Reeeal quick, as it is just about 7 and I need to get on home to let Jakers out and feed him and maybe squeeze in a walk, etc.:
Yoshi is officially at the Toshiba hospital and is most likely getting prepped for surgery (Repair in-progress as of 5pm or so...and he's in Kentucky, so whatever time it is there...I could have looked it up, but yeah, well...I didn't, sorry kids!). I'm like a nervous mom over here!! Ok, not really at all, but it is way fun to hop onto the Toshiba site and type in a slew of numbers and find out almost exactly what they are doing with good ol' Yosh.
Today has been a pretty solid Monday, in a good way. Got into the lab a little early (love it) and got some stuffs done before class. Then headed off to evolution for the good ol' Hardy-Weinberg lecture...9th grade bio, anyone?? It was a nice review, none-the-less.
After class I met up with SW and we FINALLY got to sit down and chat. We went to Mim's, this awesome Mediterranean place just across the street from campus, and grabbed some lunch and just visited. Nothing too official, at this visit, just us catching up and getting to know each other more. I've missed having her around...she's lovely, and I just enjoy her. We'll get together again Friday morning for our conference call with the other research labs working on this grant with us and hopefully sit down and talk about some of the questions and issues I've run across in her absence.
Well, reader loves, that's about all I can give you for now. Love yas lots.
I way miss talking to y'all Skypers...SOON!
Shalom!
~MW
Monday, September 27, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Welp...this is it...
Yoshi's box arrived the other day, but I wasn't able to pick it up until today, as I generally leave before our complex office opens (which is where the UPS guy deposited Yoshi's cardboard ambulance) and get home after it closes...this is an issue. So, since I don't have class 'til 10:40 on Wednesdays, I stayed home a bit later than usual so I could go pick up my package from the office. It was nice to see Mike again - it's been a while - and we had a nice little chat for a few minutes. He cracks me up...he definitely has my back if I need him - very good to know :)
So, now that I have the box, I have to get it off in the mail. I was going to wait until Monday, but upon opening the box and reading the shipping instructions, I discovered that I have to get the box (with Yoshi inside) back to them within a certain amount of time, or else my case number will expire and that would create quite the suckfest. So...I'm sending him away tomorrow. Which means, oh how it pains me to say it, I won't have him for the rest of this week, the weekend, and probably most, if not all, of next week. Depressing, to say the very least. This is going to make for some LONG days/nights up at the lab...I'm probably going to have to come home in the evenings, spend some quality time with Jakers, grab some grub, and then head back to the lab to finish homeworks and the like. Lame.
But, this week is going pretty well, all things considered. It's a touch lonely as of yet, but I deeply enjoy visiting with MC. She's wonderful and we just "click." Such a blessing. We had one of the sweetest visits Tuesday morning after class. We went off and found a little table we could sit at under some lovely trees and visited for probably a good hour and a half. I've missed having chats like that with all of you back home. Phone and Skype dates are one thing...but that personal, one-on-one interaction is just something that can't be substituted.
There isn't much else to report, to be honest. Oh! Except that I got new baby locks for my cabinets: Tot Loks ROCK! I came home today and my cabinets were not open and there was no trash strewn around my kitchen. Lovely :)
Well, I know this is short, but I need to get back to the homework...I still have a good 60 pages of reading to do for class tomorrow. Neat.
Lots of love!
Shalom!
~MW
So, now that I have the box, I have to get it off in the mail. I was going to wait until Monday, but upon opening the box and reading the shipping instructions, I discovered that I have to get the box (with Yoshi inside) back to them within a certain amount of time, or else my case number will expire and that would create quite the suckfest. So...I'm sending him away tomorrow. Which means, oh how it pains me to say it, I won't have him for the rest of this week, the weekend, and probably most, if not all, of next week. Depressing, to say the very least. This is going to make for some LONG days/nights up at the lab...I'm probably going to have to come home in the evenings, spend some quality time with Jakers, grab some grub, and then head back to the lab to finish homeworks and the like. Lame.
But, this week is going pretty well, all things considered. It's a touch lonely as of yet, but I deeply enjoy visiting with MC. She's wonderful and we just "click." Such a blessing. We had one of the sweetest visits Tuesday morning after class. We went off and found a little table we could sit at under some lovely trees and visited for probably a good hour and a half. I've missed having chats like that with all of you back home. Phone and Skype dates are one thing...but that personal, one-on-one interaction is just something that can't be substituted.
There isn't much else to report, to be honest. Oh! Except that I got new baby locks for my cabinets: Tot Loks ROCK! I came home today and my cabinets were not open and there was no trash strewn around my kitchen. Lovely :)
Well, I know this is short, but I need to get back to the homework...I still have a good 60 pages of reading to do for class tomorrow. Neat.
Lots of love!
Shalom!
~MW
Monday, September 20, 2010
A fresh week!
Salutations! (Charlotte's Web, anyone??)
This week is seeming to be off to a better start (yes, I am well aware that it is only Monday...)! Yesterday, other than the botched attempt at trying a new church (all I'm saying is that the street I was supposed to turn onto does not exist...it's just not there...I drove around for 20min trying to find it and it simply was not there...stupid FT streets...hmph!), was a rather productive day!
I ran a ton of errands (including grocery shopping - best experience yet!) and did a ton of cleaning around the apartment - my desk is no longer a heaping pile of...well...crap. Everything has now been filed away and has it's very own appropriate place in my new home (all of the, "hmmm...not sure what to do with you - I'll deal with you later" things ended up on top of my desk - it was more than awful.). So, that was quite the accomplishment! I cooked some stuffs for my dinners and such after all of the errands (we'll get to all of that in a moment) and cleaned my crazy trashed kitchen that followed that project. I love my kitchen right now - it's gorgeous, I'm just sayin'.
But, errands! Oh the adventures running errands brings. Though not completely successful, they went pretty well. I am still in serious search of Moleskines...my life kind of depends on them. Yes, I am well aware that I can simply purchase these little life essentials online from Moleskine directly...but the I have to wait. Y'all, I'm down to like 4pages in my last cahier!!! I just might die. I'll try not to, but I make no promises. Anywho, aside from my Moleskine search being a bust I got a lot of other stuff done that I needed to!
I went to Target and got the drain baskets I've been needing to get so that I no longer am looking down gaping holes when I take a shower or brush my teeth...I no longer have to fear dropping my Aggie ring or my earrings or something, either. Whew! I also picked up a few things I'd been needing to get for my cubbie in the lab so I can actually settle-into it. Like school supplies!!!!!!!!!!
I got a trashcan and a board and some peg-board peg/hook thingys so I can store some stuffs in my cubbie - like my ladybug from Mika, my butterflies from Momma, pictures of my peeps, verses to keep me sane in the world of evolutionists/athiests/agnostics/etc...you know, the stuff of life :)
I got a lovely new pot (and some potting soil, or course) for my ground orchid, so I could re-pot her and hopefully be rid of those blast scale insects!! Ugh, they gross me out...yes, I just said that a bug grosses me out. These little buggers are just plain mean, though! They infest my beautiful, beautiful orchid, that I've had for over a year now and has given me two absolutely lovely blooming events, and they suck the life out of her!! How incredibly rude!! She does, however, have a lovely new shoot growing - gives me hope that she'll pull through alright.
Picked up a little something "for" Jakers...CHILDPROOFING LOCKS FOR MY CABINET DOORS! In case you haven't heard, he's taken to opening the cabinet under my sink and pulling out my trash can and throwing my trash around everywhere...lovely. So, to remedy the situation I decided I'd childproof my cabinets. With some help from the neighbor I got them all installed last night.
I was so proud of my defeating the war. I left for campus this morning with an extra spring in my step, as I was 100% certain that I was going to come home to a kitchen that did not have trash thrown around it. I walked through my door all excited to see my "well behaved" puppy dog and not have to scold him, and what do I find, but a cowering puppy dog. I'm thinking, "what on earth could you have done that you know you are in trouble??" I make the turn out from my entry way into the kitchen and see the cabinet door open, the trashcan on the floor, my trash bag across the kitchen...and the childproof lock? Totally and completely snapped off. He was so determined to make a mess that he actually broke the lock. As frustrated as I was/am, I gotta hand it to him, that's some serious determination, and I mean, ok, in all honesty, it's pretty funny...CRAZY DOG! So...all you parents out there: what childproofing ticks do you have for those, errr..., way strong chil'ins you have/had running around..??? I'm thinking the magnetized ones, where you have to use the magnet to unlock the door?? Thoughts?
