Paper over keyboards

I had a very disturbing dream last night (technically this morning as I woke up to see the time was 8:45 am) and I tried to write it down.  My handwriting is almost illegible because I felt tensed and self concious about writing it out.  I wrote in cursive, and rather rushed.  For me, that’s not a good thing.  My cursive turns illegible very fast.

I wanted to share it but I had to go through the steps of writing it out first and then telling it to a person.  Sort out my thoughts, get things right in my head, talk to someone about it.

I’m appreciating having a paper journal with me here.  Admittedly I don’t write in it nearly enough, I feel better writing stuff down.  I also don’t have much to say, “Today I sat at my computer and typed.  I also did that day before and the day before that and the day before that.  I did go outside though. . . to get a few groceries.”  Really, that doesn’t make a very good read.  Or a very nice thing to write.

A journal is a place I like to feel safe writing it.  I’ve started to lose that.  I’m working at getting it back.

This blog on the other hand, I don’t feel safe putting anything down in.  The same was with my LiveJournal.  I’ll start getting back into blogs and all that fun when I find my writing passion again.  For now my writing is all about woodlands and bats (not together though) and vicious emails to my parents where I rant about how disgruntled I am at not having my project sorted out yet.  DISSERTATION HELLLLLLLL

*ahem*

All better.

Journals are fun.  And I’m a big believer in finding the right kind of journal for your purpose.  Moleskines aren’t for everyone, and lined journals are also not for everyone.   It’s weird to see what you will and will not use for a journal.  They have a feel to them.  The same for the pen that writes in those journals.  Usually it’s due to the quality of the paper and how gel/ballpoint/rollerball/fountain/etc actually works with that paper.

Raptor Conference HERE I COME

http://www.umt.edu/ce/cps/raptor/

I’m going I’m going I’m going I’m going. . . I think.

The funny part (okay, I think it’s funny) is when talking to my mom about it yesterday I told her I was excited and yackity yack.  She said she would check out the hotel and other stuff to see if a cheaper place is nearby and I would just walk over to the Holiday Inn it’s held at.  Seems normal right?  Then she tells me I’ve never been to the Holiday Inn.

*long pause*

“Mom, wasn’t Paul and Caroline’s wedding reception there?”

“Well yes.”  *thoughts percolate into proper order*  “Well I suppose you have been there then.”

“Yes Mom, I’ve also had their pancakes and run up and down their stairs numerous times.”

My Uncle Paul was married in Missoula when I was about 7.  I was a flower girl, the reception was atteneded by all family present in Montana at the time.  DUH I was there.

My mom forgets these things sometimes.  She’s feeling stressed.

BUT, I AM GOING TO THE RAPTOR CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!

*bounces around room*

Make way for ducklings

Every so often I find a weird article in my google reader feed, this time it’s about a Mrs. Mallard and her trek to retrieve her babies from underground in Newcastle Upon Tyne (where I am currently studying). Apparently the ducklings fell through a grate and were swept away in a sewer.  Mom followed them approximately 2 miles and stood near a manhole quacking her brains out until someone stopped and got the manhole over off and the 6 ducklings out.

Robert McCloskey would be proud of those people.

Thoughts for September

I’m flying home on the 12th (with all hope), my dissertation is due on the 19th, and I want to go to Portland with Sharyn on the 28th.  After Portland I was thinking of Missoula, but a snag has come up in the form of the Raptors Research Foundation Conference in Missoula the 26th-28th.  I WANT TO GO!  Do I have $190? Nope.  All I can say is GOLDEN EAGLE TRAPPING AND BANDING!!!! HOLY CRAP!

Sorry, I get all droolified over the pretty birds.  There’s even stuff with Harriers. I’ve been learning all about Hen Harriers in the UK, so I’m excited for a Raptor Conference.

I want to go.
The issue is saying, “Yes, I will put myself into debt so I can go see Raptors and see if I can get a foot in the door for a job/internship/volunteering. “  It helps that it’s in Missoula so I know my way around the town already.  Strangely enough, I have never driven in Missoula.  Ever.  WEIRD.

How to begin. . . and continue

It’s hard to figure out how to begin on my thesis when I have no idea how to start.  I believe the first step is to go grab my phone and the phone number for E3 and start asking for locations of Natterer’s Bats.  If that doesn’t work, I start asking Bevan to go bash some heads for me.  Maybe he’ll throw nesting Terns at people.  Vicious birds with pointy beaks, I’m avoiding them!!

Right now I have papers to write for that annoying field trip course to the land of vicious biting bugs and tasty foodages.  I miss Arneside food, but not Arneside/Roudsea Wood bugs.

Speaking of bugs, cicadas are out back home.  I hope everyone is having a great time with them.  I kind of miss them, kind of don’t.  I was home 4 years ago for them and seeing that many all over EVERYTHING just makes my skin crawl.  They give you an idea of what the world would be like if bugs/insects finally decided to just take over the world.  *shudder*

This week I will possibly learn how to drive on the “wrong side” of the road. . .  we’ll see how that works out.  Grant will help me keep to the left so I don’t go around a rotary the wrong way or forget which lane does what, etc.  Driving skills FTW!

In 1 week and 3 days Grant and I are heading down to Canterbury to see his mom and brother.  This should be a VERY interesting trip.  I hope I remember things about  Canterbury and Dover and the trains. . . I hope we find good food.  We’re staying at the same guest house my dad and I were at 2 years ago. FREAKY!  I’m excited though.  The weather was stunning in February of 2006, I can only hope that June of 2008 will prove just as nice.

But before that nice weekend trip: I NEED TO START MY BAT SURVEYS!!!  *whimper*

Soon

After tomorrow around 1 pm GMT I will be done with classes and able to spend a few hours putting up more pictures on Flickr (yes there are MORE!!!), blog entries (including that half-done one about Edinburgh), and much much more.

I shall return!!  And be warned, bat survey rants are sure to pop up.  *BLARGHLE*

Also, I really want to go to Montana.  But I shall wait until September.