I can't stop giggling. The rain is pouring. I mean, really coming down hard. And I'm just laughing.
And now I'm in my new "home state." People ask where I'm from and I never really have a solid response. The new answer is: "I live in North Carolina."
Last night I couldn't stop giggling in NashVegas. We had a great dinner on the town. Then we visited the Vanderbilt campus, which I'd heard so much about. Then we honky tonked. Live music? Every bar? No cover? And this was only a Monday night. What a town! Oh yeah, and they have a Parthenon. Didn't know you could just install on of those in your town.
We hit the road this morning and drove through the remainder of Tennessee, a bit of Virginia, and a smidgen of North Carolina to arrive at my mom's cousin's home in Mt. Airy, home of Andy Griffith and the basis of Mayberry. We received the royal treatment, again. So much for roughing it! Shingled roof > nylon tent.
Tomorrow I'll really be home. We'll head out of here to my new residence in Durham, North Carolina. I will start my new life. My ski bum plus road trip is officially over.
I've really enjoyed this adventure. Thank you first to my grandmother for letting me crash in the family condo. Thank you secondly to LaundroMat for getting me safely to my destination. Thank you thirdly to everyone that helped along the way: friends and family in Sun Valley, friends, family, and friends' friends and family along the way (confusing but true). I am so lucky to have had this opportunity to have a break from work to complete my prerequisites, enjoy the outdoors, and make the most of this interim between first career and graduate school. This ski bum really left if all on the dance floor during her last chance. Hopefully I entertained some of you. If I didn't, just think of this as documentation of what I did before I grew up and became an adult.
Thanks for sharing this last dance with me!
Mileage today: 410
Mileage tomorrow: 125
Total mileage count: 5580
Days on the road: 17
Destinations: 13
States: 16
Showers: 6
Flat tires: 1
Weddings: 1
Bridesmaid dresses: 2
Campouts: 4 (1 unauthorized, 1 with fee)
Fast food stops: 0 (except for a Pita Express walk-in after leaving the bars in Austin)
French fries consumed: 1 fry
Family gatherings (crashed or created): 6
Speeding or parking tickets: 0
Runs: 2
Texting, emailing or web-surfing while driving: too many
Beverages lost off the top of the car roof: 1 known
Audiobooks started: 6
Audiobooks completed: 2 (on the legs Kirforce did pre-LaundroMat)
Best sign: "Go to church, or the devil will get you."
Best line: "Don't open that door."
Road kill hit: 2 already dead
Best local flavor: Virginia peach, last bite of the beignet
Missed exits: 2 both by Kirforce
Best dancing: the wedding
Best attempts at a vegan offerings: sushi and jello
Worst CDs: Kirforce's "Road-tripping Mixes" from 2003
Biggest disappointment: Muleshoe, TX
Best deal: Getting to Zion before it opened, so we didn't pay the entrance fee; being hosted
Caffeinated beverages consumed while on the road: 2 coffees
Over the course of my entire bumhood
Old friends seen: lots!
New friends made: lots!
Classes completed: 3
Self-taught refresher courses: 1
Ski days: 31
Hike days: 10
Favorite wildflower: Chocolate lily, Slender-leaved lovage, Sticky chickweed, Columbine, Lupine
Mountain bike attempts: 1
Road bike outings: around 10, not counting commutes to work
Car washes: 0
Speeding or parking tickets: 0
P&L: I don't take accounting until I'm at the business school, so I'll let you know then.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Visibility
Our visibility has been impaired. "Where is this rain coming from? I can see shadows. Is the sun raining on us?" Visibility has also improved as I experience southern culture and get closer to school.
Before departing New Orleans, we enjoyed sleeping in (a luxury!), dining out, and walking through the French Quarter. Wise local knowledge instructed us to go to Café du Monde and get an order of beignets with coffee. This task was completed messily and happily. We also caught a girl shredding it on the washboard at a local establishment. Very cool, even in the muggy climate.
Originally I thought that we would take the freeway all the way East and then head up the coast when we hit the Atlantic. Scratch that! LaundroMat has a pal in Nashville willing to put us up for a night, so the Escape is missing some states that we anticipated, but gaining some others. Without a favorable destination between here and Durham, we'll continue to pursue our luck with fabulous housing accommodations instead of finding a campsite.
Since we put on our tourist hats yesterday, we didn't leave NOLA until late afternoon. Clocking in three and a half hours on the road, we crossed three boarders. That's right, we averaged more than one state per hour. Lousianna, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Mississippi was where we confronted miserable torrential rain. Kirforce giggled maniacally through the sections where she struggled to see the road. And then it was gone and then it was back and so on. We arrived in Pensacola around dusk.
The rain subsided as we settled at Fort Pickens State Park. The gate attendant told us to be back before the gates closed at 10 PM if we chose to go out. She also recommended a few coveted sites but warned of loud cleanup crews. That's right, we were on a peninsula impacted by the oil spill. BP had a whole parking lot reserved for their equipment and facilities. We did a bit of exploring before attempting to get some shuteye and ignore the croaking frogs (they frequented the camp bathrooms along with gigantic dragonflies), humming generator, and pooling sweat.
The Fort was even more impressive by the light of day. I felt like a little kid, climbing all over the military base. Beaches and the ocean (via the Gulf of Mexico) are officially checked off our list, which is good since they'll be out of our scope for the remainder of our trip.
It's nice to be back on solid ground. During our drive along the coast yesterday, we spent many miles on elevated freeways and highways in the bayous and bridges across lakes, rivers, and marshes. Reminding myself that there are no earthquakes here was only a slight relief.
We just stopped in Birmingham and after missing the address twice, we walked around the Southern Progress Corporation campus. When I started at Sunset, we reported to corporate offices in this facility. Time(s) have changed and they now report to New York. But I worked with a lot of folks via phone, email, and the dreaded web conference, so it was nice to get a visual of their great offices tucked away in a wooded hill.
We should get to Nashville before 7 PM, plenty of time to enjoy another festive town. Then we may try to depart the premises early and annihilate the last 525 miles of our drive to Durham, North Carolina! If not, a stop along the way is sure to be beautiful (already feeling bias towards my new home).
Mileage yesterday: 220
Anticipated mileage today: 460
Total mileage count: 5045
Before departing New Orleans, we enjoyed sleeping in (a luxury!), dining out, and walking through the French Quarter. Wise local knowledge instructed us to go to Café du Monde and get an order of beignets with coffee. This task was completed messily and happily. We also caught a girl shredding it on the washboard at a local establishment. Very cool, even in the muggy climate.
Originally I thought that we would take the freeway all the way East and then head up the coast when we hit the Atlantic. Scratch that! LaundroMat has a pal in Nashville willing to put us up for a night, so the Escape is missing some states that we anticipated, but gaining some others. Without a favorable destination between here and Durham, we'll continue to pursue our luck with fabulous housing accommodations instead of finding a campsite.
Since we put on our tourist hats yesterday, we didn't leave NOLA until late afternoon. Clocking in three and a half hours on the road, we crossed three boarders. That's right, we averaged more than one state per hour. Lousianna, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Mississippi was where we confronted miserable torrential rain. Kirforce giggled maniacally through the sections where she struggled to see the road. And then it was gone and then it was back and so on. We arrived in Pensacola around dusk.
The rain subsided as we settled at Fort Pickens State Park. The gate attendant told us to be back before the gates closed at 10 PM if we chose to go out. She also recommended a few coveted sites but warned of loud cleanup crews. That's right, we were on a peninsula impacted by the oil spill. BP had a whole parking lot reserved for their equipment and facilities. We did a bit of exploring before attempting to get some shuteye and ignore the croaking frogs (they frequented the camp bathrooms along with gigantic dragonflies), humming generator, and pooling sweat.
The Fort was even more impressive by the light of day. I felt like a little kid, climbing all over the military base. Beaches and the ocean (via the Gulf of Mexico) are officially checked off our list, which is good since they'll be out of our scope for the remainder of our trip.
It's nice to be back on solid ground. During our drive along the coast yesterday, we spent many miles on elevated freeways and highways in the bayous and bridges across lakes, rivers, and marshes. Reminding myself that there are no earthquakes here was only a slight relief.
We just stopped in Birmingham and after missing the address twice, we walked around the Southern Progress Corporation campus. When I started at Sunset, we reported to corporate offices in this facility. Time(s) have changed and they now report to New York. But I worked with a lot of folks via phone, email, and the dreaded web conference, so it was nice to get a visual of their great offices tucked away in a wooded hill.
We should get to Nashville before 7 PM, plenty of time to enjoy another festive town. Then we may try to depart the premises early and annihilate the last 525 miles of our drive to Durham, North Carolina! If not, a stop along the way is sure to be beautiful (already feeling bias towards my new home).
Mileage yesterday: 220
Anticipated mileage today: 460
Total mileage count: 5045
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Taking on the Town Times Two
Austin versus New Orleans. I don't even want to compare the fun times that we've had.
We had a fabulous last minute host in Austin, and we have a fabulous hostess here in New Orleans.
The heat is on as we wander the streets of both towns. Last night I was shocked to see the livelihood of a true Texan town. Tonight I am still up at 4 AM. I don't know what I'm running on, a set of breakfast tacos from a street cart and a vegetarian "po' boy" sure are helping.
Now I'm feeling like I'm on vacation more than "commuting" to my new home. With new friends and old alike, I'm loving the South despite the constraints of humidity and hundred degree days.
We hit a little rain today, the first semi-substantial showers of the journey. Overall, Texas was not a burden to conquer. I kept comparing it to Minnesota: lots of trees and plains. As we entered Louisiana, it became apparent that we were in a new world filled with bayous, BBQ, and sugar cane? Or at least that's what we identified the prolific crop to be.
I'm losing track of the days, but we survived Friday the 13th without disaster. Tomorrow, we'll try to explore the area a bit and either head out or hang tight.
Mileage today: 540
Total mileage count: 4365
We had a fabulous last minute host in Austin, and we have a fabulous hostess here in New Orleans.
The heat is on as we wander the streets of both towns. Last night I was shocked to see the livelihood of a true Texan town. Tonight I am still up at 4 AM. I don't know what I'm running on, a set of breakfast tacos from a street cart and a vegetarian "po' boy" sure are helping.
Now I'm feeling like I'm on vacation more than "commuting" to my new home. With new friends and old alike, I'm loving the South despite the constraints of humidity and hundred degree days.
We hit a little rain today, the first semi-substantial showers of the journey. Overall, Texas was not a burden to conquer. I kept comparing it to Minnesota: lots of trees and plains. As we entered Louisiana, it became apparent that we were in a new world filled with bayous, BBQ, and sugar cane? Or at least that's what we identified the prolific crop to be.
I'm losing track of the days, but we survived Friday the 13th without disaster. Tomorrow, we'll try to explore the area a bit and either head out or hang tight.
