Erin go Bragh!

Today I interrupt your regularly scheduled St. Patrick's day festivities to bring you glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all Ericksons.
1. For unto us was sent this week an email, which sayeth:

"Dear Preston,

We are delighted to offer you a place on the Tyndall National Institute
FASTNET UREKA Site for Summer 2010, ...from Monday 14 June to Friday 27
August."

2. And it came to pass that the Tyndall National Institute was located in a city called Cork in the country of Ireland. And lo, when these things were made known, the queen of the land was freakingeth out, and her husband the king also.

3. And, behold, there was much rejoicing in the land, for the people had long hoped for such an opportunity, their faith being strong that their cries unto heaven might be heard. For they had cried mightily all the day long for the space of many days.


4. Nevertheless, it came to pass that the people were much surprised that this thing had come about and they pondered these things in their hearts.


5. But lo, the heart of the queen was much honored that the king should be offered such a position, but neither did she desire that the king should go away and leave her for the space of many days, even unto two months and a half. And the king did desire that she should be happy, but he also desireth that this thing should be accomplished.

6. And it came to pass that this opportunity was too good for the people to pass up and they did rejoice exceedingly and did accept the offer which had been given them.


7. And so it came to pass that the people did begin to make preparations for this marvelous journey to the city of Cork in the country of Ireland. And they did praise the heavens all the day long that such a thing should come to pass.

Hot and Cold

Do you ever get in the shower and find that the water is too hot or cold, and then can't remember which way to turn the handles so you can fix the problem?

Oh good. Me too.

I think this comes from my growing-up years.

From the age of 11, I lived in a beautiful 100-year-old farm house which needed a fair bit of TLC. My parents are do-it-yourself-ers to the extreme, so they were equal to the task, and they have spent the years since they bought the house ripping out walls and rewiring and painting and plastering. (The house really looks amazing! Seriously!)

At one point, my Dad had re-installed the kitchen plumbing himself, and he switched the hot and cold on our kitchen faucet. I'm not really sure why we didn't bother to correct this problem right away, but it remained that way for quite a while. I was in a state of constant confusion about how to get what temperature I needed from kitchen sinks.

I can't tell you how many glasses of water I have filled only to dump them out and try again because I had run warm (or hot!) water instead of cold. I could often be found asking friends which way was cold if I was at their house, or even my own, because then I would know to do the opposite.

I'm not really sure that I had a point in writing this, but I just KNOW that my confusion in the shower has its roots in my kitchen sink growing up, and I marvel at how deeply entrenched little things like that can become.

Washington Trip, Continued...

Here are the rest of my pages from our trip to Washington. Finally!

Let me know what you think. And don't forget to look at them bigger, especially the one for the Olympic Penninsula -- that way you can see the map.

Auld Lang Syne

Well, it's a little over a week into the new year, and, though I don't usually bother with resolutions, this year it seems appropriate to make some goals. 2009 was a difficult year for many reasons, and I'm happy to be putting it behind me.

After losing a friendship with someone I thought I was close to, it has become more clear to me what friendship means to me, and this year I have decided to strengthen the friendships in my life. Starting with the friendship between me and my husband. We are going to have a lot of fun in 2010!

The next friendship I'm going to turn my attention to is my relationship with my best friend, Angie. I miss her. I miss the time spent dreaming together about what life would bring us. I think it's sometimes difficult for a close friend when you get married -- when you used to dream together and now one of those big dreams is coming true for only one of you. But I'm still excited for what lies ahead -- I still have dreams, and I'm excited to share those dreams with the one person who knows about pretty much all the dreams I've ever dreamed.

In 2010, I plan to have more fun. I'm kind of a home-body, but I used to throw some really fun parties.
I plan to leave my house or have people over a lot more often. (Which means I intend to keep my house cleaner so that having people over isn't such a big thing...) I plan to call people more often when I'm sitting home wishing I was doing something fun. I plan to play and laugh and reconnect with the world. I plan to prove to myself that I am fun to be around by being fun to be around!

I plan to spend more time with Coral before one or both of us moves away. Same with Madeline, Amanda, Ali, and Whitney. And Kalee and Fathead and Andi and Cam. I intend to be my old self -- smiling, happy, and positive -- someone who let stress motivate her instead of infuriate her. Some of you have yet to meet her, and that's a shame because you would like her very much.

Sounds like a big resolution, and I'm sure I'll need help. So, call me!  Let's have fun this year!