The list

It's January! Time for new starts, goals, etc... I figured now was as good a time as any to update the list.



1. Start a blog, and update weekly (not sure when I can cross this off though?)
2. Get my Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh award
3. Go skydiving or bungee jumping.
4. Go to Nicaragua or Ecuador (or anywhere international) to volunteer. This almost happened.
5. Hike the West Coast Trail
6. Get married. Happening FIVE months today. Scary.
7. Take a cooking class.
8. Get a dog. (I really hope this becomes possible.)
9. Take a photography course. Happening this Saturday!
10. Go to NYC. Hm... I should start planning..
11. Get a drastic haircut.
12. Learn Italian (because two other Latin languages are just not enough) I started, and withdrew. I really do not learn well with Rosetta Stone. However, I'm considering this done, because I tried, learned a few things, and let's face it.. with a language, learning is constant and never 'over'.
13. Go skinny dipping. No idea why I've never done this.
14. Be comfortable with my body in a bikini.
15. Become a BIT, or preferably, an RPBio. 
16. Read a Jane Austen book (preferably Sense and Sensibility ;) )
17. Learn how to decorate cakes/take a cake decorating class.
18. Hike to the Lions.
19. Canoe/kayak the Bowron Lakes chain.
20. Go to a spa (this probably doesn't seem like much.. but it's me).
21. Sell some of my photos (I'm trying, I really am.. ) 
22. Start dragonboating again.
23. Go on a trip with the group (Disneyland?)
24. Try a yoga class.
25. Buy a Mac. Bought a new computer in the fall, so this isn't happening.
26. Do a chinup (R's suggestion)

I guess that means that I've only crossed off one thing, with two more pending. Ugh! This will take me forever...

Work, work, work, all day long

Exciting update to my previous "should i stay or should i go now" post..

After some wicked "get laid off, don't quit" advice from my parents (seriously. they're fantastic!) I decided to wait it out, see what was going to happen with me saying no to the scary winter work, and see if I could infact, get laid off. Not that getting laid off and having no work is a really ideal situation, but at least that way I can claim EI. Woohoo.

I had a meeting with one of the important people last week, and basically she said that they kind of figured that I wouldn't be comfortable with the work, and that was fine. (Quite thankful for this - means a good reference. I think that being too wimpy to do something is way better than being ballsy and sucking at it/getting hurt.) Unfortunately, given that we're biologists, winter is pretty slow in the office.. so, they'll give me work when they can, and when they have nothing left, they'll get me my ROE, so I can go on the aforementioned EI.

I'm fine with this; obviously I kind of want to leave the company anyways, so she said to let them know if I find anything else, and if not, we'll see about the spring. Work out well for me, other than not having nice paycheques. Oh well. I worked one day last week, and two this week, and then ran out of work.. I had two days off where I spent time with R and went for brunch with some friends, finally got some more Christmas shopping done, and then came home to an email today asking me to come in tomorrow. As much as it kinda sucks to not really know when I'm working next, having some "me" time is really nice.

So. That's where I currently stand. Somewhat, but not really employed. Good reference. Here's hoping that in this time that I have off, I'll be able to find a wicked job in early spring, and go back to having real money.

Should I stay or should I go now?

The point of this blog was to write.. tell someone what I'm reading, what my life goals are, and how I'm doing at achieving them, to write down feelings and thoughts. I'm not very good at that last part, but at the moment, I'm in the mood to write.. or at least tell someone other than the normal people (who will read this anyway) how I'm feeling.

I hate my job right now. Or more, I hate the idea of having to work in reallly cold temperatures (-30 or so), alone, and on a snowmobile. Working alone to me is just a bit sketchy, and I know that I wouldn't push myself to get work done faster. In the summer, maybe. In the winter, when my toes are numb, my hands are frozen and don't feel like they belong on me, and my eyelashes stick together, there is no way that I'd be pushing myself that hard. Not to mention that I'm not super comfortable on snowmobiles (or at least, I'm not that comfortable on quads as of now, and I'm betting that after this week and the course this weekend I still won't be that happy on snowmobiles). These three things are making me want to quit my job. Of course, there's things with management that definitely drive me insane, but one of the people that stresses me out the most is going on mat leave for a year. I don't know if I should just wait it out and see if there's any more work that doesn't involve being up here, or if I should just say, hey, that's it, I'm done. I want to be done for several reasons: management isn't the best. Not even close. The commute is lame enough to need to go to bed early and get up early, leaving only weekends for social times. I don't know if there's even work for me if I tell them I'm not going on the next trips up here. I just don't know. But..

