A big moment in my life

Never in my life have I experienced a rotten egg, until last night when trying to make banana bread. It was pretty gross. My mom has always said I should crack the eggs into a separate bowl first like my great aunt, but I've never heeded her advice. I probably still won't. Thankfully, I hadn't put the bananas in, so I'm just out the butter and sugar I had creamed.

It was kind of funny because I screamed something and then yelled to Chris, "Well, I guess we won't be having any banana bread tonight!" And then he walks over to smell of the rotten egg (one of those, 'ew! this is so gross! smell it!') and can't smell it!! I couldn't believe it.

And that's my funny story of the day.

I've been ruined

During lunch today this graduate student walks into the preserve to write on the blackboard that there will be an opportunity to hang out with the seminar speaker for this week. She's very animated and goes on and on about how this guy is so fabulous, etc. And I'm thinking, nope. I have no desire whatsoever to hang out with this man. Not just him, but any biology big-wig. Even Darwin himself. Well, that may be a bit of an overstatement. I'd be cool with hanging out with him. I'd probably find him boring though. Who wouldn't I find boring? I feel like the answer to that question may lead me to my correct career path. Or I could just be crazy.

Then on Saturday Chris and I hiked to the top of Mt. Pisgah. But did I enjoy it like I used to enjoy hiking? Nope. My desire to hike has waned considerably. What would I rather spend my days doing? Again, the answer to that question may part the heavens. I'd say, oh but you wouldn't make any money doing what you're really passionate about (which is _?_). But then I realize, you're not making any money in biology either!!

What's up? Like the youtube David after the dentist...will I be like this forever?? Or is it a phase I'm going through because of my research? It's like I got my lifetime's fill of hiking when I was collecting data and I'd rather rub jalepenos in my eyes than hit the trails again. Funny thing when my bucket list included 'hike the entire AT' and 'hike the Grand Canyon'.

So where does that leave me? It keeps me from applying to any field biology job (my original career goal) that's for sure. Perhaps I haven't found the "right" field work yet? I did love the river work I did in NM and that certainly was field work.

My aunt seems to think I should become a dog trainer. All good and well except there's no training facilities around for me to get started. I've thought about working at a zoo (even though I question the practice of keeping caged animals), but alas, there's none around. Perhaps I should become a professional protester for PETA. JUST KIDDING! I don't like PETA (seriously).

So as I read back over this post, it sounds like these are two possible answers to my woes:

#1 The unemployed get jobs that in turn help boost the economy so that the housing market becomes a seller's market again so that I can move out of Sylva and explore different careers.

#2 My fiance get a promotion so that I don't have to work.

How desperate am I?

Desperate enough to accept a part-time position as an overnight cashier at the big W in the sky??

Season 1 down

This was the best scene from the entire first season of Lost:

Rain or Shine

We've decided what to do for Valentine's Day. We've already decided we're going no matter what the weather dishes out.

We'll make our way to Jukebox Junction for lunch on 276; THE best diner in the world. And I'm not just saying that because of sentimental value (my grandfather took my siblings and me as kids). Then from 276 we'll hit the Blue Ridge Parkway and make our way to Mt. Pisgah where we'll hike to the top. I have many fond memories of Mt. Pisgah, one of which includes my sister puking on the trail. HA! HAD to throw that one in. Then we'll drive home.

Simple and scenic. I'm excited!

Names again

You'll probably say, "Just pick something!" But it's just not that easy. If you've read any of my previous posts, you've probably gathered that I don't make decisions easily. Especially ones that last a lifetime. And I certainly don't want to be signing papers at the courthouse and then have to decide on the spot how I want to go.

Here are my choices:
Nicole DeAnne Allman (no change)
Nicole Allman Parrish (what my family does)
Nicole DeAnne Parrish (what I've seen some do)
Nicole DeAnne-Allman Parrish (not sure if this is legal--haven't found any instances of this online)
Nicole DeAnne Allman-Parrish

I want to keep DeAnne & Allman because it's been my name for 27 years and I'm quite fond of it. I wouldn't hold so tightly onto DeAnne if I wasn't named after my dad (Dean is his middle name) and my sister (AnnJanette is her middle name). Well, for all I know that's just a coincidence.

But I also would like to take Chris' because I'd just like to and I think he'd like it. But I hate to hyphenate because it's just too long.

Does anyone know the legal side of this? I'm leaning toward Nicole DeAnne-Allman Parrish. If I do this and I ever have to initial documents, will I have to write out NDAP? Will my technical middle name be DeAnne-Allman and I'll have to write this out fully when signing my name or filling out important documents? Those are probably questions with obvious answers.

So I guess what it comes down to is that I'm lazy and I don't want to have to write anymore than 20 letters. :o) But then that begs the question: if you don't want to have to write out DeAnne and Allman (and you won't if you don't have to), then why are you even keeping them?

And when it comes down to it, it's just a frickin' name! Just like it's just hair. ;o)