The Digging is now over and I think I nailed the interview.

The summer hasn't really started and summer session one is just about over. We finished up the digging yesterday and although it has been a complete blast, I am glad that were are done excavating. I have managed only hurt myself in a few spots. I rolled my ankle and hurt my foot yesterday and I am really paying for that today. If I walk I am in tears so I am taking the day off from doing anything physical and very minimal walking and a scrap on my calf from falling up against a brick well wall the day before. I have learned a lot about the challenges of working with multiple people with completely different work ethics. Over the dig was a huge success. Next week we will be cleaning and cataloging the goodies that we recovered from the second site.

Yesterday was also the phone interview with Steve Rolfe from Campus View Apts in Bloomington. We were offered the opportunity to apply for the Housing Assistant position. The perks of the position is that it would employ both Nate and I and we would receive a free apartment on campus. So we applied and have had multiple email conversations with Mr. Rolfe and yesterday was our phone interview. I feel really confident that we did well with the interview and I think we just might get the position we will find out before Wednesday next week. If we do get the job we will have to move a lot sooner then we thought. Thank goodness I started aggressively packing last weekend. I am done to my bedroom, the basement and Natalie's room. Natalie will be a little sad that we are going early but I made a deal with her that she could stay behind one week as a way to say her good byes. It is not like she is not going to come and visit and she will make new friends in Bloomington I am sure of it. Well I think I really should find some advil or something for the pain in my foot.

Signs telling moving is a good thing

I have to say all the signs say moving is going to be a great thing. We were approached about a position in Bloomington already. I sure hope we get. It is a position that we share and it has wonderful benefits. The only down size is we might have to move a lot sooner then I was expecting. So I will be one tired person come the end of June. So lets keep our fingers crossed that we get the position, application has been submitted. I think we will here something really soon. I will keep everyone updated. For now I am still working my butt off at the new excavation site and having a blast doing it. I will be real sad when the field school ends, but they say all good things come to an end. I will be making an extra effort to spend more time with friends and family and pack in between sleeping, digging, working and all the other stuff that I do daily. Today Nate came to the site which was super sweet of him. I am bringing Natalie out to the site next week. I cannot believe how fast summer session one is flying by. I have set a new goal for the summer I am going to try to read at least ten books before fall classes start. Well Nate is nagging that he is hungry so I am off to get something to eat and then to work...

What a beautiful day.

Today was a great day. The field school started the planning for the second location. What a beautiful lot. I think good things will come from this location. We sectioned of the sample excavation plots and will begin digging tomorrow. This evening Nate and I took Natalie and Makayla to play putt-putt golf at hackers and ice cream at DQ after. I am going to enjoy this rest of the evening with my wonderful husband. Tomorrow will be all work and no play until about 9pm. Lets see how many books I can finish before I move Bloomingtion.

Site 2 starts tomorrow

Today has been one of those days that drag on and on. Last night we had some nasty storms come through and the winds brought down on big branch next store to us. Everyone was very lucky that the branch missed all the cars and the houses. I slept through it all which I thought was completely amazing. As the day finally seems to be ending I am super excited about starting the second site in the field school. We will be at a lot across the street from the Center for History. The last recorder building on this site was a drug store. As far as we know there has not been any looting activity or previous excavation activity at this location. So we are hopeful that what we will find will be in able to be documented in context. I am learning a lot about myself and archaeology this summer. I now know that me and pollen do not mix. I am still recovering from nasty hives and man do they itch. Other than this minor speed bump this class was the perfect fit for me. I wake up and wonder what we will find today and knowing that it might be nothing does not bother me one bit. I am going to be bringing Natalie out to this site later this week or early next once we have our sample spots opened. This way she can help with screening the dirt we remove from the site. I did not get a darn thing packed today but thats okay I still have 50 some days before we move and that gives me time. I have decided to put a picture from the Williams street site in todays blog.

A lazy day..

Today has been a relaxing and lazy day. I worked in the archives for a few hours and the rest of the day has been sitting and enjoying my husbands company. It has been awhile since I have just did nothing. I am still recovering what seems to be a case of hives and I hope that they start to heal soon. I feel like a goon. Natalie and Makayla are playing out in the rain and I am writing here on my blog. Its funny to think that I am moving soon. It does not feel like a reality yet. I am sure once I have made good progress in packing and my landlord does the walk through in 10 days it will set in. I hope to enjoy lots of family and friend time before we move. August will be the beginning of a new adventure and I am kinda freaking out a little but I am super excited. With the field school and work still going on its hard to realize that this chapter in my life is coming to a close. I will be moving away from my home and that is kinda a big deal. I do have to say that for the first time in my life I am ready to make the leap and I have the best partner to leap with and I know what is meant to be he will be right there beside me. Man I am one lucky lady... There are times that you do not realize what you have and I have a lot. I beautiful daughter and a loving husband that is a recipe for success. I am going to finish the night sitting here at the computer listening to it rain and relaxing the night away.

Field school William Street Site closed

Yesterday was our last day at the William Street Site. These last two weeks have been a great learning experience. To end on a good note my allergies were in check and a small group of us excavated a looters pit. Unfortunately a looter had destroyed the stratigraphy of the privy. Steve and his son John helped dig the biggest hole that I have seen in awhile. We recover five 5 gallon painters buckets of artifacts. We we recovered a small porcelain doll arm, 1937 wheat penny, some poker chips and loads of glass and ceramics of all varieties. Professor VanderVeen says you always find the best stuff on the last day and he was right. What a great end to a wonderful learning experience. On Monday we start a new site and will be there for about two weeks and I am sad to say that basically will conclude the field school. This summer has begun beautifully and with many changes to come I hope it will remain the same. I still have so many things to accomplish before we move at the beginning of August. This house will not pack itself, although I really wish it would. This weekend will be more of the same work and spending time with the family.

Field School and moving

Yesterday was a complete mess for me. My allergies are killing me and to top it off I have some kind of rash thing going on. So this has made excavating awful. Now don't get me wrong I love excavating minus the allergy attacks in the field. I am hoping that when we move to the next location there will be less weeds and more grass. Our current location is 400 S. William street and it is the Sons of Israel Synagogue and adjoining lots. The team has recovered lots of bricks, ceramics, nails and glass fragments from the 1 meter x 1 meter excavation plots. The hands on experience is just amazing and I really love this part of acrhaeology. I like the discovery process. There are moments when you are finding nothing that you wonder why you are sitting with the sun beating down on your skin why you are doing this and then you come across a real small fragment of ceramics or some other material and you remember why. Its the smal glimpses into the past from the remains left behind. So I am currently thinking that I am going to double major in archival studies and forensic archaeology/anthropology.

I guess I should get me butt in gear and go and pick up some totes so I can get some more packing done. Not to mention the fact that I must work more tonight. I have now decide my husband is a pain in the ass. I really think that he needs a hobby or something. He is driving me crazy, telling me that I have more important things to do than blog... says the man who puts off everything to the last minute.