Saturday, September 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Deals to Meals
Ok, so I realize it's been years...
And I know that's really pathetic...
But the first step is always the hardest and things improve, right? And a super cool site I just found has finally provided me the motivation to do what I'm supposed to do:
Deals to Meals is a super cool website anyway that is going to be a big part of helping me with all of my transitioning to living on food storage now while John's going back to school and we're starving starving starving, but now they're also giving away a Bosch bread mixer that would SAVE me since we don't even have a stand mixer or a wheat grinder or anything yet!
So, one of the ways to enter the contest is to post about. So here I am. But while I'm posting, I'll just say it's definitely worth checking out! And if I can figure out how to do it, I'll add a button to their site on my blog anyway!
Later...and I really will try to do better!
And I know that's really pathetic...
But the first step is always the hardest and things improve, right? And a super cool site I just found has finally provided me the motivation to do what I'm supposed to do:
Deals to Meals is a super cool website anyway that is going to be a big part of helping me with all of my transitioning to living on food storage now while John's going back to school and we're starving starving starving, but now they're also giving away a Bosch bread mixer that would SAVE me since we don't even have a stand mixer or a wheat grinder or anything yet!
So, one of the ways to enter the contest is to post about. So here I am. But while I'm posting, I'll just say it's definitely worth checking out! And if I can figure out how to do it, I'll add a button to their site on my blog anyway!
Later...and I really will try to do better!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Secretarying
Well, the 2007 USAS/UPAC Convention is officially OVER!!! Celebrate one less thing to juggle! It went off well, though, and I'm tired but satisfied. I was, as expected, voted in as statewide secretary. The President's Meeting was this morning and went fairly well. I'm sitting here trying to work up the motivation to type up the minutes and get them sent off to the webmaster, now. Oy. But I don't think things will be as difficult as they could be, so I suppose I'll survive and it'll be a good experience to operate with such a good-sized organization.
Other than that, work goes well, and I'm completely happy. Wish we'd gotten more snow-pack in the mountains--fire season is gonna be bad--but for the most part it's going to be a light field-season. In light of my continuing back problems, it's probably for the best.
That said, I'm jetting off Thursday with John to see the Manti Pageant and crash overnight with a friend there. Then on to Zion NP for a weekend camping trip with the Jolley-Odenwalder clan...well, the parts not in Taiwan and Florida! It should be really fun and a nice opportunity to see how John handles three days in the wilderness...a critical test-point for me. =)
You know, one of these days, he's gonna start reading this and I'll be in trouble for everything I've written. =) That said, he'll actually probably get a kick out of it. Things are going well, but we're trying to keep it slow, though, so, he won't read this anytime soon. Too much random musing-style bizarroness for a boy to handle until he's thoroughly smitten. =)
It's now 171 days until Angela and I fly out for our Disney trip. She still doesn't know the details, and I figure there perfect for the flight rather than anytime before then. But I think we're both doing relatively well at staying excited for a trip that's still more than a season away!
Other than that, work goes well, and I'm completely happy. Wish we'd gotten more snow-pack in the mountains--fire season is gonna be bad--but for the most part it's going to be a light field-season. In light of my continuing back problems, it's probably for the best.
That said, I'm jetting off Thursday with John to see the Manti Pageant and crash overnight with a friend there. Then on to Zion NP for a weekend camping trip with the Jolley-Odenwalder clan...well, the parts not in Taiwan and Florida! It should be really fun and a nice opportunity to see how John handles three days in the wilderness...a critical test-point for me. =)
You know, one of these days, he's gonna start reading this and I'll be in trouble for everything I've written. =) That said, he'll actually probably get a kick out of it. Things are going well, but we're trying to keep it slow, though, so, he won't read this anytime soon. Too much random musing-style bizarroness for a boy to handle until he's thoroughly smitten. =)
It's now 171 days until Angela and I fly out for our Disney trip. She still doesn't know the details, and I figure there perfect for the flight rather than anytime before then. But I think we're both doing relatively well at staying excited for a trip that's still more than a season away!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
SIR Winter 2007
Semesters-In-Review ought to be long detailed accounts of specific achievements and failures. I have one 12 page paper left to do and the semester is over. Gotta be honest, it's not a particularly memorable, or worthy of recording, semester as school goes.
GIS was definitely worth taking and totally doesn't deserve to be a 4 credit class! It'll look good on the resume and I did pick up a few neat tips that I didn't know about before, so that's cool. I've got access to the ESRI training module online until next January, too, which is super.
Southwest Seminar was sometimes tedious, and I won't remember most of the details of the cultures and time periods, but it was very educational in terms of enlightening me to the very real differences in approach between Great Basin and Southwest archaeology. Such a pity we don't do real theory up north. The most important development, I guess, is a healthy appreciation for the importance of community studies. Not surprising given that Jim taught this one. Ultimately, if I had to sum up my feelings towards the class, though, it'd have to be something like "mmmm, Chaco...road trip...mmmm!"
History of Archaeology was the only class I actually needed this semester and I certainly would have had a lot more time to burn had I just stuck to this one and a bunch of thesis credits. Alas! But it was good for me. I really enjoyed this class. A good review of all the basics and some insights that I missed in previous theory-type classes. Jaime is a fabulous lecturer (this statement may be biased since she rarely actually lectured and bought us breakfast several times). I enjoyed the youthful and Oxfordian perspective on things. Made me dream of Cambridge a tidge without any intention of follow-through.
I defended my thesis proposal, too. I'd consider linking it here, but we changed what I'll actually do so thoroughly in the 1 1/2 hours we sat there that it wouldn't do any good. I'm excited by those changes, however, as they've turned the basic content back to my primary interests. I'm not particularly motivated enough to write about them here just now, but I'm sure you'll be subjected to more as the year goes on.
As far as extra-curriculars, I've got quite a lovable boy that I spend a goodly portion of time with these days. As a result, I haven't hung out with friends and such as much, but I consider it a fair trade for now. Work has been like pulling teeth. I've just really never had the time to make hours and it's frustrating and a half. But that's life.
And now, all that's left is the thesis! I'm back on full-time with the Uinta for the summer and probably part of the fall, though that'll be out of the archaeology shop doing recreation house permitting, and I'll probably try to keep putting in some hours for Jim and Dr Clark. My weekends are gonna save my life this summer, but in theory, I'll come out of the end of the federal fiscal year in better financial standing than I've been in all through grad school. Ish. If only we didn't have to deal with money! What junk it really is. Ironic--my thesis will deal with economic status. But not nearly as much as it would have, so it's all good.
Well, that's about it. Anything interesting, I'm sure, will be posted. Check out utaharchaeology.org for details on the up-and-coming Utah Statewide Archaeological Society/Utah Professional Archaeologist Council conference in Orem. I did the graphic design for the logo. We're printed it up on water bottles and they turned out pretty cool, if I do say so. One less thing to get done in the next month!
GIS was definitely worth taking and totally doesn't deserve to be a 4 credit class! It'll look good on the resume and I did pick up a few neat tips that I didn't know about before, so that's cool. I've got access to the ESRI training module online until next January, too, which is super.
Southwest Seminar was sometimes tedious, and I won't remember most of the details of the cultures and time periods, but it was very educational in terms of enlightening me to the very real differences in approach between Great Basin and Southwest archaeology. Such a pity we don't do real theory up north. The most important development, I guess, is a healthy appreciation for the importance of community studies. Not surprising given that Jim taught this one. Ultimately, if I had to sum up my feelings towards the class, though, it'd have to be something like "mmmm, Chaco...road trip...mmmm!"
