Friday, 31 December 2010
December 31, 2010
It's the last day of the year- I don't have anything particularly wise to say, except happy new year. :) 2010 has been a year full of ups and downs, and I'm glad to see the end of it to be honest. But here's to a better 2011, blessings to you all this year!
Saturday, 25 December 2010
December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas everyone!!! I haven't posted in a few days because I've been sorting out my travel- I have finally made it back to Clinton, and been spending lots and lots of time with my family! It's been so good hanging out with my parents and my brother and sister in law and my nieces and nephew! George has been having a good visit with his family too, and we're hoping to have a few get togethers while we're back and lots of hanging out with friends!
I had a fantastic Christmas dinner today, and I'm totally stuffed! I think I'll be off to bed early tonight, and hoping to make it to Ann Arbor for church- I don't have a car here so I've been borrowing my parents' car. Anyone have a spare car they could lend me for a week or 2? :)
I had a fantastic Christmas dinner today, and I'm totally stuffed! I think I'll be off to bed early tonight, and hoping to make it to Ann Arbor for church- I don't have a car here so I've been borrowing my parents' car. Anyone have a spare car they could lend me for a week or 2? :)
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
December 22, 2010
I've got my Air Canada tickets refunded and am now flying out KLM to Amsterdam, sleeping in the airport overnight, then taking the 8am flight to Detroit. So I should be in Michigan tomorrow at about 11am EST. Whew. :) It's been nice to have a surprise extra few days here to visit with people and wrap a few things up, but I'm looking forward to getting back and hanging out with people! I hope to see as many of you as possible while I'm back! :)
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
December 21, 2010
Hopefully you all heard by now that my flight on Dec 19 was canceled due to snow (a very very small amount of snow I might add) at Heathrow airport, and that thankfully I was NOT trapped sleeping overnight there as a kind friend gave me a ride back to Cambridge. Heathrow was not at all prepared for the bad weather, and there are still, even 4 days later, stranded passengers sleeping in the airport. It was like a refugee camp there basically.
The past few days I've been trying to sort out alternate flights, and with the help of my travel agent I managed to get a flight from London City Airport to Amsterdam, where I will sleep in the airport for a night, then fly out to Detroit the morning of Dec 23. I've made space in my carryon bag for my sleeping bag and sleeping mat, a change of clothes, and a towel, so I reckon I'll be all set. :)
Lrd willing I will be back home in Clinton sometime in the afternoon of the 23rd, where I will breathe an enormous sigh of relief!!
In other strange news, our power here has been going on and off the past few days, which is no good when it's an unseasonably cold 20F here. Z and I fired up the fireplace, got candles going, and were all ready for no heat but fortunately they got it back on.
In even STRANGER news I was a witness to a very bad car fire last night. I was driving down the expressway when I saw a ton of smoke on the roadside, and I pulled over since it was coming from a car. There was a car already stopped but they didn't get out, but since the fire wasn't all that bad just yet (I mean it was black smoke but the car wasn't engulfed) I was worried that people might be in it who might still be alive though possibly unconscious. Sometimes people have a heart attack or a stroke and manage to pull the car over but mash the gas pedal so the engine goes up. So I grabbed my tripod in case I needed to smash a window and jumped out and ran over to see if I could see in. There was a LOT of smoke, so I couldn't see, but since the fire was on the front left side (the passenger side here) it was still rather hot on the driver's side, so I carefully approached the rear of the car and touched the hatchback to see how hot it was. It wasn't too hot so I opened the trunk and shouted in, and could see once the smoke cleared that it was empty so then I got back because with the trunk open there's obviously more oxygen and I knew the fire would really take off. But I figured it was worth the risk of opening it because I'd have about 10 or maybe 15 seconds to get someone out of the car if I had to.
I got very good video of the fire from rather closer than I suspect my mom might like me to have been to a potentially enormous flame ball, and then when it really started to go I got back in the car and waited for the fire department, whom I called after I checked for passengers. Turns out the car was abandoned on the roadside, so someone must have lit the car. I was glad I didn't need to pull anyone out, but I've also realised that I ought to have a fire extinguisher, a knife for cutting seat belts, and a glass hammer for breaking a window in case any of that was actually necessary. I seriously considered being trained as a first responder 2 years ago in Swavesey when they asked for volunteers, and I might still do that eventually.
