flowers and war

No, I don't mean war as in Dubya's rotten Iraq war. I mean war as in "Troy". But they do share one thing in common - All hype, no substance.

Even half-naked Brad Pitt couldn't save Troy. (Though his character does do a good job at burning it to the ground...) I was certainly excited when I was first bombarded with media propoganda - "buffed and bronzed" Brad Pitt, wearing that sexy gladiator outfit; put him alongside the latest hottie Orlando Bloom and a couple of cat-eyed beautiful women; throw in some swords, armor, an intense fight scene between our two heros, plus some flaming balls of hay for mass destruction - and hey, I liked what I saw. Visually, the movie did deliver as the trailers promised. The fight scenes were exciting and Brad Pitt couldn't keep his clothes on. Beyond that, though, it was overdone and overdramatic to the point of being downright corny. Now, I know that it was based off of classic literature, but I could hardly conceal my giggles at some of Brad Pitt's inspirationally corny speeches.

Gladiator definitely dominates in this genre still!

While watching the previews, they showed a trailer for the movie "King Arther" - and, much like my initial reaction for "Troy", I was immediately drawn to the "once upon a time" setting and beautiful people (the hot chickee from Pirates of the Caribbean) and thrilling fight scenes. Then I snapped out of it and realized that it would probably end up just like Troy, just a few hundred (thousand? I never was into history hee hee!) years newer. It will probably disappoint, but I will probably pay that $7 to see it in the theater anyway. That's just how it is. ;)

On the landscape front...

Last year, when I was gone, my family planted flowers in the early spring and that was IT. All nurturing and care ceased after that. Tiny invisible seeds of evil lurked in the fertile soil, waiting for just the right opportunity to explode into weedy action, popping up in every inch of soil, mulch, or even from within bushes. For some reason, nobody touched them and they were prolific in their domination of our landscape. Canada thistle, clover, and something with little yellow flowers... Somewhere buried underneath were beautiful, colorful flowers, drowned out by the sea of invasive forbs.

Considering I spent all last summer controlling these beasts, I was appauled to see that they had all gone to seed.

Rule #1 in controlling weeds: NEVER let them go to see. NEVER!! There's a reason why they are called weeds - they have thousands of seeds that can plant themselves anywhere!!

And so the problem got worse. Which is where I come in.

(cue the old West cowboy music they play for a duel)

I gave in and nuked our yard with herbicides. This is a big step for organic, granola-crunching me, but there really was no way to kill the little weed babies literally carpeting the landscape. I pulled some and sprayed some; repeat. Now begins the fun part: planting!

On my shopping list:

Perennials:  Yarrow (yellow and purple); Coreopsis (yellow); Artemesia (silver foliage); Purple sage (Salvia)

Annuals:  Alyssum (white); purple and yellow Petunias; various Dahlia; something little and bright blue; and red cockscomb. Much more to come!

I'll take pics when I finish. Gotta make it look fantastic for Tara's shower!

Travel and art

Remember "The Secret of NIHM", the cartoon-movie about those intelligent rats and the mother of a sick mouse who is doomed to be crushed when the field gets plowed? Gosh, I love this movie still. It's quite dark and creepy for a kid's movie and I still remember being freaked out by some of the scenes.

The pic above is from the trip I took with Kevin and Beth to Shenandoah. And here are the latest pictures from my trip to Chincoteague, Virginia. I just can't seem to stay home, can I?  Wanderlust and ADHD seem to go hand in hand. What, Lisa has ADHD? Doesn't come as much of a shocker, does it. ;)

Latest news out of me? I have an interview next week with an environmental stewardship crew out of Oakland County (where I live). I think it's the first year the crew has been assembled, because I've never heard of them; it is in part sponsored by the Oakland Land Conservancy. Doubt it will pay much more than minimum wage; it's always a toss-up between experience and making money. They don't seem to go hand in hand. I received a call when I was in Virginia regarding an open fire position with the Fish and Wildlife Service in the upper peninsula; however, he pointed out that he was filling 1 spot and had 159 people on his list. Yikes. I can only hope that he is buddies with my old boss. It would be wicked to live in Marquette or even Munising, but I don't think it's going to happen.

