Winding Down

This is so weird.

Today it officially hit me how fast graduation day is approaching. I have one more day of classes-- Wednesday-- and then it's time to study for finals. Wowza! Unlike a lot of my other friends, I haven't had the whole experience of thinking, "This will be my last final ever..." This is simply because of grad school at Iowa State.

There have been some exciting developments since I last posted. I have officially gotten my first apartment that is not through school housing. This is an exciting opportunity. I have also signed my contract with Iowa State, so now I feel like I'm REALLY going somewhere.

I have also gotten information from the DNR [Department of Natural Resources] regarding my summer position. It looks like I'm going to be having a ton of fun at different state parks, learning a lot, and just enjoying each day as it comes! I have the opportunity to take a few cool workshops, such as Archery and another that involves looking at wild plants and determining which ones are EDIBLE. That's a nice survival skill!!

Well-- a few hours of data analysis, a chemistry write-up, 1 paper, and 2 finals later... I'll be done. That's a really weird feeling.

April Showers bring... Snow?

The other day, I was driving with my friend, and we were talking about the saying, "April Showers Bring Mayflowers...". I was so excited for April to come. I was getting ready for the warm weather, back to t-shirts and flip flops, sitting out on the quad, doing homework in the sun... 

Except, I woke up on April 1st to snow. 

But no biggie, right? It all melted the next day. Winter just has to get one more storm in before going out right? Bring on the sun!

Yesterday, April 5th: 6 inches of snow in Ames, IA, where I was visiting. 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

Well-- if you want to come to Iowa, just be prepared for the crazy weather. Quite literally, it was sunny and cloudless when I left Cedar Rapids for Ames. Once I got to Ames, the weather switches suddenly from sunny to dark skies and rain. I fell asleep, and in the morning, I opened the shades to my window and saw a picturesque Christmas scene. Large flakes were coming down, covering the trees, the ground was covered in white...I even started humming the song, "Oh, the weather outside is frightful.. but the fire's so delightful!.. And since we've no place to go... Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"

Except, it's not Christmas. It's April. 

Presidential Ball, 2009: The Pros, the Cons, the Memories

Well, there it went: my last Presidential Ball of my career at Coe College.

Presidential Ball is an annual ball that the President hosts each year. Last year, it was cancelled and replaced with Campaign Kickoff, in hopes of raising more money for Coe's endowment. This year, it returned.

Presidential Ball is by far my most favorite dance of the year. This is mostly because of the type of music and the atmosphere that is present. For a portion of the ball, the Coe Orchestra Band plays; for another portion, the Coe Jazz Band plays; and for the final portion, Dr. Carson's Jazz Band plays for the remainder of the night. Rugcutter's, Coe's "dance" club (teaching swing, salsa, ballroom dancing, etc), gives lessons for those interested weeks before the dance. It's a great time.

This year, there were a few 

changes. Only Dr. Carson's Jazz Band played for the first half. The second half consisted of a student DJ; which is fine... But there was certainly something different. Coe's Presidential Ball always appealed to me because of the bands and the black-tie formal event. It was classy. Though I understand trying to reach out to the younger crowd a bit more, a certain element was lost by cutting the band portion short... too too short.

However, during that first half, I had a BLAST! I opened the night with a dance with my boyfriend-- sadly, the only dance we got in that night, but that was because we hadn't realized the jazz band was to be cut that short. Then, while my alumni boyfriend mingled with old friends, I danced with an old friend whom had been one of my first Residents when I was a Resident Assistant. Cory is now a junior and the head of Rugcutters. Because I love to dance but have no grace whatsoever, he is a great person to dance with because he can lead like no other! And is very patient, which is a good thing for me...

We took a picture at the end of the night, and I had to compare it to another picture we took at a dance in the past. It made me realize: Wow... I'm growing up, and this is the end of my dancing days at Coe. 

Sniff. 

Sophomore year....

Today... or I guess, 3 days ago. Wow, we've changed. And I look aged. Yikes.

Needless today, I ended up being an old geezer, and leaving at 10:30. But that was because the music changed. Kinda like your life... hm. That might have been a little deep. :-)

I'M GOING TO BE A CYCLONE!!!

Hi folks!!

So, guess what happened over break? Guess what happened to yours truly?

I GOT INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL!!!

It gets even better! I got into graduate school at my

 NUMBER ONE choice, with my NUMBER ONE preference for a mentor!! This is awesome!! So, once I graduate from being a Coe Kohawk, I am moving on to be an Iowa State University CYCLONE! 

