Skiing in the Caldera

This weekend Matt and I abandoned Socorro in order to avoid some sort of civil war battle reenactment. Not sure what they were fighting for. We went to Albuquerque and saw Pan's Labyrinth with Arun, which was quite good, and then up to Santa Fe to hang out with Kristin and Patrick. Sunday we went up to the Valles Caldera to do some cross country skiing, and Kristin and Patrick tried out kite-skiing. It was windy enough! This place is absolutely gorgeous, and it is a prototype for a joint land management program. The public lands area is operated by the Valles Caldera Trust, which is not completely government-run. Learn more about it at http://www.vallescaldera.gov/

Stuff and Nonsense

I went up to Albuquerque, not to work, but to see the allergist, which cost me $45 (stupid health insurance increases). And he did nothing that could not have been done over the phone, except that the nurse discovered my blood pressure is 86/62. She seemed to think it was fine as long as I felt okay. Now I am paranoid.

I also realized, again, that I do not want to live in Albuquerque. But I think it is inevitable. I'm sure it's no worse than Phoenix, but at least I am familiar with Phoenix and I understand it. I'm pretty sure it is worse than Tucson, although one of my friends likes Albuquerque better. I'm hoping maybe we can find somewhere in the city to live that we like and that also has public transportation to take us where we need to go. It just seems like we have to drive everywhere, and the driving sucks.

While in town, I went to Wild Oats to stock up on our organic food, Goodwill to drop off stuff that has been replaced by wedding presents, and Target to kill time before my doctor's appointment. I meant to buy nothing. I bought the following:

Yahtzee
Jenga
Peeps (I know they're made of gelatin, but I just love them!)
Stickers for the wedding scrapbook I keep planning to do

Today in the mail and UPS we got more new things:

Drinking glasses
Cheese slicer
Cheese grater
Mortar and pestle
Darts and fliers
CD from Laura
My new computer!

This computer seriously has the prettiest display I've ever seen. There isn't even a point in my printing out pictures anymore because they look so much better on here. I am addicted to technology!

Holidays

Explain this to me. How is it that I can be a sub-contractor for the federal government and not get President's Day off? Or most other federal holidays for that matter. It just doesn't seem fair. Granted maybe my PTO makes up for it. I probably could have taken it off except for the fact that Matt also had school and all my PTO will be long gone and then some by the time we get back from our honeymoon.

Also, on a completely different note, NMT recently sent out a little flier asking you to vote for events for Spring Fling. Among them: mud wrestling/volleyball, professor pie in the face, and so many, many others. As far as I know, at schools I have recently attended, these events were maybe held by the Greek organizations, but certainly not on a campus-wide basis. And judging from the male to female ratio here at Tech, they are looking to objectify the 12 or so women that go to school here. Because no one wants to watch men mud wrestle. I don't think. Let me know if you do, actually.

New Week, Fresh Start

It is my goal to actually accomplish something this week. Preferably work-related, but life-related too. For instance, I really need to go back on my diet, at least partially. I just can't breathe anymore and it sucks! Also, I should figure out a way to make friends. It's not that I haven't tried; I just haven't had much success. I'm not sure what it is about us that the Techies don't like. At any rate, we have plans to throw a Tiki party with the help of a wedding present from KG and PS, sometime after the honeymoon, as a not-so-subtle attempt to buy friends. My fear is that no one will come. Except maybe the Wahi and KG and PS. I must learn to entertain myself. Next projects: revising my journal article and scrapbooking the wedding.

Also, Karen has started a blog that you can find in my links. Perspective from an ex-pat. Enjoy!

Consumerism

It took me three tries starting my computer tonight before it actually came up with some icons. I think it has reached its last days. Luckily, I ordered a new one just yesterday that should arrive before the end of the month. And it is a kick-ass computer so hopefully it will last more than 3.5 years. I hate to buy new stuff, but this thing just can't hack it anymore. I will probably have it recycled or donated somewhere, providing that some computer tech is able to make it work a bit better. It really irks me that computers are basically built not to last. 'Improvements' in web pages and programs quickly makes older computers obsolete. I think this one has 128mb of RAM, or something pathetic like that. My new one with have 2GB!

Perhaps the best thing would be for me to learn how to live without a computer again, but I have been sucked in too far. What would I do without email? Without Word, so I can submit my endless applications? Without the internet so I can avoid using a phonebook? Maybe if I had a social life. But I don't; I just have my husband. Who is pursuing a PhD and therefore often unavailable. So it's just me and my computer. I should go read a book.

