Saturday, June 18, 2005
Looking up
Had a few interesting days...
Thursday, went to do our usual field work in the park. After, we came home, ate dinner, and then met a lot of fellow researchers at the Dairy Bar for ice cream. Then, I had to rush off to a public meeting about spraying Bt on nearby lands, and got to explain my research to some of the locals, who were all very knowledgeable and supportive. When I got back from the meeting, I went to MTRI (research centre) to meet up with my housemates - we sat around chatting until almost midnight in one of the cabins (albeit unheated). The researchers there are friendly and awesome - great conversation!
Friday, took the day off to SLEEP (oh man did we need it!) and then went to Bridgewater to pick up some groceries and then shop. I picked up the new Coldplay, as well as two classics (on sale): The Best of the Who and U2: War. Just when we got back, I got a phone call that some fellow researchers were stranded in Bridgewater, so I headed back to get them. Just when I got back again, we left for MTRI for a wine and cheese party... It was great!! So much wine, so many great cheeses, great conversations, and lots of drunkenness overall. Got home at 2 am... and chatted with Greg on the phone for a bit.
Anyway, dealing with a wine hangover, but everything is great. Must do a bit of work today (we have some experiments that are timed to do every two days) - and then tomorrow we can rest again, before heading back to Fredericton Monday to pick up our new student. I can't believe it's almost the end of June already. Sometimes, it seems like there's so much summer left, but sometimes it seems like it's passing by so quickly (mostly when I regard the work being done). Our BBQ has been pushed back until tonight, I hope people can come...
The weather still stinks though.. booo
I should go running - its a good hangover solution, right?? RIGHT??
Thursday, went to do our usual field work in the park. After, we came home, ate dinner, and then met a lot of fellow researchers at the Dairy Bar for ice cream. Then, I had to rush off to a public meeting about spraying Bt on nearby lands, and got to explain my research to some of the locals, who were all very knowledgeable and supportive. When I got back from the meeting, I went to MTRI (research centre) to meet up with my housemates - we sat around chatting until almost midnight in one of the cabins (albeit unheated). The researchers there are friendly and awesome - great conversation!
Friday, took the day off to SLEEP (oh man did we need it!) and then went to Bridgewater to pick up some groceries and then shop. I picked up the new Coldplay, as well as two classics (on sale): The Best of the Who and U2: War. Just when we got back, I got a phone call that some fellow researchers were stranded in Bridgewater, so I headed back to get them. Just when I got back again, we left for MTRI for a wine and cheese party... It was great!! So much wine, so many great cheeses, great conversations, and lots of drunkenness overall. Got home at 2 am... and chatted with Greg on the phone for a bit.
Anyway, dealing with a wine hangover, but everything is great. Must do a bit of work today (we have some experiments that are timed to do every two days) - and then tomorrow we can rest again, before heading back to Fredericton Monday to pick up our new student. I can't believe it's almost the end of June already. Sometimes, it seems like there's so much summer left, but sometimes it seems like it's passing by so quickly (mostly when I regard the work being done). Our BBQ has been pushed back until tonight, I hope people can come...
The weather still stinks though.. booo
I should go running - its a good hangover solution, right?? RIGHT??
Thursday, June 16, 2005
I'm not homesick, this is something different..
Things are starting to get good here, generally. Daily routine of getting enough sleep (working outside requires a good night sleep - believe me it's more physically demanding than sitting all day), drinking lots of coffee and eating great food (I can cook, it's a shock) - going out to the field with Antoine. We don't talk a lot but I'm more comfortable with the silence now. The others here are great too - we've been out for some large group late night walks through hillbilly town (after a beer), looking like some scary biology gang. The trend now is to draw genitals on each others cars in the caked mud. Yeahhhhhhhh I know - but we don't get out much. We're even having a BBQ / party tomorrow night, here. Antoine organized it and invited like ALL the researchers on our street, which is fun!
Next week, some of the people are leaving, and new people are moving in. They're younger and sort of scared looking... hmm..
I've kept up with my training for the half - repeating week 1 to make sure I'm up for it seemed like a good plan, and I'm up to a really good pace on my short 3K runs. Shan - please send me some more of the schedule so I can keep up with you guys! mostly I'm running through the woods along 2 lane highways, so it's a bit creepy at times. Lots of scary boys in pickup trucks. I need a portable boyfriend... (Greg?)
