Sunday, January 13, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Back To The Grind
I'm keeping up. I swear. I am NOT going to let this blog get away from me. I always realize how much fun it is to keep everyone informed when I sit down to write it. I simply have to find the time to do so. The format of this blog might be a bit different compared to those in the past. (Just a little disclaimer.)
After I got off work this morning I looked outside for the first time since the sun had come up. It was about 39F. This is a heatwave. Truly. A typical North Dakotian January day averages 0F.Yep. Zero. I won't be complaining until it drops below that mark. It was somewhat flurrying. Nothing crazy, but that soon changed as I made my way to Calculus and Composition. I go to the restroom to find that I looked remotely like Santa Claus. The snow had frozen on my hair and my eyebrows. A magical sight, it was.
This might be a bit of a shock to those who know me. My class schedule has allowed me to pick up a workout routine. I met with a person trainer today, who is just awesome. Her boyfriend is an Army ROTC Helicopter pilot. To say the least, we have plenty to talk about! I met her today to do my fitness test and layout a plan for me. I know. Those last few sentences have completely blown you away. I'm not known for working out. My mentality is that, if I have the time, there is no excuse not to be working toward that goal. I don't mean to get all Richard Simmons on you, but I think I could afford to not be so scrawny... I have the upper-body strength of a dead marmoset. In the case that you can't place a value on that, it's not much. So, you could say that I'm pretty excited. Looking good and feeling good about yourself. I'm ready for it.
Recently at the station we started broadcasting a syndicated show called, "Kidd Kraddick In The Morning." It's definitely different than what I was used to hearing in the morning with the local crew. All in all, it's a really good show. You might be familiar with this because J104.5, out of Bluefield, broadcasts the show as well. If you're in the car from 7-11 EDT, I highly suggest you check it out! (Or you could always listen to my station via the internet. You'll hear either myself or Ted do the weather, which is always quite comical. You get to hear 'Cringe Inducing' weather for our area too.)
This first week has been great. I'm finally on a path that I feel good about. I think it is where I am supposed to be. I love my professors, my classes, and my job. Life is great.
After I got off work this morning I looked outside for the first time since the sun had come up. It was about 39F. This is a heatwave. Truly. A typical North Dakotian January day averages 0F.Yep. Zero. I won't be complaining until it drops below that mark. It was somewhat flurrying. Nothing crazy, but that soon changed as I made my way to Calculus and Composition. I go to the restroom to find that I looked remotely like Santa Claus. The snow had frozen on my hair and my eyebrows. A magical sight, it was.
This might be a bit of a shock to those who know me. My class schedule has allowed me to pick up a workout routine. I met with a person trainer today, who is just awesome. Her boyfriend is an Army ROTC Helicopter pilot. To say the least, we have plenty to talk about! I met her today to do my fitness test and layout a plan for me. I know. Those last few sentences have completely blown you away. I'm not known for working out. My mentality is that, if I have the time, there is no excuse not to be working toward that goal. I don't mean to get all Richard Simmons on you, but I think I could afford to not be so scrawny... I have the upper-body strength of a dead marmoset. In the case that you can't place a value on that, it's not much. So, you could say that I'm pretty excited. Looking good and feeling good about yourself. I'm ready for it.
Recently at the station we started broadcasting a syndicated show called, "Kidd Kraddick In The Morning." It's definitely different than what I was used to hearing in the morning with the local crew. All in all, it's a really good show. You might be familiar with this because J104.5, out of Bluefield, broadcasts the show as well. If you're in the car from 7-11 EDT, I highly suggest you check it out! (Or you could always listen to my station via the internet. You'll hear either myself or Ted do the weather, which is always quite comical. You get to hear 'Cringe Inducing' weather for our area too.)
This first week has been great. I'm finally on a path that I feel good about. I think it is where I am supposed to be. I love my professors, my classes, and my job. Life is great.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The end of one. The beginning of another.
Afternoon everyone! I've finally come by the time to update my blog!
We've passed the end of my first semester in college. There really aren't words to describe how excited I was to finished with my classes. I really enjoy learning, but I'm ready to move on to different subject areas! As you probably know, I tried for an internship at the local radio station at the end of October. It's only been a little over two months since I started. I could have never believed that I would be where I am today. That internship turned into a paid position. I'm working around some awesome people. I really couldn't ask for a better life. I've said it a thousand times and I'll say it a thousand more: I'm so fortunate to be doing what I am.
