Accidentally Amagical: March 2015

It's been crazy here in Nac and it's only about to get worse! Last week we were on our way back from 5 days in Alabama. It was so nice to see all of our loved ones! It's strange how I haven't seen some of them in over a year but it seems like just yesterday we left Bama on ths crazy adventure. It's also strange how some friendships seem strained and awkward, others pick up right where you left off, and some stay the same daily.

Of course, my body does not do well with long distance traveling so as soon as we wake up on our first day back in Nac, I have a cold. I'm glad it waited till we got back to rebel. But today is the first day I have my full voice back!

Today Bud and I went to the opening day for a new Ren and Piratical Faire. It was so much fun. There was a falconry show that I tried not to volunteer for when the crowd asked for volunteers, yet still got picked. Me and five other people lined up three on each side, while an Australian auger flied between us then held our arms up as it flew between our arms. I can not lie, I was extatic! There was funnel cake, wild boar, axe throwing, absinthe making, leather working, and JOUSTING! Now it's certain. We have to go to mideival times for our birthdays.

We haven't had a full date day in a long time. So after getting home we ate a super nice (expensive) dinner at Union cafe. It was so worth it. Now I have to keep my sun burned ass (not literally) awake till 8 to go meet some former and current SFA grad students for reunion drinks. Whew!

This next month (which is only a few days away) I have a seminar presentation on the first, a poster at the Big Thicket conference SFA is hosting, field season work will start on weekends in the middle of the month, another poster (or the same from TCTWS) at the bright ideas conference that is school wide, registration for 2 more conferences (one at the end of July and the other in November) and a proposal to finish so I can start sending it out for edits. Whew! Not to mention any homework for my stats class and maybe trying to do more stats for the data I've already collected.

I am exhausted from the sun and today's fun activities along with everything else I've been cramming away at. But, to tell you the truth, our trip back solidified how much I love being away. That sounds horrible. I love that I am getting out there, seeing more of the world than just sweet home Alabama. I would say we, but Buddy was a long distance truck driver for the longest so he's seen all of this. I love that I'm learning more about this field that I'm in, I'm learning more about and meeting other people, and learning more about our marriage. And in turn I'm learning more about myself. Yes, it can be scary as hell thinking about not having a safety net of friends and loved ones if something (gods forbid) happens. But it's a good kind of scary. A self reliance, self sufficient kind of thing. It only took 32 years but better late than never, right?

Here are some pictures from the last almost 2 months! Enjoy and as always, blessed be!