Big Day for Anu

After many hard hours of studying, arguing, getting frustrated, being happy, and writing her dissertation, we got to celebrate with my great friend Anupama her graduation with a PhD.

Headed over to school to get good spots and some photos.

I mean every important event needs pictures to embarrass, right?

School. Sch.ooooo.l
#1 in size. Scary thought.

Some of the photos were somewhat just taken - I was excited okay?

Kucku and Anu - both Doctors!

By the Knight.
Decided her parents would really enjoy this one.

Hurray!

Anu's other good friend Dominique also came - and brought gifts.

Awesome!

Best. Picture. Ever.

Went inside to wait (and get out of the heat) to realize we had assigned seats. Super cool. I ended up reading my book for some time until the others came. Yes I brought a book to graduation. I'm that person.

After being hooded!

Basically if you don't know, PhDs walk up to graduate with their adviser who actually gets to hood the graduate. It's very special moment because it's the defining moment of the Doctorate in Philosophy.

Was so happy to be able to celebrate this day with Anupama. It reminds me of all of my friends that have been though this experience (aka torture) and how I am happy to have gotten out faster than them.

Amen.

:)

Hair, Part Two

Official!

Oops, the Hair!

Forgot!

I got my hairs cut two weeks ago - had been growing it out first for the wedding (over 1.5 years ago now) and then to donate to Locks of Love. And it had to be ten inches long. Yikes.

I'm pretty sure my hair has never been that long. And now I can remember why. I don't like long hair. Revelation. Sigh.

I dragged Anupama along (for her second American haircut) and went to Paul Mitchell Hair School - got it cut for $17. Not too shabby. And they did a great job!

Before!

After! Hurray!

I was itching to do this for some time, but wanted to make sure I had long enough hair to not have to get too much cut off. I was honestly afraid Darin would cry. He didn't though. And likes the cut. I think he sees that it's a more "Del-ish" haircut that previous.

And I cut my hair for this girl I knew, S. She was this annoying kid whom I loved to bug - she got me to dance to stupid music and made me laugh more times than I can remember. She died last year of cancer. She loved my hair when I first met her (over 3 years ago) - hers was buzzed/short because of chemo - BUT it was finally growing out. And she was so happy about it - I guess most 13 year old girls want long hair! I remember thinking how easy it would be for me to grow my hair a little bit longer to donate it. How simple! So I did. And I hope to again (this was my third time) to make someone happy.

The new Del!

Plant Fruit

Fruits of our labor.

Like fruit of the loom. Ha ha.

Cayenne peppers, green bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, and basil.

The green bell pepper is actually the normal size of a green bell pepper. Amazes me. And they smell so very good. Peppery and sweet and spicy.

The tomatoes are just crazy. We get about this many every 4-5 days. I tried to make sauce yesterday (turned out good I think), but haven't eaten any yet. For some reason we tend to just eat the tomatoes instead of actually cooking with them. Really though, what can you use cherry tomatoes for? Sigh.

Someone else likes them too:

He took one last week and buried it in the covers of his bed (in the second bedroom, and yes we call it his bed because he sleeps in there during the day because it's cool). Tried to get him to eat a cayenne pepper last night but wimped out because we didn't want to deal with the consequences.

Crazy farmers we are.

August Plants

I have more pictures of the garden.

Taken this past weekend, beginning of August.

I also have decided we need to take up farming. We'd be very good farmers - like to work outside, have a crazy dog who would attack animals, like tractors, and can grow stuff.

Overtaking yard.

I guess this is what happens when you water twice a day. Yikes. The tomatoes are taking over.

Lots. Of. Tomatoes.

Baby green bell peppers.

Cayenne peppers.

Still growing, growing, growing. Now we wish we would have planted more food we actually eat. Like watermelon and bacon. Kidding. Or corn. Man I love corn.

New Camera, Take Four

So I broke my camera.

Again.

I guess I got the broken-camera gene because my parents have done/do it all of the time.

The most famous was dropping the camera in a fountain during their honeymoon (or so they say) while in Europe. Maybe they were undercover agents or something else...

Yet, I still got the breaking-camera gene.

HAD to have one this weekend so I went out and just bought one. And the insurance. And a case.

So there, camera dropping fairies.

And just because I could, I took random pictures:

Fluffy cloud.

Fluffy Jake.

And I'm back people. Beware.

Trial: Wind Surfing

Our friend Kucku is of the adventurous sort.

I'm not sure how she became this way - maybe it's in her genes? But it's fun to have a friend to get you to try new things; go on new adventures.

She invited Darin and I to join her Adventure Club for a trip to St. Augustine to go wind surfing. This was something we never tried before, but I thought it sounded fun (compared to going up on a hot air balloon which I'm not sure Darin would do) and signed us up!

***

We headed up to St. Augustine's beach - Anastasia Park - a couple of weeks ago. It ended up being a beautiful day especially since we were supposed to get rain from a tropical storm. Got there before noon, took a class, and experimented.

Kucku and I took lots of pictures. My camera was dead (need to get a new one!) so I had to rely on her for her shots (she's a pretty snazzy photographer). And there were some great ones!

***

Darin was the first in the group (12 of us) to go. He made it look easy. Another guy went after him, had a harder time, and we all sort of felt better.

Basically, you climbed up the surf board (which was floating on the water), balance, and pull up the sail. Pretty simple concept. Balance was the key.

We all tried. It was very tiring. It was very fun.

Enjoy the pics:

And yes, you can thank my father for my monster legs. Thanks Dad. And yes I have bright red sunglasses on. I didn't care if I lost them. (I didn't.) And yes, there was like one picture of Kucku. How did this happen you ask? It's because she's sneaky (and we forgot to take pics of her).

The lagoon? Salt water lake area.

Resting!

Darin learning. That's him on the board.



He's out!

And back up again...

My turn.

Attractive, I know.

Kucku's turn.

Darin tries again. With a hat on.

Basically people tried all morning and got tired. Darin ended up taking a long board out to the other side of the pond/marsh. Kucku and I kayaked for a bit. I tried again and was pretty much getting the hang of it. Went down and back twice, tried again the third time, couldn't get back, and had to walk back in the water. Exhausting. But fun.

Definitely something we'll try again. That and seeing if Jake's a kayaking dog. I have a feeling he might be.

Thanks Kucku for the invite! And way to go adventurers!