BLACKOUT!

Boy do I love October!

Decided to get away this weekend and boy was I glad for it. Two hours North is a State park called Palo Duro Canyon, which is supposedly the second largest next to the Grand Canyon (where I have been as well). To be honest, I preferred Palo Duro but that could be because my time at the Grand Canyon was short lived and the 10,000ft elevation sickness I felt was needless to say an unpleasant sensation. You may think camping alone to be...well, lonely. Personally, I prefer a quiet, reflective hike as opposed to socialization. I focus on my breathing, my movement, the surroundings...there's too much stimulus without adding an additional need to hold a conversation. In light of this thought, let me allow you to peruse this weekend's photos as I bid a fond adieu.

Mangia!

I've mentioned that lately cooking has been my self-prescribed therapy for loneliness. And let me say, it has been incredibly effective; plus, there's a delicious meal at the end! I mainly depend on recipes except when it comes to tomato sauce, then I just go all out. So far I've made things like gnocchi with peas in a mushroom cream sauce, strawberry balsamic grilled chicken and brown rice, a tofu stir-fry with peanut sauce, and last night was homemade whole wheat pumpkin ravioli and roasted asparagus in a wild mushroom broth (the tastiness in the picture). This one was really fun to make and seeing as I put so much work into it, I shared it with my roommates. I've decided to take pictures from now on because even if I'm eating alone, I still fuss over the presentation. Might as well capture the display via camera.

Street tubing: it's the next big thing!

My return to scholastic living is well underway. But thus far, there is still time for diversion. I took a weekend to join the Texas Herpetological Society and become familiar with the herp life of a Texas shortgrass prairie. Met a fellow from Lockport, IL of all places! He too was familiar with Lockport and Romeoville Prairies, which is about as close as you can get to a natural oasis in the concrete jungles of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. The Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge similarly was a breath of fresh air compared to the surrounding areas. Here is what this lovely area provided for us: (I apologize to those whose eyes might start to glaze over, but be thankful I'm not using scientific names) North American porcupine, yellow mud turtles, prairie rattlesnakes, corn snakes, a coachwhip, checkered garter snakes, a larval tiger salamander, lined snakes, Texas horned lizards, an exensive prairie dog town, woodhouse's toads and there's probably a few others I've forgotten.

Other than that weekend, it has been business as usual. Classes are fine, I finally have keys to my office and my roommates are amazing. Kickboxing twice a week is ridiculously fun: a great tension reliever and I've found cooking healthy, semi-involved meals to be therapeutic as well. All useful remedies for keeping my mind off missing Taylor. I give props to those who deal with long-distance relationships (Sheri, my heart goes out to you especially). My situation is frustrating at times, but not completely unbearable.

The only other update I have is in regards to the very unusual weather. Hurricanes have been causing intense rain in Lubbock which unfortunately has the worst draining system I've ever seen (or maybe I should say 'not seen'). I watched in fascination yesterday as our street progressively turned into a rushing river. Had we a tube, there most definitely would have been some street tubing occurring. Class was canceled due these extraordinary circumstances, so I should probably utilize this time and get some necessary reading done. adios

"thanks but no thanks"...I do love Bill

oh where to start...
As of Tuesday of last week I have departed Arnold, CA and embarked on the journey to Lubbock, TX. On the way, there was too brief a night spent in the Mojave National Preserve (it kills me to stay in a place and not explore), some delightful thai lunch in Flagstaff and an Albuquerque Isotopes game, grand slam victory and all. Then things got a tad hectic as I arrived midday in Lubbock, unpacked, stocked up on groceries, and packed for a weekend of camping in the field. A mere 5 more hours in the car and I was tracking Texas horned lizards by friday afternoon. Met quite an interesting fellow on Saturday who is allowing us free passage to search for lizards on his 800 acres of land, which is inspirationally being restored out of his own pocket. Things died down and I've been getting to know the layout of Lubbock, the five floors of books at the TTU library (score!) and their massive rec center (double score!). The DNC has kept me company at night, along with my very awesome roommates and Bella the american bull dog. I don't have my own functioning computer yet but once I do, pictures will follow. Missing everyone of course, especially Taylor but I'm happy to have alot to keep me occupied and my brain stimulated. I'll post as updates come.

Been a long time since I rock n' rolled

Actually, it's just been a long time since I've blogged...and rolled. I don't really roll. Anyway, things have been busy, busy as usual. Let's get right down to it...

Had a week of mom getting six months of motherliness out of her system. I tried to adequately give her a sense of mountain living: wine, food, bears...yes, bears. We surprisingly came across a mother and two cubs while driving out of my work site. It was the first bearage I've ever encountered, even with backpacking in the Smokies at the height of bear season. Needless to say we were both excited.

My favorite part was exploring a grove of giant sequoias that Taylor and I had yet to visit. Mom couldn't get over the giant cones from the sugar pine (Ironically, the giant sequoia has comparatively tiny cones). After all the fun and foot breakage (Taylor is starting to heal nicely), mom went home and work ensued. Last weekend we cut loose by heading to Mammoth lakes for the beer and blues festival. Then Patrick and I started a forest fire...

Ok, we didn't start it at all actually. We went hiking at Sherwin Lakes and discovered the beginnings of what appeared to be a small fire started by some ignorant people. When we left, the fire crew was on their way up the trail and we thought that would be the end of it. Lo and behold, I look up online just moments ago and discover the fire became a raging inferno, burning over 250 acres. See Patrick, you really could have been a hero!

Now, after another weeks work, things are boiling down in the world of Goshawk surveys. We have very little left to do, which is superb because I have moving to deal with. On the 19th, I shall be packing up the little focus that could and heading to Lubbock, Texas to start grad school. But not before having a final weekend hurrah in San Francisco. Once I do move though, I should finally have a working cell phone so expect some calls and catching up.

update time...High Sierra was a blast. The weather was infintely better than last year (the forest fire smoke was horrendous though). Alot of good people were there and alot of new bands being discovered. I was really enjoying the blues/funk/jazz vibe coming from some New Orleans bands. Again, the afternoon sets were my favorite except for Trombone Shorty on saturday night. We danced, danced and danced some more. Whereas last year the four days seemed a tad too long, this year it was far too short.
But exciting news awaited me upon my return home. A grad school project working on Texas horned lizards that had suddenly appeared to the tune of glorious trumpets sounding has become my best prospect for this fall. I await official acceptance but it looks as if I will be Texas-bound come August. That doesn't leave much time for getting myself situated, but I'm pretty confident I can manage the quick transition. The worst part will be parting from Taylor for an unknown amount of time. But it's the kind of situation that you just have to let play out and hope for the best. I think I'm better prepared for it than the first division-by-landmass last summer.
The summer is really flying by now. Get to spend a week showing mom what mountain life is like starting this Saturday. Then it's goshawk transect cram time which will culminate with a trip to Oakland to see the White Sox! Can you think of a better way to end a season? (some of you don't answer that!)