Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween or Samhain or All Souls Night...Whichever you prefer to call it.

I pulled the last of my substrates yesterday, so the field aspect of my field work is officially 100% complete. It was kind of sad really. I came to know these places quite well over the summer. They were country. They were an escape for me, an escape from the dreaded, natureless city. When it came time to leave, I realized that it didn't seem right to just turn my back and walk away, never to return. It felt as if I needed to say goodbye or something. Dave felt the same way, I believe. We stood there for a while, looking out over the swamp, soaking it all in in a sort of melancholy silence. The warm sun, cool fall air, and the breeze passing through the dried poofy cattails -- I miss it even now. Even the few remaining dragonflies came to bid us farewell. It was the end of another subchapter in my life. I'll miss that swamp.

In any case, today was all unpacking and cleaning. And now that I have all of my data, I'll be analyzing the next couple of weeks away. Hopefully I can find something significant. Statistics are so overrated.

Some Good Advice

Found this in a catalog. I couldn't help but think that it was some pretty damned good advice. So, I decided to share.

Advice from a Moose:
Think Big.
Spend time in the woods.
Eat plenty of greens.
Hold your head up high.
Stay on track.,
Keep your nose clean.
~but remember~
Its okay to be a little wild!

Welcome to my Nightmare....

Last night, I had one of the worst dreams I think I have ever had. And keep in mind, this is coming from a girl who usually dreams about people trying to kill her.

I suddenly found myself back in Highschool as if I had been transported in time. In my mind, I still remembered everything that had happened from graduation to college to Toledo, but yet I was standing back in my Highschool getting berated by Mr. Wilson for not making my way to class. I had no idea where I was supposed to be, or even where my locker was. I was just in a bit of shock. I started walking, just to make it look like I was going somewhere. I kept thinking No no, this can't be happening. I ran into a few of my old Highschool friends and tried to tell them, but at first they thought I was joking, and then that I was loosing my mind. It simply couldn't be happening. I tried calling Steven, but he had no idea who I was. Of course. We hadn't met yet. That was the worst part of the whole thing. In a panic I tried calling friends from Allegheny and Toledo. Cell phone numbers either didn't exist or belonged to someone else. Nobody remembered....or prememebered..anything. I was stuck back in Highschool - my junior year - with my asshole ex and a group of friends, only a couple of which I knew would take my side and stick by it. The last thing I would ever want to do would be relive HighSchool. And as great as college was, I still wouldn't want to relive all the hard work, rough times, and all the stress that went with it. What if I didn't do things exactly the same? There were mistakes I could never bring myself to make a second time. Would that change things in the future...would I never meet Steven or get into school in Toledo? The thought of never meeting Steven or some of my dear friends, or Radar....and yet still remember them was horrifying.

I woke up frantically grasping at reality. My heart was pounding, but I was in my bed...in my apartment...in Toledo...and my cell phone was beeping with a text message from Steven. I melted back into bed, hugged Radar close and fell back to sleep.

Even though I tend to complain about things, I suppose I wouldn't change anything, even Toledo. For as little as I like the actual city, and hate being far away from Steven and my family, I have made some incredible friends here, and being on my own has been good for me in many different ways. Everything happens for a reason. I'm just really glad Steven knows who I am. = P

And I Quote....

"I never had problems with my fellow scientists. Scientists are a friendly , atheistic, hard-working, beer-drinking lot whose minds are preoccupied with sex, chess and baseball when they are not preoccupied with science."
~Life of Pi

*laughing*

Your Christmas Stocking Will Be Filled With Coal

You haven't been *that* naughty this year. Santa is just screwing with you

http://www.blogthings.com/whatwillbeinyourchristmasstockingquiz/

*sniffle snuff cough*

Not much has really happened lately, asside from the usual day to day things. I have 3 of my 5 sites pulled, and awaiting a non-miserable day to get the remaining two. After that, the field component of my research will be officially over. I've started dappling in data analysis. So far, things don't look too promising, which really is disappointing. But I'll continue playing with graphs and statistics and see what I can get.

I went home last weekend for Fall break. Steven and I had our 4th annual pumpkin carving event. We carved 3 pumpkins. A big one, a medium one, and a little one. They are quite cute. My family had a get together to celebrate my cousin, Doug, being done with school. It was good to see everyone. We watched the steelers kick ass with my uncles and cousins. It was a pretty good time. Then Monday, Steven and I met up and saw Open Season. It was pretty good and had some really funny moments. But its still not something I feel the need to rush out and see again.

I also seemed to catch a cold over the weekend. I've felt pretty lousy over the last few days, spending most of my time on the couch, watching tv/movies and talking with friends online. In doing so, I've discovered that my english friend is still in love with me and convinced that we belong together. Its much easier to tell someone to bug off when you don't care about them. Unforntuantly Nick is a good friend, and I actually care about his feelings. *Shakes head* Anyway, I've also done a few stupid surveys, which I may or may not post. I'll see.

My passport came!! I'm excited. Now I can just buy a ticket and skip the country. *mischevious grin* Now I can't wait to go somewhere. I want stamps!!! Travel! Yay!

Anyway, its after noon and I still haven't showered yet today, so I should probably go do that. Then I'll be back here on the couch for more tv and nose blowing.

A Tip for Your Well Being

Don't stand on 30 year old chairs with dry rot. Oww.

I don't think I need to go into details here.
I'm sure you all can put two and two together.

Damn UPS

I've been waiting for a package to be delivered by UPS, but as usual, UPS is insisting I sign for it in person. Since, like a normal person, I have a 'job' and am not usually home between 9 and 5, I missed the first two delivery attempts. In efforts to avoid having to drive all the way down to Maumee to pick up the package myself, I left work at 12:30 today to make it home in time to catch the UPS guy when he dropped off my package between 2 and 5, like the memo said he would. However, when I got home shortly before 1, there was yet another memo, signifying that he had been and gone. Obviously, a 3 hour window was too hard to hit. It had to be missed by an hour and a half. So, now I have to find the time, not to mention gas money, to drive down, find the UPS place, and pick up my stupid $15 package. Why they can't just leave stuff at the door when I say its okay, I"ll never know. But I do know its a major pain in the ass. If they want people to sign, they should deliver outside of nomal business hours when most people also WORK. Grr!!!