Where is the summer going?!

Can you believe it’s already JULY?! And it will be gone before I know it! I have one month to prepare for GREs…and I am not even close to being ready. I don’t even want to think about it. Anyway readers, this is going to be a short update because life is sooo busy! First of all, I DO NOT HAVE THYROID DISEASE! This could be a good or a bad thing, besides the fact that it’s incredibly frusterating to think you finally have a solution and then be told that, no, we still have no idea whats wrong with you. The test for the antibodies that attack the thyroid was negative and my hormone levels are completely normal.

^^^ “Well then what’s WRONG with me, Doc?!”

After this, I scheduled an appointment with my primary care physician who is also my Endocrinologist. Can we just pause for a second? I have an ear, nose, and throat specialist, a surgeon, an allergist, and an endocrinologist. That’s ridiculous! I am not even 22 years old! Oh well. Anyway, I digress. Upon meeting with my Endocrinologist who I shall name Dr. Thyroid, we discussed my symptoms and my concerns. I was then sent to the lab for three more tests- SedRates (I think that tests for an internal inflammatory response), Lupus, and something else that I forgot entirely. I doubt that any of these will come back positive. My current prognosis is “Idiopathic Urticaria” which basically means the following: I get reandom hives caused by an unknown/ undeterminable source.

^^^ HAHA!

Personally, I think an overabundance of UV radiation (sunburn) or heat in general can trigger my condition. But who the heck knows?! That’s why they call it “idiopathic.” In short, this is nothing serious. When I explained this situation to Mogli during a mayfly outing yesterday, his response was, “So you’ll have to work inside now.” Oh hell no. That is the entire reason I chose Biology as a career: So I wouldn’t be inside!!! I will wear a burka before I sit at a desk for the rest of my life. 75 SPF and white long-sleeved shirts…at the same time. I don’t care WHAT I have to do. The trees are my home and I will do whatever it takes to live the life I want. My response to this was, “I would rather have hives.” He told me to be careful what I wish for. I wish for fresh air.

^^^ Yes, please.

Aside from that, I got to visit a dairy farm for DEQ the other day!!! It was a BLAST! (Again, need I say more? I am in love with my job.) I even got licked by some of the more personable cows. Cows in general tend to be very wary of people. But dairy cows are more docile and dairy farmers take very good care of their “girls.” The farmer I met was incredibly nice and gave me the grand tour of his farm. I learned about the different types of grains that go into their feed and even the ratios at which the grains are mixed. He showed me the newborn calves and even let me take pictures! I got to wear plastic boot covers and assess their rain runoff ditch. It’s basically a big hole in the ground placed downhill from the main cattle area to catch any overflowing nutrients so they don’t leech into the watershed. His farm passed with flying colors.

^^^ Dairy cows have it good. They also get pasture time!

In other news, I am visiting Indiana with a friend with coming weekend and I get to see Purdue University. Hopefully this visit will inspire me to study more! But for now, I must get back to work. Much to do! Until next time!

The Disaster Fairy strikes again! My medical adventures ensue…

Ok…so maybe my current predicament hasn’t quite achieved disaster status…yet. But I keep getting pretty darn close! As many of you regular readers may know, I have quite a history of really random health issues. It’s never anything serious, but I’m that kid on the playground who has a new, unexplained rash every week. That’s right; I’m going to talk about my rashes again. Only this time, I might actually have a convoluted explanation!

^^^ Believe it or not, I got teased A LOT in grade school…

Again, let’s turn the clock back to the summer of 2005 (quite a few years back). I was 17 working as a nursery-keeper in my church every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. I was always sick with some kind of cold or sinus infection. Because of this, I now have quite the immune system! But at the time, I was feeling really sick…again. So I went to see my ear, nose, and throat specialist, Dr. ENT, I will call him. He’s a little Vietnamese man, about my size, who speaks with an extremely thick accent. Upon my examination, a large lump was found in my neck. Yay. The cyst on my thyroid had been discovered. We don’t really know how long it had been there (we assumed a couple months…cause it was pretty big). So the big question here was: Is it cancer?

^^^ Dr. ENT always wore that giant circular thing on his head. It amused me when I was a little girl.

For the next year or so, they ran all kinds of tests on me, took biopsies, and basically “kept and eye” on the cyst, hoping it would eventually go away, proving that it was benign. Well, it never went away. Over winter break of my freshman year in college (December 2006), I had surgery to remove the right half of my thyroid; there was no need to take out the whole thing. It’s always a good plan to leave as much of your organs intact as possible, right?

So they extracted half of my thyroid and I got to spend a whole night at UVA medical center (totally underrated). I ate chocolate ice cream, saw the first ten minutes of the TNT world premier of “Return of the King” before I passed out. Yes, I was a little peeved when they fed me pain meds RIGHT before the movie came on. My mom stayed with me ALL NIGHT LONG and woke up with me every single time the nurses came in to check my vitals. How awesome is that? And then when I couldn’t go back to sleep, we stayed up and talked for hours. ::sigh:: Pretty much the coolest lady in the world.

^^^ A fun place to be!

But back on track! They found that the cyst was benign! YAY! Nothing to worry about anymore, right? I started taking synthetic thyroid hormones so the other half of my thyroid would “go to sleep.” Theoretically, one half of a thyroid will produce enough hormones for your whole body, should the other half be compromised. However, the doctors were unsure of what caused the random cyst on the right side so putting the other half to sleep as a precaution was the best idea. No more mystery cysts!

Well, the saga continues. Exactly six months after my surgery, as soon as the weather turned warm, a huge, puffy, itchy rash formed over and around my surgical scar all over my neck. This rash thing came and went all summer, finally disappearing into the night at the start of my sophomore year. I saw several doctors about this issue, mostly physicians and one dermatologist. No one could explain it except to say, “It looks like an allergic reaction to something.” Gee wiz. That helps.

^^^ Not even Wikipedia could tell me the answer!

