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!!!!