It's crazy how I've ended up in my current situation. I feel like I was thrown into grad school unbeknownst to me. As it began to sink in after my first few days of classes this semester, I had a slight panic attack regarding what the hell I was thinking. After writing 2 freak out emails to my poor advisor over the labor day weekend, I was able to talk with her in person on Tuesday. Thank god, because I really needed some setting straight - and she did a very good job. I had some complaints about the 220 class I was taking for my *background* in anthropology - mainly, ahem, 2 movies a week for the entire semester according to the syllabus. (I still hadn't even met the professor since the TA would just walk in and press play). Anyway, she said it would be ok to drop that class and do independent study (which is 400 level and grad credit - yes!). Much better. We also discussed my goals and what I should start thinking about in terms of getting an MPH. It may turn out that I end up doing the program at the U of M afterall. I've spoken with the woman who is involved in setting the program up, and she will be adding me to her list of prospective students. I don't know if it will be too much to start working on that while doing my MA in anthro - but, I'm going to take it as it comes and leave my options open. My objections to the newness of the program were countered by Kimber's point that an MPH is still an MPH. No one cares really (and I know this is true because of nursing) where you get it. So now I'm feeling much more comfortable going forth with this year's classes. I am still very nervous about my whole change of life plan, but I know that there ain't no going back for me now. And that's not a bad thing - I need to go after my goals... It's really hard at work sometimes because I feel like everyone else has a bit of a grudge against me now for being so young and working so few hours as a nurse. I feel like I am an outsider now, and that many probably think I am someone who thinks she is better than they are. I don't at all...but work environments can be really difficult sometimes. I try not to talk about school at all when I am at work. In a way, I also have to be careful about saying that I am a nurse to people in grad school. Anyway, life goes on and these next few years will be but a blip of time when all is said and done.

On another note, just got back from Wedding Crashers - freakin' hilarious.

So I am officially starting school today. I missed the first day of classes because James and I felt it was more important to be in IF and help care for his mom (and dad). Trish was more stablized when we left yesterday, but we all know that we're on a road we can't look back at this point. I am trying to do what I can and offer support - as a nurse, girlfriend, and quasi-family member. It is very difficult, and I know James is worried about how he will deal with it when it is all over. They are lucky because they have a huge network of support there in IF. And all the family members have been making frequent trips to be there as much as possible. Even Tom flew in from Alaska to be there for a while. Death is a fact of life, but it is such a difficult thing to accept. I am just so happy that Trish is at home on her farm and not at the hospital. And like I keep saying - you really never know - she may stick around for longer than we think. I am praying for it all to be as peaceful a process as it can be.

I am dealing with some parasthesisas in my toes...from backpacking the northern loop of Mt. Rainier Nat. Park. We did 34 miles in 4 days which is more than I have ever done in such a short time. I'm afraid I damaged some of the little nerves in my toes from all that weight and distance. I was researching into it, and it turns out to be a pretty common backpacking ailment - especially for those who do the long trips. Apparently, they should go away within 30 days. I was worried, because I have still been feeling them quite strongly even though it's been almost a week since we finished the hike. Especially when I get out of bed - it feels like my second toe on both feet goes to sleep and is numb and tingly. Quite strange.

I also attended Karina's wedding (my roommate from college). I was one of 6 bridesmaids, so it was quite an affair. James and I had a really good time revisiting Tacoma though, and I am very impressed with the improvements that have come to that city. The downtown area has been through a significant clean-up and remodelling process. It looks like you could actually spend an enjoyable day walking around there now. I am glad, because it really needed the overhaul. James and I both found ourselves yearning for the pacific northwest again in one way or another. I am glad that we had the time in Rainier park, because it was good to enjoy the outdoor side of that area. We are both pretty set on making Oregon our next destination after we finish school here in Montana. I will definitely be ready for the change when the 2 years is up.

