Im working at their menlo park office (so yeah kelly - i'll give you a call). Im reviewing geologic/geotechnical engineering investigation reports for schools. haven't been doin much lately since the person training me has been out all week, hopefully this week ill get to do some work, instead of just reading up on codes and regulations. I have to go sign the lease today on an apartment i found near the office, cuz the 3 hour roundtrip commute from my parents house to the office has been killing my back. Which by the way, i hurt while fixing my vaccuum cleaner.  i guess i was bent over it in a weird position while taking out all the screws, and i tweaked a connection between a muscle and joint.

I haven't been able to keep up with anyone's blogs since im still trying to stay off the computer.  So i hope everyone is doing well and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

It’s been a while. Ive been trying to stay off the computer as much as possible due to a back injury I got back in July (stupid vaccuum incident). Thanks to acupuncture I’m finally getting better.  So I’ll make this quick.  Im moving to northern California in a couple of weeks! Got a job with the California Geological Survey. Should be interesting being on the other side of the consulting world.

 so i was at a job site and the client happened to be walking by and saw me using my brunton. He came back a few minutes later and gave me this:

he said he was hiking in the hollywood hills, saw this just laying on the ground, had no idea what it was, but kept it anyway. so now i have a brunton made on April 14, 1914! as etched onto the cover as shown in the first pic. the date above it is when they got the patent for it, September 18, 1894. they havent changed much, although this one is heavier since they werent using plastic back then.  its totally jammed so i cant move any of the bubble levels. i sent it to brunton to see if they could clean it up, but since they dont have any replcement parts (in case something happens during the cleaning process), they wouldnt even try.  now i just have a dilemma of trying to sell it on ebay or to keep it or donate it. although i have no idea who would be interested in it, or even how much to ask for it if went to sell it... hmmmm. wonder if the antiques roadshow would have anything to say about it...

first off, i think its awesome that james cromwell played a geologist on "six feet under."

on another note...

so i walk to my car after work the other day. i was parked on the street, and i couldnt pull out because there was a car parked in front of me, behind me, and a huge unmarked white van on the left side, parallel to my car. there was also a parked cop car a little further down the street. so there's a guy standin outside the apartment building that i was parked in front of, and he tells me that they cant move the  "coroners" white van until they bring out the body of the lady that died. and then ten minutes later they bring out a body on a gurney, draped with a burgundy blanket ( i was totally expecting a black body bag), and load it up onto the van. that was so surreal. i mean ive seen that stuff on tv, but to actually see it firsthand. along with feeling really sad, it just made me want to ask a bunch of background questions, like who was she, how was she found, etc. but i guess that would've gotten some bad reactions.

woohoo! passed the first in a series of geology state board exams. just two more exams to go until i get that professional certification. of course it'll be a while since i need more work experience before i can apply for those exams. somethin to look forward to...more studying...