The End of Down Time

My "pic of the day" is glass blown artwork from the Botanical Garden visit that we had on Thursday. It has been a fast five days off, but we did have fun and I have enjoyed the down time. Today was spent sleeping in and we avoided the afternoon heat by seeing a matinee movie, The Prince of Persia.

Tomorrow is back to reality and to investigate why it seems that our car's brakes went out yesterday. We hope it will be a minor repair.

Theatre Under the Stars

My "pic of the day" is of the stage from the Maple Wood Barn Theatre performance of Arsenic and Lace that we went to tonight with friends from our 20's & 30's meet-up group. The community theatre group performs in an open-air environment and the audience watches the stage while sitting under the stars which adds to the ambiance. We've lived here for four years and I've always wanted to go see this theatre group perform and I'm glad I had an opportunity to this evening.

Another first today was that I tried out a different church, The Crossing, and Paul went with me!

Airshow

Today we went to the airshow that they have every Memorial Weekend. It was really hot so we didn't stay as long as we would have liked. I think we kind of got overheated because once we came back home we were really tired even though we hadn't done that much. We stayed inside for much of the afternoon and played a little Wii. I took a nap for a little bit late this afternoon before being woken up by the kids at the pool who decided to run up the stairs leading to our apt. and bang on the stair railing as they tossed a football back and forth. I've been awake for two hours since thin but I feel completed exhausted. I think the sun exposure over the past three days has rendered us exhausted.

R & R

I was so tired last night after our trip to the Botanical Gardens that I fell asleep sitting up in the living room watching tv. I slept for nearly 12 hours. My "pic of the day" is of all the koi fish that were in the Botanical Gardens yesterday. They had feeding pellets we could buy to feed the fish and they would all race to the surface with their mouths open to be feed, along with a few ducks and geese too.

Today we enjoyed some pool time for the first time since last summer and then we took it easy out on our balcony before running a few errands and ending our day with the movie, Valentine's Day.

Botanical Garden

My "pic of the day" is from the Missouri Botanical Garden that we went to today in St. Louis. It was so hot and humid and we trecked around through the Garden for about 3.5 hrs. I got some really good pics though!

Mini-Vacation

Tonight marked the start of my 5 day weekend (mini-vacation) and the start of rest! I worked a full day and got as caught up as I needed to be and even had time to clean my office today. After coming home and balancing the checkbook and paying the bills, we decided to go see the movie, Date Night. It was cute and we enjoyed the inside married couple jokes.

My "pic of the day" is of a beach in Mexico, where I wish I could spend my mini-vacation.

A Car Kind of Day

It was a car kind of day. We awoke to the sound of someone honking in our apt. complex at 5:30 a.m.. This happened once before and it seems to be someone honking to let someone else know that they are waiting for them. It's sort of understandable in the frigid temps of winter, but NOT on a 60F morning! Then as I was walking into work, I bumped into a colleague who had been to court the day before regarding a ticket she received for not having her insurance card a couple of months ago when she was pulled over for having a taillight out.

Then this evening as I got off work, traffic was backed up and re-routed so strangely that I inquired what had happened. Apparently a truck with a ladder had clipped some power lines and knocked down the lines in the middle of a main street in town. This caused me to take an alternate route to the gym. Traffic was so crazy as it wound its way around the side streets of campus, that I had to reverse down a side street to let a city bus through. Then I almost hit someone as they were crossing the street because the back end of the bus was hiding them. Then at the 4 way stop, the last person approaching the intersection didn't wait for their turn and nearly T-boned me as I honked and swerved. Then I was backed up in more traffic before finally arriving at the gym. I had a feeling that told me not to go to the gym, but did I listen, NO!

While I was getting changed into my gym clothes my nose started to bleed, another sign I shouldn't have been at the gym. After my work out, I was nearly run over by someone in the parking lot at the crosswalk and I got in my car anxious to get home and off the road. I had a very distinct gut feeling to take a left turn out of the gym parking lot and go home an alternate way. However, as I saw the line of traffic, I decided the easier way out of the gym parking lot and into the main road was better and in doing so made a decision against what my gut was telling me.