I know I have let my journal lapse for quite some time - but I do still log on and read other people's entries! I have been rather busy lately with work and trying to get ready for Karina's wedding in Tacoma, and buying a car, and going to see Allison Krauss, and settling school stuff, and playing soccer, and visiting family in IF, and trying to squeeze in a day of being with James which usually ends up being a crazy day of running around and doing errands so that he can drive 2.5hrs back to Wisdom and work for another week. Yes, I can't wait for school to start so I can relax! ha.

Last weekend I went and floated down the Blackfoot river in an inner tube (a very popular Montana activity) with some other nurses. It was really fun, and there were so many people on the river it was like a highway! Took us about 4.5 hrs which we spent drinking beer that we trailed in a cooler placed inside its own inner tube (also very common to see). I now suffer the scabby upper arms from the rug burn you get while tring to steer your tube.

Tuesday I went to Idaho Falls and visited my family and James' family, and saw Charlotte and Charity for a bit. Then headed up to Bozeman on Thursday to see Allison Krauss and Union Station with James' cousin Ryan. It was a great concert, and I am very happy that I went. On the way there, we did come across an accident where a car was overturned and no police or ambulance was there yet. As a nurse, I feel a definite responsibility to stop and see if there is anything that I can do. As it was, there was a woman trapped inside the car, and it was too unsafe to move her. She was going to need to be extracted by the ambulance. Luckily, there was a guy with a radio giving all this info to 911. She was breathing and answering questions and she didn't look like she was bleeding badly from what I could see. I shouted not to move her neck or try to get her out of the car. Other than that, there wasn't much I could do there, but it did get my adrenaline pumping and I was running through my ACLS training in my head. I was cursing the fact that my CPR mask was in the car that James had, and not the one I was driving. Luckily, she didn't need CPR. Yesterday I had my ACLS recertification class, and that helped me remember all my basic CPR again as well as the advanced stuff. I do feel that if I was first at the scene, I would be able to perform CPR and even use an AED if one was available. I guess years of taking the courses over and over have made me feel pretty comfortable. But it is always just that first step of saying, ok - need to do something now! Once I get started, I think I get in a zone. I think it is harder in a hospital setting, because there are drugs and heart rhythms to take into consideration when trying to save someone, but usually there is a code team available to make sure everything is taken care of. It's still good to remind myself of what drugs are given for which rhythms and such.

This week I played the last two soccer games of the summer season for me - there is a tournament next week, but I will be out of town. I can't wait to play fall season though! Especially on the co-rec team, I don't know if I will be doing women's. I might play with U of M intramural instead.

That's about all that is going on now - I am thoroughly enjoying have the Honda CR-V that we purchased a few weeks ago. It's a really fun car, and very roomy (which is what made me choose it over the Forester). Although James and I have been die-hard Subaru fans, we're giving the Honda a go (as the Kiwis would say).

Movie recommendation of the week - "Heartlands" - a British film about a guy that goes on a soul-searching journey on his scooter. Great music as well.

I must admit, I'm getting really fed up and discouraged about our women's team. We lost our game by some large margin last night - even with 3 subs! Of course, our little B team was trying to take on a well-oiled A-league team because they combined the A and B league teams this year. It has been very upsetting to me, because, although I love playing, losing that bad all the time is very discouraging and I am worried that we will lose our players that are giving it a try this season. I think we will do much better if we can keep a core group of players together who can learn to play as a team. I told Netty that I would help her organize the team for the spring this year and try to get the group to the women's spring soccer clinic, which I think would really help our team improve. I want to get more involved in it - I would really like to get everyone's e-mail and send out group emails every week like my co-rec team does. I think it really helps, but, I'm not the team captain so I don't know how much I should bother. Well, I'll just have to see what happens by the end of the tournaments. At least my co-rec team is well organized.

