A Day in the Life

On our daily morning phone call yesterday, Mom was extra inquisitive about what I do for a living. It's not terribly interesting to many people, so I don't talk about it too often. I am fairly certain I heard her snoring lightly during my dissertation regarding how soil type influences petroleum migration, so I figured I would be better off just showing some pictures that would accurately depict the glamour that is my day to day life.

I was on-site overseeing installation of some soil borings. The piece of equipment being used above is a push-probe drill rig, that they have mounted in some sort of box truck. Normally this is attached to a regular truck or is some fashion of drill rig. Note the USA Today in the foreground. CULTURE! I checked and there was even a current issue inside. I was strangely fascinated by this feature at the gas station in the middle of nowhere Hayti, MO. Who reads USA Today down here? Someone makes a special trip and drops this off EVERY DAY? How many could they really sell. I should have opened it up to see how many were in there. I am guessing just the one on the front. It's these things that keep my mind occupied while at a job site.

This is the soil boring that is retrieved from the ground. The soil is then examined and packaged for sampling at a lab.

Nothing but exotic locales for this gal. Why staycation when the bustling destination of Hayti, MO is but a 185 mile jaunt down Highway 55?

This is the station where we were working. Note the box truck has now moved. Can you stand the excitement?

I am constantly surrounded by beautiful architecture.

Here's the super exciting part: I am not even the one doing any of the work. I am there just DOCUMENTING the work! Mind you, I paid my dues with the logging of borings and sample collecting, so I don't feel quite as guilty for sitting in my car and cooling my heels while everyone else gets all dusty and sweaty. It's a glamorous life I lead. Try not to be jealous.