Can you feel the wind?

Sitting out on the russel house patio has sort of placed me into contemplative, yet peaceful mood. I don't know how many people have noticed, but there is an oak tree planted right in the middle of the patio planted in memory of 911. The plaque states "The strength and longevity of this oak is symbolic of our Nation's continued resolve to promote freedom and peace". What a wonderful thought, but I can't help but reflect on the past 10 years and ignore the extreme lack of freedom and peace in so many places.

Fantastic!

Well! It is 2 days before my 22nd birthday and I finally weigh 200lbs. 1 lb away from being under 200 for the first time since I was 15 years old. Total weight loss since going to SC... 28 lbs.

I bought a new bathing suit, some cute clothes at stores I'd never though I'd be able to buy clothes at! This time next year I hope to be around 130, or at least under 145. Let's do this!

On the Edge of Glory

Man, I really like some of lady gaga's new songs. They're different than her old ones, but still good. My current song obsession off the album is edge of glory. That song makes me want to just drive down the highway and feel free.


In other news, today we started our last experiment. Tomorrow we are running chlorophyll a fluorescence and presenting data for each location. Then all I have to do is write my final paper and I'm finished! I'm definitely procrastinating on my paper by writing here... I'm thinking of doing a synthesis of some primary production/respiration data with some nutrient analysis in order to compare how they relate to climate change. This is all a maybe, I've gotta sit and think about it before I'm totally sure.

I had a really good time at the beach yesterday. I don't get to go that often, which is quite ironic since I'm a marine science major. Oh well. Can't wait to be done!

I held a shark!

Me with a shark!

Marine Science Summer Camp

I've been at the coast for about 7 days now, and so far I've enjoyed it. We did some epifluorescence microscopy monday to quantify bacteria. The day was really long and very boring, except for using the epifluorescence microscope. That was so freaking cool! Otherwise, waiting around and making slides every two hours was kinda dull. The next day we did nutrient concentration analysis of NH3 and PO4 using a spectrophotometer. Our samples were taken with and ISCO every 12 hours as the tide came in and out. It seems that the nutrient concentrations went up as the tide went out, so that was a basic and simple enough experiment.

Then we came to Nekton day! Which, I'm not a fan of nekton as a studying interest, but I did have a lot of fun. We went out on a boat in the morning to do some sampling. Our group did seines and trammels at a few locations. Then we processed data from a group that collected seine samples from somewhere we didn't sample. So that means the afternoon was spent measuring lengths, weight and counting fish while identifying them. Then it was dinner break before going to get even more samples, except in the dark. We went on the bigger boat and I just happen to be in the right spot when the guy said, here steer the boat keep it in the middle. I then traded off with another girl cause I was a bit nervous. It was so calm and peaceful on the marsh at night. I really really liked it. There is so much noise pollution in our daily lives that we don't even realize. The next morning we analyzed samples from night and then got to do a presentation on all the data!

Todays our day off, a lot of people went to the beach and off kayaking. I was going to kayaking, but when I woke up this morning opted for more sleep. So, I'm thinking I'll have this place to myself for the day. Which is good, I like having alone time. Its funny, this whole thing is exactly like being at summer camp to learn marine science, only we are older.

Next week is primary and secondary production stuff. I'm sure it'll go by pretty fast. I'm just looking forward to getting these last few credit hours done so I can feel like that graduation on saturday a week ago is finally complete.

Olive Oil Hair Treatment

Like always I spent today doing nothing but procrastinating. So I decided that I would try conditioning my hair with olive oil. I took about a half cup of olive oil and then heated it for about a half minute before putting it in my hair. Then put the hair up in a towel and waited for a half hour. It was kinda weird, then I took a shower to wash it out and I'm not sure if I'm a fan. I mean, generally, my hair is pretty shiny and semi soft so it didn't really change. Maybe, a different hair type benefits more from this, but I don't think mine really did.

I will eventually start studying for my final on monday and finish both my project and take home final due wednesday. WHY do I always wait until last minute.

bugs....

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I'm at war with every form of bug currently living anywhere near my little cottage. I put up a barrier and laid down liquid ant bait in order to get rid of these little ants that seem to think its okay to come in and invade my home. WHICH IT IS NOT! So, they've been disappearing. The barrier I put up so that ants, spiders, ticks, roaches, other assortments of bugs would die if they came in contact with it. I put this all around the house, and I guess a roach decided that he was already in and not going to be affected by the barrier. That or he crossed and was on his way to death. I then caught it trying to hide in my sheets! UGHHHHH! Now I need to change my whole bed even though it was just cleaned like... two days ago. And with the help of Elijah I caught the damn thing and killed it. AND NOW THERES ANOTHER!!!!!!! IT just ran under my freaking bed.


THIS IS WAR!!!!


Update. just got the second one. I hope there aren't any more.