Gonna do it - get my temp Commercial Driver's License (CDL). I need it to apply for a Public Works job in Oak Park. Ok, it's not in my field but I love labor. Maybe that has to do with the ADHD also. ;)

I also decided to start up an online art portfolio of my stuff. Not sure why, but I might set it up to sell prints if people like my stuff. Mostly photography right now but I'll hopefully scan in some of my sketches and paintings soon.

Enough rambling. Seinfeld is on and pizza is here. "Heellllllllooooooooooo!"

caffeine-induced updates!

Hey I'm on a roll so I thought I'd make up for lost time...

I haven't written about my Virginia trip yet, but doing a little field work did wonders to redefine what I am doing with myself. Trapsing along the ocean in the misty night, the beach illuminated by my headlamp, I remembered exactly why I went into Natural Resources in the first place! Scanning the beach for horseshoe crabs while the mosquitos feasted upon me was a certain kind of fun that only a scientist could appreciate, I'm sure; but I've never been the type to sit still or stay indoors so I had the time of my life!

Now, instead of entertaining thoughts of graphic design, construction, landscaping, modeling, art, or marrying a rich old man, I am once again on track (or as much as I will ever be in my random-whim habit) to pursue a career in my field. Well, at least my renewed determination is there; it won't be any easier, but at least I won't waste my energy trying to do everything else in the world for right now.

Emphasis on right now. It's just in my blood to have this insatiable curiosity for everything! I live to live! There is so much I want to do!

...And I crash from my caffeine high. ;)

I took a spin on my mountain bike at Lakeshore Park today. Any locals need to check it out - very technical and lots of fun. I suck, so I think it's hard but well worth the blood, sweat and tears!

Earlier this evening I was watching VH1's hottest hotties... I have a fetish for hotties, LOL! Especially in the spring, when all those tanned, muscular landscape and construction guys come out of hiberation... I'm worse than a guy when it comes to checking them out. We'll just say I have my dark sunglasses for more than UV protection. ;) Tricks of the trade, you see. Nothing beats Colin Ferrell, Brad Pitt, and a young George Cloony though! [drooling on self...]

Which brings me to a sad-but-true conversation I had today with Jenna... I am damned in this culture of metro-sexual men. Sensitive, well-dressed, well-groomed, and well-behaved?! GASP! What has American culture done to all the REAL men?! Heather loves her metros and most of my exs are to some degree... But notice they are all EXs. This means the relationships didn't WORK, LOL (sorry Steve)! Metros are not for me. I like my men to be stubborn, macho, and sarcastic; rugged, tough, and outdoorsy; no styling products in his hair; carharts and t-shirts! Football and hockey! Pretty much the exact opposite of the types of guys I grew up with. Sure, those mountain men exist IN THE MOUNTAINS! Not in metro Detroit, though. If you see one, send him in my direction (except Marc - jackass!); they're endangered around here.

And so revealed is the truth as to why I want to move back to Colorado - men. ;)

Lightning

?? Which Natural Wonder Or Disaster Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla

revolutionizing my internet existence!

Guess what I'm doing right now?

Sit down for this...

Typing this journal from a LAPTOP while watching crappy tv!

What's that, you ask? You bought a new computer??

Damn straight! (pausing to watch a funny-yuck anal probe scene in some weird movie called "The Sex Monster")... Oh wait, where was I? That's right - I was gloating about my newfound desktop-liberation!

Hmm... I don't seem to be very successful with writing and watching tv, even if the movie is absolutely ridiculous.  Tee hee, I feel so... modern!