Another year or so goes by. No rash. It’s forgotten, right? If some of you recall, I had ANOTHER unexplained rash all over my right thigh at the beginning of my junior year (this past fall semester, 2008). Again, went to a doctor, “Ah! You’re allergic to something. Here’s a steroid cream.” Of course under the influence of steroids, almost anything can be cleared up. So that one went away.

^^^ Haha! I couldn’t help it.

That’s the history. Let’s put the clock back to present day. It is now the summer of 2009, months after my leg rash and a couple years after my last neck rash. I went to the Outer Banks last weekend with my cousin who is one of my nearest and dearest friends. I will call her “The Cuz.” There was absolutely no shade to be had on the Oregon Inlet campground. I got a nice sunburn in a few places but other than that, the weekend was quite enjoyable. Upon my return on Sunday evening, I couldn’t help but notice that my arms were itching terribly around my elbow joints. I wasn’t burned there, but I had gotten a lot of sun there. Was this sun poisoning? Hm.

^^^ I finally got my beach fix!

Long story short, this began happening to my neck. By Tuesday, both of my arms and chest area were covered in tiny little red dots. And I was itching like I had never itched before. I threw my hands up, “Ok. Time to call an allergist.” Within one doctors visit, I received an explanation for ALL of these medical issues I have just listed. Here it is:

MY IMMUNE SYSTEM HAS BEEN ATTACKING MY THYROID FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS! I HAVE THYROID DISEASE!

Now, if you know your doctors well enough, you would know that most allergists are also immunologists (hallelujah!). So Dr. Godfather (I’m going to call him that because he spoke with a New Yorker’s accent, saying things like, “No big deal,” with an emphasis on the ‘d’) just about leapt out of his little wheely chair when I mentioned I had a history of thyroid issues. “I am almost certain this is related to your thyroid,” he said.

^^^ “I’m going to fix you!!!!!!!!!”

Here is what’s happening inside the writer’s body: One day, for some reason unknown, my overactive immune system said, “Hey! I don’t like that thyroid thing!” So it built up all these specialized antibodies specifically to kill my thyroid. There are many things that can happen as a result of this. One result is a growth forming on the thyroid. That was my thyroid’s first response. Bada-bing, bada-boom, we have a cyst! Doctors say, “Wow…your hormone levels are completely normal! No disease! You just grew a cyst randomly (which does happen) so let’s take it out!” Cyst is gone…but half of my thyroid remains. So the antibodies keep rolling in, shooting at my injured thyroid. (I imagine this to look something like a battle scene in the new Star Trek movie). Instead of growing another cyst, this time, my thyroid produced histamines and HIVES! In my case, heat is the main trigger for this event, hence, the reason it has only popped up during hotter conditions.

^^^ I now have a running joke with my close friends and family that my skin is that of a vampire’s and will start to sizzle if I step into the sun.

So to date, my arms, neck, cheeks, and ears are covered in hives. I am taking a series of antihistamines including Claratin, Zyrtec, and Zantac 150. Apparently, Zantac, which is used to inhibit stomach acid production, also inhibits the production of histamines. This morning I woke up looking like a pug dog with really swollen, pouty lips and beet-red cheeks. I am really banking on this stuff kicking in SOON! Although the doctor was very confident in his hypothesis, he sent me to the lab for some blood work as a precautionary measure. They will test my blood for the antibodies that work to kill my thyroid. There is no cure for my condition (except another surgery to remove the remaining half of my thyroid), so the idea is to wait it out. If my thyroid isn’t already mostly dead, it will be soon.

The most amusing thing about this whole scenario is that I actually have a disease. I think it’s great! It’s a minor disease so it’s not going to kill me or anything. The technical term is Hashimoto’s disease. Here’s a little blurb I found online at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hashimotos-disease/DS00567   –>

“Hashimoto’s disease is a disorder that affects your thyroid, a small gland located at the base of your neck, below your Adam’s apple. The thyroid gland is part of your endocrine system, which produces hormones that coordinate many of your body’s activities.

In Hashimoto’s disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, your immune system attacks your thyroid gland. The resulting inflammation often leads to an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States.

Doctors test your thyroid function to help detect Hashimoto’s disease. Treatment of Hashimoto’s disease with thyroid hormone replacement usually is simple and effective.”

^^^ Here’s a little animated mechanism of what happens with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis…for all you visual learners out there.

It’s simple and effective…as long as you don’t produce hives : ). The only disconcerting thing about this whole disease is that “infertility” and “birth defects” were listed as possible complications. I think as long as my hormone levels are stable (which is achieved with a nice little synthetic thyroid hormone pill taken daily), I should have no problem. I love kids!

^^^ I typed “lots of babies” into Google Image and found this. And then I laughed out loud…alone on the couch.

As an aside, I was tested for many common allergies and I am allergic to NOTHING. Yay! I can still eat peanuts! But for now, I am incapacitated and itchy. I haven’s showered recently (I wouldn’t dare admit how long) because it makes me itch. And taking a cold bath would be miserable. The doctor said I should apply Vicks Vaporub to my hives to relieve the itching. He’s right! It really works! But I am incredibly greasy and have to cover the couch with a sheet just so I can sit on it. So for now it’s just me, GRE workbooks, pajamas, and facebook. I should add chocolate milk to that list… Until next time!

^^^ “Ohhh yeeaahh…”

A triple wammie.

Well friends, I must use this post to whine just a little bit. Once again, it appears that not-so-fun things happen to me in sets of three. So here goes nothing– yet another triple wammie for the writer!

 

^^^ I am exasperated!

Let’s set the clock back to the weekend of June the 5th, shall we? It’s a Friday and I will be traveling BACK out to my college town (for the second weekend in a row) to visit people and attend the wedding of a good college friend. That afternoon, I was to meet one of my favorite professors to discuss my progress on the graduate school front. I was very excited to see him and was planning a relaxing afternoon in his office, chatting up a storm. So of course, I left with plenty of time to get there! For those of you who haven’t been keeping up with the weather on the East coast for the past couple of weeks, it’s been raining pretty much non-stop. And that’s what I got caught. What should have been a four hour drive suddenly turned into a six hour crawl. I got stopped by traffic somewhere outside Williamsburg and after sitting for almost an hour, I decided I had had enough and that I was going to use my handy-dandy Gazetteer to navigate my way to the University via back roads. I was quite successful at this…except for one small interruption. I had a fender-bender.  : (

^^^ My car looks almost identical to the green car. Oh snap, son.