Ok, I had probably the best grocery shopping experience, yet. I went...to...TRADER JOE'S!!! And, my dear readers, it was positively glorious. Ten times more exciting than the day I first set foot in Rainbow. Oh, my heavens, it was just beautiful. I can't do all of my shopping there (it's just too expensive for some things, and they don't have absolutely everything...), but it's nice to have, none-the-less. I may or may not have splurged a bit...I got way good meats (including, but not limited to lovelies like prosciutto!!) , and eggs, and cheese, and yogurt, and umm...jasmine rice, and, and, and!!! And, then I went to Rainbow to get things like PopTarts...convenience still wins on some days...I did get my real coffee from Rainbow, though...Organic Coffee Co., how I have missed you :)
This week is seeming to be off to a better start (yes, I am well aware that it is only Monday...)! Yesterday, other than the botched attempt at trying a new church (all I'm saying is that the street I was supposed to turn onto does not exist...it's just not there...I drove around for 20min trying to find it and it simply was not there...stupid FT streets...hmph!), was a rather productive day!
I ran a ton of errands (including grocery shopping - best experience yet!) and did a ton of cleaning around the apartment - my desk is no longer a heaping pile of...well...crap. Everything has now been filed away and has it's very own appropriate place in my new home (all of the, "hmmm...not sure what to do with you - I'll deal with you later" things ended up on top of my desk - it was more than awful.). So, that was quite the accomplishment! I cooked some stuffs for my dinners and such after all of the errands (we'll get to all of that in a moment) and cleaned my crazy trashed kitchen that followed that project. I love my kitchen right now - it's gorgeous, I'm just sayin'.
But, errands! Oh the adventures running errands brings. Though not completely successful, they went pretty well. I am still in serious search of Moleskines...my life kind of depends on them. Yes, I am well aware that I can simply purchase these little life essentials online from Moleskine directly...but the I have to wait. Y'all, I'm down to like 4pages in my last cahier!!! I just might die. I'll try not to, but I make no promises. Anywho, aside from my Moleskine search being a bust I got a lot of other stuff done that I needed to!
I went to Target and got the drain baskets I've been needing to get so that I no longer am looking down gaping holes when I take a shower or brush my teeth...I no longer have to fear dropping my Aggie ring or my earrings or something, either. Whew! I also picked up a few things I'd been needing to get for my cubbie in the lab so I can actually settle-into it. Like school supplies!!!!!!!!!!
I got a trashcan and a board and some peg-board peg/hook thingys so I can store some stuffs in my cubbie - like my ladybug from Mika, my butterflies from Momma, pictures of my peeps, verses to keep me sane in the world of evolutionists/athiests/agnostics/etc...you know, the stuff of life :)
I got a lovely new pot (and some potting soil, or course) for my ground orchid, so I could re-pot her and hopefully be rid of those blast scale insects!! Ugh, they gross me out...yes, I just said that a bug grosses me out. These little buggers are just plain mean, though! They infest my beautiful, beautiful orchid, that I've had for over a year now and has given me two absolutely lovely blooming events, and they suck the life out of her!! How incredibly rude!! She does, however, have a lovely new shoot growing - gives me hope that she'll pull through alright.
Picked up a little something "for" Jakers...CHILDPROOFING LOCKS FOR MY CABINET DOORS! In case you haven't heard, he's taken to opening the cabinet under my sink and pulling out my trash can and throwing my trash around everywhere...lovely. So, to remedy the situation I decided I'd childproof my cabinets. With some help from the neighbor I got them all installed last night.
I was so proud of my defeating the war. I left for campus this morning with an extra spring in my step, as I was 100% certain that I was going to come home to a kitchen that did not have trash thrown around it. I walked through my door all excited to see my "well behaved" puppy dog and not have to scold him, and what do I find, but a cowering puppy dog. I'm thinking, "what on earth could you have done that you know you are in trouble??" I make the turn out from my entry way into the kitchen and see the cabinet door open, the trashcan on the floor, my trash bag across the kitchen...and the childproof lock? Totally and completely snapped off. He was so determined to make a mess that he actually broke the lock. As frustrated as I was/am, I gotta hand it to him, that's some serious determination, and I mean, ok, in all honesty, it's pretty funny...CRAZY DOG! So...all you parents out there: what childproofing ticks do you have for those, errr..., way strong chil'ins you have/had running around..??? I'm thinking the magnetized ones, where you have to use the magnet to unlock the door?? Thoughts?
Ok, I had probably the best grocery shopping experience, yet. I went...to...TRADER JOE'S!!! And, my dear readers, it was positively glorious. Ten times more exciting than the day I first set foot in Rainbow. Oh, my heavens, it was just beautiful. I can't do all of my shopping there (it's just too expensive for some things, and they don't have absolutely everything...), but it's nice to have, none-the-less. I may or may not have splurged a bit...I got way good meats (including, but not limited to lovelies like prosciutto!!) , and eggs, and cheese, and yogurt, and umm...jasmine rice, and, and, and!!! And, then I went to Rainbow to get things like PopTarts...convenience still wins on some days...I did get my real coffee from Rainbow, though...Organic Coffee Co., how I have missed you :)
I think I found my new favorite thing to substitute for ice cream...soooo good, and it doesn't make me want to die!!
Ok, so what all did I make as far as dinners and things go?? I made some more jambalaya for last night's dinner and I'll probably make the rest of the week on it, if I can control myself and not keep eating the chicken spaghetti I made....it's just so good! And, I haven't made it in forever, and I like it. And it's cheesy, and it has Rotel in it so it reminds me of home, and it has Rotel in it...did I mention the Rotel??? K, as long as we are clear on that ;)
JAMBALAYA!!!
JAMBALAYA!!!
CHICKEN SPAG!! Pre set stage.
Well, my loves, here I sit with my vanilla honey chamomile tea, and I am thinking it is about time I get to getting ready to settle-down for the evening. I love you all, and I hope you've enjoyed this more up-beat post :)
Shalom & Blessings!
~MW
Shalom & Blessings!
~MW
Saturday, September 18, 2010
A few questions....
....because I do not have enough brain power to fuel a full-blown post today, but I feel you all deserve something, since this week has seen some of Miss Willow's not so merry adventures...
That pretty much sums it for the moment. Off to clean and cook (?) I go.
Love, love, love you, readers.
Shalom,
~MW
listening: to some Straylight Run, Safetysuit, and the like on Pandora... (Pandora = best invention ever, especially when all of your music is currently chillin' on your external harddrive, as you wait for your lappy's ambulance to get here and take it away...)
eating: nothing as of yet, but contemplating what I should make for dinners...pastas maybe? I really should go grocery shopping.
drinking: some lady grey tea, mmmm :)
wearing: Jesus Whoop! A&M T-shirt + jeans + socks (it's cold up here today)
feeling: a touch conflicted, but somewhat relieved - God is so in control and I can rest easily in that promise. Our timing is not always in line with His, and that's ok.
thankful: that my life has been blessed with so, so many beautiful friends to keep my spirits up, and listen to me when I need to talk, and pray for me when I need prayer, and tell me like it is when I'm not seeing things clearly, and encourage me at just the perfect time with just the perfect scripture or piece(s) of wisdom. I love y'all.
weather: chilly and breezy...crisp, one might say...hello FT fall :)
watching: Jake's breathing while he sleeps...those are some deep breaths there, puppy-wuppy!
wanting: to be finished with my M.S. so I can be back in Texas - I miss it...and my people.
needing: to tidy up, read, grocery shop, work, sleep.
needing: to tidy up, read, grocery shop, work, sleep.
thinking: about this mess of a week, my beautiful friendships, what being a grad student really means (...having no life, how's that for toning it down, Katy?? Lol.)
enjoying: my research...it's overwhelming, but I like it; having a dog...he frustrates me at times (like when he opens my kitchen cabinets and pulls out my kitchen trash can and strews the trash around), but I love him
wondering: when BigBoy will forgive me for bringing a dog into our home...I miss cuddling with him on the couch and watching him patrol around making sure everything is up to his standards; why I decided spending the next three years in the FT was going to be a good idea (Heavenly Daddy, remind me of your providence and omnipotence...I need reassurance from you that this is where YOU have me for a reason that is yours and not my own.)
enjoying: my research...it's overwhelming, but I like it; having a dog...he frustrates me at times (like when he opens my kitchen cabinets and pulls out my kitchen trash can and strews the trash around), but I love him
wondering: when BigBoy will forgive me for bringing a dog into our home...I miss cuddling with him on the couch and watching him patrol around making sure everything is up to his standards; why I decided spending the next three years in the FT was going to be a good idea (Heavenly Daddy, remind me of your providence and omnipotence...I need reassurance from you that this is where YOU have me for a reason that is yours and not my own.)
That pretty much sums it for the moment. Off to clean and cook (?) I go.
Love, love, love you, readers.
Shalom,
~MW
Questions were lovingly stolen from my darling rhum (absolutely cannot wait for our rendezvous come October!!!) over at The Humphrey Happenings.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
So very blessed
Ok kids, this has been kind of a rough week, for those of you who I haven't spoken to via phone, skype, gchat, or in person...oh, wait...about that last one...
