the last 6 or so months

i guess it's been a while since i've been on here, not that it matters much... but alas the last six months have proven to be a bit hectic.  first i forced myself to work like a crazed person, and by crazed person i mean someone that works like five consecutive eight hour shifts per week, for the better part of may through june... wow, that sounds really pathetic. then i took off to tour the country, since i've never done it and always felt a little lame about it, especially when i travel abroad and meet foreigners that have seen more of the good ole us of a than i have.

so i set out with one of my bestest friends ever to hitchhike across the states, we threw in a little freight train ridin' too for good measure. what can i say? it was positively AMAZING! which is to say that i had the same experience apparently all traveling girls do... and even use the same played out word to describe it, but whatever... i had a blast and came to some important realizations and conclusions.  1- this country is incredible... the variation in geography/topography alone is overwhelming. 2-the people here are generally way more pleasant and giving than society gives them credit for. 3-money is a burden. having a job/home/car...is all part of a sick cycle that keeps you needing more, never being content with what you have or with enough time to enjoy it and the people you love. 4-having friends is important. 5- i can't wait to move to ecuador!

did i mention that i finally got into the peace corps and will be working on a natural resource conservation assignment beginning in february!

so yeah, the last couple of months have been jam packed with stuff and it look like life will continue to go that way.