cross-country ski day: second attempt

It was my second attempt because yesterday, apart from a small test run down the road near my apartment, I didn't go skiing. I got my car stuck in the snow instead. I drove to the park perfectly fine, avoiding all the other stuck and sliding people, and circled the block twice trying to find a place to park other than the park's lot, which was not plowed. A few other cars had gone in, but apparently the snow plow had come by after them, building up more snow against the side of the road. That's where I got stuck. It wasn't even two minutes before a couple in a jeep cheerfully jumped out in their snow gear with shovels and started digging me out and pushing the front of my car. They were just driving around helping stuck people! Not even another two minutes my poor car was dislodged. I decided I would come back the next day, which I did.

Today's run was much better coordinated, and the snow was actually melting somewhat and the entrance to the park had been plowed. Two people were already out making tracks, and I attempted to catch up to them, but they left before I ever got there. Still, I had plenty of established trail to work on. I spent all morning out there on my favorite loop that the others had started, with part of it coming down from a fun slope that sent me flying so fast I felt like I was skiing downhill.

After a big lunch to refuel at home, I decided to go back since the sun was out finally. I noticed more people had been out, and some parts of our ski track had been trampled, making it a very slow process to get anywhere. At the top of that slope, I spotted two people and their small dog near the bottom, but walking on the track. I started down, keeping slow enough to not cause an accident. They finally heard me coming and moved, but their dog barely made it out before getting run over. I know the snow is deep, and our lovely tracks made for easier footing, but it seems Midwesterners need some lessons in snow etiquette. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful day!

                                                                       early on, with few tracks

                                                                following an already-made trail

                                                                          through the pretty trees

                                                                                           rest stop

happy President's Day!

The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum was serving up the favorite cookies of US presidents today, so I went to sample. I couldn't believe the long line for cookies, but luckily I had already explored the museum for over and hour before most people arrived, so I was able to get up in the front. I chose Johnson's lemon bars and Carter's pecan bars. Museum volunteers had baked so many different kinds, and they all looked delicious, but considering the line, I wanted there to be enough for the rest.

I loved the recreated Oval Office of 1950 room, and so did Fox 4 news. I think I was in the background while they were filming.

After finishing off my cookies, I headed down to Independence Square, the cute downtown area very close by. I stopped in to a Scandinavian store, and then to a German restaurant where I got an amazing sandwich and hot potato salad. Then I found a great antique store with the most reasonable prices I have seen. I was greeted by a middle-aged, three-legged chihuahua, which I immediately went to pet. I am definitely animal-deprived. His name was Skitter (or something that rhymes with that) and he had been hit by a car just before Christmas and had to have his leg amputated, but he was the sweetest (and leanest) chihuahua I've ever met. He followed me around while I browsed. I didn't come back with anything but a leftover sandwich half, but I had a really enjoyable morning!

100!

I've hit the 100 mark for job applications sent. And I feel like I've become a professional job applier. Beyond that, you've got me. I haven't heard anything back but a few rejections, but I'll keep on. There's got to be one out there somewhere. It almost feels like a game now!

Today, I volunteered with a local organization that helps resettle refugees to the Kansas City area. We were setting up an apartment for a family of three from Burma. The family was not present, but there were four of us working on it, moving furniture in and everything else a family would need to get settled in a completely new environment. Coming from a refugee camp, most people have little more than the clothes they are wearing. Nearly all of the things we moved in were donations, everything from a kitchen table and chairs, down to a jar of maraschino cherries that apparently comes with every truckload. It's all stored in a warehouse and sorted into sets for each move. There were plenty of toys for the daughter, pictures for the wall, and bath products as well.

The other volunteer and I had a bit of a laugh while setting the table, something the organization does for each home. We had a green vinyl tablecloth, some Christmas poinsettia placemats, floral & ruffle napkins, and blue striped plates. It was quite the mis-match, as was the rest of the apartment, but it still managed to look homey. I can only imagine it will be much more comfortable than what they are coming from.

While we worked, were discussing our jobs, how I hadn't heard back from any I had applied to, and I was glad to find I was not the only one with so much trouble. One other guy told me about his two master's degrees in the economics field, then got a disgruntled look on his face and said, "and now I'm moving furniture!" There may be less unemployment these days, but there seems to be a lot more underemployment. Even a recent blog post by the Center for the Future of Museums was titled "No Future", after the Field Museum cut $5 million dollars from its budget this year, most of it from its science department. For such a powerful and successful museum, that's like seeing a grown up cry for the first time, and you know something's really wrong. But, eventually, things will get better.

lunar new years

The museum celebrated Chinese New Year this past Friday with plenty of events in the evening, in addition to the opening of a new Chinese landscape exhibit. Everything was free, and therefore over three thousand people showed up. Kansas City is truly fortunate to have a museum that creates events such as that for all to enjoy. We, as officers, got the rare opportunity to wear something other than our uniform as long as it was Chinese-style. Some were chosen to dress up in Chinese costumes the museum curator had brought back from one of his trips to China. I didn't bring back anything from China besides some bulky Tibetan outfits, so I skipped out on that part. One of my Meetup groups was at the event, and since I was working, I only got to join them for a moment or two while on my break, but I was at least posted in a gallery adjacent to some musicians and was able to enjoy that.

Along with the exhibit, I get to wear this.

Yes, you can ask me. But not just yet. Someone had an issue with the copy machine and only copied off the first page of the six pages we were supposed to read to be informed of exactly what we are supposed to know when we are asked.

Both the Chinese calendar and the Tibetan calendar go by the moon, but they each count the "extra" days differently, so this year the Tibetan New Year (Losar) was today, the day after Chinese New Year. By request of the Tibetan leader, it was supposed to be a day of prayer much like last year, for the Tibetan self-immolations and continuing situation. I decided to make my favorite Tibetan bread, a very simple recipe of fried dough, ever so slightly sweet. Normally I don't like fried things, but these are not greasy, and it's fun to make the shapes!

skijoring

On my way to work the other day, I passed an outdoorsy-looking vehicle with some very large decal letters on the back: Skijor Hund. I thought that sounded interesting, so I made a mental note to look it up. Well, it is interesting, and it looks like tons of fun!

 

Yes, it's skiing as you're being pulled- by a horse, dog, or motor vehicle. I had seen a photo of this before, some amusing post card that circulated between family members, but had no idea of the name of this sport.

Not only that, when I Googled this, I came across ads for harnesses you can get, and from REI! (And, the lady in the photo on the REI site has a kid in a ski trailer attached to her. How cool.)

 I'm all for this, as soon as I get a dog, and some snow!