Not only has it been a full week in the realm of being a brand new grad student, in a brand new place (where it's already getting chilly!!), starting new classes, and taking on a brand new research project (that will last for a good 3 years...can you say overwhelming?), but I've been thinking about a lot this week. I've been thinking about life and where I am at on that time line that is specific to me. I've been thinking about all of the adjustments am in the middle of. I've been thinking about "home," and what "home" actually means. I've been thinking about friendships and how much they mean and how they change as time passes, etc. I've been thiking about family, and the point at which your friends truly do become your family. I've been thinking about timing and how it can be such a fickle thing. To be completely honest, I've been thinking about quitting. Of course not entirely in seriousness - I didn't move across the country to quit...I'm just tired and I miss Texas and the way of life I knew and came to love there, not to mention my people, and my church. I still don't understand why God has me here. I really don't want to be here...I mean, I want to be here doing what I'm doing, but I don't want to be here. Yes, I have absolutely met wonderful people since I've been here and I think some lasting friendship may be forming, but it's still not the same, and it never will be the same as what I have in Texas. My spirit is tired...I need a hug, or rather a slew of hugs from my best friends. People don't really seem to hug here...it's weird and just the tiniest bit depressing.
But, with all of that said, I have been incredibly, incredibly encouraged this week. God has blown my mind with how He has demonstrated to me that He knows exactly what I'm going through and that He hasn't forgotten about me, and that He's taking care of me through the people He has so richly blessed my life with.
This week I think I have had more phone calls, text messages, emails, facebook comments/messages, etc., etc. than I've had in a while. And they have all been just wonderfully caring and loving and encouraging. One of the things I've been most discouraged about since the move is my church situation, or lack thereof. I got one of the most incredible comments on the blog regarding that this week. Helped me regain my perspective on this whole sort of mission...quest...thing... And then, I make my way over to Katy and Kahler's blog (Who I'm linking-up with!! Never linked-up before. Yay for new adventures in the blogging world!) to catch up with them (sorry for the slacking the last few days, Katy...) and I see God's incredible providence in their life...even in and amongst the TIA moments (and there have been some good ones lately!). And then I get these somewhat out of the blue emails from a number of people, most of whom I do not know super well, and they are all checking up on me, or are just a nice "hello," or what-have-you. God, is so, so good.
Other ways I have been encouraged this week have been through the building-up of new friendships here. MC (the gal who's a Quaker) and I have had some way fun little chats throughout the course of the week, and I really like her. She's playing "mom" to her prof's kiddos the next week or so while he and his wife are off on vaca, so we can't really "play" this weekend or next, but I love getting to visit with her in classes and in passing in Hodson. She is absolutely delightful. Can't wait to start hanging out with her outside of school/work. Also, JW (another gal in my cohort...she came in with her hubs - they are so freaking cute! Got their master's together and now they're getting their PhD's together...way presh.) and I decided that we need to go shopping together to start stocking up on winter clothes. She and her hubs are from the PNW so they know winters and snow like I'm used to from Nor-Cal...it's not the same kind of winter and snow that they have here...at all. So, we are gonna go try to hit-up some sales and check out Plato's Closet and the like. Plus, she's probably the trendiest, cutest little thing I've ever seen, so this is looking good for me - I can always use some help in the fashion world.
God is so good. Life is life. School is school. I. Am. Tired. But overall, when I look at the big picture, thing's are going pretty well. So as I sit here sipping on my chai latte (thanks, Momma!) and typing this to you all, my dear dear readers, I can honestly say that, though still adjusting to this new thing called being a grad student and living in the FT, I am happy and blessed. My heart is uplifted by the love you all and so many others have shown me this week. I pray you are all well and blessed and content in the Lord.
Happy almost weekend!
Shalom & blessings,
~MW
P.S. - Yoshi the Toshiba (and no, he is not named Yoshi because he's a Toshiba...he's named Yoshi, 'cause he was/is my favorite Mario character) will be sent off to the Toshiba doctors next week. His little box, which I like to think of as his very own personal ambulance, should be here to pick him up on Saturday or Monday. Once he has made his way to the Toshiba hospital it should take about a week for them to fix him up and get him back on his way to me. I am so not looking forward to being without him next week...it's gonna suck, that's all there is to it. As mentioned previously, I'll try to stay a little late at the lab and do some blog updating from there...no promises, but I will try my hardest. On the bright side, though, Toshiba is covering Yoshi's medical bills - WHOOP!
P.P.S. - I got my prayer partner from church back home today!!! So pumped :)
P.P.P.S. - In case you missed it earlier in this post, I'm linking-up with Katy over at to the ends of the earth. Check 'em ooout!
Not only has it been a full week in the realm of being a brand new grad student, in a brand new place (where it's already getting chilly!!), starting new classes, and taking on a brand new research project (that will last for a good 3 years...can you say overwhelming?), but I've been thinking about a lot this week. I've been thinking about life and where I am at on that time line that is specific to me. I've been thinking about all of the adjustments am in the middle of. I've been thinking about "home," and what "home" actually means. I've been thinking about friendships and how much they mean and how they change as time passes, etc. I've been thiking about family, and the point at which your friends truly do become your family. I've been thinking about timing and how it can be such a fickle thing. To be completely honest, I've been thinking about quitting. Of course not entirely in seriousness - I didn't move across the country to quit...I'm just tired and I miss Texas and the way of life I knew and came to love there, not to mention my people, and my church. I still don't understand why God has me here. I really don't want to be here...I mean, I want to be here doing what I'm doing, but I don't want to be here. Yes, I have absolutely met wonderful people since I've been here and I think some lasting friendship may be forming, but it's still not the same, and it never will be the same as what I have in Texas. My spirit is tired...I need a hug, or rather a slew of hugs from my best friends. People don't really seem to hug here...it's weird and just the tiniest bit depressing.
But, with all of that said, I have been incredibly, incredibly encouraged this week. God has blown my mind with how He has demonstrated to me that He knows exactly what I'm going through and that He hasn't forgotten about me, and that He's taking care of me through the people He has so richly blessed my life with.
This week I think I have had more phone calls, text messages, emails, facebook comments/messages, etc., etc. than I've had in a while. And they have all been just wonderfully caring and loving and encouraging. One of the things I've been most discouraged about since the move is my church situation, or lack thereof. I got one of the most incredible comments on the blog regarding that this week. Helped me regain my perspective on this whole sort of mission...quest...thing... And then, I make my way over to Katy and Kahler's blog (Who I'm linking-up with!! Never linked-up before. Yay for new adventures in the blogging world!) to catch up with them (sorry for the slacking the last few days, Katy...) and I see God's incredible providence in their life...even in and amongst the TIA moments (and there have been some good ones lately!). And then I get these somewhat out of the blue emails from a number of people, most of whom I do not know super well, and they are all checking up on me, or are just a nice "hello," or what-have-you. God, is so, so good.
Other ways I have been encouraged this week have been through the building-up of new friendships here. MC (the gal who's a Quaker) and I have had some way fun little chats throughout the course of the week, and I really like her. She's playing "mom" to her prof's kiddos the next week or so while he and his wife are off on vaca, so we can't really "play" this weekend or next, but I love getting to visit with her in classes and in passing in Hodson. She is absolutely delightful. Can't wait to start hanging out with her outside of school/work. Also, JW (another gal in my cohort...she came in with her hubs - they are so freaking cute! Got their master's together and now they're getting their PhD's together...way presh.) and I decided that we need to go shopping together to start stocking up on winter clothes. She and her hubs are from the PNW so they know winters and snow like I'm used to from Nor-Cal...it's not the same kind of winter and snow that they have here...at all. So, we are gonna go try to hit-up some sales and check out Plato's Closet and the like. Plus, she's probably the trendiest, cutest little thing I've ever seen, so this is looking good for me - I can always use some help in the fashion world.
God is so good. Life is life. School is school. I. Am. Tired. But overall, when I look at the big picture, thing's are going pretty well. So as I sit here sipping on my chai latte (thanks, Momma!) and typing this to you all, my dear dear readers, I can honestly say that, though still adjusting to this new thing called being a grad student and living in the FT, I am happy and blessed. My heart is uplifted by the love you all and so many others have shown me this week. I pray you are all well and blessed and content in the Lord.
Happy almost weekend!
Shalom & blessings,
~MW
P.S. - Yoshi the Toshiba (and no, he is not named Yoshi because he's a Toshiba...he's named Yoshi, 'cause he was/is my favorite Mario character) will be sent off to the Toshiba doctors next week. His little box, which I like to think of as his very own personal ambulance, should be here to pick him up on Saturday or Monday. Once he has made his way to the Toshiba hospital it should take about a week for them to fix him up and get him back on his way to me. I am so not looking forward to being without him next week...it's gonna suck, that's all there is to it. As mentioned previously, I'll try to stay a little late at the lab and do some blog updating from there...no promises, but I will try my hardest. On the bright side, though, Toshiba is covering Yoshi's medical bills - WHOOP!
