Look at all these crabs!

The boldly patterned pom-pom or boxer crab likes to carry live sea anemones in its claws, brandishing them in defense when it feels threatened. —Photograph by Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore More here from National Geographic!

Miracles are happening in Blairstown!

Update on the cross burning in Hardwick Township, just a mile and a quarter down the road from me. There was a Unity March which I got off of work too late to attend in front of the home. I work with a lot of inner-city kids out here in Blairstown, and it's a blessing the story hasn't picked up the coverage it might have. I have moved all my Twitter mini-mobile updates to an old livejournal, so if you are interested in reading those add http://lenablair.livejournal.com to your RSS feed readers. From here on out to the near future, only full-on real-live 'blogging will be happening on this 'blog. Prom promise. Oh, and the miracles I'm speaking of? Upon returning from working in Princeton and Newark this week, my iPhone battery was draining more quickly than it should have last night. And then I realized that my laptop connection was operating at lightening-fast speeds. Three-G has come to Warren County, and it is as awesome as I've always dreamed! I'm recovering very well from my illness that struck on the west coast. I'm processing my experience at the AEE conference. I'm getting my work-outs in, and feeling okay about my body. There's something I've been putting off for FAR TOO LONG, and I'm working up the courage to bite the bullet. Life post-college for me is shaping up to be pretty great, don't worry too much about me. I'd love to do what I can, and if that means being a late-night sounding-board, I'm strong, let me share that load you're shouldering. And if you need a void to send the ether of your thoughts, I will be the best void I can be. Looking forward to being able to walk and ice skate to work this winter. My commute of 3 minutes will be halved when the lake is solid enough.

Elle's mini mobile 'blogging for today...

07:03 Actually feeling worse after having slept in my own bed. 07:03 Home sweet twins. 09:37 Sick and sick. 13:51 @lifeofreilly I'm using a sick day today, good luck avoiding getting this illness! It's a doozy! 14:50 Thank you g-d for sporradic absence days. 19:42 This month will be challenging Posted every 24 hours by LoudTwitter

Elle's mini mobile 'blogging for today...

07:53 I love my Trenton kids! Posted every 24 hours by LoudTwitter

Elle's mini mobile 'blogging for today...

23:52 Goodnight fork, goodnight spoon, goodnight moon. 09:07 At the airport getting ready to leave Portland for Newark then Trenton. 10:20 Wall.E in-flight then sleeping and such. 16:52 Is happy to be back in new jersey, for sure. Posted every 24 hours by LoudTwitter

Elle's mini mobile 'blogging for today...

00:38 Working on curriculum with my co's. 00:49 Feeling pretty crummy. 01:05 Is still sick 13:51 Going to hit the exhibition hall soon 13:52 There was a cross-burning in Hardwick Twp apparently. That's my home. 18:09 Ran into the woman who did my WFR workshop. Posted every 24 hours by LoudTwitter

Elle's mini mobile 'blogging for today...

23:52 First session of AEE conference on the post-modern student was a little close to home for comfort. 09:48 Did 25 laps in the pool this am. I will be a zombie later today! 13:31 Blogging! Posted every 24 hours by LoudTwitter

It's 5 AM here in Vancouver, WA

Intrepid readers, I was awoken while sleeping by my coughing, got into the shower to try and loosen some of the shit in my lungs. I tried to go back to bed and just creaked open the laptop and kept coughing. Not really a problem, if I was staying at the Hilton on my own. Instead of keeping my sometimes-supervisor Heather up through the remaining wee hours, I put on my bra and Five Fingers, finger-combed my moist tresses and here I sit in the Hilton lobby. (Digression: They re-sized women's FiveFingers, where the W40 are a little large for me the NEW W40 fit me perfectly at the heel. They also come in blue and leaf-green with grey.) Yesterday was my first day at my first international AEE conference, and the first session I went to was on the postmodern student, to me the solution to the student that wants to smoke on expedition or bring iPods, I would bring that back to the student. How do you think that will change your experience? That of your peers? And you blend it, saying things like, when I have my iPod on, I tend to have a harder time paying attention to others; how does wearing your iPod affect you? Also, my supervisor Dave recently told me that it is valuable to seek to understand, then be understood, to create a healthy repor and relationships. Coming to this conference shows me where my organization is really quite strong (I was well-trained as a facilitator), and where we are lacking (inter-organization communicaton, well-defined positions, poor utilization of resources at times, diversity of staff and recruiting of alumni). This has very little to do with me, being a peon at the front-lines. I work with students in schools and on-property, and I really make change. However you can train people to be in my position. People need to grow and have experience to hold the positions which are currently open, so there's not a lot I can do to help. As far as conferences go, I think this conference is pretty fantastic, and I am thrilled that The Ivy sent 8 individuals to learn and grow from it.

