Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The weekly FLOOD!!!
I totally underestimated the impact that living 10 feet above sea level has on your everyday life. Whenever if pours REALLY hard... which is weekly because that is the only kind of rain we get, the whole island is basically underwater. 4" of water for the 100' from my front door to my car is really tricky on these rainy day.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Eyes of Texas
The Eyes of Texas:
What everyone sings around here.... basically everyone knows the song. I'm apparently supposed to learn it since it is my school, so I'm working on it.
Let me know if you understand what it means (I think they just made it up one day because everyone else had a song!).
- The eyes of Texas are upon you,
- All the live long day.
- The eyes of Texas are upon you,
- You cannot get away.
- Do not think you can escape them,
- At night, or early in the morn'.
- The eyes of Texas are upon you,
- Till Gabriel blows his horn!
What everyone sings around here.... basically everyone knows the song. I'm apparently supposed to learn it since it is my school, so I'm working on it.
Let me know if you understand what it means (I think they just made it up one day because everyone else had a song!).
Monday, September 7, 2009
1st Week of School
So I've officially completed my first week of school, I attended a total of 7 classes...... pretty light week!
Classes:
Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Academic Success Skills and Ethics
Principles of Laboratory Biosafety
Frontiers of Science (Seminars)
Highlights:
I went to my first seminar ( I have to go to 12 by the end of the semester), which I thought was a seminar, but was actually a "Work In Progress" talk by a 4th year grad student. Something about an immunodeficient mouse model to study VEE infection impact in mice. I don't know what she was talking about but it was in the Galveston National Lab with all of the crazy diseases. They do a lot of stuff there including a lot of mosquito work. What was the first thing I saw after I sat down? A mosquito!!! So, when I come down with malaria next week.... you will all know where it came from!
We started our Lab Biosafety class which is 3 hours long...... weekly. This week's lecture consisted of a 3 hour discussion on PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). She spent 10 whole minutes discussing factors you need to consider before choosing latex or nitrile gloves! Then we had to practice "donning and doffing" our gloves... omg terrible! This classes is going to be brutal!
I started coaching gymnastics this week at Acrofit Gymnastics. The owner used to coach with Bela Karolyi at Karolyi's, bought the gym from Bela and moved it to Kemah, TX which is a little more than 30 minutes from my apartment. I'm working Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 4-8. I'll be working with thier (huge) afterschool program for the first hour and then team levels 4-8. Its a very different environment than Apex Gymnastics, more competitive.... smaller team.
NC State played the first game of the season on Thursday against South Carolina. A few of us went out to watch the game and cheer on the PACK! My friend Roberto is from Peru and we had to explain EVERY rule of football to him. NC State lost, but at least not 34-0 like last time!
Classes:
Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Academic Success Skills and Ethics
Principles of Laboratory Biosafety
Frontiers of Science (Seminars)
Highlights:
I went to my first seminar ( I have to go to 12 by the end of the semester), which I thought was a seminar, but was actually a "Work In Progress" talk by a 4th year grad student. Something about an immunodeficient mouse model to study VEE infection impact in mice. I don't know what she was talking about but it was in the Galveston National Lab with all of the crazy diseases. They do a lot of stuff there including a lot of mosquito work. What was the first thing I saw after I sat down? A mosquito!!! So, when I come down with malaria next week.... you will all know where it came from!
We started our Lab Biosafety class which is 3 hours long...... weekly. This week's lecture consisted of a 3 hour discussion on PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). She spent 10 whole minutes discussing factors you need to consider before choosing latex or nitrile gloves! Then we had to practice "donning and doffing" our gloves... omg terrible! This classes is going to be brutal!
I started coaching gymnastics this week at Acrofit Gymnastics. The owner used to coach with Bela Karolyi at Karolyi's, bought the gym from Bela and moved it to Kemah, TX which is a little more than 30 minutes from my apartment. I'm working Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 4-8. I'll be working with thier (huge) afterschool program for the first hour and then team levels 4-8. Its a very different environment than Apex Gymnastics, more competitive.... smaller team.
NC State played the first game of the season on Thursday against South Carolina. A few of us went out to watch the game and cheer on the PACK! My friend Roberto is from Peru and we had to explain EVERY rule of football to him. NC State lost, but at least not 34-0 like last time!
This weekend (Labor Day) I went to San Antonio with Meaghan Owney (from Raleigh) to go tubing on the Guadalupe River. I'll put pictures up of it when I get the disposable camera developed!
I guess that's it! On to week number 2!
I guess that's it! On to week number 2!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Library Card!
So, I am now an official library memeber! This library is super awesome beacuse you can check out Cds and DVDs! Its in a super huge old building too! I love it!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Airport Drama
So, I got to visit both Houston Airports this week.... both times to drop Cassie off at the airport (long story, ask Cassie)
A little annoying (George Bush Intercontinental Airport is about an hour and a half away with traffic and Hobby Airport is about 45 minutes away) but I got a little bit familiar with Houston. I found the Astros' field and a couple of other cool things.
A little annoying (George Bush Intercontinental Airport is about an hour and a half away with traffic and Hobby Airport is about 45 minutes away) but I got a little bit familiar with Houston. I found the Astros' field and a couple of other cool things.
Beach Baby!
Cassie and I visited the beach several times before she flew out on Sunday...
A few things to note:
-- I've been told that since we are pretty close to the Mississippi river delta, the water is dirtier than a normal beach.... true story. Not gross dirt, just cloudier water.