Mileage today: 540
Total mileage count: 4365
Pump and Grind
Those of you that know Odie, know his sweet dance moves. When I was in Seattle (how many days ago was that? Ten?), I commanded Odie to "bump and grind," but the old golden retriever wasn't too excited about getting down with me.
As we drive through Texas, I'm feeling the pump and grind instead. The scent of oil is strong here, a few miles East of Lubbeck. We've been driving since 10 AM this morning.
Last night we reached Albuquerque at 7 PM, which was exactly the time that we were scheduled to arrive. We had an extremely bountiful dinner and intimate conversation at LaundroMat's uncle's home. How luxurious a warm shower and bed were.
Before grinding our way to Albuquerque, we took a scenic excursion to Sedona, at Mat's recommendation. I've driven a lot of twisty roads in my time, but nothing like the canyon scaling that we did to get to Sedona from Flagstaff. It was incredible. A day of plenty, we feasted at a raw organic vegan restaurant for lunch.
Today is entitled: Conquering Texas. It took us about four hours to get Texico, New Mexico (the border) from Albuquerque. If we get to Austin tonight, we'll have an eight and a half hour drive to get to New Orleans tomorrow. Pump and grind!
And Dad, I definitely enjoyed the meteor shower before dawn the other day. Beautiful!
Mileage yesterday: 430
Mileage today: 720
Total mileage count: 3825
As we drive through Texas, I'm feeling the pump and grind instead. The scent of oil is strong here, a few miles East of Lubbeck. We've been driving since 10 AM this morning.
Last night we reached Albuquerque at 7 PM, which was exactly the time that we were scheduled to arrive. We had an extremely bountiful dinner and intimate conversation at LaundroMat's uncle's home. How luxurious a warm shower and bed were.
Before grinding our way to Albuquerque, we took a scenic excursion to Sedona, at Mat's recommendation. I've driven a lot of twisty roads in my time, but nothing like the canyon scaling that we did to get to Sedona from Flagstaff. It was incredible. A day of plenty, we feasted at a raw organic vegan restaurant for lunch.
Today is entitled: Conquering Texas. It took us about four hours to get Texico, New Mexico (the border) from Albuquerque. If we get to Austin tonight, we'll have an eight and a half hour drive to get to New Orleans tomorrow. Pump and grind!
And Dad, I definitely enjoyed the meteor shower before dawn the other day. Beautiful!
Mileage yesterday: 430
Mileage today: 720
Total mileage count: 3825
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Park Hoppers
I haven't had the chance to post yesterday's entry, but I'm hoping to double up tomorrow.
Currently we are in Nowheresville, population two. But before I get to that, let me update you (or probably just make personal record of since my readership here is pretty low) on our arrival at said location.
Yesterday, we hit traffic just as we got to Vegas, which made it easy to decide not to deal with parking and giving away my money to a casino. We headed onward to St. George, but missed the chance to hit up the visitor center to inquire about Zion (we crossed a time zone, so it was closed). Instead, we ate our second meal in a row outside of a grocery store and then continued on our trek to Zion. We had little hope that a campsite would be available in the park, but we were unpleasantly surprised that we couldn't even enter the park due to road construction. We turned towards a reservoir nearby, anticipating a turnoff that we could sneak away on and setup camp. Too residential. Which meant that there was a great little neighborhood park. We spent six hours here, restlessly dozing as we both had nightmares of dog attacks and confrontations with the authorities. No tent. We did our best to be invisible.
On the road again at 6:00 AM, we got to Zion before 8 AM and tooled around the visitor center for a while. Ultimately, we ended up choosing a little hike that left from there and went up to a nice outlook of the valley. After that we hit the scenic highway (sweet tunnels) and arrived at the Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge at about 11:30 AM. Impressive, eh? We did a bunch of short strolls from the main drag to see amazing vistas of this natural wonder. On the road again before sunset. We hit the interchange towards Albuquerque, which is conveniently a national forest, so we are free to camp wherever. Current location, Nowheresville, off the drag. Snack, beer, and to bed we go. Glad to have a tent over our heads and a roof in our future as we plan to stay with Mat's relatives tomorrow night.
Not a huge mileage day in regards to driving, but we saw so much in just a short amount of time. i think amongst all the strolls and hikes, we must have gotten in about six miles on foot today. I wish that we could have spent more time in both Zion and the North Rim, but I'm so glad to at least have an idea of their awe-inspiring presence.
Mileage today: 175
Total mileage count: 2675 (I think... calculator check anyone?)
Currently we are in Nowheresville, population two. But before I get to that, let me update you (or probably just make personal record of since my readership here is pretty low) on our arrival at said location.
Yesterday, we hit traffic just as we got to Vegas, which made it easy to decide not to deal with parking and giving away my money to a casino. We headed onward to St. George, but missed the chance to hit up the visitor center to inquire about Zion (we crossed a time zone, so it was closed). Instead, we ate our second meal in a row outside of a grocery store and then continued on our trek to Zion. We had little hope that a campsite would be available in the park, but we were unpleasantly surprised that we couldn't even enter the park due to road construction. We turned towards a reservoir nearby, anticipating a turnoff that we could sneak away on and setup camp. Too residential. Which meant that there was a great little neighborhood park. We spent six hours here, restlessly dozing as we both had nightmares of dog attacks and confrontations with the authorities. No tent. We did our best to be invisible.
On the road again at 6:00 AM, we got to Zion before 8 AM and tooled around the visitor center for a while. Ultimately, we ended up choosing a little hike that left from there and went up to a nice outlook of the valley. After that we hit the scenic highway (sweet tunnels) and arrived at the Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge at about 11:30 AM. Impressive, eh? We did a bunch of short strolls from the main drag to see amazing vistas of this natural wonder. On the road again before sunset. We hit the interchange towards Albuquerque, which is conveniently a national forest, so we are free to camp wherever. Current location, Nowheresville, off the drag. Snack, beer, and to bed we go. Glad to have a tent over our heads and a roof in our future as we plan to stay with Mat's relatives tomorrow night.
Not a huge mileage day in regards to driving, but we saw so much in just a short amount of time. i think amongst all the strolls and hikes, we must have gotten in about six miles on foot today. I wish that we could have spent more time in both Zion and the North Rim, but I'm so glad to at least have an idea of their awe-inspiring presence.
Mileage today: 175
Total mileage count: 2675 (I think... calculator check anyone?)
Mirages in the Desert
As my trusted copilot takes on captain duties, I have a chance to hang out with computer and it's exceptional battery life. Before hitting the road, my brother spruced up this machine with a Streets and Trips program. So far it's been a great asset as LaundroMat and Kirforce decide where they want to stop. Today's best example was when we decided to add Zion National Park to our lists of places to stay.
Right now we're traveling up the longest, straightest grade I've ever seen. Unlike the twisted switchbacks of a good Pacific Northwest pass, this one just goes on and on, up and up. We hit the road from San Jose around 7 AM this morning. I've finally left the Bay Area for the final time... by car... in the foreseeable future. I'll be back in Palo Alto in a month for wedding number four of 2010, and the second one that I'm representing at the altar.
Mat says we've reached the apex of the pass. We're considering stopping for slots in Vegas, but we don't want to miss a spectacular sunset in Zion. Oh the other great thing about adding Zion to our destinations is that we gain two more states. The total state count is sixteen on this trip, the majority of which are new to me.
Ok my navigator duties are being requested, so I must sign off. There's an unidentifiable city in the distance. Maybe it's a mirage but it looks eerily similar to Vegas, and we've noted a large increase in the proportion of mafia cars on the road.
Mileage today: 700
Total mileage count: 2500
Right now we're traveling up the longest, straightest grade I've ever seen. Unlike the twisted switchbacks of a good Pacific Northwest pass, this one just goes on and on, up and up. We hit the road from San Jose around 7 AM this morning. I've finally left the Bay Area for the final time... by car... in the foreseeable future. I'll be back in Palo Alto in a month for wedding number four of 2010, and the second one that I'm representing at the altar.
Mat says we've reached the apex of the pass. We're considering stopping for slots in Vegas, but we don't want to miss a spectacular sunset in Zion. Oh the other great thing about adding Zion to our destinations is that we gain two more states. The total state count is sixteen on this trip, the majority of which are new to me.
Ok my navigator duties are being requested, so I must sign off. There's an unidentifiable city in the distance. Maybe it's a mirage but it looks eerily similar to Vegas, and we've noted a large increase in the proportion of mafia cars on the road.
Mileage today: 700
Total mileage count: 2500
Monday, August 9, 2010
Revival
I'm feeling pretty at home. Vino in hand. E! on the big screen. Bay area bliss. But it's been a long journey. Wait, it's barely begun.
667 miles from Portland to Sunnyvale isn't too much of an undertaking. Unless you require a huge intermission two hours into the drive.
The intermission (shower, nap, food times two) was definitely a necessity. I had slept approximately three hours the night before courtesy of the magically fantastic Johnston wedding. I showed up at my copilot's apartment at a reasonable hour on Sunday morning, with fake eyelashes still intact and an aroma of festivities following in my wake. Luckily I managed to change out of the bridesmaid dress that I wore to bed, scratch that, sleeping bag (we camped at the wedding site. Did I mention that it was magical?).
Once we arrived at our hospitable and last minute housing at 5:00 AM, we slept until 8 AM and then took on a day of visiting. So the map of my past 48 hours looks like this. First stop: Sunset reunion! Second stop: Mountain View admiration and tacqueria sustenance. Third stop: Refined former roommate gathering in Livermore. Finally, a quick beer at my old watering hole in San Francisco. Too much fun!
Now it's off to Nevada.
Mileage count: 1550
Scheduled distance for tomorrow: 653
667 miles from Portland to Sunnyvale isn't too much of an undertaking. Unless you require a huge intermission two hours into the drive.
The intermission (shower, nap, food times two) was definitely a necessity. I had slept approximately three hours the night before courtesy of the magically fantastic Johnston wedding. I showed up at my copilot's apartment at a reasonable hour on Sunday morning, with fake eyelashes still intact and an aroma of festivities following in my wake. Luckily I managed to change out of the bridesmaid dress that I wore to bed, scratch that, sleeping bag (we camped at the wedding site. Did I mention that it was magical?).
Once we arrived at our hospitable and last minute housing at 5:00 AM, we slept until 8 AM and then took on a day of visiting. So the map of my past 48 hours looks like this. First stop: Sunset reunion! Second stop: Mountain View admiration and tacqueria sustenance. Third stop: Refined former roommate gathering in Livermore. Finally, a quick beer at my old watering hole in San Francisco. Too much fun!
Now it's off to Nevada.
Mileage count: 1550
Scheduled distance for tomorrow: 653
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Rocky Start to a Five Thousand Mile Trek
And she's off.
Kirforce is officially on her journey to North Carolina!
Anything that didn't fit in the hybrid Escape has a new life through the Gold Mine Thrift store, and decreasing my possessions has never felt so good.
