This Christmas 2006

Merry Christmas to everyone! We don't have a white Christmas, no snow, but only dark clouds, and a snowy rain announced. We really don't mind the cold, and still miss the warm Southwest :-)

This Christmas I asked my friends to not exchange any gifts.
--- reason was that I decided to not buy my friends gifts since they do have what they need, and my gifts would mostly be only extra junk... so, since I am the President of AAUW SIUE branch I decided to give the gifts for those in need. We had this December a great project "Fill a wish" (if you click on the AAUW link you can see our project details) for Oasis Women Center in Alton, IL. I thought my money on gifts would have a better place and would be better used. :-) I thought that approximately as much I would spend only on buying gifts (more to go for the mailing) so I did buy needed gifts for those in real need. I think I did a good job! :-)

Some of my friends agreed some did not (Ingrid specially asked me to not do that since she is single also and her Dad is not a good gift giver so she might end up having no gifts for Christmas, so, Ingrid got gifts :-)). But other friends sent me gifts anyhow. God, how I really enjoyed these ones!!! unexpected gifts, those are the true ones! THANKS! (I am still a child) .... I think I should have told them the entire story not only asking them to not exchange gifts. But I think next Christmas I will repeat the same and ask them also to instead sending me gifts to make a donation to a charity of their choice.
Gifts sending in two corners of the country Tucson, AZ and towards Buffalo, NY meant last year only the mailing was around 160$ (way too much and the money can have a better use). Many are in real need. I hope they will have a Merry Christmas too!

Merry Christmas everybody!

Merry Christmas!

What do you mean you saw Santa?
Where?
Where is he?

Show me, show me, show me....



OK, now we are ready!
Where did you see Santa?????


Do I make it for a good rein deer?
I see him, I see him, I see him... do I really see Him?
Hey guys let's go to the fire place Santa will come through the chimney!

Is He coming? Is He here yet? Can you hear that? Santa will come through the chimney soon...

Ho ho ho....
Happy Holidays!

Christmas in Camelot

Today was the Day for the horse tournaments: Christmas in Camelot.
It took place at the Triangle H Farm, where I learn horse back riding. It was much fun and I took some great pictures. I am so glad I was part of this wonderful opportunity to raise funds for Make a Wish Foundation, and enjoy the companion of many other people who love horses.

There were just beginners like me, we started the show and competed in four teams dressed as nights: red, black, blue, and yellow. Then others with more advanced skills followed us. Couple of ladies presented a free style show. At the end was the parade of breeds. Wonderful horses were shown and Cindy - our trainer who designed and conducted the entire show - explained the story behind each breed shown.
The below pictures tell the story :-)

Siva's Graduation

Here a very proud Sivakalyan (Siva) - my former graduate assistant - who graduated today!
Because of traffic I had to go from Taylor's agility fun day directly to the graduation ceremony since I was afraid that I will miss it if I spend one hour going home to drop Taylor and come back to school.

I considered very important to be there no matter if I am not in dressed up clothes.
I know I was so happy to have there at my graduation Sha and her Mom from California, Carol my good friend from Eugene, Oregon, and Ingrid.
It is not easy for us internationals to celebrate our successes far away from our family and close friends.
I cheered for Siva, and was so proud of him for his graduation. Siva already has a job, which is even better!

CONGRATULATIONS SIVA!!!!




After we took pictures I asked if they want to go to a restaurant or they choose to come to my house and we can cook a good home made dinner. The choice in total agreement was to go home :-) So, we did go home and everyone chipped in to cook a great dinner and we enjoyed Siva's successful accomplishment.
Sunita's turn is in the Spring! Another party then. Now I was so glad to be able to open my house for my friends. It means so much to me and I think they were also happy, it is not easy to have our big events far from our families.
I am glad I could be part of this joyful moment! ...and great food :-)

Before and after today

Since 2000 I raise my hair with a purpose: Locks of Love! I wait till my hair is longer than the minimum 10 inches and then I give it in gift of love for those who need it more.
I learned that if I cut it straight then it will grow even and faster. It was pretty long to be over 10" and still have left over for myself :-)

So, today after my C++ exam, and other meetings, I stopped by Great Clips and a stylist did her best job by leaving me even more than I expected will be left...
So, I really have a pretty long hair. Taylor was a little surprised since my hair is all over my face now when I pick her up, but she will get used to it. It's harder for me to get used to it since it stays all in my face.
Now I have ahead two or three more years to keep it growing.
I hope a child will enjoy my good hair, and I pray it will bring hope also...

More on the last storm...

Here some more pictures I took when walking Taylor around our community. Looks much worse than the summer tornado. There are still people without power, even if most of us got the power back last Friday. We are really fortunate having the light and heat on.

When the wind blows in the trees they make a sinister sound and frozen icicles are falling at each movement. More branches fell in the last days. Even if the day temperatures go up to 36F because of the wind and frozen nature it feels like 29F. Not much is melting from the trees and snow... Night is cold.

It's pretty creepy to see the woods with so many broken frozen trees... looks scary, really worse than the tornado in the summer.

But here they are judge for yourself...

Winter storm

This picture above is like a carbon copy of the one I took after the tornado we had this past summer. The difference is that now we had a winter storm. Ice was falling like little spikes yesterday afternoon. Shortly turned all into the Land of Ice. By 5PM all was frozen and the sharp wind was blowing and ripping branches. Shortly after midnight the power went off - and right away I thought of how I forgot to turn on my fire place because once I don't have power I won't be able to turn it on... Over night the house got cold.
Morning was bright and frozen with all the damages visible. Lots of ice. Lots of broken trees, the damage on trees is worse than after the tornado last summer, much worse here in my neighborhood. Incredible scene of mixture between fairy tale and catastrophe. Right when my house got down to 54F by 11AM the power came on, and the heating and all other appliances kicked in. I have to admit that winter storm is even worse than the summer tornado.


My little brand new trees have 1 inch of ice on their little branches, couple of branches broken. The ice covered completely the entire tree and the branches are like frozen veins that do not have enough power to keep the branches lifted up. I tried to break the ice from some weak and damaged little branches. Not sure it will help.

The thermometer is frozen since last night, preserving in time the temperature like a memory under the shield of ice.