Weekend

View over Damariscotta Lake today on the way home. 

Holiday weekend here, Memorial Day. Unfortunately it's been a weekend in the office, but the nice thing is it's been at a slower pace. I have a proposal due Wednesday that i'm trying to finish up, but admit i'm having trouble knuckling down and getting it done. Overload I think. Good news this week though - I have a house closing date - 22nd June! That however might change, as I am out on the boat to Monhegan diving on the 22nd.....story of my life, always out on a boat...:0) So it might be earlier that week, or it might be the week after, but either way, all things are looking good for me to actually buy this house! My renter moves in tomorrow too - so begins sharing a house again, we'll see how that goes, it's only until August. And it's only for a few days to start - as on Weds i'm off to DC to visit the DDdd's for a whirlwind 5 day visit - so excited to see you guys, it feels like forever!

Hoping all had as sunny a weekend as we had. Today, aside from work, I swung by the garden center and picked up flowers for my flower boxes. All I need now is a lawnmower to get rid of my fields of dandelions and it might actually look like the house isn't derelict here soon....:0) I did originally think i'd wait until closing to get a lawnmower, but the state of the garden is starting to drive me nuts, so I guess when I get back i'll bite the bullet. The good news is that I have enough power outlets to get an electric one, which is exciting (ecologically, girlpower and wallet wise!). Given my inability to start the gas power washer i've borrowed, I am excited at the thought of plug and play......:0)

Intro to Tek, decompression procedures and advanced nitrox...

Yesterday saw the first pool day of the tek diving courses i'm taking this summer. I'm super excited, in a few weeks we'll be diving to over 150ft in the Gulf of Maine, with the end goal of searching for corals, probably into next year. There is a ton of equipment you have to carry on these dives, so the training is somewhat extensive, primarily just to figure out where to put stuff and to develop the muscle memory for where it is when you're happy with it. It was good to get into the pool with all the gear and try it all out before we hit the open water in a few weeks (with all the hoods and gloves that go with open water here in Maine!). 

One thing I definitely need practice with is floating life bags - you wouldn't know it, but it's quite a skill! Chris shows his lift bag levitating skills. 

One ton of gear - double steel tanks on the back (linked together) and one stage bottle under the arm for the decompression stops. They'll have different nitrox mixes in them to allow us to better off-gas nitrogen at different depths so it's safer. 

Finding my zen while weighed down by gear and discovering a leak in my drysuit......taking that to get fixed asap! 

Sunshiney Weekend!

What a superb weekend. Beautiful sunny weather, warm, really wiped out the cobwebs. On Saturday Barkley and I joined a friend Brandon at his "camp" (Mainer for cabin on a lake/river) for some swimming and kayaking, followed by a drive around the Belgrade Lakes area (aka just beautiful) and some ice-cream. Today saw house projects - collecting plants from Maggie's house (from a bed she's disbanding), planting them in my (overgrown) garden, collecting a pressure washer (but not having the energy to do the deed....that'll wait till the week) and washing the swamp water off Barkley. A well needed relaxing break. Can't believe it's monday already, the weekend went way too fast. It certainly looks like we're in summer now - warm weather and sunshine on the docket all week. 

Barkley - actually swimming! Only because we were out on the kayaks though, no-one was left on shore and Brandon's two dogs were busy playing in the water. It was great to see her there though, she had a blast, and the puppy Barkley came out, which is just so darn cute.  

Three swimming pups! 

Barkley eventually looked a little tired, so I made Brandon swing by and pick her up on the kayak...:0) She loves being paddled around, the perfect paddling pup. Just about time for me to get my canoe out of the basement I think. 

Some good things.

Reed State Park

Some good things -

- My green card arrived! Finally, in an unmarked envelope. I'm a legal alien!

- I've started the mortgage paperwork - man there's a lot of it, but it's good to be moving forward.

- Should the mortgage be approved, i've taken on a renter for the summer. I'm not so keen to share the house (it's been 10+ years since I last shared a house), but it'll be a huge financial help to get over this start of year hump. And she's a nice grad student at the center who is only looking for some summer accommodation, so I think it'll work out.

- Looks like i'll be headed to DC to see my pals the DDdd's soon for a short whirlwind visit - woo hoo!

Life is short.

Naming my blog, almost 4 years ago (as I made the move to Hawaii), I was struck by this major life change, and yet how small it seemed in the grand scheme of things. The road we travel, and can travel, is so seemingly vast, so seemingly long, and has so many twists and turns to it. It feels like we need many life times to travel the road we would like to travel. There are so many things yet to do, no matter where we sit in life today.

I was reminded this past few weeks about how short life is. A colleague/friend from Hawaii died two weeks ago, a very short time after I had heard he was sick. One of the first things people seem to say when someone "our age" dies, is that life is short and that they were taken too soon. It gets me to wonder if he considered his life to be short before he died. It makes me wonder if I would consider my life to have been short if I died tomorrow.

