tree countin'

In what I can only imagine MUST be some sort of record, Dad and I completed my entire section (D2) of the Durham tree inventory in about 2 and a half hours this morning! THANK YOU DAD! And we did it despite the fact that all we had for reference material was a copy of "North American Guide to Trees.... Western Region". Oops! Titles - does anyone actually read them these days? I certainly don't.

So that was worthless but evidently my dad not only knows the capitals of all the countries in the world but he also knows 85% of all tree species. Brilliant. We did discover a tree that neither of us recognized, but it's owner was drawn by our voices in the front yard and told us it was a Yellowwood.

If anyone is interested in helping in this all-volunteer effort, let me know and I'll hook you up with the Durham tree people who are running it.

I promised Dad I wouldn't get another section until I've found a job.

Now that's something to complain about

So this afternoon I was sitting on the couch looking for jobs (sort of) and Ian was sitting next to me watching a soccer game. I suddenly got SO hot and was having what I described to Ian (while I begged him, for the second time, to go get me an ice cream sandwich) as heat chills. He pointed out that I truly was experiencing extreme levels of suffering: hot flashes and no one to hand me an ice cream sandwich. Okay good point.

Then later today when I was walking home from the gym, I saw this squirrel walking towards me really weirdly - slow and with its legs all spread out. Then I noticed it was a she-squirrel b/c she had these big squirrel nipples, and THEN i saw that she was giving birth! An actual squirrel baby was halfway out her squirrel vagina. Um.... ?!?!?! I couldn't believe my eyes. And I couldn't take them off this lady squirrel who was walking around, pausing every few steps, and making her way through campus to go somewhere (don't they have nests??) and finish the job.

What struck me the most about this squirrel was that she was totally silent. There was no one with her, no ambulance or team of doctor squirrels. She was just doing her thing, though I had to think she was in a LOT of squirrel pain. Watching her just go about her business made me think about the ice cream sandwich and the hot flashes. I could sure have a lot worse things to complain about.

I'm invisible

My friend Sarah and I once high-fived over this proclamation when we were being completely ignored by this guy named Kevin. Sometimes, though, I like to pretend I'm invisible - namely when I'm on the bus. I just imagine that no one can tell I'm there, and it feels really nice - like I can do whatever I want and no one will notice, and I don't have to make eye contact with anyone or acknowledge when someone sneezes. The weird thing about the bus though, and how I KNOW I'm not actually invisible, is that no one ever sits next to me. When a bunch of people get on, I always pick up my bags and put them in my lap to free up the seat next to me, but no one sits in it. I have repeatedly noticed that I am the ONLY one with no one next to them! I don't know what to make of this, but if I was watching it happen in a movie I would probably feel sad for me. Maybe people notice all my stuff and so give me the room, or maybe I have an unfriendly vibe on the bus. Or maybe they're like "what's with Crazy over there pretending she's invisible?"

I also love to be invisible in gchat. What a great feature! But I talk to people anyways, and I wonder if they think I'm speaking to them from beyond the grave.

two guesses

Ian: Jess come here I want to show you something.
Jess: Is it a bug?
Ian: No, it's better than a bug.
Jess: Is it a kitten!

Apparently those were the only two possibilities I could think of. It was my diploma.