So...Weary...

It has been one heck of a tiresome couple of days. I had to work 13 hours on Sunday, and that about killed me! It really wasn't THAT bad, but it was exhausting. I, along with Gabor, Megan, Bob, and Cheryl, drove a number of EID conference attendees out to see the Valles Caldera National Preserve. I LOVE the Caldera. It's probably my favorite location in the state. But I really needed a weekend, and working on Sunday didn't help. Still, I was lucky enough to have the nicest people in my car: a math professor and his biology student from the University of Idaho (U of I??) and a masters student from Ft. Collins, CO where Jeanine works! Driving stresses me out, so that's probably why I was so exhausted, but being back on the Caldera was worth it. We stopped at some beautiful locations, listening to Bob's informative explanations. It wasn't without adventure, either. We came across a downed tree, and 15 of us helped move it as Bob chainsawed. We also had to contend with some slippery, muddy and icy roads on some precarious mountainsides! Sadly, we didn't see much in the way of wildlife initially, but at the end of our day, we spied a herd of about 100 elk, so we drove over to show them off.

The first time I'd seen the Caldera, Nate drove me past on our way up to Los Alamos. I was pretty nervous, seeing as how it's a gigantic, 14 mile wide volcanic crater that could potentially explode at any time. I was so nervous the first time we went to trap there, too. But the place has grown on me so much that, while down in the crater letting the visitors explore, I just stood out in the grass, contemplating the humongous volcano below, and actually felt so at peace that I wouldn't have minded if the darned thing exploded right there. I was one with the earth, and that would have just made me a permanent fixture to this wonderful place.

So you can see I love the place...so wasn't it exciting when Bob (my current boss, through Dec.) offered me another job, based at the Caldera, starting in May and going through November. He said I'm at the top of his list, so that was really great to hear...we'll have to see, though. I'd have to live there 4 days a week, and I don't know how it's going to mesh with my real estate, much less a book, should I write one. Plus, the 10 hour days sound killer, but apparently I'd get to learn all the plants of the region, and I'd be doing radio telemetry on turkeys and coyotes, so that's awesome! It's definitely something to consider...

Other than that, I've been "working" at the EID (Ecology of Infectious Diseases) conference this week...it had to be the easiest conference to "work." It was so laid back that no one really needed any instruction, and the hotel took care of most of the details. Unfortunately, I was too exhausted to get much out of the presentations, but it was still interesting. It's nice to finally get invited to a conference or two...not that I'd have ever known from GRAD SCHOOL. *grumble, mumble*

Anyway, in sad news, my last rat Flash passed away today...he was so heartbroken after the loss of Geronimo that I think he lost the will to live. I'm just glad he's not suffering anymore. The house just won't be the same without a rat. :(

So that's life 'til now...I have lots of emailing to do and errands to run, but I think I'm just going to pass out!! G'night, all!