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.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Making a Difference
Do you ever wonder if you're making a difference? At work or otherwise? Sometimes it feels as if my job doesn't really even matter. That I'm just going through the motions of something just to do it. Is someone ever going to know that I spent my afternoon making sure some fields were labeled in a program specific to one agency? Most likely not. No one will ever know and I will have wasted my summer just going through motions. I want my work to mean something, to have a purpose and a reason. I'm just not feeling that with this job.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
A Better Week
So far this week seems pretty good overall. Yesterday I spent most of the day in the office and except for a slight issue with one of the volunteers (he decided he needed to stand right behind me as I waited for some files to upload on the computer - such an exciting thing, right?) it went pretty well. I mostly worked on mapping once again but I also sat in on the ECSWCD board meeting. I found it to be kind of interesting to know what's been going on with the district, especially since it seems to be more of what I like than the NRCS.
I spent today out in the field with Shanna. They actually let me take one of our government trucks all by myself. I'm quite sore now but it was great to be out today even though it was raining and I got completely soaked, oh well. That was fun any way. We visited two shrubland sites that are both applying for WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program). It was so much better than visiting horrible dairy farms.
On a completely different side note - I've never wanted my bicycle more than I do now.
I spent today out in the field with Shanna. They actually let me take one of our government trucks all by myself. I'm quite sore now but it was great to be out today even though it was raining and I got completely soaked, oh well. That was fun any way. We visited two shrubland sites that are both applying for WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program). It was so much better than visiting horrible dairy farms.
On a completely different side note - I've never wanted my bicycle more than I do now.
Monday, July 7, 2008
One of Those Days
Today was one of those days that seemed like everything was annoying. I'm am so sick of my boss thinking I don't know how to use a computer. Just because the older lady can't catch on to things very quickly doesn't mean that I can't. I would think that by know he would have some idea that I'm pretty good with technology, maybe he wont ever realize that I know more than he does but whatever. I just want respect and I don't want to be told the same things over and over and over. I'm running out of patience.
On the good side - Aaron comes in 6 days and I only have 4 and a half weeks left of work!
On the good side - Aaron comes in 6 days and I only have 4 and a half weeks left of work!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Yay Weekend! Boo Weekdays!
I went to the "country" this weekend. It was such a nice change from the city - there was actually quiet, I could see the stars and there were no neighbors to speak of. I think that's the way it should be. If you can't tell I like it a lot better than staying in Buffalo all weekend.
I did enjoy fireworks on Friday night but I enjoyed the company of friends much better on Saturday night. Chilled with some people from other regional NRCS offices, some adult beverages, and a pool. Unfortunately there were 3 labradors in the pool most of the time as well. I wasn't too fond of that at all. I really disliked being covered in dog hair every time I emerged from the water. We ended the night with a bonfire and smores, I of course did not partake in the smores. I could've spent this afternoon, after our hike at Irroquoi(spelling?) Wildlife Refuge, in their pool but due to the dogs I decided on coming back home to spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing on my own. What should've been a 40 minute drive home turned into closer to an hour and a half - I sat in line at the toll booths for what seemed like forever.
Have you ever heard of a 4 year old racing 4-wheelers and dirt bikes? I'm not one who wants to be the ever overbearing mother but I think it's crazy to let your kid race those things so young. The only kid at the party this weekend was the son of the brother of one of my friends and he was drinking alcohol and coffee and running all over the place, I thought that was absolutely crazy. I was allowed sips of alcohol from my mother when I was younger but never was I allowed to finish off half a bottle of smirnoff when I was 4. That kid is going to end up very messed up if he doesn't die. Actually his father reminds me of my uncle, always calling his kid names when the boy backs out of something "manly." I think that's horrible.
I spent the night on my friend's couch. My sleep was interrupted numerous times by dogs, cats, and people coming and going at all hours of the night. It was crazy.
They cooked a great breakfast and then we went hiking. They were so great to have me for the weekend. I had a good time for once and actually had the opportunity to enjoy being out of the city.
I did enjoy fireworks on Friday night but I enjoyed the company of friends much better on Saturday night. Chilled with some people from other regional NRCS offices, some adult beverages, and a pool. Unfortunately there were 3 labradors in the pool most of the time as well. I wasn't too fond of that at all. I really disliked being covered in dog hair every time I emerged from the water. We ended the night with a bonfire and smores, I of course did not partake in the smores. I could've spent this afternoon, after our hike at Irroquoi(spelling?) Wildlife Refuge, in their pool but due to the dogs I decided on coming back home to spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing on my own. What should've been a 40 minute drive home turned into closer to an hour and a half - I sat in line at the toll booths for what seemed like forever.
