tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91939162668969097162024-03-05T04:01:27.086-08:00My Great West Coast Adventurebluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-42599595000008521622012-12-11T14:41:00.000-08:002012-12-11T14:41:50.094-08:00HCOM 230: My Final Exam<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My final exam for my Environmental Creative Writing class consisted of me reading one of the pieces that I had written this semester in front of the class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I read the poem that I wrote about an environmental injustice that was occurring. On that subject I chose to describe how the lionfish is an invasive species in South Carolina. In the poem, however, I also draw a parallel between humans and lionfish, as I believe we are both invasive species.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Thank you to my favorite human, Carolyn Scarpelli, for recording the moment and sitting through class with me even though today was her day off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This is how it went:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So yeah, that happened. Thanks California.</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-13956420568320615382012-12-10T19:42:00.001-08:002012-12-10T19:42:09.276-08:00Where has the Time Gone?<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I realize I've done a crap job of keeping up with my blog, so hopefully some of the other NSE kids have done a better job.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's dead week by USC standards, but all of my classes have decided to give their exams on the last day of class. This includes the following:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Tuesday:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Present my final two projects for my sculpture class</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Exit Interview for Sign Language</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Thursday:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Present a piece I wrote for Environmental Creative Writing and turn in my portfolio for the semester</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Friday:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Turn in 6-8 page paper for History</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Needless to say due to the fact that I saved most of my electives for my senior year, it's been a pretty easy ride. Stressful, yes... but difficult, no.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">For any of you that are reading this and want to or are considering studying abroad on the National Student Exchange, I highly recommend that you act upon your inclinations and apply. You won't regret your decision. It's my senior year, I've missed my last season of Gamecock football, I've missed my friends, and yeah, I've missed the parties ;) BUT if I could go back, I wouldn't change a thing. If any of you are considering coming to the Monterey Bay area in California, then read on!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">CSUMB is a relatively new school (I'm older than the school) and it prides itself on being different from other colleges. It is based on portfolios and presentations because they feel that these things can more accurately prepare you for the real world and measure what you've taken from the class. The classes are small so it's very easy to get face time with the professors. Although the class periods are long (an hour and fifty minutes!) the professors are usually very good at utilizing the whole class period, or just letting you out early. They're not about wasting anyone's time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">There were plenty of events on campus to get students involved too! Over the semester I have become very close friends with one of my suite-mates and together we played in two open mic nights, two talent shows, and a multicultural event. We also helped put together the school's first St. Baldrick's event!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Even as this semester is coming to a close, I'm making plans with some of the people that I've met to visit over the summer, or sometimes soon. I truly believe that I've met a few of my soul-mates on this adventure, and I couldn't ask for anything more than that. The fact that while I was here I got to intern at one of the most amazing aquariums in the country is an extreme bonus as well. So many amazing things have happened and I'm so glad that I was brave enough to make this decision. So be brave too! Take a chance and immerse yourself in another culture! Expand your horizons!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Feel free to email me if you have any questions (although I'm sure that the lovely ladies at NSE could answer them much better than I ever could)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">carnrigs@email.sc.edu</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">...and have no fear! This is NOT my last post.</span></div>
bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-20966835805611028422012-11-19T19:16:00.001-08:002012-11-19T19:16:59.697-08:00Thanksgiving<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's funny how time goes by so quickly when things start coming to a close. I find that even though I miss home, as the end of the semester draws ever closer, there are more and more things that make me want to stay. But the reality of it all is that I have to come home to finish my last semester of undergrad, and then I'll be shoved into the real world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's Thanksgiving break and nearly everyone has deserted the campus, with the exception of me and a few others who have to work as well. The fact that I don't get to be home with my parents and Joel and Tori for Thanksgiving this year is weighing a little heavy on me, but at least I still get to spend it with some of my family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So here's an I'm thankful post:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm thankful for everyone that supports me and all my crazy ideas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm thankful for my friends back home who haven't forgotten that I miss them, and remember to take some time out of their day to talk to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm thankful for the amazing friends that I've made since I've been here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm thankful for the wonderful opportunities I've been given to advance in my studies and the experience that I've obtained.