Anyway - I don't crazily miss people like homesickness, it's more that I'm craving some good hangouts and wishing I was there to do some of those fun zoo crew things with you guys. I feel a bit left out (albeit it's my fault for being here...)
In the meantime, I'll keep writing letters.
Next week, some of the people are leaving, and new people are moving in. They're younger and sort of scared looking... hmm..
I've kept up with my training for the half - repeating week 1 to make sure I'm up for it seemed like a good plan, and I'm up to a really good pace on my short 3K runs. Shan - please send me some more of the schedule so I can keep up with you guys! mostly I'm running through the woods along 2 lane highways, so it's a bit creepy at times. Lots of scary boys in pickup trucks. I need a portable boyfriend... (Greg?)
Anyway - I don't crazily miss people like homesickness, it's more that I'm craving some good hangouts and wishing I was there to do some of those fun zoo crew things with you guys. I feel a bit left out (albeit it's my fault for being here...)
In the meantime, I'll keep writing letters.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
On second thought...?
Maybe this is a Buddhist trial. Maybe I got the worst scenario to teach me to love and have compassion for all.
.... no no wait, I'd still like that lightning bolt. Anytime now.
.... no no wait, I'd still like that lightning bolt. Anytime now.
Hit man for hire? Apply now!
I want to believe in God, so that I can pray for a holy lightning bolt to come down out of nowhere and save me from misery.
I've been away only a MONTH - ONE FRIGGING MONTH - and I need to get out. Nothing is absolutely wrong, the work is fine and I just get more and more ideas about this project. It's this moron I'm STUCK WITH. He's not stupid (this he clarified abruptly) - but he's socially inept, SO DEPRESSED and ANGRY all the time, and so FUCKING NEGATIVE that I want to tear out his ribs and beat him over the head with them, a la "Women" by Don Hertzfelt.
Yes, the swearing above is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
I have tried. If this was the city, I could tell him what I thought and never worry about seeing him again. Unfortunately, I have... 3 months to go.
Absolutely every time I open my mouth, it's met with "yes, but...", or "but the fact ees.." I can't suggest a goddamn thing to add to it because he won't do it. Today, had to drag him out of bed at 11 (to grumbling! he won't buy an alarm clock - I'm not his MOM!!) and then he wanted to head back at 2:30. I figured because we wanted to get these larvae for his experiment to survive and place them in their cages with air flow, but as soon as he gets back he heads out for a RUN. A RUN! AHHH!
Nevermind that I'm talkign to a brick wall. I'm thinking of bringing headphones with me to the field. Some NOISE for once.
I think I'm a good person. There are few people that annoy this much (Ikea...) but this is WORSE THAN IKEA. About a BAZILLION TIMES WORSE. Ikea at least CARES about people. This guy would laugh if I got hit by a bus.
So - please God, if you are out there - a little lightning bolt would be much appreciated. I'd like the mosquitos to be the most annoying part of my day.
I've been away only a MONTH - ONE FRIGGING MONTH - and I need to get out. Nothing is absolutely wrong, the work is fine and I just get more and more ideas about this project. It's this moron I'm STUCK WITH. He's not stupid (this he clarified abruptly) - but he's socially inept, SO DEPRESSED and ANGRY all the time, and so FUCKING NEGATIVE that I want to tear out his ribs and beat him over the head with them, a la "Women" by Don Hertzfelt.
Yes, the swearing above is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
I have tried. If this was the city, I could tell him what I thought and never worry about seeing him again. Unfortunately, I have... 3 months to go.
Absolutely every time I open my mouth, it's met with "yes, but...", or "but the fact ees.." I can't suggest a goddamn thing to add to it because he won't do it. Today, had to drag him out of bed at 11 (to grumbling! he won't buy an alarm clock - I'm not his MOM!!) and then he wanted to head back at 2:30. I figured because we wanted to get these larvae for his experiment to survive and place them in their cages with air flow, but as soon as he gets back he heads out for a RUN. A RUN! AHHH!
Nevermind that I'm talkign to a brick wall. I'm thinking of bringing headphones with me to the field. Some NOISE for once.
I think I'm a good person. There are few people that annoy this much (Ikea...) but this is WORSE THAN IKEA. About a BAZILLION TIMES WORSE. Ikea at least CARES about people. This guy would laugh if I got hit by a bus.
So - please God, if you are out there - a little lightning bolt would be much appreciated. I'd like the mosquitos to be the most annoying part of my day.
