So this hopefully we be short as I really need to get some rest - have been trying for the last 2 or 3 hours but keep thinking of other stuff to do and this blog happened to be on that list.

I seriously cannot tell anyone just how great some of the local people and business are, but here's my great examples and kind of my "you totally ought to visit these stores" pitch. My roommate and I frequently travel the 14 miles up to Ennis to use our cell phones and to get random "supplies" (i.e. doughnuts and beverages) and after day one there were a few ladies who work in the local store who knew our names and continuously have used them. Then, farther into town, there's the cutest little jewelry store, Fran's Fancy, and the couple that own and operate it take the time to chat with you, educate you on the various stones, etc., and make you so darn comfortable you don't want to leave (of course your pocketbook may have other ideas). An amazing Mexican restaurant is also in town and the other day when we ate there they were so apologetic for what they called "slow" service (it was damn fast) so made us essentially an elephant ear type desert thing. Awesome food, very very nice people, and ridiculously high expectations of themselves in regards to their work totally dictate this place.

Then in V.C. itself I have to tell you I pretty much am in love with the Pioneer - one of the two local bars. As far as I can tell there's really one bartender and let me tell you what she rocks. Makes amazing drinks, remembers every "regular" person by name and favorite drink, and laughs from her toes (no joke)... plus compared to the prices back home this place is like the wal-mart of saloons... or better! Last night we went out in celebration of finishing up week two and while there we ran into the first shift of an acting troupe that puts on apparently one of the funniest acts every summer (they open Friday and are here until September). We've heard stories about how funny their show is but man they're just really cool people! We talked for quite awhile with them having first introduced ourselves within 30 seconds of saying hi and when we were ready to leave maybe an hour or an hour 1/2 later they told us bye by name and were excited we were planning on attending a show before we left. Seriously funny people.

Huh... can you tell I'm big on people remembering names?

Of course a healthy dose of this local business adoration could be based on the fact that we were in Bozeman today shopping. Bozeman is much larger than V.C. but probably about Pullman's size; it could be because of being in such a small town atmosphere for so long but even their "nice" in the mall and stores was pale comparatively. EXCEPT one woman working JCPenney where my roommate got shoes. She was rocking the most bizarre outfit - leg warmers, purple tights, rainbow socks, clear sparkly jelly shoes, odd cutoff jeans, a teal sweater off one shoulder, HUGE PINK PLASTIC SUNGLASSES and a sideways ponytail - plus mega blue eye shadow. Now some may automatically be saying "that wasn't bizarre that was 80s!" but considering I wasn't born until the latter half of the 80s I hope you'll forgive me for being a bit taken aback. Well, then the question becomes why the hell was she wearing this? Turns out the mall opened in 1980 and this weekend was "80s weekend!" and sales associates had to hit up the retro look. Kind of cool, she was nice, but damn bright colors! OH! And the hamburger guy - there's a place in the food court of the mall called Bobcat Burgers and let's just say their sign that reads "This is not fast food - it is fresh food" is totally right and boy-o it is GOOD! And the guy running the till and making the food (proprietor maybe?) was super nice as well. We found the place thanks to the lady who checked us out at the toy store... A TOY STORE! Haven't seen one in forever so it rocked my socks off.

It isn't all fun and games tho' - I mean we are still working here. Tuesday night we have a presentation to the Lemhi Cultural Committee (not sure if that's the right title) about our SNHP project. We initially showed our "drafts" to I believe the chairman of the committee back in March/April and it was over 3 hours long. Now, most people aren't willing to sit for that long and thus we are attempting to chop 3 hours of work down to 30 minutes and instead of the 7 presenters we have 5... so roughly 5 minutes per person as one has intro and close so 5 minute blocks for both. OI! Plus my curriculum project is ridiculously hard for me because I've never done anything like this, but totally was reminded today that it was very important as that chairman got in touch with me about the work I've done thus far and essentially said its very cool that I'm doing that. Sweet!

But boy I'm missing a few things - not so much mud, not having to travel to call people, my family, MY BED! But even though today it snowed and its yucky I'm going to miss this place and hope to be back sooner as opposed to later. Anybody else thinking road trip for another performance by that acting troupe? Haha! Really, the best way to describe how it looks is to simply call it ruggedly beautifulk - it is not a gentle soft landscape but somehow that makes it even better. Fan-freaking-tastic.

Ok bed time... we shopped and not only do I dislike it but it wears me out so for sure this time bed!

Be Bear Aware

So today was great - in an odd sort of way. I mean, I can't sit here and pull out artifacts and amazing data and show everyone just how great I am - well I could but it would be false. BUT we did a lot of good stuff as far as figuring and planning and we did some shovel test plots so it was good.

