Sunday, July 15, 2012

Summer Doldrums

Ah, it is mid-summer and I've settled into a routine.  The routine consists mainly of fieldwork and job-searching, with a bit of officework and veterinary visits thrown in.

Each Monday it is off to the field with me and my crew, only to return again on Thursday evening.  We have, however, been working in a variety of locations this summer, and with a variety of collaborators (including The Grad Student, The Other Grad Student, and The Former Crew Leader).  Our adventures take us in to the Wilds of Missouri, often far from paved roads and cell phone reception.  It is fun and challenging while it lasts.  By night I job-search online in the hotels.

Then it is back to the office on Friday - usually I have plenty of hours by late morning, but I can never seem to leave until 5.  There is much to do.  Such as paperwork.

The weekend arrives, but they are typically rather uninteresting.  Back at the end of May, Tasha hurt her back.  After a series of Friday-morning vet appointments it was determined that she probably has a slipped disk in her lower back, probably from playing agility.  Now she is doing much better.  However, she is stuck on crate-rest with only 5 minute walks, so there is no opportunity to go hiking or practice agility or even play fetch.  So I spend more time job-searching, and also doing some drawing and painting and laundry.

The very hot temperatures and complete lack of rain also combine to make the summer seem to drag on a bit.  I keep looking at the forecast, hoping for some rain - when none is forecast I just think, "well, maybe next week."  But of course there isn't any in the next week, either.

I'm not sure how to end this...hmm, any suggestions to spice up my summer?