Been busy.

This week, I attended Harry Potter 6 and a grant workshop, and finished two projects.
1. HP 6 is awesome. My friend Carrie has already done a quick review, and I agree with her on all points. 6 is my favorite book anyway, because I like the character development and the balance of the book, and even though things had to be cut (and they also added a scene), the balance matched really well for a blend of funny and frightful. I shed a fat tear at the end, and when the credits began to roll everybody let out a collected sigh of "it's over?" After a two and a half hour movie, I think that speaks really well of the quality. And, seeing it with my peeps Carrie and Paul was awesome, too. I want to see it again.

2. This funding request workshop was intense; two days, 9-4, but with a hefty lunch break and a morning and afternoon break. There was also plenty of coffee, and breakfasty treats available. I learned so much in these two days my head is still spinning. I really responded to the leader, whose dry humor made me laugh even in the morning hours, and she was very straightforward and easy to follow. I can only think of one thing I didn't learn, and that's about how peer reviewers score grants, but I also haven't explored the information we were given very thoroughly yet. On the second day, I was able to bring the campus ministry's computer and do a few searches on it using the wireless available at the country club, and also get the ministry's camera software installed. The workshop was expensive, but I feel it was worth it, and I hope I can write some great grant requests to earn my keep (the ministry paid for it!)

3. Projects one and two for the summer are complete, both blankets, and are soon delivered. I have one more blanket, some pants, and a shelf to craft this summer. I'd also like to work on my wings a bit, and of course on my manuscript.

Just call me Ms. Science

Just spent an hour and a half identifying a weed while watching Voyage of the Mimi on youtube. There are several of these plants in my porch box and I wanted to know what they are, so I picked one (carefully, having discovered the other day that they have spines). I jumped on google and hunted up a weed identification site. After taking my best guess at some of the options, and viewing the pictures, it seemed to be a pigweed variety. A bit more image searching and spiny amaranth seems to be the most likely. I have no idea how it got in the box, and I hunted around the yard for a plant that looked just the same, to no avail, but that's what it is.
This genius moment came at the same time that the Mimi's crew, shipwrecked, set up a plastic sheet as a still to turn sea water to drinking water.

AMERICA, RIGHT?

I haven't made much of a fuss about July 4 since I've been in BG, and only rarely have I spent time with people for the holiday. Last year I did go to the fireworks, sitting on the lawn of the rec center and peaceably appreciating both solitude and being part of a crowd. This year looked to be much of the same, but then Carrie texted me and I ended up donning some red, white, and blue and heading over to a gathering complete with friends, sangria, grilling, firepit, and a mad dash up the street to see what fireworks we could over the trees. And pink marshmallows.
Standing with Steve and Melissa on the sidewalk of Main Street, jumping up and down like crazy people, and cheering for the really big ones, as traffic went behind us, I felt completely at peace. It's nice to have friends.
God bless America.