P.P.S. - I got my prayer partner from church back home today!!! So pumped :)
P.P.P.S. - In case you missed it earlier in this post, I'm linking-up with Katy over at to the ends of the earth. Check 'em ooout!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Today...
...I went hunting for fossils.
You can be jealous...I'll forgive you.
I also got almost all of my art supplies for Scientific Illustration of Insects!! So fun...a wee bit overwhelming (and a touch pricey), but so, so fun! Nibs, India ink, pigma pens, tracing paper, fiskars, exacto knives, ERASERSSSSS (I kind of have a secret love...ok, borderline obsession, with erasers)!!!! The gal who checked me out was way nice and got me set up with a customer's discount card - 10% savings with every purchase!!! WIN! She also welcomed me to the FT and all that jazz. The gal who helped me track down all the supplies (the list was rather lengthy) was way nice, too. Whipped out her very own sharpie to mark things off my list for me as we added the items to the growing pile of gloriousness that was becoming the contents of my basket.
I like Minnesotans. They're fun.
Jakers didn't get his walk today, as it has been pouring cats and dogs since last night...made the fossil hunt in the wetlands extra squishy ;)
Oh! Speaking of the fossil hunt, I decided that it would probably be wise to invest in some rainboots/rubber boots of sorts (this was definitely a good idea...). So I marched myself on over to Target and picked up a way cute pair of houndstooth rainboots - that's right, ladies, houndstooth! I'm slightly in love and really want to wear them with my kickin' houndstooth coat....oooooh, I can see it now! Haha. But, yeah, the boots were a great aid today, as we were often treking through over a foot of muck and mud. I loved it, but I think the little girl who wore her Coach tennies and her bedazzled, yes bedazzled, cotton candy pink hoodie, was a little put out by the whole scenario. Buuut, it was a great release for me to get to romp around in the wil-dy-ness...I've missed it quite a bit. I love digging through mud...especially with my Aggie ring...it's a touch risky, but I just love it (I also wear my rings tightly, so I don't worry too much).
So, today was a busy, long day, but a decent one.
Nighty-night, kids.
Shalom,
~MW
You can be jealous...I'll forgive you.
I also got almost all of my art supplies for Scientific Illustration of Insects!! So fun...a wee bit overwhelming (and a touch pricey), but so, so fun! Nibs, India ink, pigma pens, tracing paper, fiskars, exacto knives, ERASERSSSSS (I kind of have a secret love...ok, borderline obsession, with erasers)!!!! The gal who checked me out was way nice and got me set up with a customer's discount card - 10% savings with every purchase!!! WIN! She also welcomed me to the FT and all that jazz. The gal who helped me track down all the supplies (the list was rather lengthy) was way nice, too. Whipped out her very own sharpie to mark things off my list for me as we added the items to the growing pile of gloriousness that was becoming the contents of my basket.
I like Minnesotans. They're fun.
Jakers didn't get his walk today, as it has been pouring cats and dogs since last night...made the fossil hunt in the wetlands extra squishy ;)
Oh! Speaking of the fossil hunt, I decided that it would probably be wise to invest in some rainboots/rubber boots of sorts (this was definitely a good idea...). So I marched myself on over to Target and picked up a way cute pair of houndstooth rainboots - that's right, ladies, houndstooth! I'm slightly in love and really want to wear them with my kickin' houndstooth coat....oooooh, I can see it now! Haha. But, yeah, the boots were a great aid today, as we were often treking through over a foot of muck and mud. I loved it, but I think the little girl who wore her Coach tennies and her bedazzled, yes bedazzled, cotton candy pink hoodie, was a little put out by the whole scenario. Buuut, it was a great release for me to get to romp around in the wil-dy-ness...I've missed it quite a bit. I love digging through mud...especially with my Aggie ring...it's a touch risky, but I just love it (I also wear my rings tightly, so I don't worry too much).
So, today was a busy, long day, but a decent one.
Nighty-night, kids.
Shalom,
~MW
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sorry...
...for being a terrible blogger/online communicator of late. It's been a whirlwind the last few days, to say the very least.
Let's see...LOTS of work in the lab...plus homework...plus life...geesh, it's been a lot.
Things are going well in the lab.
Classes are, well...classes.
And life, is...life.
I tried a new church on Sunday. It wasn't bad. I just don't know that it's where I'll be calling home. I haven't given up hope on the search for the new church family, but I sure am tired. Thanks for the prayers, y'all. It really means the world to me.
Tonight we had the official departmental "Welcome Dinner" for the new grad students (from here on out I'm just going to refer to my "class" of grad students as my cohort...that's our technical term, and it's much more concise) and our new faculty member. It was fun, though short for some of us, as we had to hustle back to Hodson for our Scientific Illustration of Insects calss (my fav, thus far). The dinner also doubled as a farewell to Dave Ragsdale who is off to no place other than my beloved Aggieland to serve as my alma mater's department head! Ento Ags, y'all are getting a good one - I got to visit with him in March when I came up to the FT for the prospective student welcome thingy, and he's awesome. We've joke about how we are just trading spots...and yes, the joke was made again when the introduced me at the dinner tonight - it was pretty funny. I'm so excited for the Ento Dept at A&M, though. This will be a lovely breath of fresh air, I think.
I'm really missing Aggieland. The place, the people...maroon, Breakaway. Breakaway was held at Kyle Field tonight. Took me back to last year when it first started being held at Kyle Field...it's crazy to me how awesome God's power is. He put one of the largest on-campus devos on Kyle Field, y'all. I mean, really. So, so good. I really miss Breakaway. It was always such a wonderful extra pick-me-up between Sunday and the weekend. I heard God speak in so many ways through Ben and the different worship bands that came to lead us each week. It makes my heart sing just to think about all of those Aggies worshipping our Heavenly Daddy from those beloved three decks of Kyle Field. We had no home and He gave us a place to go.
Currently, Imogen Heap is playing on Criminal Minds...epic. Best timing ever...I was in need of some killer musical talent.
And now, my reader loves, I'm going to get back to the lit reading and head off to bed.
I'll try to work up an epic post for your reading pleasures by this weekend...I know this one is lizame. Again, my apologies.
Shalom,
~MW
Let's see...LOTS of work in the lab...plus homework...plus life...geesh, it's been a lot.
Things are going well in the lab.
Classes are, well...classes.
And life, is...life.
I tried a new church on Sunday. It wasn't bad. I just don't know that it's where I'll be calling home. I haven't given up hope on the search for the new church family, but I sure am tired. Thanks for the prayers, y'all. It really means the world to me.
Tonight we had the official departmental "Welcome Dinner" for the new grad students (from here on out I'm just going to refer to my "class" of grad students as my cohort...that's our technical term, and it's much more concise) and our new faculty member. It was fun, though short for some of us, as we had to hustle back to Hodson for our Scientific Illustration of Insects calss (my fav, thus far). The dinner also doubled as a farewell to Dave Ragsdale who is off to no place other than my beloved Aggieland to serve as my alma mater's department head! Ento Ags, y'all are getting a good one - I got to visit with him in March when I came up to the FT for the prospective student welcome thingy, and he's awesome. We've joke about how we are just trading spots...and yes, the joke was made again when the introduced me at the dinner tonight - it was pretty funny. I'm so excited for the Ento Dept at A&M, though. This will be a lovely breath of fresh air, I think.
I'm really missing Aggieland. The place, the people...maroon, Breakaway. Breakaway was held at Kyle Field tonight. Took me back to last year when it first started being held at Kyle Field...it's crazy to me how awesome God's power is. He put one of the largest on-campus devos on Kyle Field, y'all. I mean, really. So, so good. I really miss Breakaway. It was always such a wonderful extra pick-me-up between Sunday and the weekend. I heard God speak in so many ways through Ben and the different worship bands that came to lead us each week. It makes my heart sing just to think about all of those Aggies worshipping our Heavenly Daddy from those beloved three decks of Kyle Field. We had no home and He gave us a place to go.
Currently, Imogen Heap is playing on Criminal Minds...epic. Best timing ever...I was in need of some killer musical talent.
And now, my reader loves, I'm going to get back to the lit reading and head off to bed.
I'll try to work up an epic post for your reading pleasures by this weekend...I know this one is lizame. Again, my apologies.
Shalom,
~MW
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Grad School Week One: Complete
Wow...what. a. week. (<-- notice the forming trend...?)
It's going to be a crazy semester, that's for sure. I'm a little nervous about it, to be honest. The whole juggling class and spending 50% of my time working on my thesis thing is a little scary for me this semester. But, I think I'll get it and start to figure out how to manage my time with it. It might end up being more along the lines of 60% classes, 40% research...I'm hoping not, but we shall see.
So, what are the highlights since Tuesday??
Wednesday: Aunt June came in town!! It was so fun, she had a layover Wednesday night through Thursday morning, like way early morning, so we got together after my classes! We went to Ruby Tuesday in the Mall of America and had a genuinely lovely time together, as always. She rocks, just in case you were wondering. Definitely blessed to have such an amazing aunt.