History of Archaeology was the only class I actually needed this semester and I certainly would have had a lot more time to burn had I just stuck to this one and a bunch of thesis credits. Alas! But it was good for me. I really enjoyed this class. A good review of all the basics and some insights that I missed in previous theory-type classes. Jaime is a fabulous lecturer (this statement may be biased since she rarely actually lectured and bought us breakfast several times). I enjoyed the youthful and Oxfordian perspective on things. Made me dream of Cambridge a tidge without any intention of follow-through.
I defended my thesis proposal, too. I'd consider linking it here, but we changed what I'll actually do so thoroughly in the 1 1/2 hours we sat there that it wouldn't do any good. I'm excited by those changes, however, as they've turned the basic content back to my primary interests. I'm not particularly motivated enough to write about them here just now, but I'm sure you'll be subjected to more as the year goes on.
As far as extra-curriculars, I've got quite a lovable boy that I spend a goodly portion of time with these days. As a result, I haven't hung out with friends and such as much, but I consider it a fair trade for now. Work has been like pulling teeth. I've just really never had the time to make hours and it's frustrating and a half. But that's life.
And now, all that's left is the thesis! I'm back on full-time with the Uinta for the summer and probably part of the fall, though that'll be out of the archaeology shop doing recreation house permitting, and I'll probably try to keep putting in some hours for Jim and Dr Clark. My weekends are gonna save my life this summer, but in theory, I'll come out of the end of the federal fiscal year in better financial standing than I've been in all through grad school. Ish. If only we didn't have to deal with money! What junk it really is. Ironic--my thesis will deal with economic status. But not nearly as much as it would have, so it's all good.
Well, that's about it. Anything interesting, I'm sure, will be posted. Check out utaharchaeology.org for details on the up-and-coming Utah Statewide Archaeological Society/Utah Professional Archaeologist Council conference in Orem. I did the graphic design for the logo. We're printed it up on water bottles and they turned out pretty cool, if I do say so. One less thing to get done in the next month!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
"Daddy, I met a man in Rome..."
So maybe it was my ward instead of Rome, but he really is "wonderful and brilliant". Now don't get me wrong, the final phrase of this Father of the Bride reminisce, "and we're getting married," isn't coming any time soon, but I thought while I'm sitting here twitterpated I might as well blog about it. Hokey much? Ay well!
Well, now I've mentioned it, I guess I have to talk about it: I've been dating this guy for about a month. He's in my ward and is a Statistics major at the Y. Great guy--very level headed and uber-focused on the Gospel, which is really good for me. I met his family Saturday and ended up watching a session of General Conference with them on Sunday. Good people.
We were talking about it today and decided that we're one of those unlikely couples that noone ever would have called and people don't quite understand. That said, we've both liked each other since the fall, so in a way, it was only a matter of time until he got guts enough to ask me out. =)
My favorite thing about him? He's a spiritual giant. Not just an RM or a worthy priesthood holder, or whatever, but an absolute giant. Makes me my very best self when I'm with him and he seems to think I'm worth being with. Crazy but true, so there it is.
Anyway, juvenile to post about? Perhaps, but barring allowing myself to spend the next hour writing in my journal about every silly detail that I'm not foolish enough to bore the general internet audience with, I thought this might be a good way to get things off my chest--having just had lunch with him--so I can hunker down and study until all odd hours of the night so we can hang out together again tomorrow!
Well, now I've mentioned it, I guess I have to talk about it: I've been dating this guy for about a month. He's in my ward and is a Statistics major at the Y. Great guy--very level headed and uber-focused on the Gospel, which is really good for me. I met his family Saturday and ended up watching a session of General Conference with them on Sunday. Good people.
We were talking about it today and decided that we're one of those unlikely couples that noone ever would have called and people don't quite understand. That said, we've both liked each other since the fall, so in a way, it was only a matter of time until he got guts enough to ask me out. =)
My favorite thing about him? He's a spiritual giant. Not just an RM or a worthy priesthood holder, or whatever, but an absolute giant. Makes me my very best self when I'm with him and he seems to think I'm worth being with. Crazy but true, so there it is.
Anyway, juvenile to post about? Perhaps, but barring allowing myself to spend the next hour writing in my journal about every silly detail that I'm not foolish enough to bore the general internet audience with, I thought this might be a good way to get things off my chest--having just had lunch with him--so I can hunker down and study until all odd hours of the night so we can hang out together again tomorrow!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Time and the SFLC
I think this is a recurring theme for all of us and don't suppose I'm offering any new insight, but isn't it amazing how time flies even as it drags on?
This has probably been one of the longest weeks of my brief life thus far, and it's not even noon on Wednesday. Maybe weeks tend to feel long when you never catch your breath over the weekend before...
All of this dragging on, of course, is also part of the natural progress for the end of a semester. We've got less than 4 weeks left, now, and that means most of the little assignments are over and all the big ones are looming large. My first big deadline is next Monday and don't think for a second I'm not far too aware of how much I've got to do by then. So why isn't the week flying by? One would think I'd be so rushed that I'd be running running running until I suddenly realized it was 11 and I ought to think about catching a few hours of sleep. But instead, time is eeking by. I feel as if I am genuinely living every second with a consciousness of what impact the passing of that second may have on my life. So here I've invested give-or-take 6,000 seconds in contemplation of the passing time because I've become so darned aware of it that I can't help but turn my attention to it. And that, of course, prevents me from doing the things that would allow me to have less stress associated with all these little seconds.
Vicious cycle. But then, what isn't? It's ll just one eternal round of life-as-we-know it.
On an entirely different topic, I've had all sorts of bizarre memory-images of the old Smith Family Living Center at BYU in the last few weeks. I had class there once or twice during my undergrad, but it was knocked down and built over years ago. There's a part of that building that I can't quite picture clearly anymore and it's about driving me crazy. Was it one big room or several small ones? Step down or up? Or maybe it was just another hallway with a few offices... Whatever it was, my mind's eye seems to be suddenly fixating on it and I haven't the foggiest why. See my point? Another vicious cycle. We have so very little control over our own brains, let alone our time...what in the world will be subjected upon us over the course of eternity?
This has probably been one of the longest weeks of my brief life thus far, and it's not even noon on Wednesday. Maybe weeks tend to feel long when you never catch your breath over the weekend before...
All of this dragging on, of course, is also part of the natural progress for the end of a semester. We've got less than 4 weeks left, now, and that means most of the little assignments are over and all the big ones are looming large. My first big deadline is next Monday and don't think for a second I'm not far too aware of how much I've got to do by then. So why isn't the week flying by? One would think I'd be so rushed that I'd be running running running until I suddenly realized it was 11 and I ought to think about catching a few hours of sleep. But instead, time is eeking by. I feel as if I am genuinely living every second with a consciousness of what impact the passing of that second may have on my life. So here I've invested give-or-take 6,000 seconds in contemplation of the passing time because I've become so darned aware of it that I can't help but turn my attention to it. And that, of course, prevents me from doing the things that would allow me to have less stress associated with all these little seconds.
Vicious cycle. But then, what isn't? It's ll just one eternal round of life-as-we-know it.
On an entirely different topic, I've had all sorts of bizarre memory-images of the old Smith Family Living Center at BYU in the last few weeks. I had class there once or twice during my undergrad, but it was knocked down and built over years ago. There's a part of that building that I can't quite picture clearly anymore and it's about driving me crazy. Was it one big room or several small ones? Step down or up? Or maybe it was just another hallway with a few offices... Whatever it was, my mind's eye seems to be suddenly fixating on it and I haven't the foggiest why. See my point? Another vicious cycle. We have so very little control over our own brains, let alone our time...what in the world will be subjected upon us over the course of eternity?
Saturday, March 10, 2007
There's something to be said...
...for being a lady. I've only recently discovered this one. Shocker, eh? But it's none the less true. About three weeks ago, my roommate started lecturing me--"If you'd act a little more proper, I swear you could have any guy you want." Ok, try me. The result: I'm not allowed to get really comfortable or have my elbows on the table, but I've been out on an amazing date! Go fig!
