok, so when I said weekly, I meant, um, bi-monthly. That's about the same thing, right? Yeah, maybe on a geologic scale!!
So I have Spring Break this week, and I'm still trying to figure out how we got to Thursday already. Sheesh! I am planning to work in the garden today, run some errands at Michael's at Target, and maybe catch up on my old scrapbook, but for now, I have to update the blog. We've done a LOT in the last couple of months, and I even have pictures! So when I'm not teaching at Mesa Community College, or working on homework for Iowa State, I'm working in the yard.
Just as an update, I have been offered a contract through the summer at MCC. It's only 20-30 hours per week, and it only lasts through September, but it's a good start on my way to long-term employment at Mesa. My job is going to be to do a feasibility study on a culinary/hospitality program at MCC. They don't have one yet, but the president is pretty hot to trot to implement such a program. MCC is gearing up to open a new campus that will feature a Northern Arizona University presence, who happens to have a BS in Hospitality Management. Hmmmm, I think I am seeing some possibilities here... :) I will get to help develop a culinary/hospitality program curriculum as well. I think I have some recommendations for their faculty!
Back at home, we're actually to the point where we are growing things now, and that's pretty exciting. (Plants make things look really polished, and less like a construction site!) Our Friday night soirees have been going well, and it's even been cool enough to burn the chiminea. The only problem is the air pollution advisories. Often these high-pollution days mean no-burn days, and that chiminea feels pretty good when you're sitting around drinking cold ones.
We've put in a brick walkway to edge the lawn (when it gets installed), we've planted herbs, tomatoes, corn, squash, peppers, onions, peas & melons, and we've put up some lights on the patio. We got a new cover for the hot tub (which looks SO much better!) We made a stovepipe for the chiminea, purchased a few tablecloths, dishes, and flatware, and even done some research on acid-staining the floor. We're looking at replacing the A/C and furnace in a couple of weeks, along with re-doing the electricity, as the new A/C won't run on our old panel.
So, we're moving right along, and hopefully we'll be mostly done by the time summer rolls around. Then we'll move the projects inside. We got our Mucha posters dry-mounted, and Travis will be making a frame in his woodworking class. The tapestry we bought in Cuzco is in the midst of being mounted, and once we have the electricity done, we can put in ceiling fans.
Wow, we have been busy! No wonder I feel like I haven't stopped for the last 2 months. The rest of the semester will certainly fly by, and it will be time to take a breath, and a statistics class at ASU! That's right, I'm taking stats so I can take research methods in the Fall. I should be done with my Master's in about a year and a half... here's hoping things continue to go well!
So let's get to the pictures, eh? I'll throw in some highlights of our trip to Chicago, as well. I hope you are all doing well - take care and drop us a line when you get a chance!
Jenny the Maniac
So I have Spring Break this week, and I'm still trying to figure out how we got to Thursday already. Sheesh! I am planning to work in the garden today, run some errands at Michael's at Target, and maybe catch up on my old scrapbook, but for now, I have to update the blog. We've done a LOT in the last couple of months, and I even have pictures! So when I'm not teaching at Mesa Community College, or working on homework for Iowa State, I'm working in the yard.
Just as an update, I have been offered a contract through the summer at MCC. It's only 20-30 hours per week, and it only lasts through September, but it's a good start on my way to long-term employment at Mesa. My job is going to be to do a feasibility study on a culinary/hospitality program at MCC. They don't have one yet, but the president is pretty hot to trot to implement such a program. MCC is gearing up to open a new campus that will feature a Northern Arizona University presence, who happens to have a BS in Hospitality Management. Hmmmm, I think I am seeing some possibilities here... :) I will get to help develop a culinary/hospitality program curriculum as well. I think I have some recommendations for their faculty!
Back at home, we're actually to the point where we are growing things now, and that's pretty exciting. (Plants make things look really polished, and less like a construction site!) Our Friday night soirees have been going well, and it's even been cool enough to burn the chiminea. The only problem is the air pollution advisories. Often these high-pollution days mean no-burn days, and that chiminea feels pretty good when you're sitting around drinking cold ones.
