Nervous!

Well, it's almost time! In just two days I'll be back on the road again, en route to Nevada. Sounds like for the first month and a half I'll be working on the Lower Colorado River Project, which entails going to Las Vegas and then on to Arizona to set up survey points and do some veg work. Then it'll be bird survey training and then actual bird surveying throughout Nevada.

Bendire's thrasher

On a random note, anyone looking for a good movie/tv show to watch should try Battlestar Galactica (the new one). It's more drama than sci-fi and really well done. But you would definitely have to see it from the beginning to understand the storyline, so it's one to Netflix.

Beware the cylons!

Our apartment

See how useful the table is?

Snowshoeing II

Here are a couple of videos!

Snowshoeing

We finally tried snowshoeing with our friend Hattie! It's so much fun - here are some photos from Rocky Mountain National Park...

Music everyone should hear!

Hi everyone, this is going to be another short post. I promise I'm going to get some more pictures up soon, especially b/c we'll be moving into our new place (really it will be Craig's place, but I get to play house and put up decorations on the walls and help start the garden, so that's pretty sweet!).

Oh, and did I mention that our new apartment is 2 blocks from the New Belgium Brewery and 1 block from Odell Brewing Company (yes that is an imperial stout they're advertising)! With that in mind, we are now accepting reservations for overnight stays at very reasonable rates.

In the meantime, everyone should check out this hazyshade productions website and listen to the music and buy the Cycle of Addiction cd. If you are lucky enough to live in the Virginia area and hear Kirsten sing live, I envy you.

Short pants and no painkillers

Just wanted to let you guys know a couple interesting presidential facts I read today on the back of my box of Corn Squares (it is the most important meal of the day, you know):

1. Jimmy Carter was the first U.S. president to be born in a hospital.

2. Martin van Buren, the 8th U.S. president was the first prez to be born in the US!

3. James Madison was the first president to wear long pants (versus knee-length breeches).


Hope that helps get you through the day!

My one political rant (conservative friends, be forewarned)

Well, I guess the people have spoken and the Republican peoples want to institute a new military draft.
That's the only conclusion I can draw from the results yesterday. Don't get me wrong, I do like John McCain but he scares me a little with his talk of spending 100 years in Iraq. I guess that's better than Mitt "made of plastic and oozing fake fakiness" Romney and Mister Mike "I don't believe in evolution" Huckleberry (although to be fair, I do like that he supports the fair tax). I'm just a little bitter that Ron Paul didn't do better. Aren't people listening to his message? I've never voted anything but democrat and he convinced me...
And why am I so worried? Because I really would love either Barack or Hillary to be president, but I fear the strange power of the Republicans to motivate their people to vote through fear-mongering ("aahh, the illegal aliens are coming, now can't they get my Wal-Mart built/slaughter my 4.99 per lb. corn-fed beef/do my yardwork any faster?" or if you prefer, "aaah, gay marriage is coming, my children will be ruined by their desire to profess a life-long commitment to one another!") . I know some of you readers may feel differently, but I honestly don't think either of these are the major issue they are made out to be. Seems to me that our economy, the political system bowing to the desires of the lobbyists, intentionally ignoring the state of the environment, not appropriately funding innovations in alternative energy sources, poor national education, and cost of the war in Iraq - in both lives and money, are all issues enough.
But I guess that's why they call me a liberal....

It's A Long Hard Road (only 1 Cracker Barrel in 60 miles)

After saying farewell to friends and family, Craig, my Dad and I headed out. The trip wasn't too bad (especially for me as both the men felt that they wanted to demonstrate their long-distance driving skills and I acted just as a relief driver). We had a bit of snow on the way, but nothing the ol' Corolla couldn't handle. My favorite sight along the way was seeing a sign in western Kansas for a restaurant called Carlos O'Kelly's. Where else but the USA would you find such a name?! It was pretty awesome, but unfortunately wasn't able to document that one on film. Also had the pleasure of spending the night at Aunt Daisy and Uncle George's house in Kansas, which was wonderful. I think they are the best hosts a person could wish for! We found two fancy ice scrapers waiting for us in our room to take along (apparently credit cards or drivers licenses just won't cut it in the icy wasteland we are entering) and there was a supply of Aunt Daisy's famous oatmeal-raisin cookies to take along for sustenance on the trail ahead. Craig and I said a sad goodbye to Dad there and headed out the next morning (windows already scraped and windex-ed for us by a thoughtful Uncle George). We arrived in Fort Collins after another grueling drive (originally quoted by the liars at Mapquest as 8 hours, but for us it took about 11), found our new apartment and pretty much crashed. Today we purchased our only piece of furniture in the apartment - a beautiful 3-legged oak-veneer table, just large enough to hold an over-sized candle. I swear I can't understand why Craig doesn't love it.

Amy and I displaying our relief after successfully fending off the Nashville recording star (just before we take off for CO).

The only survivors in our game of Oregon Trail. We lost you, Jeb, and little Anni early on...*
(*note: read shirt)

I don't know what those early pioneers were complaining about. We found tons of places to resupply.

St. Louis Arch at night

Blizzard!!!