graduation

[the only masters students in our cohort to make it out by Spring]

 [the mountain I live on. and our backwards hoods...]

[would not have made it without this guy]

I am officially a Master of Science in Geography!

Grad school was hard, fun, stressful, fast, and intense, and I have seen myself grow up over the past 2 years.

I started this little blog to keep in touch with my family as I moved across the country to enter the Geography program at Penn State, and I will keep on chronicling the unknown life adventures to come (chronicle= one of those words that looks weird if you stare at it for a while). Part of me can't believe I am officially "done" with this step but a bigger part feels relieved and proud of myself! This has been a spring of major exciting changes, and I can't wait to find out what happens next! (aka, job....???)

p.s. Academic Regalia is ridiculous.

p.p.s. Thank you for all the sweet words on our engagement! Unfortunately the Great Blogger Crash deleted some of your comments but I have them saved in my email :)

Seattle spring

 Flowers at Pike Place Market

 The Seattle aquarium in Puget Sound

 

 Colors at the Olympic Sculpture Park

 

 The Experience Music Project museum

 Views from a run to the top of the city

A secret garden in the hillside neighborhoods

I spent last week in Seattle as part of a national geography conference. The city was everything I imagined: amazing food, even more amazing coffee, cloudy skies, Pacific mist, and an amazingly casual urban vibe. Love the city, don't love the climate. I'll say I liked the weather though; it's very refreshing and much better than the dense overcast/pouring rain/ice/snowstorms of central Pennsylvania. It was a fun week and a great chance to catch up with friends and undergrad professors after the thesis maelstrom of the past couple months, and I can't wait to go back someday to explore a little more and make trips over to the rainforest and mountains. 

Now that I'm back at school, but with the purpose of my life (thesis) complete, I am at a strange limbo-esque stage and trying to juggle the new more relaxed schedule of my life back into a semblance of balance. I am not as excited and proud of myself for finishing my thesis as I probably should be. The stress and worry of finding a job is kind of overwhelming for now. 

However, (despite random lingering 40* days) spring is here, my birthday is next week, I am a diploma away from being a Master, and the future will work itself out.

almost done

I'm back, and as promised it is (sort of) spring, stress levels are slowly receding to normal, and my thesis is in the home stretch. It has been basically approved by my adviser and committee, and everything will be submitted by Monday. Yesssss!

To say that I am excited to be done with grad school is a big understatement. I am pretty burned out with school. Going straight from undergrad to grad school is maybe not the greatest idea ever, although it has worked out. Writing this thesis has been the most challenging accomplishment of my life so far, but I am happy with how everything turned out, and I'm glad to be done before the weather gets too nice out!

Speaking of which, is anyone else suffering from this extended winter? Like, seriously. Enough with the snow!!

Anyway, I am looking forward to getting my life back on track, since this thesis has become my identity and sole purpose of existence while everything else has been left behind in the meantime.

On Tuesday I'm headed to Seattle for a week to present my research at a national conference. 

Any tips on what to do in Seattle in early April?

The weather there looks just as gloomy as the weather in central PA. (Did you know that Central PA is the only mini-region in the eastern states with the same climate type as the Pacific NW? Except the NW is mostly spared the horrendous ice and snowstorms, and they get bigger mountains, lucky them.)

More pretty pictures, recipes, and happy posts to come!

taking a break

Yeah. I'm going to be absent for the next month while I lose my sanity, play with fire and finish up my THESIS!
Le Blog is going to have to take a backseat to the greater things in life.

I'll be back when I am calm, happy, and stress-free.

(and when it is springtime, my faaaavorite season!)

random week

[my bulletin board!]

Wow this week went SUPER FAST!

I hope you've survived the blizzard! I am so sick of seeing everyone's snow statuses and photo albums on facebook. Yes, the Midwest got 2 feet of snow. You don't need to spend 20 photos documenting your car and shoveling adventures and cluttering my newsfeed with it.  [Family pics excepted ;) ] 
Maybe I'm just bitter that all we got in PA was a few inches of freezing sleet and rain that has turned our snow base into a frozen block of slush...