We've put in a brick walkway to edge the lawn (when it gets installed), we've planted herbs, tomatoes, corn, squash, peppers, onions, peas & melons, and we've put up some lights on the patio. We got a new cover for the hot tub (which looks SO much better!) We made a stovepipe for the chiminea, purchased a few tablecloths, dishes, and flatware, and even done some research on acid-staining the floor. We're looking at replacing the A/C and furnace in a couple of weeks, along with re-doing the electricity, as the new A/C won't run on our old panel.
So, we're moving right along, and hopefully we'll be mostly done by the time summer rolls around. Then we'll move the projects inside. We got our Mucha posters dry-mounted, and Travis will be making a frame in his woodworking class. The tapestry we bought in Cuzco is in the midst of being mounted, and once we have the electricity done, we can put in ceiling fans.
Wow, we have been busy! No wonder I feel like I haven't stopped for the last 2 months. The rest of the semester will certainly fly by, and it will be time to take a breath, and a statistics class at ASU! That's right, I'm taking stats so I can take research methods in the Fall. I should be done with my Master's in about a year and a half... here's hoping things continue to go well!
So let's get to the pictures, eh? I'll throw in some highlights of our trip to Chicago, as well. I hope you are all doing well - take care and drop us a line when you get a chance!
Jenny the Maniac
Backyard Photo Gallery
So you're wondering what we've been doing with all those countless hours in the yard... well wait no longer! Since we don't have good cable, we need to find something else to do with our time. And voila! Landscaping!This is the new dartboard and backer that Travis built.
Travis also converted this old microwave cart into a sink. It looks pretty nice! We used the leftover shiplap from the patio roof to reinforce the back.
Here are my little herbs! I'm still working on getting the water right for them. I've got cilantro, basil, thyme, and even Epazote...
Here's a nice view of our new spa cover...
And a good view of how our patio looks overall - you can see we painted the planters, and put up the lights, and our neighbor cleared out some trees, so it's much sunnier in our yard now. I'm not sure if that's good or not...
Here is the calla lily I showed in our last post, surrounded by new annual flowers. They look gorgeous!!!
And here is an example of one of our Mucha prints. This is Dance, part of the 4 arts. I can't wait to get them all framed!!!
Chicago, you're a wonderful town...
We had a wonderful short 36 hours in Chicago, but we managed to do some majorly touristy things! We saw the art institute, visited the Sears tower, went to an English Pub, and even walked along Lake Michigan! We walked through Lincoln Park on the way back to the car, and then Travis and I flew home. Whew! What a weekend!
At the art institute, we saw LOTS of Monet... it was amazing to see all these paintings in the same room. Nothing like seeing the entire haystack series instead of imagining the bits and pieces!
Georgia O'Keefe had quite a presence at the Art Institute as well... here is her picture of Macchu Picchu.
After the Art Institute, we went to the top of the Sears Tower. Very touristy, but oh well. The Bears were in the playoffs... we could almost see the game from there!
After the Sears Tower, we went for pizza at Giordano's, and enjoyed a couple of Goose Island 312 beers. Then we went to the Red Lion Pub (within stumbling distance of our hostel) and enjoyed a few Smythwicks. My first (and certainly not the last)!
We had a great time, Chris!!! Thanks for driving us around that crazy town!
At the art institute, we saw LOTS of Monet... it was amazing to see all these paintings in the same room. Nothing like seeing the entire haystack series instead of imagining the bits and pieces!
Georgia O'Keefe had quite a presence at the Art Institute as well... here is her picture of Macchu Picchu.
After the Art Institute, we went to the top of the Sears Tower. Very touristy, but oh well. The Bears were in the playoffs... we could almost see the game from there!
After the Sears Tower, we went for pizza at Giordano's, and enjoyed a couple of Goose Island 312 beers. Then we went to the Red Lion Pub (within stumbling distance of our hostel) and enjoyed a few Smythwicks. My first (and certainly not the last)!
We had a great time, Chris!!! Thanks for driving us around that crazy town!
February 07, 2006
Cruising Along
Another Tuesday, another chapter to read for homework!
But I have to say, I had a great time over the weekend at the Food and Culinary Symposium. I've never been around such a group of dietitians that loved to DRINK! Wow, it was like culinary school all over again. I started riding my bike today (following Travis to work) to get in some workout time. If I kept eating like that, I wouldn't fit into my clothes anymore!!!
