I’m trying to remember how to write. Did I ever really know how to write? It’s Spring, or that’s how it feels. It’s been sixty degrees the last few days and sunny and wonderful and the world smells of warm, muddy, earth. The lilies on the porch have started poking small green shoots through the dark soil and Ash and I have been going for walks around the lake with the pups almost daily. Even on cloudy days like today, the weather is just beautiful. The sky over the Smokey Mountains is dark but it’s mountains and that’s enough to make me happy. I have been feeling that familiar itch in the back of my ears and the tips of toes – the itch to race around the yard with the dogs and revel in the warm sun of a new Spring.

Life is good.

I’ve decided to go with designcoyote.com – it’s simple, easy to remember, says exactly what I do, and retains my identity (which ties it back to snailbird.com). And it looks good too. Most importantly (I think), I feel good about it. I think that’s enough justification, don’t you?

It’s bad when I’m sitting in a room full of people and I’m the only one to laugh at the “Java applet” joke on The Big Bang Theory. I think that just proves the fact that I’m a complete nerd. That and the fact that I really like this show and it reminds me too much of my interests back in high school. I like to think I’m a lot cooler than I used to be. Though I still laugh at the idea of “Friend-making booths” at ComicCon. (And actually agree that they’d make a fortune doing it).

“Uh oh. He’s stuck in an infinite loop.”

Hi. I’m Nikki. I think lichen is one of the most interesting structures on Earth. I mean come on, fungus and algae coming together to form a symbiotic relationship and growing in places that are almost entirely impossible for anything else to exist in? My favorite genus is Ramalina, or fruticose lichens, because they can grow cool-looking alien landing pads and British soldiers. Seriously. Lichen? Coolest stuff on Earth.

OKAAAYYYY THEN. That’s the end of that little trip into Geekville.

I’m already missing Austin. We’ll be back soon, I know, but I still miss it. There was just always so much to do and warm and wonderful. I love the mountains here, but it’s also been raining the last few days and it will continue to rain for the next few days and I’m bored of being stuck inside.

Thank goodness for WoW. Ash made herself a new Belf Hunter so I ran my Glenwyn (Belf Lock) out to Silvermoon to help her level. While there, I also got my first mount, with many thanks to Meg for lending me the gold to accomplish this task. I’m really liking the new stuff that Blizzard has put into the game. The calendar is awesome and displaying the achievements makes me feel more successful (and makes me want to keep playing – definitely something Blizzard thought out carefully, I’m sure). I got WotLK for Christmas but I haven’t installed it yet – I figured I’d just wait till I got high enough for it to really matter.

At some point today or tomorrow we need to go out to the pet store so I can pick up some hoppers for Kendi. We’re looking for jobs too, though from what I’ve seen in the papers and online there’s really nothing. I might end up heading over to Staples since they seem to have some positions available. Though that’s definitely not what I was hoping for. I miss my old job. That reminds me though, I have to update my resume.

Ash is currently working on an in-depth post on our adventures over Christmas break, so I’ll tweet that when she’s done. Apparently she’ll breaking it up into several different posts so you’ll have to continue reading it over the next few days. Speaking of Christmas, here’s the list of goodies I racked up:

From work: Tons of Candy, a set of cards, a puzzle, offers for references
From Ash’s work: A really sugary good-bye cake when we left
From my parents: A pair of PJs, The Daily Coyote by Shreve Stockton, WotLK Expansion pack, Childrens Writer and Illustrated Market book, candy, earphones, crayons, a sketchbook, socks, Flogging Molly CD, Great Big Sea CD, Kingdom Hearts Remix, Far From Home, There’s a Nightmare in my Closet by Mercer Meyer, Dark Whispers by Bruce Coville, some gas money
From my Oma and Opa: $15
From my Aunt Rosemary and Uncle Bob: $50
From my cousin Eric: his annual mix CD
From my cousin Randy and his wife Kelly: Not sure, it’s still in the mail
From my Grandma: Her annual $2 bill
From Ash’s mom: hand-knitted hat and scarf, The Idiot’s Guide to Children’s Book Publishing, Stitch n’ Bitch book, some yarn (I kind of stole it), a remote control Dragonfly copter
From Ash’s Ricky Daddy: $50 (and he took us out for a lot of meals)
From Ash’s Teddy Daddy: Lots and lots of meals that he took us out for
From Ash’s Grandma and Grandpa: $20, a t-shirt from North Carolina, a beautiful Asian dinnerware set
From Ash’s Uncle Bo and Aunt Jen: What’s your Dog Thinking book
From Ash’s Grandma and Grandpa Niels: candy, a cool LED flashlight, blank greeting cards
From Ash’s sister Courtney and her husband Harry: $15 giftcard to Target

Ash and I have not exchanged our real presents to each other yet since the one she got me is still in the mail, but I did give her the Journey MP3 player I bought her, a pair of Coca Cola boxer shorts (she collects Coke stuff), a car adapter for her MP3 player, season two of Charmed, and I got her a used Okami game for the PS2 but her mom bought her a new one so we’re gonna go exchange the used one for another game (woot!). She gave me a How to talk Southern Dictionary (I got a lot to learn) and while we were in Texas we went to the Disney Store (I’ve never been there) and she bought me a giant stuffed Eeyore. He’s so super soft and great to cuddle with. I can’t remember if I’ve missed anything. It was a great Christmas this year – better than I ever thought it could be.

I also loved celebrating New Year’s in Austin. I honestly cannot wait to go back. One of my favorite things? Yep:

I was excited to see cacti. There is some in central Wisconsin, but it’s all small stuff and dies fast and it not at all nearly as impressive as the stuff here. It was everywhere! I think I surprised everyone by not getting hurt when I ran up to them to get my picture taken. I got my picture taken with palm trees too, and lichen, but I don’t think either of those are as fun as cacti. There are few people who honestly understand and relate to my nerdy fascination with lichen. It’s cool, okay?

Anyway, I’m either going to go play WoW, knit, or watch some TV. Who knows. I love the rain, but I want to go outside and play basketball. I hope it clears up tomorrow. Ta.

I’ve completely dropped the ball on this whole blogging daily thing, but I hope that you can all forgive me since I’m on vacation. I’ll be back soon.

Texas is amazing and wonderful and beautiful. Yesterday we spent the whole day out at Ash’s grandparents’ ranch and I have never seen a sky that big and open before. It was almost overwhelming (but in a good sense). We ended up taking the utility cart out to the end of the property (they have 100 acres) and exploring this really old oak forest that has a creek running through it. I spent much of the time just running because I could (cold-induced asthma? Haha, I laugh in the face of cold weather!) and Ash took pictures (which I have yet to upload). I met all of her family, got along wonderfully with everyone (especially her aunts and grandpa) and ate tons of food. I think we’re going back out there later today and I can’t wait (I can’t think of anything to add in parentheses – I fail).

We haven’t gotten a chance to explore the city of Austin yet, but I hope we do. I want to be a total tourist and take tons of pictures. I love it here. I honestly cannot wait until we move here. I love Tennessee and the mountains and that will be perfect for us for six months, but this little preview of Texas has excited me. I understand why all of Ash’s family loves it here and why her mom wants to come back. It’s just beautiful.

I haven’t been keeping up with any news or politics or anything that’s actually worth blogging about, so you’ll have to deal with my personal vacation crap until we go back, which will probably be on Friday. Hope everyone is having a good end of 2008. I can’t believe how fast 2009 is creeping up.

Scary.