So I found out today that James is on a fire. I had my suspicions when I didn't hear from him last night and he was scheduled to come home today for his days off. I am bummed of course that I won't get to hang out with him this weekend, but I am happy for him because this is the whole reason he does this job. I looked on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge website and found the incident report on the "Berry Meadows" fire. When I saw how close it was to Jackson and Wisdom, I knew that's where he was. It just started on Wednesday afternoon and has already grown to 100 acres. I guess 175 people are ordered for the fire. I am happy for James to get some action (and some overtime + hazard pay), but now I will be carless for another week at least! Ah well, me, Tucker, and Suzie will just have to make due. Thankfully we live in the most perfect location in Missoula and I can pretty much bike anywhere I need to go. Plus, I've considered figuring out the Mountain Line bus routes since I can ride free with my Grizz card...that way I could go shopping or something. I need to finish The Lovely Bones, that book is a great read!

I just saw the most touching movie - "Dear Frankie" which takes place in Glasgow, Scotland. I don't know what it is with Scottish films, but the past couple I have seen have been wonderful. Maybe it's because I love the accent to so much - but "A Fond Kiss" was a great movie as well. And the funny thing is, I have had no idea ahead of time what these movies were about or the fact that they take place in Scotland. Kinda random that I ended up with two Scotland-set films within such a short time of one another. But I highly recommend "Dear Frankie", it's a story about a young single mother's love for her deaf son, and the struggles that she goes through trying to protect him from the harsher parts of life. Lovely, really.

Last night we won our game 3-2, and I had an awesome (I must say) assist on the winning goal. And - get this - no injuries!! I better cross my fingers and hope that I come away without a scratch from the women's game tonight.

Ok I just spent the last hour taking my computer apart, removing the DVD drive, taking that apart, and getting all the broken pieces of the CD that I had put into it out!!!  ACK!  I thought I had broken it for good - but guess what, computer fix-it girl was successful!!!!  I'm very proud of myself right now.  The last step of the process did actually involve a little bit of just forcing the damn thing because I couldn't think what else to do, but it actually got the thing back on it's little track so it can slide in and out again.  I've actually never even taken the cover off of this computer, and I've definitely never removed a DVD drive before.  The ways you can amaze yourself by just trying...  Anyway, now that the computer is fixed, and I feel better, I can actually write this little entry.  Whew.  Note to self: crunching sounds inside DVD drives - bad, very bad.

I asked to be cancelled from work today because I would have had to give up my PDR pay, and float to 4North, the cardiac tele floor.  I did this twice yesterday, and I had no interest in going back there again.  I get tired of being used and abused as a PDR employee, but hey, I guess, what do I expect?  Anyway, I'll go in tomorrow.  The problem is, it's so hard to get motivated when I know they're just going to throw me around the hospital, a warm body here or there.  blech.  I am getting so tired of the crap that you have to put up with as a nurse.  I think that I put up with more by choosing to live in a place like Missoula, where they know you have no where else to go and you don't want to leave.  Gives the administrators a bit of an advantage.  Thank God for the university and my excuse to not be a full-time employee.  

James left this morning at 5:30am, and I have been up since.  We had a really fun weekend together, and it was sad when he had to leave.  Hopefully he will be back this week, but it is possible he could go to a fire soon since the weather has been so hot.  I guess a few guys in Wisdom did go on a fire while James had his days off.  Ah well, I'm sure James will get his chance.

( Summertime )

I just noticed that in my last two entries, my mood has been "sore" from soccer injuries...
Stop the abuse people!!

Although I don't have a whole lot to say about life right now - summer is a bit bland without James around I must admit. But I've managed to keep busy with soccer twice a week and work. Last night, work called to see if I would come in for 4 hours and I said, I can't, I have soccer. She was like "you have _soccer_?" really sarcastically - so I said, "yep, and it's a committment baby". I hate the mentality here in the US about how work is supposed to be the most important thing in your life, and having fun playing a sport or something is not a good enough excuse to say no to working overtime. Gimme a break, you have to have a life. I pretty much say no to overtime everytime, unless I've planned it myself. The nursing profession is so guilt-driven and that is one of my biggest pet peeves about it. It preys on people who do care about others and tend to be suckers for lines like, "it's just super-crazy here, we desparately need your help!" Blech. I just try not to answer the phone when they call.