But, now the vacation is over, and I've hit the ground running with my class at ISU and the classes I'm teaching. All I can say is, it's a good thing I got my lecture ready last week. I'll play catch up on work this week, and catch up on sleep this weekend. :) Eva is staying with us this week as she is taking a couple of real estate classes here in Scottsdale.
This Friday will officially begin this Friday, with "Darts at W's". We have the dart board up, the chiminea installed, the sink working, and the wall painted. Time to crack open a few cold ones! We're hoping to get people over as a standing event on Friday evenings. Gotta enjoy the weather while we've got it!
I'll post pictures of our latest work when I get them this week, but in the meantime, here's a few peeks at what we've done:
This is a calla lily that we've been growing on our porch. They are incredibly beautiful flowers, and it's almost crazy that you can go to Lowe's and buy one for like $7. Elaine (my mother-in-law) helped me pick it out - and she found a good one!
Here's another picture of our backyard - the walls are finally painted!
The walls look really great - we're excited that we've gotten them done!!
The next step is installing the plants, sod, brick pathway, and oh yeah, dumping all those rocks we dug out of the yard!!!
A few weeks ago, we went and saw Chris in IL. Here are a couple of photos on the UIUC campus. We didn't get a picture of Kate, but we're working on it. :)
This is the Engineering Complex at UIUC - what a gorgeous campus!!!
We had a great time in Urbana, and then we went to Chicago, which was also great. I'll post more pictures later - I gotta hit the books!!
Have a great week, everybody.
JRW
But I have to say, I had a great time over the weekend at the Food and Culinary Symposium. I've never been around such a group of dietitians that loved to DRINK! Wow, it was like culinary school all over again. I started riding my bike today (following Travis to work) to get in some workout time. If I kept eating like that, I wouldn't fit into my clothes anymore!!!
But, now the vacation is over, and I've hit the ground running with my class at ISU and the classes I'm teaching. All I can say is, it's a good thing I got my lecture ready last week. I'll play catch up on work this week, and catch up on sleep this weekend. :) Eva is staying with us this week as she is taking a couple of real estate classes here in Scottsdale.
This Friday will officially begin this Friday, with "Darts at W's". We have the dart board up, the chiminea installed, the sink working, and the wall painted. Time to crack open a few cold ones! We're hoping to get people over as a standing event on Friday evenings. Gotta enjoy the weather while we've got it!
I'll post pictures of our latest work when I get them this week, but in the meantime, here's a few peeks at what we've done:
This is a calla lily that we've been growing on our porch. They are incredibly beautiful flowers, and it's almost crazy that you can go to Lowe's and buy one for like $7. Elaine (my mother-in-law) helped me pick it out - and she found a good one!
Here's another picture of our backyard - the walls are finally painted!
The walls look really great - we're excited that we've gotten them done!!
The next step is installing the plants, sod, brick pathway, and oh yeah, dumping all those rocks we dug out of the yard!!!
A few weeks ago, we went and saw Chris in IL. Here are a couple of photos on the UIUC campus. We didn't get a picture of Kate, but we're working on it. :)
This is the Engineering Complex at UIUC - what a gorgeous campus!!!
We had a great time in Urbana, and then we went to Chicago, which was also great. I'll post more pictures later - I gotta hit the books!!
Have a great week, everybody.
JRW
February 02, 2006
Update on the valves!
We got the leak fixed - HOORAY!!! So the irrigation system is working, and now we can start thinking about plants. SCHWEET.
JRW
JRW
On your mark, get set, eat!
Today is the start of the Food and Culinary Professionals Annual Symposium! What does that mean? Stand back, the dietitians are heading for the food!
MCC is footing the bill so that I can attend this conference, being held locally, unbelievably. I'll be going to cooking classes, tasting classes, and info sessions on trends in culinary arts. I'm also hoping to hook up with some other dietitians that are teaching in culinary and hospitality. You know, in case something actually pans out at MCC.
I am going to stay on with MCC through the summer to do some research related to the possibilities of hospitality and culinary programs, but beyond September, nothing is set.
My online classes have started, and along with my distance Master's class, I am starting to feel chained to my computer. This conference will be a good chance for me to get out and see other people. And also to look at something OTHER than a computer screen for a while. I hope to get lots of good ideas and recipes for my FON 144 (Gourmet Foods) class. I actually re-arranged my course schedule this semester to allow for a Southwest Cuisine cooking night.
