Lab Work and Landscape Work

I spent 3 days back in Mississippi to do some work in the lab for my thesis Wednesday and Thursday, and a flower bed installation on Friday. This was my third trip back to Starkville during this first month we've "been away." I think people are getting tired of telling me bye. I did get to stay with the Franci and relive some Colonial Arms times.

My work in the lab was boring and probably a failure once again. My hope now is to be able to drop it from my research. It is only a small aspect and not needed in my opinion. Unfortunately my opinion doesn't count for much in that area.

Friday, I got to transition from being inside all day to being outside all day. Matt and I got hired to install a landscape bed at a residence in Columbus, MS. These kind of jobs are not my expertise when it comes to recommending materials. The type of stone to use as a border became quite the ordeal. We picked up the rock on Friday morning and got it laid out. They weren't really happy with it and we didn't have enough. So we loaded it back up and went with some stone from Lowe's. It was a manufactured stone, so it didn't have as natural of a look as the other, but it was much easier to work with since it was uniform. We got started around 9:30. Matt had to leave at 3:30 and it took me til 6:30 to finish up. It was quite hot with no shade. I am still soft from working in an office for so long. I probably drank 2 gallons of water, while ( I spent the summer in Asia living off rice) Matt barely broke a sweat. The day went well overall considering all the changes that were made. The large rock was the most difficult step because it was so hard to shovel into the wheelbarrow.

The basis steps to the job were:

1. Dig up the sod avoiding any underground wires or pipes.
2. Dig up soil to create depth to hold gravel.
3. Put down landscape fabric to prevent weed germination.
4. Build stone wall border.
5. Put down layer of pea gravel to mask fabric and soil.
6. Put down top layer of small river rock.
7. Clean up.

Here are some before and after pictures.

First Day

I've often heard the phrase "This is the first day of the rest of your life." While it holds true for everyday it really has an impact this past week. Up until now every phase of my life has been just that a phase. There was always an end in sight, with the next step more or less laid out. Now that we are "done" with school there really are no next steps. Unless something unforeseen happens, we are here for good.

This was my first week back at Longscape. I'm not sure if I'm going to stick with that name, but it works for now. It was a great week and a lot of fun. Other than the oppressive humidity, it went very well. I had work to do everyday and several new leads, which was very encouraging. Its also been good that I'm not "full-time" right away since we have lots of transition stuff to still take care of. Also I want to organize both of our businesses correctly from the start so we can focus on quality and not quantity.

We don't have another wedding until October 10th, so that will allow us some time to catch up on photos.

Neshoba County Fair

I'm pretty behind on my blog. I go back and forth about whether to go back and catch up or just move on and don't miss the next thing. I'll try a slight recap.

This was probably my fourth time to the fair. I was introduced my Simon, whose family owns a cabin on the fairgrounds. If you don't know about the Neshoba County Fair, it is unlike anything else of its kind. The fairgrounds turns into a bustling city 10 days out of the year. Three story cabins sell like penthouse suites. I like to think of it as a week long family reunion. People who grew up going to the fair anticipate the 10 day event the whole year. The area is somewhat frozen in time, forcing many attendees away from modern conveniences and to focus on relaxing and conversing with family and friends. The slow pace was very much welcomed by myself.

We merged Simon's bachelor party into opening weekend of the fair due to everyone's busy schedule. It worked out nicely. Plenty of time with all the guys, good food, and lots of rest.

Haircut

Its been a crazy couple of weeks. We've spent a total of 3 nights in our new home since we moved 10 days ago. We spent 4 in California for ASHS conference and 3 back in Mississippi for Simon's wedding, both of which I hope to write about soon.

We got back to Birmingham around noon and I tried to organize the mess we've already created. Its hard to keep things neat when you're living out of boxes and on top of their stuff that's already here. We've managed to spread out over all 4 rooms upstairs. I have claimed one room as my dresser, just organizing my clothes into piles on the floor. Rebecca is using the entire base of a wall to line her shoes up. It makes sorting laundry much easier.

I was due for a haircut and per a request from my wife, I buzzed it. I think she likes the way it feels more so than how it looks.  The times I have done this in the past was in order to save money, but I already cut my own hair, so its not saving any money. Maybe a little time and shampoo. I think my mom has always associated it with me being sickly. Don't worry Mom, I'm not malnourished, just trying to streamline things.

One of my favorite lines from Gary the Barber, where I used to get my hair cut:

"You know what the difference is between a good haircut and a bad haircut? ...... About two weeks."

          

The Transition of an Era

We're now in Birmingham, but it doesn't feel like home, even though I grew up here. It took me nearly 6 years living in Starkville and gaining a wife to finally call it home.

We finished packing up with little room to spare in the uhaul. Dad and I cleaned out my office on campus. It would have been such a nicer feeling if I was actually completely done with my thesis. I went with Megan to transfer our utilities over to her name. We then went to our final meal at La Terraza with my parents, Rebecca's mom, Megan, and the Franci.

