Whew, bet I got ‘cha there.  Didn’t expect a post from me, did you?

Yes, I’m back – although in truth I have been diligently stalking you all, I just got out of the posting habit. Not that my life has been extremely exciting, but since it’s been months, I should be able to fill up a couple of paragraphs with news.  

Work – still puttering along. I mostly spend my days cursing at not one, but two computers: my main one and the one I use to run hydrologic models.  In truth, I’m thankful to be back to modeling as most of the winter seemed to be dealing with crisis after crisis. (Get info for the town officials! Get info for the lawyers! We need to put projects on the list for Obama money! What do you mean you're not an engineer?!) When it finally settled down it took me awhile to figure out what it is I normally do.

I am not so naïve to believe that there is not another crisis waiting around the corner (I know of at least two that are waiting to pounce), but I’ve got a couple weeks down time while a model simulation is running and the boss man is on vacation, so we are focusing on personal development and straightening up.

Of course the budget discussion and potential layoffs have got us jumpy. At this point I my position is probably not going to be cut, but I’m a young ‘un and could easily be bumped by a more senior employee if they get into much cutting. Fingers crossed and trying to think about it too much other than being prudent with my money and making sure my resume is up to date.

I have two weddings to attend this summer (you know who you are) and two pregnant friends due late summer/early fall. Me thinks it is going to be a busy summer.

In the midst of this I have been practicing for my dance recital in May.  Dance recital, you say? I may have mentioned that I take a Zumba class, which is a Latin dance based aerobics workout.  I take Zumba at One Studio Dance and Yoga, which in addition to adult workout classes, offers a variety of dance classes for children. All the children’s classes perform in a recital in May. A few months ago, Taryn, our teacher broached the subject of having a few of us regulars do a little something for said recital, as a way of representing the adult classes.  We agreed when she said it would be something simple, mostly stuff we did in class.  She lied. We’re doing a medley of five styles, the salsa section is definitely way more intricate than anything we have done in class and we’re learning the waltz to boot.  But if I’m honest, we’re having fun and we’re sure to entertain even if we fall flat on our faces.

As spring is still making its reluctant appearance I’ve been dreaming about my community garden plot. I’ve even got two mini flats of seeds started on my window sill. So far I’ve got tomatoes, peppers, basil, cucumbers (which I always have trouble with) delicata squash, and, uh, broccoli? I’ve got seeds for more herbs, green (or rather purple) beans, pattypan squash, peas, carrots, soybeans, sunflowers, lettuce, spinach, and probably some other things I’m forgetting.

I’ve also had the sewing bug recently.  I’ve finished my apron and am working on a quilt in browns, green, and teal. I’ve got a few baby related projects in the queue and I want to make some funky colorful totes. I went on the Quilt Shop Hop (14 fabric stores over two weekends) so my stash is doing pretty good at the moment.

Friday: This day was slightly surreal.  We had a meeting with an old professor to see if he had any data for part of our model in the morning at UVM.  The last time I was in that office I was looking for advice on a group project for a class of his that I was taking. I wasn’t really part of the discussion since Jenn and I were up there for other reasons and just squeezed the meeting in, but it was slightly weird to be revisiting that place.  Also strange was the view of the mountains that had been replaced by a view of the Student Life Center. 

The recent melting meant we got to work a few field visits in.  I was hoping that we would be able to get out this week too, but the snow has other plans.  Foolish, foolish, Emily.  Why do you hope?

After lunch at my favorite sandwich shop/bakery in Williston it was back to UVM to here a thesis defense for the masters student who did some of the stream geomorphic analysis for our impaired streams.  I find it a good sign that I didn’t even remotely feel like falling asleep once during his presentation, despite the fact that we were in the “room with the big map and the funny chairs”, aka Aiken 104. I predict that boy will go far.

Weekend: I have no excuse, except that I must have been ill, but I practically cleaned all weekend long.  I can see the carpet, which reminds me why I covered it up in the first place: it’s hideous. I do so enjoy walking without stubbing my toes, though.  The real reason I was cleaning was to avoid doing my tax return, which is sadly overdue.  Thankfully I did that last night so I WIN! The upside of those horrible COBRA payments I paid for most of last year is that I was able to deduct them and I will be getting bigger refund.  Go-go, Money!

This week: Workworkwork. Or something like that.  We have a new Secretary of ANR, who is of course proposing to reorganize the whole thing.  The Water Quality Division will definitely be in on that action seeing as we are probably larger than some departments. Or maybe I am exaggerating, but we are BIG.  He is not going to reveal his plan until May 15^th, so basically we just have the rumors.  One thing that has been floating around is that Stormwater may get lumped with some other sections into a permitting group. Or most of it might.  Jenn and I aren’t really involved in the permitting ending of things, so it is possible that we might get split off.  Again, these are just rumors.  However, our acting Section Chief didn’t invite us to his first section staff meeting this morning.  Probably this is an oversight, but Jenn and I have decided that we must be out of the section already.  In which case, we are forming our own, and I have taken the liberty of appointing her as Section Chief, and myself as the Deputy Chief.  It’s a pretty good promotion considering that I just finished my six month probationary period. 