Elle's mini mobile 'blogging for today...

08:22 Coughed up solid matter just now. Gross. 15:12 I love this conference! 16:15 What seemed fantastic in theory was in experience anticlimactic. Story of my life? 22:06 I love Fat Tire pale ale twitpic.com/kepd Posted every 24 hours by LoudTwitter

Elle's mini mobile 'blogging for today...

00:38 I feel full of joy tonight, and feverishly optimistic. 13:34 Riding the bus in Seattle, heading to the park and then later the Japanese tea garden. 15:00 What the eff are these red fruits? twitpic.com/k6zm 15:57 Seattle Japanese tea garden after lunch, then Portland and the Association for Experiential Education conference in Vancouver, Washingto ... 21:18 @christinericks nope, sorry :( 21:22 Leaving north Seattle for the airport, quick Japanese tea garden then marshalls for another blouse and Portland-bound. Posted every 24 hours by LoudTwitter

Elle's mini mobile 'blogging for today...

01:23 I love you kevin smith! Can't wait to see all the DVD extras from Zack and Miri Make A Porno! 04:46 just got home and is waking up in less than 2 hours to pack and get to LAX. 06:28 Yo where did this sore throat come from?!? 09:34 @allogagan1025 voting is teh sexy. 09:35 Is feeling a smattering of sick, anyone she made out with should run, not walk, to take some Emergen-C. 10:05 My internets aren't working at the airport and I feel really pretty ill. 10:20 Witty repartee for the win. 10:37 Getting on my plane soon... Should be a pretty full Flight. Boo. 19:13 Is sick like a dog at this juncture. What a lame way to spend my break. Posted every 24 hours by LoudTwitter

Elle's mini mobile 'blogging for today...

05:26 Loved Wicked. Going to go home and fall asleep watching Californication. Love you all. 12:53 Lost her nalgene at the gym yesterday. 15:40 Prop 8 ads all over in socal...no on 8!!! 15:56 Put my iPhone earbuds through the wash--the sound has never been cleaner! 17:22 @emiwenis mom says stop texting at work and talk to your boss. 17:25 Need to tell him what u need to b able do u r job as In mentoring not that u r. Supervisor makes you feel stupid. Boone can make u. Feel ... 17:25 your interpreatation. 18:49 Changed my flight for direct to Seattle 19:11 Loads of yes on 8 protesters at moorpark and janns. Asses. 21:39 @ emiwenis that was mom 22:12 I love my mentor Randy, hard to believe it's been six years! Posted every 24 hours by LoudTwitter

The announcement you've been waiting for.

Just in case you're waffling, I want you to know that I voted for Barack Obama absentee for the 2008 election. And we should lower the voting age so these kids can, too.

Elle's mini mobile 'blogging for today...

11:07 loving the new season's episodes of Californication at the folks house On Demand 16:34 Heading to orange county to see the twin then heading to the Pantages to catch Wicked. 17:05 @christinericks when ya heading to Seattle? 17:08 @emiwenis do you play frisbee? 21:22 Going to see Wicked with the twin 22:41 @christinericks I will be in Seattle on the 4th and 5th 23:10 Intermission! Wicked reminds me of college. Posted every 24 hours by LoudTwitter

Elle's mini mobile 'blogging for today...

00:29 Mending 02:46 Has smelly feet from her very smelly merrell Mary jane's 04:48 Packing climbing harness just in case I can hit the thousand oaks gym...I can sleep on the first of my 3 flights. 16:09 Landed safe and sound in Portland, waiting a few hours to catch a direct flight to lax, get to see my folks! 16:24 I love that the bar had tons of vegetarian options for lunch, getting a black bean burrito at Laurelwood in PDX. 19:57 @joeybenavides oh noes!!! What's the word on the phone!? Do you have 8 or 16? Posted every 24 hours by LoudTwitter