Halfway...

Some familiar sights, around here... the same clerks in the supermarket, the wizened old man with the wooden leg that I wave to every morning on my way to the lab, the sunsets over Nerva. The puffy white tent on the hill, housing the drill and instruments. Red dust on everything...

And I actually find that I enjoy cooking and hosting... doing things unimaginable at home, like paying attention to soap scum dulling the sparkle of my wine glasses.

Today... more learning drilling operations, a bit of network maintenance. Last night we altered the wireless net at the cottages, unsuccessfully. And I'm working on a paper due next week.

Talked to patgreene last night, and just now with tenacious_snail as she prepares to go to the airport... 33 hours and counting :).

Speaking of which: this afternoon marks the halfway point of this trip. Three weeks ago, I was at home in Mountain View, packing, and three weeks from now I'll be home unpacking, hopefully...

Reminders

From my sweeties... around me, I don't feel as alone here. Every day I have one of the purple-wrapped dark Hershey's kisses from tenacious_snail, although in less than 24 hours I hope to have real ones :). And every day I have one of the (better quality ;) Ghiradelli squares that dawnd found for my birthday. And I was listening in the car today to the CD that geekchick burned for me, which starts with "I wish I had an Evil Twin" and ends with "Plastic Jesus". And I have a good-luck blue ceramic pendant from Nancy, and a pair of jeans from patgreene. All of these things usually bring a daily smile to my face, and remind me that I'm appreciated and loved. :)