Pixxelations.net

I made it through the first week back to school. It is a little overwhelming to get back into the swing of things, but I think it’s going to be ok. What really stressed me out was the math “pre-requisite” quiz that I had to take. While nothing will happen if I don’t pass it, it is strongly recommended that we reconsider the class we are in if we fail it. This was difficult because it was tons and tons of different topics that I had to review and study, for what turned out to be a 12 question quiz. I will get my results back on Tuesday. While I know I didn’t get a 100, I think I got a fair amount of the problems correct. Time will tell.

My earth & planetary sciences class and lab will be interesting. Based on first impressions, I like both the professor who is lecturing and the TA I have for lab. I think the lab has potential to be pretty challenging, a lot of material to learn.

The thing that is most frustrating is the parking situation. I have to park at the football stadium, and then ride the UNM shuttle bus over to campus. This is hard because at the time I get there on Tuesday and Thursday, there are a ton of people waiting for the bus, all trying to shove their way through the crowd and onto the bus so they don’t have to wait for the next one. All this takes time and so I have to get up even earlier and fight my way through mobs of grimy college boys and sluty college girls. It is at this point, and when I actually have to sit down and do homework, that I have to remind myself I have expressly picked this path!

Oh sweet weekend why did you go so fast?! I can’t believe it is already over. I took a three day weekend and it was wonderful. I didn’t do anything particularly eventful but it was great. Here’s a quick list of things I did. More tomorrow or some time this week about my first day back to school which happens tomorrow!

• Played lots of WoW. Got my new hunter Chai to level 10 and got her a bear cub for a pet. Got Hylaa to level 57.
• Bought books for school, a new back pack and a fancy dancy calculator.
• Went to my parent’s neighborhood BBQ. Brian was supposed to entertain the kids by juggling and making balloon animals, but luckily for his sake he got out of it.
• Registered to attend my 10 year high school reunion and made unsuccessful attempts to find something to wear.
• Looooved all the rain.

I, and all my Gemini friends, are notoriously indecisive people. We blame this all on our Gemini status. It’s quite true, the split personality thing totally applies causing one to be either incapable of making a decision, or switching between decisions non stop. Well today I made a big decision. And the most awesome thing about it… no regrets, I am totally confident in what I decided.

I had been doing some looking around since sooner or later I won’t have a job where I am currently employed. I had found, and applied for a District Trainer position with a huge international company. I was lucky enough to get an interview. It went very well and I proceeded to complete four interviews with various stakeholders. I was fairly nonchalant through out the whole thing because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to make this kind of move or take this kind of position. Apparently this attitude helped because I think I interviewed really well through out the whole thing. I guess they thought so too, because yesterday they offered me the position. It felt good to know they had selected me. But after careful consideration, I decided it’s not right for me. For some reason it was rather nerve racking to call and decline the offer. But other paths are calling me.

I’ve always wanted to be a scientist. I was the president of the math, engineering, science club in high school for crying out loud. So why then, am I not a scientist? I guess life just ends up taking you down a certain road and it is very easy to give in and take the path of least resistance. But no more. I passed up the offer from the big company so I can go back to school and become what I should be. I’m going to stay with the position I have now, which easily allows me to go to class during the day and still be paid well while working the nights. I’ll ride this out until the ship goes down, or I’m able to start working maybe part time in a lab or something of that nature.

I am really excited and happy with this. I am all registered for classes and will be starting school in two weeks. I am thankful to have such a supportive husband in all this, who always encourages me and is there to take care of me and help me transition careers.

I got the most amazing intangible, totally not there gift ever! You all know I have gotten myself addicted to World of Warcraft. About a week ago I came across these beautiful robes with great stats that would totally rock for my char. They looked so hot on Hylaa, which was a great change from the usual looking priest robes. The robes are a purple item, which means they are epic, rarely seen – which also means, they cost a ton! A week later Brian surprised me by tracking down some of the rare robes and buying them for me. For my fellow WoW addicts, they were 350G! But I love them, my char looks fabulous, has awesome stats and a mana saving click effect and I’m sure I will wear them for a very long time because we all know the devout robe will never drop for me! Have a look at them on the Allakhazam site and my gallery.

I didn’t answer the phone. Four calls I missed. I was at the gym. When I found out what I had missed I cried and cried.

My mom is a really strong and amazing person. She has an incredible tolerance for pain and has always been a hard worker. So today when she decided to tell us that she had been feeling tingling in her chest and arm for three days and wanted to go to the doctor – we were concerned to say the least.

She called me to come get her and take her to the urgent care. My seriously sleep deprived sister with a 3 year old and a 5 week old called me. They called the house, they called the cell. By the time I responded they were already on their way, down the mountain to the er.

Everything with her heart has thankfully checked out completly healthy. She will be following up with her family care doctor to check out some other possible causes.

But I missed their call. The one time they really needed me and I wasn’t there. It breaks my heart.

This weekend we drove out to the VLA. http://www.nrao.edu/ It was totally awesome, we had the best time. After ditching the idea of a spontaneous trip to Colorado, we (us and A&A) decided on a day trip to the VLA. I’ve been there once before and both times have been equally enjoyable.

The weather on our drive out and while we were there was absolutely gorgeous. The clouds were so many shades of gray – flat, whispy and billowing all at once. The plains were incredibly bright green because of all the rain as of late. At the site, the whiteness and contrast of the radio satellite dishes was remarkable. As we drove back it started to rain heavily. We drove past a gorge coming out of the mountains that was flooding with a massive amount of fast moving water. All the hills around us had so much water coming off of them, that little miniature waterfalls were forming all over the hills. These last two things were amazing sites of nature that I hope to keep firmly pressed in my memories. It was so beautiful.

The concept and the work done at the NRAO is intriguing. I would love to be involved with some of the work that goes on there. I found the visit inspiring and it had a reassuring effect on the classes I have decided to take at UNM this fall. Science has always been an interest of mine and it was great to be exposed again to something like this.

Be sure to check out the great pictures in the gallery!