The answer for me, is that I don't think I could consider my life to have been short. Yes, there is a long road still to travel, but if I look back at my past and see the things I have seen, done, experienced - I can't honestly say I haven't lived a full and eventful life. It hasn't all been ups, there have been many so very low lows; but that's all part of it. You can't go down a hill without climbing to great heights. I have loved, I have lost; I have been, I have come back. I have seen things less than a dozen people on the planet have ever seen or will ever see. I have been to places no one has ever been to before, to the bottom of the ocean and back. I have seen cultures alien to many, I have followed great leaders and I have led amazing students. It's been awe inspiring and amazing, and sure, it's been hard and emotionally crushing; but these are all things that have made the me I am today. And I am immensely happy with where, and who, I am today.

There is a long way to go, and i'm looking forward to seeing and experiencing it; but if I was to die tomorrow, it can't be said my life was short, it was full and eventful and beautiful. As for Kevin, we will never know what he considered. The same with my sister Sophie, and the (too many) friends I have lost in this journey. We will never know what they thought, just that we wish we could have known them for a little longer.

Events like this also make me step back and appreciate all I have. You could spend a lifetime chasing after those things you don't have, but the key, I think, is to realise all you need to be happy is right in front of you. If you appreciate everyday, you can indeed choose happiness.

So a poem to remind me of those who I cannot see anymore, but who i'd like to hope considered they too led a full life. This poem sits in the very first pages of my Ph.D. thesis, as I was dealing with the sudden loss of my sister.

Maggie and Millie and Molly and May

Went down to the beach to play one day

And Maggie discovered a shell that sang

So sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles

Millie befriended a stranded star

Whose rays five languid fingers were

And Mollie was chased by a horrible thing

Which raced sideways while blowing bubbles

May came home with a smooth round stone

As small as a world, and as large as alone

For whatever we lose, like you or me

It's always ourselves we find by the sea.

E.E. Cummings. 

Barkley's home!

Barkley's back home - all went well at the vets! Just the two top canines removed, which is great (was beginning to worry about her lack of teeth at this point!), and the lump on her leg (which went deeper than expected, but all came out and she has 5 stitches). I was up in Orono yesterday and had planned to pick her up on my way home around 6 or 7pm. But I got a phone call saying she was getting "anxious" in the crate and could someone pick her up early. Super Amy to the rescue went and got her, she was apparently sacked out behind the counter at the vets - all was well once they took her out of the crate.

Still a little groggy, and her leg is obviously hurting her, but she's up to her usual tricks and has already growled at the custodian and got treats from the grad students, so all will be well.....:0)

And....to top it off.....as I went through the bag of drugs the vet sent back, there, in a baggie, are her two extracted canines. Slighly gross. Okay, a lot gross. Now what do I do with them?

I need to start running again. Maybe writing that here rather than just talking to myself might make me actually do it. I need exercise. I need stress relief. I need a goal. Tonight might be the time to look up races, maybe a 1/2 marathon should be on the cards this year. I need to start running again....

Weekend!

Well, i've been back just over a week and I think i've finally settled back in (e.g. unpacked) and am getting closer to kicking this cold (though I really wish it would go away faster). Yesterday I woke up and actually felt like I could go outside and rake leaves - it made me realise just how crummy i've been feeling this last few weeks. It's been a slow week, but amazingly i've managed to achieve a lot - taxes, car inspection, filled the oil tank. Next week is going to be a busy one too - Orono twice, diving twice, should start a big proposal, student meetings.

Miss Barkley has to go to the vet this Thursday too. She has to have three teeth removed - broken down to the root....:( - and have a lump on her leg removed. Feeling a little sad about it, was pretty sad when I took her to the vet for surgery last year after she arrived, she just looks so forlorn when I take her in. I know she'll be fine, but still, no fun.

So here's to a new week!

You Tube of Conference!

I actually didn't recognize myself on this video until the image came up. Guess I can't complain too loudly anymore when folks say i'm gone american.....

Duck and roll.....

Enjoy the sunshine....

Lay back in the grass......

Give the back a good scratch........

Look up to see who saw me do it........

Carry on as if nothing happened, with only the mass of leaves stuck in the fur as evidence......

UK Trip

Just got into Maine and wanted to post photos i've been meaning to do over the last week. A whirlwind visit, but great to see family. Have a raging head and chest cold that i'm hoping leaves pretty soon, didn't make travel the funest today. 

Not so little Lucy, now 3 years old (last time I saw her she was 3 months!). Cute as can be, and catching a ride at a morning visit to Birdworld. 

My new niece Emily - 8 months. Sweet girl who loves cuddles and attention, and giving the best smiles. 

My gorgeous nieces! 

And Emily can crawl already! In fact, while I was there, she started pulling herself up and trying to walk. It won't be long, i'm betting by her 10th month, she'll be dashing after her sister. 

Smily girl! 

A trip to the park with Lucy-loo! She's at that stage where she won't smile for the camera, so it's great to catch her here on the swing! 

Cutie pie Lucy - loves to play, give hugs and kisses and show off all her dinosaurs! 

Grant and I took the girls to the aquarium while Claire caught up with things at home one morning. Here's Grant and Emily watching the otters feeding! 

Tried to get a good one of the three of us - but between distractions and Lucy doing fish faces, it was surprisingly hard! 