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yup, I'm pretty thankful.</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-55290308471103247322012-11-01T16:02:00.001-07:002012-11-01T16:02:51.785-07:00It's November<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, while I wish I have been updating more frequently, I've justified this lack of consistency with the fact that I'm in school, not on vacation. With the amount of things that I've been participating in over here, sometimes I feel like I am, indeed, on vacation. That is, until I realize that I have a billion projects due. Well... three.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Two weekend ago I went to Los Angeles. My Uncle Matt took me and my cousin to the "Haunted Horror Studio" at Universal. It was pretty cool. I don't handle scary very well though, so I was extremely anxious about the whole experience. Luckily, I survived with only one brief, yet unwanted, run-in with the freakiest looking zombie-clown I have ever seen in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Moving on!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Because CSUMB is a school based on projects and portfolios, I only have two midterms. One was a paper for my history class, which I've already turned in, and the other is my midterm for Sign Language. It's really refreshing not to have to worry about tests every three weeks for once in my college career, but at the same time, I miss studying in Thomas Cooper. I miss math and science classes (as I'm only taking electives and a history course this semester).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's been rather gloomy here, and I can feel my levels of Vitamin D waning. That being said, it <i>is</i> November. Which means gloomy is bound to happen. But on a slightly happier note, it's November! I come home in two months! </span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-52362751760550670352012-10-14T22:35:00.004-07:002012-12-11T15:21:05.859-08:00The Bucket List I Didn't Know I Had<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I have no words to describe my weekend... so many things happened.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Drove south on the 1</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yes, having to drive 3 hours to Pismo was intense, but weaving down the coast on the 1 is one of the coolest things I've ever done. Granted, it would've been cooler to have been able to look at the scenery instead of the road in front of me, I had a few glances here and there, and that was sufficient. </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Saw Elephant Seals!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Mating season doesn't start until November so the beach wasn't full yet, and we didn't see any males either, HOWEVER, it was really cool.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Visited Morro Bay/Morro Rock</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">If Sand dollars were currency, I'd be rich. We walked along the beach and picked up as many as we could find. I even walked in the water, too.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Went through the tide pools at Pismo Beach</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Oh my goodness, it was like experiencing the simulation from the lab in one of our past Marine Science classes. Purple and orange sea stars, mussels, it was so exciting! But I haven't even mentioned the best part...</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I found chitons!!!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Ahhhhhhhhhh! Even though I would rather refer to them as polyplacophorans, that's a mouthful, and no one ever knows what I'm talking about. But I found them! They're so amazing! I found a gumboot and a couple of smaller ones, as well. Guess which girl successfully removed one from the substrate? This girl!!! </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Joined the nematocyst club</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I decided last year in the middle of Invertebrate Zoology that I was going to join the nematocyst club, but that if I was going to do so, then I was going to kiss something pretty. So I found a particularly large Starburst Anemone and joined!</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Watched the Sunset from the Pizmo Beach Pier</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Having lived on the east coast my whole life, I've never bee able to watch the sun set over the ocean. Being in California has now fixed that issue :). Beauty in it's finest form.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Carved my first pumpkin</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This... I am not a fan of. I didn't very much like having to stick my hand into the pumpkin, mostly because it smelled... well, for lack of a better word, icky. But I cleaned it, and I carved a Gamecocks pumpkin. I messed up a little, but it looked good for my first pumpkin.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Drove onto the beach/Had breakfast at the beach</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I DROVE ONTO THE BEACH. You guys, I had my car... on the beach... legally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This weekend was just the boost I needed, and next weekend I'm going to LA with my family!</span></div>
bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-79835765602263046112012-10-09T00:32:00.000-07:002012-10-09T00:32:41.563-07:00Funtober<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I've been pretty busy lately between classes and working at the aquarium, so I know I haven't posted a lot lately. But let me make up for that by explaining my October.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Last weekend my parents renewed their vows in Lake Tahoe. It was wonderful, and I'm so happy for my parents. They're the real definition of success and happiness to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This coming weekend I'm going to Morro Bay with one of my suite mates and the girls across the hall. I'm pretty excited to find beach things :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The weekend after that I'm going to Los Angeles to spend some more time with my family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So October is pretty full for me. Time seems to be going by pretty quickly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Today I had a skype date with my best guy, and it was seriously the boost I needed. I'm getting a little homesick =/</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-17240863265459427112012-09-28T23:38:00.002-07:002012-09-28T23:38:35.089-07:00Talent Show<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The Notorious Rollick Squad took stage today as the closing act of CSUMB's annual talent show hosted by the RHA and OSU at the Black Box Cabaret this fine evening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">If Carolyn and I were famous, someone would write something like that for us, but since we're not... I did haha.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It was last minute but it turned out pretty well. Carolyn and I played "Man or Muppet" from the new Muppets movie. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We placed top five and each got a stuffed otter as a prize. I named mine Romp, and Carolyn named hers Frolic... for obvious reasons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Here's a video of us :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I can't believe the world kept us away from each other for so long.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">There were a lot of great performers tonight, and we were so glad that we got to participate.</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-14129686568882852342012-09-16T22:57:00.000-07:002012-09-23T21:12:59.653-07:00Vegetarian Week<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So due to the fact that CSUMB has the vegetarian option at meals everyday, I've decided to try it for a week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Saturday: I didn't get a picture of anything I ate today. I had bagels for breakfast, an apple for lunch, and then rice for dinner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Sunday: Today I had a baked potato with broccoli and cheese.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Monday: I actually had vegetarian paella, but I forgot to take a picture of my food. However, since i worked all day, I ended up getting a something else to eat, which was nachos with a rice and sour cream. Healthy? Probably not. Vegetarian? Yes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Tuesday: So, what I thought was mashed potatoes and mixed veggies ended up being "polenta." I mixed some rice in there too. Yummy yummy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Wednesday: Mmmm, tempura fried broccoli with asian dipping sauce on rice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Thursday: I had a busy today and managed to only eat some cereal in my room :P</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Friday: Big day of Vegetarianism for Shelby. Spicy Vegetable Wrap; Orzo and zucchini; Loubiya, hummus and rice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">aaand to celebrate the end of this meatless week, I went to my Uncle Mike's house for a barbecue. Yum :)</span></div>
bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-13773564847059698142012-09-08T19:42:00.001-07:002012-09-08T19:42:29.577-07:00Rollick Squad<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UeGzu_XWnrs" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">For the sake of CSUMB having a band night, my roommate Carolyn and I have banded together to form Rollick Squad in order to play at this lovely event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-31939000038629558472012-09-04T23:08:00.000-07:002012-09-04T23:09:45.094-07:00Sign Language<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hi, my name is Shelby Carnright.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What is your name?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Nice to meet you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I learned sign language at CSUMB.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Where did you learn?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Bye!</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-3060802118591661962012-09-03T17:10:00.002-07:002012-09-03T17:10:54.967-07:00Adventure Weekend<u style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Friday</u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">You know what's great about Fridays? Not having class. You know what's great about not having class on Fridays? My roommate Carolyn doesn't have class either. We went to lunch with our other roommate Mack (Mackenzie), and then afterwards she and I went on a shopping adventure to Michael's the Post Office, and Goodwill. All necessary art supplies for my scultpure class were obtained, stamps were obtained and then a fish dress was obtained. Isn't it pretty?