Come on, Mother Nature, BRING IT ON!!!

I'm starting to wonder if I've got some sort of hurricane magnet stuck to my ass. While I lived in Florida most of the storms went in that direction. Now that I'm on the coast in Texas they seem to be starting off the year looking in this direction. I was working out of town and didn't really see what happened with this little one that just came through the other day, but people are freaking out a little bit about this next one. I'm actually kind of looking forward to seeing what happens with the hurricane out there now. It's pretty nice for a chage to be high and dry in a rental apartment instead of worrying about having to evacuate my camper as I did in Florida. Woo hoo! Hurricane party at my place! There aren't many times when I would say I'm happy to be in the apartment instead of living on a park in my camper, but along with indoor plumbing and a full sized shower, not worrying about my home being blown over tops the list.

Unfortunately it looks like I'll be out of town this week so I probably won't even get the chance to sit back and not worry about it in person, I'll have to do it from afar. Sigh...maybe next time!

Not much going on at home recently, but I did get the chance recently to do some traveling for work and fun. I spent about a week up in Northern Virginia/Washington DC area attending an orientation at the world office for The Nature Conservancy, and thankfully they were ok with letting me fly home from NYC so I hopped a train up there to stay with my friends Tim and Angel for a few days! They're all married and stuff now. Still kinda strange if you ask me. Last time I was in NYC was for their wedding a year ago this month. My colleague Becky attended the orientation as well and joined me for the expanded trip up to NYC. It was her first visit to New York City, so it was two days of trying to cram in every attraction we could while still trying to maintain some semblence of sanity. We saw a lot, but not so sure if we maintained the sanity. It's tough when Angel is around, she could drive anyone loony! hehehehe...

Unfortunately I had to turn down a detail with US Fish and Wildlife heading to some fires still burning in Florida because of the orientation, but I'm on the list to head out west now and will hopefully be getting that call sometime this weekend or early this week. They have the crew and the engine ready, but they are tapped out of engine bosses at the moment, so we're just waiting for someone to lead the motley crew and we'll be on the way. Another guy from my crew just headed up to Oregon this morning, so hopefully I won't be far behind.

A few pics from the recent travels...

We started the week of orientation off with a trip to a TNC preserve in the Potomac River Gorge. If only the rest of the week could have been spent out here rather than in a conference room!

The gang of "new employees" at TNC orientation making a side trip for some sightseeing in DC. It was a really great group that all had a lot of fun hanging out over the course of the week.

I can't believe they've been married for a year now! Time sure does go fast once you finally get the ring, doesn't it Angel?

Angel and I at the roof garden on top of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.


Not much chance of keeping her attention when there is a camera pointed in her direction. I believe her next words were "oh, what did you say, I wasn't paying attention?"

Did anyone else notice that in the four pictures above Tim and I have changed clothes but Angel seems to be wearing the same thing day after day?

Angel, dear, are you ever going to fuss at me for not updating my blog again? : )