It was an opportunity I couldn't refuse, $400 off. It's not top of the line, but it's much better than my fossil desktop from 1999. This is actually a huge step for me - considering I am unemployed and just spent muchos buckos. But I see it as an investment; I can't stand sitting in my room on my computer all day because I get cooped up and get a little nuts, so there's no way I could stand to write very long. This way, I can take my computer with me and actually get serious about pretending (??LOL) to be a writer!

Lisa is free!! Wheeeeeee!

I also had way too much coffee tonite. Wheeeee again!

The BIG STORM!

So now I am two stories behind -  my first Virginia trip, and now my other Virginia adventure. I definitely need a laptop. My computer is in my room, in the basement of my parent's house, and after sitting down here too long I go a little nuts... I'd be much more inclined to write if I wasn't cooped up down here!

Anyway, it figures that while I was away enjoying the beach, crabs, and alcohol, Detroit got a wicked storm. I love wicked storms, and I missed it! I was watching TV in Chincoteague and they showed Detroit underwater, so I called up Steve to get the lowdown. He works for the city and said that the emergency sirens went off, hailing everybody into the emergency shelter area. I later talked to my buddies at the garage and they said they all went outside to watch, of course. Which is exactly what I would have done, hee hee.

He said that the sky was an eerie green and the clouds actually looked like sine waves. Others said the rain was so heavy that it would come down in sheets, and wind was up to hurricane-level speed - 60 mph or more! AND I MISSED IT! Also, two funnel clouds were sighted over Northville and Plymouth but didn't touch ground. Steve also said that the ~80 ft. cottonwood tree that hovers directly over his house fell down - and incredibly missed the neighbor's and their own house and other trees. Couldn't have fallen any better. The tree was so sketchy in the first place, that they were going to have it removed this summer. Guess it's cheaper this way. ;)

I'm hoping this constant cloud cover/rain turns into another "Great Lakes Hurricane" this week so I can drive my car through it. Yeah, I'm crazy like that. Anyway, here are some pics from my aunt in Dearborn that day. Keep in mind that it is only 3 or 4 pm and it is that dark!

To Virginia!

Time for me to begin my 10 hour drive to Chincoteague Island in Virginia to play with horseshoe crabs! No journal updates til I get back, probably Saturday?? Weather forcast: Thunderstorms and 80 degrees. Sounds good to me. ;)

"Cheap" is a relative term

Focus is up and running again, but not without putting up a fight.

I called good ol' AAA for a tow from my driveway to Tommy's. Their 5-mile tow policy, for once, was good enough to get me there without costing anything extra. The guys at Tommy's like me and remember I was just in last week; they're happy to see me cuz' I'm a cute girl but they know I'm certainly not happy to be back. Handed the keys over and left to wait impatiently for the diagnosis.

Later that afternoon, they call and tell me the problem isn't a broken fuel line, it's actually a clip that connects a line to the fuel pump. The kicker - there is no way to get the clip by itself; the ENTIRE fuel pump must be purchased. WHAT?! I just had the entire thing replaced April '03, and they are expensive! He told me that the piece of line comes with the clip on one end but not the end that is broken. It was going to cost at least $250 after they mark up the price of the pump if they got it from a dealership. But he said that maybe, because my parents are Ford employees, I could go to the dealership and see if I could work something out with them. As much as I HATE my dealership, I agreed because I honestly didn't know how I would be able to afford it.

I get to the dealership and the nice parts guy hears my story and brings a new pump down to look at; yep, if you buy the clip, you gotta buy the pump. He also tried to find any old or recalled pumps to see if there were any clips left over; nope, they send them straight back to Ford to be inspected and then destroyed. There was no way that little clip was coming without the entire pump! The parts guy tried to help me out because of how ridiculous my situation was. In the end, he really pulled through - he gave me a quote of a mere $100 for the entire thing! Keep in mind that the dealership pays $140 for the part itself, and they sell it marked up to over $200. Since there was a recall on the Focus fuel pump, he suggested I try and talk to the service dept. first; then, if they couldn't help then his offer would come in handy.