On the way home I was very careful since I had a distinct feeling I should have gone an alternate route that I hadn't traveled in several months. I was nearly home and crossed through an area that I cross at a minimum twice daily just a minute from my apt. When I looked in my rear view mirror to cross lanes and turn into my apt. complex I saw a cop with flashing lights behind me. WHAT!?! WHY!?! I thought. I pulled over at the entrance of my apt. complex and he asked me why I had chosen to go through the driveway area of a small shopping complex instead of going through the lights. He ended up giving me a $75 ticket for traveling through an area that I and many others travel through daily. If only I had listened to my gut and not gone to the gym at all or had gone the alternate route home, I may never have gotten a ticket at all!

This ruined my night as I came home in tears since my husband and I had plans for a day trip over Memorial weekend which would cost probably about $75. You have to remember that we have not had the money to get away at all for over 2.5 years and that we are on a very tight budget. I couldn't believe that what little fun we were looking forward to was taken away so quickly. How I had just listened to folks this week with big Memorial weekend plans which included Disney World and cruises! Nothing worked or went well all night including the internet! In addition, shortly after I got home we received a call from an insurance agency regarding an auto claim recently filed by a "Kevin Robinson", obviously not us but what freaky timing. My "pic of the day" is of my car shortly after a small accident several years ago which I have never had the money to repair.

Calm Days

I chose this "pic of the day" because it was so hot it felt like we lived in a tropical location today (except that we don't have sand or an ocean). My mom said that yesterday was the warmest day we've had since last August (9 months ago)! Hard to believe that we were all complaining about the frigid temps a couple of months ago. It is a reminder that as the Bible promises, "this too shall pass" when we come up against obstacles or less than desirable circumstances in our life. Just as the crazy, busy days at work have passed (at least temporarily). It was very quiet today as we entered a calm time following the end of the spring semester and before summer orientation starts in a couple of weeks with the incoming freshmen. It's nice to savor this time.

Sunny Day

My "pic of the day" is of a window from the banquet hall in Boonville where we had dinner Friday night. I thought the setting sun shining in and the green ivy growing over part of it was very appealing. Today was a very sunny and warm day and I think the temp reached as high as 90F today. I tried to get some R&R today and am glad that I have a partial work week this week.

Local Artisans

My "pic of the day" is of one of the vendors at the Best of Missouri Life festival that I attended on Friday evening in Boonville. This man was hand making chair legs that would go towards making a chair like the ones in the background. He also made little stools with some that were heart shaped. Next to this vendor's booth was a another vendor who was selling decorative objects that were made from the remains of an old barn. They were very interesting.

Today was the warmest day we've had all year and people were out at the pool before noon. It was about 85F and somewhat humid (about 20-25 degrees warmer than it has been recently). I had a pretty low key day enjoying time with my mom being in town while I got a summer haircut and had lunch with a friend and my mom downtown. Meanwhile Paul volunteered as camera man for over 12 hours for a local film maker. Considering that Paul also has a wedding to shoot tomorrow, it has been a very art themed weekend with local artisans all around.

Evening Sunshine

Had a productive day at work and then attended an end of year dinner to do with my mom's work at H&R Block. There I had coconut cream pie, yum! My "pic of the day" is representative of the sunny and warm evening we had after the rain and clouds moved out of our area. It was perfect for a late evening walk to burn off the pie!

Sick & Weather

Spent the day not feeling so good again and am fearing that I'm facing a rebound of the upper respiratory infection I never quite got over. My "pic of the day" is of one that represents threatening weather like what we are expecting tonight.

Crazy Day

My pic of the day symbolizes the hodge podge of craziness that filled my world today. See how the different colored glass panes are disorganized and intersecting into each other? That's how the events of my day unfolded. I think it's harder when you don't anticipate the day to be difficult.

