* Sigh * Snow at Sea Level

[sgtiger]

Great pictures!!
I love snow and those pics are about as close to snow as I will get here in Western Australia.

You can have all of mine. I like to visit it once in a while in the MOUNTAINS and I have to say it's kind of neat for a week or two in the winter, but it's mid April and I'm ready for spring. Yes, spring is wet in the PNW but there's usually at least a peek of sun once in a while. In fact, last Saturday was very nice. We spent most of the day outside in the sun.

Wow - Merry Christmas!!!! - When do we get to open presents???

Well, okay, if there's present I guess I could live it for a short while longer. Hmm....I hope there's wool in mine. When does Santa get here?

The weather was no where near that interesting in Portland today (I now split my time between PDX and SEA until we move down this summer).

I was outside today and felt the cold front coming through. Looked up at the sky and saw clouds. Snow wouldn't have surprised me but all we got was occasional periods of being the flat rock under the horse.

Tomorrow may be different.

Hi, Love! Sorry things didn't work out. Now you know why I didn't want to try to drive in that.

[salsabike]

You'll be missed, you guys! But come to think of it, if X and Kit can come up from Portland for TE parties, you could too if you were in the mood. And there's a lot to be said for having that support system.

And one of these days we're going to come down and go to that tandem shop in Portland, not to mention the Museum of Contemporary Craft.

It's still vaguely snowing. Half rain, half snow. Goofy.

[boy in a kilt]

I don't fault you for not wanting to make the drive. It would have required benadryl to keep the kids from killing each other. Or a nice bit of scotch for you so you didn't really care about all the commotion and nonsense from the back seats, the other drivers...

[boy in a kilt]

It's still vaguely snowing. Half rain, half snow. Goofy.

And I'm watching Bear Grylls walking around Africa, complaining about the heat, the taste of scorpions and drinking water squeezed out of elephant poo. Seems a little out of place somehow.

[sgtiger]

Ah shucks, we'll miss all of you too. We'll definitely come up for TE shindigs and rides. I didn't get to do my STP and I'm determined to do this ride at least once in my life. It's not happening for me this year, but I'm hoping maybe next year. Who wants to let me camp out in their living room or front lawn when I finally get around to it?

ETA: BIAK, ummm.... I can barely operate a vehicle in the ice/snow as it is, I'm not sure scotch would be a good idea. I would, however, need liberal applications of it afterwards.

Eww... You just had to remind me of the elephant poo episode, didn't you?

[KnottedYet]

Me!!!!!

[boy in a kilt]

Eww... You just had to remind me of the elephant poo episode, didn't you?

Somehow it sounded so much interesting than saying I'm reading articles on inverting polymers. It's what I'm really doing but it makes me sound nerdy.

[sgtiger]

Thanks, Knot! I won't hold you to it at this point, though. Who knows? By the time I get my arse into shape enough to do it, you and your honey may have relocated to finally be together.

BIAK, I'm sure it is organic, but that's okay. I think I'll just avoid putting myself in situations where I have to do that as a survival tactic. But hey, that leaves more for you.

Actually, the inverting polymers thing sounds like it might be interesting. But I've been known to go for the nerdy ones.

[boy in a kilt]

Actually, the inverting polymers thing sounds like it might be interesting. But I've been known to go for the nerdy ones.

Q.E.D.

[salsabike]

Nerds are the BEST.

I think Knot and Trek will be here. Or so I hope.

We'll be doing STP again in a year or two, I think.

BIAK, what's the new job? Same general work as the last?

[boy in a kilt]

Not really the same as last time. I don't work in construction any more and I'm trying to steer clear of storm water.

Now I'm a technical project manager for a small waste water treatment solution company. Our clients generally call us in to deal with water quality issues related to industrial processes or food processing. We also set up sludge dewatering systems for small municipalities and wineries.

I do anything "technical." Polymer testing, system design, coordinate system installation, re-engineer equipment and I am also the IT and safety departments.

But I can't complain. The company dynamic is great, I have a gob of technical problems stacked up waiting for me to solve them, and the money is pretty good.

The only thing I miss about construction is construction sites smell much better than some of the places I get to visit and the worst thing I've ever dealt with in storm water is goose poop.

[salsabike]

Interesting stuff, sounds like.

By the way, when I was in West Palm Beach the week of the last TE party here, we saw this place: http://www.pbcgov.com/waterutilities/wakodahatchee/

It's a constructed wetland that is part of wastewater treatment in Palm Beach County. It was SPECTACULAR. Green herons, great and little blue herons, ibis, egrets, woodstorks, purple gallinules. It's just teeming with birds. An amazing place. This is from their website--

Traditional methods for disposal of treated wastewater have included deep injection wells or ocean outfalls. More recent emphasis has been placed on highly treating and reclaiming wastewater. The Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department is a pioneer in the fields of wastewater treatment and reclaimed water distribution for irrigation purposes. The Wakodahatchee Wetlands are yet another example of the Department's innovative and forward-thinking management philosophies.

The Wakodahatchee Wetlands have attracted an abundant variety of wildlife including turtles, frogs, alligators and birds. More than 140 different species of birds have been spotted at the site. These species thrive in the various wetland zones found at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. The zones were designed for a mixture of habitat types:

* Open pond water areas to attract waterfowl and diving birds
* Emergent marsh areas for rails, moorhens, and sparrows
* Shallow shelves for herons and egrets
* Islands with shrubs and snags to serve as roosting, nesting, and basking sites
* Forested wetland areas for long-term habitat development

[crazycanuck]

snow... I guess the idea of only taking shorts & short sleeved shirts on our trip to Canada just kinda went down the tube...

snowmen!

[boy in a kilt]

Wetlands are a great use of water that hasn't been purified to drinking quality. Apart from the aesthetic value, it reduces the amount of process water that has to be discharged to the municipal system. Less water for the municipal system to deal with and lower cost for the companies because sanitary permits aren't cheap.

Distributing the non-potable water for uses like fire fighting, irrigation and industrial processes that don't require a high degree of purity could seriously reduce the strain on water supplies. The capital costs would be high but it would be a great investment in the long run.

if sean.rant=complete
sean.soapbox=off
end
(nerd humor.)

[jesvetmed]

SGTiger and BIAK: I'm sorry you'll be moving. Only met you guys the one time, but you seemed great. Glad to hear you'll be up for trips up for TE stuff... maybe I'll get to see you again. Sounds like a good move for the family all around. Congrats.

As for the weather, I heard the forecast for tomorrow including "Ice Pellets"... has anyone every been in "Ice Pellets" before? I planned to practice my oly tri ride tomorrow since our original tulip ride was cancelled. Scary sounding stuff... and it will be mixed with thunder storms. Hmmm... day to swim, maybe!?