The Antarctic blog was long overdue for an update. I took it upon myself to do so. It has lots of good information about the next trip!
http://antarctica-ncsu.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Busy Busy
Well I am living up to my reputation. Negotiating how my time is spent is particularly challenging at this time of year and I am trying my best to keep up with everything. This past Saturday I had a doctor's appointment at 830am, house chores and laundry, an ultimate game in Holly Springs at 2pm, attended a Christmas party with my friends parents in Durham from 5-7, attended a game night with some ultimate coed teammates from 8-10 in N. Raleigh, and was supposed to go to a cocktail but by the time I got back to my house I just didn't have it in me don cocktail attire and pull together a dish and beverage to contribute. Instead I went downtown and spent some much needed quality girl time with my best friend Shelby and some other fine ladies. And that was just Saturday.
So to rewind a bit. Thanksgiving was wonderful. With each year, it becomes more precious than the last. It is a time of year where I set obligation aside.. rest.. and come back to the things that truly matter. I always end up reflecting on where i've been and what i've done since the last November. The family, the food, the Manhattans, the vegetation is absolutely essential for my soul.
I passed all my classes. My talk to the department went well. I've never worked harder or been stressed more in my entire life. I've grown more as an adult and as a professional than any period in my entire life. I'm in deep, and I love it. Without describing details you will probably glaze over, things are falling into place (and because everyone keeps asking me) after working my tail off this upcoming summer, I hope to be graduated this time next year. At this point I have been at sea 78 days since February of 2008 and tack on an extra 10 days or so in port and in transit and you can see how it might take me a little longer than the typical 2 year masters degree.
46 days until I leave for the next Antarctic cruise.. lots of work to be done but i'm very excited.
Will update more soon.. I am late to something as I write this.
So to rewind a bit. Thanksgiving was wonderful. With each year, it becomes more precious than the last. It is a time of year where I set obligation aside.. rest.. and come back to the things that truly matter. I always end up reflecting on where i've been and what i've done since the last November. The family, the food, the Manhattans, the vegetation is absolutely essential for my soul.
I passed all my classes. My talk to the department went well. I've never worked harder or been stressed more in my entire life. I've grown more as an adult and as a professional than any period in my entire life. I'm in deep, and I love it. Without describing details you will probably glaze over, things are falling into place (and because everyone keeps asking me) after working my tail off this upcoming summer, I hope to be graduated this time next year. At this point I have been at sea 78 days since February of 2008 and tack on an extra 10 days or so in port and in transit and you can see how it might take me a little longer than the typical 2 year masters degree.
46 days until I leave for the next Antarctic cruise.. lots of work to be done but i'm very excited.
Will update more soon.. I am late to something as I write this.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Delinquent in my blogging
I'm sorry, I have been a terrible blogger. SCHOOL IS KILLING ME : (
I am done for the most part, I am done teaching, done with most class assignments, but still have 3 presentations to give. I spent an entire week working day in, day out on a research proposal, sleeping on an average of 3 hours a night. I managed to get it finished but no where near to my satisfaction. Oh well.
New York was wonderful. Idina was fabulous. We were literally front row center. It was the last concert of her tour so she was very relaxed and ran around the small theater greeting all of her fans. While i'm in no way in the catagory of one of her super fans, I think she has amazing talent and she puts on a fabulous show.
As a side note, while I was leaving the parking lot, I came across one of her back up singers, Sharon. She was trying to get to the PATH train, so I offered her a ride and she willingly accepted. IMAGINE! I took someone who performs with the star of Rent and Wicked to the PATH train in my back seat. The connection is really quite silly, but none the less, I find it exciting. This is how close we were:
Anyway, this weekend is full of fun. Had the thanksgiving dinner for my co-ed ultimate team tonight. I'm playing ultimate in Winter League tomorrow. I have a surprise birthday party to attend and then a camp out, and then sunday our house is hosting our annual Thanksgiving potlock! I am so excited this year because a lot of friends will be coming from out of town!
I will do better with the blog once school is over.
Notes of interest:
-One of my dearest friends Ashley Parker Waugh will be coming home with her husband Donal Waugh, over Thanksgiving so I will go to Emerald Isle on Saturday the 29th to visit them. Her husband is a pilot in the United States Air Force, currently stationed in Enid OK, and will be heading to survival training in preparation for station in New Jersey and subsequent deployment to Turkey.
- I will be working at the chocolate factory again. But you thought I said I wasn't working there again. Well, I bargained. I said i'd work if they paid me time and a half. So they upped my base pay to the max they offer and just said whenever I wanted to come back that is what my hourly pay would be. I said... you gotta deal!!! I mean.... after 4 years of employment and promotion to a shift manager I only saw a total of 50 cents raise. My demand upped my pay by 2.25 an hour.. which is the max salary they offer. They are wonderful people, but it is about time I was paid adequately for the work I do.. and I guarantee they will see a more cheerful employee!