Summer Hours

Today I started what we call "summer hours" where we have the option of working 7:30am - 4pm with a 30 minute lunch. I don't like getting up earlier, but I do enjoy having more of an evening. I left work at about 4:15pm and after I worked out at the gym and ran to the grocery store it wasn't even 6pm by the time I got home. Had I done those things during the busy semester it probably would have been pushing 7:30pm by the time I got home.

At work we also had a staff appreciation picnic hosted by the Staff Advisory Council. So it was nice not to have to worry about taking a lunch and to have a burger from the grill outside on a very pleasant day. My "pic of the day" is of a sunset earlier this spring, and I chose this because the pic looks very close to how my husband and I ended the day by sitting on our balcony as the sun set.

Normal Speed

It was a very cool and cloudy day, as was all weekend, and I only worked a half a day due to all the work I did over the weekend. We submitted grades today and officially closed out the Spring '10 semester. It was a good feeling, however summer welcome which will bring all the freshmen to campus for orientation, only 3 weeks away and there is much to do to get ready including pre-registering the students in classes.

My "pic of the day" is of a squirrel that my husband I saw on one of our walks around the apt. complex.

I would say that overall today was a more normal pace and the speed that life should be both at work and at home. I actually got home at 5:30 p.m. and didn't have 20+ things on my home "to do" list. Now it's time to watch some Mon. night t.v.

Life

I've been thinking about all the new beginnings of our recent graduates, as they have closed one chapter of their lives and are about to start a new one. Think of all the adventures, accomplishments as well as trials and tribulations which await them.

Yesterday I watched many of our students cross the stage with diploma in hand during MU's commencement ceremony, and I had to wonder what life had in store for each of our graduates. Many already had jobs, others were getting ready to start graduate school, while others were unsure what the future held. At any rate, they have started a new beginning. It makes me question what chapters in our lives (no matter where we are in life) need to be closed and what new beginnings and adventures need to be started? My "pic of the day" is of new spring life sprouting up anew.

Commencement

Today I had to help out with the Honors Convocation at 7 a.m, and then had to return to MU this evening at 5:30 p.m. to help organize my department's 7 p.m. graduation ceremony. I got home at 9 p.m. A really long day, plus Paul had a wedding to shoot in Jefferson City. We're looking forward to some R&R tomorrow. My "pic of the day" is of Jesse Hall where my department held their commencement exercises this evening.

Pool Opening

My "pic of the day" is of the pool which is almost ready for use at our apartment complex. This week we watched as they uncovered it from its winter hibernation, cleaned it and then filled it with fresh water. Last night when we went to bed it was about half full and this morning we awoke to it being completely full.

Today at work was the first time (since Christmas I think) that I did not have a single student appointment or meeting all day! It was nice having the freedom to pick and choose how much time I wanted to spend on email, grading final assignments for the class that I taught, working on projects that were pushed to the back burner and actually socializing with co-workers! However, I do have to work tomorrow (Saturday), as I have to help with both the Honors Convocation and our departmental graduations. One is bright and early and the other in the evening.

Short night

Last night we awoke at about 2 a.m. to the sound of thunder followed by a downpour of hail. The hail pounded on our roof and outside. When we looked outside we saw golf ball sized hail that landed on our balcony along with some smaller sized hail. We finally got back to sleep after the hail ended and then we were woke up again sometime around 4-5 a.m. to more thunderstorms. What made the night of sleep worse was that we had gone to bed late (after midnight) which made for a very short night with the alarm set at 6:45 a.m. My "pic of the day" is of one of the hail stones, you have to remember that I took this pic after waking up in the middle of the night so it's not one of my best.

Long Day

Full day at work which concluded with coming home and finishing photo editing the wedding photos and then starting to upload them to the web hosting site. There have to be shorter days ahead. My "pic of the day" is of a bobber in the water because I feel like I'm being pulled and tugged by life's whims.

Catching up

Today I managed to carve out a couple of hours to try and catch up on my overflowing email box. I managed to go through over 100 emails today in addition to my daily duties. I'm trying to catch up after recently being out of the office, so I have several hours blocked off on my work calendar throughout the week to try to get back on track.