So anyway, I hit my head really hard at last night's game. It sucked, because it wasn't long after I had gone in the first half, and I collided with this girl. I fell back and landed on my butt, and then it threw me back and I hit the back of my head really hard. I didn't play much of last night's game as a result, and the heat didn't help. My neck is sore today - and I have another game tonight, hopefully there won't be any injuries.

I think I will end up driving to Wisdom this Thursday to pick up James and bring him back here. I feel like I haven't seen him in so long.

Makes me happy...unless of course it's friggin' cooking me! The afternoons have been getting really uncomfortable around here. Makes me only want to be outside in the morning or evening, unless I'm really close to a body of water. I am considering driving out to the river to hang out with the dog for a while in my swimsuit. I'm also debating actually cleaning up my yard a bit and planting some things in the front garden - a little late, but, better late than never?

Just got back from a lovely morning tea with my professor and some other grad students. That was just what I needed to start my day right. Had my hair cut and and colored yesterday - my hair is now a lovely shade of cranberry red mixed in with a more natural darker brown. I really like it - better than the lighter blondish reddish color I had. I love changing my hair color now, it has become an addiction - and I used to be the girl who said she would never dye her hair! Ah well.

James called this morning, and said he doesn't start work till noon today because they are going to be burning stuff. Well, I know he likes to do that - so it should be fun for him. We had a really nice 4th of july together. I picked him up in Wisdom, then we camped one night at Stoddard Creek campground north of IF about 70 miles. It was fun, we did the whole car camping thing. The next day we drove into IF and spent the day with the family, had a nice dinner at James' family friends and spent a lot of time chatting with our parents. Finally, finished the evening with my parents and Thomas at the fireworks display on the river. Typical IF scene, but it wasn't bad - it wasn't too long either. On Tuesday, we doddled around and ended up test driving some cars in IF. We are considering probably either a Honda CR-V or a Subaru Forester. I think James is pretty much set on a Forester. And I can't deny the greatness of the Subaru. Although the CR-V is very spacious and nice as well. Left IF around 4 or 5 that day, and ended up staying the night in Jackson, MT (about 10 miles south of Wisdom). There is a place called the Jackson Lodge, and we stayed in a cheap little cabin room that they referred to as "the closet". I didn't mind, I just didn't feel like driving back to Missoula that night. So James and I took advantage of the relaxing hot springs heated pool at the lodge. What a great place, really - we have decided to book a weekend there this winter as there is a lot of skiing nearby. Unfortunately our cheap room was adjoined with another room and the walls are paper thin. We had the unlucky fate of being next to the most obnoxiously loud snorer I've ever heard in my life! And I work in a hospital! I had to pound repeatedly on the walls to wake him up because he made it impossible to sleep. It made me feel like he was in the room with us. That was a rough night. I think we'll go for the mid-priced rooms next time for sure - although I have to say that was pretty bad luck, otherwise, the room was fine for the price.

I got an elbow to the forehead last night at soccer, and it is still throbbing and aching today. I fear I will have a nice bruise, and a slight egg on my head. :(

Got back from Sun Valley on Friday afternoon and proceeded to endure two 12 hr night shifts fri and sat night. It was rough after the week of vacationing. Sun Valley is one of the most gorgeous places in the world. I feel so lucky when I get to go stay in the St. Clair's house there, because it is just an amazing place. My parents and Thomas were there all week, and so I drove the 7 hrs of scenic highway to hang out with them. It was lovely to say the least - went on a hike, many walks, and several bike rides including a major mountain bike ride in Adams Gulch with my pa and Tucker. We were scolded for not wearing bike helmets up on the hill by one of the "serious" local bikers in full regalia. I love how they wear their fancy spandex suits at all times. But I agree, we should have had helmets - because the descent was steep and treacherous. However, if you're intelligent and able to control your bike and even get off and walk at times when the terrain is too steep, you can survive without a helmet. It seems more and more these days that strangers have no problem approaching others and lecturing them on "safety". I have to admit, I have a bit of a hard time dealing with these people. It's one thing if you're putting others in danger, but putting yourself in danger is your own choice - there are so many adventure sports people out there that are put in magazines for being crazy, but if you go on a bike ride without a helmet - watch out! Anyway, another great thing about Sun Valley is the thrift store. Mom discovered the joys and was so enthralled I practically had to drag her out of there. You can find some great hand me downs in those ritzyvilles. I'm wearing my yellow sun dress that I snatched for $6 right now. What a steal! The drive home was ok, but the car decided not to start after I stopped for lunch in Salmon. Maybe it was disappointed in me for consuming Burger King food - I don't know, but a jump from a stranger starter 'er right up again. Luckily I had the jumper cables.

