Christmas

We had a lovely family Christmas. Here are a few pics:








Santa was very good to me. I got lots of books, a bluetooth headset, some kitchen stuff, a projecting clock, and best of all, a pocket camera. (After much research, I decided on the Panasonic LZ8, for anyone who's interested.) So now I will be able to take pictures even when I don't cart around my big Nikon. Yay!

Green Bay, WI

Back in mid-November I went up to Green Bay, WI for work. The way my appointments were scheduled, I had a fair amount of time to do some sightseeing. I took in both Lambeau Field (home of the Green Bay Packers football team) and the National Railroad Museum. Here are some photos from the trip.

These seats are uber expensive.

Our tour guide was excellent and our group was friendly.

Those are cheese hats in the back of that Packers truck. The gift store was a sight to behold.

Big Boy...designed specifically to haul payload over the mountains. It needed to carry an ungodly amount of coal.

This is the engine room of the Big Boy. Yikes!

A Pullman (sleeping) car in rather good condition. There was a neat exhibit inside that made use of big LCD screens and an animated attendant would speak about civil rights as they pertained to train travel.

I climbed this observation tower. It has 99 steps exactly!

The view of the museum from the wooden tower.

Looking out onto the river that runs next to the museum...see that ice there? Yeah, it was cold.

In addition to the enclosed warehouse, there was a "trainport" of sorts with more specimens. They were covered, but still exposed to the outside elements. Walking through some of them, it was so cold and quiet, it felt like I was walking through something frozen in time.

I pretty much had the museum all to myself, which was nice.

Do you think there are enough rivets on this train? I think it needs a few more.

Now that's what I call a stainless steel kitchen!

Something about this car reminds me of the show Mad Men.

They had a big display of train logo signs. I really like these two but they were all cool looking.

New Puppy

My parents got a new puppy a couple of weeks ago. His name is Roscoe, and he's a chihuahua. He is the cutest thing you've seen in your entire life. Picture the most adorable baby animal EVER, then multiply that cuteness by infinity, then you will begin to understand how cute Roscoe is. These pix don't even do him justice.




He was playing with a leaf that was blowing in the wind on Saturday afternoon. Chasing a leaf, people. With such enthusiasm and curiosity and innocence it just makes your heart melt. Into a puddle. Then you step in that puddle and go, "Wait, that's not my heart, that's pee!" Yeah, he's still working on his housetraining skillz. But that only takes away from his cuteness by .1%, so he's still got plenty to spare.

Wind Point Lighthouse

Near Racine, WI, on Lake Michigan, there is a lighthouse. I went there yesterday after my trainings. I was surprised at how ocean-like the waves were.


And to think in a week this could be covered in snow.

Another Victory!

Prop 2 passed in CA, with 63% for to 37% against. Yay for farm animals!

Victory!

Updated 11/5:

NC is still too close to call...let's just call it a purple state and be done with it. Otherwise, electorally, it's a landslide for Obama. In the popular vote, also a clear mandate. Hooray! He has no time to rest on his laurels, as the NY Times says. There is quite a daunting array of tasks ahead of him. The scrutiny will be immense. In the end, he will bring the change we need.

Halloween in the Office

My coworkers shared my Halloween spirit and it showed in their costumes. I love the people I work with!

Taylor as "McPalin." By far the most elaborate costume at the office.

Jeff as a proctologist (complete with gross smudges), and Susan as an injured (dead?) skier.

Brent as a golfer, Brandon as Maverick from Top Gun, JD as a basketball player, and Jeff again.

Renee as Salt, and Amanda as Pepper. Loved the silver knit berets for shaker tops.

Andy as a beer keg.

Erin as Sarah Palin poses with the other Maverick in the office.

Kendall as a Pink Lady.

Ashley as a cop.

Daniel as Indiana Jones. He really fits the part, no?

Jason as an asp. Ha ha.

Rosie the Riveter

My Halloween costume: