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

does it get any better?

back from virginia.

very fun. now tired.

NOT moving to Colorado... at least, not for the job I thought I would get. am I ever going to get a break here?

one step closer to running away to alaska. i'd rather flip burgers there than here.

in the morning, if/when i wake up, i'll eventually write about the trip. it was excellent. virginia is beautiful, matt is awesome, and my bed is calling me.

the adventure never ends

Sing with me:

"I'm going to Virginia! I'm going to Virginia!"

What is in Virginia? Well besides a guy I caught fish and gave a presentation with in college that I thought I'd never see again, I'm not really sure. Shenandoah National Park, for one. Jefferson National Forest looks like it has potential too. Kevin, Beth, and I are going to find out tomorrow. Road trip time... again! Who am I kidding, the fun never ends in my life. I can't find time to work; I'm too busy playing. Ask me again about a job when I grow up (hint: NEVER).

Can you tell I'm dutifully packing? Hey, I've always done better under pressure anyway. Proscrastinator? You bet. Spontenaiety? A must. (Proper spelling of that word? No clue.)

Put the two together, and you never know what you'll come up with once you hit the road. Especially when you put me with Kevin. It's our maiden voyage together but we've talked about doing this for long enough that it's time that it happened. Otherwise I would have to kidnap him, and that would just get messy.

So the plan is to pile our crap into my mom-mobile (mini van) and drive to the general VA vicinity. Then it's Shenandoah and/or Jefferson National Forest, which is conveniently nearby Blacksburg VA where that Matt lives. Haven't talked to him or seen him in over a year, and didn't know him very well, but he seemed like an awesome guy so why not drop by and pay a visit if we are in the area?? Hope he doesn't mind. ;)

Do some day hikes and car camping, then get back on Saturday in time for my 3rd (or 4th? lost track) birthday celebration. Heather and I are having a joint birthday party; not sure if it's at her place or if it's a pub crawl, but if you know me and Heather, then you are invited!

latest delusional dream

For some reason, I was absolutely exhausted today. I felt like my body was full of molassas so I just crashed and took a couple hour nap. It was not a good nap; it was a lot like the type of sleep you get when you are sick and feverish on drowsy medication. I kept bouncing in and out of consciousness and rolling around. Very odd. So it seems fitting that I had a very odd dream.

I don't remember too much but every time I woke up and went back to sleep, the same dream happened: It was in the forest and it was dark, but not creepy. For some reason I keep feeling/thinking of medieval times; maybe it was the clothes we were wearing or had something to do with the way the woods felt (reminded me of something from Robin Hood). I was going along a trail and into an area that was a little bit sandy, and sometimes in the dream I was walking or other times running. Sometimes somebody was with me; friend or foe I don't know. I would fall, or lie down (not sure) in the sand and then I felt something crawling on me and sometimes it was spiders, sometimes other bugs... I'd brush them off and be freaked out; every time I went on the ground I had an insect on me. Maybe that's why the dream kept replaying... When I used to be able to control my dreams it was no problem, but now that I can't do it very well, sometimes what happens is that the part of the dream that I want to change will replay a few times until I get it right. This time, though, I couldn't get it right! I wanted to be in the sand without spiders or other nasty bugs on me. Maybe I was sleeping in the sand??

Odd.

Pride for the 313

Here's an article stating the top 10 most and least stressful cities to live in.

Know what I think the best part is? Detroit is one of the most stressful, but sitting a mere 30 minutes away is one of the least stressful cities - Ann Arbor. The best of both worlds! Gotta keep it real, yo. Isn't it funny that I got sick of living in Ann Arbor? And I actually would like to move to Detroit? If I could afford it, though, I would really like to move back to Ann Arbor. Who knows though - I may be moving to Boulder, which is pretty much Ann Arbor with mountains.

Detroit may be stressful, but it was an excellent day for our teams. I hooked up with Kirk and his new Ford friends and went to the Tigers game. What an excellent day for a ball game! Warm, sunny, and we WON! It was tied 2-2 (against the Indians) all the way up until the top of the 9th, we had 2 outs and I think 2 men on base and White hit a home run. That's the first time I've gone to a Tigers game and seen them actually win in a long long time. We then crossed the street from Comerica Park and packed ourselves into Hockeytown Cafe, just in time to see the Wings score their second goal against Calgary. But since Kevin decided to invite me to his graduation party about 4 hours before it started (thanks kevin! hee hee) I didn't stay and play long.

CONGRATULATIONS KEVIN!

And luckily Brian was in town so it was one big happy reunion (Brian and Kevin are brothers; I lived with both of them for 2 years and dated Brian back in the day for a long, painful time - ha! j'k MOUNT); if I'm still unemployed I told Brian to save me space on his couch again in Seattle for when head to Alaska. Don't think I'll really do it? Then you don't know me that well. ;)  I am so glad that Kevin is done with school because I've been wanting to travel with him (he's one of my few real outdoorsy friends) for a long time! So apparently he just let me know, with the advanced notice he so graciously gave me about his party, that he wants to go camping in Virginia on Monday. Sounds good to me, eh!