Tonight I have a headache, am on the way to eating cereal for dinner, and still have lots of work to do.

On the bright side,

Obama came to my school today! I didn't get to see him but it's cool to know he was only two buildings away from me. The funniest thing is that I have a bumper sticker that says "Renewable Energy is Sexy" that I got from an energy convention like 4 years ago (environmental studies nerd!), and he basically quoted it  ("Now, improving building efficiency may not sound too sexy until you realize that our homes and businesses consume 40 percent of the energy we use..”). Okay maybe that's not funny at all, but the president was quoted saying sexy in a speech. Trying to relate to college students much?

I am very glad and thankful that we have a president who is dedicated to education, youth, and green energy.

I know lots of people don't agree with him, but honestly the Republicans could not be doing anything better.

On another note, every Friday afternoon my department has a colloquium series called Coffee Hour.
We take it verrrry seriously and first year slaves grad students are required to make h'ordeuvres and posters. (And are graded for it. And sent threatening emails when the food isn't up to par. NOT even joking)
Well, tomorrow we are doing a mini TED talk style presentation with the physical geography grad students, including moi! I am excited to share my research, especially since I finally have an idea of what I'm actually supposed to be doing. Hopefully I can make it coherent in my allotted 4 minutes...
It is even going to be webcast, so if you are bored at 4 pm ET tomorrow, feel free to watch from this link :)

Stay warm!

hello, 2011

 

 [scenes from New Years in my family's basement]

Here we are, already into the second week of the new year.

Seriously???!!!

I feel like 2011 is going to be a happy one.

I am definitely happy to be back in my little cozy cave apartment, after a nerve-wracking drive back across the Midwest from IL to PA. We had our own personal blizzard cloud literally tracking us along the entire stretch of I-80, which was not being plowed or salted. Ugh I am SO scared of driving in snow and ice. 

Ben has moved into his very own apartment, since my place is way too small for two people. I spent the weekend deep-cleaning and organizing all the stuff that hasn't really been moved since I arrived here in August 2009. It feels amazing to have a clean, semi-organized space. 

This week I am starting my last semester of grad school, which is kind of scary but exciting at the same time. I haven't made any official New Year's "resolutions" but I do have some goals that I would like to accomplish, as well as goals that I HAVE to accomplish (or else!!), including

-finish thesis ...a second category goal

-present thesis at the AAG's (geography conference) in Seattle

-maintain a clean and organized space to live and work

(including cleaning the kitchen every night)

-sew a cute gym bag

-start running regularly again

-blog more recipes

-apply for jobs (aaaaa!!)

-land an amazing job in a fun place to live

-MOVE and start life in the "real world"

If anyone has connections to someone who would like to hire a biologist/geographer specialized in fire ecology, resource management, forest dynamics, and many other things please let me know...

I am trying to project self-confidence, optimism, and excitement towards all the unknowns coming up in my life this year, and not stress out too much.  I can't wait to find out what my next step will be, and am so grateful to have Ben with me to keep me grounded and happy. Bring it on, 2011. I am ready for you.

yosemite

 

While I was out in the field this summer

(field: -noun, the mystical place where physical scientists conduct their research in the off-season)

we took a weekend off to roadtrip down to Yosemite National Park.

Yes, this place is as glorious as it looks in pictures.

(although the pictures never show the hordes and hordes of tourists and vacationers, but what do you expect from one of the most famous parks in the world)

The park itself is massive, but the most well-known and photographed part is the valley, where the Merced River has cut through the granite outcrops and meanders through meadows and woods.

There are endless trails to explore, but since we were limited to only one full day, my glory-seeking guys made the master plan to hike Half Dome. Fifteen miles, 4800 ft elevation gain, no biggie. HA. 

