My Big Break?

Whew 18 days went by really quickly! Shortly after my last post, I found a great opportunity in Memphis.  I applied, contacted my connections there, and now I await anxiously for a response.  I don't want to jinx it, so I'm not going to say where or doing what, but I am really excited.  It doesn't involved zoology at all, but I feel like its a good fit for now.  It would be great pay, travel, meeting lots of new people, and the opportunity to live and work in Midtown Memphis.  This job is something that had never crossed my mind.  My family has been telling me that the thing that will work out will be the least expected option that will come out of the blue. Could this be it? Please keep your fingers crossed, pray, send good vibes, or whatever works in your experience.  I really need this job!

I've been slacking on taking the everyday photos.  However, I did take several with the purpose of making them a topic of discussion, and even doctored a photo I call the "Ultimate Boulder Car". Enjoy:

 May 11, 2011: Kitchen Creation- spiced up a grilled cheese with turkey, avocado, jalapenos, cilantro, and onion. Super tasty!

 May 12, 2011: I could write an entire entry on this one. A Thursday night at the bar Mo Jeaux's in Ft. Collins. This seems to be the typical twenty-something Colorado male. Are you F*CKING kidding me? First of all, sir, you paid $36 to provide free advertising for Monster energy drink. But did you pay? Cause you left the stickers on... You probably spent time perfecting the backwards tilt too. If you're old enough to be in a bar, you're too old to wear your hat like that.  And while girls are expected to sport some dressy cleavage flashing top to our fav watering holes, you sir have selected an oversized t-shirt falsely advertising your wealth. So here's to you, Colorado douchebag. After the table of sorority women laughed at you, don't think we didn't noticed that you left alone. Time to step your game up. (Thanks to the Swiss for fake posing so I could snap this shot)

 May 13, 2011: The Swiss and I helping our bestie, JKP, move outta the sorority house. I was sore for two days. You're welcome.

 May 15, 2011: Yes, in MAY it was 36 degrees, sleeting, and hailing. I can never get used to insane Colorado weather.

 May 16, 2011: Checked out the lizards and such at Petco while buying Lola's food. The zoologist side of me just loves these.

 May 19, 2011: Really cool bike rack outside O'Dell Brewing Company. They are hops!

 May 20, 2011: The Ultimate Boulder car.

 May 21, 2011: Outdoor lunch with JKP.  She hates eating outside, but took one for the team so I could work on my Chaco tan.

May 22, 2011: Lola being funny watching me.  This moment bought a smile and laugh to me. The joy of having a dog!

 May 23, 2011: Its just juice....made with real bits of dragon!

 May 24, 2011: Got a coup for Lola's favorite treats Zuke's. I pay up for these to support a local Colorado company.  They use all natural ingredients, lots of love, and give back to the pet cancer cause. I highly recommend!
 

 May 27, 2011: Best view from the hike I took with the Stats Ninja and Lola. Its so Green!!! Just north of Fort Collins.

 May 28, 2011: I finally convinced myself, with the assistance of JKP, to pay up for a manicure. No match for 8 hours of retail.  Oh well, It was fun while it lasted.

"Lead me with strong hands, stand up when I can't, don't leave me hungry for love, chasing dreams...Lead me, cause I can't do this alone" - Sanctus Real

Cheers!

