28 October 2007

Chicago on Two Wheels


Chicago bike tour
Originally uploaded by Katherine H.
When doing a little research prior to my trip to Chicago, I happened across a company that does bike tours of various neighborhoods.

I thought this sounded like an engaging way to see parts of the city that were new to me, and get some physical activity before spending the rest of the day on a cramped airplane.

We covered 7 miles on our Schwinn city cruisers in three hours. A leisurely pace, to be sure, but a fun to way to meet others visiting the city and learn a little history along the way.

25 October 2007

A Step Back in Time


Balch Hotel
Originally uploaded by Katherine H.
Earlier this week I was working in the rural town of Dufur, Oregon. Our training site was the Balch Hotel, a historic site recently renovated and opened as a bed and breakfast by Samantha and Jeff Irwin.

With a population of about 600 people, this area is predominantly focused on agriculture and also serves as a bedroom community for The Dalles, Oregon. Each August, the town holds an annual Threshing Bee where you can inspect and admire horse-drawn and steam-powered farming equipment.

entrance tile

On a crisp autumn day, it's hard to beat the beauty of Mt. Hood as your backdrop and the company of Kahlua and Tucker, the resident dog and cat padding about the hotel.

the view

06 October 2007

Six Pic Saturday: Cubicle Cleaning


work corridor
Originally uploaded by Katherine H.
It started as a gray day, and I hoped it wouldn't remain that way.

With the wind and the low temperatures, I decided it would be the perfect day to implement Project Cubicle Scrub and Clean. I've been struggling with the loss of daylight and the stifling office atmosphere. It's squelching my creativity and making me yearn for the bike rides of summer.

Earlier in the week I came across a cubicle makeover featured on another blog, and was inspired to try my hand at infusing a little dose of light and organization into my workspace.

Doesn't the office always look different when it is deserted?

piles

It's not pretty, folks. Although a quick tour around the office floor will reveal worse! As you can see, I'm a chronic piler. Need to remember where this is? Create a new stack. Can't forget to attend to this? Start a new pile. Can't be bothered with filing this now? Shove it in the corner.

lobby display

After a while, I needed a break for a dose of daylight. I walked over to the building atrium and lobby, where there is currently a display about domestic abuse. A side effect of the cube maze and our unfortunate location is the lack of any natural daylight...

parking lot market

For lunch, I wandered over to the Saturday Farmers' Market which takes up residence in a state parking lot each weekend from April through October.

gluten free cookie

I had never noticed the Taste and See booth before. Lindsey Shockey has been producing gluten-free cookies and mixes for the past two years since her diagnosis with celiac disease. I'm not gluten intolerant, but I've been reading blogs about it for the past couple of years, and like many gluten-free products. And if you have celiac, it can be a challenge to find food products that are safe for your consumption.

clean and clear

Clean space, clear mind! I still may add a couple of touches to my cube, but already I think it has been worth the investment. My 4' x 8' x 6' x 5' space feels much more spacious now that the clutter has been cut out. (I've added notes to my cubicle pics, so click through to Flickr to read more details.)