I talked to those guys, and fortunately I think the evil man that made my mom cry (long story, mean mean man!) is no longer working there. He was one of the main reasons I stopped going to my dealership. These other guys were very nice and helpful, but the outlook wasn't good. Technically, I could have brought my car straight to the dealership to get checked out and see if replacing the pumpwould be under the recall. However, he also told me that the recall only covers broken pumps if it is stalling, choking, or hesitating; if they sent my broken one back to Ford and they saw it was a broken clip and not those other symptoms, the work would NOT be covered under the recall and I'd have to pay for it. They were willing to make up a story for me, but they said that it was the fact that they inspect the part that made it difficult to "fake". Essentially, my problem with the pump was not what was covered in the recall and apparently that makes all the difference. I also reminded them that only 13 months ago, they had replaced my fuel pump anyway; unfortunately, since it was longer than a year ago there was no warranty on the parts so it probably wouldn't be covered either.

My car was already sitting with the fuel tank dropped at Tommy's. Ford service guys said I could get it towed there, and they'd check it out. It was a tough call because of the possibility that Ford would do it for free, though I'd still have to pay for the labor at Tommy's. Then again, if it wasn't ok'ed for free replacement, not only would I have to pay for labor and parts at Ford, I'd also have to pay for Tommy's too. Instead, I turned around, marched back into the parts department, and whisped to the old parts guy, "Hey, is that quote still good?" He grinned and winked, printed up an invoice, and said "You owe me for this one." Nice guy, and I hope he knows how much I appreciate his "good ol' college try" at getting me that discount.

Tommy's was impressed and apologetic - it sucks I had to buy a whole new pump for a silly little piece of plastic, but somehow I managed to pay a dirt cheap price. I nervously watched the mechanic manipulate the fragile tabs holding the piece to the pump, while is coworkers breathed down his neck. No pressure, no pressure... but that's a $100 piece of plastic and I can't afford another one! He popped it out, handed the brand new pump, minus the clip, back to me. "Be done in 20 minutes." Seems so simple, yet so financially painful.

But I think I made out relatively well. They didn't replace the whole fuel pump, just fixed that broken clip and a section of line, and had to remove the gas tank to get to it all... $290, including the new pump I have for a rainy day. Believe it or not, that's pretty darned good. It pays to have mechanics think you're cute. ;)

Total sum over 7 days for Focus: $590

When it rains, it pours...

And I don't just mean all these thunderstorms we've had lately. What I am about to say will get me blacklisted here in the Motor City, but I can't hold it back any longer: Ford sucks.

This is coming from a member of a "Ford family". Both parents work there, uncles and aunts and cousins and friends worked there... My entire family drives/drove a Ford at one point. And all of us have vowed to go import after our current cars die.

And boy, do our Fords have a flair for kicking the bucket. I think it's an epidemic.

I have a 2001 Focus ZX3. I love the idea of the Focus. I do think it's a blast to drive and if it weren't such a POS, then I would love it and urge everyone to buy one. Maybe the newer year models have increased in quality, but let me tell you a story about a little green hatchback...

IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN. SECOND TIME IN SEVEN DAYS!

Last week, I had to get the ball joint replaced. The friendly mechanics warned me that I'd probably be back pretty soon - the sway bar end links were going to go next. What a pleasant little cloud of happiness to hover over my head until it happens. "Wonder when it will break... wonder when it will break..." Crossing my fingers while driving has become second nature. "Please, not yet baby. Please don't break down!" {rolling my eyes}

This is on top of the other dire warnings I have got regarding the timing chain. I have around 85k on my car (hey, that's what happens when you travel the country!) which is apparently around the magical, expensive timing-chain-replacement period. I'm not even going to think about that one.