My Vows

Some of you mentioned that you couldn't hear me, so I am posting them for the world to see, as interested. Who knew I couldn't talk loud enough?


Matt,

When we met, you made me smile.
When we were friends, you made me laugh.
When we were dating, you expanded my horizons.
When we were engaged, you grew with me.

Today you embark with me, as a preacher (Bill Swetmon) said, on "a common search for the good and the beautiful." Though many things in the world today are no cause for celebration, we know that love can make a difference, and this is where we will start.

Today, I, Alison, take you, Matt, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and cherish you, laugh with you and cry with you, climb rocks with you and study water with you, all the days of my life.

And, as Bai Juyi wrote, "In our next life we will be birds flying wing to wing in the sky, or sturdy branches entagled with each other on the earth."

Matt, you are my blue sky, my wind and my rain; to you I pledge my love undaunted.

First Pictures

These are a few shots that my aunt sent me. More to come!

Working from Home

I have hit a wall. I want to do anything but work. Clean the house, catch up on magazines, write thank you notes, blog. I have at least a few more months to go though. We shall see how that goes.

I successfully submitted my grad school application by the priority deadline, so if all the stars align, I will have new ventures for summer and fall. If not, I will be in a bit of a quagmire.

On that note, I would like to reaffirm to Ms. A that certainly a very important asset of being single is getting to do whatever you want to do! Never underestimate that. I would definitely keep it that way for as long as possible.

Marriage

Well, this past weekend was the big event! Matt and I made our commitment legal and are now able to obtain certain benefits that are unavailable to many others. Part of me felt like participating in this institution was morally wrong until it is open to everybody, no matter who they want to marry. However, I also wanted to marry Matt! So since I went ahead and did it, I pledge to advocate for equal rights and vote for politicians who do as well.

Another part of marriage that is hard to come to terms with are the traditions involved in the ceremony itself. We definitely made sure there were no "women are subservient to men" clauses, I am not changing my name, I got walked down the aisle by both my parents, and I hope that it came across as support, not 'giving me away.' I did wear white, that I will admit, but it does look pretty! (That is my only excuse.) Also, I chose not to wear the veil. I said my vows first because the male should not be the only one to take the lead. There are probably some other things I didn't think of that are catering to patriarchal traditions. Matt probably should have walked down the aisle too, not just me. What can I say? I am a sucker for pretty things and traditions.

All that aside, Matt and I are having fun so far. We haven't done much, just spent some time with family, opened presents, and drove back to New Mexico. Tomorrow we return to regular life. Doesn't really seem like anything has changed. There's just that little piece of paper with our signatures on it to remind us that we are 'legal.' So now Matt can get some dental work. And a new contact prescription. And I can golf for cheap at NMT. Lots of bonuses. Mostly we are just our same old selves.

Also, for the record, I wouldn't hire Mariana for your catering. She is a great cook but not so good at the catering. Also make sure that the site's event planner will actually be there at the rehearsal and event. It is hard to coordinate things yourself, especially when you are supposed to be hidden from view. And hydrangeas die quickly in Arizona, even in February. Bad idea, but they were pretty for a day!

Thanks everyone who was there to celebrate our big day with us! It was lots of fun!

Matt and I will definitely post pictures when they become available. If anyone has bridal shower, bachelorette party, or wedding pictures, I would love to see them!

On a completely different note, I just found out that I am a semi-finalist in my secret application. I have a phone interview in early March, so wish me luck!

Heat and School

Today I woke up, stepped out of the bed, immediately froze, checked the thermometer and found it was 57 inside. And snowing outside. For some reason 57 outside is not too cold, but inside our house it is quite cold. I cannot get the heater to come on and am currently waiting for help to arrive. I AM COLD! When I lived in Tucson, I never had the heater on; only the space heater, and I do remember it being chilly (sometimes it was in the 20s outside at night), but it can't have been this bad, can it? Although I didn't work at home then so all I had to do was cuddle up under lots of blankets at night. I cannot leave this house because I have to wait for phone calls. No fun!

On a side note, I am contemplating going back to school. Already. Part of the problem is that I am probably going to lose my job this summer and there aren't very many jobs to be had in NM. This might be an easy way out. If I get funded at least. It will be hard for Matt and me because we might have to live in separate towns or else live in the middle and both commute 40 miles each way (although I could take a train!). But there really are very few potential jobs where I could still live in Socorro, and Matt hasn't finished classes yet. So we shall see. I will miss the priority deadline, so that doesn't make my chances too wonderful.

Also, the wedding day forecast finally came out, and it is calling for 74 and partly cloudy. (See my prediction a few days ago - super close.) Should be beautiful!