New camera fun

I just got a Nikon D90, so I am working on the transition from point-and-shoot digital to dSLR.  It’s amazing what this camera can do.  I plan on jumping into a photography course ideally next week.  The header is a picture I took today at the Farmer’s Market. And yes, those really are massive zucchini.  I bought a foot and a half long parsnip today.  MASSIVE!!  It’s like a mini-scepter. It will find itself in some mashed potatoes soon enough.

In other news, Percy now goes outside as she was talking too much at night and we couldn’t sleep.  It was a cheaper and saner alternative to getting a second cat. She now cuddles A LOT more and zonks out at night.  It’s wonderful.  She did pick up some bacterial infection out there, but I can handle that.  It stinks like crazy and she gets a bit bloated, but after a few days of meds she is acting normal if not shredding my hands any time I try to put a pill down her throat.  I’ve learned a few tricks, so thankfully my hands are healing. At first it was NOT good.

Grant is trail running like crazy.  I’ve tried it, and need to shove myself out the door WAY more often.  It’s not so warm, so I need to actually purchase some tights and then shove myself out the door some more.  I merely jog, but it’s still for at least 45 minutes.

On the note of running, Grant ran the Portland Marathon the first weekend of October and he did REALLY well for himself.  Nowhere near the top of his age class, but better than he thought he would.  Street pounding is not his idea of fun, trails are the good stuff.  I can only agree.  Watched a guy running today and thought it looked like he was ramming his feet into the asphalt, not good.

Not much has changed since July.  I’m still digitizing and losing my mind.  I’m hoping to get to do more data analyses and possibly field work once summer hits, but who knows.  We shall see. . . *thunk*  I would love to get to do more than just mapping, but it seems to come and go for everyone.  Being the quiet and not super social one at work means I spend a lot of time with my radio and hearing other people talk to other people while I sit in my invisible corner.  Not too bad, but sometimes I feel a tad left out.  It happens.  I do not have the social graces of a lot of people, and that’s been apparent since I was VERY young.  Quite content as a wallflower because I have no conversation topics in my head.  Photography does work well with me in that instance.

Until later, when the snow is back for more than a day.  Haha!

Latest news

Percy, our kitten is a crazy little spaz monkey.  She is fascinated by all things keyboard.  You should see what she does as I sit here typing.  She keeps sitting up suddenly and watching my fingers intently.  With my laptop she used to curl up over my fingers and take a nap.  She likes the feel of the keys.  Weird kitten.

In other news, my mom called me up last night to read a letter Newcastle University had sent me. It was my transcript.  Apparently I have passed and am now the proud graduate of a British university.  Yay?  I’m really not very thrilled.  I’m relieved that I do graduate in December.  Actually, in less than a month.  I’m just not very excited about some of my grades.

My dad wants to take me to graduation.  It’s called “Congregations” over there.  Fancy shmancy. I am not entirely certain I want to be there for graduation.  I don’t even know who is going and who isn’t.  It seems like a lot of people are iffy on the whole thing, and a few more have said they won’t attend.  It’s going to cost a CRAP TON to go there.  I don’t think I really want to spend all that money for about an hour’s ceremony on a cold and blustery Wednesday. I remember last year and it was DAMN WINDY. *sigh*

I am very torn. Should I go?  Should I stay here?  Should I should I should I. . .   I need to fill in the paperwork saying they need to mail me my diploma.  I don’t want to say, “Yes I’ll be there” and then not.  I also don’t want to have to pack it up in my luggage if I do go.

Anyways, back to job applying.

That’s the other issue, if I go, I can’t get a job before Christmas.    That’s not good.  I don’t really have money to spend right now. . . I think people are going to get “New Year’s Gifts” this year. . . .

Raptor Conference HERE I COME

http://www.umt.edu/ce/cps/raptor/

I’m going I’m going I’m going I’m going. . . I think.

The funny part (okay, I think it’s funny) is when talking to my mom about it yesterday I told her I was excited and yackity yack.  She said she would check out the hotel and other stuff to see if a cheaper place is nearby and I would just walk over to the Holiday Inn it’s held at.  Seems normal right?  Then she tells me I’ve never been to the Holiday Inn.

*long pause*

“Mom, wasn’t Paul and Caroline’s wedding reception there?”

“Well yes.”  *thoughts percolate into proper order*  “Well I suppose you have been there then.”

“Yes Mom, I’ve also had their pancakes and run up and down their stairs numerous times.”

My Uncle Paul was married in Missoula when I was about 7.  I was a flower girl, the reception was atteneded by all family present in Montana at the time.  DUH I was there.

My mom forgets these things sometimes.  She’s feeling stressed.

BUT, I AM GOING TO THE RAPTOR CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!

*bounces around room*

Thoughts for September

I’m flying home on the 12th (with all hope), my dissertation is due on the 19th, and I want to go to Portland with Sharyn on the 28th.  After Portland I was thinking of Missoula, but a snag has come up in the form of the Raptors Research Foundation Conference in Missoula the 26th-28th.  I WANT TO GO!  Do I have $190? Nope.  All I can say is GOLDEN EAGLE TRAPPING AND BANDING!!!! HOLY CRAP!

Sorry, I get all droolified over the pretty birds.  There’s even stuff with Harriers. I’ve been learning all about Hen Harriers in the UK, so I’m excited for a Raptor Conference.

I want to go.
The issue is saying, “Yes, I will put myself into debt so I can go see Raptors and see if I can get a foot in the door for a job/internship/volunteering. “  It helps that it’s in Missoula so I know my way around the town already.  Strangely enough, I have never driven in Missoula.  Ever.  WEIRD.