I am so happy to have had the chance to be conditioned for this hike (the previous six weeks of daily high elevation hiking allowed us to make it in less than half the recommended time..woo!)

It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, but definitely the hardest physical challenge I have ever experienced.

We took the Mist Trail, which passes by Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. 

The mist is not so welcome when you are headed up in the chilly dawn air, but by the time we were heading down in the heat of the day the thought of making it back to the mist was probably the only thing keeping me going!

 This is Vernal Falls. The trail is mainly an enormous staircase cut into the sheer granite, going around and up over the falls.

 Nevada Falls, the second waterfall on the mist trail. By the time we reached this point the sun was coming up over the mountains and making rainbows in the mist.

 

[just looking at this picture makes my legs ache]

Most of the trail goes through the woods and is gorgeous, until you reach the final ascent of death up the bare rock. My legs were falling off my body after 7+miles of huge granite stairs. To be honest, there were parts where it felt kind of like Frodo's death march to Mt. Doom.

BUT the views are worth it!

 Once you reach the flat sub-dome area, you are greeted with this:

HALF DOME!!! dundundunnnnnn
 Yes, those are people. Climbing up the cables to get to the top of the dome.

Confession: by this point I was dizzy from the sun, my legs were dead beyond any point of death they had ever experienced, and all I wanted to do was collapse and inhale a pb and Nutella sandwich.

So I didn't attempt the cables, and I do NOT regret that decision. I don't think another couple hundred feet make the view any different.

It's kind of scary how they let anyone climb up to the top, regardless of age or physical ability!

 I can't wait to go back to Yosemite and camp for at least a week or two to explore the other trails and parts of the park. I can see myself hiking Half Dome again, but it is not one of those things where you forget about the pain when it is said and done and are left with only the exhilarating memories. I definitely am going to have to let a little more time pass before I destroy that mountain again. 

i did it!

My first year of grad school is OVERRRRRR!!!

I am so. excited.

Tonight I've been cleaning up the wreckage of the past several days.

Laundry, kitchen, books and articles...

This is what it takes to write two research papers and a thesis proposal:

(note pencil to add scale to the stack of ARTICLES in the righthand corner! I READ THEM ALL!!!)

I have come so far this year and have learned so much.

It's ridiculous. My brain is too full. I can't look at the world the same way anymore.

This year has gone fast, I guess, but it's definitely been long. I was so busy this semester in my own little scholarly bubble that I feel like I kind of missed out on spring! Where did this warm weather come from???

It's been a great school year, but definitely full of changes.

Moving all by yourself halfway across the country is hard!

Good changes though.

I don't know how I would have handled this transition without Ben. It has been indescribably wonderful to have him only three hours away, to be my boyfriend, best friend, and family all-in-one out east. And knowing that he is only a drive away to be there for me has saved my sanity. I can say this with certainty because last year I lost it.

I have grown up this year. A little bit :)

When I read my journal from last year, I can barely recognize myself. In a bad way. My senior year of college was successful on the outside, but emotionally and mentally shitty on the inside. 

I was dealing with a long distance relationship, internship + 2 on campus jobs, too many hard classes and activities and responsibilities, AND trying to figure out my life and apply for grad school. 

On graduation day all my friends were freaking out, but I felt the biggest sense of relief that I have ever experienced, like a huge black cloud I'd been enveloped in all year was being blown away, and I was finally free to move on with my life.

And moving on has been amazing.

So if you are still in college, struggling to grasp with the scary concept of graduation and the real world, know that life doesn't end after you put on that robe and walk across stage trying not to fall in your little heels. Yes, you will miss your best friends desperately and have beautiful bittersweet memories, but the world goes on and will offer you great opportunities if you are brave enough to take a chance. It is scary, and it is hard, but it is so worth it.

Life is just beginning.

the world needs more magnolia trees

My favorite thing about college campuses are the FLOWERING TREES!

