To study or not to study? That is the question.

Yesterday I spent most my morning fiddling around with the data for my thesis - I just can't get significant results from it.  I'm learning a lot from my failures though.  It'll be a lot easier to sit and write it tomorrow/Tuesday due to this.  I recognize that not all experiments will deliver statistically significant results, and you shouldn't tweak them to because its not really the truth you're reporting then...  But these are den locations.  The bears have to be choosing them for a reason, they should be significantly different from random.  I just can't figure out what environmental stuff to include in the model to see this - maybe I should go crawl around in the woods and "hibernate" for a winter?

I completely forgot until last night that I have a test on Monday...oops.  So today has been spent studying for that - sorta.  So far today I have:

• read two (of four) chapters for said test
• organized and gone over my notes for said test
• started going through lecture power points for said test
• caught up on episodes of Make It Or Break It - I don't care if I'm too old, I freaking love gymnastics
• caught up on old episodes of Secret Life of the American Teenager - ok, I don't have an explanation as to why I watch this - Brenda Hampton's producing skills just appeal to me?  7th Heaven and now Secret Life...
• considered catching up on episodes of Supernatural but decided to wait another hour...maybe
• decided on some environmental variables to add to my bear den model
• made a list of the next load of stuff to move home - such a tedious process
• wrote this blog entry

Needless to say - I need to get back to studying at some point.  Sigh.  Everything is just so close to being done.  Its hard to study.  I have this test and a final and my thesis (which also doubles as my final paper for my other class).  Pretty much done-zo.  I feel like celebrating early - but I know I can't, pfffffffttt.

Either way though, definitely feeling more care-free than I have in months.  All the school stress is lifting and I'm able to get back in touch with the more trivial, enjoyable things in life.  The leaves are starting to reveal themselves, too, just in time for my liberation from education.  Slacklining will be happening this week.  =)

Ok, now that I see how much I have pointlessly written in my attempt to further procrastinate, I'M GOING TO STUDY.  (Congrats if you actually read this.  Its pathetic.)

Falling into place

I think things are finally starting to fall into place - big decisions need to be made still, but things are really looking up.

I went home yesterday for an interview with the Fish & Wildlife Service.  It was my first REAL interview.  You always hear about the possible questions you could be drilled with, but some how, some way I've never been in an "official" interview like that.  I wasn't prepared - so I had to just be myself and move on.  I hope it was worth it.  Questions like, "Describe yourself in so many words...", "Describe a situation when you...", "Explain a time when...".  The only one they asked that I was all hey, I got this, booya was, "List computer programs you are familiar with and explain your proficiency with them."  Score.  I know I excelled in that department.

Overall, it was a great experience - whether I get the interview or not.  So bravo for that.

All these big life-decisions lately - so overwhelming.  Where is Never-never-land when you need it?  Wendy?  Peter?  You out there?  Goodness grief.  I believe in fairies *claps hands*.  Can I please fly now?

After the interview I went to see Orion.  That little horse is after my heart - seriously.  He was ridden with burs - his forelock was a horn, his tail was a mess too.  I picked them all out and braided his tail.

Not because it "looks pretty" but because its a practical means of keeping burs to a minimum.  He's got a pretty nice ass for a paint horse too!  (Sorry, bit of horse-talk-jargon-stuff there.  Not trying to be crude.  A horse's hindquarters are just kinda a big deal.)

Typically horses as green-broke (unstarted, inexperienced) will freak out over every new thing - especially anything having to do with their legs.  A horse's legs are his life.  They are flight animals, they need them to escape.  But yesterday, when I put gallop boots (velcro'd leg wraps) on his forelegs he was completely okay with it.  In fact, he was completely okay with everything!  We went on a four or five mile ride on our own and he was completely cool with it.  Didn't want to go back to the barn and the other horses at all.  Completely willing.  Tried to kick the dogs a few times....but whatever.  Such a good boy.  It was a really great day.

Black boots on his forelegs; his head looks huge for some reason in this picture...

Silly dogs

Amusing anecdote from today:  Woke up this morning really early to do some last minute studying - Kenai decided to help.