Geographically Challenged

I'm surprised at the response I've gotten from my previous post.  I knew my post had been read many times, but wasn't sure who in my facebook network was actually clicking on my link.  I'm glad my readership is growing exponentially! The announcement that I will most likely have to move back to Memphis led to propositions from my extended family in other exciting Southern locales. Jazzy Poet offered up Charlotte as an option.  A state with both mountains and ocean? You got me listening... On the other hand, the Detective offered the sunny beaches of South Florida. I do love fresh shrimp, and Everglades ecology is fascinating... I guess the race to find a job in one of these places begins.  I applied to 6 jobs in Colorado and North Carolina yesterday, so we'll see how that goes. I'm not optimistic about this apply online business anymore.  My grandfather keeps pushing the cold-calling approach of sending a cover letter and resume to companies and hoping for the best.  I run into the issue that most entities dealing with wildlife, ecology, animals, zoology, etc. are not businesses.  Its government, universities, or NPO's.  Zoos don't want you if you don't have prior zoo experience, and contrary to what the Career Center made me think, having slaved away in 100 degrees and 99% humidity at the Memphis Zoo as an intern hasn't gotten me anywhere.  As my GRE prep books stare at me from my bookshelf, I am reminded of the option to go back to school...which immediately makes me try to calculate the interest my undergrad loans would accrue over two more years.  Nope, not an option right now! Grrr, back to applying for more jobs.

Photos!

May 8, 2011: A video!! This is Lola watching a video of Shiba Inu puppies (yes, a live stream exists on the internets). Lola was so confused by the tiny puppies. Sorry for the Blair Witch style shooting, I was trying not to laugh!

 May 9, 2011: I got off work relatively early today, and spent the rest of the beautiful Boulder afternoon in the sunshine with these two.

May 10, 2011: I have always been a fan of ripping off logos for Greek shirts, but this one struck a weird chord with me.  Rip off the North Face or even Vineyard Vines. But the delectable New Belgium Brewing? I don't know, Sigma Nu.

"Its a winding road, and its a long way home, So don't wait for someone to tell you its too late, cause these are the best days...here comes the rest of our lives" - Graham Colton (song- Best Days)

Cheers!

Cha Cha Cha Changes

Since my last post, I took time off from work and traveled to visit my family in Memphis.  I admit I was a little nervous, since my family is very dramatic. There is never a dull moment with 7 siblings!  However, it was a good trip.  I appreciate spending time talking to my dad and step mom a lot more now that I am an 'adult'.  At least this time I didn't have to defend modern scientific thought and theory to a man that gets paid to argue with people for a living! I think of the line from my tweenage favorite movie Clueless- "Daddy's a litigator. Those are the scariest kind of lawyer. Even Lucy, our maid, is terrified of him. And daddy's so good he gets $500 an hour to fight with people. But he fights with me for free because I'm his daughter" Two out of three of my father's college educated children are scientists, so I'm looking forward to a lifetime of these debates. My geological engineer brother has already begun the biologist vs. geologist debates outside of family gatherings. One day, my father WILL accept climate change! But until then, the debate rages on...

Went to the Beale Street Music festival on Saturday night. It was great to see some of my old Rhodes College friends. Great friends. I feel blessed that I only went to school with them for 1 year, and its still like I never left. Ke$ha on the other hand was a different story. Worst performer I've ever seen!!! I do NOT recommend buying over priced tickets to see her drunkenly drop f bombs and scream into her Auto Tune headset. The Mississippi River was the highest I've ever seen, and has since flooded the very ground I stood upon to subject myself to Ke$ha's 'music'.  I kind of wish I had been able to stick around and see how far it gets.  The flooding is set to break records set in 1937! In other Memphis news, the Memphis Grizzlies, the city's newest bandwagon phenomenon, is plowing through the NBA finals. I admit, I will wear my one Grizzlies T to work if they make it to the finals.

