Thursday, September 11, 2008
Reality
So I had something written about the end of my summer in NY but I have since then had some issues with blogspot and trying to post it. So now I get to write it all over again. It's coming, I promise!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Odd Places
I made a friend in a transexual today. There's this girl who works in another field office who most people in the agency don't get along with very well because they're not sure about how to act around her. I was the same way at first. Today I went to our Soil Science training day with the idea that I wouldn't get along with this girl because of who she is - that's the reaction that had been instilled in my brain over the course of the summer. I couldn't have been more wrong.
This girl was AWESOME! She's so much like me, except for the fact that I have no plans in changing my gender. It was really neat to hang out with her and get to know her. Remember what you see isn't always what you get.
Other random thing - on the way to the training today I saw a sign for a place that combines two of my interests. Archery and Quilting. Rather odd combination, huh?
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Some Reflecting
I've been meaning to write for some time now. Unfortunately I've been either too busy or too tired but now I have some time (although I should probably get my dishes done sometime in the near future). This past week I went to a conference about Warm Season Grasses (anyone know what I'm talking about? free beer to the person who can tell me three facts about WSGs) and although I learned quite a bit I also had some time during some presentations that I let my mind just wander.
There are a few things I will miss about NY but homesickness and carsickness certainly aren't included. I like seeing the mountains, being in the mountains and being able to see miles and miles, to Lake Ontario and if it's clear on to Canada, especially when I'm out and about in rural NY on my way to or from a construction site of a manure storage lagoon. There are, however, some upsides to going to some of the constructions sites - like the main one I've been going to the last couple weeks has been working on pouring a concrete lagoon that measures 100 ft X 75 ft X 12 ft (it's massive) and there have luckily been some good sites to see if you know what I mean. ;) . So even though there have been times I have absolutely hated my job and have wanted nothing more than to go home I think I will miss my job.
Although I don't exactly want to apply everything I've learned this summer to possible future careers it'll be good information to have as a background and will hopefully give me a boost when it comes to getting hired somewhere.
Outside of work, I've learned that rural Iowa still has a lot to offer and that's where I always want to call home. I miss seeing green when I look out my window, what's practically a junkyard along with lots of concrete just isn't the same. Concrete just doesn't do it for me - Give me a corn field.
One thing I think is interesting about the Buffalo area is how poorly it seems to be shifting from a big booming port city to a city of today's technology. There are some incredible old buildings that would look absolutely amazing and would perhaps draw people to them if only they were given a little attention. There are so many places that are incredibly trashy or abandoned entirely. I know there are places like that in Iowa too but there are just so many of them here.
There are a few things I will miss about NY but homesickness and carsickness certainly aren't included. I like seeing the mountains, being in the mountains and being able to see miles and miles, to Lake Ontario and if it's clear on to Canada, especially when I'm out and about in rural NY on my way to or from a construction site of a manure storage lagoon. There are, however, some upsides to going to some of the constructions sites - like the main one I've been going to the last couple weeks has been working on pouring a concrete lagoon that measures 100 ft X 75 ft X 12 ft (it's massive) and there have luckily been some good sites to see if you know what I mean. ;) . So even though there have been times I have absolutely hated my job and have wanted nothing more than to go home I think I will miss my job.
Although I don't exactly want to apply everything I've learned this summer to possible future careers it'll be good information to have as a background and will hopefully give me a boost when it comes to getting hired somewhere.
Outside of work, I've learned that rural Iowa still has a lot to offer and that's where I always want to call home. I miss seeing green when I look out my window, what's practically a junkyard along with lots of concrete just isn't the same. Concrete just doesn't do it for me - Give me a corn field.
One thing I think is interesting about the Buffalo area is how poorly it seems to be shifting from a big booming port city to a city of today's technology. There are some incredible old buildings that would look absolutely amazing and would perhaps draw people to them if only they were given a little attention. There are so many places that are incredibly trashy or abandoned entirely. I know there are places like that in Iowa too but there are just so many of them here.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
There's No Place Like Home
If only it were as easy as tapping my red sparkly heels together. I love my home. This weekend I went through a really rough bout of homesickness. I don't know exactly what caused it. I just keep telling myself that I'll be home soon enough. That I still have things to learn at work and that there are still fun things to do and look forward to here.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Catching Up
It's been a while. So how abouts a run-down of the last week and a half or so.