Today I register and head to the Desert Botanical Garden for a session on the heritage of Southwest Cuisine (i.e., what did the Indians eat?). The conference really gets underway tomorrow, starting around 7:30 and going until 5:30. So that means I better get my Trend Analysis report done this morning for my marketing class!!
I'll write more later - and post pics, too. Have a great weekend!
Jenbo
January 26, 2006
Views from the Porch
I bet you're all wondering what the heck we've done with the backyard, right? You're thinking, what the HECK have they been doing for the last 3 months?
Well, you can't see the majority of the grunt work, i.e. the irrigation system is underground! But you can see some painting and such.
First of all, we put a lot of trenches in the yard and ran the irrigation tubing. THAT took a while!
Then we put in the valves to control the irrigation (we're still working on that part - the leak hasn't stopped).
The next step was the electrical - you can see here how we put the conduit for the lighting inside the block wall surrounding our back yard. Betsy helped us a lot at this point!
This is what the finished electrical looks like with the lanterns installed (you don't see the flood lights here) and the outlets. They are all on different circuits, and there are independent switches for the two types of lights. As you can see, we also painted our block walls La Fonda Copper. I'll put more pics up later. I gotta get myself to work!
Take care and talk to you all soon!
Jenny
Well, you can't see the majority of the grunt work, i.e. the irrigation system is underground! But you can see some painting and such.
First of all, we put a lot of trenches in the yard and ran the irrigation tubing. THAT took a while!
Then we put in the valves to control the irrigation (we're still working on that part - the leak hasn't stopped).
The next step was the electrical - you can see here how we put the conduit for the lighting inside the block wall surrounding our back yard. Betsy helped us a lot at this point!
This is what the finished electrical looks like with the lanterns installed (you don't see the flood lights here) and the outlets. They are all on different circuits, and there are independent switches for the two types of lights. As you can see, we also painted our block walls La Fonda Copper. I'll put more pics up later. I gotta get myself to work!
Take care and talk to you all soon!
Jenny
January 24, 2006
Instead of going to Urbana this weekend, I...
Sounds like an English assignment from 3rd grade, doesn't it?
Last weekend I did glamorous things... I went to Chicago, saw the art museum, hung out with T-bone and played pool. Life is good on 3-day weekends. My parents are in Barcelona this week, you know, hanging out and seeing the sights.
Life is less glamorous here at the Watson castle. As with most other weekends, (you guessed it) we worked on the yard! We are getting some major things done though - we installed a sink & vanity Travis built, and I painted the outside wall of the house a really light blue color. Frankly, it looks REALLY cool. I can't wait to stain the floor, install ceiling fans, and get some nicer furniture out there. It will truly be *the place* to be in Scottsdale!
Otherwise, life is cranking up at Mesa Community College. I'm teaching 19 hours (12 online) and I'm doing all I can to get ready for the semester. You quickly forget how much work you do for those first few weeks! Copies, anyone?
To complicate matters, I went back to school this semester at Iowa State for my masters. We have homework due tomorrow, so I can't slack in that department, either. Oh well, it'll be a good program, and the marketing plan we develop may come in handy as I help develop this culinary/hospitality thing at MCC. :)
Hope everyone is doing well! Keep warm and stay in touch!
Jenny
Last weekend I did glamorous things... I went to Chicago, saw the art museum, hung out with T-bone and played pool. Life is good on 3-day weekends. My parents are in Barcelona this week, you know, hanging out and seeing the sights.
Life is less glamorous here at the Watson castle. As with most other weekends, (you guessed it) we worked on the yard! We are getting some major things done though - we installed a sink & vanity Travis built, and I painted the outside wall of the house a really light blue color. Frankly, it looks REALLY cool. I can't wait to stain the floor, install ceiling fans, and get some nicer furniture out there. It will truly be *the place* to be in Scottsdale!
Otherwise, life is cranking up at Mesa Community College. I'm teaching 19 hours (12 online) and I'm doing all I can to get ready for the semester. You quickly forget how much work you do for those first few weeks! Copies, anyone?