Although I'm a bit of a hypocrite: I'm writing to you from my new Toshiba laptop. I haven't owned a new computer since 2003. This was an unexpected purchase but much needed retail therapy session after a bit of a scary scene in which Kirforce entered the freeway in Centralia, WA and proceeded to destroy her rear driver's side tire. Yikes.
Many thanks to WSDOT for saving this damsel in distress.
In my final "ski bumming" days I hiked, visited Redfish Lake, closed up the cafe and trained new workers, basked in the sun, and packed up my life.
First stop: Portland. I spent a night in this festive and familiar town, saying ta-ta as I will return in just two days for the third 2010 wedding and one of two that I get to represent at the altar. A stop in Hood River for dinner. Dusk in the Gorge. Memories of many drives along the Columbia River to lacrosse tournaments. 580 miles and a world away from the Sawtooth Mountains.
After that substantial start to my adventure, today should have been a breeze. 170 miles to A Lake Odyssey (Annemom's house). Unfortunately the flat tire hiccup made the trip much less enjoyable.
So first thing tomorrow, the hybrid is going in for a check-up. Crossing my fingers for good reports. Also on the itinerary: Pacific Northwest hike, family dinner.
Mileage count: 750
Day count: 2
Miles to go: approximately 4,230
Kirforce is officially on her journey to North Carolina!
Anything that didn't fit in the hybrid Escape has a new life through the Gold Mine Thrift store, and decreasing my possessions has never felt so good.
Although I'm a bit of a hypocrite: I'm writing to you from my new Toshiba laptop. I haven't owned a new computer since 2003. This was an unexpected purchase but much needed retail therapy session after a bit of a scary scene in which Kirforce entered the freeway in Centralia, WA and proceeded to destroy her rear driver's side tire. Yikes.
Many thanks to WSDOT for saving this damsel in distress.
In my final "ski bumming" days I hiked, visited Redfish Lake, closed up the cafe and trained new workers, basked in the sun, and packed up my life.
First stop: Portland. I spent a night in this festive and familiar town, saying ta-ta as I will return in just two days for the third 2010 wedding and one of two that I get to represent at the altar. A stop in Hood River for dinner. Dusk in the Gorge. Memories of many drives along the Columbia River to lacrosse tournaments. 580 miles and a world away from the Sawtooth Mountains.
After that substantial start to my adventure, today should have been a breeze. 170 miles to A Lake Odyssey (Annemom's house). Unfortunately the flat tire hiccup made the trip much less enjoyable.
So first thing tomorrow, the hybrid is going in for a check-up. Crossing my fingers for good reports. Also on the itinerary: Pacific Northwest hike, family dinner.
Mileage count: 750
Day count: 2
Miles to go: approximately 4,230
Friday, July 2, 2010
Inspiration
New blog picture, new season. I must admit that I have the urge to write.
30 more days. That is all I have left in this beautiful town.
Weekly skiing has been replaced by weekly hikes. Time dedicated to class is now time dedicated to the cafe. Looking forward, I have a house lined up for North Carolina (sharing a three bedroom with two men in my program). I have my finances in order (I think). I have my cross-country route picked out: Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, New Mexico, Texas, New Orleans, Florida, and Durham.
Now that summer arrived last week, it really is stunning around here. Wildflowers blanket the hillsides. Craggy peaks hold on to the last bits of snow. A visit from my brother last week allowed me to explore new territory with an old pro. I'm also enjoying adventures on bike and foot with coworkers and friends.
And my classes? Most excellent marks from the community college courses, and I just turned in my last online class assignment after a full month of procrastination. Ready to officially satisfy my prerequisite needs with a final final.
Life is pretty stormy with new reasons to rejoice paired with new causes for concern. I'm going to enjoy the sunshine and encourage it to stick around for a while. The Fourth of July has always been my favorite holiday, and it seems that people in town like to celebrate it, too.
To those of you dedicated enough to discover this new entry, I'm sorry for the absence. Thank you for understanding my hiatus. I've been lucky enough to see most of you in recent weeks. Wish I had all of you here to dance out my last days as a bum.
30 more days. That is all I have left in this beautiful town.
Weekly skiing has been replaced by weekly hikes. Time dedicated to class is now time dedicated to the cafe. Looking forward, I have a house lined up for North Carolina (sharing a three bedroom with two men in my program). I have my finances in order (I think). I have my cross-country route picked out: Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, New Mexico, Texas, New Orleans, Florida, and Durham.
Now that summer arrived last week, it really is stunning around here. Wildflowers blanket the hillsides. Craggy peaks hold on to the last bits of snow. A visit from my brother last week allowed me to explore new territory with an old pro. I'm also enjoying adventures on bike and foot with coworkers and friends.
And my classes? Most excellent marks from the community college courses, and I just turned in my last online class assignment after a full month of procrastination. Ready to officially satisfy my prerequisite needs with a final final.
Life is pretty stormy with new reasons to rejoice paired with new causes for concern. I'm going to enjoy the sunshine and encourage it to stick around for a while. The Fourth of July has always been my favorite holiday, and it seems that people in town like to celebrate it, too.
To those of you dedicated enough to discover this new entry, I'm sorry for the absence. Thank you for understanding my hiatus. I've been lucky enough to see most of you in recent weeks. Wish I had all of you here to dance out my last days as a bum.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Hiatus
In celebration of Earth Day, I'm taking a "Last chance, ski bum dance" hiatus.
Let's be honest, my life is boring. Why waste the electricity to tell you about it?
I'll let you know when something of interest happens.
Questions? Pick up the phone and give me a call.
Let's be honest, my life is boring. Why waste the electricity to tell you about it?
I'll let you know when something of interest happens.
Questions? Pick up the phone and give me a call.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Mixed Emo's
Here are a few of the current mixed emotions that Kirforce is confronting.
Dread/Excitement: Tomorrow we dissect rats in biology. What? Biology. Rats...that are dead. Scissors. Identifying internal organs. Woah. Did not know I was getting myself into this. Next week? Human cadaver. Um excuse me? I have never even seen a surgery. Queasy factor of one billion. But I'm almost dreading this dissection more than next week's viewing. I had the best pet rats in high school, no joke. Hot and Sexy were their names. Those tender little gals always hold a special place in my heart. Apologies in advance.
Slacker/Overachiever: I keep reminding myself that these are just prerequisite courses, and this is the formula: B- = credit. The same thing happened during my semester abroad. Grades didn't transfer. In both situations, I'm struggling to embrace this freedom.
Foodie/junkie: I dance a thin line between being a decent cook or a disgusting glutton. I finished Julie and Julia on CD (the only positive thing that happens while I make the trek down to Hailey for class), so I'm inspired to get cookin'. Last night I burnt rice. Huge failure. Tonight I think I might have taken a step in the right direction. Will get back to you on that one.
Fight/Flight: I am so blessed. So undeservedly blessed. I'm not a religious person, but "fortunate" and "lucky" don't adequately describe my emotions. I have an amazing family. I have an amazing step-family. I have amazing friends. I get to be selfish. I get to do what I want. I have my health. The incredibly undeservedly unfair situations that others are subjected to tears at my heart. After Julie and Julia finished, I popped in It's Not About the Bike. Say what you want about Lance Armstrong's personal life, but his message (in this book at least) is so good (so far). Embrace life. Don't take it for granted. Make a difference. And don't forget to share your passion with others. For those we've lost, and those we're fighting for, LIVESTRONG, in the most literal, trademark-free sense. Hugs hugs hugs times infinity.
Bitter/sweet: Tomorrow is my last Wednesday on the snow. Saturday is the grand finale of my season. It's been warm, and there's rain in the forecast. Despite my bitterness about not getting to ski more, I've had a sweet time ski bumming. Let's dance, the last dance (replace "love" with "skiing"). Looking forward to Act Two.
Cast your votes. Here are the contenders.
1. Last chance, river dance (Irish or water connotation)
2. Last chance, Sawtooth Forest prance
3. Last chance, marathon training advance
4. Last chance, eco-friendly seance (not really a last chance)
5. Last chance, travel the expanse
6. Last chance, write-in
Dread/Excitement: Tomorrow we dissect rats in biology. What? Biology. Rats...that are dead. Scissors. Identifying internal organs. Woah. Did not know I was getting myself into this. Next week? Human cadaver. Um excuse me? I have never even seen a surgery. Queasy factor of one billion. But I'm almost dreading this dissection more than next week's viewing. I had the best pet rats in high school, no joke. Hot and Sexy were their names. Those tender little gals always hold a special place in my heart. Apologies in advance.
Slacker/Overachiever: I keep reminding myself that these are just prerequisite courses, and this is the formula: B- = credit. The same thing happened during my semester abroad. Grades didn't transfer. In both situations, I'm struggling to embrace this freedom.
Foodie/junkie: I dance a thin line between being a decent cook or a disgusting glutton. I finished Julie and Julia on CD (the only positive thing that happens while I make the trek down to Hailey for class), so I'm inspired to get cookin'. Last night I burnt rice. Huge failure. Tonight I think I might have taken a step in the right direction. Will get back to you on that one.
Fight/Flight: I am so blessed. So undeservedly blessed. I'm not a religious person, but "fortunate" and "lucky" don't adequately describe my emotions. I have an amazing family. I have an amazing step-family. I have amazing friends. I get to be selfish. I get to do what I want. I have my health. The incredibly undeservedly unfair situations that others are subjected to tears at my heart. After Julie and Julia finished, I popped in It's Not About the Bike. Say what you want about Lance Armstrong's personal life, but his message (in this book at least) is so good (so far). Embrace life. Don't take it for granted. Make a difference. And don't forget to share your passion with others. For those we've lost, and those we're fighting for, LIVESTRONG, in the most literal, trademark-free sense. Hugs hugs hugs times infinity.
Bitter/sweet: Tomorrow is my last Wednesday on the snow. Saturday is the grand finale of my season. It's been warm, and there's rain in the forecast. Despite my bitterness about not getting to ski more, I've had a sweet time ski bumming. Let's dance, the last dance (replace "love" with "skiing"). Looking forward to Act Two.
Cast your votes. Here are the contenders.
1. Last chance, river dance (Irish or water connotation)
2. Last chance, Sawtooth Forest prance
3. Last chance, marathon training advance
4. Last chance, eco-friendly seance (not really a last chance)
5. Last chance, travel the expanse
6. Last chance, write-in
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Timing is Everything
I've never made a fashionable entrance, but I am usually late. Not notoriously, like a couple Santa Clara friends (love you guys), but it has definitely turned into a bad (and disrespectful) habit.
Today, I rolled into class ten minutes late. Not that it mattered because the only thing I did during the period was my homework for the week. Yesterday, I missed the championship game tip-off because I was cleaning up Sage Haven. The day before, I was tardy to Easter dinner at the extended family's place. And the day before that I got on the chairlift an hour after I planned to be there.
I've got to pull myself together because I don't think grad school is an appropriate place to continue this trend, as illustrated by an incident at NYU's business school. But it's hard to stress out about timing in this laid-back lifestyle.
