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.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
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?
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?
Monday, March 19, 2007
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.
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.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
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... :)
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... :)
Monday, March 12, 2007
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.
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.
Friday, March 9, 2007
And It's Still Winter
We have experienced record colds here this past week. Most days I leave for work & it's zero degrees or colder then factor in the wind chill & it's well below zero. The high temperature for Tuesday was 9 degrees in the city so it was probably even colder in Hopkinton! They expect it to go up to 40 or 50 degrees by this weekend so I hope my frozen body will have a slight chance to defrost.
I am working on 2 grants right now & both are due on the 15th. There is plenty of stuff for me to do in the coming months so being bored does not seem like a possibility anytime soon. This chapter of the RC currently serves 2/3 of the geographical area of NH so there are many needs that could be met by these grants.
On Sunday, I look forward to celebrating Molly's first anniversary. It was one year ago that I brought her home as a foster dog. She adopted me & then I formally adopted her (as my daughter) a few months later. She has come a long way from the dog that shook in the corner for the first 2 days she was at my apartment...scared & unsure of all the changes...too anxious to eat. I still remember peeking around the corner & nearly crying when she finally ate just a few bites...then she ran away. You would not recognize her as the dog she is today so this is a great thing to celebrate. I think she has dealt with this move far better than expected which relieves her mommy greatly.
I am working on 2 grants right now & both are due on the 15th. There is plenty of stuff for me to do in the coming months so being bored does not seem like a possibility anytime soon. This chapter of the RC currently serves 2/3 of the geographical area of NH so there are many needs that could be met by these grants.
On Sunday, I look forward to celebrating Molly's first anniversary. It was one year ago that I brought her home as a foster dog. She adopted me & then I formally adopted her (as my daughter) a few months later. She has come a long way from the dog that shook in the corner for the first 2 days she was at my apartment...scared & unsure of all the changes...too anxious to eat. I still remember peeking around the corner & nearly crying when she finally ate just a few bites...then she ran away. You would not recognize her as the dog she is today so this is a great thing to celebrate. I think she has dealt with this move far better than expected which relieves her mommy greatly.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Still Winter
We are expecting temperatures with wind chills up to -25 degrees this week. We got 10 inches of snow last week so it seems like Spring is a long way away. I usually wear at least 2 layers at work...sometimes 3!
I am already beginning to write grants after just 5 weeks here though I wasn't supposed to start preparing these until my 2nd quarter here. There are 2 grants due March 15 so I will be very busy which is much better than having nothing to do. They are continuing to offer me as much grant & RC training as possible. Unfortunately, the outdoor/wilderness certifications will probably have to wait until the Fall.
Homesickness has set in, as expected, but I am thankful for all the support I have. Some of the other VISTAs do not have very much support at all from friends/family which makes me realize how fortunate I am. Plus it brings a smile to my face every time I see Molly running around the house, tail wagging, more & more confident each day...acting like she owns the place (she wears a tag with 'QUEEN' on it for a reason).
I am already beginning to write grants after just 5 weeks here though I wasn't supposed to start preparing these until my 2nd quarter here. There are 2 grants due March 15 so I will be very busy which is much better than having nothing to do. They are continuing to offer me as much grant & RC training as possible. Unfortunately, the outdoor/wilderness certifications will probably have to wait until the Fall.
Homesickness has set in, as expected, but I am thankful for all the support I have. Some of the other VISTAs do not have very much support at all from friends/family which makes me realize how fortunate I am. Plus it brings a smile to my face every time I see Molly running around the house, tail wagging, more & more confident each day...acting like she owns the place (she wears a tag with 'QUEEN' on it for a reason).
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