(no subject)
So I figure it's about time I put something down here. It's been a while. Here's a rundown of what I've been doing since May:
spent a lot of time looking for a job
applied for several different jobs but got an interview with Casey Trees Endowment in DC
went to the interview and got a job with them for the summer as an Urban Forestry Intern. There were 3 other Urban Forestry Interns, 2 GIS interns, and 3 Urban Ecology Interns. We all had so much fun together. In July 12 high school students started working there and they were all really good kids. I wish I could have spent more time working with them but we got so caught up in our own stuff.
spent the summer walking on the streets of DC (on the East Coast where I live) looking at elm trees for signs of Dutch Elm Disease and inventoried school yards. I walked about 7 - 9 miles a day in the blistering heat and humidity and ended up with incredible calf muscles. My legs are so hot now it's crazy. ANYWAY, I spent a lot of time in Wards 5,6,7, and 8 and got to see a lot of "scary" places that aren't scary at all. There are some beautiful homes east of the Anacostia and probably some of the nicest people in the city living there. Unfortunately the extremely small number of idiots that commit crimes give that whole area a bad name but I didn't see anything that led me to believe it's all criminals and gang members living there. We did find a stolen, burnt out van on a school yard and walked right through an open air drug market but I never felt in danger. In fact the guys selling drugs tried hitting on us with "I'm a tree you should come back and measure me!". The best part about working in places like Deanwood and Anacostia was telling my family cause they freaked out everytime - "You should ask them if you can work in NW it's so much safer over there" (actually it's not) "I can't believe you're walking around in SE it's a horrible part of town" (it's really very nice there)....I could go on but you get the point. It's also fun to watch the news and actually be able to tell where something has happened because I've probably been there or at least walked down the street. I feel like DC is the most misunderstood place in whole country. People think it's all politics and government or all drugs and crime but it's so much more than that. You might think I'm naive or stupid or conceited or so self-absorbed that I never realized any of this before but when you spend your whole life hearing about how dangerous the city is and how it's all full of drug addicts and criminals you start to think it's true. The truth is so far from that it's incredible. So think of me what you will on that account that's your business.
got to know a lot of great people that volunteered with us over the summer. One of the volunteers has turned into a pretty good friend, so have some of the staff members at Casey Trees.
worked with one asshole who tried to argue the need for the ICC with me, of all people, even though he doesn't even live in MoCo. That was after he spent the morning ridiculing and belittling Ashley a staff member at CT who volunteered to go out with us that day. He then called the office to complain about the horribleness of the whole day. I don't think he'll be asked to volunteer with CT ever again.
got my braces off on July 29 at 7:30 in the morning. For the first time in my life, that I can remember, I'm not self-conscious about my smile. I'll feel even better once I can stop wearing the retainers, but for now I'm just happy to be my cute little self sans the braces.
went to SC for a week and had a lot of fun with my aunts, uncle and cousin. I've found that I make much better time driving than my mom probably because I go about 80 while she does a little over 70. We'd probably make it to SC in 8 hours if I drove the whole way...
settled my insurance claim against AllState for my car accident which was 3 years ago August 13. I got waaaay more money than I thought I would. Way more. I just have to figure out what I'm going to do with it now.
have a meeting scheduled with the Director of CT to discuss my working with him on his big Blue Ribbon project at least one day a week. I'd like to think this could lead to a more permanent position but I'm not pinning my hopes on it.
I think that's about it. There's a lot of details I could fill in the blanks with but that would take way too much time and they probably wouldn't be interesting to anyone but me.
I think that's about it. There's a lot of details I could fill in the blanks with but that would take way too much time and they probably wouldn't be interesting to anyone but me.