Upon my return to Colorado, I was struck with a thought "What am I doing? I'm not heading back to school. I miss the south, and my family and friends there. I'm going back to a crappy job. I can't even pay my bills." So I've talked it over with the parents, and it looks like I'm going to follow the path of my generation and move back home and get a job off my/their hometown connections.  I knew when I wrote in my first post that I'd never move home, I would probably have to eat those words.  Looks like now is that time..well in the next 6 weeks.  Unless I miraculously get a promotion at WF or one of the jobs I've applied to comes through, I'll be returning to the dirty dirty this summer.  I have mixed emotions about this move.  I love Colorado, and especially love summer in Ft. Collins (best friends, Horsetooth, Brewfest, bike rides, Old Town, Bark & Bluegrass fest, camping, awesome weather).  On the other hand, this trip made me realize that Memphis will always be home, and I miss my family, trees, Southern manners, Southern people, Beale street, my Memphis friends, and rivers/lakes.  Everywhere has its pros and cons. I've been forced to face the harsh reality that with my current job, I cannot afford all my bills- mainly rent and my horrendous student loan payments. If I go home and get some office job, I can pay my bills for the next year or two, and then look into grad schools.  I will miss my Colorado friends so much it will hurt. But I gotta do what I gotta do.  Still keeping my fingers crossed for a call back in CO until then.  I won't move to Memphis until I have a job lined up, so I will let yall know when that is. If anyone has any jobs leads anywhere, let me know!!

Project 365 Photos:

April 21, 2011: A raven on the WalMart sign. To me, this represents my area of biological interest: human-wildlife conflict, ecology, and wildlife conservation.

April 22, 2011: Hanging out at Road 31 in Ft. Collins with some KD sisters. Road has great beer prices!

April 23, 2011: Took Lola to the dog park in Ft. Collins, and got the BEST soy chai (choi) at Dazbog coffee.

April 24, 2011: a daily double! Lola begging at the table during Easter dinner. Second, Easter egg Oreo balls. So delicious!!!

April 25, 2011: Rocky Mountain Regional president, Will Paradise.  This guy always wears shorts, rain shine, snow or sleet.

April 26, 2011: Pet Peeve- massive brand logos on cars in Colorado. This is an epidemic in CO. If you have a massive logo sticker on your car, you should at least be getting paid for the advertising!

 April 27, 2011: Whole Foods cookout.  Tasty free lunch for team member appreciation week.

April 28, 2011:  Flying into Nashville. It is so GREEN!!! I miss trees... Had to secretly take this photo over the guy sitting next to me. I felt like such a tourist!

April 29, 2011: FINALLY got to see my brother Artem dance. I had heard how good he was, but had never seen for myself. He is awesome! He does ballet, martial arts, and martial arts inspired dance.

 April 30, 2011: Beale Street Music Fest crowds.  The photo I took from the Ke$ha concert is trapped on my old phone!

 May 1, 2011:  Inside the famous Silky O'Sullivan's where my brother Aleks works.  A CSU flag!!!!! This makes me so happy!!!! Go Rams!

 May 2, 2011: Trapped at the farm house because we missed the flight from Nashville.  Bored with no TV or Internet. One thing I like about myself is my eyelashes. I get many compliments on them.

 May 3, 2011: Another daily double! Jamie's makeshift finals study desk on the plane. Second, I see mountains!!! Hello Rockies, I've missed you.

 May 4, 2011: Lola longingly looking out the window for the Stats Ninja.  The SJ watched Lola while I was gone, and she loves him probably as much as she loves me.

May 5, 2011:  My addiction is on sale at WFs!!! These are normally $3, but with the sale and my discount, they are just a buck!!! Definitely buying a case or two before they go off sale. If you haven't tried coconut juice or water, do it! Its like natural Gatorade. All the hydration, no refined sugar or artificial dyes. Just 100% pure coconut juice :) nature does it better.

May 6, 2011: The Mississippi River overtaking the Pyramid. This is the parking lot, and I stood on dry ground just 100 yards away 6 days prior.  They don't call it the Mighty Mississippi for nothin.

May 7, 2010: This week's 1 day sale was MSC certified wild caught Salmon. I made an Asian marinade I got from the Food Network, and cooked it out on the grill. So delicious and under $4.

Well that wraps it up for this week. Congrats out to all the graduates this weekend, and happy mother's day to all the mommas!

"Been on the road ‘til tomorrow, been through the joys & the sorrows/ came through the flood & I pulled through the mud but I still got a long way to go" - Railroad Earth

Cheers!