Year in Review
2011 was one of the best years I’ve had. I was able to
accomplish a lot & travel to some pretty cool places. I had to make a few
life changing decisions & I have been happy with those choices. I was able to
accomplish one of my new year’s resolutions (see below) & I think I did
pretty well with my attitude adjustment for the year (take life one day at a
time, don’t worry too much & enjoy life). Since I’m a horrible blogger
(don’t get too excited I’m not making a NYR to become a better blogger…sorry)
here’s a summary of the awesomeness that was 2011.
January: I started another quarter at WWU; I was
living at SPMC & driving up to Bellingham to TA biostats (again). So the
NYR that I was able to accomplish was to travel outside of the state I was
living in at least once a month for the whole year. So Selina & I went to Hawaii.
February: I went
to Puerto Rico for the ASLO meeting where I presented some of my research, it
was a great meeting & it was nice to visit PR. I got a new niece this month
(Brooke) so I used my frequent flyer miles & went to Dallas for a long
weekend to help Adrienne & hang out with the kiddos.
March: I spent
finals week in DC finishing up the MSPHDs program. It was fun to see the
capitol, experience some of DC, see old friends & make some new ones. I
also became AAUS certified, drove to Canada to see The Green (finally), became
a NZ citizen (finally!) & decide to pursue a PhD at the University of
Oregon in the fall. I also started more experiments, so I had baby crabs
everywhere.
April: was a
pretty low key month, I was TAing an inverts course at SP (yay!) & working
on experiments/writing. I also went to Virginia for a few days to see a friend.
May: Also a
pretty low key month, more TAing, learning how to teach to informal audiences,
oh & I went to Barbados… When I was offered the PhD position at UO my
potential advisor said that if I accepted the position I had the option of
going on a research cruise as part of one of his grants (yay science!).
June: Started off
the month in DC at a planning meeting, took my first train ride from DC to
Virginia Beach to see a friend. I drove down to OIMB for Dr. Braithwaite’s
retirement party; it was amazing to meet some of the people Dr. B has mentored.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help & guidance of Dr. B!
July: I spent
most of the month housesitting (which I really miss), sorting eelgrass (for
summer support I worked at Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve)
& writing. I went to Utah at the end of the month for the Burgess family
reunion.
August: was a
month full of finishes, I finished working at Padilla Bay, finished house
sitting (best job ever), & finished up at Shannon Point. I went to Hawaii
to help Auntie Olly with a wedding & go to the beach.
September: M&D
came out to Western Washington for a visit. I moved down to Oregon to start at
OIMB.
October: I spent
most of the month in the library & at my desk, finishing my thesis, doing
course work, & studying for quarterlies. I went to Utah for an extended
weekend for another OSM planning meeting; it was nice to get a free trip home.
November: most of
my time was spent in the library, but I successfully defended my master’s
thesis at WWU (yay!) & about a week later I went back up to WA for WSN.
Thanksgiving break was full of studying & getting ready for the end of the
quarter.
December: The
first week of December was crazy; I finished up my coursework, took two
quarterlies, & packed for the next few weeks. I spent the first weekend in
San Francisco at AGU where I attended the DeSSC (Deep Submergence Science
Committee) meeting. I flew home to Utah for about a week to spend time with the
family before Selina & I headed off to New Zealand. Spending Christmas/New
Years in New Zealand has been the best!
2011 was phenomenal! 2012 has started off well & I’m sure it will be another great
year. Happy New Year everyone!
PS. For pictures, see facebook