-- The sand is softer than other beaches (I guess because of the dirt thing)
-- Because its the gulf, and not the ocean, the waves are TINY!
-- There are TONS of fish! Most of them are jumping fish... you don't have to look very hard to see fish flying out of the water.
-- There are also TONS of pelicans that like to dive bomb the water to get these fish.
-- People feed the birds! This is my LEAST favorite thing about Galveston beaches.... Why would you feed the birds?! Its such a terrible idea!
-- You can drive on these beaches!
A few things to note:
-- I've been told that since we are pretty close to the Mississippi river delta, the water is dirtier than a normal beach.... true story. Not gross dirt, just cloudier water.
-- The sand is softer than other beaches (I guess because of the dirt thing)
-- Because its the gulf, and not the ocean, the waves are TINY!
-- There are TONS of fish! Most of them are jumping fish... you don't have to look very hard to see fish flying out of the water.
-- There are also TONS of pelicans that like to dive bomb the water to get these fish.
-- People feed the birds! This is my LEAST favorite thing about Galveston beaches.... Why would you feed the birds?! Its such a terrible idea!
-- You can drive on these beaches!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Moving Day Recap
Sooooooo Recap!!!!
7:15 AM -- We left Cary after breakfast at Starbucks on Harrison with Megan. And we were OFF!
Somewhere along the way, near Greensboro we started checking off the mile on the maps I got from AAA (PS if you are ever going on a long trip, go to AAA and get Trip Tiks! These things are AMAZING!). We ended up doing this the ENTIRE way to Galveston... its probably what got us through the trip!
10:30 AM -- We stopped in Gaffney, SC to hang out with The giant peach named Peachoid! I really wanted to find a souvenir, but no luck..... we kept going.
3:00PM -- Anniston, AL! World's largest chair! According to Guiness, 1982. We stopped in to see the chair, and brought our own lunches to Sonic!
9:00PM -- We got to New Orleans, LA FINALLY! WE stayed at the Prince Conti Hotel.... $59 for the hotel, $25 to valet my car..... 1/2 block from Bourbon St.! The hotel was nice, Cassie loved it, GREAT DEAL! Dinner at the Oceana Grill, I had a Catfish Po'Boy! So good! then we put two sleepy girls to bed.
11:00AM -- after 12 hours of sleep, Cassie and I went out to explore a tiny bit of New Orleans... We drove down to Cafe Du Monde, ate Beignets and Cafe Au Laits. The waitresses take your order, then go get your food, pay for it, then come and charge you whatever they want. Our waitress said: "I'll take $7.50" So weird!
We also saw a dancing tin man, and a million mules pulling carriages. We bought some fleur de lis earings, and then we were off! Texas or Bust!
5:02PM -- Welcome to TEXAS! yay! we finally arrived in Texas! After the longest bridges I ever been on (Cassie hated it).
I decided to take the ferry to Galveston instead of going through Houston traffic at 6pm. We waited for 45mins to get on the ferry. It was basically like tailgating. We sat on the curb, turned up the music, and ate watermelon, another group even offered us beers while we were waiting. On the ferry, we went up to the top deck, and we saw dolphins swimming with us!!!!! so cool!
So we arrived in Galveston, and that is basically the end of our trip! We went to dinner, Wal-Mart, and went to bed! The End.
7:15 AM -- We left Cary after breakfast at Starbucks on Harrison with Megan. And we were OFF!
Somewhere along the way, near Greensboro we started checking off the mile on the maps I got from AAA (PS if you are ever going on a long trip, go to AAA and get Trip Tiks! These things are AMAZING!). We ended up doing this the ENTIRE way to Galveston... its probably what got us through the trip!
10:30 AM -- We stopped in Gaffney, SC to hang out with The giant peach named Peachoid! I really wanted to find a souvenir, but no luck..... we kept going.
3:00PM -- Anniston, AL! World's largest chair! According to Guiness, 1982. We stopped in to see the chair, and brought our own lunches to Sonic!
9:00PM -- We got to New Orleans, LA FINALLY! WE stayed at the Prince Conti Hotel.... $59 for the hotel, $25 to valet my car..... 1/2 block from Bourbon St.! The hotel was nice, Cassie loved it, GREAT DEAL! Dinner at the Oceana Grill, I had a Catfish Po'Boy! So good! then we put two sleepy girls to bed.
11:00AM -- after 12 hours of sleep, Cassie and I went out to explore a tiny bit of New Orleans... We drove down to Cafe Du Monde, ate Beignets and Cafe Au Laits. The waitresses take your order, then go get your food, pay for it, then come and charge you whatever they want. Our waitress said: "I'll take $7.50" So weird!
We also saw a dancing tin man, and a million mules pulling carriages. We bought some fleur de lis earings, and then we were off! Texas or Bust!
5:02PM -- Welcome to TEXAS! yay! we finally arrived in Texas! After the longest bridges I ever been on (Cassie hated it).
I decided to take the ferry to Galveston instead of going through Houston traffic at 6pm. We waited for 45mins to get on the ferry. It was basically like tailgating. We sat on the curb, turned up the music, and ate watermelon, another group even offered us beers while we were waiting. On the ferry, we went up to the top deck, and we saw dolphins swimming with us!!!!! so cool!
So we arrived in Galveston, and that is basically the end of our trip! We went to dinner, Wal-Mart, and went to bed! The End.
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