TXDrtGrl

The forecast at 5 pm, August 12th for Dallas,Texas reads:

High: 104 F RealFeel 115F

Mostly sunny and hot, with the temperature approaching the record of 106 set in 1999. Makes you want to go swimming, or to Canada.

Two weeks ago, during survey for a wind farm, I came across this cactus that some surveyor had marked. You find crosses in the most unlikely places…

So I’ve noticed a trend in the last few months, that I seem to be posting at the first or the end of the month a lot. Hmmm, maybe that is the only time I think of posting. Work has slowed down here in Texas, it is next to impossible to dig shovel tests in flood conditions, and we cannot get to half of the locations we need to test! So, it is a good thing that I am off on “vacation” for the next two weeks. I scheduled it awhile back, a little nervous about taking off during our high season, but it has all worked out. I have a great group of co-workers, who encourage this adventurous side of me, and who will run my projects while I am out.

Where am I going you ask? Back to Belize, to work on a new project with some good friends. Ceramic analysis of course, but some new material for me to look at, so I am excited to get my hands in the laboratory again. It is at a place called Caves Branch, and the name should say it all. The ceramics are from ongoing excavations at caves and rockshelters in the region.

Anyhow, I plan on posting pics when I get back, and will write to the blog if anything exciting happens!

Much like April, May has come and gone, and we enter the month that welcomes summertime! We have been blessed with buckets and gallons of rain here in Texas, and I have taken some great shots from in the field. Rolling clouds of storms over freshly mowed hay, a foggy morning in East Texas, and others like them.

Seriously, how did this come about? I know that I jumped the fire for Beltane with my friends/family here in Dallas, drove to Austin, gave a paper at a professional conference, reconnected with all my Belize buddies, and well, generally had a good close of the month. But where did it go? I feel like things have slowed down for the first time in a long time, probably because I have let them do so. Ahh, learning how to relax, and not make your life stressful. Because honestly, we bring it on ourselves.

That has been my biggest committment to myself, is to chill out. I get so wound up about so many things. Not necessary, not helpful, and not sane.

But work is good, the thesis is coming along, I will have to refocus on that now that I am getting all kinds of edits back from my advisor. I took a little brain break, prepared for the Society for American Archaeology conference. It was a good idea, I feel refreshed, inspired, and motivated again.

So I have been reading this fascinating travel book “Baghdad without a map” that has sat gathering dust on my bookshelf for years. Written in the early 90s by Tony Horwitz, it is a glimpse into what the Middle East was before the gulf war, the Iraq war, and the complete shut down of the region. Not that it was a vactioners paradise, but it appears that it was slightly more accessible than today. Horwitz towards the beginning quotes Lawrence of Arabia, and I think he chooses a beautiful and powerful quote to set the scene.

“All men dream; but not equally, those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”

This is from Seven Pillers of Wisdom.

So, Chris reminded me that I had not posted in a while, and sure enough, it has been over a month! So, well, life has been busy. I continue to write, research and learn, both for my thesis and my professional life. On the way home from work the other day, I saw an amazing sky. It was of an incoming thunderstorm, and it was wild! The weathe has not been like that always, it has been a beautiful start to the spring.

I am sure you all remember me going on and on about the mornings, and how I love sunrises. Well, here is one to top them all so far. Another beautiful day in the Big West Texas region, and we were driving to the site for some more survey. The light was so low, almost ethereal. It warmed up to be a gorgeous day too.

Life is good as a research archaeologist. I am learning so much, and busily finishing my thesis. Yeah! It has been such a great process, but I think I will be glad when I have my weekends back. Maybe I can ride my bike again.

So here is a picture of a honey locust, yikes! These thorns are small compared to what they can be, they can grow over 4 inches long.

Needless to say, the weather has kept us grounded, and I have not done survey in a long time. I expect to back out in the field next week, weather willing. I have spent these icy weekends indoores writing away on the thesis, and it is coming along well.

So I have begun reading the works of Keats, a literary experience I have always wanted, but for some reason never took the time. So, throughout the poems, I will be sharing some of my favorite lines here on the blog.

I am also reading “The History of Love” by Nicole Krauss. It is a tender and brilliant book, one that pains your heart yet makes you laugh at lives ironies at the same time.

Some people say that bad things happen in threes, I would like to set that myth aside, and tell you that good things happen in threes.

Tonight I went to three Christmas/Holiday/Celebration parties.

All were a time of renewing friendships, making new ones, and celebrating life as we know it. Thank you Hal for the punch and fabulous treats, Pam and Andrew for the hugs, and to Shane and Jeanette for the margaritas!

And yes, today, I also went to a three year olds birthday party. It was fun Connor!

Merry Christmas my friends.