Unfortunately they are already starting to drop their petals, and it's not even May! Freaky weather.

I had a great birthday on Monday, and am now stuck in paper purgatory.

aaaaaaaa

I am looking forward to being DONE and sunny relaxing fun weekends coming up so soon!

But for the next week I will be stressed and frantic and will probably drop off the face of the earth.

That's just the way it goes.

right now

It is pouring rain.

I am faced with a ridiculous amount of work to get done this week.

My birthday is tomorrow but I really miss my family and friends and feel a bit alone.

I'm trying to keep looking on the bright side.

So here is a little list of things that make me happy right now.

-a weekend with Ben! even though these weekends are always too short.

-eating fudgey chocolate cake with sprinkles right out of the pan

-getting a food processor from the best boyfriend in the universe (!!!!!) I am so excited about this. I feel like my life has changed forever with so many new food opportunities opened before me...seriously. Even though I know I am probably the only person ever who would love to get a food processor for their birthday. ;)

-hanging out with ridiculous friends who wear brown velour jumpsuits, plaid pj pants with olympic hockey jerseys, American flag headbands, and have talented hockey-playing sisters who bring their silver medal when they visit so their brother's friends can play with it.

-finally seeing the end (though still too far away) of this blasted long-distance thing. I am sick of saying good-bye all the time. 

-downloading crazy mash-ups 

-knowing that I will be DONE with my first year of grad school in 10 crazy stressed-out sleep deprived days.

For better or for worse.

earth day

Happy Earth Day !

I celebrated by going for a mid-morning run in the sun

(that was kind of an energy zapper...)

Working on fire scar data (from trees) for a climate project

and also on my nature reserve paper

I am exhausted.

If you are in the mood for some earth-ish chill folky music,

you should check out Patchouli

Julie and Bruce are amazing people. 

Back in my college environmentalist days we would get them to play an outdoor concert at the end of Earth Week.

As we tie-dyed shirts with dye that we convinced the art department to give us for free.

Oh, the days.

p.s. I put wayyyy too much chili powder in the chili. That I still have like 5 servings left. oops. But it is still edible. I know this because I have eaten it four times this week, and have survived.

narcissus sunset

When the sun sets it slants across my front yard and lets a tiny bit of light into my cozy cave apartment.

I like coming home to all the flowers glowing.  My landlords are from Alaska; when they moved here they let their suppressed inner-gardener selves go wild and planted up the whole front yard and backyard with vegetables, herbs, and flowers. I think I convinced them to string lights in the walnut tree over the picnic table in the front yard for amazing al fresco dinners. [Yes, I have the best landlords ever. Yes, we are probably "those" neighbors.]

I am so happy that things are starting to grow again!

The front yard is looking like a Breck's advertisement. The only thing missing is a Dutch flag flying in the background...

I like Wednesday nights because I finally have a chance to relax and breathe after the mad-dash stressful rush of the first part of the week.  I'm starting to get that spring-induced calm that everything will work out.  Even when there seems to be way too much work to fit into the last four weeks of the school year,

It will always all get done.

Keep that in mind if you feel like you are losing it :)

So I'm just trying to appreciate the blast of warm hot weather we've been living through lately.

Even if it is maybe a bit TOO hot and dry.

I love opening windows and smelling fresh air indoors.

And taking outdoor lunch breaks.

Hello, freckles!

and then in the sunshine I couldn't stop exploring so I ran on

Today I escaped the lab and went for a late morning run, that turned into an adventure as soon as I decided to go down a trail instead of turning around and then ended up in the middle of nowhere on a farm...

But I made it back to the baby Arboretum at Penn State, which I've been meaning to explore for a while.  The botanical gardens are going to be gorgeous in a few months (right now everything is much more brown than my digitally enhanced photos), but I'd give the arboretum, oh, a couple of decades. Right now it is just an empty field with random little saplings planted in the middle of the grass.

I love this weather. But it is destroying my school focus. C'est la vie.