I getting as bad as Mitch for blogging. I have been in Jamestown for a few days. I got to see my wonderful family. I also got my teeth and eyes checked. Nothing has changed, which is good. I am busy packing at home, and busy packing here at work too. Tomorrow is my last day. I just coming in the morning to get some stuff finalized. Well, we are going to lunch today, so I better go.

Last night I managed to finish one of the books for my reading list. I had an abundance of reading time because I had to take Karen to the walk-in clinic. She was apparently bit on Saturday night by a very nasty bug. She now has a "bite" that is greater than 7cm across. The physician put her on antibiotics, and she started taking Benadryl last night in hopes of reducing the swelling. Unfortunately, this morning it looked even worse than last night. I certainly hope it gets better.
The book I completed was Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande. I really enjoyed this book. I hope the rest on the list are as thought provoking and interesting.
Well, I have started a "quick" paper for Dr. Redmer. It is basically my old study, but I still have to write a paper because Mary Lynn doesn't believe the other study. Sometimes I just want to kick her. Oh well, the practice writing is good for me.
Tonight I have community band. Then I have to run down to Matt's house to get some stuff from his mom. Tomorrow I have a series of Dr. appointments and then head home to Jamestown for even more appointments. Next week is the big move. I realized last night how much packing and cleaning I have to do. What do you think I did once I realized that....? I sat on my butt and watched TV because I had a huge leg cramp. My cramp is subsiding, so I better get to work tonight.

I really wonder if anyone reads this, or if I just writing to myself. I am feeling awfully ignored right now by my boyfriend and my little sister. This is one of my last weeks in Fargo, and yet neither of them seem too anxious to spend time with me. I know that Matt is busy with Governor's School, but even on his "nights off" he is hesitant to skip dinner with the students and very quick to leave my apartment. I just get the feeling that he is avoiding me. He says he will miss me when I leave, but I am beginning to wonder..... Karen is another story. She is too preoccupied with spending time with her new friends. I try to be nice and plan stuff for the two of us, and she always finds a way to include them. I WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH HER....NOT HER FRIENDS! I just got my "suggested" reading list for the fall as well as my summer schedule. Once July 1st hits, I am NOT going to have much time to spend on the phone and writing e-mails or even spending time with someone who comes to visit for me. Even with a shortness is time, I am sure I will be 100% more efficient at using that time that my friends are. THAT is way I am really PISSED because I have time NOW...but no one wants to spend it with me. I guess I know who my friends are....no one. Good bye to Fargo...hopefully I will find friend who make time for me in Minneapolis.

Yesterday was so busy that I didn't have time to do anything! Well, what I mean is that I didn't have time to get some of my stuff done because I was kicking butt here at work. I managed to run my RT reactions, dilute them, and get one plate finished! I was very relieved, because now all I have to do today is run two more plates and interpret the data.
Last night I got a treat. I got to take Mike out for ice cream. He has surgery on Thursday, so I was lucky I caught him at home feeling well.
Tonight is Matt's night off. I think we are going to rent a movie and chill at my place. I think I am coming down with some type of sinus infection, so I have been dizzy and tired the past week. Staying home and cuddling on the couch is about all I have energy for.
Gotta run.

This weekend was a lot of fun. The weather during the day was gorgeous on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This is a welcome change from the gloom that was formerly known as May. Mickey and Rena's wedding went off without a hitch. My best wishes and congratulations to the happy couple. On Saturday morning I got to watch my cousin compete in Special Olympics. He won the pentatholon, which was awesome. My good friend Tracey Odland also had a wonderful Olympics, winning several gold medals in swimming and a bronze for the 100m dash. I got a little sun even! On Saturday night I got my laundry done, but unfortunately the giant sunscreen stain didn't get out. For supper, since I was eating alone due to Karen working, I ate Saffron take-out and watched Lost in Translation. I have to wash it again today. Late Saturday night Aunt Sherry came to spend the night after enjoying Shania Twain. Matt also came over, and we watched Scary Movie 3. Both movies were good. I was in a comedy mood more, so I really enjoyed Scary Movie 3, which was over the top, but clever. On Sunday I delivered a speech at the opening of Governor's School 2004. It is hard to believe that it has been 6 years since I went! The rest of Sunday was spent shopping with Karen. We also went to Jersey Girl at the $1.50 theatre. I liked the movie. After I got home, I sat down and watched a funny movie on ABC Family. Yes, I know it is sad, but I was by myself and had nothing else to watch.
Today I work I have already been pretty productive. I ran three Agilent chips (without assistance). This afternoon I am going over staining.
Well, I better go.

