Burning the candle at both ends...OUCH!

This week has gone so quickly! As Mardi Gras ramps up, I feel like I'm getting swept into a vortex, and time is going by faster and faster. Today, though I have decided to take a break and recuperate a little bit. The decision was made easier by the 20 minute coughing fit at 3am...Don't worry! It's still just a cold.

I've been pushing myself a bit this week because my friend Sara has been in town for the American Meteorological Society conference, so still getting up to go to work, but also staying out a bit late to hang-out w/ her whenever we had the chance. I learned this week, BTW, that the AMS conference is cursed with bad weather. Ice-storms in Santa Fe, this week, and they had other examples too. If you are ever going on a vacation in January - make sure you don't overlap w/ the AMS! Because of the inclement weather, I've been taking the streetcar - or at least intending too, but I've missed it more often than not, so hoofing the couple miles to Canal Street.

Oh yes, by way of proof, here are the weather observations from the last week:

Don't get me wrong - It's all been very much worthwhile, and very cool to get to hang out with Sara. It'd been three months since I last saw her, but it has felt like longer. We had a good time exploring around, and she graciously bought me a couple really good dinners. Thanks Sara! The food highlight was a rum, carmel soaked and pecan covered bread-pudding dessert. Delicious!

Yesterday was also my first Habitat for Humanity build day! Obviously, the weather was unpleasant, but it was a very satisfying day. For the most part, the group was painting and installing siding on the house. Here we all are at the beginning of the day -Sara was being bashful ;)The neighborhood around this house is alive, but even now, more houses than not are gutted wrecks. It felt very good to see the difference in the house at the end of the day. Maybe I'll get to go back next weekend and see even more progress.