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!

Death of a Pickle Thrower

Tonight I had a "see ya later" dinner with one of my best CSU friends, Tanja. After 25 years in Colorado, my dear friend is moving up to the next box shaped state to be with her cowboy (Cue cowboy take me away)  Tanja was one of my first friends in Kappa Delta, way back in 2006.  She let me sleep in her bunk bed (Ahh the old KD bunk beds!) when my awful roomie was too much to handle, took me to her house for my first Easter away from home, listened when I was homesick, introduced me to The Sundance, was my roomie in the KD house (room 9 aka CrunkFest), Roomie in the Crunk Castle, haver of many shenanigans, never got mad that I (with the help of a abnormally tall curb) broke her ankle on my 21st birthday, inspired me to study when I wouldn't have otherwise, giver of Biochem notes, Reno911! lover, and all around great friend.  Through all our ups and downs, we always got over our differences and I know I can count on her.  Tanja- enjoy Wyoming, and me and Lola will visit you and Baxter soon! For those of you who didn't know, Baxter is Tanja's black lab. He and Lola met in August and instantly hit it off.  They have enjoyed many dog park dates and shared bones. Lola is very sad that Baxter is moving away, but decided not to pursue a long distance relationship. Anyways, here are some pictures of the past 4 years. Don't worry Tanj, I didn't include any that would haunt you if you decide to run for mayor of Story, Wyoming.

My 1st Colorado Camping trip

My 20th Birthday

My 21st Birthday!

My 22nd Birthday

Typical Crunk Castle Night

 April 26, 2011 Conor O'Neils in Boulder, CO

Best of Luck in your new adventure!!

"Do you suppose I'd come running? Do you suppose I'd come at all? You know I would! You know I would... I'd come running if you'd called my name out loud" - Dispatch


Cheers!

"Emerging Adulthood"

According to this psychologist, my generation is in a new life stage called 'emerging adulthood.' Very interesting, especially in regards to the generational difference between us and our parents and grandparents.  30 is the new 20.  A bit of my anxiety is quelled for the evening knowing that I am not the only one in this weird stage!

Cheers.

Linkedin: Does it work for twenty-somethings?

Wow, 16 days went by quickly! My goal is to blog once a week, so I will try to make that happen.  Since my last post, nothing terribly exciting has happened.  I've been expanding my network on Linkedin in an effort to help my job search. It seems like a lot of people my age have recently joined, and I have made lots of connections with people I knew back in Memphis. Seems like everyone is in banking. What the heck? Discussing this with my aunt, she told me "Banking is boring, even to bankers."  This made me laugh and feel better. I know I can always count on my Aunt for great advice.  Must plan a visit to Charlotte or Folly Beach this summer. Anyway, back to Linkedin, I wonder if this will really help.  I keep hearing that its connections that get you a job in this economy. We will see. Anyone want to weigh in on the topic? Had any success with Linkedin?

Photos!

 April 5, 2011: 'Support your local brewer', great example of the cool beer culture here in Northern Colorado.

 April 6, 2011: Drinking some tea on break at work, enjoying the sunshine.

 April 7, 2011: A very special treat at work today! The world's skinniest Rick James impersonator. I wish I had gotten a better photo, especially of the sunglasses and braids.

April 8, 2011: Haze coming over the flatirons from a wildfire. Wildfires are NOT cool! Imagine images of Smokey the Bear- only YOU can prevent forest fires...

 April 9, 2011: I dropped my laptop on my ankle. This photo doesn't do the injury justice! Notice Lola snoozing in the background...doesn't even care.

 April 10, 2011: Lola in her element. Her Mr. Bill toy in the background is her favorite.

 April 11, 2011: Driving into Boulder Valley from the east. Love this view. Mountains upon mountains.

 April 12, 2011: It finally rained!! It never rains in northern colorado. I like rainstorms, and apparently Lola does not. She kept me up half the night.

 April 13, 2011: My schedule for the day. I go around to different people and give them their breaks. It makes the day go by faster.

 April 14, 2011: I love listening to Radio Margaritaville in the spring and summer. It makes me want to go to move to a beach!

 April 15, 2011: Bentley Coupe. Sweet Car.

 April 16, 2011: Everyone has a cause and wants to peddle it outside WF.  This was something to do with alternate power sources. This lady was out there for like 6 hours.

