:laughing:

Good one, s_k!

But seriously, being sick during one's holiday is an awful disappointment, especially when one normally has to spend a lot of time at work.

I'm sure you'll find a niche somewhere, Tore, but it does seem odd when one's field of study leads to an area I would never have predicted for you: from mites to roads!

I remember in high school government class, our teacher said something like, "The average person has 20 different jobs in her/his life" or something like that. I was surprised, so his statement stuck with me. I was used to my parents' path: they studied something, became professors, and then that was it.

However, looking at my own life and my friends' lives, I've concluded that if you aren't a teacher then your career path can go all over. You'll be standing, doing something at work one day, and stop and think, "How the hell did I get here??" :D

Working for the government would probably be a very safe job, Tore, and since it isn't a private company they probably actually CARE what the ecological consequences of building roads are. I hope the job comes through for you!

Thanks Erica!

I'm not too worried about leaving my arctic mite studies behind actually. I felt it was something I just had to do rather than something I was passionate about. This road business is quite far from what I imagined when I started studying, but the more I think about it, the more interesting it sounds. I would have a chance to work on projects that have importance both to nature and society, so I really hope I get it :) I know another biologist who does similar work for a private company. They sometimes fly her out in the field with choppers so that she can check out mosses and stuff living in the area (she's a bit of a moss expert) and that sounds interesting although I guess most days will be spent writing up reports and so on.

It's true that it would be a secure job nicely tucked away from the capitalistic work pressure. I suspect some of the people hiring people for government jobs may be slightly biased towards young or soon-to-be parents and others who benefit the most from having these secure jobs. At least I imagine that could be a good way to help nurture the community!

I'm now beyond hungover because I spent last night drinking ungodly amounts of rum and whiskey and playing guitar. So now I'm writing on a one act for a fringe festival this spring. Productive? Maybe. We'll see.

supposed to pop over to my uncle's house at noon tomorrow for "year praying" (Chinese New Year visits) and I'm still up at 2 am

This is the fourth day in a row I've been stuck in my house due to a snow day, so yeah. I spent it all of it on the computer.

But I got to buy some more music today, so that was good.

Today, I think I've officially decided to stop drinking.

let's see how long that lasts, I have friends that say that every few weeks and they continue drinking

Well, I just had a really terrifying experience last night involving being lied to about the amount of liquor in my mixed drinks, and wound up damn near drinking an entire fifth to myself. And I blacked out. I thought I just went to sleep, but apparently that was not the case. I sat outside, the drunkest I've been since I was a college kid who was just learning the hard way about alcohol and didn't understand limits, and played guitar barefoot in the cold.

I don't like not remembering things, and I don't like the way I feel the day after any drinking anymore. I really think I'm just going to stop drinking completely, because apparently things like this can happen, even if I think I've grown up and learned responsibility.

yeah, you haven't learned your limits yet I guess. Maybe you SHOULD stop drinking for awhile maybe a year or two then slowly go back into it.

I was hung over most of the day. Then went out to eat with a friend. Waiting to go on a date with this girl I met last night. Now watching some tv.