Unfortunately Steve is in Chicago AGAIN this weekend, so he might not even get to see Mount. Plus, he might miss Deadwood and the Sopranos again! What was he thinking?!

Live life to the fullest, you say!.  At your heart you are a hedonist with a great imagination and verve for life.  Be careful of using this enthusiasm as an excuse to ignore the unpleasant. Your selective focus could cause blindness.
Which monkey are you?
Another pointless diversion from Bijouriel

I added a link to the Velvet Culture Playground, where I took that silly survey. It's worth poking around; good links everywhere and more goofy surveys that you, too, can post in your journal! Oh, and a Psychic Chicken too.

Anybody have any good recommendations around Richmond, VA for hiking?

Oh, and I got my newest shoes in the mail finally. Can't wait to wear them!

Happy Birthday Heather!

It's so good having you and your friend's birthdays close to eachother. At the bare minimum, you get to celebrate your own birthday once. But it's even better when you get to celebrate two, three, or even four times!

I'm up to celebration #3 tonite, with #4 hopefully happening next weekend. Tonite was live jazz courtesy of one of the musicians I used to be in jazz band with, then back to Leopold Bros for some eco-friendly organic beer in a traditional brew house style atmosphere. Well, almost traditional... they played Boys and Girls by Blur, which I can't say is very Deutsch (German) but it's on the same continent... What a great song. Brings back some crazy memories from middle school (and yes, I did say MIDDLE school!). Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, obviously I celebrated tonite. ;) Apparently it was great fun to play "throw the ice cube down the cleavage", and I just so happened to be especially busty tonite. It was like bumper bowling - so easy it would be lame, if it wasn't so much fun! Well, fun for everyone else I suppose... hee hee!

Kirkulese talked me into going to a Tigers game tomorrow. Maybe I'll see them win for the first time in years! Him and his new Ford friends. Male Ford friends who will some day make muchos moolah. Ha! Eh, I've gone out with enough engineers and been around enough Big Three people to know that there's a good chance that none of them are my type. But I'm always open to surprises... and well money never meant much to me before, but after being unemployed this long... I'm open to negotiations. Hee hee. ;)

Which means this little night owl should go to bed.

Give me my Hooters

Novi city council is trying to block Hooters from coming in. Legally, there is nothing they can do to block the restaurant, so Hooters is already in the process of filing a lawsuit (or so my "inside sources" tell me). I just hope they hurry up - I went to go apply yesterday but they are not taking applications until this mess gets straightened out. Novi sucks in a lot of ways, but they sure do know how to get sued like a pro.

What next??

Oh and how about those Red Wings, eh? That's bad news that we got beat at HOME. I actually went to a game between the Wings and Calgary during the regular season and watched them get whooped. At least I'll save money on bar tabs and hot wings if this ends quickly.

Did you know they are putting a state park in downtown Detroit? I think that's unbelieveable but so fantastic! I know they were going to preserve/restore some of the river front, but I am not certain if that is part of the state park or not.

It's too nice to update, so it's back outside to landscape for me! Anybody need yardwork done?

Back to Colorado?!

I might be going back to Colorado! I just got a call from the forest service in Boulder. It's another exotic plants job. I know I was trying to get out of that niche, but if it's offered I'd be hard pressed to say no! Here's what I'd do:

 

The Boulder Ranger District is located in Boulder County and northern Gilpin County, from about 6,800 feet to over 13,000 feet in elevation.  A variety of ecosystems are represented, with associated diversity of plants and animals, and beautiful scenery.  The land ownership pattern is a challenging intermix of private, city, county, state, and federal lands and the area is heavily used for recreation. 

 

The Boulder Ranger District plans to hire two Range Technicians for the 2004 field season.  Primary emphasis of work will be noxious weeds.  Most work will be field-oriented, with some office days for paperwork and data maintenance.

 

Responsibilities include:

 

            - Pull noxious weeds, including coordinating with Americorps crews, community service crews, and volunteer groups

 

            - Conduct ongoing weed inventory and monitoring using GPS and hand mapping

 

            - Coordinate with local agencies and communities to enhance weed awareness

 

- Maintain noxious weed database

 

            - Conduct range allotment administration and monitoring

 

Skills and experience needed and/or desired include:  plant identification, especially noxious weeds; vegetation mapping; range management; good communication skills; use of map, compass, aerial photos; defensive driving on rough mountain roads; GPS; Microsoft Access or other database programs; ARCVIEW

 

Opportunities will be provided occasionally to work on District projects in other resource areas such as recreation and wildlife.

