I am a bad blogger.

There is no excuse; I am simply a bad blogger at times. It's not like I don't have any extra time - I know a total of 4 people here! I don't do anything! Perhaps I haven't blogged because I don't have anything meaningful to say? I'm not quite sure. Anyway, I am alive and well, and in Wisconsin.

Let's recap:

Started work. So much orientation, so much of it not applicable to my job. There should be a separate orientation process for research foundation employees (as opposed to clinic employees)... I don't normally encounter blood-borne pathogens while reading articles.

Started "real" work. So far, so good. So many vaccine studies all going on at once! Will I ever feel like I know what's going on? It's a tough call.

Went to DC/Maryland. Hooray for Andrea G! Hooray for Eric! Hooray for weddings! I definitely needed some quality friend time, and that's what I got - and I got to put my surprisingly decent wedding planning skills to use.

Went back to work. It is very difficult to read articles about miscarriage all day, then want to go back to work the next day and do it again. Trust me. Even with this little setback in work fun-ness, this job still sooo beats my last one (sorry, Ness).

Weekends... I am such a loser. I saw "The Game Plan" on Friday. Not even kidding. Not my fault, coach - the only people I know have a 5 year old. We figured this was probably more appropriate than "The Kingdom". Way to go, us. FYI: The Rock is a freakishly large man.

Random updates:

My knee sucks. Big time. So does United Healthcare (now that I live in Wisconsin, anyway). Goodbye, United starting this week! Hooray! Anyway, the knee is crunchier and more painful then ever. I get to go to the doctor next week and I'm pretty sure I might get to have surgery. I've never even been admitted to the hospital! Slightly scary, but I'm sure it will be fine. I'll keep you posted (well, I'll try).

I watched the Gator game on TV last night and almost cried. I miss knowing people.

I made artwork last night; it's fun splatter-paint on canvas. I think I missed my calling.

My parents are coming to visit me next week! I hope they don't kill each other on the way here. Cross your fingers.

The MF YMCA, while definitely no GHF, is no Walla Walla YMCA. I really wish there was a good gym here. I'm going to suck it up and sign up for some classes, though - maybe that will help? They all cost extra here (not a lot, but still!), which I think is odd. Have I always been spoiled? Classes have always been included in the membership prices at all the gyms I've gone to.

I made cookies today for a bake sale at work. They're pumpkin shaped with harvest sprinkles. They make me happy.

That I have a league is becoming more apparent every day. I may be alone forever.

I need a hammer, among other things.

So I guess in the past I've bought "easy" Ikea projects, because I cannot remember needing a hammer during assembly (Let alone a drill. A drill? Seriously? Come on, Ikea - if I wanted to have to use a drill I'd buy real furniture!.). Alas, I do not have a hammer at my disposal (because the majority of my things remain in transit and I was not intelligent enough to pack my tools in the car). This is disappointing, as I have two pieces of furniture that I would very much like to assemble. When you have an apartment without furniture, the prospect of a bookshelf and dresser is quite exciting.

But anyway, as you surely must have gathered, I now live in Wisconsin. I left G'ville last Friday afternoon (so sad!), stayed outside Altanta that night, drove to Paducah KY Saturday (yep, Paducah), then drove to Madison on Sunday. Sidebar: Madison appears to be a fantastic city; the "where should you live" online quiz people did an impressive job choosing it for me awhile back. So after 1.5 days in Madison I dove the last [v short] leg to MF (hee hee) on Tuesday. The apartment is good (but barren), MF is good (but lonely). Carol left yesterday, so I've only had one real day on my own so far. Already, though, so excited for work. I forgot what the first period in G'ville felt like, before I had met anyone. While I love the cats, I need human interaction.

Moving is an expensive task (especially when it's 1400 miles). Forget the cost of movers and the associated travel costs, I feel like I can't stop spending now that I am here. You need a lot of random crap when you start in a new place. Food, cleaning stuff, additional furniture, miscellaneous decorative items (okay, "need" may have been a stretch, but still). Things should calm down soon, unless the arrival of my furniture (maybe tomorrow!) initiates another spending frenzy.

In order to feel like a true MF resident I joined the library and the Y last week. Today was my first real Y experience. I miss GHF.

I'll close with some random roadtrip tid bits.

- Central Illinois is not messing around when it comes to corn. Holy crap.
- I love Jack, but seriously considered life without him after 7 straight hours of meowing. Okay, not really, but it was super annoying.
- Once you pass Nashville, you can't look back.
- Georgia (and Florida, actually) should really rethink it's policy on billboards next to the freeways. I feel like the state sold its soul.
- Paducah: funny name, super popular Labor day spot.