Rain rolling into the Little Badlands, Golden Valley is the formation seen in the picture. 

Unfortunatly, one of the perils of working in the field is getting dirty. Poor Mark, he slipped on the wet bentonite and recieved a dirty, and probably wet rear. 

Justin and I: This is a pic from field, our group had ran out of water so we had to hike back to the vans to refill. I know I was on the verge of heat exhaustion because all I could think about was water and everyone at the vans said I did not look very good. So this picture was taken after I had drank awhole bunch of water and was rejuvinated. 

I'm back

Got back last Tuesday night, and glad of it. Our field class was 5 very long days. We have a bunch of pictures, but they are still on Justin's camera I will try to post some soon. The first couple days went pretty well, the weather was great in the 90's. Our group got lots done and did alot of walking. The third day is when all hell broke loose.
So on the third day we knew it was going to rain we all had our rainjackets and such. There was five of us in the group, Justin, I, Mike, Beckie and Dan. We had been using the rented Mini van because we could all fit into it and everyone else were using thier own vehicles. So we had been out and about mapping starting at 8am, started raining at 10 and by 11:30 we had finally made it back to the van, all soaking wet, including my shoes, and miserable and we talked about what to do.
You see, it's not that we were afriad of the rain and getting wet but a large part of what we were mapping is called Bentonite, which is weathered volcanic ash, and in it's weathered form it is clay. Now clay when it's wet, is a horrible substance. It becomes super slippery and very dangerous to walk on.
So walking around in the rain on slippery shit, did not sound to fun to us. So we took off in search of our professor. We found him and he told us to wait out the rain. So from then to about 1pm we ate our packed lunch, got gas for the van and worked on our notes and exchanged info to each other.
At 1pm we went to another location and started hiking. The next four hours were miserable. We were all still fairly wet, and it was windy. Walking was difficult, and it was impossible to get up to the top of the buttes to see what was going on geologically in the area. So we did our thing for the four hours and when it started getting to 5pm we headed back to the van. This is where the fun starts. (Please note sarcasim)
On the van notes were written in the dirt. One said "How was driving in the rain all morning? =)" Then something was written below it then crossed out. Also on the side of the van was written "Dangerous 5" We knew instantly who did this, 1. because of the smilly face, and 2. because her truck was parked not far from ours when we first got there and now it was parked even farther away. So these malicious notes really made us mad, I still don't know how she knew that we were driving about in the morning unless she talked to other people who saw us, but she made it sound like we were joy riding around doing nothing. I have no idea also what makes us so dangerous, we all know that she does not like Mike because those two are the top students and he's been winning the department awards and not her. So after we fummed about that for a few mineuts, we decided just to get into the van and get back to camp. The van would not start. We sat there dumb-founded wondering why it was completly dead. So we popped the hood and sure enough, she had unplugged the battery and left and note tucked in the engine. Now I dont remember what the note said, but it was mean. So the battery was plugged back in and we drove back fumming even more. Well lets say that the rest of the evening was not pleasant, apparently she feels bad but I have yet to get an appology. If someone in our group had gotten hurt, her little stunt would have cost us alot of time.

Think dry thoughts...

I will not be posting for the next week. I will be in Dickenson, ND for my Field Expeirence class, walking around in an 8 square mile area mapping and collecting fossils (yay!) We'll be taking pictures, so I'll try to get some fun ones that i'll post when i get home. The weather is lookin sketchy so please think dry and warm thoughts!!

New blog name?

Lately, I have become quite unsatisfied with the name of my blog and i've been thinking of new ones. When I made this blog, I didn't care for my current title too much, but it was the only thing I could think of. The only other name I can think of is, "On the Rocks." I think it's funny, and semi-clever. So let me know what you think..
P.S Anne, if you are reading this "Hello!"

Whew 3 months already!

