Old post, but switched it over from Next Gallon of Gas--Living in Utah

So I know that this blog has been a record of our journeys across other countries, but it looks like we won't be taking many of those in the near future. So I thought that I'd take the opportunity to write about my experience in Utah....and what an interesting experience it is...
Everyday I think, God (oh golly in Utah terms) I've got to write this stuff down!

Now a little over a year ago Leighton and I moved to Utah after an extensive search for grad schools. We were lucky enough to find a job and grad school within the same state...and as you all know, we're still here.

So Utah is an interesting place. I go back and forth about my opinions, so I will seem a bit wishy-washy, but that's the way it goes. Let me explain a little bit about the different areas of Utah. Now Park City is great--great skiing, snowshoeing, hockey, etc. and definitely the most liberal region of Utah (the most non-mormon) that we've noticed. But most folks under the age of 40 are living off of their parent's dime and most folks over 40 have different interests than us. Oh, and then there's those ski bums..ya know, the over-sized winter hat, low-riding pants, and the "yo, duuuude..what a stellar pow day...it was epic." Don't get me wrong, on certain days I feel like them...but I've gotten to a point with a little more direction in my life....and yes, on some days I am jealous of the unpredictable, no strings attached future that drives their life.

Then there's Logan. Oh, I love Logan. I wish mountains like these existed during my undergrad or childhood. In the fall I spent almost every afternoon exploring the canyon. Oh, and I almost stepped on 3 rattlesnakes....more rattlesnakes here than in TX! Okay, so the scenery is beautiful, the grad students keep me sane (and rock!) and the work keeps me busy. But upon my first day on campus I tried to take the bus. That was a bit of a disaster, as the 4 mile distance to campus became an hour of riding the bus and still walking about 2 miles to campus. Lesson learned. Then, at 5 pm I noticed something very odd...rush hour in a town of 50,000 people. Rush hour from campus. By about 6pm there was an eery sound...the sound of silence. That's right, all of the students had gone home to be with their families. All of the UNDERGRAD students...you know the 20 year olds with multiple children. I'll tell you, it is a very strange feeling to be the only one left on CAMPUS after 6pm. Yes, I had to call for a ride home.

2nd revelation: mormons don't drink coffee. Well, they don't drink coffee, smoke, drink alcohol, and aren't supposed to have sex before marriage. Well, the no coffee rule is a bit irritating. After realizing that Starbucks now makes you pay for the internet, I found 2 independent (I'd much rather go there than to a chain like SBucks) coffee shops. The downside? They close by 7 pm. Um, hello! I don't even go out to study until 7pm...something's wrong. So I found a Border's books with a coffee shop inside that stayed open until 10pm. Yes, it's a bookstore with coffee shop, but it would have to suffice. Well, I found out this week that the Borders is shutting down. I guess people are getting their reading material online these days. So, now, I think maybe I should just pop out a ton of babies and blame it on my lifestyle that I can't work after 5pm....that's how it's done around here anyhow...

I do not have a coffee addiction. I actually probably only drink it once a week at most, but those coffee shops have the proper ambiance for study habits. And now why are there so few coffee shops in a state college town? Oh, that's right. B/c mormons don't drink coffee. And now why don't they drink coffee? Here's your mormon lesson for the day:

Good ole Joseph Smith's wife got fed up with him and his friend smoking and drinking all day. They would also chew tobacco and spit it all over her floor. So she told them to stop. This turned into the "word of wisdom" that states that mormons should not have "hot drinks," or smoke or chew tobacco. Now mormons take the "hot drinks" to mean coffee and alcohol. Oh, but you better believe that they can suck down a good 10 cokes by the end of the day. They say that they live by the law of the land. Well, hello. Coffee and alcohol, if taken in proper quantities can even be beneficial. So, I think you are going against the law of the land there buddy. Also, so many mormons are SO stressed. I see it everyday. And I just want to say Damn, just have a drink and relax. Oh, and don't even get me started on how they disrespect women...I'll save that for another day...but the fact that I have a brain and stand up for myself...oh man, it's like the apocalypse just hit!

Well I know that probably sounds negative, but I do love this place...it has so much beauty and the wildlife work is substantial. The grad students have so much knowledge and experience to share....and thank goodness Leighton and I are in the same state!!

Enjoy and I will write more about the interesting culture that encompasses this place another day...time to enjoy a Park City evening.

What it's all about

Wow. Where do I start? What about where they made me start...at the title. So, I'm sure you are thinking, why would someone include constipation in their title? Well, exploration constipation is how I am feeling today. I wish it was more like exploration feel good or exploration excitement, but that just isn't the case. Why? Because in the past year the only exploration that I have been able to do has been limited to family visits. Okay, I did make a nice long road trip by going up through Idaho and Glacier to get over to Seattle, but since then it has been non-stop work.

So, what's the point of this blog? I'm still not totally certain myself, but I feel like it may be an outlet for some of my many thoughts that float, unabated through my head each day. Like today...people don't believe in global warming, but come to Utah and witness rain rather than snow all winter and then tell me what you think. Yes, being a scientist I should be reciting lines like "You must look at the different models and analyze them. Then understand how different models can indicate various results." But my current thought is more in the realm of "Everyone says Utah has the best skiing in the nation. I'm certainly seeing much more wet precipitation this year."

Back to real news. Tim and Jill, Leighton's childhood friends, just had their second baby girl. Rodrigo, my good friend and officemate, is expecting his first child this summer, so I am busy with some of the other grad students, putting together a baby shower--Brazilian style. Oh, and lets not forget that Leighton just had a baby named after him--by some friend of his in Wisco. Work has been busy. When you decide to do wildlife biology as a career, some of the explanation for why this was your career of choice relates to you inability to deal with humans...or at least for myself. So it is interesting to watch everyone interact. Everyone has different ways to accomplish each task and if disagreements arise, well lets just say that it's interesting.

That blog was cut short, so now it's Friday. Yesterday was a very long intense day. With work in the morning and class/meetings until 8pm, I was ready for some homemade pizza (okay, it's really frozen pizza with additional fresh toppings-cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach). Oh, and it rained all day. If you ever wonder about what happens to clay or sandy soil when it rains, come to Utah. It is a bit embarrassing to drive a state vehicle that is completely caked in mud, but hey, it's part of the job. Well, that's about it for today.