Knowing when to fold 'em...

It doesn't look like I'm going to magically be able to fabricate extra time this term after all. A couple of homework-intensive classes, getting the Corvallist kid registered and set up for high school and now the honor of being awarded a research apprenticeship for the remainder of the term... well, you get the idea.

I have tried to keep up with local news, and I sometimes walk around thinking, "Gotta remember that for the blog," but when it comes down to actually finding a free block of time to write? It ain't happenin'.

I had tried writing some lighter "fluff" stories as filler, and was reminded by a local citizen that I was now charged with tackling local issues. But the real meaty issues take more than 5 minutes and I'd rather write nothing than write poorly.

So, ciao for now. If I find time to breathe, I'll come back and post. Otherwise, see you this summer.

April showers bring taxes and fresh produce?

Tomorrow morning, the Corvallis Farmers' Market returns to the riverfront. From now until November, you have the option of supporting local farmers and buying produce that travels less than 100 miles from earth to your table. The food tends to be fresher, taste better, and isn't artificially preserved with wax (like apples from Washington state) or laden with pesticides.

We do have a winter market and Wednesday market at the fairgrounds, but it's just not the same as the full-blown market Saturday mornings. There will be music, food demonstrations, activities for the kids (at least on opening day) and samples galore. You'll find more than just fruits and vegetables; there are always plenty of flowers, plants, honey, jams, free-range/hormone-free/cruelty-free meats, calzones from the First Alternative Co-Op booth and my personal addiction -- multigrain sourdough bread from Alpine Bakery.

The best part? It's all pretty inexpensive. When you buy direct from the farmer or vendor, with no middleman, you save money and the farmer keeps more of it.

The market will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from April 14th through November 17th. For more information, go to the Locally Grown website.

Priorities, priorities...

Doesn't it just figure? Right after the lovely acknowledgment in the paper, right after a challenging term comes to a close and spring break (and spring weather) arrives, the lights in the blog window go out. Sorry 'bout that.

There are some exciting things happening for me rightthisveryminute that simply take precedence. I'm sure you'll understand. In addition to facing my first term with no days off (I've managed at least one day with neither work nor school for both the past two terms), I find myself blessed with some opportunities that require my attention:

• I'm up for a research assistantship in my major that could actually fit into my schedule, which is important. I need one of these to qualify for "real" research positions in the future, and it automatically enhances the grad school application and resumé.
  
  
• I'm in the running for a local scholarship that would permit me to take summer courses without a major financial hit when I need it least (need to save fundage for summer camp and minor travel and a particular teenager's upcoming birthday).
  
  
• I've just been nominated for an honorary award at the university that would make obtaining scholarships a wee bit easier.

All of these things required compiling application packets, writing essays and attempting to wrangle letters of recommendation from the right people. That may not sound like much of a chore, but with a schedule like mine, with a brain that can handle only so many things at once (a limit I test frequently), I haven't even managed to sneak a peek beyond the front page of the GT in passing, let alone pay rapt attention to local issues.

"Yeah, yeah," you say. "We don't care. Get back to work!" *whipcrack*

Hopefully, now that the packets are completed and submitted, I will have some time to do just that.