In the field

I spent this morning doing the fieldwork (vegetation sampling of the prairie-restoration area) that I had been putting off and putting off because weekdays never allowed me sufficient time to go and do that after my classes were done, and most Saturdays I also had commitments that broke up the day to the point where I could not do it.

Even though it rained lightly off and on, I went and did it. And got it all done. (I was afraid it would start thundering - I will not stay out in an open prairie during a thunderstorm. Even though the chance of getting hit by lightning is low, I still don't want to risk it. I don't want my obituary to read that I got electrocuted doing fieldwork.)

I did have to bring the field data sheets back here (my office) and spread them out on my desk so the ones that got rained on will dry and not mold or fade. I can still read them, I used pencil, so that's fine.

I will say that despite the rain, it was a good day. It was peaceful. Just me and the plants. I didn't need to talk to anyone, I didn't have anyone talking at me, I didn't have anyone needing me for anything.

I need days like that from time to time. Not necessarily fieldwork; it can be a trip to McKinney or just a whole day spent sewing. I think the biggest thing is the "not being talked at." I like talking TO people and having people talk TO me, but so often lately it's been more that someone is talking AT me, in the sense of "I'm gonna talk, and you're gonna listen" where they make demands or tell me how awful their lives are in the service of trying to get me to raise their grades.

And I think some of my distaste for that is just all the classic introvert stuff like I spoke about earlier - I don't like being put on the spot, I don't like being in situations where I have to think really fast, and I especially don't like having to say "no," even to an unreasonable request, and have the person NOT accept that. And more and more, it seems like people will argue with you when you say "no" to them.

There's a whole anti-sexual-violence campaign called "No means NO." We may need to start a similar one for unreasonable requests.

At any rate: the field work is done, I can go home, eat some lunch, and spend the rest of the afternoon sewing.