Thursday: I got to talk to the pops for a bit after class (read: ~9pm) and that was super great.
Friday: I officially did dissections on my own!! I have no clue if I did it correctly, but I was able to make some sketches of genitalia and whatnot. I think I'm finally starting to get a handle on these critters' morphology! Now if I just need to learn how to slide mount everything and all that jazz. If you want an idea of what dissecting these moths looks like, check out this walk-through video. It's pretty informative, and SW knows the guy who put it together...yay networking!!
Friday was also way fun for a number of other reasons:
1. I have NO CLASSES of Fridays! WIN!
2. We had our ento grad orientation...nothing to thrilling, but good info none-the-less.
3. We had our first hangout with Frenatae!!! Frenatae is our ento grad organization. They took us out to Tugg's Tavern (nothing all that thrilling...but it was a good place to get together) in Minneapolis. We got the department credit card to pay for dinner - WHOOP! - and Frenatae took the tab for our drinks - again, WIN! It was really fun to hang out with our new community of peers and to get to know this year's cohort of entering grad students. Not everyone was there, but everyone who was there was extremely enjoyable :)
Overall, it was an enjoyable, though overwhelming, week.
Today was nice to sort of recoup, regroup, and process the week. I played with Jakers a bit this morning and did some general cleaning around the apartment - always makes me feel better. It was also beyond wonderful to Skype with a number of you today!
I have truly missed having the freedom to have Skype running ~24/7 and pretty much see your faces and hear your voices whenever I wanted. But, emails, gchatting, and occasional evening Skype sessions are sufficing, outside of my now extra special weekend Skype sessions :)
Gah, I so canNOT wait for December!!! I miss your beautiful faces and I'm pumped about getting to spend as much time as possible with you. Parties, shooting, concerts, dancing - it's going to be epic.
Sorry the blogging has been a bit sparse this week....I'll try to do better next week.
Could I implore y'all to pray for me regarding finding a church home? I'm not worried about finding one, but I want to find one soon so I can start getting plugged in and get the fellowship, encouragement, accountability, nourishment, etc., etc. that comes along with being an active part of the Body. Please pray that our Heavenly Daddy will lead me in finding the place He wants me to be while I'm here. I can feel myself beginning to get discouraged, even though I've only been her for 4 Sundays (counting tomorrow)...I simply miss having a church to call home.
Well my loves, with that I am calling it a post and a night. Hope you've all had a blessed weekend, thus far.
Shalom!
~MW
It's going to be a crazy semester, that's for sure. I'm a little nervous about it, to be honest. The whole juggling class and spending 50% of my time working on my thesis thing is a little scary for me this semester. But, I think I'll get it and start to figure out how to manage my time with it. It might end up being more along the lines of 60% classes, 40% research...I'm hoping not, but we shall see.
So, what are the highlights since Tuesday??
Wednesday: Aunt June came in town!! It was so fun, she had a layover Wednesday night through Thursday morning, like way early morning, so we got together after my classes! We went to Ruby Tuesday in the Mall of America and had a genuinely lovely time together, as always. She rocks, just in case you were wondering. Definitely blessed to have such an amazing aunt.
Thursday: I got to talk to the pops for a bit after class (read: ~9pm) and that was super great.
Friday: I officially did dissections on my own!! I have no clue if I did it correctly, but I was able to make some sketches of genitalia and whatnot. I think I'm finally starting to get a handle on these critters' morphology! Now if I just need to learn how to slide mount everything and all that jazz. If you want an idea of what dissecting these moths looks like, check out this walk-through video. It's pretty informative, and SW knows the guy who put it together...yay networking!!
Friday was also way fun for a number of other reasons:
1. I have NO CLASSES of Fridays! WIN!
2. We had our ento grad orientation...nothing to thrilling, but good info none-the-less.
3. We had our first hangout with Frenatae!!! Frenatae is our ento grad organization. They took us out to Tugg's Tavern (nothing all that thrilling...but it was a good place to get together) in Minneapolis. We got the department credit card to pay for dinner - WHOOP! - and Frenatae took the tab for our drinks - again, WIN! It was really fun to hang out with our new community of peers and to get to know this year's cohort of entering grad students. Not everyone was there, but everyone who was there was extremely enjoyable :)
Overall, it was an enjoyable, though overwhelming, week.
Today was nice to sort of recoup, regroup, and process the week. I played with Jakers a bit this morning and did some general cleaning around the apartment - always makes me feel better. It was also beyond wonderful to Skype with a number of you today!
I have truly missed having the freedom to have Skype running ~24/7 and pretty much see your faces and hear your voices whenever I wanted. But, emails, gchatting, and occasional evening Skype sessions are sufficing, outside of my now extra special weekend Skype sessions :)
Gah, I so canNOT wait for December!!! I miss your beautiful faces and I'm pumped about getting to spend as much time as possible with you. Parties, shooting, concerts, dancing - it's going to be epic.
Sorry the blogging has been a bit sparse this week....I'll try to do better next week.
Could I implore y'all to pray for me regarding finding a church home? I'm not worried about finding one, but I want to find one soon so I can start getting plugged in and get the fellowship, encouragement, accountability, nourishment, etc., etc. that comes along with being an active part of the Body. Please pray that our Heavenly Daddy will lead me in finding the place He wants me to be while I'm here. I can feel myself beginning to get discouraged, even though I've only been her for 4 Sundays (counting tomorrow)...I simply miss having a church to call home.
Well my loves, with that I am calling it a post and a night. Hope you've all had a blessed weekend, thus far.
Shalom!
~MW
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Grad School...Day 1
Whew! What. A. Day!
I pulled myself out of bed at the (dark and) early hour of 6:30am so that I would have ample time to get ready for my FIRST DAY OF CLASSES! My first class was at 8:45am, so I wanted to make sure I had time to do everything around the house and still get to campus with time to drop my lunch and laptop off at the lab and stroll on over to class with at least a few min to spare. Success!
I cuddled with BigBoy for a few, made my bed, took Jake out for a good 15min, had my quiet time, made fresh coffee and a simple breakfast, packed my lunch, picked up a few odds and ends around the house, and got myself ready to face the day, complete with Texas A&M hoodie, WHOOP! It was a chilly 53 degrees when I walked out my door this morning circa 8am. Aaaand, the wind was blowing at about 24mph, with gusts up to 36mph or so. Made me walk a little more briskly, that's for sure.
I really enjoyed being one of the first people in the lab today - that was always one of my favorite things at Wharton's lab, too. It's just nice to start the day in the quiet of your "home" away from home. I dropped off my lunch and my laptop in my little cubbie, along with a few of my lep books and lit print-outs...it's always nice to lighten the backpack load before setting out on another hike. Fortunately, other than the 0.5mi trek I make from where I am currently parking ($1.50/day!! It's pretty much perfect, as long as I can get there early enough to get a spot - that right there, my friends, is incentive to get a move-on every day. I still need to look into paying monthly, instead of daily...if that secures me a spot, then my life will be so much easier - NO BUS!!) to the lab, and then back again come the close of the day, all of my classes are way close to the lab. Fantastic!
8:45am. First class: Insect Ecology.
- No books. WIN!
- No exams. WIN!
- Familiar faces from the Incoming Grad Student Weekend in March. WIN!
- Lots of readings for each class. Not so much of a win.
- Rude reminder that I absolutely hate the mathematics that goes along with studying ecology. Super not so much of a win.
10:00am. Close of class.
Immediately have awesome convo time with another 1st year grad student - we are officially friends. WIN! She's a Quaker...I don't know that I have ever known a Quaker before. I need to do some research on their beliefs. She's awesome, though. We hit it off back in March, too.
10:30am. We both decided it was time to hit the labs and get some work done.
The rest of the day was pretty much spent reading lit and continuing the data transfer from Yoshi to my desktop in the lab...I need to come up with a good name for the gigantor thing with the tiniest hard drive ever. Suggestions?? (It's a Dell...be nice, y'all - I didn't choose it.)
Got in some chatting on gmail chat and Skype...sadly, no actual Skyping was had. This will take some getting used to, for sure. I rather enjoyed the life of simply doing things around the house (Yes, I know I live in an apartment...but it's my home, so it's a house. Don't worry about it, it doesn't have to make sense.) and being able to answer calls on Skype at my leisure. Now planning (dun-dun-dun-duuuuunnnnnn) and scheduling will need to take place, I'm thinking. We can do this. We can survive this, right? Right? Sigh...
So, get a load of this, y'all: 3:55pm, I leave Hodson and make the 0.5mi trek to my car; I then drive 2.5mi to the bank; I spend about 20min there getting quarters for laundry (lame); I then drive the 2.5mi back to the lot and park my car; I make the 0.5mi trek back to Hodson; once inside I encounter the tiniest little Chinese girl I think I have ever seen and she is beyond lost trying to find her classroom, I walk her to the correct side of the building and put her on the elevator that will put her just outside her classroom; I walk back to my side of the building and take the stairs up to the lab; I sit down in my cubbie at, get this, 4:39pm. I did all that in under 45min!!! Awesome. Just sayin'.
