landscaping

Just some photos of the flowers I planted earlier in the season. Stupid rabbits keep eating my coreopsis and pansies! And my Artemesia got HUGE! 

roll with it

I'm all excited and nervous about this whole "moving to Montana" thing, but it's gonna be fun, right??

Until everything you've been told has been contradicted in the direction you didn't want it to go. (Furrows eyebrows)

See, it might not have been so bad if I had known certain things from the get-go, but this sudden big change has got me more worried than excited. Example: Don't get my own bedroom, one phone-line for 8 people, and the only option for internet access is that one phone line. I was under the impression I had my own room, plus internet and cable if I want. I can cope, it's just way under-par from what I was expecting!

Those are just a few things. But I am stubborn and still moving! Adapt to the unexpected!

But it gets better. I took this test for a city job the other day, I was one of 50 people and the ONLY FEMALE. Yeah, it's a labor job and most of the guys were much older and tougher than me. Find out today - I was one of 6 to be invited to the next step - agility test! And they are filling 3 spots!

The catch - I'll be in Montana when they are doing the test. There's probably no way I can come back for it.

I begged and pleaded - as professionally as possible - if there was any way to take the test before I left, or when I get back, or some other time, but I have to call back later when they discuss it. Sigh. I'd hate to think I am missing an opportunity to do full-time work that I can actually tolerate at the expense of a seasonal whim - but I've wanted to do fire for so long that I know myself, and know I have to entertain this whim or it will never go away! And who knows, maybe I'll love fire and make it my career. In any case, I was having doubts about going but my instincts say "LEAVE!!!!"

burn

I'm hanging out, watching a show on National Geographic about smokejumpers and the tragic Storm King Mountain fire - the one in 1994 in Colorado that burned over 14 firefighters. Needless to say, it reminds me that in one week I will be taking a risk. The book, Fire on the Mountain by John N. Maclean, is an honoring and emotional recount of what happened and I highly recommend it!

Yeah, I think I'll sit in the air conditioning and watch fire on tv for right now. It's hot and sticky outside, and I need to recover from the wedding yesterday. ;) I'll write about that later. Maybe.

Go West!

Taken from California Interagency Hotshots

See this photo? That's gonna be me in about two week. ;)

Yep, I got the job in Montana at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge! I'm gonna be a wildland firefighter on an engine crew!

Assuming I pass the physical and drug test, I will once again be packing my life into the back of a little green hatchback and driving halfway across the country. Hopefully I'll be able to dial-up AOL and keep this thing updated, but I'm nervous and excited to finally try my hand as a firefighter. Sure it's intimidating to think that I will be standing on the front lines of a dangerous and physically intense job, with only a hose and water to defend myself, but I'm thrilled!

Tentative start date is the 21st so everybody I have two weeks to party with y'all!

For fun and excitement, here are some more links and photos of fire stuff. ;)

  
Both from Wildlandfire.com

Soundtrack to my life!

I love music. And I love the fact that there are certain songs that I say "Ah ha! They know how I feel!" Yes, there seems to be a song to cover every emotion possible. So here's the start of the Soundtrack to my Life! Because everybody likes a good soundtrack. It just so happens that all the titles sound negative, but it's really not that bad. ;) And I linked to the albums on Amazon.com so you too can own my favorite music!

"Left Me in a Hole" - Yonder Mountain String Band

"Misunderstood" - Better Than Ezra

"Nowhere Fast" - Incubus

"Lonesome Road" - Leftover Salmon

"Warning" - Incubus

"Firecracker" - Ryan Adams

"I Do" - Better Than Ezra

"Control" - Puddle of Mudd

I'll add more when I remember more!

Added 7/13:

"If There's Still Ramblin' in the Rambler (let him go)" - Yonder Mountain

"Save You" - Pearl Jam

"Lonestar" - Norah Jones

"Fundamental"- Bonnie Raitt