Well, today being the 12th is our 3rd month-versary hurray for us! I swear one of these days I'll try to stop counting the months, but I suppose that won't happen until our 1st anniversary.
Yesterday (Saturday) was my cousin Tammi's bridal shower and also bachlorette party. The shower went well, it was held in a tiny church, in a tiny town that Tammi and I used to go to when we were little. Anyways, I'm the Matron of Honor in her wedding, and mom helped organize the shower. So we get to the church and the chruch ladies are already in the kitchen getting the food ready. Boy were those ladies bossy. They all have this routine that has to be followed precisely, they ordered us around continuously. Man was I glad when Tammi arrived and I had to go be with her. So the shower was a success, Tammi and her financee Marty received lots of neat stuff and for some reason a lot of doilies, but I think that's because a lot of the elderly church ladies were there.
The bachlorette party was really laid back, all Tammi wanted to do was to chill in my apartment, drink, and watch movies. We did go out to Chinese, which was fun. I got to go to a place I hadn't been to yet, it was actually a sit down place which was nice because all the Chinese places around here that I know of are buffets. So after that yummy dinner, we went back to my place and drank Appletinis and Wild Cherry Cabana Boy with Coke. After a couple of each we were feeling good. Tammi's friend, Megan also came along, she is under 21 so she agreed to drive Tammi home. We only got through two movies, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and Ice Age (Tammi hadn't seen it yet.) After those two, we were all tired so Megan drove Tammi home.

Here I sit

Well here I am at school, bored and waiting for my 5pm class and it's 3:20. Sigh..long wait ahead. I'm in the main computer cluster on campus, and am using a Mac. These little beauties are always free even during the most busiest times, I think most PC users are afriad of them, I myself would like having one but everything is made for a PC. I usually don't like using school comps just because who knows what are on this keyboard and mouse. I'm not a germ nut, I dont freak out about door knobs or bath room sinks, but for some reason these keyboards give me the willies. I guess everyone has thier strange thing that they worry about.
Does everyone have wierd phobias? I sure hope so because I know I do. Like when i go into a bathroom, say at a convience store or fast food place where it's just the one toilet inside, no stalls. Well anyways I always have this little nagging fear that i'm going to get locked into that room. I guess I just dont like the fact that I have to lock myself into that room. However i have no problems with the bathroom stalls, probably because I know that I can crawl underneath if i get locked in. I think this phobia is from a memory I have from when I was little, and still living in MN so that would make me 5 or younger. I was at a restaraunt with mom and dad, and I went to the bathroom by my self. When I went to leave the restroom, I wasn't able to open the door, not the stall door but the one that leaves the restroom and if I remember right it was even the kind of door that you just pull open but I just wasn't strong enough to open it. I just remember being so freaked out that i was pounding on the door, and trying to tug on it to get out. Ugh, yeah so locking bathrooms freak me out.

A good day

Well today was a historic day in my life. Today I made my last car payment. Yes, my Jetta is finally mine. I received my financial aid distribution today and it went straight to my car, with some money left over to go the the eye Dr and get my computer upgraded. It will be so nice having that extra $200 every month, this way we can pay off our credit cards that much faster. Hurray for me!!!

Finally!!

I'm so happy, yesterday Justin and I drove out and picked up my car. It was strange to drive it again, I've been driving Justins car for like the last 3 months, it's like I have to learn how to drive it all over again.
Right now I'm watching Fellowship of the Ring, Legolas just came on...mmm Legolas LOL. Is it sad that I have a crush on an elf?
Well, this Labor Day weekend I will not be doing much. Probably just homework. So many things to do and here I am watching a movie. You ever feel like you have so much stuff to do that you don't know even where to start so you do nothing? That's what I'm doing right now. Well, I better get back to my movie. Take care.

It's about frickin time!!

Well, after waiting forever to see if I'd actually receive my title in the mail I once again called Wells Fargo. Justin was able to get the fax number from his work, and they let us use it. So in a few short hours, I had the fax in hand. Hurrah! I said, I can finally go to the DMV. That is what Justin and I did today during a long break between classes. I now have my plates ordered, they just have to wait to receive the title from Wells Fargo before they can be sent to me. I decided to do something fun and I got personalized plates. I named my car a cartoon character, lets see..Ok I'll give a quote from this character and lets see if you can figure out who it is..
"My daddy says that three-horns don't play with long-necks!"