James picked up his guitar that I had repaired for him by Mike Bennett, the guy who used to teach me mandolin lessons. It has been cracked for over a year, so he is rediscovering the joys of his "Road King". It's a beautiful little guitar and really does have a rich sound to it. I'm glad that he is back to playing it again. I guess Mike even fixed the electrical pick-up in the guitar, so now James can plug it in if he wants to. I've actually never heard it plugged in, but it's a nice bonus feature.

Next on my agenda - two soccer games this week, and a decision must be made about work next weekend... blech. Oh, and my professor found an excellent grant through NIH that applies more directly to what we would like to study - that is, the effects of violence on children's health in Nepal. The grant deals directly with violence and children, so it looks promising. I'm excited! I think the experience of writing the grant with Kimber would be very valuable. She contacted the source to see if they are supportive of international projects, so we'll see. Yay.

OOh, I hate when I have the feeling that there is a disease lurking in my body, just waiting until my immune system is depressed to rear its ugly head.  I have this sensation that I could possibly get sick, but I'm going to think positively and take it easy, because I have a soccer game tonight and I want to kick some butt!  Tucker is outside barking at somebody in the park - they must have a dog with them.  Usually he is totally fine, and can be outside for many hours without making a peep, but he has his occassional bursts of vocalization.  Especially when the mail man comes...wow.  I think he senses him coming and begins his announcement with a nice, evenly paced "woof woof woof..."  but as the mail man gets closer to the house, this pacing becomes much more intense, and when the mail man crosses in front of Tucker in the driveway to get to the neighbor's house - holy geezus!  "Wowowowowowwowowowo! Wowowowowowow!"  It's like his 5 minutes a day of mandatory obnoxiousness. 

Anyhoo, trying to stay semi-productive this summer, but it's amazing how trapped I feel without having a car.  Yeah...working on that one.  At the same time, it prevents me from alleviating my boredom by going shopping, so I have a much higher potential of saving money.  I have been trying to read more, which is great - I feel quite accomplished finishing books.  Currently reading the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, because I have always wanted to read it, and it is on the June list for a_book_a_month.  I love it, a great little LJ book club!  How fun.  I miss my old book club - just not all of the people and circumstances that surrounded the downfall of that whole scene.  Someday I'll have to start my own, and I will have to be careful not to allow too many nurses to join.  I work with plenty of nurses, I don't need to surround myself at all times with them.  Not that they aren't good people, but c'mon, how much can we sit around and talk about work people?! 

James and I went and saw "Lords of Dogtown" when he was home this weekend.  We liked it - and I would say it was about what I expected, not too serious, but had some interesting characters, and took a look a the beginnings of one of the most popular counter-cultures in America today.  There were actually some sad parts, but overall I would give it a thumbs up.  Heath Ledger did a great job playing an obnoxious American while concealing his Aussie accent.  Now on the other hand, last night I watched "Mean Girls" - ok, I've been wanting to see it for a long time, don't ask me why....