To complicate matters, I went back to school this semester at Iowa State for my masters. We have homework due tomorrow, so I can't slack in that department, either. Oh well, it'll be a good program, and the marketing plan we develop may come in handy as I help develop this culinary/hospitality thing at MCC. :)
Hope everyone is doing well! Keep warm and stay in touch!
Jenny
January 18, 2006
Back to the grind...
So I haven't written in a while, but now it's time to get back on the wagon!
Travis and I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Urbana & Chicago - lots of fun - visiting with Chris. In the meantime, classes started yesterday, and I am teaching my first class for the semester tonight. I'm teaching a total of 12 hours online, so I will be busy in front of my computer for most of the work week, and teaching 2 night classes - Gourmet Foods and Food for Fun & Fitness. I have a lot of work to do, but I'm having a great time.
After this semester, I don't have a job anymore; so I am doing all I can to impress the department while I am here. I am also trying to get as much experience as I can while I am at Mesa. Regardless of where I land, if I want to teach, this is a great opportunity to get my feet wet!
As far as the home front, we're still working on the back yard - hopefully we can get everything wrapped up in the next couple of weeks. We need to finish the irrigation for the vegetable garden, fix a leaky irrigation valve, install plants & sod, and put in a brick walkway. Eventually we will be staining the concrete and painting the outside wall of the house, installing ceiling fans, and maybe getting a new table for outside. The backyard will look something like an oasis when we're done, I think!
I am also starting grad school this semester, and I actually have homework due tomorrow, so I better get to it. It's going to be a busy semester, but I am hoping to make the best of it. I'll also do better with the posts - maybe once a week... if you're lucky!
Jenny
Travis and I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Urbana & Chicago - lots of fun - visiting with Chris. In the meantime, classes started yesterday, and I am teaching my first class for the semester tonight. I'm teaching a total of 12 hours online, so I will be busy in front of my computer for most of the work week, and teaching 2 night classes - Gourmet Foods and Food for Fun & Fitness. I have a lot of work to do, but I'm having a great time.
After this semester, I don't have a job anymore; so I am doing all I can to impress the department while I am here. I am also trying to get as much experience as I can while I am at Mesa. Regardless of where I land, if I want to teach, this is a great opportunity to get my feet wet!
As far as the home front, we're still working on the back yard - hopefully we can get everything wrapped up in the next couple of weeks. We need to finish the irrigation for the vegetable garden, fix a leaky irrigation valve, install plants & sod, and put in a brick walkway. Eventually we will be staining the concrete and painting the outside wall of the house, installing ceiling fans, and maybe getting a new table for outside. The backyard will look something like an oasis when we're done, I think!
I am also starting grad school this semester, and I actually have homework due tomorrow, so I better get to it. It's going to be a busy semester, but I am hoping to make the best of it. I'll also do better with the posts - maybe once a week... if you're lucky!
Jenny
November 10, 2005
Diggin' in the yard...
So we've got 5 out of 6 valves installed - and minus a few leaks, things look GOOD! We're putting in the sprinklers and the rest of the conduit pieces this weekend. It feels like we tore things up FOREVER, but putting it together went much faster. Part of that was due to Betsy's help - thank you BETSY!!! She came over Saturday and Sunday and helped us dig in the dirt and get all muddy, and all that good stuff. She even brought over Lester to help on Sunday. He seemed perplexed why we kept digging in the same place all weekend.
Work is sliding along quickly - my students are starting to work on their presentations for the rest of the semester. I have to read up on my vitamins and minerals to be ready to fill in any gaps in the student presentations, but otherwise my next few weeks will be grading-intense.
We're getting ready for Thanksgiving around here as well - Bob and Elaine will be here on Wednesday night, and they are planning to help us around the yard. I'm thinking - PAINTING. Or perhaps planting new shrubs and stuff in the yard. The weather should be perfect - welcome to the best part of the year in Phoenix!
Mom and Dad are heading to Aukland on Saturday for a 1 week tour, should be awesome to say the least. I can't wait to see their pics!
Hope everyone has a great holiday! Take care and talk to you soon,
The Professor
Work is sliding along quickly - my students are starting to work on their presentations for the rest of the semester. I have to read up on my vitamins and minerals to be ready to fill in any gaps in the student presentations, but otherwise my next few weeks will be grading-intense.