Luckily no one was hurt! And it was a very minor collision. I was driving along, probably looking at my map too much (in the pouring rain on a road I had never seen before in my life with too many stoplights…) when the cars in front of me began to slow to a halt. Suddenly, the lady at the front of the line slammed her brakes, causing the guy in front of me to slam on HIS brakes. So of course, I slammed on MY brakes too, and it seemed like I would actually stop in time…except for the fact that my antilock braking system has been down for severl months now. Technically, you aren’t required to have antilock brakes, but it sure would have helped in this situation. My brakes locked and I slid/hydroplaned/screeched for what seemed like an eternity finally to hit the rear bumper of the guy in front of me. Of course, he drove away with three scratches and my hood was…well…compromised. But the situation was extremely lucky! A police officer randomly came out of the woodwork! Apparently he had watched the whole thing and agreed that it wasn’t anybody’s fault, so I didn’t get a ticket. The guy I hit was really nice about it and concurred with the officer that it was a simple accident. “I heard you screeching for the longest time!” Yep. So in that respect, I was very lucky!

^^^ I’m glad I got the good cop this time!

The only problem now is that I have a more than compromised car. To make a long story short, my car is leaking in several places, no antilock brakes, and a hugely messed up hood and front bumper…not to mention the chipping paint, squeaking doors and windows…she’s past her prime. So to myself and my mother, the answer was simple: time for a different vehicle. But with the state of the economy, that’s not gonna happen for us. So the battle this past week was for us to try to convince my father that patching up this car was less than a wise decision when I could get a better car for about the same price (perhaps a bit more). He made a really good case for my present tin-can car- it has a REALLY good engine that will run until the world ends. My car’s engine is like a cocroach in Hiroshima, basically. I also get incredible gas mileage. So we’re doing the repairs on it…and I am hoping that it will last me through graduate school. : /

^^^ Look! It’s me on my way to Graduate School! I’m going to be Flinstoning myself there.

And that’s the end of the first trial! The second trial is more trivial. Long story short, I am allergic to bees…and last Monday, I got stung in my neck. Nice work, Bee! I swear, they keep human anatomy charts in their hives like, “Sting HERE!” It was actually a sweat bee and my allergy is minor so I didn’t die or suffocate. I just have this huge, incredibly itchy rash covering my neck. And now I am on steroids…So my emotions are playing with my mind and I feel like I want to Hulk out about three times a day. Yay.

^^^ Jerk.

As for the last trial, it is probably the saddest of all. This past Friday, my mom and I were across town for an appointment and were miraculously running ahead of schedule (really, this is incredible for my mother; go mom!) so I suggested that we stop by the SPCA just for fun to look at the dogs. Now I know what you’re all thinking! You’re thinking that this is an unwise decision because I will inevitably fall in love with one of the dogs and not be able to leave it. But I must say that I’m not THAT bad. Yes, I did fall in love with one of the dogs. However, I had no intention of taking it home until my mother piped in, “Well maybe we could take it home for the weeked to see if Dad likes her.” So I didn’t refuse for a minute!

^^^ Oh, cute.

This is an incredible dog. She’s a ten month old border collie mix (with some hound in there somewhere) and we bonded immediatly. Mona pressed her body sideways up against the fence so I could reach through with my fingers to pet her as best as I could. We touched faces through the fence and she licked my nose gently. I was in love. And to this day, I have not heard her bark once (though, she does bark- my mom heard her one night while I was out of the house). She knows the rules- no jumping, no peeing in the house (she has yet to make a mess ANYWHERE, including her crate). Mona ended up at the SPCA when her former owner, a single woman, had a landlord who did not approve of the dog being in the apartment. So obviously she’s a great girl who ended up in a not-so-great situation.

^^^ I typed in “Border collie – hound” into google image. Mona looks a lot like this. Be still my beating heart!

The sad part is that my dad is NOT buying it. Again…bad economy. “We can’t afford a dog,” he says. I pleaded, “Let me take her back to school with me! I promise I’ll make it work! She’s the perfect size! I’ll pay for everything!” Then of course he reminds me that I have no money. So that’s the situation. I have to take her back to the SPCA by Friday. Until then, I am madly searching for a home that will take her. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. And she’s great with other dogs and kids! And those eyes… : (  On a lighter note, I am sure that someone great will take her. I’m just afraid that I will never see her again.

^^^ That’s about her size…But she’s more black than white.

And that pretty much wraps up this session. I must return to my GRE preparation and DEQ fun! Until next time, friends!

The top 5 items every outdoorsman / woman must have:

You know, readers, I could just get on here every week or so and rant about my crazy hectic life, but I won’t do that to you. It’s been a while since I have made a post in series format so I will humor the Google search engine and compile yet another list for you fine people.

^^^ “Dude, did you seriously eat ALL the Fig Newtons?” It’s happened before.

Recently I have been focusing on re-vamping (or creating from scratch, rather) my collection of outdoorsy paraphenalia. There are just certain things that you should have on your person when you are partaking in any outside activity. This accounts especially for hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, and whatever else people might do outside besides a leisurely game of badmitten. So here it is! The top five items you should seriously think about investing in when it comes to outdoor sports:

1. A pocket knife- Now, I actually went all out and got the Leatherman Skeletool multi-tool that includes a nice blade, changeable screwdriver sets, and pliers. However, since we’re only talking bare essentials (and a Philip’s head usually doesn’t make the difference between life and death on the trails), I will simply say that all you REALLY need is a good pocket knife. Define good pocket knife: A GOOD knife has a straight tip and is nicely serrated towards the base of the blade. It will LOCK in place upon being opened but also opens easily (even with the use of one hand). The most important thing to consider is how you as the wielder feels with the knife. Is it comfortable and natural to you? Do you feel confident and safe with it? These are all questions you should ask yourself. TRY OUT THE KNIFE IN THE STORE! Make the clerk take it out of the case and show you how it works before you fool around with it. The reason you want a straight tip with a serrated base is because you might need to cut rope. So many people carry around tiny little straight blades but I’m telling you now, when you are out in the wilderness, that isn’t gonna cut it…no pun intended (haha!). Also, your knife should be large enough to cut something but not so large that it is unruly to carry. A good rule of thumb for knife size- when your knife is folded up, it shouldn’t extend beyond your middle finger when laying flat in your hand.

