Squash

I have a new obsession. Well, it's not quite an obsession, more like a quest or a keen interest.

I used to think squash was disgusting (except maybe when I was a baby). I always liked pumpkin desserts, but that is where I drew the line. Everything changed a couple years ago when I saw my mom heating up a section of butternut squash in the mircrowave for her supper. She told me how easy it was to cook and gave me a taste. I decided it didn't taste too badly after all. She gave me a couple sweet dumpling squash from a local orchard and I went out and bought a butternut squash.

This year the whole squash thing has become a quest to try them all. I started out with what I was used to and ate a butternut squash. Then I wanted to try the popular acorn squash. It was great - good texture and flavor. Next was a spaghetti squash. That one was strange - all stringy once I cooked it - and it the flavor was weak. Now every time I go to the store I pick up a new kind of squash to try. Some of them are terrible. The kabocha variety must originate from Japan because "kabocha" is the word for squash in Japenese. The kabocha squash I had was awful. It might have been good in a soup or some other dish, but by itself was terrible. I just bought delicata and carnival squash that I can't wait to try. I really hope I can get to all the varieties of squash before they disappear from my local supermarket.

Work

I had a fun day at work yesterday. A couple weeks ago told I Bill I was considering trying to get into graduate school for the 2006 spring semester. When people at work ask me what's going on in my life, I usually don't like to hide things. I feel like it eats away at my integrity. I want to be honest and tell them what is really going on so many of my coworkers have heard all about my plans. Julie, my supervisor, suggested I let Bill know too, just in case he inadvertently hears it from someone else first. I did and now I think he's trying to entice me to stay. He makes comments like, "If you are still here next summer I will send you on a museum sponsored archaeological dig for a week or two" and "we should get you more involved in other departments at the museum." It is nice he appreciates the work I do, but I don't think that's going to be enough right now. Thanks for trying, Bill.

Last week he decided I should help the Education Department and April (the curator of Exhibits) prepare for Archaeology Day Camp to be held next summer. Yesterday we went out to set up and bury the site. During Archaeology Day Camp kids participate in a simulated dig where they excavate and analyze a site created by the museum staff. The site is supposed to represent a 1900 cabin in East Sioux Falls (a quarry town) that burned down. Yesterday we measured out the units, built up the stone foundation of the cabin and planted the artifacts. Because the house burned down we burned a bunch of the artifacts. It's kind of like doing archaeology in reverse. We know what we want the kids to think happened so we planted artifacts and built remnants of structures in a way that, when excavated, would tell the story we wanted to tell.

It was a fun activity that helped break up the monotony of sitting at the front desk and staring at a computer screen. Lately, I have been working on writing an exhibit script on the evolution of shopping from department stores to enclosed malls. It's interesting, but I have been working on it off and on for a year and I needed a break.

Graduate School

Yesterday I got a letter saying I am officially accepted to Wichita State University. Everyday this whole thing gets more real.

I have to take three or four prerequisite classes before I can start the graduate program, but those should be fun. They are all about anthropology and archaeology methods, theory and history. I guess my next step is to get registered for classes.

I also need to figure out this whole financial aid thing. Here I go again with more loans. Maybe school won’t be too stressful and I can get a part time job or something. Once I find out how much money I can borrow to live off of, Sarah and I can start really looking for a place to live. I hope it works out to live with her because I think it could be a great experience. And she has furniture!

Break Time

I’m tired of studying for the GRE during my breaks at work so I’m updating the old blog this time. This whole test is completely unnecessary stress. I found out ex post facto I don’t even need the GRE for admittance into a masters of arts program at WSU. Apparently that is a sign I should work on my research skills. Part of me wants to buckle down by reading the 80 pages of possible essay topics or looking through all 65 pages of math review. The other part of me wants to say “who the hell cares because I don’t need this test for anything right now.” Hmmm … which part will win?

So what’s going on in my life beside that? Last weekend Reed and Sue took the Windstar down to Kansas for Fall Fest. I went along and so did Jeremy. He was going to look for apartments, but ended up walking around in the rain on Saturday with Sarah and me. It was hard to just walk around and check out the booths because every ten steps or so I ran into someone I wanted to talk to or someone who wanted to talk to me. It was nice to catch up with old friends and acquaintances, tiring however. Props to Sarah, who was a terrific host and is always a pleasure to stay with.

Last weekend was so hot and humid, now it is so cold. I took the bus to work this morning and waiting for it outside made my chin numb. The boiler maintenance person came this morning to get the heat going here at the Pettigrew. Brrrr … It should be a little warmer this weekend. I am hoping to find some time to go to a local apple orchard because warm apple sauce sounds so go right now!