We've passed the end of my first semester in college. There really aren't words to describe how excited I was to finished with my classes. I really enjoy learning, but I'm ready to move on to different subject areas! As you probably know, I tried for an internship at the local radio station at the end of October. It's only been a little over two months since I started. I could have never believed that I would be where I am today. That internship turned into a paid position. I'm working around some awesome people. I really couldn't ask for a better life. I've said it a thousand times and I'll say it a thousand more: I'm so fortunate to be doing what I am.
Near the end of the semester I realized that Atmospheric Science wasn't really my cup of tea. I didn't like how the job market looked and, in fact, the starting pay was literally jack shit. Going all the way through Calc 3 and differential equations to be earning close to that of a desk job? That wasn't remotely close to being justifiable in my mind. I made the switch to Biology after coming to those realizations. This is a field that I can go many different directions with. My main hope is that the final step is medical school. That's an ambition. We shall see if that's the path that I will take. Six months and I've already altered my path? My life will be interesting. That's for sure.
A couple of things have changed at work. I'll still be waking up early. (That's an understatement) Luckily my classes this next semester don't begin until 11 AM Monday through Friday. That allows me time to recover from whatever it was that I was doing for work that morning. (Which we all know could be a multitude of different things. I'm not complaining, either.)
I'm not known for having loads of friends. Nor am I known for making New Year's resolutions. I've decided that I'm going to start branching out a bit more than I did the first semester. I don't mean by drinking or partaking in parties. Nothing of the sort. I simply mean getting involved in student clubs. Clubs that would allow me to meet more people with whom I have more in common with. I love the people who I've become close to now, I simply wish to find more of those kinds of people. It would be good for me.
I've made a few plans for next summer. One of them being, getting my tail-wheel endorsement. Hopefully doing some aerobatic flying in the near future. I've caught the bug. My flight instructor flew for the aerobatic team at UND, so he told me he would take me up for free if I passed my stage-check the first time. (You didn't really ask that. Did you? Of course I passed it the first time!) We did rolls, loops, and inverted flight! We even flew upside-down and waved at another instructor and his student. I was completely hooked. Who can say that they fly airplanes, much less flying one upside down?
I work for a radio station. I study Biology. I live in North Dakota. I fly airplanes.
There isn't remotely one thing that is normal about me. I strive to be unique. I wouldn't rather it be any other way.
I've made a few plans for next summer. One of them being, getting my tail-wheel endorsement. Hopefully doing some aerobatic flying in the near future. I've caught the bug. My flight instructor flew for the aerobatic team at UND, so he told me he would take me up for free if I passed my stage-check the first time. (You didn't really ask that. Did you? Of course I passed it the first time!) We did rolls, loops, and inverted flight! We even flew upside-down and waved at another instructor and his student. I was completely hooked. Who can say that they fly airplanes, much less flying one upside down?
I work for a radio station. I study Biology. I live in North Dakota. I fly airplanes.
There isn't remotely one thing that is normal about me. I strive to be unique. I wouldn't rather it be any other way.
I leave to head back up to the Grandest of Forks on Sunday morning. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the mountains and seeing my family and friends, but I belong somewhere else. That somewhere else isn't necessarily North Dakota. I'm out to be educated, but I'm also out to find where I belong.
Ciao.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
I would like to apologize. I realize that I haven't posted, in what seems like decades. School has me quite busy these days. Although I feel like sometimes I can't breath because of the work, I keep in the back of my mind that this is really what I need and want to be doing. I've recently been becoming more involved in my classes and other groups including the American Meteorological Society. The weather up here in NoDak is quite interesting, so it only makes sense that they have their own chapter. I feel like most of the groups were created on the basis of food. Potluck this and Picnic that! Then again my whole being seems to have been built on the basis of food!
I haven't really changed. It takes me a while to find friends. Not because I have a hard time making friends, but more so because I am picky when it comes to who I like spending time with. In fact I have maybe three people whom I am close with. This is not unlike home. I'm associated with a lot of people, but have few best friends. Don't worry, I've found my niche!