That left me just enough time to down my peanut butter and jelly sandwich before my next class.
5:10pm. Second class, Scientific Illustration of Insects. This class is going to rock. I'm so excited about it! We are starting our training out in the world of old school: INKING! Yuh, like for serious - bottle of ink, crowquill pen, fancy paper that I can't remember the name of and EvErYTHING! After mastering that and learning a few other techniques we are moving to using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator - SO legit.
7:00pm. Left lab and headed home to take care of Jake and do some laundry. We had a rather productive evening, actually! I threw a load in the washer down the hall, then took Jakers out. We went on a very brisk 1mi walk to get back in time to take the wash out and put it in the dryer. We made it, and I had quite the tuckered pup upon our return. I made some dinner, had some ice cream, swept and mopped the kitchen, folded the laundry, unloaded the dishwasher, and here I sit blogging and enjoying some Criminal Minds.
And with that, I'm off to get ready for bed.
Loves!
Shalom!
~MW
I pulled myself out of bed at the (dark and) early hour of 6:30am so that I would have ample time to get ready for my FIRST DAY OF CLASSES! My first class was at 8:45am, so I wanted to make sure I had time to do everything around the house and still get to campus with time to drop my lunch and laptop off at the lab and stroll on over to class with at least a few min to spare. Success!
I cuddled with BigBoy for a few, made my bed, took Jake out for a good 15min, had my quiet time, made fresh coffee and a simple breakfast, packed my lunch, picked up a few odds and ends around the house, and got myself ready to face the day, complete with Texas A&M hoodie, WHOOP! It was a chilly 53 degrees when I walked out my door this morning circa 8am. Aaaand, the wind was blowing at about 24mph, with gusts up to 36mph or so. Made me walk a little more briskly, that's for sure.
I really enjoyed being one of the first people in the lab today - that was always one of my favorite things at Wharton's lab, too. It's just nice to start the day in the quiet of your "home" away from home. I dropped off my lunch and my laptop in my little cubbie, along with a few of my lep books and lit print-outs...it's always nice to lighten the backpack load before setting out on another hike. Fortunately, other than the 0.5mi trek I make from where I am currently parking ($1.50/day!! It's pretty much perfect, as long as I can get there early enough to get a spot - that right there, my friends, is incentive to get a move-on every day. I still need to look into paying monthly, instead of daily...if that secures me a spot, then my life will be so much easier - NO BUS!!) to the lab, and then back again come the close of the day, all of my classes are way close to the lab. Fantastic!
8:45am. First class: Insect Ecology.
- No books. WIN!
- No exams. WIN!
- Familiar faces from the Incoming Grad Student Weekend in March. WIN!
- Lots of readings for each class. Not so much of a win.
- Rude reminder that I absolutely hate the mathematics that goes along with studying ecology. Super not so much of a win.
10:00am. Close of class.
Immediately have awesome convo time with another 1st year grad student - we are officially friends. WIN! She's a Quaker...I don't know that I have ever known a Quaker before. I need to do some research on their beliefs. She's awesome, though. We hit it off back in March, too.
10:30am. We both decided it was time to hit the labs and get some work done.
The rest of the day was pretty much spent reading lit and continuing the data transfer from Yoshi to my desktop in the lab...I need to come up with a good name for the gigantor thing with the tiniest hard drive ever. Suggestions?? (It's a Dell...be nice, y'all - I didn't choose it.)
Got in some chatting on gmail chat and Skype...sadly, no actual Skyping was had. This will take some getting used to, for sure. I rather enjoyed the life of simply doing things around the house (Yes, I know I live in an apartment...but it's my home, so it's a house. Don't worry about it, it doesn't have to make sense.) and being able to answer calls on Skype at my leisure. Now planning (dun-dun-dun-duuuuunnnnnn) and scheduling will need to take place, I'm thinking. We can do this. We can survive this, right? Right? Sigh...
So, get a load of this, y'all: 3:55pm, I leave Hodson and make the 0.5mi trek to my car; I then drive 2.5mi to the bank; I spend about 20min there getting quarters for laundry (lame); I then drive the 2.5mi back to the lot and park my car; I make the 0.5mi trek back to Hodson; once inside I encounter the tiniest little Chinese girl I think I have ever seen and she is beyond lost trying to find her classroom, I walk her to the correct side of the building and put her on the elevator that will put her just outside her classroom; I walk back to my side of the building and take the stairs up to the lab; I sit down in my cubbie at, get this, 4:39pm. I did all that in under 45min!!! Awesome. Just sayin'.
That left me just enough time to down my peanut butter and jelly sandwich before my next class.
5:10pm. Second class, Scientific Illustration of Insects. This class is going to rock. I'm so excited about it! We are starting our training out in the world of old school: INKING! Yuh, like for serious - bottle of ink, crowquill pen, fancy paper that I can't remember the name of and EvErYTHING! After mastering that and learning a few other techniques we are moving to using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator - SO legit.
7:00pm. Left lab and headed home to take care of Jake and do some laundry. We had a rather productive evening, actually! I threw a load in the washer down the hall, then took Jakers out. We went on a very brisk 1mi walk to get back in time to take the wash out and put it in the dryer. We made it, and I had quite the tuckered pup upon our return. I made some dinner, had some ice cream, swept and mopped the kitchen, folded the laundry, unloaded the dishwasher, and here I sit blogging and enjoying some Criminal Minds.
And with that, I'm off to get ready for bed.
Loves!
Shalom!
~MW
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Jake's First Adventure in the WIL-DY-NESS
So, today was pretty great...not at all entirely productive, but meh, that's whatevs.
This morning we all (myself, BigBoy, the hissers, Jakers) woke up to a crisp, cool morning - seriously, I was sporting a hoodie, jeans, and socks. With the wind essentially gone from yesterday (which prevented us from playing after I left the lab), the conditions were absolutely perfect for taking a stroll in the park. So, off to one of the local dog parks we went. This place is just up the way from my apartment, maybe 2mi or so, so it's pretty close - bonus. The really cool thing about this particular park is that it has a few fenced-in off-leash areas as well as general walking paths (happen to be paved...nice for running. I'm thinking...I've found a good route - inclines and everything!!), so it works for everyone: if your out for a stroll with the fam/friends, going for a run, or if you want to take your pup(s) out to run around and play. Awesome.
We got there early enough today that we had to big off-leash area all to ourselves - fantastical. We had a blast. Played ball for a bit and then hiked around on the trails that have been carved out in that area...on such adventures is where the following video takes place, enjoy:
This morning we all (myself, BigBoy, the hissers, Jakers) woke up to a crisp, cool morning - seriously, I was sporting a hoodie, jeans, and socks. With the wind essentially gone from yesterday (which prevented us from playing after I left the lab), the conditions were absolutely perfect for taking a stroll in the park. So, off to one of the local dog parks we went. This place is just up the way from my apartment, maybe 2mi or so, so it's pretty close - bonus. The really cool thing about this particular park is that it has a few fenced-in off-leash areas as well as general walking paths (happen to be paved...nice for running. I'm thinking...I've found a good route - inclines and everything!!), so it works for everyone: if your out for a stroll with the fam/friends, going for a run, or if you want to take your pup(s) out to run around and play. Awesome.
We got there early enough today that we had to big off-leash area all to ourselves - fantastical. We had a blast. Played ball for a bit and then hiked around on the trails that have been carved out in that area...on such adventures is where the following video takes place, enjoy:
Well...after that I took my rather dirty pup out to the walking trail for some general strolling and perusing of the gorgeous nature that was surrounding us. I kinda geeked out for a bit looking at all the trees and decided that in my "fee time" one of my activities will be to flip through my National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees, Eastern Region. I just enjoy trees. Today I for sure saw red pines (gorgeous...also, turns out they are the state tree for MN...neat!), eastern cottonwoods, some variations of oaks I'm not familiar with, and some other things I need to look up. I was awestruck by the red pines though. Such magnificent organisms. I could have stood under them for hours just listening to their creaking in the breeze. SO cool. Here, look!
A little piece of heaven, for sure.
A little piece of heaven, for sure.
I also came across a lot of awesomeness like this:
Can't see it too well, but that's a swampy wetland!
Shelf fungus!!
We had a blast, to say the least. And Jake really enjoyed imagining himself running after all of the grey squirrels and bunnies and birds we saw...he's quickly learning the command, "leave it." It works for pretty much everything! And he's a fast learning - you can totally teach this "old dog" new tricks :)
After our adventure in the wilderness we headed home for a serious bath. And, I mean serious. I think I had him in the tub for a good hour...that's just how dirty he had managed to get himself, silly doggy. But now he's all glossy again and smells lightly of lavender, cinnamon, and patchouli - divine.