...for prioritizing in reverse. Let me review this principle if you haven't read all my entries and encountered this before--you've got this BIG thing coming up in your life, like the biggest ever. It haunts your dreams. You feel intense guilt doing anything else because it means you're neglecting preparation for that one BIG thing. So make yourself a list. What else do you have to do? I mean the little things that you've probably been back-burnering for months now. Ok, rank these things. The BIG thing is #1 and let's say you've got 20 things total. Ok. Now reverse the list and start doing everything, in order, with a very realistic idea of how much time each thing will take. You probably won't sleep for the next few days, but when the BIG thing is over, you've not only eliminated the pressure of that one responsibility but also all the other little things that just quietly haunt you. Granted, it won't take you more than a couple days to have a new list of 20 things to back burner. Take a week off and then lather, rinse, repeat.
...for cultivating an ability to smile no matter what. It's simply a scientific fact that those who can keep a light optimistic attitude will go through life with greater ease and satisfaction, no matter the trial. Why's this one on my mind? I just defended my MA thesis proposal. Two hours of being grilled by one particular professor on every detail of the research design, which he, in essence, found boring and inapplicable. I went into those two hours knowing he would do it, too. So I just smiled (to myself, granted) and decided to bend and flex instead of letting him belittle me. To his credit, he handled well having a student get a little cheeky with him. =) And in the end, I showed myself just flexible enough to change that we worked out a whole new plan that looks rather remarkably like what I proposed a year ago and had completely shot down. Hmmm...so if I come up with it, it's crap, but if you come up with the exact same thing, it's academic and appropriately challenging and insightful. Amazing.
...for prioritizing in reverse. Let me review this principle if you haven't read all my entries and encountered this before--you've got this BIG thing coming up in your life, like the biggest ever. It haunts your dreams. You feel intense guilt doing anything else because it means you're neglecting preparation for that one BIG thing. So make yourself a list. What else do you have to do? I mean the little things that you've probably been back-burnering for months now. Ok, rank these things. The BIG thing is #1 and let's say you've got 20 things total. Ok. Now reverse the list and start doing everything, in order, with a very realistic idea of how much time each thing will take. You probably won't sleep for the next few days, but when the BIG thing is over, you've not only eliminated the pressure of that one responsibility but also all the other little things that just quietly haunt you. Granted, it won't take you more than a couple days to have a new list of 20 things to back burner. Take a week off and then lather, rinse, repeat.
...for cultivating an ability to smile no matter what. It's simply a scientific fact that those who can keep a light optimistic attitude will go through life with greater ease and satisfaction, no matter the trial. Why's this one on my mind? I just defended my MA thesis proposal. Two hours of being grilled by one particular professor on every detail of the research design, which he, in essence, found boring and inapplicable. I went into those two hours knowing he would do it, too. So I just smiled (to myself, granted) and decided to bend and flex instead of letting him belittle me. To his credit, he handled well having a student get a little cheeky with him. =) And in the end, I showed myself just flexible enough to change that we worked out a whole new plan that looks rather remarkably like what I proposed a year ago and had completely shot down. Hmmm...so if I come up with it, it's crap, but if you come up with the exact same thing, it's academic and appropriately challenging and insightful. Amazing.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Piracy
I think piracy may be our only option...it's far to enjoyable to pass up on. The ward had a pirate party last month. There were a number of awards given (I took home best wench for turning my corset around and covering it with cream lace which you unfortunately can't see in this photo) including best pirate (three way tie shown below) and best gay? pirate (that would be Mike--above--in a women's shirt he found in his basement. If you could see the sparklies on it, you'd fully appreciate how much he deserved this).
It was an overall success. I was very pleased. Glad to finally have a functioning committee to plan these things. By the by, the little Captain Jack in the above center is my new co-chair.
Piracy could solve so many of the world's problems, though, if you think about it. Or at least it could solve my problems! I could force someone else to publish in my name and to finish my thesis, which would be particularly wonderful but also heinously wicked. I could also steal a Mazda 3. Don't get me wrong--I love my little Subi--but sometimes there's a deep inner part of my soul that just whispers "zoom, zoom" and starts me salivating.
My views on these matters may be affected by the fact that I just pulled an all-nighter on-campus and am somewhat angry at the world. Not good since I'm about to lead an hour and a half long discussion...hopefully I can keep my tongue in check, but then again,
"Pirate!"
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Singing
So for a few years I've been painfully aware that I've begun to lose the training that I once had simply from lack of practice. I sang All-State in high school and was highest score audition in the community chorale, so coming to Utah and giving up singing noticeably lowered my artsy-fartsy fulfillment quotient. That said, it's not like I'm remotely the biz-snatch of choir singers, but I certainly have had my fair share of experience working with different directors.
Today I got roped into joining a stake choir for their easter performance. I love to sing and yes, I have absolutely resolved to get back into the practice of being actively involved in choirs, but I didn't sign up for Choir Singing 101. Do optional specialty choirs really need directors who treat them like freshmen in high school choir?! I understand personality differences and when a person has their own arrangements, you add in a whole emotional level that's really quite difficult, but I don't think it's necessary to talk down to people. It's not horribly bad...or even enough to get me to quit, but I wish I'd known the director going in. A little mental preparation for "ooohhh, maybe you don't understand my beat pattern, let me explain it again" would have been nice. Se la vie...in the future I'll be ready for it... ...and one and two and...
Today I got roped into joining a stake choir for their easter performance. I love to sing and yes, I have absolutely resolved to get back into the practice of being actively involved in choirs, but I didn't sign up for Choir Singing 101. Do optional specialty choirs really need directors who treat them like freshmen in high school choir?! I understand personality differences and when a person has their own arrangements, you add in a whole emotional level that's really quite difficult, but I don't think it's necessary to talk down to people. It's not horribly bad...or even enough to get me to quit, but I wish I'd known the director going in. A little mental preparation for "ooohhh, maybe you don't understand my beat pattern, let me explain it again" would have been nice. Se la vie...in the future I'll be ready for it... ...and one and two and...
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Up and Coming
Just started a new slough of classes. Joy...
Intro to GIS--mostly looks like it's gonna be painfully easy considering my experience level, but it looks good on the transcript.
History of Archaeology--taught by our youngest professor, Jaime Bartlett, who's finishing up her dissertation at Oxford. My fifth theory class, but I think the historical take on it will be interesting. This will hopefully motivate me to get aggressive about working with Clark on the theory text.
Southwest Seminar--totally taking this for fun, though it's certainly useful! Jim's teaching it and there're only three of us in there, so it'll be nice cozy discussion and personal insight heavy. It'll be my most time consuming class, though.
Other than that, I'm really aiming for end of the month/beginning of February to defend my thesis proposal, so I've gotta get cracking. Ultimately, this means there's no more play time in the ward. I'm going to try to preserve my weekends, but even that's looking sketchy. Next Monday's a holiday, thank goodness, so I'll try to get a jump on things.
Rather uninteresting, isn't it? Alas. But on a slightly more unique note, I start physical therapy for my lower back next Tuesday and just picked up a goodly sized run of muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatories. Also, I gave blood today for the first time in quite awhile. It normally takes me like 45 minutes for a pint, but I bled out in 10 minutes! Fabu! This is obviously a sign that I'm becoming more and more watered-down as I age...
Intro to GIS--mostly looks like it's gonna be painfully easy considering my experience level, but it looks good on the transcript.
History of Archaeology--taught by our youngest professor, Jaime Bartlett, who's finishing up her dissertation at Oxford. My fifth theory class, but I think the historical take on it will be interesting. This will hopefully motivate me to get aggressive about working with Clark on the theory text.