Going from this... 

 to this...I am going to be studying in the field of Environmental Science, particularly Natural Resource Ecology and Management. So far I am looking at how perennial vegetation affects soil and water quality in riparian buffers. The research reminds me a lot of what I did at Coe with my advisor, Marty St. Clair. I performed water quality research under the direction of Marty for the Iowa USGS (US Geological Survey) and the Iowa DNR. 

Spring break was a little more exciting as a result. I attended the Iowa Water Conference at ISU, where I listened to the importance of maintaining adequate resources for stormwater, as well as the different types of research going on in relation to water quality and stormwater management. The next day, I visited Bear Creek with my soon-to-be advisor, Dr. Tom Isenhart. It's really interesting because the different riparian zones and buffers that I will be working with were actually created and planted (tractor and everything) by Dr. Isenhart and his colleagues. I guess what fascinates me about this is that there is often the stereotype that scientists just work in a lab, keep it clean, don't just go out and plant a field. No.... we get our hands dirty, too, and that's what I love about this field!

Also-- I quit my job at Lone Star Steakhouse! I realize this may be bad publicity, but working for the restaurant was draining. Talk about a dysfunctional atmosphere.... I'm not saying this about all restaurants!!-- Just Lone Star. I am now a substitute at a day care in town, a temporary job until I start my job with the DNR this summer.

The rest of break was nice as well. I got to spend time with three people that I love to waste my time with (and when you're having fun, who says you're wasting time?): my mother and little sister this past weekend, and the boyfriend. :-) 

Well, that's the update on my life. Stay tuned for an exciting post soon to come: PRESIDENTIAL BALL!! I can't wait!

I have officially failed Spring Break

Well... that's it. I've failed to have a single college Spring Break.

This year I was pretty determined to go somewhere for Spring Break. For those who are aware of the typical college spring break, usually one of two things happen: (1) you go south, find a heavily populated beach with beautiful, and never remember anything about it because you're usually inebriated 24/7, or (2) you go on a service trip and do something good. 

Well, number 1 definitely didn't appeal to me because-- well, I'm not a drinker, and sometimes people get bored with me because I get bored with the situations-- sitting on a beach for days doesn't appeal to me (one or two days might be okay). I want to be DOING something-- rock climbing, hard core biking through a scenic trail, splunking caves, etc. Number 2 is more appealing, but call me selfish: I want a vacation.

Except: I've failed. This year, I'll be chilling at Coe, working at the restaurant, catching up and getting ahead in homework, etc. 

For the past three spring breaks, I always went home. For one, I was spontaneously kidnapped by my boyfriend and friends on my birthday and taken back to Iowa to get some last-minute snowboarding in-- that was probably my most random, exciting spring break.

This year, though, I shall be going out with an anti-bang. I mean... homework? Work? COME ON....

Yeah. I'm lame. Sorry. 

Ps. It's my goal to raise enough money to get an SLR camera, though. That way my blog can be more exciting because I will finally have more pictures!!!!

My Life is No Longer Interesting

I am realizing that my life is probably not as interesting as one would wish, reading this blog. It seems like everyday is like the last: I get up, go to classes, work in the Writing Center, go to work at Lone Star Steakhouse, come home, hang out with the roomies, do homework, go to bed. Repeat. 

It's not that these are the ONLY things going on in my life. It's just that the majority of the time that's what it feels like. I cannot believe how monotonous it is. In the past, I would have a crazy week, such as running to do a sound event on Monday, working telecounseling Tuesday, doing a coffeeshop series on Wednesday, maybe an RA event on Thursday, going to a comedian on Friday, maybe a movie or party on Saturday, and then cooking a fun dinner on Sunday with the boy. 

That's only a taste of what my life would be. Every week it was a TOTALLY new, random set of events depending. Now... wow... I've decided that this semester has taught me that I need a job/career post-graduation that isn't the same-old, same-old every day. Good thing I applied to grad school (DEAR GOD, PLEASE LET ME GET ACCEPTED!!!!) and in the field of environmental science. Every day will be an adventure!

If not, I can be an ear model:

Yep... that's my ear, with one of a pair of $700 earrings. Aren't they pretty? No, I did not get to keep them. But the feeling was nice for a while!

New Haircut= New Beginnings

Last Monday I took a plunge: I got a haircut. But not just any haircut; I got BANGS.

