Yet Another Addiction

Okay, so I am addicted to the internet. More specifically, I am addicted to:

1. Facebook: I just joined a couple of weeks ago at the urging of quite a few people. I figured I'd sign up and that would be it. It is so cool!! I love finding people on there and getting a notice something like "Beth has confirmed you as a friend." I've found my cousins, old friends, new coworkers, old professors, and I'm hoping more of you will join someday so we can be confirmed as friends by Facebook.

2. Ravelry: I've been addicted to this one since last year. You probably have to be a knitter to really appreciate the incredible things you can do on the site, but it's awesome!

3. Scrabulous: I learned about this game from my current coworker. Basically, it is online Scrabble. You can play with other people on Facebook or via email with people who don't have a Facebook account. I'm playing 5 games right now. One with my cousin in Calgary, Alberta, one with my coworker in Michigan, one with my family in Illinois, one with an old friend in Edmonton, Alberta, and one with a total stranger. If you like word games, I'll set up a Scrabulous game for us!

4. Prolific: This is online Boggle. It lasts 3 minutes and you can play with friends on Facebook or with total strangers from all over the world. I'm terrible at it, but when each game is over I think, "Just one more time."

5. Blogger: This is a mild addiction, compared to the rest, but I can't give it up either. It's more introspective than the rest.

There! I've said it. I've named the addictions and now I just need to decide which ones I should keep and which should go.

Disturbing Nature

Okay, so I was excited to go for my first kayak ride of the season today. While floating along, I saw many turtles of all sizes sunning themselves. I tried to get as close as possible and then float quietly past while getting a good look at 'em. Just as I was heading back, I saw what looked like a very big turtle on a log and decided to get a closer look. As I approached, I realized that it didn't seem to be a turtle at all. In fact, it had a very long, black and white neck and it was looking right at me. Just as I got within about 4 feet of it, I realized it was a big Canada goose sitting on a nest in the water. FREAKED ME OUT! I quickly back paddled and thanked the goose for not pecking my eyes out. I wish I'd had my camera along. I'm taking it next time.

Guess Who and a Water Fowl Convention

Last week I spent some time with my family in Illinois. My nieces learned to play Guess Who, and they loved it so much that we must have play 20 games or more. If you're not familiar with it, here is a pic.








Spring is FINALLLY here! We've shoved the snowblower to the back of the garage and I certainly don't expect to need it anymore. Since the lake is finally thawed out, I've seen so many water birds in the past 2 days. Yesterday I saw a pair of ducks and a pair of little birds that my mom thought might be loons. Then I saw a pair of Canada geese. Then, this morning, I saw 2 swans enjoying a swim. I guess that's what happens on the lake in the spring.

Early this morning I actually felt rumblings from an earthquake that was centered somewhere in Illinois. I was fast asleep when my bed started to shake enough that it woke me up. In my sleepy state I just figured it was really windy outside but after seeing the news about the quake, I think that must have been what woke me. WEIRD!

International Spring Break Trip

It is Spring Break week here. I guess it is always the first full week in April, which seems really late this year. I spent the weekend at my cousin's house in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Crossing the Ambassador Bridge is always thrilling!

My cousin, Tim, is a choral conductor and I wanted to get to one of his concerts and spend time with him, his wife and kids.

I don't think the custom's agent believed my story. She asked if I'd ever visited them there before and when I said "no" she asked why I was going there now. When I told her that I was going to a concert, she wanted to know what concert and the exact location, as well as where in Windsor my cousin lives. I must have looked like I was coming to party or something.

It was something of a party atmosphere at their church, St. Mark's by-the-lake Anglican Church where they had Hockey Jersey Sunday. Canadians really love their hockey! Nearly everyone at church had on a jersey. A brass band played the Hockey Night in Canada Theme Song and everyone sang O, Canada. I only know, "O, Canada! Our home and native land!" I guess I'd better study the words for next time.

The choir concert was great fun as well. The University of Windsor Singers and the Women's Chamber Choir did a great job. Very entertaining.

Feel Like Yawning?

Okay, so it is FINALLY warm enough to go for a walk outside without freezing my butt off or slipping on the ice. The lake just completely thawed out on Tuesday. When I walk alone, I like to listen to music or to podcasts. Today I listed to an NPR Story of the Day Podcast called The Quest to Design the Perfect Yawn. I learned that 55% of people will yawn in response to simply hearing someone talk about yawning. I am undoubtedly one of those people. As soon as the topic was announced on the podcast, I started with the yawning and it continued repeatedly for the entire 7 minutes of the podcast. When I even thought about writing this post, the yawning started up again.

What does this say about me? I get 8 or 9 hours of sleep every night. I shouldn't be tired, but it sure doesn't take much to make me sleepy. Test it out on your friends and family. See if just talking about yawns makes them yawn. Read more or listen to podcast for yourself by clicking here. There is a school science project in here somewhere...