We were both rather tuckered out after all of that and pretty much took the rest of the day off. He slept, I played with the video editor I downloaded to put that little "film" together for y'all.
Tomorrow is a new church and I need to run up to the lab for a spell so I can back-up all of my files from my laptop onto my desktop there so I can send Yoshi off to Toshiba to get his CD-drive looked at and repaired. Which means, my dear readers, that once I send him off I'll be out of the blog world, at least as far as pictures and things go for at the very least a week...7-10 days is the estimated repair time. Here's hoping for less than that! But it won't cost me a dime - they're even sending me the box and postage to send it in, gotta love killer customer service :) While he's gone, I'll try to do updates from my comp at the lab, but those will probably be somewhat minimal...we shall see.
Now that I've told you all about today (er...now yesterday, I suppose...I really should be getting to bed, but I just don't think I'll be able to fall asleep...hmph!), I reckon I should fill you in on yesterday (Friday)!
Friday rocked. Like, really, really rocked. I spent a good portion of the day visiting and working with SW up at the lab, which was simply awesome. I love this woman. Aside from the fact that she's an incredible scientist, beyond accomplished researcher/author, and is a good teacher, she is positively endearing. Such a delight to work with - and, she gives hugs. This, I absolutely love. Especially right now...when hugs are rather non-existent (I NEED A CHURCH FAMILY STAT!).
We went over a lot of general stuff regarding Euchaetes morphology and I have a few specimens to dissect next week (super stoked...like you have no idea - morphology and dissections are what got me hooked on entomology; thank you, Dr. Wharton...I blame you for everything, in the best possible way!), which will be just great. Dissections will really help me get familiar with these critters and should give me a much better handle on it all when it comes to reading the literature regarding arctiids, in general.
After we finished running around collecting stuff for me to do next week, discussing papers, setting up rough meeting/researching schedules for the semester, and just plain enjoying one another's company, she went off to her other world a few buildings over and I got to working on some me stuff in the lab: setting up some things on my desktop (p.s. - I feel way legit having my own lab computer...I mean, I won't get to keep it when I finish in 3yrs, but now I don't have to store everything on my laptop! Aaaand, this thing has a huge monitor...it's gonna be awesome when I start making phylogenies! Holla!), scanning some lit (the department has a scanner that emails the scans to you in pdf form - so awesome...and, I have Adobe publisher on the desktop...WIN!), setting up my scope/dissection station, stuff like that. Yay! Love it. Love, love, love it.
Well, classes finally start on Tuesday...I'm less nervous about this starting classes this semester than I ever have been before...weird. In my head I should be way more nervous than any other time I've started a new semester - this is, ahem, grad school... But, I don't know, it's just kind of a, "Meh...here we go again...let's make those grades..." type thing. Weird. Really, really weird. Basically, God rocks. I really haven't had any nerve issues since I got here. Now, those last two months leading up the move, oh my business, was I a wreck?! Seriously, ask anyone - I was an absolute mess. But since I've arrived, especially since I started setting up my home and all that jazz, I've been surprisingly at peace with basically everything. I feel extremely comfortable and at home in Hodson (the ento building) and my lab. I'm extremely comfortable with SW - I'm still figuring out the thresholds and boundaries with our relationship, but that's to be expected, and everything is different in grad school, as compared to undergrad...that is taking some getting used to. I experienced some of that with Wharton once I hit my senior year and we were going to conferences and doing presentations together and then after graduation, but that was different than this too, because I'd known him for over half of my collegiate career...he had taken care of me in more ways than one. He's family, at this point. But, I digress. I love this environment - makes me a little nervous, to be honest - I don't want to do academia...I just don't want to, but I'm afraid I'm going to get sucked in... I've never entirely nixed the idea of a phD, I've just said that I don't want to do it - I don't like all the politics involved with professorship, especially in the science world. But hey, no need to worry about that right now. I have plenty of time to figure all of that out :)
Well, kiddies, I think I might be able to actually get some shut-eye now.
Love to you all!
Shalom,
~MW
Can't see it too well, but that's a swampy wetland!
Shelf fungus!!
We had a blast, to say the least. And Jake really enjoyed imagining himself running after all of the grey squirrels and bunnies and birds we saw...he's quickly learning the command, "leave it." It works for pretty much everything! And he's a fast learning - you can totally teach this "old dog" new tricks :)
After our adventure in the wilderness we headed home for a serious bath. And, I mean serious. I think I had him in the tub for a good hour...that's just how dirty he had managed to get himself, silly doggy. But now he's all glossy again and smells lightly of lavender, cinnamon, and patchouli - divine.
We were both rather tuckered out after all of that and pretty much took the rest of the day off. He slept, I played with the video editor I downloaded to put that little "film" together for y'all.
Tomorrow is a new church and I need to run up to the lab for a spell so I can back-up all of my files from my laptop onto my desktop there so I can send Yoshi off to Toshiba to get his CD-drive looked at and repaired. Which means, my dear readers, that once I send him off I'll be out of the blog world, at least as far as pictures and things go for at the very least a week...7-10 days is the estimated repair time. Here's hoping for less than that! But it won't cost me a dime - they're even sending me the box and postage to send it in, gotta love killer customer service :) While he's gone, I'll try to do updates from my comp at the lab, but those will probably be somewhat minimal...we shall see.
Now that I've told you all about today (er...now yesterday, I suppose...I really should be getting to bed, but I just don't think I'll be able to fall asleep...hmph!), I reckon I should fill you in on yesterday (Friday)!
Friday rocked. Like, really, really rocked. I spent a good portion of the day visiting and working with SW up at the lab, which was simply awesome. I love this woman. Aside from the fact that she's an incredible scientist, beyond accomplished researcher/author, and is a good teacher, she is positively endearing. Such a delight to work with - and, she gives hugs. This, I absolutely love. Especially right now...when hugs are rather non-existent (I NEED A CHURCH FAMILY STAT!).
We went over a lot of general stuff regarding Euchaetes morphology and I have a few specimens to dissect next week (super stoked...like you have no idea - morphology and dissections are what got me hooked on entomology; thank you, Dr. Wharton...I blame you for everything, in the best possible way!), which will be just great. Dissections will really help me get familiar with these critters and should give me a much better handle on it all when it comes to reading the literature regarding arctiids, in general.
After we finished running around collecting stuff for me to do next week, discussing papers, setting up rough meeting/researching schedules for the semester, and just plain enjoying one another's company, she went off to her other world a few buildings over and I got to working on some me stuff in the lab: setting up some things on my desktop (p.s. - I feel way legit having my own lab computer...I mean, I won't get to keep it when I finish in 3yrs, but now I don't have to store everything on my laptop! Aaaand, this thing has a huge monitor...it's gonna be awesome when I start making phylogenies! Holla!), scanning some lit (the department has a scanner that emails the scans to you in pdf form - so awesome...and, I have Adobe publisher on the desktop...WIN!), setting up my scope/dissection station, stuff like that. Yay! Love it. Love, love, love it.
Well, classes finally start on Tuesday...I'm less nervous about this starting classes this semester than I ever have been before...weird. In my head I should be way more nervous than any other time I've started a new semester - this is, ahem, grad school... But, I don't know, it's just kind of a, "Meh...here we go again...let's make those grades..." type thing. Weird. Really, really weird. Basically, God rocks. I really haven't had any nerve issues since I got here. Now, those last two months leading up the move, oh my business, was I a wreck?! Seriously, ask anyone - I was an absolute mess. But since I've arrived, especially since I started setting up my home and all that jazz, I've been surprisingly at peace with basically everything. I feel extremely comfortable and at home in Hodson (the ento building) and my lab. I'm extremely comfortable with SW - I'm still figuring out the thresholds and boundaries with our relationship, but that's to be expected, and everything is different in grad school, as compared to undergrad...that is taking some getting used to. I experienced some of that with Wharton once I hit my senior year and we were going to conferences and doing presentations together and then after graduation, but that was different than this too, because I'd known him for over half of my collegiate career...he had taken care of me in more ways than one. He's family, at this point. But, I digress. I love this environment - makes me a little nervous, to be honest - I don't want to do academia...I just don't want to, but I'm afraid I'm going to get sucked in... I've never entirely nixed the idea of a phD, I've just said that I don't want to do it - I don't like all the politics involved with professorship, especially in the science world. But hey, no need to worry about that right now. I have plenty of time to figure all of that out :)
Well, kiddies, I think I might be able to actually get some shut-eye now.
Love to you all!
Shalom,
~MW
Friday, September 03, 2010
Stats
Day: 3 September 2010
Time: 9:40am
Temp: 55 degrees F
Wind speed: 26mph
Wind chill: 51 degrees F
People, I don't know if today is a fluke or not, but it seems to me that...IT HAS BEGUN!
I'll let you know if I turn into a human popsicle come the close of today.
