A Year in the Life

One year ago today I officially started my new job in Albuquerque.  It seems so weird that it’s been a year already.  Time has gone by so fast.  So many things have changed this year.  I’m a real scientist, getting a paycheck for doing what I’ve wanted to do since college, and I’m starting to form an idea of what I want to do with my career in the future.  I really would like to get into geology research.  It will take some time and extra planning efforts on my part but I know that if it’s something I really want, I’ll make it happen.  I have so far, and it really has worked out incredibly well for me.  I met a wonderful person who cares about me very much, and I’ve met some nice new people at work as well.  (If only they lived a little closer, as in the same city/state as me, it would be better)

But right now I’m not at work.  I’m on vacation!  I am in an exotic place called Michigan, visiting my family.  We spent the weekend at our cottage on the lake, boating and kayaking, eating and watching fireworks.  In a way, it’s like I’ve come full circle doing exactly what I was doing a year ago.

I don’t have all that much more to say about it.  It’s just really good to be home for a little while, away from the week-to-week, day-to-day, packing, waking up at 6, hiking and digging for 10-11 hours, collapsing, unpacking, starting all over again.  Not that I hate it, or even dislike it.  It’s just really really good to have a vacation.  Everyone needs one of those.

Here’s some photographic highlights of what I’ve been doing so far.  If you have never been to Michigan, it’s actually a pretty nice place.

my sister and me, boating and blue moon

The best restaurant in Ann Arbor

dinner! (at aforementioned restaurant)