We're getting ready for Thanksgiving around here as well - Bob and Elaine will be here on Wednesday night, and they are planning to help us around the yard. I'm thinking - PAINTING. Or perhaps planting new shrubs and stuff in the yard. The weather should be perfect - welcome to the best part of the year in Phoenix!
Mom and Dad are heading to Aukland on Saturday for a 1 week tour, should be awesome to say the least. I can't wait to see their pics!
Hope everyone has a great holiday! Take care and talk to you soon,
The Professor
October 28, 2005
Day out of the fast lane...
Today I am taking a day off work and working in the yard. Right now my landscape is at the stage where it looks like I've been invaded by the gopher army. Holes everywhere! There are a few patches that need to be worked on by hand (you know, around the gas lines, cleaning out the dirt that fell back in) but I hope to start installation tomorrow.
We have learned a lot along the way with this project... hopefully everything turns out well. Once we've made all the mistakes, we can turn around and look like experts when we help our friends do their yards. I'll post pictures when I get them developed.
My job is going well - I love the teaching gambit! I hope to get another gig for next year, or maybe long term position with MCC, but that's uncertain at this point. In the meantime, I am making myself a worthy candidate and starting my Master's. I plan to apply to ISU next week, and I am scheduled to take the GRE on December 12th. If things go well, I can be done as early as Summer 2007... I'll be done December 2007 at the latest.
Well, I better get outside before the sun gets hot. It's supposed to be 85 or so today.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
JW
We have learned a lot along the way with this project... hopefully everything turns out well. Once we've made all the mistakes, we can turn around and look like experts when we help our friends do their yards. I'll post pictures when I get them developed.
My job is going well - I love the teaching gambit! I hope to get another gig for next year, or maybe long term position with MCC, but that's uncertain at this point. In the meantime, I am making myself a worthy candidate and starting my Master's. I plan to apply to ISU next week, and I am scheduled to take the GRE on December 12th. If things go well, I can be done as early as Summer 2007... I'll be done December 2007 at the latest.
Well, I better get outside before the sun gets hot. It's supposed to be 85 or so today.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
JW
September 27, 2005
MONK SAQI MONKEY
Welcome all wildlife lovers! Here is a sample of the menagerie of creatures and beautiful locations in the jungle of Ecuador. After leaving the jungle, we went on the 36 hour bus ride from hell - I'll post those pictures next week. Have a great week everybody!
This is our bug-catching system in the jungle. They are installed just above your door in your room at the lodge.
Living the good life in the jungle. Hammocks are a nice. :)
The infamous STINKY TURKEY. Named as such because it tastes and smells bad. (That's because of the leaves it eats).
This is the flooded forest, located in the Cuyabeno, during the rainy season.
This is our cushy jungle lodge - no A/C, or electricity, but there's running water and mosquito nets!
There are dangerous creatures, like the caiman, above, or the fer du lance - one of the deadliest snakes on earth, below. Our guide, Hilary and Kerry all stepped right over the snake. Travis found it and asked the guide - "What's this?". Diego then instructed the rest of the group to walk AROUND, as this was a juvenile, and had enough poison to kill 3 of us!
This is the Monk Saqi monkey. He was as interested in us a we were in him! Staring contest!
This is the ferocious piranha that I caught. Check out those teeth!
This is an anole - a lizard that lives in the jungle and laughs at gringos trying to use blow guns!
This is our bug-catching system in the jungle. They are installed just above your door in your room at the lodge.
Living the good life in the jungle. Hammocks are a nice. :)
The infamous STINKY TURKEY. Named as such because it tastes and smells bad. (That's because of the leaves it eats).
This is the flooded forest, located in the Cuyabeno, during the rainy season.
This is our cushy jungle lodge - no A/C, or electricity, but there's running water and mosquito nets!
Say, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH.....
There are dangerous creatures, like the caiman, above, or the fer du lance - one of the deadliest snakes on earth, below. Our guide, Hilary and Kerry all stepped right over the snake. Travis found it and asked the guide - "What's this?". Diego then instructed the rest of the group to walk AROUND, as this was a juvenile, and had enough poison to kill 3 of us!
This is the Monk Saqi monkey. He was as interested in us a we were in him! Staring contest!