</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I got it for about $6.00 out of the </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">children's halloween section :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Carolyn got a couple of mugs for $0.50 each. After that adventure we ate dinner and then came home to get ready for this concert that OSU (Otter Student Union) was putting on as a welcome back to school. Capital Cities and Wallpaper played, but there's no question that Capital Cities was way better. Wallpaper is like... catchy, but the lyrics are so stupid I can't pay attention. I did appreciate their stage presence and their dancing though. After the concert we just went back to the dorm and chilled out. We invited Katelyn over (she lives across the hall) and we talked. Then we watched the cops and EMS pull up and take some girl out of the next dorm on a stretcher. Yikes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><u>Saturday</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">BREAKFAST. BEACH. Activities that start with the same letter are cool. But all coolness aside, guess how long it takes to walk to the beach from my dorm? About ten minutes! It's so awesome to be able to just decide to walk to the beach. On the way there we have to walk through a tunnel and there's some pretty cool street art (I guess you could call it such). </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: center;">There was a lot of writing and then a few pictures, including a couple stencils of Marilyn Monroe. It was pretty cool to walk through. Almost like an outdoor art gallery... but not. After that we hit the dunes... and climbing those was enough of a workout for me. Next time we go to the beach, I won't wear jeans. Once we made it to the top and finally saw the ocean, it was amazing. You could just see everything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: center;">The different blues of the ocean in contrast to the blue of the sky. The colors of the sand as it falls between your toes. Everything just seemed brighter than what I'm used to on the east coast. Even the plants were more colorful. Granted they were practically all ice plants, so then </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: center;">the idea of </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: center;">invasion put a damper on their effect. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: center;">A minimal deduction on a massive </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: center;">amount of amazing. I also made the climb to carve my name in the top of the dune facing the beach. It was pretty cool to look at when I got back down (I slid most of the way). It was amazing though, just staring at the ocean. In South Carolina, in between the waves breaking you can hear music from the stores, bars, or radios; you can hear people talking to each other; you can hear kids laughing. Here... it's just silence, and I felt like I was falling in love. Just standing there, waiting on the waves, listening for the roar, and waiting on the silence. It was magical. I actually stepped into the water for a brief moment just to know the difference between Pacific and Atlantic... and I think that's about as far as I'm going to be able to get until Arnold comes out here and we go diving. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: center;">Please enjoy these videos of me, Carolyn, and Mack at the beach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><u>Sunday</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">CSUMB doesn't serve french toast... they serve french crackers. But on the real, they do serve good food at the DC (Dining Commons)... my encounter with the french toast however, was still unfortunate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">MONTEREY COUNTY FAIR!</span></div>
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<a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/424638_4537701403311_72701205_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/424638_4537701403311_72701205_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/418727_4537700403286_1529356549_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/418727_4537700403286_1529356549_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So me, Carolyn, Magen, Mami, Kate, and Katelyn went to the fair today. It was pretty great. Mami had never been to the fair before so we were excited for her to go. This is her ---------------------->>> We only went on the Ferris Wheel because none of us felt like paying $25.00 to ride all the rides for the two-ish hours we were there. Then we got corndogs because Mami had never had one of those before either. Have I mentioned that she's from Japan? Yeah, Mami is my actual roommate and she's pretty awesome. After the corndogs we walked around for a bit, pet the farm animals, and then got dessert-themed foods. Katelyn and I got caramel apples, Kate and Carolyn got deep fried oreos, and Magen got a sno-cone. After another hour of avoiding eye contact with the carnies, we decided to call it a night. It was a lot of fun. Smaller than the Coastal Carolina, but I actually enjoyed myself at this fair. Maybe it's because I had my awesome roommates to keep my company this time... who knows. Anyway, so at this point, the weekend is over, but it's Labor Day Weekend therefore we have tomorrow off. So Monday shall be a part of this post :) But before I get to Monday, please enjoy one more picture from Sunday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><u>Monday</u></span><br />
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<a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/563037_4542004150877_1742429113_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/563037_4542004150877_1742429113_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/538496_4542132474085_1949080564_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/538496_4542132474085_1949080564_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The DC and breakfast are just never in my favor. Tried biscuits and gravy today... otherwise known as crackers and gravy. But fear not! My day was not ruined, for just after that, Mack, Carolyn and I took the bus down to Monterey and went to the greek festival. We walked around for a bit until I saw a sign for Greek beer and decided to try that. I tried Mythos, which was really good :) I forgot to ask to keep the bottlecap, though. We smelled all of the Greek food, and once I finished my beer we went down to the wharf and looked out into the water for a little while. We saw a few sea lions! The only thing bad about that was having to listen to everyone around me say, "Oh look! Sealssss!" Marine biologist problems. After watching the aquatic life we walked back towards the bus stop. Carolyn and I got some Pinkberry and Mack got some Jamba Juice. We also discovered a little Cinema, too. It was a fun little trip to Monterey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So between concerts, beaches, thrift stores, fairs, festivals and aquatic creatures... I had a great Labor Day weekend. We've already started planning next weekend and I can't wait! I start at the aquarium this coming Monday and I'm way too excited for that. Luckily I know how to use the bus system now, too :P</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I miss my Noreen and I miss my little sister.