Mountains and Valleys

Hey all!  I think we've hit what the previous Cohort was referring to when they said it would be a "busy" semester.  This program has been true to its marketing and shaping up to be a very intense 18-months.  This is the first time I haven't work since I was 12 and it's totally necessary...and shocking.  As per usual, the highs are high and the lows are quickly becoming normal and less panicky...so that's good.  And really the lows are not lows. They're just patches of having to focus HARD on the coolest stuff out there on sustainable business, boo-hoo, I know.

There has been some fun as well, last weekend was the Fort Collins Sustainability Fair.  The GSSE program has a booth and it was a great time!  Much larger than last year was the word on the street.  They even had free bike valet parking!  Good thing I wore my pearls. Kudos to the Sustainable Living Association for putting this on.

One of the many rows of booths

Kat and Greg selling knowledge!

We needed to compete for love with our neighbor's dog so we borrowed a puppy for a bit.  5 months and 50 pounds...

In other news, we've had two students drop from the program for different reasons.  22 of us remain and we're a pretty cohesive bunch.  Ranging from former corporates to sci-fi actors, it's an eclectic mix.  Looking forward to being assigned a venture to work towards in November.   For now, it's researching small plot irrigation for rural farmers in India.  Smells of a former Peace Corps project...

My Happy Place

Water skiing on Horsetooth Reservoir

Well, I think it's safe to say I've landed for a spell.  After three weeks of non-stop "settling" Fort Collins is certainly treating me well.  I feel like I've landed in a foreign village for the first time and with no expectations, the surprises have been pleasant to say the least.

Those who know me well...or really anyone whom I've talk with for 5 minutes knows that "settle" is a 4-letter word in my book.  So much to do and so many places to go always meant perpetual motion.  After the purchases of a chest freezer and folding end table,  I must say, this whole moving-in thing is great!  Coffee in the morning hasn't been this great since french-pressing in Benin...well AND porch coffee in Alaska.  But this time my bathroom is INSIDE!!!!

Since Lizzy, Tara and myself hadn't been in the same room for two years (!) we got together on Labor day to celebrate friendships and a new addition to our group of ladies, Olivia!  The little nugget was great and Daddy was even better, giving us girls some talk time.

The real reason for a gathering was to start working on emptying the chest freezer.  Master chef Tara concocted something with cilantro and cardamon for the salmon.  Super tasty and she followed with a homemade blueberry pie. I swear, I am the best-fed grad student in history.

School is moving along swimmingly.  Every day brings new thoughts and twists on some pre-conceived notion I had about working in the developing world.  If this program is doing anything for me, it's certainly broadening my employment search awareness and making me more confused than ever...in a very good way.  Interesting that accounting is quickly becoming a favorite as it's the only class with REAL objective answers.  If assets don't equal liabilities and stock. equity then you're wrong!  Every other class is extremely subjective and I'm finding comfort in concrete solutions.

In other news, I've joined the Fort Collins women's rugby team. A great group of women who show up to have a good time.  Felt nice to tackle again and found I even missed wearing a mouthguard.  More to come on game updates but seems as though we'll have a "building" season.

Hope everyone has finally cooled off, it's 70 degrees and sunny here, always.