As you may have heard me bitching on Facebook, we recently had an early snow storm move through the area. If you're from North Dakota, you understand how this works, but if you're not, let me explain: North Dakota is practically Canada. This hopefully isn't new to you. The majority of the weather we get comes from... You guessed it. Canada! The cold air is pushed down and across the state. Winds are always harsh and sometimes Canada sends us some moisture associated with that cold air. Last Monday they were already reporting that we were possibly in for a 'severe-weather-event'. Turns out it wasn't so severe. The 6-12" they called for, turned into a slushy 3-4" depending upon your location within the Red River Valley. "Valley" you say? Being from Virginia, I am quite skeptical of using the word 'Valley' up here only because us Virginians really know what a valley is like. There is a river that runs somewhat north to south and separates North Dakota from Minnesota. As you approach that river from the East and the West it slopes down into what they refer to as the Red River Valley. Devils lake is around 100 miles west of Grand Forks and is approximately 500 ft higher in elevation. (It does the same thing east of Grand Forks too) I promise I'll make my point soon. My meteorology professor mentioned that as the storm moved from the west to the east that the extra 500 ft that the snow had to fall through, made the snowfall totals incorrect. That extra 500 ft gave the snowflakes extra time to melt before hitting the surface which gave towns west and east of Grand Forks higher totals and made us fall short. On a side note there is supposedly a phenomenon that takes place as thunderstorms roll through (once more from west to east) that they lessen in intensity because of something taking place within the River Valley. I may have found my senior project!
Enough with weather! Since last posting quite a few things have happened. 1) I'm actually into the swing of college. It's not totally overwhelming just to wake up in the morning. It's more like "This is just what I do." and the day flows on as normal! 2) I passed my Stage-Check, which is like a second check-ride that I had to complete to show the Aerospace school that I understood, not only what the Federal Aviation Administration expects of me, but also the UND policies and procedures! It was a LOT of extra studying, but I feel all the more accomplished that I completed it within a month of being here. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to fly the University's aircraft because I 'graduated' from my course. (I think it is because of insurance purposes.) If I want to fly, I have to go elsewhere and pass a test of their own making, which is extremely frustrating. It'll eventually happen!
Keep in touch and feel free to write me at:
University of North Dakota
#315 Bek Hall
Grand Forks, ND 58202
I haven't really changed. It takes me a while to find friends. Not because I have a hard time making friends, but more so because I am picky when it comes to who I like spending time with. In fact I have maybe three people whom I am close with. This is not unlike home. I'm associated with a lot of people, but have few best friends. Don't worry, I've found my niche!
As you may have heard me bitching on Facebook, we recently had an early snow storm move through the area. If you're from North Dakota, you understand how this works, but if you're not, let me explain: North Dakota is practically Canada. This hopefully isn't new to you. The majority of the weather we get comes from... You guessed it. Canada! The cold air is pushed down and across the state. Winds are always harsh and sometimes Canada sends us some moisture associated with that cold air. Last Monday they were already reporting that we were possibly in for a 'severe-weather-event'. Turns out it wasn't so severe. The 6-12" they called for, turned into a slushy 3-4" depending upon your location within the Red River Valley. "Valley" you say? Being from Virginia, I am quite skeptical of using the word 'Valley' up here only because us Virginians really know what a valley is like. There is a river that runs somewhat north to south and separates North Dakota from Minnesota. As you approach that river from the East and the West it slopes down into what they refer to as the Red River Valley. Devils lake is around 100 miles west of Grand Forks and is approximately 500 ft higher in elevation. (It does the same thing east of Grand Forks too) I promise I'll make my point soon. My meteorology professor mentioned that as the storm moved from the west to the east that the extra 500 ft that the snow had to fall through, made the snowfall totals incorrect. That extra 500 ft gave the snowflakes extra time to melt before hitting the surface which gave towns west and east of Grand Forks higher totals and made us fall short. On a side note there is supposedly a phenomenon that takes place as thunderstorms roll through (once more from west to east) that they lessen in intensity because of something taking place within the River Valley. I may have found my senior project!
Enough with weather! Since last posting quite a few things have happened. 1) I'm actually into the swing of college. It's not totally overwhelming just to wake up in the morning. It's more like "This is just what I do." and the day flows on as normal! 2) I passed my Stage-Check, which is like a second check-ride that I had to complete to show the Aerospace school that I understood, not only what the Federal Aviation Administration expects of me, but also the UND policies and procedures! It was a LOT of extra studying, but I feel all the more accomplished that I completed it within a month of being here. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to fly the University's aircraft because I 'graduated' from my course. (I think it is because of insurance purposes.) If I want to fly, I have to go elsewhere and pass a test of their own making, which is extremely frustrating. It'll eventually happen!