Have you ever heard of a 4 year old racing 4-wheelers and dirt bikes? I'm not one who wants to be the ever overbearing mother but I think it's crazy to let your kid race those things so young. The only kid at the party this weekend was the son of the brother of one of my friends and he was drinking alcohol and coffee and running all over the place, I thought that was absolutely crazy. I was allowed sips of alcohol from my mother when I was younger but never was I allowed to finish off half a bottle of smirnoff when I was 4. That kid is going to end up very messed up if he doesn't die. Actually his father reminds me of my uncle, always calling his kid names when the boy backs out of something "manly." I think that's horrible.
I spent the night on my friend's couch. My sleep was interrupted numerous times by dogs, cats, and people coming and going at all hours of the night. It was crazy.
They cooked a great breakfast and then we went hiking. They were so great to have me for the weekend. I had a good time for once and actually had the opportunity to enjoy being out of the city.
Friday, July 4, 2008
A 4th of July I WILL Remember
This year's 4th of July has been quite different from last year's, however each had their own pros and cons. The major pro of last year was being able to spend the evening with some of my wonderful friends, even if the night didn't end up being very pretty - Thanks Amy, Emily, Maegen, Mark, and everyone else who was there. If you can't guess, I spent this year by myself, the major con of this year being that I couldn't spend the day with Aaron, although even though he hasn't been here I couldn't ask for more from him. The major pro of this year was that I was able to sit down with a glass (or two) of some cheap champaign and watch three different fireworks displays out the windows of my apartment, two one direction and the other in another direction from my place. It's been nice to just relax, especially after work yesterday.
And then there's tomorrow - Party Time!
And then there's tomorrow - Party Time!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Long Day
I love clean laundry but I don't enjoy folding it and putting it away.
Today was a LONG day. Got to the office and started working on a mapping project, however ArcGIS was not cooperating. Ever since we got an update for the program installed on our computers the program has become incredibly slow - almost like using a computer from the early 90's as compared to computers now. It took me 45 minutes to draw 2 lines.
Then there was the teleconference. Today's teleconference required mandatory attendance of all NRCS employees, doesn't matter if you're only working with them for another month and a half. It was about how to use the program GovTrip - it's used for scheduling flights, cars, lodging, etc. for going on trips paid for by the government. I will never be using it unless I decide not to go to grad school and work for the NRCS or any other government agency in the future. That took 2 and a half hours and for much of it people were trying to figure out who's phone was causing the static that was heard by everyone and people had a hard time following directions. I got nothing out of it, it just kept me from getting things accomplished.
I did get one thing done today. I finally was able to get the mapping for the WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program) application finished. I then talked with the state biologist (Shana) about what was going on with the mapping and she helped me establish the ranking for this particular site. I enjoyed that much better than when I went out to check on a manure storage site at a horrible dairy farm.
This afternoon I took a long lunch - whoops, oh well, I deserved a break after this morning. Then I went to a meeting of the Cattaragus Watershed Committee. It was oooooh so boring - I sat there doodling in my notebook pretending to take notes. I really think that nothing was accomplished at the meeting either. It was stupid. Sometimes I just don't understand how this country gets anything done
Today was a LONG day. Got to the office and started working on a mapping project, however ArcGIS was not cooperating. Ever since we got an update for the program installed on our computers the program has become incredibly slow - almost like using a computer from the early 90's as compared to computers now. It took me 45 minutes to draw 2 lines.
Then there was the teleconference. Today's teleconference required mandatory attendance of all NRCS employees, doesn't matter if you're only working with them for another month and a half. It was about how to use the program GovTrip - it's used for scheduling flights, cars, lodging, etc. for going on trips paid for by the government. I will never be using it unless I decide not to go to grad school and work for the NRCS or any other government agency in the future. That took 2 and a half hours and for much of it people were trying to figure out who's phone was causing the static that was heard by everyone and people had a hard time following directions. I got nothing out of it, it just kept me from getting things accomplished.
I did get one thing done today. I finally was able to get the mapping for the WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program) application finished. I then talked with the state biologist (Shana) about what was going on with the mapping and she helped me establish the ranking for this particular site. I enjoyed that much better than when I went out to check on a manure storage site at a horrible dairy farm.
This afternoon I took a long lunch - whoops, oh well, I deserved a break after this morning. Then I went to a meeting of the Cattaragus Watershed Committee. It was oooooh so boring - I sat there doodling in my notebook pretending to take notes. I really think that nothing was accomplished at the meeting either. It was stupid. Sometimes I just don't understand how this country gets anything done
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Party Time
So I am starting to make some friends, sort of. I got invited to a 4th of July party at the house the regional biologist - Shana. She's pretty cool, we get along pretty well. And the one other person close to my age in the East Aurora office who works for the SWCD, Craig, and his fiancee are most likely going to be coming to the party as well. I've heard so much about Craig's fiancee and all of their wedding planning but I've never actually met her. It'll be nice to do something with people I know this weekend.
Thanks
I really appreciate all my friends at home who keep reminding me that they're still there for me. It really means a lot, especially since I feel like I'm starting to complain a lot. Hopefully things will pick up and get a bit better. But thanks guys! I miss you all!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
