It's Hockey Season, I Was Busy...

Yeah, I know it's been awhile. Not much interesting was happening. But now I have Interesting News to share.

First news is that my company exhibited at a big trade show again last week. NAPE (the North American Prospect Expo) is a pretty big deal around here. People buy and sell land and offshore oil prospects, equipment, and services for two days. And there's beer, but it's pretty lousy beer. We had a pretty awesome booth. Here's us in the booth.

We had a puzzle that we made of the Gulf of Mexico, and we got to put it together. Sometimes people stopped to help us, but we figured even if no one talked to us the whole show, we had a puzzle to keep us amused. I can't find a picture of it, so you'll have to trust me: it was cool.

The other exciting news is that I made an offer on a house (yes, it's in Houston. Your sympathies are appreciated) which was accepted, and I have a mortgage locked in. It still has to go through inspection, though, so no one's allowed to get too excited (or depressed) until closing day. I'll let you know when that is - don't worry!

What We Had for Dinner Today

Ravioli. We had ravioli. I made the ravioli. I got to use my pasta roller. Wow. It was so much easier than using a rolling pin. I didn't even break a sweat. That was a bonus. The dough didn't shrink on me, either. Bonus bonus! I don't know if that was the roller or the dough (left out the oil my previous recipe called for and used less egg), but either way, I am thoroughly grateful.
There was tomato sauce and creamy pesto sauce, plus bread with roasted garlic, green beans, and salad to go with the ravioli. For dessert there was a concoction of chocolate wafer crumb crust topped with vanilla pudding, berries, and cool whip.

I Are Special

I am all excited. A photo I took at the San Antonio Botanical Garden has been published in something called a "Schmap," which, as best I can tell, is an iPhone-based electronic guidebook for various cities. This is what my picture will look like on an iPhone (do I even know anyone who has an iPhone?).
I am not sure why they wanted to use it. It's not a terribly exciting picture. It's not particularly representative of the SABG. I just took it because I liked that plant, and I thought I might want to use it in landscaping someday, and this way I could go to a nursery and show someone the photo and say, "Sell me some of THIS." I certainly wasn't expecting anyone else to see the picture. But now I am able to say, in a properly pretentious tone, that I am a Published Photographer.
We'll see how long that fun lasts.

A Christmas Tree

It's ok if you don't understand why the tree is covered with socks. In fact, it's probably for the best. But I hope that those of you who do get it, enjoy it. It was a very nice tree.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, or Channukah, or whatever feasting/gift-giving holiday you prefer. I've been really busy. I'll write something interesting when I get back from Home.
I had leftover chinese food for dinner, BTW.

Insert Whimper Here

I did go shopping yesterday morning. It turned into yesterday afternoon. At the mall. It was very painful, and I can't really talk about it yet. There was one moment, however, that ALMOST made shopping at noon on a saturday three weeks before christmas worthwhile - I found a pair of pants that I DON'T NEED TO SHORTEN.
For real. Honest. Seriously.
There was also a stop at a Borders, which both eased my pain and added half an hour to the time I spent in a mall, so that was a wash, really. Same for the falafel that sort of made its way from the food court to my tummy.
I have now done my part to stimulate the economy.

Stupid Clothes...

I had to wear a skirt to work today. None of my nice pants would stay up without duct tape, which seemed a little low-brow for a client meeting. Although... it was a meeting with other geologists, so it's entirely possible that they wouldn't've noticed.
I suppose I should be glad that all my clothes are too big for me, but I am annoyed at having to spend more money when I just bought new clothes in September.
So. I am going to have to go shopping. What a horrible way to spend a saturday morning.
Stupid clothes.

I'm Still Full

Busy weekend. Busy busy! Tell you all about it soon. Well, soon for me, anyway. For now, you'll have to settle for the what's-for-dinner report.
For Thanksgiving dinner we had:

• Blueberry soup (cold, as it was 80 degrees outside)
• Turkey
• Stuffing
• Mashed potatos
• Sweet potatos, mashed
• Gravy
• Camp Hillary cornbread
• Green beans
• Brussels sprouts
• Cranberry dressing
• Wild rice casserole
• Stuffed pumpkin
• Apple pie
• Pumpkin pie
• Mincemeat pie
• Other apple pie
• Pumpkin cheesecake

What did you guys have?

It's Finally Fall

Today at 5.57 pm I turned the heat on.
It got down into the 30s last night.
My grass is brown. I really hope it is supposed to be.

A Day at Lake Texana

Today I DID see something interesting... something rare... something I never thought I'd see in my life.

It was a 'POSSUM.

Not impressed yet?

It was ALIVE.

I didn't get a photo; you'll have to trust me.

Now, some of you might have noticed that I said I saw this today. Not this morning. Or this evening. Or last night. Today. It was about 1.30 pm. Mr. 'Possum did not run away from me.
Yup, looks like I saw a rabid possum.

I also saw a thing I have seen before, but I didn't think I would see in Texas:A tree with leaves turning color! There must be a non-weather-related reason for this. Any ideas, people?

Also saw a Bald Eagle. It flew up out of some brush about 10 feet (or 0.01 kilofeet) away from me. That's pretty close, it turns out, when one is dealing with a bird that size. Like the 'possum, no photo. But I did get a photo of a golden spinner, finally:They're pretty big spiders. 2-3 inches, with legs. They like to hang out fairly high up, so I can generally walk under them. Which I suppose means that most of the rest of you (who aren't my female relatives) would see them at eye level.

Dinner report: Gardenburger (original flavor) on a wheat bun (untoasted) with lettuce, tomato, and onion. And a beer.