Guess What?!?

I GOT A JOB OFFER!!!

Two weeks ago I interviewed with a company, SMT, that I met at the Student Expo in Houston. They flew me down to Houston for a second, all-day interview, which went very well. At first I wasn't thrilled with working as Tech Support or the idea of working for a service company rather than an oil company. However, after meeting the staff and learning more about the job, I began to like the company more and more.

SMT, Seismic Micro Technology, was started by the CEO twenty years ago out of his house with his wife. Today they are in four different countries and have more than 140 employees, looking to add 30 more in the next two years. They produce/design software for oil companies, which aids in the search for oil and gas resources (thus the term, service company).

And to get back to the point, they called me yesterday offering me a position in the Tech Support team. They are sending me the details and I have to accept or decline by November 27th. Of course you are all asking about more details. And this is it, I still will be finishing my thesis, it is required to have a Master's degree before starting... I am still hoping to have it finished by the end of this month and then possibly start the job by December 15th. I will give more details as I know them and when the thesis is done I will post again...

Some pictures...

Jessica and I at The Alamo

At the Riverwalk in San Antonio

Clock tower at the Riverfront Park in Spokane

Sophia in a Trolley at the Fair

It's so hard...

Do any of you know how difficult it is to (try and be) in the school/work frame of mind while at home (where you usually vacation)? I am finiding it hard to say no to all the possible visiting opportunities. I know that I should be working on my thesis, but so far I only have 4 pages written and a lot of articles found (waiting for inter-library loan). So frustrating, and yes, I know it is all my fault. Anyways, just wanted to get that off my chest. (Do any of you know where I can buy a thesis? Perferably about Late Cenozoic Deformation and Strucural Evolution of the Alvord Basin...)

Something has changed...

So I showed up in Moscow to meet with my advisor...and there was no yelling, no arguing. He was a completely different person than he was two years ago. After discussing my summer intern project we discussed what needed to be done with my thesis (which I will say that he had no idea what we (I) had accomplished while I was there in December last year!) and then he left. I am doing the background research on the basin and stratigraphy and then will meet with him again on Monday. Then three weeks on my own writing, while he is vacationing in Europe. I will take a week of that time and go to two student job fairs in Laramie and Houston. Hopefully, I will find a job before I finish my thesis.

I will say that I am enjoying the time here in Spokane with Jenn. It is nice to reconnect with her after so many years apart. Her little girl Sophia, is adorable and strong-willed. Jenn has another one (It's a boy!) on the way, so there is no drinking going on over here. But when you are with friends who needs alcohol? (Although, it is fun at times...)

Back in the Northwest

Well I am back in Washington now and enjoying a few days off before heading to Moscow to work on my thesis. The move out of my apartment in Houston was hell. I do not recomend a 3rd floor apartment to anyone who lives in a humid region. It was 100 degrees and 100% humidity. I managed to get completely moved out in one day. I thought I was going to die, but I did it, thanks to Jessica, Liz, and Rachel. (And thanks to Rachel for housing my truck while I am away.) Chester did much better on the flight this time and is getting used to the unaccepting cats at my parents house. Sunday I drive over to Spokane to stay with my friend, Jenn and her family, as I commute to Moscow a few times this month.

Other than that, I don't think I have much else to update. Except that I am so happy to be in the land of Great microbrews again!! :)

Rock Doctor no more

In case any of you hadn't heard...I am discontinuing my Ph.D. program at this time. I will be finishing my master's thesis (if I can get my advisor to agree that I do know what I am talking about) and looking for a job.

So that means that I will not be moving to Norman, OK, however most of my belonging are still there in storage. I shipped them there while under the impression that I would be moving into an apartment (last weekend) and finishing my doctorate with my newly re-located advisor...instead I will be moving home with Chester (the cat, not a boyfriend) to work on my thesis. (See below for more details.)

Update (I'm eliminating the Barbara Walters middle-man)

A group of interns 1500' beneath the surface in a salt (dome) mine
I am entering the advanced internet world. (Sorry Kelli, this is as close to myspace.com that I will ever get!)

I have just finished my exit interview here at Anadarko and the outlook is very positive. I have received nothing but "Outstanding" performance reviews from my team and managers. Our Chief G&G has just told me that I should expect to hear something before the end of September, but that there is no reason (based on my performance and personality) not to receive an offer. As most of you know Anadarko has just purchased two companies and are in the middle of a major intergration effort. There is job uncertainty for everyone.

Tomorrow is my last day at work, then on to packing my apartment and getting everything in storage. A friend is letting me park my truck at her house while I will be in Washington/Idaho for two months. While I am in the NW again I will mainly be working on my thesis with my advisor in Moscow, ID. I will also have time to see my family and friends again. I know how much I miss them all, I can only imagine how much they must miss me even more!!