Ay caramba! My poor neglected blog. The last few weeks have been insane with work and activities. FINALLY, I have a chance to sit down and write a few things.

So what’s been happening? Barack Obama fever seems to be sweeping the nation, at least on the Democratic side. I am still a Hillary supporter, but I must admit I am impressed with Obama as an orator. His speeches are inspiring, but I still question whether he has the experience to work the political game to its fullest and achieve the “change” and “hope” he pontificates. If he becomes the frontrunner for my party, then I will vote for him. We definitely need change in the White House.

Brianna Denison’s body was recovered in south Reno and there were memorial services this week in her honor. This town is still on edge as her murderer, a serial rapist is still on the loose. We are all looking out for each other’s safety, but I hope carrying a big can of pepper spray will be enough defense if I am ever confronted.

It is dumping snow right now. I’d say an inch has fallen in the last hour. I must confess that I am ready for spring although the skiiers will be jumping with glee come tomorrow. Plenty of fresh powder. It seems to be a good year for mountain sports, much better than last year which saw most resorts close a few weeks early.

Well, my long overdue post is pretty boring. I am yawning and my eyes are drooping, so I will say adieu or, actually, adios, since I opened this message in Spanish.

 Hasta manana….

Wow, this last week was insanely busy for me at work. Plus I started a new graphics communications class at the local community college and celebrated birthday #41. Today I am finally getting a chance to catch up with my blog.

A lot happened politically over the past few weeks, especially with John Edwards dropping his run for the presidency. My husband was an Edwards supporter, mainly because Edwards comes from humble roots and has “known pain” – the loss of a child, a wife suffering from cancer, and his blue collar upbringing.

As I’ve mentioned before, I am a Hillary supporter but I have been a little unhappy with some of the nasty comments the Clintons made toward Barack Obama over the last couple of weeks. Thankfully, Hillary and Barack seem to be on friendlier terms, although they are still pitting a tough race against each other. Super Tuesday will reveal a lot.

Sexual assaults on the UNR campus remain a hot topic among students and faculty, and another assault by gunpoint in October was disclosed – this time in a main parking garage on campus late at night. This makes me extremely nervous as I have a full day and evening of events scheduled next week and will need to access this garage for my event guests. I really wish security could be beefed up on campus. I would even advocate for additional campus police on foot, especially at night. UNR has been good about promoting the use of the Campus Escort Service. Because the new student union is open so late and the administration wants students to remain longer on campus, using it as their “living room,” I fear it may be creating an easy atmosphere for predators. Personally, I carry a big can of pepper spray. I hope I never have to use it.

Man, there is some bad mojo looming about today. When I arrived at work this morning I saw an email from the campus police that a 19-year-old girl was missing and most likely abducted from her friend’s house located very close to campus. A newspaper bulletin indicated that the FBI is now involved in the investigation. There have been two assaults to females near campus in the past couple of months so, understandably, all women on campus are a little nervous. My husband even bought me pepper spray because I walk a fair distance to my car each night. I hope this young woman is okay and will be returned to her family soon!

My second set of bad news arrived shortly after the campus police alert when I learned that one of my former bosses had emergency surgery for a brain tumor over the weekend. She came out of the surgery okay, but there are still a lot of tests and possibly treatments she will have to endure. I am anxious for her and her family.

And finally, this afternoon a friend IM’d me to announce that actor Heather Ledger is dead. Now that boggles my mind. I’m not really into all the celebrity gossip and broo-ha-ha, but Heath Ledger was an extremely talented, young actor and I really admired his work, from Monster’s Ball to Brokeback Mountain. I LOVED him in Lords of Dogtown and his performance in Brokeback simply broke my heart. I just don’t get it.