But imagine my surprise when I start my car and it coughs, stutters, and dies. I've driven it all day, but here in my driveway (fortunately) it decides to go kaputt. I pop the hood and try to start it again; turns over but won't start. Cough cough says the Focus. I get out and hear a dripping - ok, I mean "pouring" - noise and I look under the engine with dreaded thoughts of transmission fluid or coolant running down our driveway. But it's dry. Huh? My eyes widened with the realization as I turned my head towards the fuel tank. You've got... to be kidding... me......

Gas is pouring all over the driveway. Of all the things to break, I was not expecting that! First, I thought maybe I had incorrectly replaced the fuel filter a few weeks ago, but that wasn't the problem. It was coming from around the gas tank - above, next to, not sure. Does the fun ever stop??

Steve hopes and thinks maybe a fuel line broke or popped off, which is cheap and easy to fix most of the time. I can't afford it to be anything else! This is on top of watching those dollar signs wash down the driveway - I paid $2.12/gallon for that gas!

*****In light of a few comments I've received lately...Let me clarify a few things here.

The newer Focus models are better quality than the year I have - 2001 was notorious for the number of recalls on them. Such is what happens in the early years of a car's production, I suppose. Keep in mind that I love the idea of the Focus and it really is fun to drive, it has just fallen short of my expectations of Ford. I guess I even got "lucky" compared to many '01 Focus owners - both my friends had to replace their brakes around 15k miles. Yikes!

As for the timing belt - mine hasn't gone yet, but I have been told by multiple people that often they go after 80,000 miles. I'm going on 90k now and it seems to be ok, but when it does happen apparently it's the labor that is expensive. Seeing as how I am not a mechanic but just your average consumer, I was merely stating that when it happens, it will suck.

Warranty - they did not start that awesome warranty program on the Focus until after I bought mine, so I had the standard 3 yr, 30k mile.

Even when I had less than 20k miles on my car, I had to bring it in to get to get the end link on one side replaced under warranty. Now the other side is going bad.

And the fact that I want to buy an import doesn't make me unAmerican. My car was made in Mexico anyway! Can you blame me for wanting to buy something with a better record of quality??

Oh and Ido check my tire pressure, and I get all the preventative maintenance done and get problems taken care of quickly before they turn into something worse. Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I don't know how to care for a car. If you think Ford is so great, then start your own journal and maybe you too can be featured on AOL - much more productive than writing inappropriate comments to me.*************

I'm in a bit of a crunch because I'm still house sitting and I need to be there a few times a day. Fortunately Steve is my hero, as always, and is letting me borrow his van. Housesitting, by the way, isn't so grand either - her puppy has super-powers and can jump the highest tables... and then chews the cords off of lamps. Or jumps on my head to wake me in the morning. Cute little hell spawn. ;) Did I mention the rabbit that attacks people? Seriously attacks? Every see Monty Python and the Holy Grail? That rabbit with big pointy teeth ain't got NOTHIN' on this bad bunny. I lock the bedroom at night in fear because of that crazy thing.

In other news, Kevin gave me a good schoolin' on how to really mountain bike. First lesson learned: buy padded shorts. My butt won't forget that very soon, that's for sure. I am going to finally suck it up and get a job outside of my field. Don't really have a choice. I was going to go with Heather to Chicago to see what's out there, but I can't even MAKE it there yet alone hope to find a job in a week. I'm thinking of honestly trying contruction or carpentry. Why not, eh? I've done crazier things (ie: move to colorado, get wildland firefighter certified in new york, etc). Our local paper is hiring a reporter. Might apply for a good laugh. As if 2004 hasn't been funny enough as it is...

Anyway, gotta go back to demon doggie, Marc (the other dog) and Bunnicula (ever read "The Celery Stalks at Midnight", about the vampire bunny? great book!). Oh, did I mention I'm supposed to drive to Virginia on Monday?

Here's a pic of my squad for wildland firefighter training. If anyone out there wants a hard working, intelligent, funny, and talented employee, drop me a line. (just because i don't have a job right now doesn't mean i'm lazy! i'm just trying to figure out what i want in life!)

