My Arizona Room

I have been all over the place the last two weeks. I have been down to Phoenix a lot, and will be returning the weekend of November 7th. Luckily, I have two of my closets friends there that I stay with and commute to the ranch every day. The meetings have been useful, enlightening, and sometimes very boring. But, I love all the people that I work with and have as much fun as I can. Needless to say, it's been a long two weeks. Whether it was me being in Phoenix the first time and fainting, to the doctors appointments, to the paperwork for Workman's Compensation, to the fact that some people have been throwing me under the bus, the going back down to Phoenix, coming back up, house sitting, slacking on my homework, getting a perfect score on a 12 page paper written in 6 hours... It's been a lot.

I am so ready for school to be over and for a much needed vacation. A vacation where I don't have to think about work, homework, or money. A vacation where I can rest, put my mind at ease, have spa days, drink, swim, run, read FOR FUN, etc. It's already the end of October and I feel like it's gone by quickly, but that it is now dragging.

When I was down in Phoenix this last time, Dani and I went to Dicks Sporting Goods where I got some awesome sports bras and spandex running things. I am starting to run after work because we have Buffalo Park right down the street and the loop is 2 miles. I can run 2 miles in about 24 minutes... Not the best time, but if I keep up at that pace, or even increase it a bit, I will be able to finish my half marathon with about 40 minutes to spare.

School is almost done. I have one more class and I have to write my thesis by November 19th. I already have one chapter done. Starting Monday night, I will be working on polishing that chapter and start writing my next one. I think it will be an excellent thesis indeed, I just need to actually do it.

My boss has given me a wonderful task that I am super excited about. While in Phoenix this last time, he told me that we were going to take a cooperators 10 papers and make them into a 4 page Fact-Sheet. All of his papers are highly technical and scientific, and a Fact-Sheet is something that anyone off the street can read. BUT! The MOST exciting part of it is that I get to help him write it and use what we do, how we do it, and why we do it as part of my thesis (My thesis is writing for the general public for USGS authors/scientists). Very exciting! And by helping him out, MY NAME GETS TO BE PUT ON THE LIST OF AUTHORS. YeSSSSSS. Very exciting. This is when I prove to them that I am worth and that they NEED ME after I graduate. But that talk will come up in January when I sit said boss down and be like, "listen, I love working here, I love working with the people, and I need a job. So are you going to keep me or should I start searching for something else?" We'll see how that goes.

As far as a life, I really don't have one. I haven't watched any of my dirty TV habits, I haven't done any reading, I haven't done anything. NOT EVEN KARAOKE! OR BAKING! Crazy, right?! I did get a pedicure this weekend... And saw a movie. But that's about it. I am ready for December to hurry up and get here so I can have three weeks to myself.

It's been cloudy and cold and winter is on the way. I am not ready for winter. I am not ready for snow. I am not ready for shorter days, longer work hours, and deadlines. I am ready for a break, a breather, a good book and a good blanket, I am ready for family, friends, alcohol, food, and relaxation. I keep telling myself that it will all be worth it in the end; the late nights, the long days at work, the working out in utter pain, the money being paid to the university for my school... it will all be worth it.

I hope.

And then I fainted...

This past week has been a cluster fuck of events. I went down to Phoenix for a workshop on Tuesday evening. By Wednesday evening I had fainted. Straight up fainted, hit my head and shoulder on the floor and blacked out. Only to wake up to about 7 men surrounding me asking me if I was OK. All I remember is taking a drink of water, it going down the wrong pipe, me thinking "shit, this is really hurting," and then waking up on the floor. I had fainted for about a minute, with a low heart beat and a low breath. Luckily, I came to before they called 911. I haven't been feeling well since then, and I just got back to Flagstaff last night. I promptly went to the doctor this morning and they diagnosed me with a concussion, and will be needing to go back Thursday. HOWEVER! I have to go back down to Phoenix tomorrow for another three days, returning late Wednesday night. I will be staying with friends this time, so I will have company and hopefully not more fainting spells. As soon as I get back into town on Wednesday, I house sit for the next 10 days. Luckily, school is easing up, and I only have one class left for the semester. Let's not forget I must write a full draft of my thesis by November 19th, but I don't plan on starting that till after halloween.

So, it's been an interesting, scary, sickening week, and while I am still not feeling well, my fans call me back to Phoenix. Let's just hope it doesn't happen again.

Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero

The title of this blog post is going to be my next tattoo.

I am feeling panicky lately. And when I say I am feeling panicky, I am meaning that I am so overwhelmed, tired, pressured, and just blah. School is the hardest this semester. This may have to do with the fact that I have one class ending next week, but I will be in Phoenix for work and will most likely not have any internet. Therefore, I have to write all my discussion posts, take a quiz, and write a 12 page paper all by Monday evening. AND! To add on top of the pressure, I am leaving this weekend for the balloon fiesta in Albuquerque:



I am extremely excited because that means I have to get 90% of my homework done, and then I can relax, eat, road trip, drink, sleep, and watch these amazing balloons with two of my favourite people. What more could a girl ask for?! Oh, right... more time.

I am going to Phoenix next week for work, which is adding to my anxiety about work. And I am writing about it instead of writing my homework. Good job, Kyrie. It should be fun, long, and more fun. I love all the men I work with, and I love shuffle board, which is played, while drinking beer in the warm weather of Phoenix.

Oh, by the way, did you hear how we had four tornado's? Yes, let's add that worry to the mix.

As soon as I get back from Phoenix, I house sit for 10 days. Which is ok with me. It means more money (I gotta buy a ticket to Nevada for Thanksgiving), and it means being on a different side of town, where no one will know where I am. And then that Friday, when I am going to be done with house sitting, I will be down in Phoenix. Again. This time, for the weekend and for fun and relaxation. As soon as I get back from Phoenix, however, means that I will have 19 days to have a full, completed draft of my thesis. Have I started said thesis? Of course not. Because I HAVE NO TIME.

This picture has nothing to do with anything, but it makes me smile:



I am getting a bonus at work, for the plus 50 hours of work I put in in one week while my boss was gone. And my boss has been giving me raving reviews, which is always much appreciated considering I have been on her not-so-good side since May. Whew. Glad that I just had to slowly kill myself and be so tired I have giant circles under my eyes, and not do well in school.

I have been so busy with homework, work, and nothing fun in the past two weeks that I have been forgetting to include some of the necessary requirements to my homework. BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH! SO FUCKING MUCH THAT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IS REQUIRED BECAUSE I HAVE TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ASSIGNMENT THAT IS DUE IN FIVE MINUTES.

Dear Grad School, when did you decide to get all hard and fuck my life up?

In all reality, this is what I do: wake up, go to the gym, come back home and get ready for work, work the whole day, come home, get out of work clothes and immediately put on pajamas, and then sit at my computer for another 4-7 hours doing all of this homework.

THEREFORE! I need this incredible weekend without technology and much homework like a fish needs water.