Keep in touch and feel free to write me at:
University of North Dakota
#315 Bek Hall
Grand Forks, ND 58202
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
I'm not dead. Well, I kind of feel like it. Hopefully I don't look like it. I've been here 11 days. My room mate and I were discussing it this past weekend. It feels like I just moved in, but nope... Classes are in full swing. The lunch ladies hair-nets are grasping for the gray wisps that dislodge themselves. The assholes are in full swing as well. I'm in college. Holy shit. I'm. In. College.
I'm one of the lucky individuals who 1) Gets to fly at school. I mean, who gets to fly at school? And 2) Who isn't loaded down with some ridiculous amount of classes. It's a nice balance. Although balanced, it's totally new to me. Not have familiar faces to look at everyday is kind of difficult, but the unfamiliar faces outweigh it. I haven't met a ton of people and I think that's mainly due to my unique personality and my picky-ness when it comes to friends. But one thing I do know is I really enjoy the ones I have made.
I was contemplating on whether I was going to bring this next bit up... I decided that I would mainly because I realize that whether anyone says it or not, everyone is going through some stage of it. Yup, you guessed it. Homesickness. Might I start off by saying, "BOOOOOooooooooo." Why body? Why, must you do this? I had such a hard time leaving my parents. In fact, I'm having a bit of a difficult time typing this. Oddly enough, eleven days in, I feel it. This is truly where I need to be. It's totally natural to feel homesick, but it's such a crummy feeling. You know... Something reminds you of home, and you're immediately a friggin' mess. Or in an instance where you know you have no control over something, and you wish Mom or Dad or Grand Ma or Grand Pa or Auntie or DOG, was there to fix it? But they aren't. Do you know why? Do you really really know why? Because we must grow up. It's totally necessary and if you don't grow up, you turn out to be someone other than yourself. I made the decision a while back.
I'm going to grow up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's start. Here's my story.
Here is where I live!
I don't actually live in that, but you get my point. This school really has it going on. Night life every weekend. (If I could actually stay up to enjoy it.) It's been ridiculously hot here recently. They're calling for 97F tomorrow! That's hot and you know it! We have NO A/C in our resident halls which makes it almost unbearable to stay in the room that long.
Here is the main terminal at Grand Fork International Airport! I don't ever go in this building because I'm not a passenger. ;)
I'll be sharing much more with you on my journey. Feel free to send me emails. I would most definitely love to hear from all of you! sid2k12@gmail.com
Take care,
Sidney
I'm one of the lucky individuals who 1) Gets to fly at school. I mean, who gets to fly at school? And 2) Who isn't loaded down with some ridiculous amount of classes. It's a nice balance. Although balanced, it's totally new to me. Not have familiar faces to look at everyday is kind of difficult, but the unfamiliar faces outweigh it. I haven't met a ton of people and I think that's mainly due to my unique personality and my picky-ness when it comes to friends. But one thing I do know is I really enjoy the ones I have made.
I was contemplating on whether I was going to bring this next bit up... I decided that I would mainly because I realize that whether anyone says it or not, everyone is going through some stage of it. Yup, you guessed it. Homesickness. Might I start off by saying, "BOOOOOooooooooo." Why body? Why, must you do this? I had such a hard time leaving my parents. In fact, I'm having a bit of a difficult time typing this. Oddly enough, eleven days in, I feel it. This is truly where I need to be. It's totally natural to feel homesick, but it's such a crummy feeling. You know... Something reminds you of home, and you're immediately a friggin' mess. Or in an instance where you know you have no control over something, and you wish Mom or Dad or Grand Ma or Grand Pa or Auntie or DOG, was there to fix it? But they aren't. Do you know why? Do you really really know why? Because we must grow up. It's totally necessary and if you don't grow up, you turn out to be someone other than yourself. I made the decision a while back.
I'm going to grow up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's start. Here's my story.
Here is where I live!
I don't actually live in that, but you get my point. This school really has it going on. Night life every weekend. (If I could actually stay up to enjoy it.) It's been ridiculously hot here recently. They're calling for 97F tomorrow! That's hot and you know it! We have NO A/C in our resident halls which makes it almost unbearable to stay in the room that long.
Here is the main terminal at Grand Fork International Airport! I don't ever go in this building because I'm not a passenger. ;)
I'll be sharing much more with you on my journey. Feel free to send me emails. I would most definitely love to hear from all of you! sid2k12@gmail.com
Take care,
Sidney
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
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