Boulder II

Things are falling into place. The panic that I felt a little less than a week ago is starting to subside.

Yesterday I met with a professor, Carol, whose research I've been interested in since before I applied to CU Boulder. She was incredibly nice and we spent an hour and a half talking about her research, my background and things to come. Unfortunately, she doesn't have any extra money for another person coming in this year, but she has a lot of projects that I could start working on and apply for funding for it.

She will also put in a good word for me with the administrative lady at the EBIO department for a TA position. Hopefully that will help.

I also met one of my two roommates. I feel more and more at peace with my decision to stay in Boulder no matter what. If no TA position comes about I will stay here, so that I get residency by beginning of next year. I may already have a job here, starting the first vegan food truck in Boulder with my girl roommate. The place where I will be staying is pretty rundown. But the price and location are hard to beat. But I will have a glass sliding door to a patio! Yes!

Last night I went to the newer, fancy rock climbing gym here in Boulder. The one that Alex Johnson and Daniel Woods train at. It is as nice as you imagine - huge variety of top tope and lead walls, a great bouldering section, full gym, free yoga and cycling classes for members. Showers, towel service and anything else you'd like. And not that expensive. Same price as the one in Bozeman.

The ratings there made me feel good about my climbing - I top-roped a few 10a routes, led a 5.8 and 5.9. I haven't been so pumped from climbing in a while. Its so different from the slower pace of outdoor climbing.

Of course, compared to people I was with and the rest of the crowd there I was kind of on the bottom, but I can work my way up. I went with my CouchSurfing host and her friends and they were leading steep 12a routes. Yikes.

People in this state are ridiculously fit. When I grow up I want to be like them!

Its hot in Boulder. Mid to upper 90's. I thought I had escaped that when I left Texas!