Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Jack-o-lanterns


Cam's (l) and Ian's (r). It took me more than two hours to carve the darn things — that is, about ten times longer than the boys were actually interested in them....
Posted by Picasa

Comfy Sheets


It's time to break out the flannel sheets. As soon as Joanna put them on Cam's bed, both boys wanted to test them out.
Posted by Picasa

More Snow


This is actually from earlier in the day (out of order 'cause I uploaded the other while I was on campus yesterday), but it was so nice to see snow that I had to put this one up too.
Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

October Snow


Ten years we've lived in Western North Carolina, and this is the first time we've seen snow this early in the year. This is the MHC quad at about 9:00 this morning (before the students started building snowmen).
Posted by Picasa

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Texas Longhorn


For $5 you can sit on a bull and get your picture taken — no riding around, just sitting there. The line (for another bull, not these two who were resting) was about 20 minutes long. Fools and their money....
Posted by Picasa

Handmade Chalupa


These looked really good — one woman hand-made and deep-fried little dough balls squished flat, which another took out of the fryer, sliced open, and filled with stuff. Too bad the flavor was disappointing: kinda bland even with the homemade pico.
Posted by Picasa

Street Band


Raleigh Maroon — surprisingly good. Even bought their $5 CD. (Joanna, now you know what your prezzie is.)
Posted by Picasa

Street Samba

Posted by Picasa

Houston Street Fair & Market


Got down to The Alamo, and there was a neat little local fair going on.
Posted by Picasa

Live Oak


A cool place to escape the heat (~84° F today, not October weather in my book).
Posted by Picasa

Alamo Monument


Have to say, it looks almost Soviet in design. That's my hotel in the background to the left, only about a ten minute walk.
Posted by Picasa

Obligatory Photo of the Alamo


While in San Antonio, it is almost impossible not to visit The Alamo. I found it a bit disappointing — most of it's not original, having been torn down and paved over decades ago.
Posted by Picasa

Marriott Rivercenter Lobby


Beautiful hotel with a three-story lobby. Conference rooms are on the third floor (where we've been spending most of our days), casual meeting space on the first.
Posted by Picasa

Thursday, October 23, 2008

San Antonio Riverwalk


Gorgeous area in the center of the city: multiple floors of shops and restaurants along a sort of canal originally designed for flood control. We missed our first session, so we headed out for a bite of real food — we managed to find a place that would serve lunch at 10:15 (11:15 according to our bellies).
Posted by Picasa

Checked Bag?


Of course, when we arrived in San Antonio, the only checked bag had gone missing. While Kim (foreground), Kat (left), Virginia (right), Lucia (behind Virginia), and I waited, Alan (far left in the glass-enclosed office) tried to hunt down his luggage. Somehow it had made it to San Antonio ahead of us and was waiting — which of course raises the question, how did Alan's bag make our connection when we did not...?
Posted by Picasa

Wednesday Night in Houston


I tried to rent a minivan to drive our group (five faculty members total) to the conference in San Antonio, but it was the last vehicle available, and the woman renting it had just told the guy in front of me that it probably wasn't reliable. Thoughts of getting stuck in the dark in the middle of Texas, halfway between Houston and San Antonio, made me think waiting for the first morning flight wasn't such a bad idea.
Posted by Picasa

IAH Food Line


By the time we got to Houston (IAH), it was past 11:00 local time (midnight body time), and we'd just missed our connecting flight. Only one food court venue was still open, and it took at least 30 minutes of standing in line to be served. I skipped dinner.
Posted by Picasa

Alexandria Airport


Four gates, at least three Houston-bound flights forced to land, no food or drink. At least we had working toilets. (The one on our plane had backed up....)
Posted by Picasa

Alexandria, Louisiana


Going to the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in San Antonio, headed from Asheville to Houston, we had to make an unexpected stop in the center of Louisiana for fuel and a three-hour delay. This was the prettiest view I could find.
Posted by Picasa

Monday, October 20, 2008

Vote 2008


Early voting in North Carolina began Friday, but I was out of town until late Saturday, so today was the first day I could vote. I just got back from the Weaverville Town Hall after waiting 30 minutes in line — I've taken advantage of NC's early voting in every election since 2000, and this is the first time I haven't walked in and out in less then five minutes. Mine was the 1,463rd vote in the precinct thus far, pretty impressive considering the total population of Weaverville (including children and legal aliens, like those in the house who didn't vote today) is just over 2,500. Lots of cars in the parking lot with Obama bumper stickers, none I could see with McCain. Could NC really turn blue...?

Ian Driving the Truck


Ian driving...only thirteen years before he can get his license...must stop hyperventilating....
Posted by Picasa

"I found you, Dada!"

Posted by Picasa

Cam & Ian on the Steps

Posted by Picasa

Cam Contemplating

Posted by Picasa

Ian & Joanna

Posted by Picasa

Hi Mom!


Hide-and-go-seek is particularly fun when you're playing with all three dimensions.
Posted by Picasa