"You better not blink...

...cuz you never know what's coming 'round the bend" - Incubus

Online journals are peculiar in that you only get tiny snapshots of a person's entire living experience at a time. Granted, my decision to accept, and then reject, that job offer all happened relatively quickly no matter how you look at it, but in an online journal the boundary between moving/not moving, good/bad, happy/sad is separated by a few mere pushes of the [enter] button. I know I painted a sour picture with some of my entries but actually I love life and I think it's fun and obnoxiously exciting when things like that happen, even if they don't go as I wanted.

Imagine my silly little grin after I read my horoscope in Real Detroit:

"Aries: You never know what will happen, do you? The last few weeks have been nuts. You're learning that it doesn't pay to make ironclad plans. Things turn out better if you just flow... It may be appropriate for you to cut your losses and bail out of a situation..."

I hate it when horoscopes are right. ;)

Let's talk entertainment: New Beastie Boys song on the radio is great! I'm so happy they finally came out with something, it's been too long. Movies: I'm gonna spend a lot of money soon. Van Helsing I need to see, because it's got Hugh Jackman (though I only think he's hot as the hairy Wolverine but killing vampires is pretty sexy too), Harry Potter of course because I jumped on the band wagon after reading all 5 books in 3 weeks (and yes, they really are as good as all those obsessed, obnoxious addicts claimed! I've been converted!), and of course TROY, with the always-hot Brad Pitt. I didn't realize he was 40! Wouldn't it be weird to have a dad that looked that great at that age? Here's an article about him on MSN. Movies and hot guys everywhere!

Plus, I finally posted my Shenandoah/Virginia trip pictures on Trekshare. Still no narrative to go with it but oh well. ;)

The photo today is of the Grand Tetons, which I took on my big road trip last October. Go there! It's awesome!

Not moving after all

I'm so ticked off - I had typed out this great entry but accidentally hit something and lost the entire thing! I was in the zone and now it's gone. I'll just hack away at the keys now and explain my new heartbreak

Yay, I'm moving back to Colorado, right?! Oh, if life could be so simple.

After my immediate euphoria of not only moving back to CO, but also of having a job (and not just ANY job - a fun job!), the generous and logical people of my little world quickly reminded - in some cases, scolded - me about the reality of my situation. I have to return to Michigan at least four times between June and July for these weddings, and to do so means muchos buck-o's $$$ in plane tickets, missed work, and, the most dreadful part of all, all those FLIGHTS! I absolutely hate flying. Not afraid, I just hate sitting, waiting, boredom, the 2 hour drive to the Denver airport, sitting, cramped seats, too cold, delays, luggage, security... The only thing I like about flying is the view. I'd love to get my pilots license because flying itself seems like a great time! But commercial flights are just so much stress - mentally, physically, monetarily. That doesn't even include the other obligations I am supposed to attend but can't afford to fly back for.

Even the job itself has a degree of uncomfortable situations - no privacy once again because I'd have a roommate, lots of hotel-hopping during our travels... And those more conservative than myself (coughcoughPARENTScough) love to mention there are no benefits (though I am quick to point out that many jobs I may take will not have benefits - such is the life of a seasonal bio tech!) and it ends in the fall - so I'll be right back where I started: unemployed, and living with my parents in suburbia.

None of this hit me when I said yes to the job, though. Actually, this all came about while I was on a nice hike, admiring the wildflowers and trees and getting revved up about being paid good money to hike all summer. Hiking clears my mind, though, so this euphoria was short-lived and my logic dropped a reality bomb on my fantasy. I guess I knew it all along that it was too good to be true, but I live for fun and excitement! Maybe it's the ADHD or maybe just too much coffee, but thingslike money, living expenses, housing... don't think too much about them until I've already thought about how great of an adventure it would be! Fortunately, when I say "Live life to it's fullest!",I have many friends that are kind enough to advise: "Life life if you can afford it!" Damn their reason and sound judgement!