Shalom!
~MW
P.S. - Texans: send me some of your warmth!
Time: 9:40am
Temp: 55 degrees F
Wind speed: 26mph
Wind chill: 51 degrees F
People, I don't know if today is a fluke or not, but it seems to me that...IT HAS BEGUN!
I'll let you know if I turn into a human popsicle come the close of today.
Shalom!
~MW
P.S. - Texans: send me some of your warmth!
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
It's beginning to look a lot like...
...Home.
While I do have the holidays on my mind after a surprisingly large number of convos with Jake about them (who knew I would find my way into the lives of so many people who have a ridiculous affinity for the holidays like I do?!), I can't quite decorate for the holidays (any of them) yet...it is, however, almost cool enough here for me to call it fall!! Which means....FALL DECOR! Some of my absolute fav, outside of Christmas, of course. But, I digress...
I am officially out of boxes to unpack! WHOOP! Glory, Hallelujah! Etc., etc., etc. All of the boxes I moved in with have either been broken down and taken to the recycling bin, or broken down and stored away in my GIGANTINORMOUS storage closet. (pictures to come!)
This is what I worked on today:
It's my little visiting corner...I just LOVE it!
Sorry it's a bit dark...but you get the idea.
It's my whimsically fancy set-up :)
They are seriously one of my favorite things ever.
While I do have the holidays on my mind after a surprisingly large number of convos with Jake about them (who knew I would find my way into the lives of so many people who have a ridiculous affinity for the holidays like I do?!), I can't quite decorate for the holidays (any of them) yet...it is, however, almost cool enough here for me to call it fall!! Which means....FALL DECOR! Some of my absolute fav, outside of Christmas, of course. But, I digress...
I am officially out of boxes to unpack! WHOOP! Glory, Hallelujah! Etc., etc., etc. All of the boxes I moved in with have either been broken down and taken to the recycling bin, or broken down and stored away in my GIGANTINORMOUS storage closet. (pictures to come!)
This is what I worked on today:
It's my little visiting corner...I just LOVE it!
Ok, ok...so maybe it's a bit hodge-podge...but, it's homey and it makes me happy. Plants, pictures of people I love, wood, color...makes my heart sing...and, those are vertical blinds on the right side of the picture, allowing for a substantial amount of light and quick access to le balcony! FTW!
I set this up a few days ago, and I'm pretty pleased with it as well:
I set this up a few days ago, and I'm pretty pleased with it as well:
Sorry it's a bit dark...but you get the idea.
It's my whimsically fancy set-up :)
I have a few other things in progress...but they aren't quite ready yet - pictures to come later on!
Have I mentioned how much I love these rolls???
Have I mentioned how much I love these rolls???
They are seriously one of my favorite things ever.
They are SO good! And easy. Grab however many you want out of the freezer, let them rise for an hour in an oven that has pre-heated to 200 degrees F (and has then been shut off) with a bowl of water on the rack below the pan. Then bake at 350 for 20-25min. If you don't want to do the "quick bake" you let them rise for like 5-6hrs and then you bake them...I usually don't plan out what I want for dinner that far in advance, though....
Oh! I don't think I told you all that they DO have Dr. Pepper here!! See, proof!
Mmm, mmm, good.
Oh! I forgot to tell you all how church went on Sunday! I tried a different church than I did last Sunday, and I must say that I liked this one much better. I'm still not sure if I will be calling it home, but it was, over-all, a much better experience. I ended up being a few minutes late, because I can't read: I-35E does not = Hwy 36... Just so you know... But, to my credit, part of my directions did involve getting on I-35W... I went to Good Shepherd Lutheran (LCMS) in Circle Pines. It was very small, much like my home church in Arlington. There is good and bad to that. Good: I love the community that comes with small churches - it's just, good. Bad: I'm pretty much the only 20-something in existence. This can be a little exhausting at times, to be completely honest. That's something I've always wished for at BSLC: that there were more people in my age group around. So, I'll have to think about that first. But, I have a few other churches I want to try.
The pastor was great. The congregation has been going through a series on "Heroes of the Bible," and this week the character in question was Rahab. I absolutely love Rahab's story, so it was exciting for me to hear a whole sermon devoted to her. If you aren't familiar with her, you can find her story in Joshua 2. She's the prostitute who hide Joshua's spies during the battle of Jericho. The part of the wall where Rahab's "inn" was is the only part of the wall that didn't fall on the day the Israelites walked around the wall 7 times and the wall fell. Rahab later went on to marry into God's family and bore Boaz who married Ruth and bore Obed who fathered Jesse...do you know what this means?? A prostitute played a key role in furthering the line of Christ! How awesome is that?! I mean, what an incredible example of how God can forgive our sins and use even the "worst" of us for greatness. SO COOL! (I also just read Matt 1 as part of my study today...Christ's genealogy...it's all kind of fresh in my mind...I get a little excited sometimes :) So, yeah, I liked the sermon. The worship, well, it wasn't what I'm used to, but it wasn't bad...quaint with a touch of folksy might be the best way to describe it.
After service I got to visit with a number of the members and met the (ehem, three...) college kids...they made me feel old...haha. But, they were all really fun kids and I can see us enjoying one another's company. I exchanged contact info with the pastor's daughter - she's a fun, artsy gal and we had a nice little visit. I was hoping to invite her over for dinner one night this week...but I got sick (no worries, I got beh-tah!)...so that hasn't happened yet. Hmph! I'm trying a different church this Sunday just to make sure I'm not missing where I'm supposed to be. Trying to keep my heart, eyes, and ears open to God's direction in finding my new church home. He's always provided just what I needed and I know He will do the same here.
So, that has been my life of late. Hope you are all well...miss you all like you would not believe.
Shalom and blessings!
~MW
P.S. - I have a confession to make...I am officially addicted to Criminal Minds. Man, is it interesting!! Geez!
Oh! I don't think I told you all that they DO have Dr. Pepper here!! See, proof!
Mmm, mmm, good.
I have also acquired my very own Rainbow Foods card! Their brand name is "Roundy's." The only thing I'm not too sure how I feel about is that it's a gas rewards program (kind of like Kroger has), which is awesome...but they do everything through BP fuel stations...le sigh, I'm just not so sure how I feel about that. But...the in-store savings are still "Pretty Good!" (You're welcome, Jake!)
Oh! I forgot to tell you all how church went on Sunday! I tried a different church than I did last Sunday, and I must say that I liked this one much better. I'm still not sure if I will be calling it home, but it was, over-all, a much better experience. I ended up being a few minutes late, because I can't read: I-35E does not = Hwy 36... Just so you know... But, to my credit, part of my directions did involve getting on I-35W... I went to Good Shepherd Lutheran (LCMS) in Circle Pines. It was very small, much like my home church in Arlington. There is good and bad to that. Good: I love the community that comes with small churches - it's just, good. Bad: I'm pretty much the only 20-something in existence. This can be a little exhausting at times, to be completely honest. That's something I've always wished for at BSLC: that there were more people in my age group around. So, I'll have to think about that first. But, I have a few other churches I want to try.
The pastor was great. The congregation has been going through a series on "Heroes of the Bible," and this week the character in question was Rahab. I absolutely love Rahab's story, so it was exciting for me to hear a whole sermon devoted to her. If you aren't familiar with her, you can find her story in Joshua 2. She's the prostitute who hide Joshua's spies during the battle of Jericho. The part of the wall where Rahab's "inn" was is the only part of the wall that didn't fall on the day the Israelites walked around the wall 7 times and the wall fell. Rahab later went on to marry into God's family and bore Boaz who married Ruth and bore Obed who fathered Jesse...do you know what this means?? A prostitute played a key role in furthering the line of Christ! How awesome is that?! I mean, what an incredible example of how God can forgive our sins and use even the "worst" of us for greatness. SO COOL! (I also just read Matt 1 as part of my study today...Christ's genealogy...it's all kind of fresh in my mind...I get a little excited sometimes :) So, yeah, I liked the sermon. The worship, well, it wasn't what I'm used to, but it wasn't bad...quaint with a touch of folksy might be the best way to describe it.
After service I got to visit with a number of the members and met the (ehem, three...) college kids...they made me feel old...haha. But, they were all really fun kids and I can see us enjoying one another's company. I exchanged contact info with the pastor's daughter - she's a fun, artsy gal and we had a nice little visit. I was hoping to invite her over for dinner one night this week...but I got sick (no worries, I got beh-tah!)...so that hasn't happened yet. Hmph! I'm trying a different church this Sunday just to make sure I'm not missing where I'm supposed to be. Trying to keep my heart, eyes, and ears open to God's direction in finding my new church home. He's always provided just what I needed and I know He will do the same here.
So, that has been my life of late. Hope you are all well...miss you all like you would not believe.
Shalom and blessings!
~MW
P.S. - I have a confession to make...I am officially addicted to Criminal Minds. Man, is it interesting!! Geez!
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