Aaron came to visit! He arrived Sunday afternoon and we went to see Wicked that evening. Wicked was awesome! I totally recommend seeing it if you get the chance. The only bad thing was that the fire alarms in the theater went off four times in the second act. :(
I had to work several days last week. If I remember right I was stuck in the office by myself for the most of them. Although there was one extremely pointless day I had. I drove an hour (one way) to pick up a load of wooden stakes. Then that afternoon I basically sat around doing nothing because the computer program I was trying to use was soooo slow (I'm sure you've figured out by now that I don't like this program).
Tuesday Aaron and I went to Niagara Falls, Ca. We rode the Maid of the Mist - I enjoy that. We spent most of the day walking around the town, using our coupons so we could get free samples at Hershey's, had lunch at Hardrock Cafe. We walked some more trying to find the car so we could move it closer to the imax theater that we were going to go to, instead we got lost farther away from the car. So we had to turn around and go back to where we had been, get on a bus and go get the car. We ended up going to two casinos that night instead of the imax. Unfortunately neither of us did very well at the casinos.
I took off Wednesday morning. I was able to sleep in after having a late night out. It was also nice that when I did get into the office my boss was gone so I basically stared at a computer screen for four hours and left. For dinner and a little fun Aaron and I went to Dave and Busters. I hadn't been to one in two years.
Thursday and Friday nights we went to a couple baseball games. The Buffalo Bisons were on Thursday night - our seats were on the first baseline in foul ball territory. I had a blast with Aaron trying to teach me how to keep score. Perhaps someday I'll be able to do it. Buffalo kicked butt by the way. Friday night's game we went to Rochester to see the Red Wings. I was a little more bored at this game. Some reason I just didn't find it as interesting and it didn't help that to me the guys behind us were basically being jerks, although it turned out that one of them had spent quite a bit of time in Iowa. I guess Aaron talked to them for a bit so I couldn't be rude to them.
Saturday was beach day. It was so nice to lay out in the sun and play in the water and splash Aaron. The bad part of the day is that Aaron and I both fried. I can still feel the burn.
Last night I went back up to Niagara Falls, this time I didn't even have to show my license to get into Canada. I met up with my friend emily and the PhD student in her lab for dinner and some time on the town. It's so good to see people I know. I'm ready to come home.
Aaron came to visit! He arrived Sunday afternoon and we went to see Wicked that evening. Wicked was awesome! I totally recommend seeing it if you get the chance. The only bad thing was that the fire alarms in the theater went off four times in the second act. :(
I had to work several days last week. If I remember right I was stuck in the office by myself for the most of them. Although there was one extremely pointless day I had. I drove an hour (one way) to pick up a load of wooden stakes. Then that afternoon I basically sat around doing nothing because the computer program I was trying to use was soooo slow (I'm sure you've figured out by now that I don't like this program).
Tuesday Aaron and I went to Niagara Falls, Ca. We rode the Maid of the Mist - I enjoy that. We spent most of the day walking around the town, using our coupons so we could get free samples at Hershey's, had lunch at Hardrock Cafe. We walked some more trying to find the car so we could move it closer to the imax theater that we were going to go to, instead we got lost farther away from the car. So we had to turn around and go back to where we had been, get on a bus and go get the car. We ended up going to two casinos that night instead of the imax. Unfortunately neither of us did very well at the casinos.
I took off Wednesday morning. I was able to sleep in after having a late night out. It was also nice that when I did get into the office my boss was gone so I basically stared at a computer screen for four hours and left. For dinner and a little fun Aaron and I went to Dave and Busters. I hadn't been to one in two years.
Thursday and Friday nights we went to a couple baseball games. The Buffalo Bisons were on Thursday night - our seats were on the first baseline in foul ball territory. I had a blast with Aaron trying to teach me how to keep score. Perhaps someday I'll be able to do it. Buffalo kicked butt by the way. Friday night's game we went to Rochester to see the Red Wings. I was a little more bored at this game. Some reason I just didn't find it as interesting and it didn't help that to me the guys behind us were basically being jerks, although it turned out that one of them had spent quite a bit of time in Iowa. I guess Aaron talked to them for a bit so I couldn't be rude to them.
Saturday was beach day. It was so nice to lay out in the sun and play in the water and splash Aaron. The bad part of the day is that Aaron and I both fried. I can still feel the burn.
Last night I went back up to Niagara Falls, this time I didn't even have to show my license to get into Canada. I met up with my friend emily and the PhD student in her lab for dinner and some time on the town. It's so good to see people I know. I'm ready to come home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