So that's been my week- I'll be really glad to have some rest when I get back home. :)
The past few days I've been trying to sort out alternate flights, and with the help of my travel agent I managed to get a flight from London City Airport to Amsterdam, where I will sleep in the airport for a night, then fly out to Detroit the morning of Dec 23. I've made space in my carryon bag for my sleeping bag and sleeping mat, a change of clothes, and a towel, so I reckon I'll be all set. :)
Lrd willing I will be back home in Clinton sometime in the afternoon of the 23rd, where I will breathe an enormous sigh of relief!!
In other strange news, our power here has been going on and off the past few days, which is no good when it's an unseasonably cold 20F here. Z and I fired up the fireplace, got candles going, and were all ready for no heat but fortunately they got it back on.
In even STRANGER news I was a witness to a very bad car fire last night. I was driving down the expressway when I saw a ton of smoke on the roadside, and I pulled over since it was coming from a car. There was a car already stopped but they didn't get out, but since the fire wasn't all that bad just yet (I mean it was black smoke but the car wasn't engulfed) I was worried that people might be in it who might still be alive though possibly unconscious. Sometimes people have a heart attack or a stroke and manage to pull the car over but mash the gas pedal so the engine goes up. So I grabbed my tripod in case I needed to smash a window and jumped out and ran over to see if I could see in. There was a LOT of smoke, so I couldn't see, but since the fire was on the front left side (the passenger side here) it was still rather hot on the driver's side, so I carefully approached the rear of the car and touched the hatchback to see how hot it was. It wasn't too hot so I opened the trunk and shouted in, and could see once the smoke cleared that it was empty so then I got back because with the trunk open there's obviously more oxygen and I knew the fire would really take off. But I figured it was worth the risk of opening it because I'd have about 10 or maybe 15 seconds to get someone out of the car if I had to.
I got very good video of the fire from rather closer than I suspect my mom might like me to have been to a potentially enormous flame ball, and then when it really started to go I got back in the car and waited for the fire department, whom I called after I checked for passengers. Turns out the car was abandoned on the roadside, so someone must have lit the car. I was glad I didn't need to pull anyone out, but I've also realised that I ought to have a fire extinguisher, a knife for cutting seat belts, and a glass hammer for breaking a window in case any of that was actually necessary. I seriously considered being trained as a first responder 2 years ago in Swavesey when they asked for volunteers, and I might still do that eventually.
So that's been my week- I'll be really glad to have some rest when I get back home. :)
Thursday, 16 December 2010
December 16, 2010
It's been a marathon of networking events so far this week, with 2 more to go- tonight an event for techies, tomorrow all day BNI event. By the time I get home I'll be ready for some peace and quiet! I'm very behind on my photo processing, with China still on the list. :)
Today I'm off to do a bit of Christmas shopping in town, I can't believe I'll be in Michigan in 3 days!!
Today I'm off to do a bit of Christmas shopping in town, I can't believe I'll be in Michigan in 3 days!!
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
December 8, 2010
I happened to be putzing around on YouTube, and came across a fantastic video interview archive of Fred Rogers, a man that so many of us grew up with on TV. The interview was fantastic- what a lovely and genuine man, who had an impact on so many lives. While we were growing up with the world around us picking up speed like a train going downhill, he was on TV promoting values, clean living, love for those around us, an appreciation for other cultures. I couldn't help but think of my Living Proof class- you have been such an inspiration to me, and I don't think I'll ever stop saying how much I love and appreciate you all! It's been over 7 years since Gd called us into your class, and I am so grateful for you all. You are some of the funniest people I know, and the most caring, and you have been role models, each of you in your own way. I think of you all very very often and pray for you, and I always think of you with thankfulness at Gd's blessing me with such incredible friends. And though I know you may sometimes feel old, you never seem old to me! :) See you very soon, at Christmas!
Saturday, 4 December 2010
December 3, 2010
Finally settled back into a routine here in Cambridge, I'm off to Anglesey Abbey for the lantern event today! Pr for the iHUB weekend away that G and Z are at, the internationals are having a retreat this weekend. More updates later!
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