I'm an Aries: aggressive, compulsive, rash. But a heck of a lot of fun, and I sure have great stories to tell! ;)

So with my sullen declaration of westward postponement (I'll come back for you, Colorado!) came much stress, sadness - and drinking of course. Thank you, Kirk and Heather (and Mr. Jack Daniels), for drowning my sorrows (and liver, and bladder) with me. (I'm heavy on parentheses today, huh? Why oh why did I have to lose the first entry I wrote about all this!)

I feel so stupid right now for taking the job and now having to call the guy back and tell him no. I also feel ridiculous because this is the third time I was supposedly moving this year. Each time, I announce my plans for my next great job in my new home, get congratulated, and then turn around and say "Heh heh, sorry guys... False alarm". I feel like such an @ss! The Novi boys roll their eyes at me and give me hell; I don't even want to tell them! First, I was supposed to move to Maine and work at a ski resort, but my affordable housing fell through and rentals there were sooooo expensive ($1000/mo for a room in a shared condo)! Then, I was going to move to Montana to be a wildland firefighter - but that was a case of not enough money, and no guaranteed hours. If there wasn't a fire or a fuel reduction project, we just didn't work; simple as that. That certainly isn't conducive to successful transplantation out of state! I guess I should have just said no to this new job right off the bat, but you can't imagine how happy I was!! I don't even want to tell anybody that I am not leaving, it is embarassing to fail, once again, at leaving this place and starting an actual life. This is truly a tough choice for me to make, but I have to follow my instincts.

Eecch, self pity, where did you come from? You aren't welcome here!

I try to stay optimistic and free spirited but honestly, it's wearing on my soul and self conscious. I probably won't admit that much in conversation because it's not in my nature to be sad or downtrodden, but it's there. I just keep it hidden so that I can write about it later in this journal. Don't like to admit defeat. It's the Aries in me once again.

In the meantime, I started posting my art at DeviantArt.com. Heather has me inspired to get another degree in Graphic Design. But that's another entry to be tackled some other time. ;)

No pretty pictures to add to this entry... too tired. At least if I'm sticking around, I'll still be able to write. I really don't know what I would do if I didn't have this outlet over the summer! My mind would explode!

Got a job (for real, this time!)

Yeahhhhhh!

I got a message yesterday from a guy with the Forest Service in Fort Collins, Colorado, straight up offering me a job! No interview or anything. I love the feds!

So I called back for details and.... I'm moving back to Colorado for the summer! Yippee!

The job is surveying for rare plants in forest service land around CO - from the Wyoming border, to west of Rocky Mt. NP, to Denver. It is myself and a female partner and we obviously travel a lot - stay in hotels or bunkhouses. I stay in firefighter bunkhouses when in Fort Collins, which is where I will be based. AND I got the pleasant surprise of remembering that the Forest Service pays more than the Park Service for the same pay grade... I will MAKE money this summer! Despite the fact I have to come back to MI at least 4 times between June and July.

So May 29th I will have a new home until Sept 3rd or Oct 1st, depending on what I chose, or until I start grad school.

HATCHER! YOU MORON!

What have I been saying all playoffs?!

Hatcher is a moron. And we get him for another 5 years. That was probably the next most brilliant thing since having two top-shelf goalies (Hasek and Cujo) injured and relying on our fantastic back-up goalie that, I would argue, gets much more "bang for their buck" so to speak. Seriously, there were so many "fatal" mistakes Hatcher made that lead, both directly and indirectly, to a Calgary goal, and yet they still gave him oodles of ice time to blunder his way down the ice. He is big, so when another player runs into him they generally are flattened... but he's actually not a very good fighter, is way too slow, and has left his man wide open to shove the puck in the net - as seen in tonite's defeat. Chris, Jeff and I actually started calling him the blob every time he went on the ice, because he just slowly oozed around and didn't do much. We laughed, we pointed fingers and joked... but then he loses it for the Wings. The laughing stopped there.