 

(The photo is a Prickly Poppy, taken by me near Buena Vista)

Jersey... where all lefts are right

Sorry for that rant earlier today. Frustrating situation but I'm over it. So now I can explain our trip to the wonderous state that is New Jersey.

To sum it up: Jersey sucks.

Hopefully I don't offend too many Jersey-enthusiasts out there, but I have to admit that in my travels throughout most of the US, it must be one of the worst states I have ever been to. Ohio, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa are all boring, but for once I'd glady take corn fields over Jersey's obliviously bad drivers and nonsensical road system!

I get ahead of myself, though. Steve and I left much later than planned on Sunday (not our fault for once!) and finished the 10 hr drive around midnite. We got a seedy-but-still-barely-affordable motel and slept horribly. If I had thought the walls at the government apartments I lived in were thin, this place might as well have been made of playing cards. Wellesley Inn in Edison, I think it was called - Don't go there. All night, the water pipes moaned and creaked, doors slammed, footsteps echoed along the cooridor, and we were courteously awakened before 8 am by the maids knocking, vacuuming, knocking, vacuuming. Before 8 am!

Despite the cries of my aching back, I hobbled out of bed to notice that there wasn't a fitted sheet on the bed; merely a top sheet thrown over a bare mattress, which had been displaced by my rolling all night. Right underneath where I had been sleeping was a rust brown colored stain, on top of the mattress, down the side, and even on the floor! "Steve... you need to look at this!" He looked and we both were in a queasy state of shock. That wasn't blood, was it? Needless to say, we left that place in a hurry. I'd really rather not think of what might have happened in that room.

We went to downtown New Brunswick and dealt with truly the worst drivers ever. I can deal with speed and aggression, but random lane changes and fluctuating speeds, combined with the utter inability for most people to actually merge  - they STOP on the entrance ramp instead of accelerating to traffic speed - just plain drove us nuts. Our first destination was the Planning building in downtown; for some reason, this building is nowhere near any of Rutgers University's campuses. It was ok, but we were surprised when the security guard turned us away inside because they don't like people roaming around if they aren't affiliated with the school. That didn't make Steve happy, because never have we been turned away from a public university building. We got an appointment for a tour, which turned out very well. Steve was impressed with the program and the atmosphere, as well as the feeling of community, but when he found out rent was typically $800-$1000 - not counting the task of finding a place that will accept his 130 lb dog - he became a bit wary of going there. We thought Ann Arbor was pricey at around $650-700 for rent!

Once that was done, we tried to go to the Jersey shore. This was the big deciding factor. The driving and roads and feeling of the state left such a bad taste in Steve's mouth that he has decided not to go there, despite their excellent program. That's fine with me - I like it when my friends move to places I actually want to visit, ya know? :) The state park we went to was literally just a beach, and we wanted hiking, so we turned around and headed back home.

To salvage the trip and Steve's disappointment with his almost-new-home, we stopped in Stroudsberg near the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area. Pennsylvania has some amazing historic towns, and we had a good time watching Montreal beat Boston at a sports bar downtown. In the morning we hiked to the grueling ~1500 ft. top of Mt. Tammany (that's sarcasm - remember, I'm spoiled from Colorado) which was short but sweet. That whole area isn't much for long hikes. Good thing we got out and stretched our legs then - a semi trailer broke and let loose some mulch or dirt that closed down the entire west-bound lanes of I-80 and we were stuck sitting in traffic for over 1 1/2 hrs while they cleaned it up. What an aweful drive.

To sum it up again: Jersey sucks. So much, that Steve refuses to move there.

Plans are hopefully in the making for another trip to Moab (KEVIN! you must!) and I'll probably hit up the Keweenaw peninsula soon and see if I can land a job near Copper Harbor or something. That, or Chicago with Heather. Things will all work out in the end. :)

psychology for EVIL

Here's a few excerpts from the public relations newsletter I got from an "inside source" at the city:

* "Speak to customers in low tones and moderate your speech... this projects knowledge and authority and have a soothing effect on others.... makes you sound relaxed, thoughtful and trustworthy." = PSYCHOLOGY for EVIL

* A quiz to determine "Are you Accountable?"

* How to manage coworker friendships

* Match your customers' body language because it makes them feel comfortable

Wow, who ever thought that using psychology for evil purposes could be as easy that?

Happy birthday to me! And guess how i am spending it... Appropriately enough, i am currently en route to new jersey on another mini road trip.
And, thanks to the marvels of modern technology, i'm writing from my cell phone.
Pennsylvania is big, so i have time to kill. Cheers darlings, maybe i'll add more later. Back to getting jiggy with dmx!

How you like them Wings, Nashville?!
Good to see the Wings we all know and love. I was getting worried that I'd have nothing to watch on TV (besides Sopranos and Deadwood of course) for the next few weeks.