Fieldwork day today

 I needed to get my first spring sample of soils for the ongoing invertebrate project. Fortunately, a botany student was free this afternoon and wanted to come help me. She helped carry stuff, and ran the tape out for the distances, and she held the bags as I dug soil. And she just was there in case I kneeled down and found I could not get up (that didn't happen but I always worry)

Only one from-the-field picture; we were hurrying as rain was forecast (none yet) and it was already 1 pm when we could get out there. But obviously a fire came through here between the last time I sampled and now, there were a couple burnt trees I don't remember:

 

 We got the sampling done fine. I was pretty tired and sore by the end (my knee has bothered me this week). But we got them back and I set up the extractions. These go for about 48 hours, and if it doesn't rain Tuesday we'll go and get the rest of the soil

 I also got a photo of the "Portable" air conditioning unit that's been installed in my teaching lab. It takes up a lot of space and I swan it looks like those tubes could start waving around and it saying "EXTERMINATE" or something similar. 

 After all that, I went home and washed my hair, and decided to get barbecue for dinner:

 I only ate about half of it; it's a lot of food, but then it amortizes out to feeling less of a splurge (the whole dinner was about $18), because you have leftovers for a later meal. 

***

After that, I mostly watched the Artemis splashdown. I admit, I was apprehensive, these past months have sensitized me to "no good can happen it can only bad happen" and I also remember the Columbia disaster (which I think happened on the shuttle's return, if I remember) and Challenger before it. 

But no, it went off perfectly, and once I saw the chutes deploy I relaxed a bit (I didn't fully relax until just now, when all four astronauts are safely on the Navy ship and off the capsule). This was very cool, despite me not being an astronomer or anything. It was just lovely to see some of the moments of kindness and camaraderie among the crew (most famously discussing naming a feature on the moon for Caroll, the late wife of the commander.)

It was also nice to be able to share it - first, Facetiming with my mom at splashdown, we were both watching it, and then later, chatting with friends on Bluesky about it. 

I feel like our country needed a W, and it seems like we got it.