Less than 40 days before we move

With less than 40 days to go, the reality of our move to Oahu is starting to sink in. Not that we haven’t been working and planning for and rejoicing in our upcoming move, because we certainly have (and I think people are tired of hearing us talk about it). It is just hard to wrap my mind around the idea that 38 days from now I am going to be on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean – an island that will be “home,” at least for a little while. The prospect of our move is both exciting and terrifying, and a little sad. It’s exciting because – well, it’s Hawaii! It’s terrifying because of just how far away Hawaii is from everything, and because I am going to be unemployed for who knows how long. And it’s a little sad because I am going to miss my friends and family. There will be no car trips to go visit friends and family; any trip home is going to be a major event (and majorly expensive, too).

Any time I get bummed out about leaving Ohio, all I have to do is think about this:

From Ohio

From Ohio

Snow! And it was this dark at 5pm, as I was leaving work. Nope - I won't miss the snow at all!

Spartan Football!

This weekend Jim and I went up to visit my best friend, Karen and her husband Charlie, and we all went to the MSU vs. Purdue football game on Saturday, November 8. The day started out with some early tailgating (9am!), with yummy treats and mimosas (although hindsight would tell me that iced drinks are not all that refreshing when it is only 38 degrees out!). The game started at noon, and it was still only about 41 degrees. At least it didn't rain, even if it was overcast most of the time. MSU won - which made the day even better. It was our (Jim and I) first Big 10 game ('cause as poor grad students we can't imagine paying the outrageous price for Ohio State tickets), and we had a really good time, cold weather notwithstanding. After the game Karin and I went to one of my favorite Michigan places - Uncle John's Cider Mill (and winery). I picked up some cider (the best anywhere, hands-down), doughnuts, and two bottles of Uncle John's wine. Good times all around!

Here are some pictures of the game. The top picture is of Jim and I (looking like marshmallow people - some of that is all the extra layers we had on - I swear!), followed by a picture of Karin, Charlie and the people we tailgated with.

From Blog Photos

From Blog Photos

From Blog Photos

From Blog Photos

From Blog Photos

From Blog Photos

Change...a Democratic Rally

Jim and I went to our first political rally on Saturday evening. We went to see Sen. Joe Biden at a rally held on the BGSU campus here in Bowling Green, Ohio. It was an interesting experience. Biden is a pretty good speaker, actually. The news reports said that there were over 2,000 people there - which I think is pretty good for a college town on a Saturday night.
Here are a couple pictures from the event. The first photo is of the sniper/lookout on top of Williams Hall, where the history department is housed. The second is of some of the crowd, and the third is a slightly blurry photo of Biden speaking. It was difficult to get a good picture!

I don't know if I'll be able to sleep until I know the outcome of the election!

From Blog Photos

From Blog Photos

From Blog Photos