How to begin. . . and continue

It’s hard to figure out how to begin on my thesis when I have no idea how to start.  I believe the first step is to go grab my phone and the phone number for E3 and start asking for locations of Natterer’s Bats.  If that doesn’t work, I start asking Bevan to go bash some heads for me.  Maybe he’ll throw nesting Terns at people.  Vicious birds with pointy beaks, I’m avoiding them!!

Right now I have papers to write for that annoying field trip course to the land of vicious biting bugs and tasty foodages.  I miss Arneside food, but not Arneside/Roudsea Wood bugs.

Speaking of bugs, cicadas are out back home.  I hope everyone is having a great time with them.  I kind of miss them, kind of don’t.  I was home 4 years ago for them and seeing that many all over EVERYTHING just makes my skin crawl.  They give you an idea of what the world would be like if bugs/insects finally decided to just take over the world.  *shudder*

This week I will possibly learn how to drive on the “wrong side” of the road. . .  we’ll see how that works out.  Grant will help me keep to the left so I don’t go around a rotary the wrong way or forget which lane does what, etc.  Driving skills FTW!

In 1 week and 3 days Grant and I are heading down to Canterbury to see his mom and brother.  This should be a VERY interesting trip.  I hope I remember things about  Canterbury and Dover and the trains. . . I hope we find good food.  We’re staying at the same guest house my dad and I were at 2 years ago. FREAKY!  I’m excited though.  The weather was stunning in February of 2006, I can only hope that June of 2008 will prove just as nice.

But before that nice weekend trip: I NEED TO START MY BAT SURVEYS!!!  *whimper*

Edinburgh

A real post to replace this. . .

My photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasua/ are all uploaded and labelled appropriately now.
FRIDAY

This day never seemed to end, but in a good way. We left Leazes Terrace about 8 a.m. and trekked down to the train station to grab a pasty and wait for our train to roll in. Our seats were perfectly situated with a smudgy window, but a lovely view towards the North Sea (when we got close enough to the coast). We saw fields of yellow (mustard?), sheep, Lindisfarne, Alnwick, etc. I got all squeely when I saw the dunes at Alnwick because I was RIGHTTHEREONTHATDUNE for a field trip doing Phase 1 Habitat Surveys. Yeah, I’m weird.

As we got to Berwick Upon Tweed we saw amazing bridges (you can see pictures on Flickr) that I took snap after snap of. It looks like such a great town. After that we were POW in Scotland. The rugged scottish coast, the rugged sheep (some looked a little worse for wear), and the scintillating blue sky. I was worried the weather wouldn’t keep looking as lovely as it was in Newcastle, but the weather followed us all the way into Edinburgh. The train goes RIGHT past the castle erm. . volcanic rock. Apparently the train tracks are where the bottom of the loch used to be. It was drained in the 1700’s (1750 something I think). NEAT!

….. more later….

Depending on the time zone

Happy birfday to me!!!

My dad just sent me this lovely note:

Your arrival a few years back was a very interesting experience for me, new borns are quite interesting to observe, but the coloring is horrid- white waxy stuff, purple coloring, blecho! But otherwise, just darling, soft, cuddly, very lovable and OUR VERY OWN! And we get to take him/her home – if we have a name ready!

I was one butt-ugly baby all weird coloured and stuff.  I popped out, opened my eyes and just stared at everyone like, wait. .who are all of you and what is this big place?!?!?!

I also was not named.  I also was jaundice and put under bright lights (only allowed out for nursing then put right back) for a few days.

My parents settled on “Robin” so home I came to a VERY ecstatic black standard poodle.  Apparently he liked the way I smelled.

*I am classifying this under “Trip” because it was. . .  and I don’t want to make a new Category

Rest and relaxation

That’s my most recent desire.  To just have time off.

Yesterday was wonderfully full of me being so tired I could hardly function.  Instead of work Grant and I went to Victoria’s and watched American Psycho (Abrar and Grant voted for it over Fight Club).  I’m disturbed by it.  It’s a bit on the erm. . . overly disturbing bit.  The most interesting bit was how the cable from Abrar’s computer sapped the colour, so we watched it in black and white.  It made it a lot more interesting.  Some of it was in colour, some not.  It was weird, but creeeeeeeeeeepy.

I like the original one ever so much more.  All the same though, just plain weeeiiirrrddddd.

Today I have to read my bat articles.  I have to get this methodology and literature review done done done.  I want to hand it in tomorrow, so time’s a-tickin’.

I cannot WAIT for Easter Vac.  Oh my goodness.  I want to go home and sleep in a big bed (wider than a twin at any rate), have normal tasting food, and be able to go to Rite Aid.

I also want to spend Easter with my parents.  I just saw them in November, but I miss them.  They are mom and dad after all.  Also it will be funny to hear my dad go on and on about how much he likes Obama (whether he’s won the candidacy  or not).

photos

here is the link to photos taken on our winter break trip.  enjoy.  Prague, Vienna and Brussles.  oh the fun.

And yes, I did take a lot of pictures of that cat.

The return

Back in Newcastle.  We arrived last night and promptly nose dived to our respective beds.  For some reason these are the most comfy beds on earth now.  It must have something to do with the awfulness of all the beds we used on our trip.  A full nights sleep was my #1 priority and thankfully I have achieved that.

Now to get crackin on work.  Stupid homework. . . soil… grrrr…..  CANOCO… even more grrrrr.

I love how school never seem to let me take a break.  I can’t wait until March.  *whimper*