Ah, the freedom of my own house to myself. I love it. If only there weren't that constant nagging thought in the back of my head "I wonder when the roommate will show up". Strange how he's almost not even a person to me - just "the roommate". Perhaps the fault of our refusal to get to know each other. Speaking of becoming people, Tijah said the funniest thing about her little boy at work this morning. She said the biggest change for her as he was growing up was when he got his adult teeth - especially the two Chiclet sized ones in the front. "It's like, out of all of the changes, that was the hardest. Because it's not like they're this sweet innocent thing anymore, they're like, real people!" I thought that was pretty funny. I wonder if my mom didn't think of me as a real person until I got my two front teeth.

Missed out on some yummy looking Indian food the other night. My professor gathered a bunch of people at her house because she had two Nepali visitors, and she invited me and James. It was really great, met one guy who looks about my age who lives in Kathmandu but is studying in the US because he got a scholarship. He was one of the other grad student's research assistant when she went to Nepal. I felt a little out of place because almost everyone there had spent some time in Nepal except me, I just want to go there next summer. Ah well, I was still pretty excited that Kimber had invited me. Unfortunately, had to leave before dinner was served since I had to work. I love Indian food too!

James is back in Wisdom, left this morning before I got home from work. I'm bummed, every time he leaves, it just reminds me that I have to spend time alone with the roommate. It's so much easier to ignore him when James is here. I am curious whether James talked to the people in Stevi or not about a possible position there. I know that he's already made a semi-committment to Wisdom, but it would be so much better if he worked in Stevi again. Then he could come home every night, and that makes a big difference.

So Jenny and I are hatching a plan to go camping or backpacking next week - possibly in Glacier. I hope it works out, it would be a blast. Ooh, my kitty is in the window, better let the dear thing in.

Oh my god, am I ever broke! It's been a long time since I've been this broke. It is not a good feeling my friends. I blame myself, I think it is hard to break the spending habits of the girl who was guaranteed her 72 hr/pay period check of before. The current nurse-turned-grad-student is lucky if she can get that many hours over the summer, as the hospital seems, well, over-staffed right now! So, I am on a diet for the next week. A no-spending nothin', and I mean nothin' until mr. paycheck is deposited safely in el banco. Thankfully, this next one should be dece...we'll see, I feel like I'm always saying that. I would love to work extra hours right now, but I haven't gotten a single call since I got back from Idaho. And I can't go full time, because I will just have to drop down to PDR again once school starts. Grrr - I hate being poor.

Didn't we just do this when I was in New Zealand? James and I seem to have a history of being together all the time, and then having periods of time where we rarely see each other. But you know what? It actually works really well for us. We get these breaks where we learn to appreciate how nice it is when we are together. I think our life will probably always be like this, even if and when we do get married. I find that it gives me time to be on my own, and I need that sometimes. I woke up at 5am this morning to send James off and tell him to drive safe and drink lots of coffee. I am excited to hear how he likes his new job. He is going to be staying up in Wisdom in the "bunk houses" provided by the forest service, and then he will come home for his weekend. Hopefully the bunk houses won't be too terrible, but knowing James, it won't bother him even if they are.

I am finding it hard to get motivated on these wet, rainy days. Even Tucker has gone back to bed after sleeping in, and having an extremely lazy morning. I could barely get him out the door to relieve himself, as he was not excited about going out in the rain. Ah, but he does keep me company - him and Suzie. We have our own little family, so I don't think I can ever get too lonely.

So James and I just had a little chat, in the car, in the rain.  He is leaving early tomorrow morn - and I am sad, because it's going to be the beginning of a long summer with not seeing him a whole lot.  It's good, because he will be making good money as a firefighter, but he will be gone often - and will not be at home during the week.  Wisdom is 120 miles away, so it's going to be a while in between times that I will see him.  Mostly I've been a bit uncomfortable about being here with just me and the roommate...  Makes me feel weird.  Hopefully that will resolve itself soon.  Have been reading some hilarious little books that I'm gonna send to my lil sis.  I would talk about them more, but in case she somehow ends up reading this post, I don't want to spoil it. 

Trish is going to go home soon!  We are hearing positive medical updates, which give us hope.  It is hard to be away and not in Idaho right now. 

