Happy Anniversary?

Exactly two years ago, I made the move that probably changed my life forever.  Two years ago, I spent my first full day as a resident of Colorado... living in the Antler Motel and storing all of my possessions in the back of my car until my apartment was ready. If I remember correctly, Steve and I arrived in Estes Park on the 26th, and - seeing as it was my first time seeing the massive, snow-covered Rockies - I knew right away that moving to this unfamiliar environment was going to be the experience of a lifetime.

Looking back, I have to think: am I more successful now than I was then?

Sure, I have the full time job, more money, benefits, and hopefully soon my own house and dogs... But success can be measured in so many different ways. I have to ask myself, am I happier than I was then? Have I made progress in character and emotion? Am I as fulfilled as I was then?

Certainly, living in that crammed 1 bedroom apartment with a total stranger and a few hundred (thousand? yuck) of my closest insect friends (ants and ladybugs!), was not nearly as physically comfortable as where I am now. But can I go outside of my front door and have the mountains as my playground? Will I find a moose peeking in my window? Am I surrounded by energetic, adventurous people that just drink up life around them? Of course, the answer is no (save for my close friends that share my passion for living)...  I may have more money but I am not any richer!

But nothing in life is 100% all of the time. I have come to understand that, but I'm not going to accept it! I NEED adventure and new experiences! So, to honor my 2 year anniversary of the decision that changed my life....

I'm learning how to ride a motorcycle. ;)

I've always thought about it, but being surrounded by guys that ride just gave me that last nudge to finally learn. It's only $25 at the community college, but I got lucky - last week, I looked and EVERY CLASS at literally every community college was totally full until August, including the more expensive class through the Harley-Davidson dealers. I just so happened to look today for one last time, and HEY! There's a new spot open! So for the next 3 weeks, I'll be either at work or at class for 15 hrs, 3x a week. I'm gonna be exhausted, but I need this. Otherwise I might just hop in my car and start driving West and never come back! Don't test me either - I've been known to do crazier things and right now, it wouldn't take much!

Glad the snow came and went after that brief yet obnoxious visit we had from winter this past weekend. I tried to take pictures of the snow on my violets, but they were all buried! It's always great this time of the year, when I get home after dark and I can hear the frogs in chorus all around our house. It's that little bit of peace and solitude only found at night and reminds me that life goes on, even when I'm asleep. Even when things are bad, confusing, or coming to a close. With that said, I'm going to bed.

Montana Family

Working four 10-hour days may be tiring and intense, but these three day weekends are fantastic! Too bad I went out and partied last night and got only a few hours of sleep (and a nasty hangover!) when I had to work the next morning, but now that I have tomorrow off, I didn't do much tonite except study for my Arborist exam. Funny how that works, no?

Here's some pictures finally of my Montana family - which was essentially the entire population of Lakeview when I left in the fall.

It seems like all the trees just decided to EXPLODE with leaves in the past 3 days. I mean, I woke up and went to work in the morning, and when I came home there were suddenly flowers on our plum and pear trees. I love this time of the year, but it's so short-lived that you could almost literally blink and miss it. Even some violets I had planted last year in our landscape - which aren't SUPPOSED to be perennial, or so I thought - already have their purple, white and yellow flowers smiling up at me. I'll have to enjoy them before the rabbits remember how much they liked eating them last year. I think I might take on a little "project" - every day that I go trail running, it seems there are new flowers blooming. Seeing as to how I am trying to brush up on my plant ID, I might try and write up a little something on what flowers are blooming at the time. If I'm REALLY ambitious, I'll take some pictures too and post them.

... IF I'm that ambitious. ;)

Tomorrow, house-hunting in the afternoon! I'd like to say I'm excited, but I have to say I expect to be disappointed. No need to rush things though.

Alkaline Trio - Sorry About That

"It hasn't been that long, since we drank to the sunset
Until it was gone, and down with it went our pain and fear
As we slowly broke contact more and more, with every beer
And we passed out in each other's arms, both admitting we never felt better, never felt so warm
But awoke in each other's eyes, without wearing a stitch of clothing, we were both deeply in disguise
And maybe i just set aside the fact that you were broken hearted, in my own special selfish way
And if i hadn't set aside the fact that you were broken hearted, hell knows where your heart would be today
Maybe with me
It seems like it's been so long since we kissed through the darkness, until it was dawn
Up with it came our pain and fear that we'd already lost each other, we both knew that the end was near
Maybe i just set aside the fact that you were broken hearted, in my own special selfish way
And if i hadn't set aside the fact that you were broken hearted, hell knows where your heart would be today
Maybe with me"

Woof

Just pics of our mutts, because I know how much my mom can't get enough. ;)

Tiny

Wilson

Tree Care Health Practitioner Assistant, 30%

Finally, after two years of waiting for funding from Montana State, I got an unexpected email.