As I dart to missed appointments, I can't help feeling like there is just not enough time in the day to get it all done. I worry that if I'm feeling this way now, how am I going to get through school? And how am I going to achieve everything I want to in my career and life? An eerie voice echoes in my head: "Like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives." Replace the uplifting music with something more like this.
But really, timing is everything. Being in the right place at the right time was how I landed my job at Sunset. While watching the NCAA championship yesterday, a Butler fan observed that the game would come down to who had the ball in the last seconds. (Luck or skill, Duke still won!)
What if I missed the clean energy boat? Who knows what will happen in three years? Copenhagen stole my idea of distributing renewable energy resources to developing countries. Hopefully it is still going strong in 2013... 2013! I can't predict what tomorrow will be like, much less a thousand tomorrows from now.
All I can do is try to prepare myself for anything. And be on time. Until then, I'll enjoy this late winter weather. Last chance, ski bum dance!
Today, I rolled into class ten minutes late. Not that it mattered because the only thing I did during the period was my homework for the week. Yesterday, I missed the championship game tip-off because I was cleaning up Sage Haven. The day before, I was tardy to Easter dinner at the extended family's place. And the day before that I got on the chairlift an hour after I planned to be there.
I've got to pull myself together because I don't think grad school is an appropriate place to continue this trend, as illustrated by an incident at NYU's business school. But it's hard to stress out about timing in this laid-back lifestyle.
As I dart to missed appointments, I can't help feeling like there is just not enough time in the day to get it all done. I worry that if I'm feeling this way now, how am I going to get through school? And how am I going to achieve everything I want to in my career and life? An eerie voice echoes in my head: "Like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives." Replace the uplifting music with something more like this.
But really, timing is everything. Being in the right place at the right time was how I landed my job at Sunset. While watching the NCAA championship yesterday, a Butler fan observed that the game would come down to who had the ball in the last seconds. (Luck or skill, Duke still won!)
What if I missed the clean energy boat? Who knows what will happen in three years? Copenhagen stole my idea of distributing renewable energy resources to developing countries. Hopefully it is still going strong in 2013... 2013! I can't predict what tomorrow will be like, much less a thousand tomorrows from now.
All I can do is try to prepare myself for anything. And be on time. Until then, I'll enjoy this late winter weather. Last chance, ski bum dance!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Two to one
Stats class has taught me all about ratios.
I'm feeling like 2:1 is my current ratio in life.
Two trips, one suitcase. My jaunt to the East was an incredible success. The Debauchelorette (please cite me when using this coined term) was less debauchery and less bachelorette-y than one might expect and more fun, fun, fun with college friends. The trip to Duke was great as well. Which brings me to...
Two masters, one program. Yup. I'm stoked. In three years I'll be the master of global environmental change and the master of social entrepreneurship. Just what I need to make things happen in this world, right? And in both locations, I had the pleasure of being hosted by...
Two hosts, one region times two plus one. Rachel graciously hosted me at her expansive Queens apartment, and Kiira astounded me with the Brooklyn Museum view from her living room. A Nicholas student hosted me in her unique Old North Durham apartment, and fellow-Whitman alumna and current MBA candidate, Sara, showed me the benefits of living in THE place to be as a business school student. Very, very nice. Added bonus goes out to my fabulous extended family that hosted me in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. I got so excited about living in this new state that I just didn't want to go home. But I'm so glad that I took the...
Two planes, one flight (with a connection in Minneapolis, love it) home so that I could benefit from...
Two pairs of skis, one epic day. Twelve glorious inches fell on the mountain last night (more like 3 sopping inches of rain here at Sage Haven). I hit the slopes and hit up a friend to see if there might be a crew that I could join. The crew laughed at my 2006 World Cup Slalom Fischers and sent me to their place of employment to pick up a pair of Dynastars. I have never been in love with something so fat. I went from two face plants in an hour to three hours of shredding the gnar! Ripped it up, if I don't say so myself. And I should have taken some pictures since I recently invested in...
Two technology upgrades, one technology downgrade. I now have a working digital camera (I managed to break it on a trip to Yosemite last spring, but finally got around to paying some dough to get it fixed... probably more than it's worth, but alas!) and a phone that isn't four years old (I think my tumble in the race two weeks ago cracked the screen, so now I can text with a full keyboard). The downgrade is the snow that's on the TV when you hit the power button. Back to TV-free living. And at such an inopportune time because out of their last three games Baylor had...
Two wins, one loss. This puts Duke into the Final Four this weekend. But I have to work...
Two days, one job. I wouldn't be able to watch them. Unfortunately there's not enough time to put in my...
Two weeks. I can't think of a one to go with it, so that's all folks!
I'm feeling like 2:1 is my current ratio in life.
Two trips, one suitcase. My jaunt to the East was an incredible success. The Debauchelorette (please cite me when using this coined term) was less debauchery and less bachelorette-y than one might expect and more fun, fun, fun with college friends. The trip to Duke was great as well. Which brings me to...
Two masters, one program. Yup. I'm stoked. In three years I'll be the master of global environmental change and the master of social entrepreneurship. Just what I need to make things happen in this world, right? And in both locations, I had the pleasure of being hosted by...
Two hosts, one region times two plus one. Rachel graciously hosted me at her expansive Queens apartment, and Kiira astounded me with the Brooklyn Museum view from her living room. A Nicholas student hosted me in her unique Old North Durham apartment, and fellow-Whitman alumna and current MBA candidate, Sara, showed me the benefits of living in THE place to be as a business school student. Very, very nice. Added bonus goes out to my fabulous extended family that hosted me in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. I got so excited about living in this new state that I just didn't want to go home. But I'm so glad that I took the...
Two planes, one flight (with a connection in Minneapolis, love it) home so that I could benefit from...
Two pairs of skis, one epic day. Twelve glorious inches fell on the mountain last night (more like 3 sopping inches of rain here at Sage Haven). I hit the slopes and hit up a friend to see if there might be a crew that I could join. The crew laughed at my 2006 World Cup Slalom Fischers and sent me to their place of employment to pick up a pair of Dynastars. I have never been in love with something so fat. I went from two face plants in an hour to three hours of shredding the gnar! Ripped it up, if I don't say so myself. And I should have taken some pictures since I recently invested in...
Two technology upgrades, one technology downgrade. I now have a working digital camera (I managed to break it on a trip to Yosemite last spring, but finally got around to paying some dough to get it fixed... probably more than it's worth, but alas!) and a phone that isn't four years old (I think my tumble in the race two weeks ago cracked the screen, so now I can text with a full keyboard). The downgrade is the snow that's on the TV when you hit the power button. Back to TV-free living. And at such an inopportune time because out of their last three games Baylor had...
Two wins, one loss. This puts Duke into the Final Four this weekend. But I have to work...
Two days, one job. I wouldn't be able to watch them. Unfortunately there's not enough time to put in my...
Two weeks. I can't think of a one to go with it, so that's all folks!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
B-O-M-silent B sauce
Bomb: can be good ("da bomb" circa 1997); can be bad (nuclear, failure).
In this case, it's bad.
I fell! What? I was the only one to wipe out!
So I bombed. And I blame the Irish Car Bombs that I consumed between runs. Oh and the Pabst. Dang. Celebrating St. Patrick's Day turned into an epic failure. No injuries from the fall, so I enjoyed more beverages and was one of the last people on the mountain.
Anyway, I surprised myself by how disappointed I was by the results. A bummer to end the season like that.
The new priority became enjoying the holiday. And I was "da bomb" at that. Prepping for the upcoming weekend of imbibing.
Then I bombed at getting to work on time (I woke up an hour late. It is so dark at 6:00 AM.). I bombed at feeling festive the day after the festivities and told the newspaper delivery man that I was worthless. He seemed concerned for my mental health.
But, I survived.
Now I'm bombing at packing. These basketball games impact productivity even if you don't have a full-time job. Duke is going all the way, bomb-diggity.
In this case, it's bad.
I fell! What? I was the only one to wipe out!
So I bombed. And I blame the Irish Car Bombs that I consumed between runs. Oh and the Pabst. Dang. Celebrating St. Patrick's Day turned into an epic failure. No injuries from the fall, so I enjoyed more beverages and was one of the last people on the mountain.
Anyway, I surprised myself by how disappointed I was by the results. A bummer to end the season like that.
The new priority became enjoying the holiday. And I was "da bomb" at that. Prepping for the upcoming weekend of imbibing.
Then I bombed at getting to work on time (I woke up an hour late. It is so dark at 6:00 AM.). I bombed at feeling festive the day after the festivities and told the newspaper delivery man that I was worthless. He seemed concerned for my mental health.
But, I survived.
Now I'm bombing at packing. These basketball games impact productivity even if you don't have a full-time job. Duke is going all the way, bomb-diggity.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Nervous Nancy
Tomorrow is the last Town Series race! I'm wearing the Sunset Subscriber slash Great Depression matching jogging pants and jacket costume. If I manage to pull together two runs, I could be on the Dream Team (the best standing individuals). I meant to tune my skis (it didn't happen). I meant to go to bed early (missed the boat on that one). I meant to have my eye on the prize (I have a first run meeting for Irish car bombs instead).
I also meant to get my life in order (I continuously fail at this). After a great visit from Annemom and her pal, I am all kinds of disoriented.
Booking flights to New York and Durham proved to be disastrous, falling back on a charitable mother for her monetary mileage. On Friday, I will close the cafe and drive to Boise. Do they offer hourly hotel rates? I only need one for four hours. My flight leaves at 6:30 AM on Saturday. I'll sleep my way to JFK, arriving just in time for Bachelorette Party shenanigans. Places that I will frequent in my travels (consider wardrobe requirements): ghetto motel, night out in Manhattan, Russian baths, headquarters of Sunset owner - Time Inc., bridal shop to try on a bridesmaid dress for a different wedding, lunches/dinners/drinks with friends/family/former coworkers, TBD intermediary trip to see family in Mt. Airy NC, casual environmental school events at Duke (student hosting, bonfire, and hike included), business-y business school events (luncheons, keynote speakers, "speed networking" are on the agenda).
AHH! Nervousness of packing beats the nervousness of tomorrow's race by a lot. Wish me the luck of the Irish! The last thing I want stolen is me lucky charms.
I also meant to get my life in order (I continuously fail at this). After a great visit from Annemom and her pal, I am all kinds of disoriented.
Booking flights to New York and Durham proved to be disastrous, falling back on a charitable mother for her monetary mileage. On Friday, I will close the cafe and drive to Boise. Do they offer hourly hotel rates? I only need one for four hours. My flight leaves at 6:30 AM on Saturday. I'll sleep my way to JFK, arriving just in time for Bachelorette Party shenanigans. Places that I will frequent in my travels (consider wardrobe requirements): ghetto motel, night out in Manhattan, Russian baths, headquarters of Sunset owner - Time Inc., bridal shop to try on a bridesmaid dress for a different wedding, lunches/dinners/drinks with friends/family/former coworkers, TBD intermediary trip to see family in Mt. Airy NC, casual environmental school events at Duke (student hosting, bonfire, and hike included), business-y business school events (luncheons, keynote speakers, "speed networking" are on the agenda).