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I miss my parents and I miss my brother.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I miss my Jarred and I miss my Ellie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I miss everyone so much!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">September is getting off to a really great start :)</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-77115818630713295842012-09-01T17:04:00.000-07:002012-09-01T17:04:12.053-07:00Happy September!<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The magical month of August is over, and my final fall semester is in full swing. I've got an eventful weekend planned out with the roommates and I can't wait! It was a pain in the butt getting everything worked out for this, but I am so glad that I'm here.</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-78917907773632051732012-08-28T22:46:00.000-07:002012-08-28T22:46:31.289-07:00FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So it's 10:15pm and I just got out of my last class about an hour ago (it really gets out at 9:50pm)... I may need to get some pepper spray or a taser just in case.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I had all four of my classes today and I really enjoyed all of them. Let's start from the top, shall we?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Sculpture:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's a small class, which is great. Our first project is making molds out of our faces... which is awesome. Also, my teacher has a fantastic sense of style... he dresses way better than most of the girls I've seen on campus already.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Environmental Creative Writing:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Not what I was expecting, but I think I'll like it just the same. It's more creative writing than environmental writing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">African American Life/History:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My professor looks like he's 18 years old, but I did the math and he's at least 30 years old. No tests in this class, only papers... my favorite :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">American Sign Language:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I think I'm most excited for this class, and I think it's also going to be my hardest class. Part of our homework today was to determine a sign for ourselves and I think I've decided on the sign for fish, using the sign for "S".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Soooo that's my class schedule. Now I'm changing topics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">There's this thing called "Otter Days" here, and it's kind of like welcome activities for the first week or so of class to get people involved. Today there was an outdoor showing of Men in Black III (I couldn't make that because I had ASL). Yesterday there was a hall get together. It was trivia with prizes, which was cool. Except, I didn't read the flyer so I was expecting Jeopardy, but it was sex trivia and the prizes were dumdums taped to condoms... I didn't win anything. They gave me extra though haha.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I haven't received my schedule from the Aquarium yet, but hopefully they won't have me scheduled for the afternoon on Sundays because they have intramural softball (slow-pitch) from 12-4pm and indoor volleyball from 6-10pm. I wanted to try indoor soccer but that's during my ASL class as well, so darn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I made new friends today, which is awesome, considering I think I'm bad at making friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">No classes tomorrow so I can do all of my readings. I miss everyone so much! </span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-32028084346839932552012-08-26T15:32:00.000-07:002012-08-26T15:32:04.442-07:00Long Time, No See<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So I'm finally at a computer after a one-week hiatus from wireless internet. Here's what happened:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I made it to California!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Had dinner at my Aunt Linda's</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Met more family</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Went to Sausalito</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Went to San Francisco</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Walked the Golden Gate Bridge</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Went to Pier 39</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Had Orientation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Met my awesome roommates!\\</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Ate some free ice cream</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Grandma threw me a birthday party</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">TURNED 21!</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">You are now up-to-date with my life... give or take a few details. I'm still in the process of setting up my room, and unfortunately I had to park on the other side of the parking lot (where my happy car will sit until I drive to go visit family). I got a bike today so I can get around campus and ride to the aquarium when that starts. So, I'm gonna go finish this whole room thing before I have to go to a mandatory hall meeting (man it's been awhile since I've gone to one of those).</span></div>
bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-10034742503820243132012-08-19T10:58:00.000-07:002012-08-19T10:58:46.229-07:00QUICK UPDATEI don't have internet at my grandparents house, so I won't be able to post my uodates, but I'm writing them. Move in day is the 24th so I imagine I'll be able to update then.
