Post Holiday Blues

So while labor day weekend was exciting and busy and fun, apparently the past couple of days haven't been. And today, too, was slow. Rick thinks it may be just because everyone JUST finished travelling during Memorial Day.

...we never really traveled during that weekend in my family. We would go to the parade and take the Monday to do USO stuff. But to each his own I suppose. It just seems like a weird time to travel to me. I mean, you only get one extra day off from work and school...

Whatever. Regardless of what I think, it meant a lot of business for Ashfall. And when things aren't busy here, like they weren't today, we all go to the Rhino Barn. The others got a little tired of it, but honestly I was a little relieved. I was scheduled to spend my afternoon at the Discovery Station, and while I did enjoy it last time, it is the least visited part of the park except for maybe the trails. If there are twenty people in the park, I get to see maybe one. Which is fine for the first couple of hours sifting through microfossils without a microscope, but after a while your eyes start to hurt a bit and you start to realize that talking to people is a nice chance to stretch and take a break while still doing your job. I like the Rhino Barn. People still come there, you can move around if you need to, and if you get bored with that little tiny patch of ground you're staring at you can sort of move over and inch and work there. At least, I can. But I have a little more space to work with than the others due to the nature of my task (brushing off burrows from last year with the intent of following them down. There is a series of rhino verts nearby that are missing the rest of the animal. I tell visitors that I very well may be sitting on him.)


Nothing was really picture worthy today, so have a picture of our little cabin buddy, Peter. Can't see him? Well, normally neither can Jake, who keeps joking in front of Ellen that he's going to catch little Peter for dinner. Let's just say that doesn't tend to go over well. He likes to hang out under the cabin porch, between the cars, and sometimes even under the cars. I was a little relieved to see him this evening; I forgot to check for him this morning when I pulled out of the driveway... can't blame him though. It'd be nice and shady under there. And safe from some guy with a grill.

Speaking of shade, that is the last time I wear jeans to work in place of lighter pants. It is getting hotter. Now that's the west I'm familiar with.

I'm writing about bunnies and the weather. See? Slow day. I did get complimented by Rick today for being very willing to answer questions as I work and even go to the railing and engage people in conversation about the fossils. Now, when Rick gives you a compliment, or says anything at all really, aside from a few moments when you can get him laughing, he seems really, really serious. I though it was going to be followed by "but you talked to that one family too long" or "but you need to focus more" or something. But apparently, I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing and doing it fairly well. Also, it's amusing how many visitors mistake those of us that talk to them about the site for grad students, Ph. D. students, or even more than that. Apparently we are remembering what we learned well enough to convince them that we know enough to be at a higher level.

And then I get the reaction, "You're a FRESHMAN?!"

I mean... when you can answer most of the questions and willingly admit when you don't know something... people overestimate you. Always amusing.

Let me just say that I didn't exhale again until I left the room.