 April 17, 2011: Seems like everyone at work drinks these, so I decided to give it a try. Pretty good stuff! A lot better than the mate I tried in Argentina out of a gourd.

 April 18, 2011: Hopefully you can tell from this photo, but the trees are officially GREEN! The mountains are so beautiful. I found a moment of peace looking at them.

Arpril 19, 2011: Lola goes crazy when I say "Yoga Dog!". I'm sure I could find a place in Boulder that does yoga with dogs. But for now, we'll keep it at home. 

April 20, 2011: One of my pet peeves! One brake light out, alright. But 2, come on! This road from Boulder to Longmont is stop and go for miles (due to a HUGE IBM building with its own stop light), and I nearly hit this guy several times.

In closing, a favorite song lyric- "Celebrate we will, for life is short but sweet for certain" - Dave Matthews Band

Cheers!

Springtime in Colorado....just kidding

Today is my first day off from work since my last post. I finally hit the point where the alarm went off in the morning and I said to myself, "Damn, I do not want to get up and go to this job." I'm itching to start a new adventure. I realized that time is slipping by so quickly as I go through to motions of getting up and going to a crappy job everyday. This is my life! I just wish it didn't take 3 months to hear back after applying for a job.  I'm still waiting to hear back from jobs with CO dept of wildlife, CSU, Boulder County, Budweiser, and a company in Charleston, SC.  Something please just work out!! I heard back a polite 'no' from a CDOW researcher who said that he had 102 applications for just 2 positions. Would I have changed my major if I had known how hard it would be to find a job? I don't think so. Maybe I would have done Wildlife Bio instead of Zoology, but I wouldn't have gone into another field.  Seems like everyday I hear of another person my age going back to school for a masters to get out of this terrible job economy.  I want to do that for sure, but just not now.  As much as I really liked school, I am enjoying the break.  Sure work just plain sucks sometimes, but there are no exams and no homework. I saw a kid studying for O-chem at WFs yesterday, and actually smiled to myself that I finally defeated that class, and will NEVER have to look at it again.  I found a masters in Marine Biology at College of Charleston that seems to be a good fit for me.  Now, I just need to get a job down there so I can get instate for eventually doing that! I have a clear memory of watching some documentary on whales when I was probably 11 years old, and telling my mom "I just want to be a marine biologist so bad!!", after correcting me "Badly. You want to be a marine biologist badly.", she told me I could be whatever I wanted and I just have to do whatever it takes to get there. So at a point in my life where I feel like I'm in a stall pattern, I need to start taking proactive steps. First: find a job giving me relevant experience, preferably in South Carolina. or Florida. Or Georgia. Ready? Break!

I went to Dillard's last week to buy a new mattress pad with a gift card I had, and had an interesting and unexpected chat with the guy working in the home department.  We started talking about how we were both working crappy retail jobs with college degrees. He had a theater degree, was also 24, and still searching for a job that he really liked...as much fun as he was having peddling sheets and pillows to old ladies, it wasn't fulfilling his dreams. What struck me about the conversation though was that he was the most optimistic person about it all. He had just met me, and after 10 minutes looked me in the eye and said, "I know you will get a job you love, like within the year. I know it." His optimism was contagious, and I left feeling uplifted.  Oh please Dillard's Prophet, be right!

Project 365 photos from the past week:

March 30, 2011: Prairie Dog colony off Hwy 36, looking over the Boulder Valley. One of my favorite spots to just sit and take Colorado in.

 March 31, 2011: My new Chacos arrived!! I had my last pair for 9 years, so lets hope the new versions measure up. Favorite shoes ever.

 April 1, 2011: Took Lola to Boulder Creek to explore and break in the new chacos. She had lots of fun tasting the waters, but didn't get up the courage to get in.

 April 2, 2011: While cleaning at work, my coworker Rob and I noticed that our new cleaning products claim to "kill HIV/AIDS" We remain skeptical, but rest assured, you will NOT get AIDS from the credit card machines at WF.

 April 3, 2011: My reading list, aka Lola's casualties. I think she likes the glue used on the spines, and therefore any hardcover book left within her reaching distance will be stripped naked by the time I get home. Nothing a little packing tape and duct tape can't handle.

April 4, 2011: View of the Flatirons from the Boulder dog park. Pictures and drawings of these are on EVERYTHING in Boulder.