homework
Jeremy spent a few hours researching the ballot initiatives for Colorado last night because he is a good and responsible citizen. There are a lot of initiatives on the ballot – the second highest number for Colorado ever. So he found a progressive reference site on the ballots which discusses the issues in detail, but also has short summaries that are pretty hilarious. My favorite summary is about ballot initiative 58 which increases state funding for higher education. The oil and gas industry is adamantly opposed to it:
Update: The No on 58 group claims that students will just waste this money on beer. The Oil & Gas companies would rather keep this money for hookers and blow.
Last week when I met with Manisha and Kitt for lunch, I took the traveling NaBloWriMo canvas home with me to add my bit of *creative artistry* before passing it along to Kitt. I don’t draw. I don’t paint. I didn’t even know how to use pastels (I had to look it up online). I consider it a huge victory if my drawings come out looking better than my nephew’s (when he was 6). Today I finally busted out the pastels, drew in my share, and then sprayed it with fixer. It’s ready for Kitt, now.
now you see why i prefer photography
We had high winds and dark clouds marching across our skies today. Volatile weather. I rather like that. It rained last night and from the office window I could spy fresh white mantles of snow on the distant peaks. Rain is fine as long as it is cold enough to turn to snow on the slopes. By afternoon, the house was pelted with grauple, then sleet, then snow.
bring it!!!
And in the middle of dinner, I looked up and saw my favorite cloud formation: mammata! So late in the season and yet so beautiful – they hung in the sky, illuminated by the sun as she fell behind another bank of storm clouds. Mammata don’t last forever, they change rather quickly in the mountains and within a minute they were dissipating… the layers seeking out a path of greater atmospheric stability.
mammata above, storm clouds below, and jesus rays to boot
Well, I anxiously await the ski season. Kitt mentioned that A-basin opened last Wednesday. That’s all well and good, but I’m not keen on skiing the White Strip O’ Death. Right now it’s just manmade snow down a single run with skiers and riders of all abilities crammed together. No thanks. I guess we’re going to have another late start to the season.
we are ready for it
Ten more days of NaBloWriMo – we’re more than two-thirds done! I’ll announce the giveaway Friday and post the winner on HALLOWEEN! My *favorite* holiday.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:07 pm
What if I told you that I started to paint what you achieved? I didn’t get beyond the sky because that was when I realized just how hard it is! You did really good! Woo hoo for the Traveling NaBloWriMo Masterpiece!
I love mammatus clouds. The first time I saw them in Nebraska, they freaked me out. They are so like hanging butts! And you made me look up grauple. I had never come across that term before. So what is the difference betwen grauple and corn snow?
October 21st, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Brrr! I’m so excited for you, Jen! It’s great to be active again– unlike me, who’s stagnated at home, yecch.
I love the headline you’ve linked to. “Illegal sex gifts?!” I dream of a future when giant corporations can enjoy legal sex gifts.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:50 pm
the canvas is very prettily done. And wow! It’s finally snowing and the raining-cats-and-dogs-season officially started yesterday! I love strong winds and some rain! But that means clothes are now taking forever to dry and I dread that…
October 21st, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I say BOO to more money for students! Why, what would students need MONEY for? Tuition? Textbooks? FOOD? Gosh, how useless! Screw them.
ughh. A little less money spent by Oil & Gas companies on fun fun fun things like STI acquisition and many students could actually, you know, maybe make rent, or maybe even stop having to eat Chef Boyardee every day.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:10 am
I feel ilt getting closer..snow, snow, snow!
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:15 am
you are freaking me out – snow? skiing? – oh can’t we just wait with all that cold just for a few more months.
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 am
Hey, could you possibly send me the link to that site? Now that I’m a Colorado resident (though my blog posts haven’t caught up to that yet) I’ve been trying to figure out how to vote on the ballot initiatives and could really use a good, progressive source of info that won’t overwhelm me.
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:18 am
Keep that cold stuff up there, will ya? We Texans don’t know how to drive in it and if we knew at one time, well heck, we have done forgot!
I like that pastel. You have an eye for things, Jen. Let’s face it, you may not see it, but we do.
:)
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I love the cloud picture! I am super jealous that you get to ski so much. I haven’t gotten an chance to ski in Colorado since HS :(
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I love halloween too… but mostly because now it’s my dogiversary. It’s the day we brought Mr. Bug home… yay! :)
I want a tee shirt that says “Students will just waste this money on beer. The Oil & Gas companies would rather keep this money for hookers and blow. “
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I really like your drawing. Love the colors. It looks like wind soming through the mountains. I think everyone has the ability, its just a matter of developing.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:02 am
Manisha – I’m still displeased with my effort… I never invested much time in drawing :( Grauple forms in the sky and falls to the ground. Corn snow is already on the ground and has been through the melt-freeze cycle a few times to create that texture (and is great to ski in spring!)
Mark – lol!!
Mrs E – you must line-dry your clothes. Good for you! It’s so dry here in winter that everything dries in NO TIME.
Steph – people who don’t want to fund education should get a swift kick in the shins.
Peabody – yipee!
Meeta – oh hon, we’re OVERDUE for good snow right now. Just send your snow my way ;)
Soopling – done.
Margie – I don’t think you guys get very harsh winter conditions in TX.
Whitney – Don’t be jealous yet! Let’s see if the snowman can deliver :)
Mollie – I just want a t-shirt that says “hookers and blow” – ha ha ha. Cheers to Kona!
Lori – I think mine could use more time developing, really ;) Thanks.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:30 am
Line-drying has been the only way I’ve been taught to dry clothes haha and yet in this freaking weather it won’t! Darn haha
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:08 am
No where near snow here so I know I’ll spend another year living it vicariously through you!!
The picture is amazing! Good luck in the contest!
October 25th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Mrs E – poo :(
Tartelette – thanks! xxoo