Southwest Seminar--totally taking this for fun, though it's certainly useful! Jim's teaching it and there're only three of us in there, so it'll be nice cozy discussion and personal insight heavy. It'll be my most time consuming class, though.
Other than that, I'm really aiming for end of the month/beginning of February to defend my thesis proposal, so I've gotta get cracking. Ultimately, this means there's no more play time in the ward. I'm going to try to preserve my weekends, but even that's looking sketchy. Next Monday's a holiday, thank goodness, so I'll try to get a jump on things.
Rather uninteresting, isn't it? Alas. But on a slightly more unique note, I start physical therapy for my lower back next Tuesday and just picked up a goodly sized run of muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatories. Also, I gave blood today for the first time in quite awhile. It normally takes me like 45 minutes for a pint, but I bled out in 10 minutes! Fabu! This is obviously a sign that I'm becoming more and more watered-down as I age...
Saturday, December 30, 2006
An only slightly bitter diatribe...
Is there no escape from christmas songs anywhere anymore? Man, call me a scrooge...and on many levels it's a perfectly accurate assessment...but I thought there was at least still a treasured respite from holiday cheeriness on the Country radio stations, but alas! Even they have become so frittered with so-called heartfelt warmth and mistletoe junk that I haven't been able to listen to them all month. Glad it's finally over. A couple more days of Auld Lang Syne and we can all go back to a sane existence. That said, kudos to Salt Lake's Classic Rock station, The Arrow, for doing an A to Z Beattles marathon on Christmas Day. It kept me alert and, ironically, cheery all the way home from my parents'! Loved it. Only slightly more entertaining would be the 'let your New Year's resolution be more margaritas' Jimmy Buffet marathon, but I don't think the nation is ready for that! =)
But in all seriousness, I just don't love the hub-bub of the holiday season. Partly because change inevitably broke in on some of the fondest memories of my childhood and removed the extended family togetherness bonus, but also because I just don't see what the logic is in making the biggest shopping holiday fall during the most dangerous, icy, part of the year. It's like inviting tragedy into your home...perhaps you ought to leave cookies out for Death as well as Santa. On Discworld it'd be perfectly reasonable, but come on!
On a brighter note, fourteen people recently survived an Extended Version LOTR marathon which went from 7pm to 7am and produced way too many bizarre combinations of both committal and non-committal cuddle opportunities in an otherwise previously unattached group! I fell asleep on a couch cushion after breakfast and didn't resurface until after noon. So much for work, but whatever. It was an experience, to be sure, but I felt like an utter lump for the rest of the day. If I wasn't such a pansy about the ice I'd have gone running to make up for 12 hours alternating between a couch and the questionably clean floor of a guy's apartment.
Back to school in just over a week and it's gonna be a killer semester. Ish. But I suppose this is where I get all that character ppl say you ought to have, eh? Why did I think I could make it in a thesis program?!! Before I face Madam Guillotine in the form of Jim's Southwest Seminar, though, I'm taking a camping trip to the Grand Canyon with a couple of the guys in my ward and then flying to LA to visit a former roommate. Life is good so long as you don't get trapped! Hence my Frost addiction: something there is that doesn't love a wall, indeed! It's ME. I get it from my dad, so at least I can trace the wanderlust and feel better about myself, right?! =)
Well anyway, best put myself to sleep. It's been awfully quiet without roommates around...miss them, though the house has stayed a fair bit cleaner without them. (That said, you wouldn't believe how much crap has wandered out of my room into the hall as I've been building a new shelving unit to get control over all my books. It's strange that the room looks more crowded now, but it's way better organized)
Oh, I finally watched Casablanca! Not the story I expected, entirely, but really actually enjoyable. It'll never be a favorite, but Rick is a pretty cool character. So, eh hem, Mr Bogart, here's looking at you, kid!
But in all seriousness, I just don't love the hub-bub of the holiday season. Partly because change inevitably broke in on some of the fondest memories of my childhood and removed the extended family togetherness bonus, but also because I just don't see what the logic is in making the biggest shopping holiday fall during the most dangerous, icy, part of the year. It's like inviting tragedy into your home...perhaps you ought to leave cookies out for Death as well as Santa. On Discworld it'd be perfectly reasonable, but come on!
On a brighter note, fourteen people recently survived an Extended Version LOTR marathon which went from 7pm to 7am and produced way too many bizarre combinations of both committal and non-committal cuddle opportunities in an otherwise previously unattached group! I fell asleep on a couch cushion after breakfast and didn't resurface until after noon. So much for work, but whatever. It was an experience, to be sure, but I felt like an utter lump for the rest of the day. If I wasn't such a pansy about the ice I'd have gone running to make up for 12 hours alternating between a couch and the questionably clean floor of a guy's apartment.
Back to school in just over a week and it's gonna be a killer semester. Ish. But I suppose this is where I get all that character ppl say you ought to have, eh? Why did I think I could make it in a thesis program?!! Before I face Madam Guillotine in the form of Jim's Southwest Seminar, though, I'm taking a camping trip to the Grand Canyon with a couple of the guys in my ward and then flying to LA to visit a former roommate. Life is good so long as you don't get trapped! Hence my Frost addiction: something there is that doesn't love a wall, indeed! It's ME. I get it from my dad, so at least I can trace the wanderlust and feel better about myself, right?! =)
Well anyway, best put myself to sleep. It's been awfully quiet without roommates around...miss them, though the house has stayed a fair bit cleaner without them. (That said, you wouldn't believe how much crap has wandered out of my room into the hall as I've been building a new shelving unit to get control over all my books. It's strange that the room looks more crowded now, but it's way better organized)
Oh, I finally watched Casablanca! Not the story I expected, entirely, but really actually enjoyable. It'll never be a favorite, but Rick is a pretty cool character. So, eh hem, Mr Bogart, here's looking at you, kid!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Jenny's SIR
Ah semester in review time once again...what could be more enjoyable than reflecting on the anguish and pain all over again, re-opening wounds and salting them with anticipation of next semester's requirements! Here goes:
If I had to sum up this semester in a mantra, it would be: forage, sleep, farm, repeat. I spent the better part of the first couple of months working with the Forest Service and finishing out the season's fieldwork. In addition, I finally managed to pull together my Farmer/Forager research about an hour before presenting it at the GBAC. That was the highlight of the semester, since it was my first 'real' presentation, though I still feel like I got jipped out of a really good 'Simms makes a scene' moment. According to Dr J, everybody's favorite Little Elf Man has decided--after 20 years, mind you--to accept that his theory needs work and he needn't be offended by those who attempt to move it in a more reasonable direction. Thank heaven!
I finally finished my paper version of that research today, actually, and have washed my hands of the great J himself until I get it together enough to defend my thesis proposal...so much for doing THAT in October! The delay has actually worked out, though, since it gave me a change to become better acquainted with Matt Seddon, the new Utah SHPO, and get him on board as a committee member. Charmaine and I took him out to Vernon to talk about eligibility and chaining on surface sites. We couldn't resist showing off our homesteads and, being the fellow rust-appreciator that he is, Matt was interested in my thesis and offered his assistance. His insider track on the Level III project, etc is really going to help when I get into the comparison of homesteading at Benmore to railroading in the area! Matt's a great guy--it's nice to know that someone with a personality is up there reading our reports.
I only took one class this semester--History 566: Sources and Problems in Utah History. Thomas Alexander came out of BYU retirement to teach it, which has turned out really amazingly since he's pretty much the world's expert on all things Utah history. It was interesting to see the difference in the historian approach--as we chose our books from the selected bibliography, I noticed that the three history students most often chose those that were focused on a specific individual's experience. In contrast, I tended toward those that were broader and emphasized the history of many in a specific place. Granted, I also tended to choose the shortest book on the list...dunno why those thick history types didn't think to check lengths online--there was often a wide range of lengths from 150 to 400. All in all, the class has done little to provide thesis sources, which was my initial hope, but has really assisted me in putting all my little rusty bits into context.
