* Friday, May 30, 2003 *  
I tried to redo the template for my blog, but Blogger was having some technical difficulties. Not that I don't like Hobbes, but it was all just too.... Orange. I had this one "in line", so to speak, that I created last summer and I've been waiting to premiere. It's very fresh-looking. I'm glad it worked, even though Blogger is being kinda mean.
I got my exams back and I'm proud to say I did pretty well. Just thought I'd update on last week's entry.
This summer I have a lot planned, and most of it is fun, but I think what I'm looking forward to most is my new research project. This time I will be conducting it myself. No professors. No supervisors, either. Just two "fieldhands", sorta. One of them is the real brains behind the operation, and he's still an undergrad. Well, not for long; he graduates this year. He'll be going to St. Louis for grad school. But before he leaves, he wants someone to do Ringold Formation work, and I'm just the fool to accept such a task. :) That place is calling for a paleontologist to do work on it, but for some reason only about 20 papers have been written on it since it was discovered in the late 1800's, and only two of any consequence. I guess I'll find out why no one has ventured there.... But, I will be deciding what we're going to look for, and I'll be deciding where to go, etc etc. So Tom's giving me full reign over this project. And I'm not scared at all, I'm looking forward to tackling it. I have to read all the literature, but it's not too much once he explained to me how to read it (i.e.- in what order. For example: "read this one, this one is the best. These others you can skim over, but pay attention to these parts. And don't pay attention to the last three, they're worthless but it took me two months to find so I photocopied the whole thing"). The other fieldhand, by the way, really has no idea what will be going on, she's just excited to be going on a dig (she's an experienced geologist).
Anyways. Well, it's getting towards the end of the year, so I guess I'll do my annual recap. It was a great year, I would like to thank my family who supported me the whole way, my friends who were there for me in the rough spots and Jesus for bein my homie. haha just kidding. Sorry if that was blasphemous of me. Okay let's try it again. I learned a heck of a lot more this year than I did last year, and most of it was that the system in the big departments suck (*cough* BIOLOGY *cough*) and the system in the little departments (*geology!!*) is almost non-existant which is wonderful, but the advisors suck. (Well, the advisors could use work in both places: in biology because they have education degrees and know nothing about Biology so they're no help, and the geology advisors (all two of them, I kid you not) because they're actually professors and would rather be teaching or going on field trips than doing paperwork.)
So it was a very educational year. I actually learned how to speak my language and got to meet great people with whom I find a lot in common. I also learned what it is to have a great roommate, and a good outlook. I learned to keep a certain balance, but unfortunately I don't always use what I learn.... I also learned that some people are very determined to not do something, and it doesn't matter how much you push. But you have to push anyway because it looks good on a résumé. ;) Culture is valuable; I already knew that, but now I actually know what I'm talking about some of the time. I also learned that Bush is... Well, I also learned when to restrain from political commentary, and I would like this to stay a positive entry. And I already knew that, too, so it doesn't really add to my Very Educational Year.
But I also expanded my education. I'm very happy with the classes I've chosen, especially my Zoology class. I love that class. And philosophy. See now, that's the point of going to college; learning about things you otherwise wouldn't have any exposure to.
posted by Andy* | 10:06 PM