My "pic of the day" is of one of the many geese that take up residence around our apartment complex each year. While on a walk this past weekend, I was able to get up close to this goose and take this pic. Wish I could be sleeping/resting like this goose!

Etsy.com

I have discovered etsy.com, where individuals can buy and sell handmade items. There is a huge community of photographers on this site, so I set-up shop and now have a website where I can sell my photos: http://www.etsy.com/shop/JRobinsonPhotos. My "pic of the day" is of a photo of a Welsh Castle that I posted on etsy.com.

Slow Sunday

My "pic of the day" is of something that I saw on our quick walk around the apartment complex this afternoon. I say a "quick walk" because I was really tired and not feeling well today so we cut it short. I slept for 11.5 hours last night and woke up at 12:30 pm, and then fell asleep dung a movie at 6 p.m. and slept for 3 hours and I'm still tired. I'm still having trouble with my sinuses.

Celebration

Slept for 14 hours and still felt tired after my busy week. I got up and quickly decluttered and put things away in time for the party I had for the student officers of the professional fraternity (PEK) that I advise. We played the "Game of Things" and Wii bowling and had food and fun. My "pic of the day" is of the officers receiving their gifts at the party.

After the PEK get together Paul and I ate at Ruby Tuesday's and surprised our favorite server, since she is graduating from MU, with a framed MU photo that I had taken . It felt wonderful to surprise her and let her know that we appreciate her.

We came home after 9 and I worked for about three hours on editing the wedding photos I took two weeks ago. I'm tired again from the day's activities.

Exhaustion

I was so exhausted after this week that I fell asleep before 8 pm while watching the season premiere of the show, Friday Night Lights. I had waited over a year to see this and couldn't believe I fell asleep!

At work today, a student that we nominated, won the Outstanding Undergrad Student Award during the annual Awards Ceremony Luncheon. It was fun to be a part of his special day!

Busy Work Day

Back-to-back meetings and appointments all day, and then I came home at 6 and was then on the internet for over three hours this evening. I'm wiped. My "pic of the day" is of a relaxing nature shot that I wish I could have had time to enjoy today as the weather was so beautiful!

Funeral

My "pic of the day" is of a goose that decided to land on top of the apartment complex roof across from our apartment. It was that kind of day today, where one feels weird and awkward. Perhaps this goose was feeling that way and just needed a 10 minute escape. I can relate. I worked a half day which was filled with craziness before I went to the family funeral today. So a long day where finding a quiet place sound likes a good plan.

Endings

My "pic of the day" reminds me of all the white flowers that I'm seeing on the trees on campus. I taught my last class of the semester today, actually tomorrow would have been but due to the funeral I can't attend the class. Even though the classes are over there are still class evals to send out, final grades to calculate and submit.

I got back from class and had a few appointments and then had lunch with a faculty candidate that my department was interviewing. Then had more appointments and tried to catch up on email until 6 p.m.

I came home and proofread my annotated bibliography and reflection journal that I plan to turn in tomorrow to be finished with my teaching internship grad class that I've been working on this semester. So today and this week has had a lot of endings.

Roadblocks

Today was a crazy Monday, which started with a death in the family. My "pic of the day" is the closest pic I have to illustrate the roadblocks in my life today. It seemed I did a lot today, but nothing that I intended to do.

Slow Day

The weekend was waaaay too short. We had some time to watch a movie this afternoon which was nice, and talk about things that we want to work on as a couple. We also watched the final three teams enter the Amazing Race finale. I just wish I had one more down day to get to feeling even better before heading back to work. My "pic of the day" is of some funky weather clouds left over today from all the rain we had this weekend.

First Day of May

Most of the pretty spring flowers and buds have now transformed into lots of green leaves so my "pic of the day" is in honor of the springtime flowers that were.

Today was actually a very rainy day that I spent indoors sleeping in and trying to get better. When I got up after sleeping for about 11 hours, I worked on my homework (annotated bibliography and reflection journal) for the teaching internship class I'm enrolled in. I spent a whopping 6 hrs on finishing that before I got to a place where I could enjoy the weekend.