When I’m not working

Ok.   I’ve complained written a lot about work lately so I decided to switch it up and write about some of the other stuff I’ve done since moving to Albuquerque.  And I’ve actually done quite a lot of stuff.  So far I have: hiked in the Sandia Mountains, went salsa dancing, played lazer tag, biked to the zoo, stomped grapes with my feet, “camped” with a bunch of UNM grad students, and drank beer for leukemia.

And tonight was the “hot singles party” at the Hyatt.  I wasn’t going to go but then I figured what the hey, maybe I’ll meet a hot guy.  Yeah.  Not so much.  Turns out the only guys who are attracted to me are (1) creepy old men (2) sleazy Mexicans (3) odd Africans (as in from Africa, the continent, and usually strage – take, for example, Joseph).  Oh and also the random guys who whistle at me when I walk down the street.  What is up with that anyway?  Do they think by whistling at me they will somehow convince me to chase down their vehicle and do them right there on Broadway Blvd?  I don’t get it.  I was telling this to some of my co-workers the other day and Jack was like, “that never happens to me.”  Haha.  Jack is hilarious.  He’s got this really calm, dry sense of humor.  That’s what I need.  A guy like Jack.  Hmm, where can I find one of those? 

But anyway back to creepy old men.  I briefly met a guy who apparently knows my friend Kathy (most likely from meetup) and as I was about to leave he started talking to me and trying to convince me to go back with him to his hotel room.  So I try to make it clear that I have a cab coming and am going home now.  Then his friend comes over and they want me to go with them to some club.  Again I say thanks but no thanks (twice because that’s how many times he tried to ask me).  And finally he asks if he can get my number.  By this time I just flat out say no, you are too old for me, and I am really not interested.  sorry.  But I will probably see him around again, woohoo.

Actually I saw a guy at the party that I am almost positive that I went out with maybe about 2 months ago.  So I told him he looked really familiar but he didn’t remember me I guess, probably because guys have an attention span of about 5 seconds.  That’s it.  I’m giving up on men.  I don’t need them.  I am a successful, independent woman, and men are just silly.  The end.

The Gila Monster

Thus ends my second week of field work in the Gila National Forest.  It should’ve been third but I didn’t go the first week because I was sick with a deadly disease (aka strep throat, but it felt like a deadly disease at the time!).  Anyway, so I went and met (and worked with) a girl named Nori from Silver City.  She seems nice, but is all hardworking and studious and helpful.  She will pick up the sharpshooter (my most hated soil science tool) without being asked, she studies plant names and looks at maps after we’ve stopped field work for the day, and she always asks if Steve and I need help making dinner when it is not her night to make it.  Not that any of these things makes her a horrible person, it just makes me look more like one.  Shame!  Shame on her! 

The Gila is nice.  It’s pretty.  Maybe prettier than the caldera.  I dunno.  Maybe it’s the diversity of species.  Or maybe it’s just because I was sick of the caldera.  It is very far away, like 4 hours from Albuquerque.  Which is a whole load of fun to ride with my boss, not talking, and listening to his hillbilly banjo music.  And next week we’re picking up Nori so we will be driving 5 hours!  Hooray!  I think I will bring my ipod next time, and Steve can listen to some Chili Peppers or Kelly Clarkson or some other random poppy thing that he will probably not like.

But starting next week, field work will get more sporadic.  We’re doing a short week, and then Nori needs a week in the office to get ready for GSA (BTW: totally excited for some fun – hopefully not floody – times in Houston) and we’re working in her map area so none of us will be going in the field that week, then there’s GSA/SSSA, and then there’s a holiday and field review (which I don’t know much about except that everyone drinks a lot of beer).  And I’m not sure what’s happening after that.  BUT this weekend I’m going to smash some grapes with my feet and see if I can make enough juice to win myself a trip to Mexico!  Yeah, they do weird things here.  I asked this one guy to go with me and be my stomping partner, but I’m not sure if he will go or not.  Otherwise maybe this other guy Tim that I met on the tram will be my partner…hmmm…. more on this later.  maybe.