AHH! Nervousness of packing beats the nervousness of tomorrow's race by a lot. Wish me the luck of the Irish! The last thing I want stolen is me lucky charms.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Pete and Repete
Pete and Repete were on a boat, Pete fell off, who was left? Pete and Repete were on a boat, Pete fell off, who was left?.....
After being here for nearly two months, things have started repeating themselves. I have my favorite mixed CDs in the ancient and skip-prone CD changer. I've eaten the same romaine, carrot, onion, parsley, cauliflower, citrus balsamic salad the past 4 days. And I maintained the 5th place standings (out of the ladies) in Town Series, although the tequila is getting less enjoyable each week.
I did switch things up in my routine, officially "bumming it" on Tuesday. I had scheduled two volunteer commitments, which I apologized for missing via email as I headed to the mountain to enjoy a little fresh snow. (Great day!) Dog-sitting duties are over. Two visitors coming in this weekend (my mom and her friend), and then I'm heading East next weekend. Exciting times!
Although looking forward I'm enthusiastic about upcoming events, I can't help but look back. Annual events remind me of days of yore, and remind me that I'm not able to enjoy the celebrations from afar. Times they are a changing. I just hope that I reach a point when I'm able to get back and reunite with moments of the past and forever friends: a sixteenth birthday party at a hotel (10 years ago!), a state ski tournament, a St. Patrick's Day in DC, a St. Patrick's Day in Revelstoke, a street fair in Japantown, a limo in Sonoma, a "das boot" at Suppenkuche.
As the summer rolls around, I'll be reminded of more great adventures over the Fourth of July (Lake Washington, Island Lake, Mendocino, Hotel California), Bay to Breakers, Celebration Weekend, Tahoe, Yosemite, half marathon. I keep hearing about the summers here and how amazing they are, but I can't help thinking, "It's not about where you are, but with who you are enjoying your time."
And on that note, please visit! I miss you! Yes, you!
The radio station is off the air (midnight shutdown apparently). Tomorrow I have a statistics exam, an airport shuttle, and a license plate pickup on the schedule, and that's all before an afternoon/closing shift at the cafe. Espresso, steamed milk, repeat.
After being here for nearly two months, things have started repeating themselves. I have my favorite mixed CDs in the ancient and skip-prone CD changer. I've eaten the same romaine, carrot, onion, parsley, cauliflower, citrus balsamic salad the past 4 days. And I maintained the 5th place standings (out of the ladies) in Town Series, although the tequila is getting less enjoyable each week.
I did switch things up in my routine, officially "bumming it" on Tuesday. I had scheduled two volunteer commitments, which I apologized for missing via email as I headed to the mountain to enjoy a little fresh snow. (Great day!) Dog-sitting duties are over. Two visitors coming in this weekend (my mom and her friend), and then I'm heading East next weekend. Exciting times!
Although looking forward I'm enthusiastic about upcoming events, I can't help but look back. Annual events remind me of days of yore, and remind me that I'm not able to enjoy the celebrations from afar. Times they are a changing. I just hope that I reach a point when I'm able to get back and reunite with moments of the past and forever friends: a sixteenth birthday party at a hotel (10 years ago!), a state ski tournament, a St. Patrick's Day in DC, a St. Patrick's Day in Revelstoke, a street fair in Japantown, a limo in Sonoma, a "das boot" at Suppenkuche.
As the summer rolls around, I'll be reminded of more great adventures over the Fourth of July (Lake Washington, Island Lake, Mendocino, Hotel California), Bay to Breakers, Celebration Weekend, Tahoe, Yosemite, half marathon. I keep hearing about the summers here and how amazing they are, but I can't help thinking, "It's not about where you are, but with who you are enjoying your time."
And on that note, please visit! I miss you! Yes, you!
The radio station is off the air (midnight shutdown apparently). Tomorrow I have a statistics exam, an airport shuttle, and a license plate pickup on the schedule, and that's all before an afternoon/closing shift at the cafe. Espresso, steamed milk, repeat.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Do-do, do-do, do-do
That's the sound of the Tivo fast forward times three. Can you hear it now? Good.
Tivo and me: reunited at last. And I'm blasting backwards 5 days to the Closing Ceremony in Vancouver. And I'm going even further back in time with a four-legged friend. And reminiscing about my years growing up skiing and ski-jumping. Ahhh back to the future.
The week in review: Kirforce continues to be a pretty bad volunteer, but the shame she feels helps, right? Kirforce got 5th in this week's race, and actually stuck around to receive a portion of her winnings, making her thirty minutes late to her biology class. Segueing to the next topic nicely: Kirforce slacking off in her classes. Kirforce also managed to lose, remember where she lost, not retrieve, be notified of the location of, and receive in the mail her Idaho license and debit card. Chaos. Kirforce also received her car's title, making today the best post office pick-up ever. Kirforce also picked-up a sweet gig hanging out with Jessie, a festive black lab, in a beautiful house. And the best part about the week was a really fun weekend, reminding me of my San Francisco life. I definitely miss some aspects of it a lot. I think that moving up here was the right decision, but I do wish I could have my cake and eat it, too.
Right now I'm definitely witnessing the ski bum dancer wrestling with the barista mopping moper, and losing. We finally got some fresh pow today, pounding on the awnings over the cafe entrance. It might continue tomorrow, when I'm at work. And possibly the next day, when I'm at work. And even Sunday, when I'm at work. *sigh* In anticipation of the end of the season (April 18th officially, but I'm not sure the base will hold up that long), I conquered some runs on Wednesday that I hadn't attempted yet this year. At least I've been able to get to know the mountain pretty personally in spite of not so much snow.
I have lots to look forward to this month: an east coast adventure with old friends, older friends, and new classmates; hopefully a visit from Annemom; a "spring break" from school. March madness! It's on like Donkey Kong.
Tivo and me: reunited at last. And I'm blasting backwards 5 days to the Closing Ceremony in Vancouver. And I'm going even further back in time with a four-legged friend. And reminiscing about my years growing up skiing and ski-jumping. Ahhh back to the future.
The week in review: Kirforce continues to be a pretty bad volunteer, but the shame she feels helps, right? Kirforce got 5th in this week's race, and actually stuck around to receive a portion of her winnings, making her thirty minutes late to her biology class. Segueing to the next topic nicely: Kirforce slacking off in her classes. Kirforce also managed to lose, remember where she lost, not retrieve, be notified of the location of, and receive in the mail her Idaho license and debit card. Chaos. Kirforce also received her car's title, making today the best post office pick-up ever. Kirforce also picked-up a sweet gig hanging out with Jessie, a festive black lab, in a beautiful house. And the best part about the week was a really fun weekend, reminding me of my San Francisco life. I definitely miss some aspects of it a lot. I think that moving up here was the right decision, but I do wish I could have my cake and eat it, too.
Right now I'm definitely witnessing the ski bum dancer wrestling with the barista mopping moper, and losing. We finally got some fresh pow today, pounding on the awnings over the cafe entrance. It might continue tomorrow, when I'm at work. And possibly the next day, when I'm at work. And even Sunday, when I'm at work. *sigh* In anticipation of the end of the season (April 18th officially, but I'm not sure the base will hold up that long), I conquered some runs on Wednesday that I hadn't attempted yet this year. At least I've been able to get to know the mountain pretty personally in spite of not so much snow.
I have lots to look forward to this month: an east coast adventure with old friends, older friends, and new classmates; hopefully a visit from Annemom; a "spring break" from school. March madness! It's on like Donkey Kong.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Triple twisting triple back flips
In the grand scheme of things, my life is not complicated. Especially in the context of the Olympics. Finally, Cox Communications got their act together to deliver my evening fix of athletic amazingness. (NBC and some other local channels have been jammed up the past few days.) The way that I'm fighting with this TV is probably why I haven't had one for the last two years.
But sometimes I feel like I'm doing triple twisting triple back flips right alongside the women aerialists in Vancouver, foggy haze and all.
Luckily the freezing fog here cleared up before my first Town Series run today. And the foggy haze of tracking down my car's title is clearing. And my employment is pretty much fog-free after being trained for opening and closing procedures and receiving my first paycheck (cha-ching). Sanity has returned. At least I'm landing my twisting back flips for the time being.
In Town Series points are bad and consistency is good. Based on that I'm acing it like I'm acing my community college classes. Today I held it together on both runs, until the finish line where I crashed in front of ten observers. After losing a ski, I turned to my newest fans and said, "Ta-dah." I just wish it was captured on video. Unfortunately, the lady on the other course had an even better wipe-out. Impressive.
I skipped class today and went to the festive after party, hoping to come home and get some work done for my volunteer gig. Didn't have to claim the fifth, so I have no excuse. Ready, set, back flip!
But sometimes I feel like I'm doing triple twisting triple back flips right alongside the women aerialists in Vancouver, foggy haze and all.
Luckily the freezing fog here cleared up before my first Town Series run today. And the foggy haze of tracking down my car's title is clearing. And my employment is pretty much fog-free after being trained for opening and closing procedures and receiving my first paycheck (cha-ching). Sanity has returned. At least I'm landing my twisting back flips for the time being.
In Town Series points are bad and consistency is good. Based on that I'm acing it like I'm acing my community college classes. Today I held it together on both runs, until the finish line where I crashed in front of ten observers. After losing a ski, I turned to my newest fans and said, "Ta-dah." I just wish it was captured on video. Unfortunately, the lady on the other course had an even better wipe-out. Impressive.
I skipped class today and went to the festive after party, hoping to come home and get some work done for my volunteer gig. Didn't have to claim the fifth, so I have no excuse. Ready, set, back flip!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wacky week
Olympic fever, working 11 hour days, two exams, and house guests, oh my!
Let me modify that, I fall into the house guest category myself, but I'm sharing the title with 6 other people right now. It's ok; I like to share.
Presidents' Day has really thrown me off. In order to have a scholarship application postmarked by February 15th, I needed to get it to the post office before 2:00 PM on February 13th. No Town Series race this week, but I've been getting lots of monitor time between this announcement of last week's results and a little plug in a TIME interview with Michael Pollan. Unfortunately, the bloggers of Sun Valley got it wrong since I wasn't there to share anything, but I hope the gal that stole my identity enjoyed the Jose Cuervo.
Oh and then it was also a week of Valentine's Day, the Sun Valley Nordic Fest, and the lunar new year. Celebrations!