This is the ferocious piranha that I caught. Check out those teeth!
This is an anole - a lizard that lives in the jungle and laughs at gringos trying to use blow guns!
September 21, 2005
Jungle Highlights
After Quito, we ventured to the town of Lago Agrio. The other set of Romancing the Stone. I'll post more pictures later, but here's a taste of jungle-y goodness.
This was our guide, Diego, in the place that they call Cuyabeno.
This was our jumping off place for our jungle tour, in the place where the river is called Cuyabeno...
Stay tuned for the animals we saw where the River is called Cuyabeno...
This was our guide, Diego, in the place that they call Cuyabeno.
This was our jumping off place for our jungle tour, in the place where the river is called Cuyabeno...
Stay tuned for the animals we saw where the River is called Cuyabeno...
Beautiful Nature
Just a little eye candy for your weekly visit...Agave plant at the Desert Botanical Garden.
Monthly Report from the Culinary Front
So it's Wednesday night, and what am I doin'? Watchin' the game, havin' a bud...or Dos Equis, actually.
Gourmet Foods was good tonight- soups and breads. The Challah was a big hit, of course, but that recipe for "soft" dinner rolls sucks. I'm going to ditch it next semester and try something else - like cinnamon rolls or something sweet. One student suggested zucchini bread, which would be a good fit, I think.
I'm up to my eyeballs in work right now, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. We're working on metabolism in my nutrition class (the hardest unit, of course) so I'm studying just as much as my students. How long has it been since YOU'VE thought about the metabolism of triglycerides? Probably never for most of you, and that's OK. Unfortunately, I've got to teach it, so I've got to re-learn it! Thank you, Dr. Koo.
Gourmet Foods is going well - next week we field trip to Lee Lee Supermarket (home of more Asian foods that you can shake a chopstick at) and dine at Pink Pepper Thai Restaurant. Healthy Cooking is going well - we really start cooking week after next. I'm enjoying my classes, but you never realize how much "behind the scenes" work is involved in teaching. I have to admit I like the autonomy, though. I have a great department chair, and Lori Zienkewicz has been invaluable in helping me get off the ground and running along smoothly. I probably bother her too much in her office - but she's always willing to listen to me.
Betsy's doing well in her job, but I know she's ready for her own place. She misses Lester, too. I'm sure he's ready to move down here, if Mom and Dad let him go (he's a cat, in case you don' t know). Travis is moving right along in his job. He was promoted a couple of weeks ago, and things are going well for him. He may have to start working at a new location in Gilbert sometime next year, but we'll wait and see.
We start digging this weekend for our landscaping upgrade. I got to go play with microfiche this morning at the city office, and I'm STILL not sure where our sewer line is, but I think we'll be OK. We plan to roto-till and doctor up the soil this weekend, and maybe start hand trenching our flower beds and relocating conduit. Next weekend (or maybe later) we'll do the trenching thing, lay pipes, and plants will come later... like maybe November. The plants will be the easy part, really!
Well, I better sign off - it's getting late and my beer's almost gone. Peace out, yo.
J & the Boyz
Gourmet Foods was good tonight- soups and breads. The Challah was a big hit, of course, but that recipe for "soft" dinner rolls sucks. I'm going to ditch it next semester and try something else - like cinnamon rolls or something sweet. One student suggested zucchini bread, which would be a good fit, I think.
I'm up to my eyeballs in work right now, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. We're working on metabolism in my nutrition class (the hardest unit, of course) so I'm studying just as much as my students. How long has it been since YOU'VE thought about the metabolism of triglycerides? Probably never for most of you, and that's OK. Unfortunately, I've got to teach it, so I've got to re-learn it! Thank you, Dr. Koo.
Gourmet Foods is going well - next week we field trip to Lee Lee Supermarket (home of more Asian foods that you can shake a chopstick at) and dine at Pink Pepper Thai Restaurant. Healthy Cooking is going well - we really start cooking week after next. I'm enjoying my classes, but you never realize how much "behind the scenes" work is involved in teaching. I have to admit I like the autonomy, though. I have a great department chair, and Lori Zienkewicz has been invaluable in helping me get off the ground and running along smoothly. I probably bother her too much in her office - but she's always willing to listen to me.