Overall though it was a good game but an EXCELLENT 3rd period. We screamed and jumped in our chair and probably kept the neighbors up, but it was a fun ride. Too bad next year the players will probably go on strike and there won't be hockey to watch at all. We've always got the Tigers...errrr, ok maybe the Lions.... ummm never mind. ;)

But the drive home, with that big full moon casting those fantastic blue shadows that I love, calmed me down a little bit. Here's what I think about the Wings:

- Hull, time to retire. You were good, now you're not. Get over it. Old and slow.

- Hatcher, I don't even want to talk about it.

- Shanahan, you can go away now too. You get lots of penalties and pick fights that you always LOSE. You're a liability. I used to love you but sometimes love just goes away. As you should. Plus you screwed the whole team over by shaving your playoff beard. What were you thinking?!

- Need more young guys, and need others to step up and play leader. Yzerman was gone, but somebody needs to take charge. I hope that Zetterberg or Datsuyk (sp?) can gain that confidence because they are uber-talented.

- Still lovin' McCarty, Lidstrom, Holmstrom, Draper, and Maltby!

- Impressed with Dandenault, Schneider, and Lang

Ok now that I'm done ranting, I think I've tired myself out enough to go to sleep. Maybe it was all a bad dream... (**pinch**) Ouch! Grrrr...

Wildfires already

Looks like wildfire season has started already. Although I ended up declining my chance to be a firefighter with Bridger in Montana, I do still hope I'll get my chance to at least try it. After that crushing blow to my already-injured employment-ego by not being offered the Forest Service job in Boulder, I have to wonder: What am I doing wrong?!

I hopped back onto the Colorado State website and started writing a few professors. I wasn't really interested in going there any more after I thought I was in at Montana State, but I haven't heard much from that school either. Might as well see what happens, I already paid the application fee so it doesn't hurt to try. I also wrote Montana State anyway, just to check in with the professor who said might take me on. Still waiting for her proposals to be accepted, and then decide if she wants me anymore...

I still haven't written my Virginia story or posted the pictures. I've been quite busy today - applied to 3 jobs, surfed many more websites for jobs, and took the plunge and subscribed to the Writers Market. It's the clearinghouse of writing markets. I have some ideas floating in my head so maybe investing a little money will get these fingers typing something else besides my silly flights of fancy in this journal!

Fire... mountains... the Rockies are like a drug. There was a cold bitter breeze yesterday that reminded me of the fall when I was in Estes Park, the last day I was there actually. There was a blizzard on top of Longs Peak, and the sky was tumultuous and black while the cold wind blew the scent of snow down from the mountains. Then I packed up my life into a little green car and drove, and drove, and drove. Want to hear more? Go to my travelogue and click on Western Road Trip. Moral of the story: I want to go back.

The forest service lady was nice enough to give me some leads in Fort Collins. Don't know if I'll follow through though, because it really would be a very expensive summer - Brynn & Casey's wedding, Tara's Wedding, plus all those parties I have to throw for her (I'm maid of honor)... that's a lot of plane tickets from Denver. And there is no way I would bail on Tara, she's an awesome friend and we are gonna make her the happiest bride ever!

So if anyone has any scandalous ideas for a bachelorette party in the Metro Detroit area, let me know!

What else is in the works for little me? Making some $$ next week house/dog sitting, which should be fun. Hope to start actually writing something, but I've said that for months now. I might build a little website with some of my art & photos on it for fun. I have a MODELING photo shoot this week. Nothing special but the guy wants to take me on as a photography intern also - which is bizarre because I haven't don't art in years, but very cool that I may still get to pursue a creative endeavor. In two weeks, I am going back to Virginia to help with that horseshoe crab survey I mentioned before. Paid vacation! I get to stay in a beach house and everything! Here it is:

And it's on the ocean, of course:
Map of Chincoteague, VA