Today, I do not love my job.  I don't like the pull that comes from working for two different agencies on one project.. each boss has a different priority.  I don't like the way my team has to compensate for another team on the same project who is being led by a grad student who doesn't care if the data is good or not.   I don't like the fact that I could have been a much better grad student than he is.   I don't like living away from my family and house, in the middle of nowhere- a tornado could be coming and we wouldn't know.   I don't like that people forget that living in the middle of nowhere means that bills don't get paid, cars don't get fixed, Dr. appts aren't scheduled because there is no time.. those people who forget are asking for more of my time.   I don't like never feeling like I am off work when I am there. 

Had to love seeing Golden eagle fledglings on the ground, just beginning to test their wings.  6' wingspan and yet they were hobbling about on the ground like turkeys... had to take a couple three jumps to even get off the ground.  Had to love seeing the antelope kids running down the hillside.  Had to love seeing the giant predator bettle, black with bright purple edges.  Had to love finding Mountain Blue-eyed grass in the unexpected place. This is why I do this. 

New phase in my life- summer job involves wonderful plants.. I think I am considering getting a tattoo of Mountain Blue-eyed Grass, the new love of my life. :)  However, it also involves sleeping in a community hall ~ no actual community to speak of~ 35 miles away from the nearest gas station, 120 from a decent emergency room and over 500 from home.   The water smells like sulfur so we shower with the bathroom doors open to dissapate the smell.  Cell service can be had- 4 miles away on an approach when the wind is right.  Great look on the new girl's face when we explained that the bathroom breaks meant saying to people "taking a break behind the truck" and then doing just that, all the while hoping a local rancher doesn't happen to drive up from your direction.   We actually had a guy walk up to my all girl crew last year and ask " ya'll ever do this topless?"    Men and their fanatasies- there a lot of places I just don't want bug bites. 

As I write this, it's snowing where I am working.  No just snowing and melting, accumulating!   This distinction is very important in ND.   I am glad to some degree,  the ranchers there need any moisture they can get.  The plants are already dry and crispy- a bad sign for the summer to come.  The best pastures are the ones with cows.  We got a pasture with corn-fed steers last week- by the time we got back to the truck, they had surrounded it and there were nose prints and tongue licks everywhere!   I love my job!

Six weeks since I wrote.. wow, a couple blizzards, Mom and Dad in a foreign country, several foster dogs and 4 job offers later....

Currently I am preparing to fill in for the church secretary while she is on maternity leave.  I am also actively considering an offer to go out west for the summer and do the same thing I was doing last year. Plant id in the badlands here I come!  The drawback of course is not being able to spend the summer with Corey, do a big garden, help with haying and lounge around in my new hammock.  I would come home every couple of weeks but it just won't be what I had imagined when I moved here.  But I love the work and the money doesn't hurt either. Oh what to do?

I have stayed busy without employment.  I've had the privilege of playing piano at the nursing home occasionally, having a head cold for two weeks and fostering 6 different dogs.  Now that our dogs realize that they aren't being replaced, it is a fun experience for all of us.  We get sad and thrilled at the same time when one is adopted into a forever home.  We clean up messes and tame/socialize and train the best we can.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2167074&id=29409779&l=011165e4cc

The above is the album with a picture of each dog we've had so far.  I need to add the 8-week old springer spaniel puppies yet.  I am going to get photos this afternoon.  The weather is just lovely to let the whole crew outside.  Have you ever seen a 75 lbs GSD mix attempt to play with a 1.5 lb puppy? Raja tries to be gentle,but he could squish them with one paw swipe.