Highs:

1) I haven't been the victim of credit card theft.  As a precaution I spent lunch changing passwords and getting rid of accounts I don't use anymore. 
2) One week until insulin pump class!  This means I will have a better idea of the process for getting a pump.
3) I managed to sabotage productivity on the entire floor Wednesday by bringing in cupcakes for Jenn's Birthday.  It is sad how easy it is to bring work to a halt at the mention of baked goods.  Also, the frosting was pink.
4) My six month probation is up the beginning of April!  This means that I finally get paid time off beyond sick leave. And my Birthday just happens to be on a Friday this year.  Three day weekend anyone?  It also means that I will go up a pay step, although there has been some hinting that they might bump me up a whole grade!
5) I finally got my iPod working again so I can start loading music onto it.

Lows:

1) My credit card bill was higher than I like, but it was all my fault.  
2) I still haven't figured out those friggin' insurance forms for the insulin pump.  Grrrr. 
3) I am going to have to have a performance review for the end of my probationary period.  (Which will be done by Jenn, who hopefully will remember that I made her cupcakes.)
4) I need to send in a new prescription to Express Scripts, which will probably involve drama. 
5) I cannot find the prescription because my bedroom is a pigsty. 

Last Wednesday we had a holiday party at work and auction to raise money for the food bank.  Our auctioneer is a retired employee who comes every year to coerce people into buying crap that their coworkers have cleaned out of their basements.  Carl is a very adorable, rotund, coke-bottle eyeglass wearing, old Vermonter type, who was jumping around quite a lot for someone having undergone surgery for prostate cancer within the last month.  Not having any appropriate junk to put up for bid (well, I have junk, just not that I am willing to part with) I had a stamp made that says "Water Quality Division, this application SUCKS!"  It went for $40.

Friday evening: The end of a long week.  I don't like this whole working full 5 day weeks thing.  Rather cruel in my mind.  One more to go.  Anyway, Friday night I had a date with a couch and Netflix.  I watched the only non-depressing adaptation of a Thomas Hardy novel in existence.  I was pleasantly surprised since he usually modeled his work after greek tragedies to find something light and fluffy.  So if you like costume dramas, and don't mind something simple and predictable, check out Under the Greenwood Tree.  The music is pleasant, too.

Saturday = Big Brother's birthday celebration and four million loads of laundry.  Nothing earth shattering, but it is nice to see him when we can.  What with the cake and the cookies we made, plus what came on Sunday, I am beginning to sicken at the sight of sugar.  

Sunday: With the Kev's birthday safely dispatched the Christmas season could officially begin.  We first attempted to get a Christmas tree at Legare's, but they were all so expensive and too big for our little living room. Dad and I then adventured out to a Christmas tree farm.   I am afraid that our tree is a bit of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree this year, seeing as the trees were packed so tight that it was hard to tell what we had got until we had actually cut it down.  Very natural looking we'll say.  Of course we draped it in enough lights and ornaments so you don't notice so much.  It is still kinda funny shaped though. I started the assembly of the gingerbread house.  I got overly ambitious this year an am attempting a two story deal. I got the structural part done and can do the decorating tonight.  Actually, it looks quite tasteful at the moment, but that will soon end, Mwu-haha! 

Today: Found out that my prescription drug benefit was terminated on Dec 7th when I tried to refill something.  A few phone calls later and we still don't know how it happened, but it is going to be fixed today.

I guess I started my permanent position just in time to take advantage of of all the state holidays. It has been six weeks since the switch and I have already had two, and will have two more off for Thanksgiving.  (The day after Thanksgiving isn't on the official list, but is rather up to the secretary of the agency to decide.  However we are so used to it that I think his/her life would be in danger if we didn't get it off.)  Doing nothing is always fun, but it is intensely more enjoyable when you are getting paid to do it. 

Speaking of the secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, the spot is currently vacant.  There is some speculation that Martha Rainville may be appointed to the position.  I long ago gave up my naive hope that it would actually be filled with someone with a Natural Resources background. Seeing as Douglas's last secretary appointment was of his former campaign manager to the Agency of Transportation, I was kind of expecting it to be someone from this past campaign.  We will see though, as nothing official has yet been said. 

Anyway, long weekend. Friday I made bread from scratch which was very messy and very delicious.  Saturday I went to the sock sale and bought enough socks to keep me through the winter. My mother and I went with two of my aunts and we spent over $150 on socks combined. We went to a quilt shop and I bought a bunch of fabric that I have no idea what to do with.  Still it is very pretty and I like the way it looks just sitting in a pile. Sunday I did crafty things and watched P&P on DVD, having finally broken down and bought a replacement to the six cassette VHS version.  If anyone wants a copy of the companion book, I now have two as I didn't realize that the collectors edition of the movie came with a copy.  You can even have the new copy, as I am keeping the copy I bought here for sentimental reasons.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jenn (who is the boss of me) just came in, plunked down in the extra chair and said "I am assuming you still want the job, right?" and handed me a form to sign.  I never had an interview but I think we are going to have a chat tomorrow about where the project is heading and my part in it, but nothing too formidable.  Then she started talking about pensions and tax forms...