Update

It's been a really busy week here. The flooding was statewide & the damage is extensive. I had the chance to do casework this week - people come to a RC service center & you speak to them & provide assistance with food & clothing, as needed. There were so many similarities to the people I met in Alabama - lost everything, not sure where they will stay tonight, anxious, frustrated, etc. Many of the people had just finished fixing their house from the 2006 floods. One of the guys I spoke to had just finished repairing the wall board this past weekend then his house flooded again. The National RC has taken over the relief efforts so things should calm down a bit...that's what I have been told anyways. It's a beautiful, sunny weekend in NH at last. I hope to be off work soon & able to take Molly out so we can enjoy this gorgeous weather together.

Flooding

It's still raining up here & there is flooding everywhere. There are many problems with dams, rivers flooding over, landslides. Fortunately the house where I live has not experienced any flooding. It is supposed to rain through Thursday but not as heavily as Sunday & Monday. There are people, families being evacuated all over the state. The RC chapter where I work will have open a service center so people can receive assistance & report property damage. 20+ shelters are currently open throughout the state. Hope everyone else is on dryer ground.

2 Months

It has been just over 2 months since I moved here & started my work at the RC. I have learned so much & had so many opportunities come my way. I have enjoyed the grant writing so far though I know how most people shudder at the thought of writing one. Just yesterday we had a RC day at the Statehouse where the governor spoke about our role in the NH floods last year, gave out awards, etc. There was a lot of coverage in the press - there's not much else in terms of news around NH most of the time anyways!

I am really loving the outdoors - downhill snow skiing is just 15 minutes from my house, cross country skiing is in my backyard, hiking trails are abundant. There are also beaches nearby for the 2 weeks in the summer when it will be warm! I think I have explored or discovered most things by getting lost...which seems to happen quite often.

Molly has not been feeling so well lately. Please pray for her. I know she'll be ok...she is the unsinkable Molly Brown after all.

Game Back On...

I have finally found indoor & outdoor soccer in NH!! I e-mailed someone yesterday & played tonight...the entire 52 minutes of the game (he didn't mention that part in the e-mail). It was around minute 45 that I felt very old & very out of shape. The outdoor teams play high school, college, & us 'older' ladies all on one team so I think I am going to miss the old days of 30+ teams. Guess I will be chasing the young 'uns with a respirator in tow! And my friend kindly offered to send me her inhaler to 'borrow' as needed (guess it's the thought that counts).

It was weird jogging yesterday with shorts on & a foot plus of snow piled up on the side of the road. There is still a good enough base for the ski slopes to be open this weekend so I may get to ski in 50 degree temps. The closest downhill slopes are less than 15 minutes away which will be really nice next season.

Hope everyone is having a nice Spring so far. I will be cheering for UNH in the Frozen 4 this weekend & maybe MSU. It will be just 56 days until I am dragged to Bermuda to serve as a cabana girl for my best friend...but who's counting?

Duke, Frozen Four

I just wanted to say thanks to the Duke men's basketball team for bowing out of the NCAA tourney early this year (by losing to VCU). I am sure that Coach K was aware of my inability to watch more than 2 channels so my tourney coverage would be limited at best. It was a very thoughtful gesture & I look forward to watching Duke & CBS during March Madness next year...when Duke wins yet another championship! 1991, 1992, 2001...we are due for another one!

All the best to Michigan State during the Frozen Four though I am secretly cheering for UNH. They get more coverage in our area so their games are easier to watch on TV! There are 2 games in Manchester this Saturday & I hope UNH survives. It's so nice to have hockey - college & pro - get extensive coverage on the news.

We got over a foot of snow on Friday night, Saturday morning but the roads were cleared by Saturday afternoon. There is more of the white stuff forecasted for this evening - only a couple inches though. I think the ski season will last us a while longer...it was nice that all the snow waited until I arrived so the slopes would be ready in time.

More Snow...

It seems like every blog starts with a weather update! We are expecting 10"+ tonight so winter is still alive & well here in NH. I opened the door for Molly to go outside tonight & she ran out a few feet then backed up (didn't even turn around) to go back inside! I think she is over this whole snow thing.

This week I finished my first full-scale grant & the second is being finalized. After another disaster training course on Thursday night, I went to my first fire on Friday. I interviewed two of the people involved & filled out lots of paperwork. The RC does a great job as we were on the scene within a half hour & the people were set up with money for food, clothing, etc. & a hotel room within an hour. It was a great learning experience so I have signed up for the Concord Disaster Action Team (DAT) which means even more opportunities for training.

I hope this finds you in a warmer place with little or no snow on the ground... :)

Heat Wave

Happy birthday to Molly Brown. She has been with me one year now & we celebrated with a hike along the Merrimack River (that runs through Manchester, Concord). I will say to all those in VA enjoying the 60+ degree temperatures that nothing beats hiking in the ice & snow in March! We had a 'heat wave' this weekend & got up to over 40 degrees - nearly tropical it seems!

It was nice to find a church just 10 minutes away. A couple of girls have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome. We met for dinner & breakfast this past weekend. It was a nice change of pace since the moose & Molly don't talk back very much! People will slowly come out of hibernation as the weather gets warmer. I plan to start playing soccer again in the next month or two which will be another good chance to meet people. There's only one season up here from May - August & the closest indoor soccer is somewhere in Massachusetts so I'll just have to soak up as much soccer as I can this coming summer.