^^^ This is my beauty. The blade is relatively small but it has a really strong base and is quite tough for its size.

^^^ I don’t know why the knife says “Police” on it so I am going to assume that this is a standard knife used by the Police. And it’s the only image of a desent knife I could find on the web. This is a good small to medium size pocket knife that will cut rope or skin an animal if you really need it to… if you get stranded.  : /

2. A flashlight! Always always always carry a flashlight with you! You never know when you are going to get stuck on the trail or on the water in the dark. This is REALLY important if you are a caver! Going caving has a whole new set of implications with flashlights. Recently, I purchased a “Surefire” flashlight that is actually bright yellow so it’s easier to find it in the dark. FINALLY! Someone realized the irony of black flashlights. This particular flashlight is small, lightweight, and has a tough polymer exterior designed for dropping and tough excursions (you know you will). Also, it uses high output lithium batteries, producing stronger light and the battery life is longer. If you are doing some serious through hiking or caving, consider a headlamp and a hand crank emergency flashlight along with your regular flashlight just in case your batteries die.

3. Good hiking boots. A good pair of boots these days contains two things: Vibram soles and Gortex. Vibram is, “Designed to perform in diverse and rugged terrain. Exclusive Vibram compounds guarantee maximum traction on both wet and dry surfaces.” Many different brands will offer Vibram soles but only some offer water-proofing Gortex, where “The outer layer keeps liquid moisture from penetrating, and yet its microporous structure aids your body’s natural cooling process by allowing perspiration vapor to escape.” Pretty nifty! Also, you want your boots to fit, but always make sure you have room for thick socks. You should be wearing thick socks with your hiking boots 99% of the time anyway. Choose a lightweight pair that offers all these features and you should be good to go! Here’s the pair I just purchased.

^^^ This boot is aparently named “The Siren.” HOLLER!

4. FOOD! Never never never hit the trails / rivers/ rock walls / caves without food. For one, you don’t want to flake out in the middle of your fun adventure. Always stay hydrated and comfortably fed. More importantly, however, if by some chance you DO get stranded, you will have something to hold you over JUST IN CASE before cannibalism sets in. Take trail mix with lots of dried fruit and nuts. Make sure its relatively low in sodium so you don’t get dehydrated! That’s important! Take a couple apples/ bananas/ random produce (more than you need for one trip). Jerky could work too. The only thing about jerky is that it is very salty (it will dehydrate you) and you will end up expending more calories by simply chewing the jerky than you will gain from eating it. Nevertheless, in a dire situation, anything is better than nothing. Complex carbohydrates are good- whole grain crackers and such. I am also a big advocate of peanut butter…the crunchy kind. You should always come back from a hiking trip with food you haven’t eaten.

^^^ I would also add, “Bring lots of water…as in, more than one bottle,” but I hope that goes without saying.  : )

5. A rain coat. Again, very critical. Even when it’s summertime, I always take my raincoat Let me be clear that I’m not talking about a random poncho I bought at a football game when I was ten years old. Go to a local sporting goods store and pick out a REAL rain slicker with a mesh lining. I got a rain coat on clearance a couple years ago and I’m not gonna lie, the zipper stinks and it constantly getting stuck but that jacket has kept me impeccably warm in dry on some of the coldest, rainiest days. And I can get very cold, very easily! I have also worn than jacket on a blistering hot hike out in the open fields of Grayson County highlands because I had forgotten my sunscreen and was starting to get severely burned.  The point is, this jacket should keep you warm when its cold, but should still be wearable when it’s hot. Last but not least, make sure the HOOD WORKS on YOUR HEAD! Try it on. Pull the drawstrings. If the hood doesn’t fit, move on, because wet hair is the last thing you need on the trail.

^^^ Like I said, my jacket was a discounted Nike jacket. But it’s a sporting jacket so it serves its purpose. However, if you have a little more cash to burn, the North Face has really good rain jackets. Also, check out Patagonia.

And there you have it, readers! The top five things to have on the trails with you, in no particular order. As a side note, always carry a cell phone, even if you don’t have a signal. For one, you never know when it will pick up. Number two, you can actually ignite a spark with a cell phone battery. Don’t ask me how…that’s another entry. But I’m sure if you were trapped in the woods long enough, you’d get around to figuring it out (or at least trying). One last thing, always carry your ID on you. As cynical as this sounds, if something happens to your, ahem, body, officials will be able to identify you. : )   YAY! I love this stuff! Now go have fun out there!

^^^ “Oooo, ahhh…”

Swing me way down South…

Readers, I have returned from the mother-land! Literally, it is the land of my mother- Georgia. My mother and I had the opportunity to road-trip down South this past weekend. We left at 5:30 a.m. on Friday morning to set out for Tifton, Georgia, which is basically at the Georgia-Florida border.

^^^ Tifton is in the Valdosta region. Whew! What a drive.

Now I’ve always known that I was a Southerner but on this trip, I really tried to allow myself to become enveloped in the whole philosophy of the South. My accent always comes back when I leave my college town but down in Georgia, it came WAY back! Like I said, we drove for about 10 hours straight, stopping only for Bojangles and later for Chick-fil-a, two staple fast food establishments orginating in the South. And I have to say, we were so hungry when we finally stopped for breakfast (after driving for four hours), that Bojangles cajun chicken biscuit was quite possibly the most delectable morsel of food I have ever consumed in my lifetime of twenty-one years.

^^^ Just looking at this image makes my mouth water. You MUST try a Bojangles cajun chicken biscuit at some point in your life.

