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

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

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.