I'm always the girl with the plan.. how life will work out, what my plan for the next day or week is. Calendars are my friends, and I enjoy using them, seeing how everything will fit together. So, two things: Scheduling for this job sucks. It changes frequently which is irritating. Second, if I quit, then I have no plan. Nothing. I have some ideas, but there probably won't be a more permanent job until the next field season, sometime in between March and May. Not ideal.

If I'm going to give notice, I need to do it soon. Either now, so I'm done mid-December, or Dec 1 so that I'm done for Jan 1. That kind of gives me two weeks to find a plan. Except that no one is hiring. It's December. People hiring right now are looking for analysts.. and I am definitely not one of those. I'd love to have that skill set, but as of yet, no one will give me one. I potentially have some volunteer opportunities, and let's face it, I love having a bit of time to be alone and lazy. That could work out.. but.. there's always a but..

The list - update

Now that I've turned 23, I have less than 2 years to finish the rest of the list. Here's a quick update of where I am. 

1. Start a blog, and update weekly (not sure when I can cross this off though?) I have 2 now, so I figure this is done.
2. Get my Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh award
3. Go skydiving or bungee jumping.
4. Go to Nicaragua or Ecuador (or anywhere international) to volunteer.
5. Hike the West Coast Trail
6. Get married. (Part way there! Less than 10 months to go)
7. Take a cooking class.
8. Get a dog. (I really hope this becomes possible.)
9. Take a photography course. (I have a groupon for one, so sometime in the fall with my sister!)
10. Go to NYC.
11. Get a drastic haircut.
12. Learn Italian (because two other Latin languages are just not enough) (I started this already)
13. Go skinny dipping. No idea why I've never done this.
14. Be comfortable with my body in a bikini.
15. Become a BIT, or preferably, an RPBio.  (As of the beginning of July, I'm a BIT!)
16. Read a Jane Austen book (preferably Sense and Sensibility ;) ) (Took six months or something...)
17. Learn how to decorate cakes/take a cake decorating class. (This fall?)
18. Hike to the Lions.
19. Canoe/kayak the Bowron Lakes chain.
20. Go to a spa (this probably doesn't seem like much.. but it's me).
21. Sell some of my photos (I'm trying, I really am.. )  Counting this as done - I got a photo in a book, and two copies of it.
22. Start dragonboating again.
23. Go on a trip with the group (Disneyland?)
24. Try a yoga class.
25. Buy a Mac. (This isn't happening. I can't justify the cost of a Mac compared to a new PC laptop)
26. Do a chinup (R's suggestion)

Looks like I've still got a lot of work to do in the next two years... 

#15

I can finally take #15 off the list. I am not able to become an RPBio before I turn 25, however, last week my mom sent me an email that said that I am now a BIT, or biologist in training.

Go me.

I think that's 3 down, 22 to go!

Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

From Amazon: "The story revolves around the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne. Whereas the former is a sensible, rational creature, her younger sister is wildly romantic--a characteristic that offers Austen plenty of scope for both satire and compassion. Commenting on Edward Ferrars, a potential suitor for Elinor's hand, Marianne admits that while she "loves him tenderly," she finds him disappointing as a possible lover for her sister."

I only read this book because I felt like I should, at some point, read a Jane Austen. This will probably be the first and last. I wasn't really interested in the plot, and their simplistic and pathetic? lives just weren't that interesting to me.

Finally finishing this book (I started it in late December, and finished it yesterday) means that I can cross number 16 off the list. Sweet!

Surprise!

On Friday, R gave me the 4th flower that he's ever given me in our 5-year plus relationship. He knows me very well: I prefer to get flowers at random occasions (such as finishing my insect collection) rather than for Valentine's day, or our anniversary. I'm just not that kinda girl. (What kind of girl am I? I have no idea.) He also surprised me with a lovely steak dinner at home, with candles!, Jesse Cook, and no TV. That's pretty impressive for us. We're usually the sit down at the coffee table and watch something. Other than movies, our dinner TV is pretty much the only TV that we watch.