That's about it. Fairly uneventful. I spent a lot of time out of town or otherwise occupied with non-school items, so I've been really bad about getting the prelim for 42WS1931 out from field school last season, but now that the Fremont paper is done, I'll be better able to knock that out.
Up next, back to heavy course loads with History of Archaeology by Jamie Bartlett, SW Seminar by Jim Allison (this one's gonna be great, the texts books look pretty good), and that GIS class that Molly and Brad took this semester. I'm also hoping to delve into my thesis pretty seriously, atleast as much as possible without completed field work, and to finish up the 9 season Vernon PIT report. This is gonna have some pretty nifty 'fun with lithics' moments, if all goes well. It may lead to some sort of publication on the paleo-archaic points out there, but we'll see what we find next season. I'm still all melty over the 8-inch edge-ground concave base beauty I found in August. Sexy, sexy...even if it HAS been cow trampled into 6 pieces! Dang Bovines.
If I had to sum up this semester in a mantra, it would be: forage, sleep, farm, repeat. I spent the better part of the first couple of months working with the Forest Service and finishing out the season's fieldwork. In addition, I finally managed to pull together my Farmer/Forager research about an hour before presenting it at the GBAC. That was the highlight of the semester, since it was my first 'real' presentation, though I still feel like I got jipped out of a really good 'Simms makes a scene' moment. According to Dr J, everybody's favorite Little Elf Man has decided--after 20 years, mind you--to accept that his theory needs work and he needn't be offended by those who attempt to move it in a more reasonable direction. Thank heaven!
I finally finished my paper version of that research today, actually, and have washed my hands of the great J himself until I get it together enough to defend my thesis proposal...so much for doing THAT in October! The delay has actually worked out, though, since it gave me a change to become better acquainted with Matt Seddon, the new Utah SHPO, and get him on board as a committee member. Charmaine and I took him out to Vernon to talk about eligibility and chaining on surface sites. We couldn't resist showing off our homesteads and, being the fellow rust-appreciator that he is, Matt was interested in my thesis and offered his assistance. His insider track on the Level III project, etc is really going to help when I get into the comparison of homesteading at Benmore to railroading in the area! Matt's a great guy--it's nice to know that someone with a personality is up there reading our reports.
I only took one class this semester--History 566: Sources and Problems in Utah History. Thomas Alexander came out of BYU retirement to teach it, which has turned out really amazingly since he's pretty much the world's expert on all things Utah history. It was interesting to see the difference in the historian approach--as we chose our books from the selected bibliography, I noticed that the three history students most often chose those that were focused on a specific individual's experience. In contrast, I tended toward those that were broader and emphasized the history of many in a specific place. Granted, I also tended to choose the shortest book on the list...dunno why those thick history types didn't think to check lengths online--there was often a wide range of lengths from 150 to 400. All in all, the class has done little to provide thesis sources, which was my initial hope, but has really assisted me in putting all my little rusty bits into context.
That's about it. Fairly uneventful. I spent a lot of time out of town or otherwise occupied with non-school items, so I've been really bad about getting the prelim for 42WS1931 out from field school last season, but now that the Fremont paper is done, I'll be better able to knock that out.
Up next, back to heavy course loads with History of Archaeology by Jamie Bartlett, SW Seminar by Jim Allison (this one's gonna be great, the texts books look pretty good), and that GIS class that Molly and Brad took this semester. I'm also hoping to delve into my thesis pretty seriously, atleast as much as possible without completed field work, and to finish up the 9 season Vernon PIT report. This is gonna have some pretty nifty 'fun with lithics' moments, if all goes well. It may lead to some sort of publication on the paleo-archaic points out there, but we'll see what we find next season. I'm still all melty over the 8-inch edge-ground concave base beauty I found in August. Sexy, sexy...even if it HAS been cow trampled into 6 pieces! Dang Bovines.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Write, Check Email, Repeat
I have an essay due at 3pm. It's now 11. I'm not crunched for time yet, so the juices haven't flowed and you know what that means! I'm sitting in the library thinking up every dumb little time wasting thing I can do. Pathetic, I know, but I just don't work well unless I'm under major pressure. Sigh. Well, despite all that, I suppose I'll have to get it done before the reserve book is due back at 12:30. There's a little more pressure. And then I've gotta prep a major outline for an essay exam tomorrow. Aah, now I think I can write...
...or not...
Ooh, ooh, Merry Christmas, everybody! How thrilling that we all find ourselves here there and everywhere but celebrating in many of the same ways, even if they're somewhat varied. I took myself to Target a couple weeks ago and spent I don't want to admit how much, but the result is a very Christmas-y house, indeed, complete with a designer tree in the living room and my parent's mini Fiber Optic tree in the kitchen, and two sets of mistletoe...not that it's getting any use.
I took my roomy Ally to the airport this morning and was thwarted by a closed REI. Really looking forward to going, but alas! It doesn't open til 10. I've been thwarted by a closed or otherwise un-successful REI visit three times in the last month, now. Erg! But this situation has introduced me to yet another eternal principle. This one is #33:
Eternal Principle #33:
Never become fixated on purchasing someone a specific gift that you can only acquire in one place. The amount of time buying said gift will triple the cost and leave you disillusioned once you actually get it.
That said, I think I'll get on REI's online store and see about whether or not they've got what I want.
Oh, update on life--I just spent a full week without eating anything. I drank a special lemonade mix that would have given me all the nutrients necessary to survive if it hadn't consisted of unprocessed maple sap which I couldn't stomach. I did it because I'm trying to figure out my food migraine triggers. Only one I know for sure is potatoes. Now that I'm back to eating solid food, I'm going to slowly reintroduce suspicious items like yeast, soy, and dairy and we'll see what results in a return to eating excedrin like candy! But you know, soy is in EVERYTHING! It's crazy. I spent an hour at the grocery store yesterday reading labels and trying to figure out what I could eat that I actually have time to eat. Lots of stir fry from fresh stuff, as you'd expect, but no more soy sauce or many other flavorings. Garlic it is. No wonder the mistletoe isn't working!
Well, it'll be an adventure, but I'll say this for the whole process: I'm in no risk of gaining the dreaded Holiday Pounds! In fact, I've lost 15. Amazing what not eating for a week will do to you. If I kept that up, I could disappear completely in just a few months! Ish!
...or not...
Ooh, ooh, Merry Christmas, everybody! How thrilling that we all find ourselves here there and everywhere but celebrating in many of the same ways, even if they're somewhat varied. I took myself to Target a couple weeks ago and spent I don't want to admit how much, but the result is a very Christmas-y house, indeed, complete with a designer tree in the living room and my parent's mini Fiber Optic tree in the kitchen, and two sets of mistletoe...not that it's getting any use.
I took my roomy Ally to the airport this morning and was thwarted by a closed REI. Really looking forward to going, but alas! It doesn't open til 10. I've been thwarted by a closed or otherwise un-successful REI visit three times in the last month, now. Erg! But this situation has introduced me to yet another eternal principle. This one is #33:
Eternal Principle #33:
Never become fixated on purchasing someone a specific gift that you can only acquire in one place. The amount of time buying said gift will triple the cost and leave you disillusioned once you actually get it.
That said, I think I'll get on REI's online store and see about whether or not they've got what I want.
Oh, update on life--I just spent a full week without eating anything. I drank a special lemonade mix that would have given me all the nutrients necessary to survive if it hadn't consisted of unprocessed maple sap which I couldn't stomach. I did it because I'm trying to figure out my food migraine triggers. Only one I know for sure is potatoes. Now that I'm back to eating solid food, I'm going to slowly reintroduce suspicious items like yeast, soy, and dairy and we'll see what results in a return to eating excedrin like candy! But you know, soy is in EVERYTHING! It's crazy. I spent an hour at the grocery store yesterday reading labels and trying to figure out what I could eat that I actually have time to eat. Lots of stir fry from fresh stuff, as you'd expect, but no more soy sauce or many other flavorings. Garlic it is. No wonder the mistletoe isn't working!
