Cool breeze and itchy spots!

I am in such a great mood! Which is funny, considering my whole body broke out in this terrible allergic rash and I itch like mad! The sunset tonite was amazing, swaths of red mixed with black clouds, a few drops of rain, and nice cool FALL weather! I love the fall, it made me feel so good. Makes me miss all my warm sweaters and fleeces back at home. So yeah, apparently I am sick. Maybe it was the painful shot they gave me, maybe its the steroids, but something tonite just made me feel amazing and have incredible clarity about my future for the first time since graduation!

I am thinking now I should go to Montana. It's too hot here, but I really like being in the mountains! I've always said I would move to Montana and who knows, maybe it will actually happen. All I know is that I applied to a few jobs tonite and feel so good!!

Why my weekend was good...

My weekend was good because Neil finally brought that Incubus CD and I got to burn it!  Actually this weekend was pretty dull but today made up for it all. I've been tired and sick (West Nile anyone? Apparently Larimer County where I'm at has the highest rate of WN in the country. FUN!) and a little stressed, maybe it has something to do with the fact that I worked a 55 hr week. At least the paycheck will be fat next week. Found a bunch of jobs out here to apply for, so once again I'm torn between going back to MI or staying out here. But I hate to repeat myself so I'll just leave that topic alone. ;)

So I didn't really do much, but today I got that incubus CD, then went out to boulder to replace my bloody CD drive ($10 for a new one, why not), and of course had to stop at Second Spin to pick up Nellyville. So I have two new CDs to add to my addictio- I mean collection. Tee hee. Now I'm watching Sopranos, making pizza, and job hunting. Neil stopped by, now Linsday is coming over. Fun!

Green Thumb

Today was a good day. ;)  To recap my last few weeks... I worked in greenhouse for the past two weeks instead of exotics, and it was strangely theraputic and meditative. Instead of killing things, I got to make things GROW and THRIVE! I haven't been feeling great lately though so when volunteers came in asking what to do (and I had no idea, since I don't usually work there) it got very tiring. I repotted a whole army of lodgepole pine, went berry picking with Neil, and got to spend a few days planting trees and plants, raking, and doing fun/hard landscape stuff with reveg. Ahhh.

My crew leader's last day was last week, and in their infinite wisdom, they left only ONE HOUR to go over everything we had to do for the next 6 weeks. Not enough time! There is so much random stuff that it was really quite ridiculous. I'm pretty irked though that when I finally get to work reveg, we aren't going to plant - which is what I said I wanted to do, and was told it would happen. I could go on for hours about how mad I am about work right now. Boss didn't give me my time sheet with my overtime hours on it, so I didn't show up for overtime because I didn't know! So I had to make it up this weekend, PLUS the one day I already signed up for... I swore I was working one 5 hr day and one 1- hr day but she told me 10 hrs both days. I asked her to check, she said she did check and yes, two 10 hr days... I saw the sheet, and guess what? One 5 hr and one 10 hr. I pointed it out to her and she got mad cuz i proved her WRONG. I can't believe she lied to me about that!! Not to mention the camping trip we are supposed to take without getting paid per-diem, and with very little notice. Sorry hun, I'm not going if I don't get paid!!

Now back to exotics, and I'm not excited. A lot of people have left for school, so our crew is getting smaller and smaller. Cisco left for Pueblo this week, so we partied hard at the Brewery. I was supposed to watch football with him last week and accidentally stood him up to party with Neil. Woops. ;)

I'm coming home... again

So when I went back to MI a few weeks ago, I found out my cousin is getting married in September. I wish I would have known so I didn't have to fly back twice within 6 weeks! But it's all good. Then I just get to drive back home 2 weeks later. I just can't stay away! Haha.

Arriving Wed, Sept 10th around 11:20pm, and leaving Mon, Sept 15th around 6:00pm. All for the plush price of $193! I think I lucked out, since last time I paid nearly $300.

