Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Tired

So very tired. That's how I am. I haven't blogged in a while, because there has been nothing really to blog about. Nothing positive anyways, and I hate to seem like a whiner, so I've been avoiding the blog. But to my loyal readers I owe some form of an update, and since I believe in being a straight shooter, that's what I'm going to be. This trip sucks.

The trip has not yet been what I would consider a success. In fact, it's dangerously teetering on severe failure, which is just emotionally tiring. I am exhausted on every single level one can be tired on. Mental, emotional, physical, etc. My bones are even tired. I forgot how physically demanding field work can be. I swear out loud everytime I have to pick up the damn generator. That sucker is heavy.

.........

Well, apparently I was so tired that I fell asleep. With my contacts in. Which made for a very confusing morning when I put another pair in right over the first....Anyways, yesterday was a low point, that is for sure. Today much better. All equipment up and running and functional: AT THE SAME TIME!! Miracle of miracles.

Plus, I got some wicked good news today. Babies are always good news, especially when the are going to be from such great parents. (You know who you are.) Congrats!!! It might be time to break the yarn diet because baby knitting will ensue. :)

Ok, well, I'm still pretty pooped so more news soon. Goodnight all.

Monday, March 10, 2008

grr

blogger keeps eating the middle section of that last post, and eats more everytime I try to fix it. Trust me it's witty, just giggle a little to get the happy feeling...

Well here I am

So, as you may or may not know, I originally started blogging on a the three month research trip to collect the data for my dissertation. That was three years ago. Wow, three years in blog land goes by fast. The original intent was to keep everyone up to date on my goings on out here. Some people thought I was funny, some liked knowing what I was up to and well, I blogged just slightly more frequently then I called home, so my mom was pretty happy too. Of the 20 or so friends I emailed about the blog, about 5 actually read it. During that time I found a renaissance in my crafting, mostly crochet at the time, so the blog was a little about that too. When I came home I stopped blogging almost completely, but kept up with it sporadically.

After a lot of thought about my online life and googlability, I moved the blog here, which had no connection to my real name, and tried to give it a theme. I was knitting a lot, and reading a lot of knitting blogs so I thought I'd give it a go to be a *mostly* crafty blog, with some tidbits about my day job of science. But mostly, the blog remains the same, random thoughts and tidbits about my life. My readership remains about the same as well, although I've picked up a few readers since then from friends made since the original departure. So here we are 3 years later, and I'm one week into the three month follow up study of that original project. Which means I am ~2300 miles from home back in the littlish town and the very different life that provided the inspiration for that original blog. (I don't really know where I'm going with this, but hang on for the ride, it might be fun).

It's weird to be back. Kind of like going to your hometown after you graduate college. Everything's the same, but just a little different. Was that minimart always there? Was that house always purple? When did that development start? I think that it's those little things that remind us that it's not just the physical place that's the same but different, but ourselves too. Three years ago I had been married for <6 class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">resurrection of the fiber crafts. It was also an extremely productive time for me professionally. All that alone time was great for writing my first paper, and most of my second. I have fond memories of that time, but to be honest, I have no desire to relive them. I want to move on with my life. Al ot can change in three years.

This time it's different, we have new grad students working on the project, and we are all living in an apartment together. If the over 60 set made me feel young, these guys make me feel old. nearly 30 is a far cry from just past 22. The math doesn't show it, but trust me, there is a lifetime in those 8 years. These kids were in 2nd grade when Kurt Cobain died. They weren't old enough to vote in the Bush/Gore election, and they were sitting in a high school classroom on 9/11, not even remotely the same stage of life as I was starting my very first research project at that particular moment. They are great fun though, I think I'm still hanging ok, but it is an effort to not take on a mom-like role.

This is a sad realization, but man, I'm just not that young anymore. I miss the early bird specials and the golf outings. These guys are wearing me out!



ETA: After I posted this I remembered a trip recently which inspired this rant, seems like I'll never feel like I fit :)

Friday, March 7, 2008

touchdown

On the ground for the next 18 days. Equipment is busted. I'm exhausted so posting may be sporadic until I catch up with myself.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Still alive

I'm in Texas. Yeehaw. Longtime readers know of my relationship with this state. Would you believe I'm actually considering moving here. Just goes to show you, never say never. :)