Well, it'll be an adventure, but I'll say this for the whole process: I'm in no risk of gaining the dreaded Holiday Pounds! In fact, I've lost 15. Amazing what not eating for a week will do to you. If I kept that up, I could disappear completely in just a few months! Ish!
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Vegas Busted
Aaahhh...the smell of freedom...it's never been so close and yet still so distant!
I'm long since back from Vegas and the Great Basin Conference. I've spent, I confess, the past few weeks doing very little and loving it. But Dr J has kicked me back into gear big time so now I'm back to blogging for the sake of avoiding what I now know I've got to do by Monday! Sweet procrastination linger longer!
The Conference went really well. I got a cold and spent a good deal more of it asleep in my room than listening to lectures, unfortunately, but I did get everything necessary completed for both papers I was involved in.
The adaptive diversity Fremont paper you've been subjected to for the past months went particularly well, I'd say. The room wasn't horribly packed, and it was a smaller venue than I'd expected which made the presentation infinitely easier. Steve Simms, who I will forever after refer to affectionately as the Little Elf Man (LEM) came in all his supposed grandeur to hear the upstart present her reserch. I gave a 12 or so minute powerpoint which I might try to figure out how to attach here. In short, I softened the blow to him directly by saying it was the theory rather than the theorist that was infamous. =)
LEM wandered up to me after. I saw him coming and gave him a preemptive [respectful and apologetic tone] "Dr Simms!", which probably caught him off guard. Tee hee. Thus beginning to deflate, LEM commented on some burial data that he felt contradicted my over-arching accusation that his theory was untestable. I rebutted and deflated him more. I think he expected me to be unfamiliar with this data, but I know it, I've read it, and I think it makes its own set of fallacious assumptions. He ended our brief 'tete a tete' with a mumbled "Well, I guess the theory needs work" , shook my hand and walked away.
What?!! I can't believe I got off that easily. I expected atleast a head-butt to the stomach or something =) He's a really good researcher, despite my views toward his behavioral ecologist junk theories, but his temper is notorious, so I'm still trying to process the civility act. I did get a couple slight evil-eyes later in the conference. Dunno. Maybe he thinks I'm not enough of a threat to lose his temper over. Let's hope so. Then I can just quietly publish my research and start a tsunami of data tests that will bury his untestable theory before he can remember the source.
Well, other than that, things go on quite as they ever have...atleast this semester. I'm behind in my work on the field school report and have to go stick my forehead on the ground in front of Jim today to beg forgiveness. Joel is temporarily placated, but as I said, expects the final draft by Monday. The only thing I'm not feeling pressure about right now is my actual coursework!
On a more personal note, I've gone out on three dates in the last 2 weeks and have another one in a couple of days. How refreshing...go me =) The complication, of course, being who they're with and where the heck I stand in all this. My Bishop asked me what my hopes and dreams are...I told him it was easier to just say that my greatest fear is being trapped and that he could assume any hope or dream is focused irrevocably on freedom and a desire for variety. Might have scared him a bit as regards my ability to settle down once and for all with one of those husband things. Oh well. ;)
Happy Holidays! It's come around so fast this year, but for the first time in as long as I can remember, I'm actually excited to hear the carols on the radio and know the house lights are increasing exponentially in the neighborhood as each weekend brings us nearer to the arrival of jolly ol' St Nick.
I'm long since back from Vegas and the Great Basin Conference. I've spent, I confess, the past few weeks doing very little and loving it. But Dr J has kicked me back into gear big time so now I'm back to blogging for the sake of avoiding what I now know I've got to do by Monday! Sweet procrastination linger longer!
The Conference went really well. I got a cold and spent a good deal more of it asleep in my room than listening to lectures, unfortunately, but I did get everything necessary completed for both papers I was involved in.
The adaptive diversity Fremont paper you've been subjected to for the past months went particularly well, I'd say. The room wasn't horribly packed, and it was a smaller venue than I'd expected which made the presentation infinitely easier. Steve Simms, who I will forever after refer to affectionately as the Little Elf Man (LEM) came in all his supposed grandeur to hear the upstart present her reserch. I gave a 12 or so minute powerpoint which I might try to figure out how to attach here. In short, I softened the blow to him directly by saying it was the theory rather than the theorist that was infamous. =)
LEM wandered up to me after. I saw him coming and gave him a preemptive [respectful and apologetic tone] "Dr Simms!", which probably caught him off guard. Tee hee. Thus beginning to deflate, LEM commented on some burial data that he felt contradicted my over-arching accusation that his theory was untestable. I rebutted and deflated him more. I think he expected me to be unfamiliar with this data, but I know it, I've read it, and I think it makes its own set of fallacious assumptions. He ended our brief 'tete a tete' with a mumbled "Well, I guess the theory needs work" , shook my hand and walked away.
What?!! I can't believe I got off that easily. I expected atleast a head-butt to the stomach or something =) He's a really good researcher, despite my views toward his behavioral ecologist junk theories, but his temper is notorious, so I'm still trying to process the civility act. I did get a couple slight evil-eyes later in the conference. Dunno. Maybe he thinks I'm not enough of a threat to lose his temper over. Let's hope so. Then I can just quietly publish my research and start a tsunami of data tests that will bury his untestable theory before he can remember the source.
Well, other than that, things go on quite as they ever have...atleast this semester. I'm behind in my work on the field school report and have to go stick my forehead on the ground in front of Jim today to beg forgiveness. Joel is temporarily placated, but as I said, expects the final draft by Monday. The only thing I'm not feeling pressure about right now is my actual coursework!
On a more personal note, I've gone out on three dates in the last 2 weeks and have another one in a couple of days. How refreshing...go me =) The complication, of course, being who they're with and where the heck I stand in all this. My Bishop asked me what my hopes and dreams are...I told him it was easier to just say that my greatest fear is being trapped and that he could assume any hope or dream is focused irrevocably on freedom and a desire for variety. Might have scared him a bit as regards my ability to settle down once and for all with one of those husband things. Oh well. ;)
Happy Holidays! It's come around so fast this year, but for the first time in as long as I can remember, I'm actually excited to hear the carols on the radio and know the house lights are increasing exponentially in the neighborhood as each weekend brings us nearer to the arrival of jolly ol' St Nick.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Adaptive Diversity part Deux
It's amazing how one little paper can linger for an eternity, floating gently--and a bit flirtatiously--just beyond your grasp! I have now successfully survived a two month camping trip, a subsequent 3 months of daily field work and report writing, and started classes again without cutting back work hours, but I still haven't finished the flippin' paper I started in February. Alas! But I'm presenting it in front of several hundred people two weeks from tomorrow, so I guess the end is in sight. It's just the journey that may kill me!
Still, I find that this has been a very affective busy-maker, which keeps me feeling as if my life is full and meaningful. Not that being activities co-chair in a very social ward, a full-time government employee, full-time student, part-time research assistant, and developing social-life junkie doesn't provide meaningful busy-ness.
I was recently out touring sites with the new Utah State Historic Preservation Officer, Matt Seddon, and he offered to be third man on my thesis committee. This will be a huge help, as he was directly involved in a number of reports I'll be pulling data from. And he's the SHPO for crying out loud! What an awesome network to make! I'm thrilled that he would offer.
As ever, I remain married to archaeology. But, adaptive diversity is real...so mayhaps someday a red-blooded non-archaeology type will convince me to adapt!
Cheers!