Really to be honest I don't have a lot to report - it was a good day, a worthwhile day, but as I'm sitting here attempting to eat dinner before doing laundry and writing I just can't seem to find anything interesting to say even tho' I started this thinking "Oh man I have so many things to say!" Guess I might need to write more later if I remember any of it... maybe.

Monday 5/17/2010 Morning

Today is Monday of the second week of our field school and I have finally decided that I actually would like to blog about it, so here goes nothing.

So far we've visited some AMAZING sites and gotten acquainted with the amazing staff @ Montana Heritage Commission. No joke, I totally want Janna's job - or Kate's. It just seems that it would be ridiculously awesome to do some of the stuff they do every day. Of course, it would be a lot of work. Kate is the sole archaeologist here in Virginia City w/ the MHC and Janna is constantly having to deal with over a million items in the collection, many of which are still locked away in boxes that she's trying to get through and catalogue. Can you imagine? Still looks awesome.

Apparently this afternoon we'll be traveling the 15 miles to Laurin from Virginia City - that's where the 1868 treaty was signed, etc. This morning we had an organizing meeting and then Kate came in to talk with us about Shovel Testing and Pedestrian survey for artifacts. Looks like that's what we'll be doing in Laurin, or rather a mile outside of the town, so as to find the location of the Agaidika camp during said 1868 treaty meeting. Should be kind of cool, even if I'm pretty nervous as I've never done anything like this before and am seriously worried I might mess up (I'm a little neurotic that way).

Leo, one of the coolest people I've ever had the opportunity to meet, has joined us now. He's an Agaidika and came up here to help us determine where the Agaidika camp would have been in 1868. Also, it looks like a cultural committee of several members of his tribe will be joining us next week for a presentation focusing on the SNHP (Sacajawea National Historic Park) project, so that's pretty darn exciting. It looks like the five of us who are @ field school and were also enrolled in the 528 survey course this last spring will be presenting together, meaning that we have to take all of our presentations and mash them together and cut out a lot so as to keep the presentation much shorter than the roughly 3 hours it took a few weeks ago when we did our preliminary presentations while Leo visited the WSU campus. Keep your fingers crossed cuz that's going to be hard.

In addition to our primary assignment, we're doing two other "side" projects in relation to the Virginia City treaty, etc. The presentation is counting as one of my projects, but I'm also attempting to create a curriculum to be used in classrooms of 4th - 6th graders (I'm really thinking 5th grade but not sure why I'm hung up on that as much as I am). Let me tell you what, I already respected teachers a great deal but after just this little bit of curriculum work I'm even more amazed. Seriously, it is arguably the hardest job I can think of as they have to know their stuff, be amazing planners, and manage to do it all while being relatively nice to students. However, it is also turning into a lot of fun for me so maybe "real" teachers feel that its a fair trade-off, y'know do something you love and are energized by even tho' you aren't being paid nearly enough.

I keep thinking if I were to talk to future field schoolers what I would say as far as "advice" and I think it comes down to just a few things.

1) Take yourself seriously and enjoy the hell out of it; you're a serious scholar now! But don't take yourself too seriously because this is fun, the area is beautiful, and you get to do stellar things. ENJOY!

2) Don't just double or triple check to make sure you have your backpack with you; check like four or five times. I thought I had mine and when I went to snag it on our first day I realized I was wrong and have regretted it every day since. Hiking, etc. is so much more enjoyable when you haven't things in your hands, esp. since you'll want to take photos and notes.

3) Wear sun block, even if you don't think you'll burn. Esp. you ladies because the sun ages us so fast. There's some beautiful people in V.C. but there's also a lot of people who would be knockouts if they'd smear some SPF 30 all over.

4) Make sure you room with someone you like, not just sort of tolerate, and be sure to have some kind of a conversation on roommate etiquette/expectations. I lucked out and am rooming with one of the coolest people I know AND we're very similar, but you gotta make darn sure you can stand three weeks with each other.

5) EAT BREAKFAST! AND LUNCH! AND DINNER! (haha)

6) Watch the sunset and if possible try to watch the sunrise. Montana is beautiful, a kind of wild, untamed and rugged beauty with mountains and cliffs and the most amazing scenery. Take advantage of some of the most beautiful times of the day to stand in wonder @how amazing this land is.

And most importantly - be polite to EVERYONE, especially the people who live and work in and near Virginia City. Rudeness just shows off ignorance.

That's it for now - I'm off to work for another half hour or so before lunch then off to Laurin. I'll hopefully write more soon (like tomorrow or something) so check back for more ramblings by me.

To date coolest thing I've seen: Bison in Yellowstone

Song stuck in my head the most: All my exes live in Texas (thanks Hay Bail opening night)

Thing I'm missing the most: My piano

Thing I'm most eager about: EVERY SINGLE THING WE GET TO DO FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF FIELD SCHOOL (totally coming back to V.C., possibly with field school if I can convince Dr. Svingen that I'd be an asset).