Update

So I don't think anyone reads this but I figured I'd update it (I'm aiming for once a month or something). I'll update in categories that seem to be the common questions from people near & far.

The pic is from Rosario Beach, so romantic...haha

School: is crazy busy & not gonna lie, challenging at times. It's manageable though, I've come to realize that one of the main purposes of grad school is to teach you how to manage your time & fill out endless forms. I love my classes (Biological Oceanography & Larval Ecology), I'm learning so much! I'm also taking a thesis credit (thanks to MIMSUP I was able to advance to candidacy in one quarter, usually takes 2+), which means I get credit for working on my thesis.

Research: is going, but will pick up like crazy end of April-May & should stay crazy until fall. I spend two days/week out at SPMC doing 'research' and taking classes. Every time I'm down there I remember how much I love that place. I'm trying to sell my contract up here in B-ham so I can move down to SP next quarter & really focus on my research. I'm not taking any classes next quarter (thanks again to MIMSUP) just thesis credit & life will be a lot easier & cheaper if I can move down there. So pray that I can sell my contract ASAP, thanks!

Ward/Boys: Ugh, not really a fan of when the 'boy' question is asked, but I guess it has to be asked. The ward is great, I still feel a little 'old' for the ward. I put old in quotes because it's probably not the right word...I guess people are intimidated by me? which makes no sense to me but whatevs. Also something that doesn't make sense to me, I guess I'm considered 'pretty hot stuff' in the ward (HA!), no idea why boys think this...ok I have one idea, they may have found out that I don't really want an engagement ring (in all honesty I'd rather have a really nice bike or a super sweet kayak or nice new scuba gear & then get a tattoo around my left ring finger, yeah i know no tattoos, but I'm not really a fan of rings, they get in the way) and I'm not having a reception (I'll take the check & run!). So I think that's the reason I'm 'hot stuff' (HA! again). So the short of it: ward's good & boys are nice but I'm not dating anyone (no time/no real desire).

Work: Yes I do work. I am a TA for the ESCI department. This quarter I'm TAing Biostatistical Analysis ESCI 340. To be honest, I was NOT super stoked on this idea, originally I was going to TA forest & fish interactions and some sort of freshwater fish lab (I was so excited to dabble in freshwater ecology/vertebrates again), but due to scheduling, changes were made. But looking back, biostats hasn't been bad & relearning the basics is always a plus. So work is great, I don't really consider it work, it's just kind of another class. I feel very blessed to have a TAship/job where I get to learn and help students understand things & get paid, it's great.

Extra Curricular Activities: Well I don't have too much extra time after school and TAing so this is a limited section. I started swimming with the WWU team this quarter (I swam last quarter for a couple of weeks, but CONSTANT illness kept me away from the pool). It's been so nice swimming with a team again. I wasn't planning on swimming in any meets, but I found out that since I'm on the team & paid the dues if I qualify for nationals (masters cuts, not that hard to qualify) the team pays for most of the costs to go. Nationals are in Atlanta this year & in May & I'd love to go, but it's research dependent. Anyway I'm swimming in my first meet in 6 years next month! Should be interesting.

When is your next UT visit?: Well I'll be back in Zion from March 18-March 21. I thought I'd make a quick trip home before heading to Hawaii for spring break (love that WWU has a spring break between quarters!). There is also a possibility that I will be in UT for General Conference...we'll see.

So that's an update for ya'll, probably heaps more then you wanted to read but I never post so I figured it was ok.