Friday Flashback

Missed last Friday's flashback (more on that tomorrow or Sunday) so here's a double dose!

Vermont trip

     So, right off the back, I'm going to say it. Vermont was... interesting. Not completely in a bad way, just in a your-going-to-do-a-lot-of-really-adult-stuff-all-at-once way. Parts of it were awesome, and I did have a lot of fun despite the rainy weather, there was just one part that made it worrisome.
     The first night was wonderful- my friend and I were rained out and had to stay in a hotel. The next morning we took our time leaving the hotel and going to our first study site near Bristol. In case you were wondering, we were doing vegetation and earthworm collections for my friends Ph. D research involving soil calcium, food webs and diversity which is more interesting than many people think it sounds.

     Along the way I found this little red eft. He definitely wasn't the last one I found.(They're so cute!) However, after spending two and a half hours working in a mist-turned-rain, we found this had happened while we were in the woods.

     My poor Green Bean- still waiting to get it fixed. But about $250 worth of my stuff was taken, including my cash and nice back pack- however, this could have been much worse. The person could have taken our camping gear, or my friend's purse with her expensive hearing aids in it, or I could have brought my laptop with me or left my wallet in the car. So, all things considered, this could have been a lot worse (and my parents have full glass coverage, so I don't have to worry about that either). So we called the police, and then waited an hour in the rain for an officer that we found out wasn't actually coming. That was the worst part about this whole debacle; we could have found a place to replace the window, but because we had to wait so long on a Friday afternoon, every place in town had closed.

      But then it was Sunday, and the weather cleared up. We did a site on the side of a mountain near a series of massive beaver dams that was absolutely stunning.

          Then the next few days it rained... and kept raining, thankfully most Vermont state parks have lean-to's available!

     But we push on. At the second park we stayed at there was a river and a short trail to a very impressive waterfall. I hiked/climbed it in my flip-flops (which I do not recommend. To anyone. Ever. I have a lot of bruises on my feet now).

 

          And then it was on to our second campsite by Emerald Lake. The first day we were there we could only do one survey because it was pouring, so we spent three hours in a lovely little bookstore with a coffee shop attached. I spent too much money there... And then, on our last day of plot surveys the wind was terrible- we were constantly on the look-out for falling branches or limbs or even a tree; one of which we did see fall. After the second plot we decided to deal with the wind and climb Mt. Equinox for the third and final site. This was one of the best decisions the whole trip. The wind died right down and although I was very sore, the view was incredible.

     Finally, after our longest, most strenuous workday, I got to drive back down to Katonah to finish my internship that will last until the beginning of August. Unfortunately, I won't be able to do any new sketches because my only sketchbook was in my backpack that was stolen... But I do have some ideas for larger pieces that I can do starting next week when I go home for my little brother's graduation! Before I go, here are some other, miscellaneous pictures from this adventure.

This fellow almost caught a ride home with us

Mount Exuinox

 



Friday Flashback

Waiting for my pictures from Vermont to load...

Friday Flashback

In otherwise unrelated news, I'm leaving for Vermont this afternoon! I'm only going for 6 days but I've been looking foreword to this for almost two months. I'm going to help a friend with vegetation surveys, but my camera will (or, well, should be with me... in the process of moving into my temporary housing I've managed to misplace it) be with me, so pictures will be up around the 13th.

Toodles, folks :)

Today... (Drumroll, please)

I turn 21! Woohoo! Probably the last step toward adulthood in the US. Now, not only can I do whatever I please (within reason, of course), but I can do it intoxicated (again, within reason). Perfect. I don't really drink though, but it's nice knowing I can now order a nice glass of wine with dinner or something like that.
Anyways, I figured I could set some goals for the coming year before 22 comes around the corner.
So I made a thing.

It's no masterpiece, but it gets the point across. In case my writing is illegible they are, in order: run a race or do a short triathlon (ignore my spelling on the page), put aside 1/4 of the money I need for my New Zealand trip (it's a few years away but why not start now?), be able to chat in German, get B.S. with honors, start up a gallon of mead- hopefully in August so it can age for a few years before my little brother turns 21, apply and be accepted to the farming program in Virginia, finish one of my damn stories, practice meditation and yoga regularly, sew a quilt with my mom, and stay organized. On the last one I figure I have one (One!!) semester left before graduating and being dumped into the Real Adult World on my own so I should really try to get some practice in so I can stay afloat... And, for a bonus, more or less work on my artistic style. I have a tendency to flop around and I'd like some consistency now and again. 

Cheers for the new year, mates!