Stir in a little bit of torture from exams and bookstore inventory (30,000 books!) and that sums up my week. My busy schedule has forced me to sacrifice precious Olympic-watching time and well-intended nonprofit volunteering. I keep thinking that I'll get into a groove, but I'm pretty groove-less for the time being. Two months after it was issued, I finally accomplished correcting my Idaho driver license so that it doesn't claim my name is "Kisten," but expiring plates and a missing title means that there are more DMV frustrations in my future.
With the inventory mostly complete at work (we finished with a bang at 10:30 PM on day 10: wine, beer, and delusional laughter), I'm looking forward to training in the cafe and taking on my barista duties. Trying not to take it as a bad sign that they haven't contacted me.
This just in: it's snowing. Hopefully we get some white fluffy stuff because it is looking really sad around here. To all the folks lucky enough to be in Vancouver, cowbell it up for me.
Let me modify that, I fall into the house guest category myself, but I'm sharing the title with 6 other people right now. It's ok; I like to share.
Presidents' Day has really thrown me off. In order to have a scholarship application postmarked by February 15th, I needed to get it to the post office before 2:00 PM on February 13th. No Town Series race this week, but I've been getting lots of monitor time between this announcement of last week's results and a little plug in a TIME interview with Michael Pollan. Unfortunately, the bloggers of Sun Valley got it wrong since I wasn't there to share anything, but I hope the gal that stole my identity enjoyed the Jose Cuervo.
Oh and then it was also a week of Valentine's Day, the Sun Valley Nordic Fest, and the lunar new year. Celebrations!
Stir in a little bit of torture from exams and bookstore inventory (30,000 books!) and that sums up my week. My busy schedule has forced me to sacrifice precious Olympic-watching time and well-intended nonprofit volunteering. I keep thinking that I'll get into a groove, but I'm pretty groove-less for the time being. Two months after it was issued, I finally accomplished correcting my Idaho driver license so that it doesn't claim my name is "Kisten," but expiring plates and a missing title means that there are more DMV frustrations in my future.
With the inventory mostly complete at work (we finished with a bang at 10:30 PM on day 10: wine, beer, and delusional laughter), I'm looking forward to training in the cafe and taking on my barista duties. Trying not to take it as a bad sign that they haven't contacted me.
This just in: it's snowing. Hopefully we get some white fluffy stuff because it is looking really sad around here. To all the folks lucky enough to be in Vancouver, cowbell it up for me.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Need for speed
Even though I'm living the laid-back life, I'm haunted by a need for speed.
Efficiency is my main goal in life: time, resources, money, etc. Finding a better way to do something or a more productive pattern always satisfies me. Roadtrips become a race against the clock; shopping only takes place on the sales racks; my lotion is not truly empty until I've cut the tube in half and used up every last bit.
My ski bum dance is founded on efficiency as well. Wednesday is my day on the mountain, which features a race for locals (definite need for speed here) followed by a quick celebratory cheers with teammates before I haul myself to bio class. And today I added in a stats exam before bio, just for fun.
At work we are scanning, uploading, stickering, stacking, sneezing (the dust bunny attacks are harsher than the scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail), and repeating as fast as we can before another customer comes in to throw off our momentum. There are 30,000 (let that sink in for a moment) books in the store.
I rush through class assignments in hopes of connecting with friends online, fulfilling nonprofit free labor offers, or winning some scholarship money.
The need for speed continues post-San Francisco. And since I miss the announcement of the race results every week due to my bio class, I'm wondering how fast I was able to speed through today's course. (A stranger encouraged me to move up a place so that I would be the fifth woman across the line, entitling me to a fifth of tequila. She had received the "gift" the past two weeks.) Fast enough to lose a basket off my ski pole, but hopefully not fast enough for the infamous reward. Thursday's efficiency would definitely take a hit.
Efficiency is my main goal in life: time, resources, money, etc. Finding a better way to do something or a more productive pattern always satisfies me. Roadtrips become a race against the clock; shopping only takes place on the sales racks; my lotion is not truly empty until I've cut the tube in half and used up every last bit.
My ski bum dance is founded on efficiency as well. Wednesday is my day on the mountain, which features a race for locals (definite need for speed here) followed by a quick celebratory cheers with teammates before I haul myself to bio class. And today I added in a stats exam before bio, just for fun.
At work we are scanning, uploading, stickering, stacking, sneezing (the dust bunny attacks are harsher than the scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail), and repeating as fast as we can before another customer comes in to throw off our momentum. There are 30,000 (let that sink in for a moment) books in the store.
I rush through class assignments in hopes of connecting with friends online, fulfilling nonprofit free labor offers, or winning some scholarship money.
The need for speed continues post-San Francisco. And since I miss the announcement of the race results every week due to my bio class, I'm wondering how fast I was able to speed through today's course. (A stranger encouraged me to move up a place so that I would be the fifth woman across the line, entitling me to a fifth of tequila. She had received the "gift" the past two weeks.) Fast enough to lose a basket off my ski pole, but hopefully not fast enough for the infamous reward. Thursday's efficiency would definitely take a hit.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
The End of Unemployment?
After being here only three weeks, I think I landed myself a job, ending my income hiatus.
I was applying to every posting in the local paper. Apparently, this is how small communities publicize their news. The days of Yelp and Craigslist are officially over, rest in peace bros. Anyway, I was resorting to newspaper delivery and cleaning service requests... and was becoming pretty discouraged since I wasn't getting many call backs. The few places where I'd been offered interviews were definitely looking for team members that could grow with the company, and I'm not sure how much growth I could offer them in seven months, but I sure tried to fake it.
The land line rings on Thursday at ten minutes to eight, in the morning! I'm snoozing away, and I assume that it's a solicitor at first. Heavy swallow, reach, and muster up the best "Good Morning" I can pull together. Surprise! It's the local cafe/bookstore, and they want me to come in for an interview. My first week in town I dropped of a magenta (printer was out of ink) resume with a post-it mentioning my experience in a cafe nine years ago but gave up when I hadn't heard from them. When can I come in to chat? Oh, any time before my 3:00 PM stats class. Much like sobering up when my friend of mine busted open his cranium at a frat party freshman year (no, I wasn't underage drinking, mom), I managed to instantly sound enthusiastic and awake, before hanging up the phone and falling back asleep.
Interview went well, as I intoxicated them with my charm and humor. The Minnesota connection is strong here in the valley, and a manager in the bookstore hails from the iron range. Best interview question I've ever received: "Now be honest, were you sleeping when I called?" Without missing a beat, I plead guilty, and he's impressed with my fraudulent abilities. Win.
Now the losses. For the benefit of both parties, they have a trial period with new employees. I'm not worried. My mad latte skills will come back quickly, no question. Over the weekend they're doing inventory, which will give me the opportunity to get to know the inedible goods. Sunday morning, they're well staffed, but Sunday 1 - 9 PM they could use my help. Ok, not interested enough in the Superbowl to pass up a paycheck since the Vikes threw away (literally) their ticket. And Monday? And Tuesday? Woah, this girl's got classes and skiing and a couple nonprofit commitments, too. But first impressions are everything, so I sign up. They emphasize that July is their busiest month (unexpected), forbidding any vacation. My favorite holiday kicks off that month and my uncle's wedding wraps it up... this job thing is starting to cramp my style. On one shoulder is a ski bum dancing and on the other is an apron-donned barista mopping (and moping).
Before vacating these premises in mid-August I have two other weddings, a Walla Walla wine reunion, a Montana meet-up, a New York absurdity, a Blue Devil Weekend, AND an Idaho camp out all in various stages of planning. My dreams of going to the Olympics already shattered (for the second time, the first was at the age of 16 when I realized that I couldn't even make the Junior Olympic alpine team), and my ability to host companions at Sage Haven becoming less attractive with shop hours 6 AM to 9 PM. I don't even ask what they pay. I don't even want to know.
Claiming the "Making Work Pay" deduction on my taxes today, the bitterness builds as I realize "Pay" is missing the lovely letter "L." It's so close, yet so far. Tomorrow marks my return to the working world. Perhaps I'll be able to log enough hours to get benefits so that I don't have to confront the slithering snake of an insurance company. Oops, I've fallen into the uninsured population. Hope I don't get hurt!
I was applying to every posting in the local paper. Apparently, this is how small communities publicize their news. The days of Yelp and Craigslist are officially over, rest in peace bros. Anyway, I was resorting to newspaper delivery and cleaning service requests... and was becoming pretty discouraged since I wasn't getting many call backs. The few places where I'd been offered interviews were definitely looking for team members that could grow with the company, and I'm not sure how much growth I could offer them in seven months, but I sure tried to fake it.
The land line rings on Thursday at ten minutes to eight, in the morning! I'm snoozing away, and I assume that it's a solicitor at first. Heavy swallow, reach, and muster up the best "Good Morning" I can pull together. Surprise! It's the local cafe/bookstore, and they want me to come in for an interview. My first week in town I dropped of a magenta (printer was out of ink) resume with a post-it mentioning my experience in a cafe nine years ago but gave up when I hadn't heard from them. When can I come in to chat? Oh, any time before my 3:00 PM stats class. Much like sobering up when my friend of mine busted open his cranium at a frat party freshman year (no, I wasn't underage drinking, mom), I managed to instantly sound enthusiastic and awake, before hanging up the phone and falling back asleep.
Interview went well, as I intoxicated them with my charm and humor. The Minnesota connection is strong here in the valley, and a manager in the bookstore hails from the iron range. Best interview question I've ever received: "Now be honest, were you sleeping when I called?" Without missing a beat, I plead guilty, and he's impressed with my fraudulent abilities. Win.
Now the losses. For the benefit of both parties, they have a trial period with new employees. I'm not worried. My mad latte skills will come back quickly, no question. Over the weekend they're doing inventory, which will give me the opportunity to get to know the inedible goods. Sunday morning, they're well staffed, but Sunday 1 - 9 PM they could use my help. Ok, not interested enough in the Superbowl to pass up a paycheck since the Vikes threw away (literally) their ticket. And Monday? And Tuesday? Woah, this girl's got classes and skiing and a couple nonprofit commitments, too. But first impressions are everything, so I sign up. They emphasize that July is their busiest month (unexpected), forbidding any vacation. My favorite holiday kicks off that month and my uncle's wedding wraps it up... this job thing is starting to cramp my style. On one shoulder is a ski bum dancing and on the other is an apron-donned barista mopping (and moping).
Before vacating these premises in mid-August I have two other weddings, a Walla Walla wine reunion, a Montana meet-up, a New York absurdity, a Blue Devil Weekend, AND an Idaho camp out all in various stages of planning. My dreams of going to the Olympics already shattered (for the second time, the first was at the age of 16 when I realized that I couldn't even make the Junior Olympic alpine team), and my ability to host companions at Sage Haven becoming less attractive with shop hours 6 AM to 9 PM. I don't even ask what they pay. I don't even want to know.