Sent from my crackled Droid.bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-63141113622127774482012-08-17T19:30:00.000-07:002012-08-17T19:30:21.673-07:00The Prologue: GRAND CANYON<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Today seemed like a really long drive, but I suppose I couldn't accurately say because I was sleeping most of the time... mom drove today. But the greatest thing about today, was that we got to stop by the Grand Canyon :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Mom changed our travel plans just so we could stop by, and I was so happy that we could. It was breath-taking. Now, that might have been due to the fact that I was 8,000 feet above sea level, but I'm pretty sure that it was this amazing view.</span><br />
<br />
<img src="webkit-fake-url://E92400B1-952F-45A7-AFDB-57FE2EABDB6E/imagejpeg" /><br />
<br />
<div>
<img src="webkit-fake-url://5CEA9A97-8B07-4914-B3A6-7F98D865EAA4/imagejpeg" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<img src="webkit-fake-url://6FCBC7F2-63EB-4ABF-8110-49C66F4655A7/imagejpeg" /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Oh, and did I mention that mom and I got in FOR FREE!? This might just be me, but I thought it was a tad bit ridiculous that the public has to pay to see a natural wonder like that... but I guess it is a park. Anywho, mom flashed the military id and BAM, no fee. We walked through a few lookout points along the South Rim, and may have been the only english speaking people there. I heard people speaking French, German, Chinese, and Spanish. There were a few Australians there as well doing this "Tour of Duty" bike ride. One of the riders gave us a brochure. It's a bike ride from San Diego to New York that ends on September 11, to commemorate and honor all those who died at the World Trade Center in 2001. Participants were both from the US and from Australia. If you want to read mroe about it you can visit their website:</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">www.tourofdutyride.com</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We're stopped in Kingman, AZ for the night, and tomorrow we'll finally be in California. We're driving past seaside and going straight to visit my grandparents in Pittsburg. I'm so excited to see my family. As exciting as ths road trip has been, I'm excited to not have to stay in any more hotels for awhile. Move-in day is Sunday so I'll finally get to meet me roommates as well! So many things are all going to be happening at the same time, and all stress aside, I really can't wait.</span></div>
bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-76826626688799375182012-08-16T16:08:00.001-07:002012-08-17T06:27:03.426-07:00The Prologue: Day Three<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I'm becoming an expert at driving long distances without feeling tired or nodding off. Well... maybe not, but the drive went by pretty smoothly and rather quickly for a 7 hour trip. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I can tell that 10 years of living in South Carolina is rubbing off on me though, because once we hit New Mexico, there were no more country stations. It took a noticeable toll on me. That being said, there was really only one radio station that was coming through, and I think it was a Christian Station. So through the, quite frankly, endless nothingness of eastern New Mexico, mom and I enjoyed some silence. Well, I did... mom fell asleep.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I am now two timezones away from the majority of my friends, and with it just being mom and I, I really miss them. I'm banking on things getting better once I'm in California and I have my roommates, classmates, and co-workers at the aquarium... but for now, it just isn't too pleasant of an idea knowing that I need to drive at least 26 hours to South Carolina.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">If you've never been to New Mexico, let me say this, being that I've lived my entire life near the ocean... my only response is (a mild adaptation of Dorothy Parker) WHAT [STRANGE] HELL IS THIS?! I don't like being landlocked, being without the ocean, and although I don't miss the humidity of South Carolina, I do miss the smell of salt in the air. I don't really care for the smell of... dry.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sidenotes:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I saw 0 armadillos today</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My birthday is in 10 days</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Tomorrow we're stopping by the Grand Canyon!</span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Two more days until I'm in California!</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-62846813756097990642012-08-15T19:07:00.001-07:002012-08-15T19:13:01.504-07:00The Prologue: Day Two<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Spent the night in Mississippi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">