Last night was an enjoyable evening. I got an excellent meal at the Outback to celebrate my last day of barn duty...hopefully forever. Then I went to my favorite store, Barnes and Noble. After that I headed to the Doublewood Inn to listen to Christopher's jazz group. They were excellent, as always. Kudos to Jesse for making playing tenor look very relaxing. Matt consumer about 2/3 of a pitcher of beer, so on our way home I treated him to an ice cream cone to help sober him up. We then sat back and watched a very enjoyable episode of Leno. I need to get out of this 6.5 hours a night sleep kick next week, I need more rest before moving.
Tonight is Mikey and Rena's wedding. Tomorrow is Special Olympics. I am looking forward to Blaine kicking some butt on the track. Well, I have to go. I am waiting for Mary Lynn to come in.

I am just waiting to get some guidance here at work today. I need approval to combine some samples, because it can't be "undone" once I do it. It is rather annoying waiting, since I have been here since 7:30am and it is now 9:19am. It must be nice to get make everyone else wait.

Congrats to my best friend Jenny. She accepted a position at Rugby Public Schools I now have a reason to visit the Geographical Center of North America again. I am really happy for her and wish her the best of luck. I think anyone who teaches grades 6-8 should be considered a saint.

Yesterday I had a hard day at work. I helped finish Pawel's age of first mating pregnancy study, which meant I help in tissue collection. We had to do five animals in one day, so it was very hectic. After that I went out and relaxed by finishing up my graduation thank you notes and playing trivia at Buffalo Wild Wings .

I need to say Happy Birthday to Brad Baltrusch and Christopher Hanson and a great big get well soon to Mike Lehmann

Wow! What a weekend! All I can say is scuba diving in a MN lake at the end of May is NOT a good idea. Especially since it hasn't been much above 70 yet. On Friday Matt and I drove up to Brainerd, MN. It is a pretty nice little town. After we checked into our hotel, we drove around a bit to explore and pick up some groceries for the weekend. On Saturday we headed out in drizzle to the diving site. It was about 14 miles out of Brainerd. We probably could have stayed in Crosby, which was closer, but I didn't know they had hotels there. Instead we stayed in comfort in Brainerd, and just suffered a 10-14 minute drive (it depended on who was driving and what the weather was like). Matt dove first. I took that opportunity to drive into town, get a big warm cup of coffee, and read. When lunch time roamed around, I went to Crosby, MN, and got Subway for Matt and me. I ate my sandwich at the primitive Portsmouth Bay campsite (http://webpages.charter.net/rsouthwick/scubaclub/sites.htm), and then sat in the backseat of my car to enjoy my latest reading, 100 years of Solitude (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060929790/104-9971770-5183925?v=glance) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It is a really good book, but sometime the generations of people with the same name gets confusing.
My diving experience began shortly after 2 PM. I had to attempt to put on this thick, wet, and sort of gross wet suit. After being successful in my attempt, I felt like a giant stuffed sausage. That feeling never subsided during the whole weekend. I guess that should have been my first warning. We started our dive by a quick briefing. That is where I discovered that we would have to spend at least 15 minutes on the surface to change tanks. This did not excite me, as it was only 45 degrees outside and it was raining. Oour first dive was ok. The visability was supposedly abnormally low because of the rain and wind outside. I just remember the feeling of swimming in a tunnel and not knowing where to go. I also remember how cold it was. The first dive was successful, but because one of the divers was a little late, we had to extend out surface time. I froze my butt off. Luckily the second dive was shorter. After freezing...Matt was a saint and helped me clear my gear and warm me up. We enjoyed a pizza and some beer while I warmed up watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. I can happily say that I have also seen all three movies now. Why does there have to be so many snakes in them?
On Sunday I woke up...and did not want to dive....at all. I choked it up though, and doned my gear one more time. The conditions were even worse than Saturday. This lead to one guy panicking, but he was ok in the end. At one point I couldn't even see my own glove. The one cool part was when me and one of the instructors went to clearer water to catch me up. Because of the one guy's panick attack, I had not completed all of my skills. I was allow to do my skill by myself in a much nicer area. I even saw some fish.
After the dives, Matt and I ventered up the Dalsted cabin to pick up Jenny. She wasn't having the greatest time at the lake, so we were happy to free her from the rain. We ate at Zorbaz in Detriot Lakes. Unfortunately, the NASCAR club was also eating there, so all we could do was enjoy our excellent pizza in baffled silence due to the annoying amount of car sounds. To quote Jenny "I have never seen that much NASCAR in my life. I doubt I will ever again."
The rest of Sunday was spent watching classic movies. My personal favorite was Arsenic and Old Lace staring Cary Grant.
I have more... but this is enough for now.