"Lisa, are you still interested in a graduate student position?"

Of course, this happens only after I had finally decided I was going to "settle down" for a while. I'm in the process of house-shopping, dreaming of dogs and sugar gliders, hyping myself up at the thought of a stable and - dare I say? - domestic lifestyle. Ok, more like force-feeding the thought of staying put down my throat... But still, it was a plan, which is more than I can say for what I had before. (Though, having no plan was a helluva lot more exciting!)

Seeing as I applied long ago, I had to find my grad school application statement and read it a few times to remember what I had even wrote! I knew I would probably have a hard time with the interview, just because I hadn't even given grad school much thought in so long!

I got a call from three people over speakerphone - which always distracts me enough as it is, with all that echoing! - and did my best to sell myself. The project sounds pretty cool, it's been ongoing since 1996 and there will be three students working on it. It involves a lab experiement involving constructed wetlands and waste treatment; one student works on how wetlands break down waste, one student works on microbial aspects, and the position I interviewed for would be a greenhouse and lab job. It isn't exactly what I am geared towards when going there, but I think it would be great experience. I have no clue how the interview went, but I'll know in a week!

There was one catch though: When I asked when they want me to start, they said "Yesterday!" As in, they want me there as soon as possible, before the summer. They said they MIGHT be able to postpone it until the fall, but it's not what they prefer.

Yikes. Every time I sit down to relax, I have to make some huge life-altering decision! Leave my full-time job and head west??

Hey, maybe I won't even have to make that decision if they didn't like my interview. :)

I just finished up a three day Certified Arborist Course, so I can take the test and officially become a tree dork! Though I really do like forestry. If anybody needs any tree work done, I'm your chainsaw kitten!

"Real dogs eat seal fat!"

I've been reading another book by Peter Jenkins called "Looking for Alaska" - the story of him and his family moving to Alaska just to experience it. It's a great book if you want to know what it's REALLY like to live in these small, remote towns and the culture of each different place, all through a series of essentially short stories tied together. Personally, I still like his first book, "A Walk Across America", better, but I still am in love with anything Alaska. I'm at a point right now where he is training and following around a sled dog musher named Jeff King. Did I mention I have this thing for wanting to learn how to dog sled? Hee hee. Anyway, so this Jeff King guy and his wife own 80 dogs and he's won the Iditarod and the K-300 a few times, or something like that - in other words, he's a great racer. Coincidentally, I sat down to watch TV, which I rarely do during the week, and what's on the Outdoor Life Network but coverage for the Iditarod, which took place during mid-March! It's on this week through the 6th for all you dog-sledding enthusiasts. :)  Did you know that Michigan has it's own dog sled race? The UP 200! Maybe some day I'll be a contender. :)

The funniest part? I recognize more names of mushers than I could probably name in that basketball game that is going on right now. Between all the Alaska and dog sledding books I've read and the stories about Paul Gebhart and Jeff King and Robert Sorlie in Adventurer and Outdoor magazines... I like a quote from the commercial for OLN's coverage of the race - "Real dogs eat seal fat!"

Totally unrelated: I discovered the brutal enjoyment that is SPINNING. As in, a cycling class at the gym. Poor Donna is my work-out buddy, and she told me today that she hates that I love the class. :)  Trust me, if anybody has the opportunity and masochistic tendencies, this class is for you. When the instructor tells you, "You can rest in 45 minutes! But right now YOU'RE MINE!" and "I know you hate it and I DON'T CARE!", you know it's gonna be hell on wheels. Not only do you burn fat and make your legs look muscular and HOT, but it's also great prep for the mountain biking season that is soon upon us! Saddle up, suck it up, and LOVE THE PAIN! :)

And one last act of randomness before I go to bed... Takin' photos at work. Trees, chainsaws, and men in chaps. Enjoy.