</span>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Stayed in Fulton, what a city</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">There's just one thing that bothered me</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I thought with nightfall, came zombies</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But I'm alive and mom is too</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So off to Oklahoma, ZOOM!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Passed a bit of Tennessee</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Saw a road named after me!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Then quickly passed to Arkansas</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">While driving, this was all I saw</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Armadillo, Armadillo, Armadillo, Armadillo</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Take a picture? NO-MADILLO! Hey that guy's from Amarillo!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Those and then some Razorbacks</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This Gamecock almost had a heart attack</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Passed Toad Suck Park and ate my snickers</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Wait. Jarred, wasn't that a question during trivia at Kickers?</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Saw some cows, those frequent moo-ers</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Then the nation favored Sooners</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Oklahoma is the place to be!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Farm living is the life for me!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Yeah I know that isn't right</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">but Weatherford is now in sight!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Here's a tree and there's a tree</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">There's a sign for mini donkeys</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">By the way, this was mom's idea</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">so till tomorrow, I say, SEE YAAA!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">------------------------</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">As you may very well be able to tell, the amount of bored that set in during the 10 hour drive from Fulton, MS to Weatherford, OK was indeed, very high. You might even say, that the degree was over 9000 (bad segway). Mom suggested that I keep a list of the different kinds of roadkill that we saw on the road and to keep a tally. Obviously the armadillos won. Needless to say her second idea was better (the brain dump at the beginning of this post that just so happens to rhyme). Mom drove today, so tomorrow's my turn.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Also: My 21st birthday is in 11 days!</span></div>
</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-9666349177465924442012-08-14T16:43:00.000-07:002012-08-14T16:58:37.268-07:00The Prologue: Day One<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">565 miles, 9 hours, two amps, one can of pringles, and plenty of country stations later, mom and I are in Fulton, Mississippi. Google maps had us drive through Columbia, so I decided to start the drive... little did I know that I would decide to finish it as well. Driving 9 hours isn't something that I would recommend, but it wasn't too bad. After we gassed up in Columbia my brain woke up, and I was perfectly fine until our next pit stop, right after we crossed the Alabama state line. Just so you know: The gas station that we stopped at not only had nicer restrooms than any gas station in South Carolina... but they also had fried chicken and barbeque.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Side Note: Due to the fact that I didn't drive 20-30 over the speed limit like those surrounding me, Alabama took a good while to drive through. But Fulton did eventually arrive (obviously). </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Mom and I decided that Fulton would be the perfect setting for a scary movie, and I've decided that that scary movie would be some combination of Silent Hill and I Am Legend. I failed to prepare myself for accents worse than those I am accustomed to, and I'm pretty sure that out of the five cars in the hotel parking lot, four of them belong to the people presently working, while the last is my liberty. Good thing I have a nice comfy blanket to hide underneath tonight (because blankets are impermeable shields).</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Tomorrow we're driving through Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Another few hundred miles closer to my adventurous destination :)</span></span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-36478905348616475032012-08-12T23:48:00.001-07:002012-08-12T23:49:37.425-07:00The Path That Lies Before Me<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXL2BB1YcZWXf5Mmc1SkB_DiD9T3GTGMR1dpV1SNI8_3gyEouHXxuiwUYmi-wyypbo3RnzbCIXGF67tMElhny23uEFWMF6l3e7IDjkOXM4p9LsFfodS1Ay9wJWd0KmG-56dwBwB-S8KE/s1600/maptoca.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXL2BB1YcZWXf5Mmc1SkB_DiD9T3GTGMR1dpV1SNI8_3gyEouHXxuiwUYmi-wyypbo3RnzbCIXGF67tMElhny23uEFWMF6l3e7IDjkOXM4p9LsFfodS1Ay9wJWd0KmG-56dwBwB-S8KE/s400/maptoca.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Goose Creek, SC to Seaside, CA: </span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2,993 miles</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">approximately 50 hours</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A. Goose Creek, SC</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">B. Fulton, MS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">C. Weatherford, OK</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">D. Albuquerque, NM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">E. Grand Canyon :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">F. Barstow, CA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">G. Pittsburg, CA (grandparents)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">H. Seaside, CA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I've got one full day left in South Carolina before I begin my adventure. I've got most of my clothes packed, all of my miscellaneous items packed, and none of my electronics packed (obviously). Tomorrow I'll be taking care of the last bit of financial issues I've been having, and then everything should be golden.