Still, I find that this has been a very affective busy-maker, which keeps me feeling as if my life is full and meaningful. Not that being activities co-chair in a very social ward, a full-time government employee, full-time student, part-time research assistant, and developing social-life junkie doesn't provide meaningful busy-ness.
I was recently out touring sites with the new Utah State Historic Preservation Officer, Matt Seddon, and he offered to be third man on my thesis committee. This will be a huge help, as he was directly involved in a number of reports I'll be pulling data from. And he's the SHPO for crying out loud! What an awesome network to make! I'm thrilled that he would offer.
As ever, I remain married to archaeology. But, adaptive diversity is real...so mayhaps someday a red-blooded non-archaeology type will convince me to adapt!
Cheers!
Friday, July 14, 2006
Adaptive Diversity
I'm continuing the ever-unpleasant endeavor of finishing my Fremont Farmer/Forager paper for Dr Janetski. It's focused on Simms' notion of adaptive diversity, if I haven't mentioned that before. Basically the idea is that the Fremont people chose, on an individual basis, how they ought to live each year or season--one year I'm going to farm, the next I'll wander the hills gathering roots and rabbits and such. Interesting concept but not entirely reasonable if you look at hunter-gatherer/farmer behavior throughout the world.
But adaptive diversity puts me in mind of that opening bit of The Gods Must Be Crazy. It talks about how 'civilized' man creates new environments for himself instead of adapting to what he already lives in, such that he has to constantly disadapt himself from his present surroundings and readapt himself to an entirely different set of conditions. This has created all sorts of craziness sense man didn't know when to stop and created a complex of daily adaptations that have become 'required' for survival. Work, home, car, stores, etc.
So why did we do it to ourselves? We created all these 'labor saving devices' which now require children to be sentenced to 12-20 years of education just to survive in this environment that we've created. But if we go out into the original environment from which 'civilized' man emerged, we don't know how to survive.
Hence survival classes that ask people to pay large amounts of money in order to learn how to readapt to their ancestral environment. Sigh. Our air-conditioned, 4 Wheel Drive selves are something of a tribute to our inability to exist in this complicated, 'civilized' world of ours.
And I'm typing this on a laptop that's wirelessly linked to somebody or other's network in the Elms Apartments...ok, so all adaptation isn't bad...
But adaptive diversity puts me in mind of that opening bit of The Gods Must Be Crazy. It talks about how 'civilized' man creates new environments for himself instead of adapting to what he already lives in, such that he has to constantly disadapt himself from his present surroundings and readapt himself to an entirely different set of conditions. This has created all sorts of craziness sense man didn't know when to stop and created a complex of daily adaptations that have become 'required' for survival. Work, home, car, stores, etc.
So why did we do it to ourselves? We created all these 'labor saving devices' which now require children to be sentenced to 12-20 years of education just to survive in this environment that we've created. But if we go out into the original environment from which 'civilized' man emerged, we don't know how to survive.
Hence survival classes that ask people to pay large amounts of money in order to learn how to readapt to their ancestral environment. Sigh. Our air-conditioned, 4 Wheel Drive selves are something of a tribute to our inability to exist in this complicated, 'civilized' world of ours.
And I'm typing this on a laptop that's wirelessly linked to somebody or other's network in the Elms Apartments...ok, so all adaptation isn't bad...
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Hoe-La
Back to 'civilization' and finally settled into a nice place south of campus. Field school was...well, long and informative and a whole bunch more adjectives that could be taken in multiple ways. I'm glad to be back where I have control over my company, let's just say, and glad to be up in the mountains working for the Uinta again. It's paradise, really.
My field school summary, in brief, is this: I'm sick of camping with archaeologists, we hit a cow with the truck (no damage to either party), midden is artifact rich, I'm sick of archaeologists, Anasazi are cool, but I'm still doing a historic thesis, did I mention I'm sick of archaeologists?, my crew was freaking hilarious (I'll tell stories, but not here), we got 13 flat tires including my freeway blowout on the last day, and I'm sick of archaeologists. About sums it up. Love my job, don't get me wrong! We really did find some neat things. It'll be interesting to follow the research over the years of the project, though I'll be long gone by the time it's done.
I'm a bit slow on the uptake of reestablishing contact with everyone, so my apologies, but internet service was finally installed in the house yesterday, so that'll help. I had to turn my baby (that's my laptop, for those of you who don't here the day-to-day cooing) in for a little maintenance check. Thankfully it only took a couple days and since it's from PC Laptops, didn't cost me a thing.
My other baby, Dirt the Subaru, got new tires Monday. She's ready for a road trip. I think I'll go to Disneyland in a couple weeks. No really. I'll post pictures. Now to find a digital camera...
Well, Pirates part deux is good, for those who haven't seen it, though, as expected, I had some issue with the increased super-natural element. Somehow barnacle-covered fathers are less realistic than sabre-fighting skeletons. Figure that one out!
Much love to all! The picture is an old 1980's view (all I've got) of Land Hill where we excavated in Utah.
My field school summary, in brief, is this: I'm sick of camping with archaeologists, we hit a cow with the truck (no damage to either party), midden is artifact rich, I'm sick of archaeologists, Anasazi are cool, but I'm still doing a historic thesis, did I mention I'm sick of archaeologists?, my crew was freaking hilarious (I'll tell stories, but not here), we got 13 flat tires including my freeway blowout on the last day, and I'm sick of archaeologists. About sums it up. Love my job, don't get me wrong! We really did find some neat things. It'll be interesting to follow the research over the years of the project, though I'll be long gone by the time it's done.
I'm a bit slow on the uptake of reestablishing contact with everyone, so my apologies, but internet service was finally installed in the house yesterday, so that'll help. I had to turn my baby (that's my laptop, for those of you who don't here the day-to-day cooing) in for a little maintenance check. Thankfully it only took a couple days and since it's from PC Laptops, didn't cost me a thing.
My other baby, Dirt the Subaru, got new tires Monday. She's ready for a road trip. I think I'll go to Disneyland in a couple weeks. No really. I'll post pictures. Now to find a digital camera...
Well, Pirates part deux is good, for those who haven't seen it, though, as expected, I had some issue with the increased super-natural element. Somehow barnacle-covered fathers are less realistic than sabre-fighting skeletons. Figure that one out!
Much love to all! The picture is an old 1980's view (all I've got) of Land Hill where we excavated in Utah.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Ah-dee-oh's
Well kids, I'm off to field school for the next two months. I shall see thee upon my return and shall post pictures (oooohhh....aaaahhhh)! In the meantime, look at my little thumbnail i.d. pic cuz that was the taken at field school 5 years ago.
Much love. Good luck with life. Funny, really. Despite the high cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains? Lame Jack Handy theft. And what a note to leave on for so long. Alas! Well, perhaps I shall remedy it with a picture! THough that's always a trick to figure out...
Teehee. If any of you know the band Interpol, there's this song with these sick looking car accident victim puppets, but they look too freaky, so I fixed this one for a friend who likes the band. Well...now maybe the picture is worse than lame commentary! (That's ok, I thought the whole apricots in honey thing was the real low point!)
Loves!!!
Much love. Good luck with life. Funny, really. Despite the high cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains? Lame Jack Handy theft. And what a note to leave on for so long. Alas! Well, perhaps I shall remedy it with a picture! THough that's always a trick to figure out...
Teehee. If any of you know the band Interpol, there's this song with these sick looking car accident victim puppets, but they look too freaky, so I fixed this one for a friend who likes the band. Well...now maybe the picture is worse than lame commentary! (That's ok, I thought the whole apricots in honey thing was the real low point!)
Loves!!!
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
And now a slightly longer Semester in Review...