Taking Tucker to the vet tomorrow to get his chipped tooth :( checked out.  Hopefully it's not bad enough that the root is exposed.  It just sucks that it happened.  If only the darn dog didn't think he could catch rocks in his mouth that are meant to hit the water! 

Today was rainy-er than Tacoma in the winter.  Couldn't believe the downpour this evening as James and I were walking out of Johnny Carino's.  It's nice and green everywhere.  I don't mind it because summer here is so darn hot. 

 

( A few pics from Moscow Graduation )

 

Google talk a
Google Hack by
Douwe Osinga

Give this a try, it's pretty darn funny sometimes.

Just returned from yet another (almost) week in Idaho Falls. James and I have been making many many trips there lately, and I forsee we will be travelling there often over the summer due to certain unfortunate twists of fate. I called work and told them I wouldn't be in yesterday (friday) night due to family emergency, but came back today to work tonight and ironically, got called off for the first 4 hrs. So now I sit and wonder if I will be going in at 11 - hate not knowing sometimes, definitely one of the disadvantages of working PDR. I have a feeling that I won't be going in tonight as the charge nurse told me that MICU and ICU are combined tonight - meaning there aren't very many patients admitted to either right now. Pbbbt. This is exactly what I didn't want - to leave the family needs in IF for work and then be called off.

Bonded with MaryBeth a bit this trip - that was really great, I hardly ever get to see her or chat with her as she is often confined to Boise. It was good to break that weird 'you date my brother' thing _finally_ after several years. Thumbs up to good ole DB's for helping to break the ice. Ryan and Jenny came with us too, and it was actually a pretty fun night despite the somber reasons for us being in town. We think things are looking a little better - but so hard to know. Hospitals are so dreary, and don't always make you feel hopeful, especially when your loved ones are there. We just hope Trish will get strong enough to be able to go home soon. It is difficult for me to know what to do, I just try to keep the positive thoughts flowing...

Ok so the last several days of sloth have been nice for me, but I need to get my butt in gear I guess. Well, I intend to work 2 twelve hr shifts this weekend, so that is me getting started on work again for the summer. I am hoping to do _at least_ 36 hrs a week, and now it's looking like the temptation to do otherwise will be minimized as my partner in crime - that is, James - is most likely going to be working in WISDOM Montana this summer. I hope he's making a "wise" choice...hardy har har. He was hoping for something a little more local this summer - actually, he was planning on having his job in Stevensville back, but the gov cut a bunch of forest service funding and he was not re-hired there. It was a big let down, but he was attempting to get some more local jobs and was even going to work at the local bakery down the street when he got a call from the wisdom guys, and was offered a fire fighting position there. Now, working for $6 an hr in town or getting paid his fire wages is basically a no-brainer. He'll make much more going to Wisdom, but it will suck for us - as he will probably have to live there during the week because it's a long drive. I wish something closer had worked out, but I know it's just for the summer and we'll be ok. The thing that bothers me most is that I will be actually spending more time in our house with our roommate than with my boyfriend. But James is now committed to "getting out" of the fire business eventually. I can't blame him for working fire over the summer - it's great money, and he really enjoys the work, it's just the distance and time spent away from each other that is a hassle. Ah well, such is life, and we've dealt with enough separation in our relationship that we're pretty comfortable with it. Besides, I'm not giving up on my plans to write a grant this summer for research in Nepal next summer....

well, good and bad, positive and negative all rolled into one. Directly after finishing my last final, I rode with my parents up to Moscow, ID. Sarah graduated from U of I with a bachelors in psychology. It all happened so fast - spent two nights with Jenny S. in her cute little apt. up there, that was fun. Then Jenn and I drove back to IF together - she was happy for the driving company, I was happy to go straight to IF b/c James was already there. There are some rather serious issues going on right now, his mother is really not well, but I will not disclose any more info just for confidentiality reasons. We are all very worried though, and it was hard to leave and come back to Missoula and try to get on with things when we know they are having such a hard time there. I just pray that there is hope and that things will look up. I wish I could do more.