Between our food stops, we needed to gas up the car so we pulled over at this run-down gas station just below Atlanta. The store clerk was a elderly gentleman with a long white beard wearing an old truckers hat, standing behind the counter wistling loudly and proficiently. As we approached the counter to check out, my mom says to the old man, “I bet nobody else in this store knows what your wistlin’.” The man smiled, “Do you know  the song?” Of course she did…she’s from Georgia. “Ramblin’ Rose,” my mother replied.

^^^ Ahhh…I love oldies…

This prompted the old man to break into song. Right there, as other customers proceeded to shop, the man serenaded us to the tune of “Ramblin’ Rose” by Nat King Cole. Then mom joined in and the two of them sang the whole song, right there at the counter of the gas station. At that moment, the only thing I could think in my mind was, “Yep. M’home.” Ahh, I love the South.

^^^ Haha!

From there, we arrived at the University of Georgia, Tifton campus where I met with three professors who had a chance to look at my curriculum vitae and offer some helpful advice on how to get into graduate school. I’m glad my first campus visit was at the Tifton campus- everyone was so Southern and friendly, making it a good warm-up round for “How to talk to graduate professors, 101.”

^^^ When we called one of my mom’s old friends to plan a rendez-vous, his first question was, “You got one fixin’ to be a bulldog?” Hahaha! Fixin’.

Once we were done in Tifton, we made our way back to Atlanta after stopping in Macon for dinner with an old friend (we have lots of old friends in the land of peaches). Finding our hotel in Atlanta was a TRIP! It was in the most impossible location EVER and despite the fact that I was on the phone with the hotel clerk, we were having no luck in communicating. She kept giving me stoplights as landmarks: “You should see a stoplight. Turn left there.” I replied several times, “There are lots of stoplights,” which there were. After driving in circles for about forty minutes, we finally found our hotel in the most secluded location possible, parked behind ANOTHER hotel. There were no signs, either. Let this be a lesson to all: I hereby declare that I will book hotel reservations for me and my mother’s outings from now on.

^^^ You’re telling me!

The next day, we visited Athens, home of the University of Georgia (main campus), and Gainesville, mom’s hometown. Athens was absolutely beautiful and the UGA campus was ENORMOUS. It reminded me a lot of the University of Virginia…only older, I think. UGA was the first established public university in the United States and is ranked as an “Unofficial Ivy-league” university. The campus itself is a testament to architecture throughout the last couple centuries; from the back to the front, the buildings grow younger and younger. Because it was a Saturday, no professors were around, so we only had a chance to look around campus ourselves.

^^^ Um. The campus was huge. And gorgeous.

Once we got to Gainesville, we wasted no time in meeting up with some old friends of my mom’s. And when I say old, they really are old. Which was great! I really enjoy spending time with individuals from older generations which might explain why I hang with my mom on the weekends. I had the treat of spending a whole evening (until about midnight) with three different individuals: one was the mother of my mom’s childhood best friend- we took her out to dinner where we learned quickly that she didn’t like shrimp and that there was no way we were paying for our own food. The next was a friend of my grandmother’s who writes inspirational Christian stories for “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” and whose husband was once the mayor of Gainesville. Our last visit was with the town Pharmacist whose wife was my grandmother’s best friend. We called to see if he was available that evening after the dinner hours, “How late do you stay up, Charlie?” He replied very frankly, “Twelve thirty.” I chuckled. And we stayed until twelve thirty, talking the night away in Charlie’s den.

^^^ His den was really old world Georgia– Cozy, slightly over packed with piles of books everywhere, paintings covering every inch of the walls. I loved it.

Then Sunday came. The BIG day. It was time to prepare for the Coldplay concert. Mom and I went into Atlanta to visit one last person then spent the remainder of the afternoon wandering around the city. After visiting our hotel one last time to freshen up, we were off to the concert at Lakewood Ampitheatre. Did I mention that this was an outdoor venue and that it had been raining ALL DAY LONG? Our original plan was to buy tickets for the lawn that encircled the outer edge of the ampitheatre but luckily, we decided to upgrade and go for the tickets that were smack dab in the center of the audience…and under the overhang. The crowd was great. To our left were two gay guys, to our right, several graduates from Georgia Tech University, and behind us were students from University of Georgia. So you can imagine, the crowd was very young and FUN! We all had some drinks, took pictures, danced, sang… It just proves that a show is only as good as its crowd. And the lights were AMAZING! These globes descended from the ceiling of the stage and projected images or colors. During the song “Yellow”, a ton of giant yellow balloons were released from the ceiling of the ampitheatre. The balloons bounced off the crowd as they worked their way towards the stage. It was a surreal image!

^^^ Everything was lit up yellow!

^^^ This is how it opened.

^^^ I loved the confetti!

Before we even left for Georgia, my mother did her fair share of Coldplay concert research and found that we would be getting a free CD at the end of the show. She also discovered that the band actually travels to the back of the auditorium at each show! The first part I believed, but I had trouble imagining Coldplay out in the rain on the lawn–so mom and I made a bet. And I lost. She was right! They played out in the rain, on the LAWN! The whole show was really amazing. Chris Martin could be likened to Mick Jagger in his performance style; it amazed me at how much he could run and dance around the stage while singing at the same time! The next morning was our scheduled departure and pit-stop in Clemson, South Carolina where I would have several meetings with MORE professors.

^^^ Alright. Alright. She was right, I was wrong. They came into the crowd.

My time at Clemson University was well spent. I had the privilege of meeting with four different professors and a graduate student. The first professor I spoke with was a little Polish woman who is the graduate coordinator for the program I was interested in. When I first arrived, her prominent concern was that I had not decided whether or not I wanted to persue a master’s degree or go directly into a PhD program. After trying to convince me nicely to go straight into a PhD program, she made a startling analogy to get my attention. In her Polish accent, she asked, “Do you want to be like the house wife who sits at home and does everything the man tells her to do? Or do you want to make your own decisions and stand on your own two feet? That is the difference between a master’s degree and a PhD.”

^^^ A view of Clemson’s oldest building, I believe…or one of them.

