What Julia does for a living...

...can be found in this article: Living with a Star

I work on the Radiation Belt Storm Probes.

I love having a job that doesn't depend on the misery of humankind (when I did temp work I worked for the Probation Office/Child Support Division for San Bernardino County--not pleasant working with dead-beat parents). I love having a job that's looking forward to the future, the last undiscovered country (and yes, that was a Star Trek reference)

Yippee Skippee!

Well, Dus has come and gone. They (Dus and Mar) apparently did a little sight-seeing in Salem, Mass yesterday morning--where they bought matching t-shirts (Good girls go to Heaven, Bad girls go to Salem). So cute. Dus called just as I was leaving work to let me know that they were just getting to New York City. Yup, right at rush hour. Not so much fun. So I went home, fixed myself dinner, and did some basic chores around the house. I called Dus at 7:00pm--They had just gotten in the correct lane to cross the George Washington Bridge (sigh). I went outside and mowed my lawn (well, ok, 2/3rds of it). Then I called again at 9:00pm--they were just passing Trenton on the Jersey Turnpike. So I watched the rest of The Rat Patrol tv series (my friend Helen had leant it to me--it's my current obsession) with Kitty (she really likes The Rat Patrol for some reason), and got their beds ready. Then Dus called at 11:00pm--they were here!!! Yay!!!

They were so tired. They unwound for a bit, then Dus got to open her Birthday Present (notepapter, musical pencil, and a magnet from the Mozart Museum in Salzburg as well as a picture of Jason Dohring whom she loves), then we headed for bed around midnight. Kitty wanted to go outside so badly, and finally escaped at some point so she had to stay outside last night. Serves her right, plus both Dus and Mar are allergic to cats. Kitty wasn't very happy about that either (as anyone who has met her can attest, Kitty is very social--she loves people).

I wasn't able to take them to dinner, so we decided to go out for breakfast at Bob Evans. I found out as we got there that they had made a goal to stop for meals at restaurants they hadn't heard of before--Bob Evans fit the bill. As did Panera Bread, where they ate last night (don't they have those in CA?). So we had a little fun time. I wish they could have stayed longer, but they are now off on their way to Beckie's house. I tried to get them on their way sooner this morning than yesterday morning, so hopefully they can be to Beckie's before dinnertime.

Those two are so silly, so much fun. Dus blamed much of her silliness on the Mountain Dew she'd been drinking, but I'm thinking it has a lot to do with the company as well. Maybe they can come visit again someday, when they can stay longer...

A new way to waste time...

I have discovered Sudoku.

I spend hours solving these little numeric puzzles.

I bought a book and whenever I'm waiting for something (commercials, the computer to boot up, the doctor's office, etc) I work on my latest puzzle.

The worst part is that I found this game online. Now I can play whenever I want.

I shared it with my sister. So she could share it with her kids. Because all kids need to know their numbers, right?

I am such an enabler. I've just shared it will anyone who reads my blog, too.

sigh. I'm such a bad, bad girl...

Happy Dance!

Dustie's coming, Dustie's coming! Dustie's coming to visit!! Well, more of a stopover on her way from Maine to California, as she helps her bfitwww drive home, but still!!! Oh, Dustie is my youngest Sister. She's also my biggest sister (at 5'9"), so I'm not allowed to call her my 'little' sister. She and her friend will be here Monday the 18th :D and her birthday is the 21st, so I can give her her birthday present IN PERSON!!! Haven't done that for YEARS!!! Yay!!!

:::goes off and sings a happy song:::
really should return to work at some point, though...

All done!

Ok, finally finshed all the posts from my trip. Still working on getting the extended version (i.e. all the pictures) on flikr, should have them up there in a couple days if my home computer cooperates. Start here: In New York City
Enjoy!