We said our goodbyes. The girls shed some tears. It was a sad moment in the parking lot of that Mexican restaurant. We knew this day was coming for many months, but it didn't make it any easier. It makes you wonder why you are moving. Our standard response about being back often is as much of a reassurance to ourselves as it is to everyone else.

Starkville has been great. I never thought I would have grown as attached to it as I have. As much as I like Starkville, Rebecca and I both feel its not the best place to base our respective businesses out of. To me Starkville has always felt like a holding pattern on life. Its a city of people in transition, so the things you grow to love are also in transition. The biggest of those being friends. Most of my friends have long since moved away. The one set of friends who have made the college and married transition with us is the largest reason it has been so hard to leave. Living in the same apartment complex gave the true feeling of community that let a friendship bloom unlike any other. It was rare for a day to pass without one of us going to the others house to catch up on the days events. Boredom was not an option with friends just 100 yards away. So David and Emily, since you two are some of the few who actually read my blog, Rebecca and I just wanted to say we will truly miss you guys. The Lord has provided us with so much already in Birmingham we know he will take care of the friend department too, however it is hard to ask for replacements, because we wouldn't want to replace you. So where ever we may be, its never 'goodbye', just 'see you later'.

Empty Apartment

My week off has been anything but. Photo stuff Monday and Tuesday followed by two solid days of packing. The busyness of the day has kept me distracted from the emotion of leaving the town I have come to love over the past 7 years. As we get ready for bed its starting to set in.

We are about 90% packed in the massive  uhaul. It will take some creativity to get the rest to fit. The Franci warned us about feeling like you got it under control, then being no where close when you actually start loading the truck. If a Wits and Wagers question was "Of people moving, what is the difference, in percentage, of their stuff they think they have packed compared to what they actually have packed," I would have been way off.

I'm sitting in what used to be our office. Just this morning it was full of stuff in pretty much the same order it had been all year. Its the same room, yet nothing feels the same. She's been a good ship, and I hate to see her go.


We're about to head to bed for the last time in Apt. 143. Much more to come on the whole moving process and the effect on our lives. Maybe even our first video taken with the new camera.

Last Day

Today is my last day at MSU. It doesn't feel like a last day because I'm not done with my thesis. So I'll still have to make some return trips for that little project. Nevertheless, today is the last day where I will make the trip to 368 Dorman for an 8-5 shift. I've been coming here since January 2008. Its been a nice transition from full time student to full time employee. Whether or not to pursue grad school was a big debate in my head, and as I approach the end, I'm still glad I have done it for several reasons:

• I've learned a lot
• I've gotten to be with Rebecca
• I have not lost money on the deal
• Lots of great time with friends
• I've gotten to mature before I dive off into a career path

There are certainly things I would go back and change, but I could probably say that about any path I had chosen. I definitely don't think grad school is for everyone, and its not an intelligence thing. Its just an arduous journey with a lot of hoops to jump through. Some career paths its worth it, others not. Just don't do it because you assume it will make your more money in the long run.

Anyways, I didn't intend on getting all sappy on this post. Today got me thinking about other last days I have had at jobs. This is the longest tenure I've ever had at a job, however its probably the most anti-climatic of any of them.

• Chick-fil-a: worked there nearly two years in high school. I quit to make more money at Longscape doing something I enjoyed much more. I don't really remember my last day, however I still crave Chick-fil-a at least once a week.
• Willow Point Country Club: My first internship for my major. It was an eye-opening summer in which I realized I didn't want to work at a golf course. I still learned a tremendous amount about turf on a beautiful course. My internship came to an end and as is customary amongst turf internships, I got thrown into the lake at the end of my last day. 
• Personal Lawn Care: My second internship took place in Memphis, TN with a company I made a connection with during summer missions the year before. I learned a good deal about chemicals, fertilizers, and running a small business. I also had a great time with my gracious hosts the Poschels. Nothing memorable about my last day except a desire to get back to Starkville for a soon to be romantic pursuit.
• Naturescape: This was my third and final internship. This one lasted 7 months in Birmingham. The first half was great, the second half got mundane when I got stuck as the chemical guy after the other guy quit. My last day was much anticipated because previously mentioned romantic pursuit was returning from a month long trip to Peru and we could finally return to Starkville and be in the same city again.
• MSU Graduate Teaching Assistant: My last day has been about like any other, which I prefer. I don't like a lot of big goodbyes with people I don't hang out much to begin with. Its also unwanted because I will be returning as early as next week to get my stuff. So if you have a big goodbye and then see the person a couple days later, its makes it awkward. I prefer the fade method. So I rode my bike to work, ate leftovers in my office for lunch, and did some work on the thesis in between.

Hopefully I won't have another 'last day' for a while.