Claiming the "Making Work Pay" deduction on my taxes today, the bitterness builds as I realize "Pay" is missing the lovely letter "L." It's so close, yet so far. Tomorrow marks my return to the working world. Perhaps I'll be able to log enough hours to get benefits so that I don't have to confront the slithering snake of an insurance company. Oops, I've fallen into the uninsured population. Hope I don't get hurt!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Habitat Habits
Good or bad, we all have them: habits. Mine seem to come and go with my living environment. Here's a breakdown of my San Francisco vs. Sage Haven habits.
Everyone knows I have weird eating habits. Being a vegan (mostly) puts me lower on the food chain than normal people would voluntarily venture. I may be animal-friendly, but I'm definitely not figure-friendly in the way I eat. I'm a ravenous grazer. Boredom plus vicinity to food directly relates to diet disaster. Luckily I stayed pretty busy in San Francisco and never kept anything edible in my apartment (literally, there were practically cobwebs in my fridge). Instead I would make a dinner out of chips and salsa... or anything with condiments. The other thing about me is that I'm a clean plate club champion. Rarely too full to finish a meal, I pack it away like I'm storing up for the winter.
This bad habit has definitely mutated at Sage Haven. The first week I was here, I made vegetable stock and tomato sauce from scratch, cooking two 6 serving freezable meals (a polenta "pie" and cauliflower ditali) that I'm still getting through. Sounds like an improvement from Mission burritos and croissant cravings, right?
The other thing I hate is wasting food. Since I'm in a family condo, there are definitely a lot of items past expiration here. I suppose that it's good to have 3 jars of mint jelly, 3 jars of olives, and 4 half eaten containers of peanut butter in case I get stranded in an avalanche, but I'd prefer to work through these items one at a time. Living on a budget, I'm not going to let anything go to waste. Cream of wheat expiring in 2002? You make a delicious breakfast when I mix you with the aforementioned peanut butter, some syrup, and soy milk (the only thing on that list NOT expired). Creamed corn? You're falsely advertising dairy in your name, but you could be tasty if I mix in a little BBQ sauce and put you on a crispy taco shell that's from the same era, 5 years expired (kind of like chips and salsa, no?). I mean, non-perishable items like that don't really expire, right? I definitely learned my lesson with a good case of food poisoning. Diced tomatoes from 2002, I'm sorry, but I have to throw you away because I can't go through that again.
Eventually the eating habits will get better, I think.
I'll try to run through the other good and bad (the food thing was definitely the ugly) habits to give you an idea of my different life.
Running: I was in a great habit of hitting the pavement every week with my friend, Kelsey, in San Francisco. Snowy sidewalks (and a lack of them) seem to destroy this good habit, but I just tried it out today, and it was actually really great. My goal is to keep up the Monday Runday habit. This coincides with my great gym habit at my very expensive gym in San Francisco. Not planning to sign up quite yet, but the shoveling and skiing kind of help. Maybe I should get some aerobics DVDs. Leading to my next habit...
Technology: I lived like a cavewoman in San Francisco, the tech-iest city in the nation. No microwave, no dishwasher, no TV, no working computer, no internet, and a temperamental cell phone. Now I've got it all and more. Microwaving (new verb) throughout the day, a disgusting addiction to shows like "What Not To Wear" "Ice Road Truckers" and "The Jersey Shore," two pretty broken but workable computers, internet access 24/7, and even a landline. I'm not super happy about these new modern day resources, but I'll take 'em for the time being. I still prefer hand washing dishes to the energy-hogging machine. Oh, and the thermostat is nice... lovely greenhouse effect (it's 75 in here even though the 'stat is set to 65).
Driving: I had a great habit of not driving, ditching my car at work or on San Francisco streets. Now I have to drive everywhere, which I'm feeling really guilty about. Once the snow melts, I'll be able to get out on my bike, but the conditions right now are not conducive to my skinny tires. New goal is to figure out the free bus schedule. This will add time to quick errands, but it will combat my guilt.
Cleanliness: I've always been a dirty hippie at heart, and I think I might be getting dirtier. Who needs to shave her legs when she doesn't have to wear gym shorts or skirts to work? This saves time (and water) in the shower. The dryness here means that I can't wash my hair as much (static overload!), so I'm feeling pretty hygienically dirty. Bedroom clutter galore has translated nicely all the way from childhood, so that's not about to stop. I'm doing my best to keep my expansive living quarters clean, and I've started a fly collection... in my dust buster, boom! I'll make sure things are great in time for the Brent family visit in a couple weeks!
Sleep: Horrible, horrible sleep schedule in San Francisco. 5:30 AM wake up, sometimes after 1:00 AM bedtime. Bad bad bad! Now it's bad in a good way, making up some serious debt. No job and my earliest class at 3:00 PM; there is no reason to be awake before 8:00 AM. My new alarm clock is the sun. But I am missing my luxurious bed. Hope those folks from Craigslist are enjoying it. Enter back pain.
Money: Other than some necessary purchases (a ski pass, class tuition and supplies, and groceries), I've graduated from retail therapy. Night life and cafe visits (drinking expired tea at home instead of designer coffee) have disappeared, saving me tons of dough. And then there are the huge expenses of my commute to the peninsula and rent in San Francisco, it was just too much! So great to get through a day without spending any money. On that note, I have to fill up my car with gas and go to class.
Everyone knows I have weird eating habits. Being a vegan (mostly) puts me lower on the food chain than normal people would voluntarily venture. I may be animal-friendly, but I'm definitely not figure-friendly in the way I eat. I'm a ravenous grazer. Boredom plus vicinity to food directly relates to diet disaster. Luckily I stayed pretty busy in San Francisco and never kept anything edible in my apartment (literally, there were practically cobwebs in my fridge). Instead I would make a dinner out of chips and salsa... or anything with condiments. The other thing about me is that I'm a clean plate club champion. Rarely too full to finish a meal, I pack it away like I'm storing up for the winter.
This bad habit has definitely mutated at Sage Haven. The first week I was here, I made vegetable stock and tomato sauce from scratch, cooking two 6 serving freezable meals (a polenta "pie" and cauliflower ditali) that I'm still getting through. Sounds like an improvement from Mission burritos and croissant cravings, right?
The other thing I hate is wasting food. Since I'm in a family condo, there are definitely a lot of items past expiration here. I suppose that it's good to have 3 jars of mint jelly, 3 jars of olives, and 4 half eaten containers of peanut butter in case I get stranded in an avalanche, but I'd prefer to work through these items one at a time. Living on a budget, I'm not going to let anything go to waste. Cream of wheat expiring in 2002? You make a delicious breakfast when I mix you with the aforementioned peanut butter, some syrup, and soy milk (the only thing on that list NOT expired). Creamed corn? You're falsely advertising dairy in your name, but you could be tasty if I mix in a little BBQ sauce and put you on a crispy taco shell that's from the same era, 5 years expired (kind of like chips and salsa, no?). I mean, non-perishable items like that don't really expire, right? I definitely learned my lesson with a good case of food poisoning. Diced tomatoes from 2002, I'm sorry, but I have to throw you away because I can't go through that again.
Eventually the eating habits will get better, I think.
I'll try to run through the other good and bad (the food thing was definitely the ugly) habits to give you an idea of my different life.
Running: I was in a great habit of hitting the pavement every week with my friend, Kelsey, in San Francisco. Snowy sidewalks (and a lack of them) seem to destroy this good habit, but I just tried it out today, and it was actually really great. My goal is to keep up the Monday Runday habit. This coincides with my great gym habit at my very expensive gym in San Francisco. Not planning to sign up quite yet, but the shoveling and skiing kind of help. Maybe I should get some aerobics DVDs. Leading to my next habit...
Technology: I lived like a cavewoman in San Francisco, the tech-iest city in the nation. No microwave, no dishwasher, no TV, no working computer, no internet, and a temperamental cell phone. Now I've got it all and more. Microwaving (new verb) throughout the day, a disgusting addiction to shows like "What Not To Wear" "Ice Road Truckers" and "The Jersey Shore," two pretty broken but workable computers, internet access 24/7, and even a landline. I'm not super happy about these new modern day resources, but I'll take 'em for the time being. I still prefer hand washing dishes to the energy-hogging machine. Oh, and the thermostat is nice... lovely greenhouse effect (it's 75 in here even though the 'stat is set to 65).
Driving: I had a great habit of not driving, ditching my car at work or on San Francisco streets. Now I have to drive everywhere, which I'm feeling really guilty about. Once the snow melts, I'll be able to get out on my bike, but the conditions right now are not conducive to my skinny tires. New goal is to figure out the free bus schedule. This will add time to quick errands, but it will combat my guilt.
Cleanliness: I've always been a dirty hippie at heart, and I think I might be getting dirtier. Who needs to shave her legs when she doesn't have to wear gym shorts or skirts to work? This saves time (and water) in the shower. The dryness here means that I can't wash my hair as much (static overload!), so I'm feeling pretty hygienically dirty. Bedroom clutter galore has translated nicely all the way from childhood, so that's not about to stop. I'm doing my best to keep my expansive living quarters clean, and I've started a fly collection... in my dust buster, boom! I'll make sure things are great in time for the Brent family visit in a couple weeks!
Sleep: Horrible, horrible sleep schedule in San Francisco. 5:30 AM wake up, sometimes after 1:00 AM bedtime. Bad bad bad! Now it's bad in a good way, making up some serious debt. No job and my earliest class at 3:00 PM; there is no reason to be awake before 8:00 AM. My new alarm clock is the sun. But I am missing my luxurious bed. Hope those folks from Craigslist are enjoying it. Enter back pain.
Money: Other than some necessary purchases (a ski pass, class tuition and supplies, and groceries), I've graduated from retail therapy. Night life and cafe visits (drinking expired tea at home instead of designer coffee) have disappeared, saving me tons of dough. And then there are the huge expenses of my commute to the peninsula and rent in San Francisco, it was just too much! So great to get through a day without spending any money. On that note, I have to fill up my car with gas and go to class.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
A Long Time Coming
Five years ago. I was determined to become a ski bum after graduating from Whitman College. What better place to bum it up than Sun Valley, Idaho? My family had a great condo there, I loved the mountain, and I had a few friends in the area from college. That's the plan; that's what I'm doing.
Fast forward a year. I happened to be in the right place at the right time with the right connection to get a full-time job in Menlo Park, California. It was early summer 2006. I couldn't pass up paying work and great experience for slacker life on the slopes... it wasn't even winter! So I moved to Santa Clara, and then San Mateo, and then Mountain View, and then another place in Mountain View, and then San Francisco, spending three and a half years in the Bay Area.
March 2009 - December 2009. I start thinking about Business School. Take the GMAT, submit apps to 5 schools, and get accepted to my top choice! I want to go into renewable energy, on a global scale. A combined MBA and Masters in Environmental Management will get me there.
January 2010. I up and leave my deep, supportive, fun, amazing network and life in San Francisco for Sun Valley, Idaho. This is my "Last chance, ski bum dance." I'm feeling old (25), but I can still pull this off. Plus I have new focus: complete three prerequisite courses, get some experience working for a nonprofit with my philosophy, work part-time to pay the bills, and, of course, ski. (I'm 3 for 4 at the time of this post.)