“Whoa,” I thought. So as of now, I am leaning towards a PhD. But it’s still up in the air. After spending four straight hours meeting with Clemson faculty, I was exhausted and starving. Mom and I took off to Cracker Barrel and feasted on cornbread, chicken, cooked carrots, potatoes, and corn on the cob. It was our last high calorie, Southern food “hoo-rah.” Delicious.

^^^ Mmmm, heart attack on a plate.

The next day, I started my internship with the Department of Environmental Quality which, so far, has proven to be the most incedible opportunity I’ve ever had. I go conoeing and boating on lakes daily. We spend our time in some of the most beautiful regions of Virginia. Today, we saw two bald eagles in the wild on a lake run. Again, incredible. I am learning how to use a “Sonde” which is a tool used to measure pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen levels, and conductivity in water. How cool is that?

^^^ And THIS is a sonde.

In short, I am having the time of my life. I’m learning a lot. I’m playing a lot. And I have more to look forward to. I will keep you all updated as much as possible! Until next time!

Hot days and damp skin…

I AM HOME!!!!!! Finally! It’s summertime. My finals are over. My grades are posted. Junior year is officially finished. Even still, I have lots to look forward to this summer. Here is a brief list of activities I am partaking in over the next few months:

1. Mayfly research, of course! : )

^^^ I love fieldwork.

2. Internship with the Department of Environmental Quality in water quality management. (Um, YAY for opportunities!!!)

^^^ YAY!

3. Plant collection for Plant Taxonomy II.

^^^ I get to use a plant press like this!

4. Insect collection for Entomology.

^^^ Hm. Lots of Coleoptera (beetles).

5. PICKING GRADUATE SCHOOLS!

^^^ Yep.

6. GREs  (sad face)

^^^ Oh dear.

7. Road-tripping to SEE graduate schools!

^^^ Just me and the open road…

8. And seeing Coldplay in Georgia with my mom in a week! We have tickets for the lawn!

^^^ I love summer concerts!

So as you can see, my summer is going to be filled with lots of academic activity. And it’s all so exciting! Life is just taking off at an alarming rate; I love this feeling of anticipation. A few weeks ago, some of my girl-friends and I went out to eat at our favorite sushi place for dinner. Of course we got our fortune cookies at the end of the meal and eagerly cracked them open to see what was in store for us. Mine read, “Great things in future. Only matter of time.” That about sums it up. And I feel it coming…

^^^ Ouch.

Do you ever have that feeling? Do you ever feel untouchable? I do sometimes. I believe it is imparative to have that feeling at least once in your life. Allow yourself to feel on top of the world, whether or not it’s true.

^^^ He’s in Egypt. Of course he feels on top of the world.

There is something exhilerating about summertime. Days are longer. Nights are warmer. Your clothes get sticky. And a feeling of contentment is always in the air. Cheers.

^^^ Ahh, meadows…

There’s a squirrel in my wall…

Yes, I realize that I have not written in quite some time now, readers. Things have been a little hectic around here and I have a paper that I am only halfway finished with that is due tomorrow that I should be writing right now. But I figure I have all day and it will get done eventually. However, this will be short and sweet.

This past Friday afternoon, my roommates and myself began transference into a BIGGER, “better” apartment just next to ours. We upgraded to a three-bedroom. Before, Cher and I were sharing a small bedroom but now that we will be seniors, we all thought it would be nice to live lavishly our last year in college.

Upon entering our new apartment, we witnessed a total mess. Apparently there had been a breakdown in communication and the maintenance staff had not been notified that they needed to have our new place ready by the end of April. So we spent the first half of Friday cleaning with the maintenance staff and the second half moving all our BIG furniture. I am AMAZED at what Lafonda, Cher, and myself were able to move by ourselves. Three ladies! Who knew? Although, near the end of the day, we did get some help moving two desks; we were getting very tired. At that point, everything was nicely cleaned by the wonderful maintenance staff and we were mostly moved.

That night, I slept soundly…until my sleep was disrupted by a scratching sound in the wall next to my pillow. Long story short, for the next three nights, I shared my room with a squirrel who somehow managed to get into the wall. I called the emergency maintenance number on Sunday when I finally decided there was something living in there. Nothing was done. I called again on Monday and although they paid a visit to my apartment, they told me they would assess the situation tomorrow…which is today.

So here I am at 3:15 p.m. This morning, maintenance cut a hole in the ceiling and taped a trash bag to the hole. On top of the trash bag was a plate of peanut butter. Accroding to maintenance, the squirrel would go for the bait and then fall through the trash bag. Upon landing in my room, he would flee out of the window. Seriously? I think I would expect to see elephants flying first.

However, the maintenance guys were nice and they seemed like they knew what they were doing, so I trusted their plan. When I returned to my apartment after lunch today to see what progress had been made, no one was there and nothing had happened. Scruffy (the name my mother gave to the squirrel) had managed to eat the peanut butter off the plate without falling through.

Again, long story short, I contacted the front office and decided that after three days of playing ring-around-the-rosy with a rodent, some forward progression needed to happen, pronto. I got in touch with a wildlife control company who is supposed to be stopping by this evening. When I told them what had been done thus far to handle this situation, they laughed. They seemed to think that Scruffy has a way in and out of my ceiling and/or wall and will be setting traps for tonight. : )

Meanwhile, I have a paper to finish and final exams to study for. Agh. Other than having a gaping hole in my new ceiling and a squirrel living with me, everything else is going rather well, I daresay. And summer is just around the corner…it’ll be me and the trees. : )

Until next time! Hopefully by then I will truly have my own room.

Crunch time and the Duke Marine Lab!

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is officially “crunch time” in the world of colleges and universities. This week I have two exams, my induction into TriBeta Biological Honors Fraternity (Yay!), a paper due nest Tuesday and yet ANOTHER biochem exam next Thursday. Then I have another paper due as well as a presentation. Whew! I am feeling the heat! But it’s all good and I will take it in stride as best as I can.

In other news, I just recently got back from a class fieldtrip to Beaufort, North Carolina. My Invertebrate Zoology class traveled with part of the Oceanography class to the Duke Marine Lab on Piver’s Island and had a marvelous time dredging, trolling, and mucking around on the mud flats. The place was truly beautiful. We got to stay in these cozy little houses with cozy little bunk-beds. It was really like going to camp for a weekend!

