28 days and counting!

I really cannot believe that I will be getting married in less than a month. That is crazy! Sometimes I think that I am old (26!) but then sometimes I think there is no way I am ready to settle down right now. And I'm talking about actual physical location, not Matt, who I am excited to marry. It just is weird not to be able to pick up and leave or take seasonal jobs or any of that fun stuff I used to do. Now I live in a house and have a real job. And soon I will be married! I am pretty sure none of my friends would have expected this from me. And I have been here in New Mexico for almost 7 months now, so its not like the wedding is going to change anything. So I am excited! There is not so much left to do now - mostly write my vows. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the wedding! And bowling of course, we can't forget about that. Okay well that was a boring blog. I'll try to think of something more fun to say next time.

Oh and on a side note, the journal article I wrote based on my Master's thesis was finally reviewed, and somehow one of the reviewers was a guy who works in my lab. Now seriously, is the world of SD modeling really so small that one of my co-workers is a reviewer? Let me just say that this paper is not that great and neither was the review, so it is just a bit embarrassing. On a better note, all three of my references finally got their letters in for the 'secret' application, although one might not arrive until the due date - talk about cutting it close. I guess I might not hear anything else until March. Keep your fingers crossed!

Also, there are new pictures on the Happy New Years entry.

Happy New Year!

Well, I have been informed that I have not blogged for a long time. I did not, however, realize that it had come to be well over a month. Damn! At any rate, here is the first blog of the new year.

Matt and I just got back from visiting my sister and her husband in Switzerland. It was quite freezing and there was not much snow, but it was a good time none-the-less. We spent a few days in Geneve and a few days in a little town in the Alps that was absolutely gorgeous. We went hiking in the valley one day, hiking across the Alps one day, and snowboarding for part of a day. We also saw some glaciers - everyone must try to do this before they all disappear! The most hilarious part (now) of the trip was probably the fact that I could not get up the lift on my snowboard. They had some sort of strange t-bar/tow rope thing that I kept falling off, resulting in a BEAUTIFUL bruise on my ass (let me know if you would like to see a picture of that). At any rate, I had to hike up the run each and every time I wanted to board down. I am a complete loser, but at least I got my exercise! And the snowboarding part was great fun.

The other highlight of the trip was going to a castle - Chateau de Chillon - near Montreaux, the Swiss Riviera. It was cloudy, rainy, and sometimes snowy but still beautiful.

Last night we arrived terribly jet-lagged in Phoenix, and I spent today working from my parent's house. There is something to be said for a job with flexibility. I didn't really have any New Year's resolutions until now, but I think it will be to enjoy and appreciate the great things I have and stop thinking that the grass might be greener elsewhere.

The other wonderful news of the year is that I have been diagnosed with food allergies and am now on an awful diet trying to figure out exactly what it is. I just hope I am not too skinny for my wedding dress fitting on Saturday - it is hard to take in enough calories when you don't eat meat and can't eat wheat, corn, soy, and peanuts. Good times. The worst side effects of this plan were missing out on fondue in Switzerland and indirectly contributing to the car accident of an un-named friend who was so kind to come see me at my house.

At any rate, this is the start of 2007 and soon to be the start of my 27th year (when did I ever get so old?). I wish everyone peace and happiness and hope you can follow those pesky resolutions.

Things I look forward to:
(oh and by the way I recently learned that dangling prepositions are acceptable)

• Getting married
• Bridal shower and bachelorettte party (in 1 month!)
• Seeing all my friends and family who are coming in for the wedding
• Getting to hang out with my bridesmaids
• Having friends in New Mexico
• Making new friends (one can always dream)
• Starting new activities
• Learning languages
• Reducing my environmental footprint
• The end of the Iraq War
• A Democrat-run Congress
• The end of the crisis in Darfur
• AND world peace (just to prove I could win a 'scholarship' contest too)

Peace out!

Snow!

Two days ago it snowed in the place I was living for the first time in over 7 years! I was so excited. Granted, it did happen while I was going to Albuquerque for work, so I had to drive through sleet, hail, rain, big fluffy flakes, and little tiny flakes for an hour, but it was worth it. There was snow on the roofs of houses and on the ground.

There is only a tiny bit of snow next to our house right now, but when I went to the Bosque today there was a layer of snow in all the shadows. I took a picture with my phone but I haven't figured out how to get it onto my computer yet.

The downshot is that the temperature has been in the 30s, but it's not so bad. Hooray for seasons!

Secret

I am plotting. As always. I never give up applying for things. So I am applying for a super-competitive thing for next summer, but because chances are slim, I am not revealing the thing. I may reveal the thing if I achieve it. If not, you will all have forgotten about it by then anyway. So no worries. In theory, the thing will provide a transition to a new career. Or more school. The possibilities are endless. Perhaps I will leave you, my few readers, with just a clue: it involves science and the public. That is all for now.

greendimes

I found this new company called greendimes, on the web at http://www.greendimes.com. For a dime a day, or $3/month, they stop your junk mail and plant or save a tree a month for you. You can also opt out of catalogs. I signed up, so I will see how well it works. I get ridiculous amounts of junk mail at my house. Also, included in the fee is as many names as live at your address. It sounds good, and I hope it works. This saves so many trees and so much water. Long live the environment!

Afterthought

Since I mentioned the Catholics in my previous post, I think I better offer this up (no pun intended). I went to Mass to see the oldest Catholic Church in the country, and because my Mom wanted to go. Shortly after said Mass, I discovered that the US Bishops recently wrote a declaration:

"Anyone who knowingly persists in sinful behavior, such as gay sex or using artificial birth control, should refrain from taking Communion."

"To be a Catholic is a challenge," said Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, N.J., chairman of the bishops' doctrine committee. "To be a Catholic requires a certain choice."

I have been a lapsed Catholic for about 3 years now, and this is precisely why. The word Catholic should not be attached to this church, as Catholic means universal and welcoming. The Church has demonstrated firmly that it is anything but. I no longer feel compelled to associate myself in any way. I will be taking suggestions for new religions, spiritualities, or other faiths and institutions. Thank you.

A Visit from the Parents

This past weekend, my parents came to Socorro for a very brief visit. They arrived about 2:30pm on Saturday and left around 1pm on Sunday. It is about enough time to checkout Socorro though. We went to the Bosque del Apache NWR to see the sandhill cranes and snowgeese during their annual migration. We also went to Mass at San Miguel Mission, which claims to be the oldest Catholic Church in the country. And we checked out the Plaza, where the picture of my parents was taken.

On another note, since I haven't written in awhile, Go Democrats! What a phenomenal election. I hope everybody voted!

And Good Work Tigers! Although they didn't win the World Series, getting there was more than most of us expected. We are looking forward to another good season next year. And here's to the Red Wings current streak of 9 wins. D-Town is making a comeback in a big way!