Follow this blog to hear about my Pre-grad school ~ post San Francisco experience.
Fast forward a year. I happened to be in the right place at the right time with the right connection to get a full-time job in Menlo Park, California. It was early summer 2006. I couldn't pass up paying work and great experience for slacker life on the slopes... it wasn't even winter! So I moved to Santa Clara, and then San Mateo, and then Mountain View, and then another place in Mountain View, and then San Francisco, spending three and a half years in the Bay Area.
March 2009 - December 2009. I start thinking about Business School. Take the GMAT, submit apps to 5 schools, and get accepted to my top choice! I want to go into renewable energy, on a global scale. A combined MBA and Masters in Environmental Management will get me there.
January 2010. I up and leave my deep, supportive, fun, amazing network and life in San Francisco for Sun Valley, Idaho. This is my "Last chance, ski bum dance." I'm feeling old (25), but I can still pull this off. Plus I have new focus: complete three prerequisite courses, get some experience working for a nonprofit with my philosophy, work part-time to pay the bills, and, of course, ski. (I'm 3 for 4 at the time of this post.)
Follow this blog to hear about my Pre-grad school ~ post San Francisco experience.
Arrival in Sun Valley
As I've been updating lots of you over the phone, email, etc. I thought I'd start the thing I never thought I'd start: a blog. I know people who have had impressive blogs, but I know a lot more with blog fails. Why should I expect that people want to hear about my life? Well, maybe because I'm more than a stone's throw from anyone I know, living a life that I keep describing as "different."
Saturday, January 16th, my mom, her sister (and my aunt) Chris, and my friend Molly successfully moved me out of 36 Fair Oaks, Apartment 3 in San Francisco's Mission District, where I had a fifteen month love/hate relationship with the two bedroom apartment and its landlord. (A week later, I received my deposit, minus a $14.50 rent board fee and $25 oven cleaning fee, which I think means he's going to replace the oven because it was UNCLEANABLE, or, in real words, dirty beyond repair).
Annemom and Kirforce hit the road right as the rain started, heading over the Bay Bridge for the last time at 6:30 PM in a car that could not have accommodated one more item (thanks, Molly and Aunt Chris, for taking some of my cast-offs!).
We made it to Reno, where we spent the night at the Ramada and played some penny slots for complimentary Coronas, while worrying that my bike would be stolen off the top of my car (I don't have a lock on my rack). We woke up the next morning, relieved to still have my bike and excited to visit with my friends, Kyle and Audrey: Reno locals. Had a yummy breakfast at the Pneumatic Diner (why do I always eat so much when I'm on the road? it's not like I'm burning any calories behind the wheel) and hit the road again, stopping in Winnemucca and Twin Falls, my previously designated gas station stops (oh and we had a close call of running out of gas getting to Reno... barely made it, great start to the drive).
We arrived at Sage Haven, the name of my grandmother's condo in Ketchum, ID, the evening of Sunday, January 17th and unloaded all of my stuff, which didn't get much past the hallway to the garage. Victory was ours!
Monday and Tuesday were ski days for Annemom and Kirforce, getting some much needed time on the snow together that we hadn't had over the holidays. Unfortunately, the amount of snow hadn't increased since then, so a lot of the mountain was still closed. We got a bunch of snow on Monday night, so Tuesday was a vast improvement. Annemom left out of Hailey on Tuesday afternoon. Kirforce then assumed her title, Mistress of Sage Haven, moving her stuff into appropriate storage areas and taking care of business (updating addresses, enrolling in class, attempting to correct my Idaho license that still claims my name is "Kisten").
Life is good. But it gets better. We get a pounding of snow. Falling quietly overnight, I wake up to 12 inches on Thursday and a call from my step-aunt, Sue, a local. We hit the powder, hard. Abusing my body in a way I haven't abused it for years.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I'm on the mountain helping out with the USSA race that we're hosting. Recording hand-timer start times, delivering lunches to volunteers, and getting a bout of altitude sickness. I'm not used to these elevations! Sunday is a free ski day for me, courtesy of the Sun Valley Ski Team, thanks! I shred it up after getting a late start, solo. Skiing is something I'm happy to do alone, but is always more fun with others.
So the first week I'm here, I ski six days, only taking one day off. This "addiction" is "worse than heroin," says a local. Yeah, and just about as expensive. The first week also involves job-hunting, class, and lots of shoveling. I'll get into those arduous activities in the next post.
Saturday, January 16th, my mom, her sister (and my aunt) Chris, and my friend Molly successfully moved me out of 36 Fair Oaks, Apartment 3 in San Francisco's Mission District, where I had a fifteen month love/hate relationship with the two bedroom apartment and its landlord. (A week later, I received my deposit, minus a $14.50 rent board fee and $25 oven cleaning fee, which I think means he's going to replace the oven because it was UNCLEANABLE, or, in real words, dirty beyond repair).
Annemom and Kirforce hit the road right as the rain started, heading over the Bay Bridge for the last time at 6:30 PM in a car that could not have accommodated one more item (thanks, Molly and Aunt Chris, for taking some of my cast-offs!).
We made it to Reno, where we spent the night at the Ramada and played some penny slots for complimentary Coronas, while worrying that my bike would be stolen off the top of my car (I don't have a lock on my rack). We woke up the next morning, relieved to still have my bike and excited to visit with my friends, Kyle and Audrey: Reno locals. Had a yummy breakfast at the Pneumatic Diner (why do I always eat so much when I'm on the road? it's not like I'm burning any calories behind the wheel) and hit the road again, stopping in Winnemucca and Twin Falls, my previously designated gas station stops (oh and we had a close call of running out of gas getting to Reno... barely made it, great start to the drive).
We arrived at Sage Haven, the name of my grandmother's condo in Ketchum, ID, the evening of Sunday, January 17th and unloaded all of my stuff, which didn't get much past the hallway to the garage. Victory was ours!
Monday and Tuesday were ski days for Annemom and Kirforce, getting some much needed time on the snow together that we hadn't had over the holidays. Unfortunately, the amount of snow hadn't increased since then, so a lot of the mountain was still closed. We got a bunch of snow on Monday night, so Tuesday was a vast improvement. Annemom left out of Hailey on Tuesday afternoon. Kirforce then assumed her title, Mistress of Sage Haven, moving her stuff into appropriate storage areas and taking care of business (updating addresses, enrolling in class, attempting to correct my Idaho license that still claims my name is "Kisten").
Life is good. But it gets better. We get a pounding of snow. Falling quietly overnight, I wake up to 12 inches on Thursday and a call from my step-aunt, Sue, a local. We hit the powder, hard. Abusing my body in a way I haven't abused it for years.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I'm on the mountain helping out with the USSA race that we're hosting. Recording hand-timer start times, delivering lunches to volunteers, and getting a bout of altitude sickness. I'm not used to these elevations! Sunday is a free ski day for me, courtesy of the Sun Valley Ski Team, thanks! I shred it up after getting a late start, solo. Skiing is something I'm happy to do alone, but is always more fun with others.
So the first week I'm here, I ski six days, only taking one day off. This "addiction" is "worse than heroin," says a local. Yeah, and just about as expensive. The first week also involves job-hunting, class, and lots of shoveling. I'll get into those arduous activities in the next post.
It's Bizness Time
Sounds like all fun and games until somebody has to go to class.
I'm a student at College of Southern Idaho's Blaine County campus. Class started last Tuesday, January 19th... and I missed the first day because I read my schedule wrong (and this girl is going to Graduate School? yikes!)... so the first class that I attended was on Wednesday evening: Concepts of Biology.
This class will definitely get me back into the classroom mentality. There are 19 students in the class, we have assignments, group projects, and regular quizzes and exams. The professor is so excited about teaching Biology that you can't help but pay attention the entire two and a half hour class. Phew.
The next day, I attend my first (but technically second) afternoon class of Statistics. Wow, this classroom has three other people in it, not counting the teacher, who is broadcasting live on the two giant TVs in the front of the room. This one and a half hour class seems to drag on longer than the Bio class, and we're moving at a pace similar to that of a three-toed sloth.
Additionally, this week, I signed up for a completely online Microeconomics class through University of California, Berkeley. I think I'm most worried about this course because students complete it at their own pace, so I need to stay on top of it. The only deadline is June 17th: I need to take the final proctored exam on or before that date.
Since I haven't found a job, I figured that it would be good to just throw myself into academics. In order to start at Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke next year, I need to complete at least one of my prerequisite courses (Stats and Microecon) and they recommend basic science courses as well. Since I'm taking on the joint degree program with Fuqua School of Business, I've decided that preparing myself to the best of my ability is in my best interest. Getting two masters in three years will be challenging enough, taking Stats or Microecon there and not knowing rudimentary Bio would make it that much more painful.
Overall, I'm glad to get these out of the way while I have time to focus on assignments without the distractions of living in a big city. I have class down in Hailey four days a week, which beats a three hour Caltrain commute, but isn't ideal. It conflicts with job opportunities and Town Series races, but I'll make it work.
I'm a student at College of Southern Idaho's Blaine County campus. Class started last Tuesday, January 19th... and I missed the first day because I read my schedule wrong (and this girl is going to Graduate School? yikes!)... so the first class that I attended was on Wednesday evening: Concepts of Biology.
This class will definitely get me back into the classroom mentality. There are 19 students in the class, we have assignments, group projects, and regular quizzes and exams. The professor is so excited about teaching Biology that you can't help but pay attention the entire two and a half hour class. Phew.
The next day, I attend my first (but technically second) afternoon class of Statistics. Wow, this classroom has three other people in it, not counting the teacher, who is broadcasting live on the two giant TVs in the front of the room. This one and a half hour class seems to drag on longer than the Bio class, and we're moving at a pace similar to that of a three-toed sloth.
Additionally, this week, I signed up for a completely online Microeconomics class through University of California, Berkeley. I think I'm most worried about this course because students complete it at their own pace, so I need to stay on top of it. The only deadline is June 17th: I need to take the final proctored exam on or before that date.
Since I haven't found a job, I figured that it would be good to just throw myself into academics. In order to start at Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke next year, I need to complete at least one of my prerequisite courses (Stats and Microecon) and they recommend basic science courses as well. Since I'm taking on the joint degree program with Fuqua School of Business, I've decided that preparing myself to the best of my ability is in my best interest. Getting two masters in three years will be challenging enough, taking Stats or Microecon there and not knowing rudimentary Bio would make it that much more painful.
Overall, I'm glad to get these out of the way while I have time to focus on assignments without the distractions of living in a big city. I have class down in Hailey four days a week, which beats a three hour Caltrain commute, but isn't ideal. It conflicts with job opportunities and Town Series races, but I'll make it work.
Labels:
biology,
class,
CSI,
Duke,
Fuqua,
microeconomics,
Nicholas,
statistics
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