Upcoming items

Here are a few things I'm excited / thinking about:

1- This weekend is the Red River Rivalry, and Texas is supposed to win. All the more reason to cheer hard for Oklahoma! Comparing QBs, I think OU is better - although McCoy has better guys to catch whatever he's throwing up. I think OU has had some injuries, but hopefully they'll be ready to push through and win it again -- Texas has taken 3 of the last 4 meetings and that needs to stop!

2- Continuing settling into my new townhome. I'm slowly taking off wall paper, painting, getting the front door replaced, etc. I'm debating what to do with the kitchen, as it's not super functional (although I'm getting by okay now). I read online that the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit is now taking avg of 20 weeks (5 months) to arrive. So my application from 28 August will not likely arrive before 2010. We'll see.

3- Work. I really like this year's students, and feel like I'm a part of them as they go through their academic careers (having taught them sophomore year intro and two courses junior year). Will definitely have to plan on going to graduation in 2011.

4- Possible chasing next year. A colleague and I are trying to organize a USNA-sponsored field classroom that involves visits to NOAA/DOD labs, forecasting, and storm observations. It's an exciting possibility and I hope the students are also interested.

5- Chile trip. I've asked USNA for money to take 4 students to Chile next March to observe first-hand the incredible meteorological diversity: strong gradients in precipitation exist in the north-south, east-west, and vertical directions.

6- NSF grant. I've asked NSF for funding to continue research in Chile and Andean region. We'll see how it goes; expect to hear response in about 4 more months.

7- Holidays. The semester is nearly 1/2 over and I'm ready for some significant down time. Both days off this year (Labor Day, Columbus Day) I was occupied: painting and getting settled during LD, and in Boulder CO during CD. I'm ready to just chill at home without much to do... hence this weekend should be good!