Before dinner, I went for a walk with M&A on the beach, and I took this photo. It reminds me of something you'd see from in a plane..

Lines in the sand at Jericho Beach

 Even though it snowed yesterday, my Oxalis is quite happily blooming away.

Oxalis triangularis.

Graduation

Today I had my grad photos taken. I was freaking out, freaking out this morning. Getting them taken made me feel more ready for graduation though, and after they were done, I felt more relaxed and ready for the next step. I'm sad my sis wasn't there, but I think I pulled it off on my own. Just another sign that I'm ready for the world?

#21

Last night I got an email from an author I met this summer, who was revising his book "Hiking the Gulf Islands: An Outdoor Guide to BC's Enchanted Isles."

He told me that a photo of Pebble Beach on Galiano Island that I had taken over the summer working for NCC was being considered for the book. Although I am not being paid for the use of the photo in the book, I am receiving a complimentary copy.

Therefore, I am crossing #21 off the list.

One down. 24 to go.

Snow

In case anyone wondered:

UBC is unpleasant in the snow. UBC is more unpleasant when after it snows, it rains.

Thank you, UBC admin people for making me go to school today.

25 x 25 List

I only started writing the most current edition of this list the day I started this blog. So here it is, a few weeks later!

25 by 25. The list:

1. Start a blog, and update weekly (not sure when I can cross this off though?)
2. Get my Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh award
3. Go skydiving or bungee jumping.
4. Go to Nicaragua or Ecuador (or anywhere international) to volunteer.
5. Hike the West Coast Trail
6. Get married.
7. Take a cooking class.
8. Get a dog. (I really hope this becomes possible.)
9. Take a photography course.
10. Go to NYC.
11. Get a drastic haircut.
12. Learn Italian (because two other Latin languages are just not enough)
13. Go skinny dipping. No idea why I've never done this.
14. Be comfortable with my body in a bikini.
15. Become a BIT, or preferably, an RPBio.
16. Read a Jane Austen book (preferably Sense and Sensibility ;) )
17. Learn how to decorate cakes/take a cake decorating class.
18. Hike to the Lions.
19. Canoe/kayak the Bowron Lakes chain.
20. Go to a spa (this probably doesn't seem like much.. but it's me).
21. Sell some of my photos (I'm trying, I really am.. )
22. Start dragonboating again.
23. Go on a trip with the group (Disneyland?)
24. Try a yoga class.
25. Buy a Mac.
26. Do a chinup (R's suggestion)

Hopefully I'll be able to start crossing some of these things off! :)

tomorrow!

Tomorrow is exciting for four reasons:

1-I can FINALLY apply to graduate. I thought the date was December 1st, so I was incredibly disappointed, and now doubly excited to get that tiny step closer to being done school.

2-My fisheries exam is in the morning, which means only easier exams to study for!

3-My timesheet is due, which means I get paid. I like getting paid.

4-My huge paper is due. And is done. Which means less stress. And more time por estudiar el espanol!

Taraxacum officinale?

Just in case anyone is wondering why I named my blog Taraxacum officinale.. well, here is its:

Taraxacum officinale is a common dandelion. You know, that yellow, annoying weed that shows up everywhere? That we've all kicked, blown the seeds from, picked for our moms. That's the one. I don't particularly like dandelions, however, they do bring a bit of sunshine to one's day if they are the only thing in bloom (often the case). They are easy to identify in the field, and everyone knows what they are.

I also like the Latin name. It sort of sticks with you.. it's also the first Latin name that R actually remembered.. and being that he's a Lion, he often informs me that he is a "dandy Lion."

So here's to a blog named for my dandy Lion, an interesting Latin name, and perhaps what I will write here. I can't promise what I will write about, but I do know that it will be probably anything.. so naming it after a cosmopolitan weed that grows anywhere also seems appropriate.

Welcome to the world, Taraxacum officinale!

The first one

The best way to start a "25 by 25" list is to cross of the first thing, on the first day.

Blog started. 

Thank you, pseudo-sister.

Who knows what I will end up writing here, perhaps random thoughts from my day.. books that I loved.. best places to find tea? There'll probably be tons of pictures of flowers, given my history of that!!

For now, I need to finish writing my oh-so-exciting paper.