Let me tell you, it's amazing how a new haircut can change people's attitudes towards you and your outlooks/approaches. People loved the new haircut. I was unsure, mostly because it took a little getting used to. But now that it has been over a week, I'm kind of digging the new look. It makes me feel a bit more confident as well in my appearance. So ladies, if you ever feel like you need a booster, get a haircut.

Last Friday I also attended an open house at Iowa State University for gradaute school. Talk about INTENSE and eye-opening! It was good that I had attended; it really made me do some reflection about what I TRULY wanted to do in the world. I had already known what field and what I generally wanted to do within environmental science. But the biggest question I came out with was, "Do I want to apply my knowledge in ecology (that studies 'why things are') or in environmental science (in which I identify the problem and try to fix it)?" I'm not sure, but it really made me think! I'm stuck, because in a way... I want to do both!

But the trip there was very enjoyable. I was able to meet with mentors I had already visited and meet some more amazing faculty and students. Basically, I knew there was a reason that ISU was my top choice. Cross fingers for getting accepted!!!

I'll have a picture of the new haircut up soon... when my camera finally has working batteries!

Stay warm! We are! (for about 2 days...then back to frost and snow.... darn)

Life's Hectic, and I Miss my Friends... Oh, and I got a Job (or two)!

Here we are.... the last semester. I've been in school for about two weeks, and from the time delay, you can see how busy it has been. It's okay, I've dedicated every Wednesday night/Thursday morning at 12:30 AM to write on this blog; because that is actually when I find time.

You would think that I would take it easy my final semester at Coe, my senior year... technically, I did. I took three courses and took classes that would pertain to my career (all science), but that I felt were a much more manageable load than previous semesters. Essentially, I'm done with classes and Writing Center commitments by noon everyday. 

Then I got it in my head to get an off-campus job to make some extra cash before I graduated before the semester is over. Well, I took a job at Lone Star Steakhouse, just down the road. Mind you, I've never been a waitress before. I had QUITE the eye-opener to the food industry. I swear I walk about 6 miles a day (AT LEAST!) with that job. So now I work dinner hours and come home exhausted. Anyone who visits, please make sure to leave nice tips... :-)

But that is not the job we should be excited about; last week I received a call from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A very wonderful woman asked for an interview regarding a program I was interested in, the Trailways Program. Long story short, I got the job! This is just a summer job, but it's a DREAM job... for me, at least. 

This job entails going to Iowa State parks throughout the summer and maintaining/creating trails in the state park. It's a lot of physical work, but what attracted me to the job was (1) the prospect of creating a network in the DNR since I want to go into an environmental science career, (2) the environmental ethics discussions at night, and (3) I CAMP ALL SUMMER LONG!!! How cool is that? To live in a tent for ten weeks amongst nature?! I'm pretty excited; like I said, it's not everyone's cup of tea. But it is an opportunity of a lifetime for me. 

Which brings me to the memories of past camping trips, with my closest friends. Many of my friends that I 

hold dear to my heart have either graduated or are currently abroad. By the time I see most of those in my class again, we'll be walking across a stage and saying our goodbyes. So this semester is slightly harder not having a lot of the people I love around me, and having the knowledge that I might not have them this close tome ever again. However, I need to remember that we're all growing up, and, hopefully, going to on to live our lives as we hoped we would. Until then, I'll miss them.

Happy 2009, and by the way, it's FREEZING in Iowa, and I'm sick!

Hello all!

Happy 2009! I know all the economists in the media say that it's going to be a hard year, but hopefully the year will bring you joy and happiness regardless!

This will be a relatively short post seeing how I'm getting dreadfully sick. Since I wrote last week, I have completed (almost) 2 of the books on my list that I had planned to read this winter. Eragon was very interesting... I now have to read Eldest to find out what comes next. And I am one chapter away from finishing The Hidden Messages in Water. It's a very interesting book, I recommend everyone read it. We are all composed of about 70% water, and it show the effects of words on water, and thus, how we would respond to certain words (since we are 70% water). It is a means on how to live one's life. And it has a lot of pretty pictures, which makes it all the more interesting. 

I'm currently in northeast Iowa, and we've just had a terrible winter ice storm. It's also very cold, which makes me nervous since it's only JANUARY. I'm scared for FEBRUARY and early MARCH, when the winters are MOST AWFUL. But come hell and highwater, somehow I still manage to love Iowa despite it's terrible winters. 

This winter is causing me to get a little cold though. Time to down the Vitamin C. 

And on that note, it is way past a sick girl's bedtime. Until next time, good night!