^^^ Here is a view of the island and the courtyard separating the labs and dorms. Labs are on the right, dorms on the left.

As much as I enjoyed my trip, I had some emotional hurdles to get over. My once-boyfriend was on the trip. We had signed up for the trip together while we were an item. Even still, after we split I had not anticipated it being a problem since we were doing the “friend” thing pretty well. For some reason, I felt stiffled the entire weekend. Every time he was around, my heart sank. I don’t know how to explain it or why I felt so down. I suppose it’s because he was spending time with every other person on the trip besides me; it was a constant reminder that I no longer have any claim on him. Or maybe it’s because we were in a beautiful, potentially romantic setting, and I felt completely alone. Many times, I couldn’t wait to get home.

^^^ This was the view from the chemistry building on the island. I studied there at night and it was gorgeous.

In the midst of the painful reminders, I did enjoy myself and experienced many new things I had never tried before. For example, I DROVE THE BOAT! Not just a little dinky boat but the BIG boat! Upon making friends with the captain, I had the opportunity to steer around the waterways as we dredged for more specimens. To “dredge,” we put a heavy metal basket thing that was connected to the boat by two poles down into the water and dragged it along the ocean floor. The basket would be reeled back in and its contents dumped out onto the deck for us to sort through.

^^^ I googled Duke Marine Lab and this is one of the images I found. I think this might be the exact boat I was on!

We found a giant female horseshoe crab, MANY sea urchins, striped hermit crabs, blue crabs, stone crabs, chitins…And you get the point. When we trolled, we fished out many squids, a couple flounder, and sting rays too! That was all on the first day but on Saturday, we got to visit the mud flats!

^^^ It was EXTREMELY easy to get stuck.

This time, we were looking for conchs, whelks, sand dollars, and you guessed it, more crabs. By sheer happenstance, I was the ONLY ONE who got completely wet on this part of our journey. As I was delving around in a deeper tide pool, I got stuck in the mud. This wasn’t just any mud- it was a mud flat by the ocean meaning that the moisture from the incoming tides keeps the sediments extremely fine and tightly packed. So once you’re in, your are IN. Back to story- I was in this tide pool, right? And I stepped down with my left foot but as I began to pull it up, it did not budge one millimeter. Mind you, I am already thigh-deep in water but I was wearing water-waders. So I tried to correct myself, leaning back a bit but I over-corrected, so I leaned forward quickly, then back, then forward, then back…Then down. I looked like a pendulum teetered like that. I have already been approached twice in the Science Building on campus about my fall. And I was the ONLY one who got completely wet. A few others fell in the mud so it was nice to have friends to share the joy of dirtiness with!

^^^ Ah, waders.

We left on Sunday and stopped at Fort Macon on the way back which was a TON of fun! This was such a cool place to explore! There were tall walls and lots of nooks and cranies to explore!

A good friend of mine who roomed with me on the trip had loads of fun taking cool pictures at this place. I would suggest this as a stop if any of you readers find yourself along the North Carolina coastline. And now, I must get back to crunching. There are things to be done that I must do.

Just need to write…again.

This post will serve as a short update to my readers. I don’t really have anything specific that I feel like writing about so I will discuss a whole bunch of nothing.

Just got out of a Biochemistry exam. I studied a lot for it. Now I just want to roll over and play dead. But I think I did well!

^^^ This is one of the things we were tested on. Gotta love alpha-helices and beta-sheets!

The other day I was at the gym with Lafonda. I always listen to my Bollywood music when I am working out. As I pumped the elliptical, a thought occured to me: “Why am I not taking belly dancing classes?” I took one class through my gym in my hometown over the summer but I haven’t had the chance to continue since I came back to school. Plus, I felt like the class at the gym was more fitness oriented rather than dance oriented. So I looked over at Lafonda, mid-sweat, and said, “Let’s take belly dancing classes.” And she replied with a cheerful smile, “OK!”

^^^ She seemed really excited when I presented my scheme to her!

That night I went home and googled for local dance studios that offer belly dancing. Sure enough, I found one that is only about fifteen minutes away! YES! We started last Wednesday and we have class once a week. I plan on continuing my lessons over the summer through another instructor in my hometown. Hip-scarves, here I come! It’s actually pretty tough. It’s not like working out where you sweat and your heartrate goes up, but the muscles you use to bend your body are pretty discrete, thus, soreness in my side every Thursday morning. We have learned horizontal and vertical figure eights (this is a hip thing), “snake arms” or arm oscillations, and other varying shoulder rolls and booty-shakes. Right now, it’s all very elementary but Lafonda and I are having a great time!

^^^ This is gonna be good.

I’m ready for summertime. I am so sick of constantly wearing jackets. Speaking of which, I should go work on my internship applications instead of rambling about a whole bunch of nothing to you fine people! Until next time!

^^^ I can’t WAIT to kayak again!

21 questions, part deux!

Almost a year ago, I wrote a post called, ” 21 questions: THE questions to ask when you are playing this ridiculous game.” Well, readers, it is with great excitement and pleasure that I introduce an extension of the first posting so that you may extend your conversation time. Disclaimer: I like to add my own little interpretations. Most are supposed to be funny so as a reader, don’t take my remarks too seriously in these things. Here we go!

1. Scotch tape, duct tape, or electrical tape? (Scotch tape- Afraid of commitment, maybe? Or they might be messy, needing lots of redoes. Duct tape- Into permanence; lacks the ability to properly repair broken items, i.e., cars, cabinets, furniture…You get the picture. “If you can’t duct it, _____ it.” Electrical tape- This person is probably pretty handy but might have experience wiring bombs. Hehe!)

Vs. 

^^^ Is that guy repairing an airplane wing with duct tape?

2. When communicating from a distance, do you prefer the telephone or instant messenger? (This is an easy one: If they answer, “Phone,” this person is a talker.)

^^^ “I’d rather be on AIM!”

3. Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? (Always a good inticator! I find that milk chocolate people tend to be more playful and dark chocolate people seem more introverted and serious. I like different kinds of chocolate depending on my mood.)

4. How do you set your wrist watch? (Exactly on time- Punctual. Five minutes fast- Very punctual and sometimes early. Ten minutes fast- Always late. Doesn’t have a watch- This person probably enjoys freedom and doesn’t have much of a schedule.)

^^^ That’s just ridiculous. You could tag and track a Great White Shark with this thing.

5. Button jeans or zipper jeans? (Buttons- Umm…Maybe they want you to work for it…? Zippers- Practical and timely!)

Vs.

^^^ Hmmm.

6. Would you rather break your pointer finger of your dominant hand or one of your toes? (Finger- this person is most likely an athlete or doesn’t like sitting still. I think I would opt for having a broken finger because sitting on my tush for too long would drive me insane. Plus, I like the idea of being able to run away from the Predator…just in case. Toe- maybe this person has a job involving a lot of manual tasks like typing or writing. They may not necessarily need their toe any time soon. Either that, or the Predator doesn’t live in their neighborhood.)

^^^ If Arnold can do it, I can too!!!

7. If you could only listen to one CD (not a burned mix) for the rest of your life, which one would you choose? (Obviously there are thousands of variables here. For me, it would be the “Pride and Predjudice” soundtrack composed by Jean-Yves Thibaudet. It was a tough call between that and my “Mondo India” CD.)

Vs.

^^^ UGH! An impossible choice.

8. Summer rain or winter snow? (This is a tough one. Rain- Doesn’t mind the humidity and heat. Possibly an aural person who likes the sound of rain. Snow- Likes cooler temperatures and the indoors. Probably hates insects the size of their hand. Appreciates solitude and quiet days in with tea and coffee.)

Vs.

^^^ Personally, I love the hot sticky feeling of summer rain. That picture reminds me of summer rain in my hometown with all the mountains. Against the greenery, you can always see a storm coming.

9. Bottled water, tap water, or filtered water? (Bottled- Ok, this is just my biased environmentalist opinion, but this person has no regard for the environment. Although, on occasion, I will purchase bottled water when I have to. Usually I use my “Klean Kanteen” and refill it. Tap- Laid back. Filtered- health conscious.)

^^^ Just fill it from the tap and go!

10. Eiffel Tower or Leaning Tower of Pisa? (Eiffel- Enjoys cheese, wine, and Monet. Pisa- Marinara sauce, Michelangelo, the Classics, and gondola rides.)

Vs.

^^^ That’s tough. Can I have both?

11. Hot dog or hamburger? (Hot dogs- All American! This person is possibly a fun-loving, baseball game-going personality…and is not concerned about the content of hot dogs! Hamburger- This is a meat-loving person who enjoys a nice chunk of food and immediate satisfaction.)

Vs.  

^^^ Hopefully you would get a whole hamburger, not just half of one.

12. What is your favorite Disney movie? (The Fox and the Hound- Sentimental. Cinderella- Believes in everlasting love and Prince Charming. Pocohontas- Adventurous! Beauty and Beast- Loves to read! You get the picture…)

^^^ I won’t lie. Even after my relationship let-downs, I still believe that everlasting love exists in somewhere out there.

13. If someone asked you for directions, would you draw a map, write them down in sequence, or explain it verbally? (Draws a map- This person is visual. Writes it down- Usually not very good at listening or hearing things so they write it down. I am this way. If you tell me something, I will never remember it, but if I read it or see it, I’m good to go. Verbally- This person is aural. They can hear something and retain it. At the beginning of this semester, my Biochemistry professor had all of us do the VARK test which stands for “Visual Aural Reading/Writing and Kinesthetic. Look it up online and take the test. It tells you how you learn!)

14. What is the meaning of life? (Again, the variables are endless. But this may strike an interesting conversation!)

^^^ Quite possibly one of my most favorite books, one of the characters says that the meaning of Life is in his old, tattered rug that he has owned for countless years. Think about it. What would you do with an old, tattered rug?

15. How many speeding tickets have you had? (Zero- They are either really boring or really lucky. Between one and three- About moderate. Four or more? Never ride in a car with this person.)

^^^ Haha!

16. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

^^^ It just occured to me that this image is twinkling…

17. Period, question mark, or exclamation point? (A period- Straight to the point and even-keeled. Question mark- Introspective and obviously asks a lot of questions. Exclamation point- Probably very energetic. May have extreme moods with bouts of absolute happiness, saddness, or whatever.)

18. If you could visit one planet, which one would it be? (Mercury- “Some Like it Hot.” Venus- Some like it a little less hot. Mars- This is the planet that most likely had or may one day have the ability to sustain life…So a person who chooses Mars is likely a realist in that they would pick the planet that would apply to humans the most. Jupiter- Umm, size matters? Either that, or they are a meteorologist of sorts that want to study the storm spot! Saturn- Trekkie. Neptune- Likes the color blue! Uranus- This would be the kid on the back of the bus who made really immature jokes throughout his childhood…and adulthood. Pluto- The optimist who is still has faith that it’s a real planet.)

^^^ SWEET!

19. Speaking of outer space, do you believe in extra-terrestrial life forms? (This could get interesting…)

^^^ “Greetings!”

20. Lemon or lime? (Lemons make me think of very flirty, playful people. Lime makes me think of a smooth operator…)

Vs.

^^^ My mother would pick the lime, no doubt; that’s what goes best with Corona. Haha! Or you could just have a Sprite and get over it.

21. Overhead lights or lamps? (Overhead lights- Quite possibly a very diligent, hard-working person who doesn’t put much stock in taking time to turn on five different lamps as oppose to just flipping one switch. Or they are blind. Lamps- This person may be a little more laid back, enjoying soft lighting.)

Vs.

^^^ I am partial to the soothing light emitted from a lamp.

And there you have…Again! I hope these were as good as the last. I was digging deep! It’s difficult coming up with these things! Until next time, readers. I have a Biochemistry exam coming up this week so you may not hear from me for a whiiiiiiiile.