The Interview

Today was THE INTERVIEW. Gasp! It was good, and it was... not bad, but kindof pointless. I thought that this company hired people to contract out for projects. That's sortof correct... Except it's more like a headhunter agency. I interviewed not for a specific project, but instead to be put into their database of resumes for when their clients need people. It's good in that they only do environmental professional stuff - no clerical or general jobs - but well it's probably going to be mostly short-term offers, nothing stable enough to justify getting an apartment out here. I couldn't get an apt anyways, since I probably won't be working!

Oh, that's the other big news. No extension of our jobs here at Rocky Mt. after the regular season. So after Oct. 2nd, looks like I'll hit the road on my Western Road Trip, then head back to the 248 and bum off unemployment. ;)

No, I'm not going to the Dirty Dozen Brass Band concert tonite - so sick of driving! 2 hrs to get to the interview today. Instead, I rented Daredevil to check out Jessica Garner's costume - that's what I am going to wear for Halloween in New Orleans! That's the plan at least.

Roomie moved out today, she was gone before I got back from Denver. Very bizarre, coming home to just a note. But she cleaned the apartment, and I have privacy for the first time in months! It's NAKED TIME! hee hee

BTW, HAHAHA Detroit! No power! Sucks to be you!! ;) Just kidding. Hope ya'll don't melt in the heat!

World Class Runner

My friend Bill out here is a world-class runner, and used to run on the Military team until his blissful discharge a few months ago. He did try to be on the U.S. world team, but did not place 1st in two races in Vail, so he was not given an automatic spot. This past weekend, though, he went out to Alaska to run the final qualifier race... and won! He not only won, he has the record time! So he's now on the U.S. world running team, and will compete in a few weeks against other countries in a race that just so happens to be at the course in Alaska! I know a (sortof) celebrity!

We celebrated heavily last nite. Cheers to that!

This coming weekend, apparently I might go to a "Dirty Dozen Brass Band" concert if I feel like it, then hang out all weekend with Neil in Ft. Collins. !! He has a brewery tour and bouldering and bars already planned out for Saturday. Hmmm??

Michigan Weekend Part II

So then Friday night, Steve and I went to our favorite haunt in Royal Oak, then Saturday I had tickets to the Lions pre-season game against the Pittsburg Steelers! YEAHH! The seats rocked, right at mid-field, watched hottie Joey Harrington whoop the Steelers in their first win of the season! Ok, so it's probably one of very few victories we will see this year, but it was still great to get rowdy and watch sports!

Sat. night's going-away party for Brynn and Casey was great! I was so happy and lucky to get to see everyone before they leave, or in case I never come back! Next time, I need to scrounge up some good pirate clothes! ARRRR!

So looks like I will be back in town the weekend of Sept. 13th, i'll probably take some time off work and mybe stay for a week? I do miss Detroit!! We'll see if I get this Denver job on Friday!!

Michigan Weekend Part 1

This past weekend in Michigan ROCKED! I'm all confused again whether or not I want to stay out here or go back to Michigan! To recap:

Sitting on the plane, with an empty seat in the middle, myself in the aisle. This dude in a Michigan State hat sits down next to me, so of course we have to tease eachother about our rivalry... Ends up he lives in Brighton and worked for Comcast. Comcast? Do you know Kirk? I asked him. YEAHHH! No way! he replies. So crazy coincidence. Then I mention I worked for the city, and he says "Hey, you don't know Gary, do you?" Yeahhh! I've gone out drinkin' with Gary! He's this cool 50-something year old I used to work with. So this guy is actually Gary's son's roommate in Colorado! Crazy crazy! He was cool, gave him my number, maybe we'll hang out some time??

Mom, dad and Matt were waiting for me at the airport, thought maybe Steve and I would go to BW3s late that night but noooo he bailed cuz "I have to work" whine whine. Haha just kidding. So then Fri, I made my rounds to the city to visit the good ol' boys, ends up that like 3 people did or are in the process of moving. It was good to see everyone, though of course, our plans to hit up the bar fell through. They PROMISE they'll take me out when I go back in September, but we'll see. ;)