- And as per request, I am still looking for my photos of whales, which I do have, but until then, here is a picture of penguins!!! I will do another update with info about the antarctic trips soon.
Love you all.. until next time <3
I am done for the most part, I am done teaching, done with most class assignments, but still have 3 presentations to give. I spent an entire week working day in, day out on a research proposal, sleeping on an average of 3 hours a night. I managed to get it finished but no where near to my satisfaction. Oh well.
New York was wonderful. Idina was fabulous. We were literally front row center. It was the last concert of her tour so she was very relaxed and ran around the small theater greeting all of her fans. While i'm in no way in the catagory of one of her super fans, I think she has amazing talent and she puts on a fabulous show.
As a side note, while I was leaving the parking lot, I came across one of her back up singers, Sharon. She was trying to get to the PATH train, so I offered her a ride and she willingly accepted. IMAGINE! I took someone who performs with the star of Rent and Wicked to the PATH train in my back seat. The connection is really quite silly, but none the less, I find it exciting. This is how close we were:
Anyway, this weekend is full of fun. Had the thanksgiving dinner for my co-ed ultimate team tonight. I'm playing ultimate in Winter League tomorrow. I have a surprise birthday party to attend and then a camp out, and then sunday our house is hosting our annual Thanksgiving potlock! I am so excited this year because a lot of friends will be coming from out of town!
I will do better with the blog once school is over.
Notes of interest:
-One of my dearest friends Ashley Parker Waugh will be coming home with her husband Donal Waugh, over Thanksgiving so I will go to Emerald Isle on Saturday the 29th to visit them. Her husband is a pilot in the United States Air Force, currently stationed in Enid OK, and will be heading to survival training in preparation for station in New Jersey and subsequent deployment to Turkey.
- I will be working at the chocolate factory again. But you thought I said I wasn't working there again. Well, I bargained. I said i'd work if they paid me time and a half. So they upped my base pay to the max they offer and just said whenever I wanted to come back that is what my hourly pay would be. I said... you gotta deal!!! I mean.... after 4 years of employment and promotion to a shift manager I only saw a total of 50 cents raise. My demand upped my pay by 2.25 an hour.. which is the max salary they offer. They are wonderful people, but it is about time I was paid adequately for the work I do.. and I guarantee they will see a more cheerful employee!
- And as per request, I am still looking for my photos of whales, which I do have, but until then, here is a picture of penguins!!! I will do another update with info about the antarctic trips soon.
Love you all.. until next time <3
Monday, November 3, 2008
Calendar for the coming months
November 8-9th: New York/New Jersey for Idina Menzel show with Shelby
November 25: Home for thanksgiving
December 5th: Seminar Presentation at NCSU, last day of classes
*Possible trip to Alaska again.. possibly San Francisco
January 7th: First Day of classes
February 6th - March 20th: Last Antarctic Research Cruise
*Earlier departure possible - contingent upon plans for hiking Patagonia
Stay Tuned for updates
November 25: Home for thanksgiving
December 5th: Seminar Presentation at NCSU, last day of classes
*Possible trip to Alaska again.. possibly San Francisco
January 7th: First Day of classes
February 6th - March 20th: Last Antarctic Research Cruise
*Earlier departure possible - contingent upon plans for hiking Patagonia
Stay Tuned for updates
My Mission Statement
Every good enterprise has one, right? Well hopefully this will be a successful one.
I have started this blog to keep my family and friends up to date on current events in my life. The passions I pursue (graduate school, my career, friendships, ultimate, music) have taken me from the lower 48 to Alaska, to South America, and down to Antarctica. And I feel the adventures are only just beginning. I hope this will be an accessible reference for those (mainly family members) who wish to know where I am and what I am doing, as I often fall short of informing you all myself.
The picture on the blog header is the mountain range in Denali National Park as I drove from Anchorage up to Fairbanks Alaska at the beginning of this year, January 2008. There are a number of adventures that I have already had that have played an important role in making me who I am today. I will also post about these past events from time to time.
To my Family: Maintaining this blog to help you keep up with my life is an honor that you serve me. Thank you for always caring enough to ask about what is going on in my life. Now it's my turn to make it easy on you.
I have started this blog to keep my family and friends up to date on current events in my life. The passions I pursue (graduate school, my career, friendships, ultimate, music) have taken me from the lower 48 to Alaska, to South America, and down to Antarctica. And I feel the adventures are only just beginning. I hope this will be an accessible reference for those (mainly family members) who wish to know where I am and what I am doing, as I often fall short of informing you all myself.
The picture on the blog header is the mountain range in Denali National Park as I drove from Anchorage up to Fairbanks Alaska at the beginning of this year, January 2008. There are a number of adventures that I have already had that have played an important role in making me who I am today. I will also post about these past events from time to time.
To my Family: Maintaining this blog to help you keep up with my life is an honor that you serve me. Thank you for always caring enough to ask about what is going on in my life. Now it's my turn to make it easy on you.
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