On my last afternoon in Portsmouth, right before dinner, little Emily fell fast asleep next to me on the sofa. I promise I didn't feed her the beer.....! 

After Portsmouth was London - it was great to see Dad for two evenings, and to hang out with my cousin Nicola one afternoon for a whirlwind walking tour of London! 

The London Aquarium is fantastic - highly recommend it! 

Trafalgar Square - last time i was here it was covered in pigeons! 

An hour around the National Gallery, catching up with my Picasson, Gaugin and Monet. 

There are four plinths in Trafalgar Square (other than the large central Lord Nelson's column) - one holds a statue of King George on a horse, one  of General Napier and one of Major-General Havelok. The last was an empty plinth that is used to show rotating art pieces. This months was the above. I have to say, given the history of Trafalgar, I can't wait to see this particular one rotate off......

A quick trip to Buckingham Palace to see the queen.

But not to stroke the horses! 

The palace! 

The guards! 

And of course, what walking tour wouldn't do Westminster Cathedral - home to many a royal wedding, including some recent ones. 

And topped off with a Discovery Ale with cousin Nicola. A fun day was had! 

In Amsterdam

Well, I had every intention of updating here before I left, but that obviously didn't happen! It's been a hectic few weeks, both getting ready for the International Deep Sea Coral conference, where i'm giving a keynote tomorrow, finishing up a NSF proposal, and dealing with yet more green card madness. The later has been somewhat heartbreaking, as now my card is delayed until July, which means I cannot close on the house, so the seller may elect to put it back on the market instead of waiting for me. I have yet to hear, and needless to say am a little stressed about it.

So here I am in Amsterdam. Arrived yesterday somewhat later than expected, delays in New York led to me missing my plane in London, so I had a 6 hour wait there yesterday morning. Good so far, though I haven't wandered much, I figure after i've given my talk tomorrow I can go further afield and explore a little.

One of the canals behind my hotel

My wander for some air and lunch today led me to this cute park. The weather is windy and overcast. 

Unfortunately the weird weather has been here too - the cherry blossoms have mostly gone and very few tulips are to be seen.

Delicious food!

And a windmill, one of the few remaining in Amsterdam

Made the paper

Dave came over and showed me some of the video too - pretty cool! A longer update soon, it's been a wild few weeks of immigration hell.

In the garden

This weekend saw temperatures in the high 60's and even 70's for sunday, so I spent much of it in the garden attempting to rake the multiple years worth of leaves from the grass. Spent quite a while on it, yet even in the main areas there is still a layer, and I didn't finish behind the house. At least this way the grass can dry off a little and it will mean I can cut it easier, and the temperatures seem to be staying warm, so I can probably finish that off this week. It felt good to be outside and getting some exercise, i'm still stuck in this rut of the house not being mine yet, so feeling unable to motivate to fully unpack. But being outside doing yard work didn't feel futile, so i'm hoping it's the beginning.  

An awesome find - an eagle/osprey nest right in my back yard (right by the house!). I so hope it's active and can't wait to see who lives there! 

Barkley at the back of the house, and right above her is the nest.

Barkley, sporting her "bear cub" look. Now the dilema - do I shave her this summer or not? I love her long and fuzzy, but think she'll probably get hot. Not to mention the tick issue......hmmmm. 

Hawaii

Back from Hawaii, and a wonderful time was had. Many of the stresses melted away and I do feel much happier with life than when I left. Not all the stress goes away, and there are still some big decisions to make here soon, but this was just what I needed to get my brain into a better place to make those decisions and move forward with work and life. Thank you to Jenny, Doug, Hannah and Sammy for hosting and entertaining me, I miss you guys so much, this was a wonderful visit, but I was a little sad to say goodbye yesterday. 

The visit involved a lot of play time, which was awesome, both with the kiddos and with Jenny and Doug too. The weather was somewhat wild - hail, tornadoes, lots of rain, wind and cooler temperatures than Maine on a couple of days. Just crazy! But considering the cost breakdown of the whole visit (Plane Ticket - $10; Car Parking - $20; Bus Ticket to Boston - $40) I can't complain too much - but did feel sorry for the tourists who had saved up for that Hawaii vacation! 

One of the first stops - the Kahala Hotel for breakfast. First time ever they'd closed off  the outside seating because of the wild rain and wind. Luckily it didn't change the quality of the brunch food....:0)

I love orchids. I should really start to try and grow them. 

In front of the orchid wall at the Kahala Hotel. 

Saturday morning was clear enough to get to the beach - yeah! There was a funeral going on for  one of the original sailors of the Holkulea canoe. I've seen a few Hawaiian funerals in this spot (party like atmosphere, everyone paddles out to a spot to spread ashes in the water, with flowers and leaves to spread too), but this was huge. 

Beautiful Koa wood canoe carrying the ashes out to the Hokulea (sailing boat out in the background). 

Sammy, enjoying some Mountain Dew! 

Hannah and sammy enjoying the sand. Jenny & Doug sure make cute little people! 

Proof that Jenny, Hannah and I did get wet once! It wasn't too bad once in, but was feeling on the edge of being close to the Polar Plunge.....

Ice-cream break with the kiddos! Thanks so much to you four for having me!