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.