My weekend

What does Lisa do on a typical weekend? Well, typical doesn't exist out here, but Thursday nights we usually go over to Scott's cabin and have a party, watch a movie and make fun of eachother (We work Mon-Thurs so that is like our friday.) Scott's old roommate came back though, so we are going to have to find a new haunt! This thurs, someone threw a potluck between our apartment buildings, so I went and gorged myself with lasagna, desserts, garlic bread... mmm mmm! afterwards, i was supposed to go to the Wheel Bar for this fire guy Phil's birthday, but I was tired and wanted to hang around the bonfire that was next to my apartment. Fortunately, Phil showed up so I didn't feel so bad. ;) Scott did have a few people over, but it was really boring - they were all hypnotized by "Grateful Dawg", a documentary about Jerry Garcia and bluegrass music. Not my thing, though, so I bounced between Scott's and the bonfire.

Friday, I was supposed to go climbing at Carter Lake with Scott, Brent, and Neil, but they are really good, and I am just a beginner - I don't know how much they really wanted me to go and slow them down, so I used my new mountain bike for the 2nd time. Yeah baby! Mountain biking out here is, of course, much different than in Michigan. First of all, we have mountains. ;)  In Estes, there really isn't much in the way of single track, which Michigan does have plenty of. It's mostly jeep roads with lots of sand and very rocky and steep. And with my first front suspension bike, it takes some getting used to. I might go out to Boulder today and try some of those trails, which I hear are fun. I also hung out with Linsday in the evening, watched TV, and looked for more jobs on the internet. It was my chill day.

Saturday, I went running. Gasp pant gasp. I should do that today, but it's already bloody hot and it's only 9:30! Then that night I went to a Chili Cook-off at Maria's house! I wanted to make chili but I am dirt broke so I settled with pre-cut chocolate chip cookies. There were 7 chilis to tastes test and vote on and lots of cornbread! So of course I ate too much. Hung out with Cisco and made fun of Ian's crappy country music he kept putting on. Good times!

Today, no plans, just whatever I feel like doing. ;)

What I do...

So what exactly do I do at my job?

"Pull weeds." That's the easiest way to put it. Not very glamorous, eh? Well it's actually not so bad... anymore. You see, the first 2 months or so, that's pretty much what we did. We'd go to fairly large sites around the park, and some smaller site in the backcountry, and just look for exotic plants. Find them, dig them, move on. Frankly, it got boring and I got restless. It was a treat when we got to install experimental plots, weedwhip (yes, a treat!), spread sugar (an experiment) and sawdust. I did have to use herbicide, dressed in one of those full body white protective thingies, with a 40 lb backpack sprayer, on a 90 degree day in the mountains. SUCKED.

Then about a month ago, the job paid off! Sortof. Now all the plants are flowering, so we have to pick all the flowers off and bag them, then wade thru a sea of prickly thistles and dig plants up that are taller than I am. But we do get to go to many more smaller sites that you knock out quickly, and we started TRAIL SURVEYS! and road surveys. Trail surveys are the best! I get paid to hike awesome trails and look for plants where there should be no plants! I did 13 miles two weeks ago, 7 miles last week, and probably 10 miles this week to Andrew's Glacier - which I had wanted to hike anyways. So right now, I am glad I am on my crew as opposed to greenhouse or revegetation. Of course, it took all summer to pay off...

Job Interview!

I had been playing phone tag last Friday with a woman from ETI Professionals, an environmental consulting company in Lakewood (outside of Denver), and finally I got ahold of her today. Good news! Interview on the 15th for a consulting position, seems very promising! Don't know if I really want to live in Denver or not, though - I was getting excited about the prospect of going on unemployment in October and travelling around the US! I had it all planned out - my friend out here was going to store my stuff for me while I visit people and places in California, Washington, then over to Montana, back down thru Wyoming and return to get my crap from Colorado! Then probably chill for a while back in Michigan, maybe plow snow for my friend Ian's dad... If I get this job offer, though, then I'd probably start mid-September and kiss unemployment good bye!

Hmmm... stability, or travel? CO, or MI? we'll see what they offer up!!

My New Journal

Hey! This is my new journal. Since I obviously suck at writing email consistently, I figured this was a good way to keep ya'll up to speed on what's going on out here. Let me know if you like this idea or not - I know it's not as personal as an email, but it makes my life easier. ;)