relief

today was one of the biggest days at my job - it was our annual Advisory Group meeting, where a bunch of land managers from around the region get together and we tell them what we've been doing for the past year and they tell us if we're doing okay and what we can do better. My boss is a very detail-oriented person, and she takes this meeting very seriously, so the past couple of weeks have involved a lot of intense data analysis and data checking, making arrangements, and making a pretty powerpoint. the group is about 25 people, all of whom i'm pretty sure are smarter than me and i am positive have more experience both with natural areas management and with POC than me, so it was a bit intimidating to stand in front of them and tell them about the data analysis i've been doing. at the same time, it was gratifying because i apparently explained it well, as they didn't have too many questions, and since they're smart, they understood what i was talking about.

then we had a nice party for Lara and Marcello, the Australian couple who have been working for the garden for the past 6 years, because they're going back to Australia tomorrow - it's a pretty sad time for the garden, as they are very much loved - they and their two sons, one of whom just turned 1 and is always around. he is an incredibly adorable baby, with huge pouty lips - the first baby i ever held, and he helped me get over my fear of babies. i will miss him.

it is snowing again, and supposed to snow at least a couple of inches tonight. i think i will go for a walk just to hear the snow.