Ok, I've recovered from the kick to the stomach moment of reflection and can now look objectively at life in the past four months. Here goes:
I started the semester with a highly enjoyable, though interestingly thought provoking, trip to Las Cruces, New Mexico for the Southwest Symposium archaeological conference. Very good stuff. I particularly enjoyed the first day's bits on landscape and such. Very post-processual, 'touchy-feely', archaeology. Useful in terms of acknowledging the human agent.
Following an uneventful and deceptively calm January, February hit with an, I'll admit, boring ethnographic paper due for Great Basin Seminar as well as a beginning attempt at determining what to do my archaeology paper on.
This was followed by March. Now, for those of you well acquainted with me, you'll understand that simply typing the name of that particular month makes me want to slink into the fetal position in the darkest recess of my closet while sucking my thumb and crying 'this is not happening.' That said, despite one of the worst 1st of March days I've had in years, the rest of the month wasn't so bad. Shocking considering my track record. Horrible month, really.
But I got a draft and bits in to Dr Janetski on my archaeology paper, which I finally settled into. It's on the Simms and Madsen Fremont Farmer/Forager bunk...stupid, really, and pretty annoyingly fore-sighted, but such is life. I'm designing a model test using survey data, which presents its own problems, but it's what I've got from the Forest. Since they're so nice as to give me a steady job during the summers, I can't help but feel a bit of obligation to use their data sets wherever possible. This way all that Section 106 fieldwork goes into research instead of a filing cabinet. There are a number of really interesting questions and projects I'd like follow up on while I'm with the Uinta, but to heck if there's time!
April has been a whirlwind adventure and there's still plenty of sprint left in the rush to field school May 2nd. My archaeology paper is progressing, though every student in the class is taking a 'T' on their transcript until they finish the paper...no stress there. Guess I know what I'll be doing at field school instead of enjoying my evenings... But there is light at the end of the tunnel, to be sure, and the research turned into a fairly good poster which I submitted to the Fulton Mentored Research Conference last week. Aaron, a fellow student and my sainted graphics expert, took first place in the department, and I followed for second. Dunno yet what the award is, but hey, cash is cash!
As for work, it's an on-going process. I've spent a number of hours this semester working with the photographic record of the Alkali Ridge Site 13 stuff from Harvard. This is one of Jim Allison's primary (of many) research bit right now...lots of pots and trying to shuffle through the excavation records. Good times. Of late, this part of the job has involved trying to determine vessel volume from photographs Jim took at Harvard last summer. So I hunch over a paper photograph with a ruler and try to scale things just right.
But research hours are nothing compared to the joys of field school prep. I've spent more hours in the basement than I thought possible, especially considering I'd already done a significant amount of time in that hole during my undergraduate roadkill boiling days. Sigh. But progress has been made and I think we'll actually make it in the end. I spent today washing the kitchen stuff and finalizing our shopping list so we can hit the stores this week and next. But highlights of the process have been trying out cots, setting up tents, and battling wits with Jim over whether or not we really need a box truck (where else would we pack it all? Really? Do you realize how much it takes to camp 25 people for 2 months?). I've enjoyed it. The better part of the semester was actually spent working on the ArcView maps for the research design and that was definitely rewarding.
Well, beyond school, there's been a great deal of piracy in my life. There's an eclectic bunch of archaeologists who spend their Saturday nights playing a very cool WizKids game called Pirates of the Spanish Main. It's become downright addictive. And I've also got a good friend whose favorite movie is Pirates of the Caribbean. He seems to think that we should watch it give or take EVERY WEEKEND so there go my Friday nights and here I am. Covered in basement dust and saying "Arrr" too much. Highly suspect, I'd say.
Alas. Such is the life of a common pir...I mean...student. And now, I'm off to another 700 pages for my readings class and preparation for two religion finals. As an aside, my father was able to interview with the Saints at War folks up in Salt Lake. Not only is this footage great for our family history, especially since he joined the Church as a direct result of his military service, but he will be part of the next Church video on the subject, which should be a hoot and a half. My father, the movie star. Ish. You read it here first, folks!
I started the semester with a highly enjoyable, though interestingly thought provoking, trip to Las Cruces, New Mexico for the Southwest Symposium archaeological conference. Very good stuff. I particularly enjoyed the first day's bits on landscape and such. Very post-processual, 'touchy-feely', archaeology. Useful in terms of acknowledging the human agent.
Following an uneventful and deceptively calm January, February hit with an, I'll admit, boring ethnographic paper due for Great Basin Seminar as well as a beginning attempt at determining what to do my archaeology paper on.
This was followed by March. Now, for those of you well acquainted with me, you'll understand that simply typing the name of that particular month makes me want to slink into the fetal position in the darkest recess of my closet while sucking my thumb and crying 'this is not happening.' That said, despite one of the worst 1st of March days I've had in years, the rest of the month wasn't so bad. Shocking considering my track record. Horrible month, really.
But I got a draft and bits in to Dr Janetski on my archaeology paper, which I finally settled into. It's on the Simms and Madsen Fremont Farmer/Forager bunk...stupid, really, and pretty annoyingly fore-sighted, but such is life. I'm designing a model test using survey data, which presents its own problems, but it's what I've got from the Forest. Since they're so nice as to give me a steady job during the summers, I can't help but feel a bit of obligation to use their data sets wherever possible. This way all that Section 106 fieldwork goes into research instead of a filing cabinet. There are a number of really interesting questions and projects I'd like follow up on while I'm with the Uinta, but to heck if there's time!
April has been a whirlwind adventure and there's still plenty of sprint left in the rush to field school May 2nd. My archaeology paper is progressing, though every student in the class is taking a 'T' on their transcript until they finish the paper...no stress there. Guess I know what I'll be doing at field school instead of enjoying my evenings... But there is light at the end of the tunnel, to be sure, and the research turned into a fairly good poster which I submitted to the Fulton Mentored Research Conference last week. Aaron, a fellow student and my sainted graphics expert, took first place in the department, and I followed for second. Dunno yet what the award is, but hey, cash is cash!
As for work, it's an on-going process. I've spent a number of hours this semester working with the photographic record of the Alkali Ridge Site 13 stuff from Harvard. This is one of Jim Allison's primary (of many) research bit right now...lots of pots and trying to shuffle through the excavation records. Good times. Of late, this part of the job has involved trying to determine vessel volume from photographs Jim took at Harvard last summer. So I hunch over a paper photograph with a ruler and try to scale things just right.
But research hours are nothing compared to the joys of field school prep. I've spent more hours in the basement than I thought possible, especially considering I'd already done a significant amount of time in that hole during my undergraduate roadkill boiling days. Sigh. But progress has been made and I think we'll actually make it in the end. I spent today washing the kitchen stuff and finalizing our shopping list so we can hit the stores this week and next. But highlights of the process have been trying out cots, setting up tents, and battling wits with Jim over whether or not we really need a box truck (where else would we pack it all? Really? Do you realize how much it takes to camp 25 people for 2 months?). I've enjoyed it. The better part of the semester was actually spent working on the ArcView maps for the research design and that was definitely rewarding.
Well, beyond school, there's been a great deal of piracy in my life. There's an eclectic bunch of archaeologists who spend their Saturday nights playing a very cool WizKids game called Pirates of the Spanish Main. It's become downright addictive. And I've also got a good friend whose favorite movie is Pirates of the Caribbean. He seems to think that we should watch it give or take EVERY WEEKEND so there go my Friday nights and here I am. Covered in basement dust and saying "Arrr" too much. Highly suspect, I'd say.
Alas. Such is the life of a common pir...I mean...student. And now, I'm off to another 700 pages for my readings class and preparation for two religion finals. As an aside, my father was able to interview with the Saints at War folks up in Salt Lake. Not only is this footage great for our family history, especially since he joined the Church as a direct result of his military service, but he will be part of the next Church video on the subject, which should be a hoot and a half. My father, the movie star. Ish. You read it here first, folks!