My 2 Whole Days in the Field: Part 2

Okay, this post really does not have much to do with archaeology, but it's an atypical occurrence none-the-less.  As you know if you've been reading my blog, I was for a few short days, homeless.  At the time I was camping so no big deal, I had a tent, sure, just no place to come home to. Anyway, my boss Chris called to let me know that there was a room available across the street from the Great Basin Institute. It's a house that the crew supervisors use. Well, Stephanie and I drove back up to Reno this time around because we aren't going to be going down to Las Vegas anymore.  We passed some cool stuff, including Area 51 which Stephanie has some great stories about.  Apparently, she did some work on site as an archaeologist with some ex-military guys, but she couldn't tell me everything because I didn't want her to have to kill me afterwards.


Anyway, 7 and 1/2 hours later, 10:30 pm, we arrive in Reno.  I drop Stephanie off at the airport, where she left her car, and I drive to GBI.  Chris had left me a message on my phone saying he had left the key to my new house in a desk drawer in Suite 102.  I picked up the key and drove over to my house, which is just across the street from the institute.  There were no lights on but I went up to the door and knocked... no one answered.  I tried the handle and it was open so I just walked in.  John, a guy from GBI, had given me a tour of the house before so I knew which room was supposed to be mine.  I made my way down the hall and turned into my room... to find someone sleeping in the bed.  I was a little confused but I was determined to get some sleep.  I had just gone to WalMart to get a comforter and I was so dead tired! All day we were looking at mines, the lizard incident mentioned below happened the same morning. Anyway, I had my backpack with a change of clothes and my tooth brush, and a pile of linens for my bed and showering needs. "Hello?" I called into the darkness.  No answer. "Excuse me?" I called a little louder, but still no movement from the person in my bed.  I knocked on the door loudly and repeated "EXCUSE ME!" And STILL no answer.  I decided it was pretty pointless to continue so I wandered around the house trying to come up with a place to sleep.  I checked the other rooms and one even had an empty bed with no blankets.  I decided this is where I could stay for the time... and I hoped to god no one would come home and find me in their room... even if they did, I could pull a Snow White and clean the place.  All this time I was madly texting Kevin: "Oh my god! There's someone in my bed! What do I do? He's not answering me!" and Kevin's texting: "Wake him up, the guy's probably piss drunk passed out in the wrong bed." 


Well, no one came home that night, I was asleep in a bed that wasn't mine but I was happy because I was sleeping.  I had to be at work at 7:30 so I had to get up early.  Around 6:30 I'm dozing and about to wake up when someone comes waltzing into the room. He screams! I scream! We both scare the living shit out of each other. A couple  apologies later I find out that I'm sleeping in his bed. And he was sleeping in mine, yes... piss drunk passed out in the wrong bed, thank you Kevin for calling it, how ever did you know? He admitted that he liked to drink (and judging by the other very distinct odor coming from the living room he also likes to dabble in illegal drugs) but not to worry... he cleaned my room for me, even vacuumed! His name is Erik by the way, and he is the crew supervisor for the group cleaning hiking trails. Ah if only he cleaned the kitchen... or the bathroom. Guys are dirty, sheesh! Anyway, got to work at 7:30 only to discover that I don't work until Monday, and not only am I the only one at the office, I missed out on precious sleep. I got some ArcMaps completed though, I put in a few hours hoping to also use the internet for a while. Turns out I don't even need to go into the office, I have internet at the house, contrary to what Chris told me before I moved in.  Do we also have cable?? I haven't checked yet. 


My other roomies don't come back until Monday (all guys, all slobs judging by the mess in the bathroom) but once I meet them maybe I will write another entry! I'm improving the house bit by bit, I cleaned the bookshelves, added a little girly flare to the bathroom, and bought a microwave.  How the hell did these boys survive without a microwave??? Well, no fear, I have everything taken care of, and I got paid! Did I already say that in my last entry? Well I might have mentioned it, but I'm very happy about that.  And I'm very happy that my bank account will be back where it should be in a month, and am VERY happy that it's a good possibility that I will surpass my $5,000 savings goal for the University of Leicester.  Still haven't heard back from them... except that they thought I was Reshanne.  Actual email, word for word:


Dear Jana, 

I have received your application for the MSc in Museum Studies.
I note that you have been offered and accepted a place for Psychological Research Methods MSc at this University, so I presume you want to withdraw your application for our course. Please confirm. 

Thanks 

Christine Cheesman

And my shrewd reply: 

Dear Christine,

No, I did not apply for the Psychological Research Methods MSc, my sister did. Please do not withdraw my application. Bitch, I don't want to be career-less because the University can't tell the difference between the name "Reshanne" and the name "Jana."

Sincerely, 

Jana, JANA Reeder

Anyway Tom, I hope you're happy.  That's 2 whole posts just for you! And you have to admit this was a good one; Area 51, a drunk guy sleeping in my bed, going to work on the wrong day, the University mistaking me for Reshanne... yes, it wasn't a bad post at all, savor the moments! peace out for now