Betsy's doing well in her job, but I know she's ready for her own place. She misses Lester, too. I'm sure he's ready to move down here, if Mom and Dad let him go (he's a cat, in case you don' t know). Travis is moving right along in his job. He was promoted a couple of weeks ago, and things are going well for him. He may have to start working at a new location in Gilbert sometime next year, but we'll wait and see.
We start digging this weekend for our landscaping upgrade. I got to go play with microfiche this morning at the city office, and I'm STILL not sure where our sewer line is, but I think we'll be OK. We plan to roto-till and doctor up the soil this weekend, and maybe start hand trenching our flower beds and relocating conduit. Next weekend (or maybe later) we'll do the trenching thing, lay pipes, and plants will come later... like maybe November. The plants will be the easy part, really!
Well, I better sign off - it's getting late and my beer's almost gone. Peace out, yo.
J & the Boyz
August 23, 2005
Back to the grindstone...
So I've completed the first two days of class, and so far, so good. I've taught 4 of my classes, the fifth one meets only on Wednesdays. That's my gourmet foods class, and I am excited about it. Everyone in the department is such a pleasure to work with, I feel really grateful for the opportunity to work at MCC!
I'm going to post some more photos from our trip below - see? It only took me a couple weeks...
Hang in there - have a great week everybody!
Jenny
I'm going to post some more photos from our trip below - see? It only took me a couple weeks...
Hang in there - have a great week everybody!
Jenny
Old Town Quito - Day Two of The trip
Our tour of Quito began at the Basilica - part of Old Town, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
This is the Virgen of Quito - the only Virgin in the world with wings. 
This is Hilary's host family - we had lunch with them at a restaurant on Panecillo, where the Virgen of Quito is located.
This is Hilary's host family - we had lunch with them at a restaurant on Panecillo, where the Virgen of Quito is located.
This is the Basilica de Voto in Quito. The basilica is less than a hundred years old, and reflects the character of Ecuador. Animals on the outside are from the different regions, such as the jungle and the Galapagos. The window shown above represents the 2000 kinds of orchids found in Ecuador...
Quito, Part Deux
We toured the Museo de la Ciudad - Museum of the City -and learned all about the history of Quito. Travis and Hilary took turns beating each other with the free posters we received with our tickets.
We ate unique and tasty fruit in Ecuador - a fresh fruit lover's paradise. Travis thought this fruit tasted like slime, but I really liked it.
After Quito, we headed to Lago Agrio for our jungle tour. Here is a view of the city of Quito as we were leaving. Definitely looks different than home!August 16, 2005
Professor Watson...
So my first day at MCC (Mesa Comm College) was yesterday, and so far so good. I've met my department, who all seem like they're a great bunch of ladies (no male professors in DFCS). We had a breakfast with all the faculty, then a couple of department meetings, and I got my office into rough shape to start the semester. I'm just happy to have an office - it took an act of congress just to get it!
I don't have a phone or computer yet - I hope to get those today. I'll be teaching 3 sections of FON 241, Principles of Human Nutrition, 1 section of Food for Fun and Fitness (healthy cooking) and 1 section of FON 144 - Gourmet Cooking. I am really looking forward to classes, though I know it will be a challenging semester as a new teacher.
In the meantime, we've been working on the house - Travis and I finished up the patio roof this weekend, and the entire thing is clear coated. We still need to find some kind of lattice or shade cloth for the end, paint the exterior wall, and acid wash the floor, but we're definitely making progress! We'll also be putting in a new sprinkler system and turf once the weather cools off a bit.
Hope everyone's doing well - have a good semester!
JRW
I don't have a phone or computer yet - I hope to get those today. I'll be teaching 3 sections of FON 241, Principles of Human Nutrition, 1 section of Food for Fun and Fitness (healthy cooking) and 1 section of FON 144 - Gourmet Cooking. I am really looking forward to classes, though I know it will be a challenging semester as a new teacher.
In the meantime, we've been working on the house - Travis and I finished up the patio roof this weekend, and the entire thing is clear coated. We still need to find some kind of lattice or shade cloth for the end, paint the exterior wall, and acid wash the floor, but we're definitely making progress! We'll also be putting in a new sprinkler system and turf once the weather cools off a bit.
Hope everyone's doing well - have a good semester!
JRW
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