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Words cannot describe how much I'm going to miss some of my friends, but luckily they understand what an opportunity this is for me. I will now list a number of inside jokes that directly pertain to those I will miss.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Intellectuality</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Scerba Derve</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Just a cookie</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">BIRCH</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Reprace</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Bubbly</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Before I close, I just want to thank my parents for their support. When I first mentioned this exchange program to them, I was a little shaky on whether or not I really wanted to apply, and I almost didn't. Thank you Dad, for not letting me miss this wonderful adventure, and thank you Mom, for taking the time away from work to drive cross-country with me. You helped me to become the driven, over-achieving, and independent person that I am today, and I can never thank you enough for that. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now... </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Friends! Romans! Countrymen! Lend me your [eyes?]... because in a matter of hours, <b>The Prologue</b> begins.</span></div>
bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-17434255552609674852012-07-28T19:39:00.000-07:002012-07-28T19:39:02.770-07:00You're Looking at a Monterey Bay Aquarium Intern<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Need I say more?</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-17482590871696077422012-07-19T18:23:00.000-07:002012-07-19T18:23:03.843-07:00Dream Come True<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I completed my phone interview for an internship at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, today. Words cannot possibly describe how excited I am. I have so much to gain from this experience... so much to learn, so much to see, so much to do! I couldn't contain myself at work yesterday when I got the call about having an interview. I screamed, I ran in circles, and I jumped for joy. My co-workers thought it was hilarious, but they were all so happy for me, too. I turned my application in about a month and half ago and I was beginning to think that I hadn't been chosen. But one should never give up, and never surrender! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">All excitement aside, I'm still having a few enrollment issues at USC, so I'm trying hard to get all of this done so I don't get dropped out of any of my classes, or kicked out of my room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">As of right now, my class schedule consists of:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">American Sign Language</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Environmental Creative Writing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">African American Life/History</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sculpture</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Have I mentioned how excited I am??? I'm even excited for the four/five day drive all the way out there. Mom and I are leaving on the 14th of August and I plan to take a lot of pictures to post here. After all, it <i>is</i> still a part of my Great West Coast Adventure... let's just call it, <b>The Prologue</b>.</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-5065288401516405472012-06-18T19:36:00.001-07:002012-06-18T19:36:46.989-07:00So it Begins...<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I finally saw my room assignments today, and two of my suitemates have already added me on facebook. I know I still have about 2 months left, but I can feel my time on the west coast inching ever so close now :)</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193916266896909716.post-60142615578500124322012-04-27T11:06:00.001-07:002012-04-27T11:10:42.407-07:00National Student Exchange<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hello friends :) If you're reading this, then it's because you know that I'll be attending California State University - Monterey Bay for the Fall 2012 semester. I'm not sure that it's hit me yet that I'll be on the other side of the country in a few months, but I'm sure when my mom and I drive out to Seaside, it'll get me then. I really can't convey how excited I am about this whole thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The lovely ladies at NSE have asked each student to keep a blog while we're all out exploring areas outside of Columbia. So if you'd like to keep up with my California antics, feel free to check my page every now and then for an update!</span>bluewateranimalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144361906854592508noreply@blogger.com0