Random

I know this is random but I wanted to share it.  I was looking back over old photos to fill a frame that I got from Michael's Crafts...and I stumbled upon this video.  It made me laugh a lot.  I look so sleepy...I have a Jack Sparrow-esque way that I move my hands when I talk about the drums, and I stumble for words a lot. Overall, it's funny...so Alesha and I watched it over and over again.  I hope you find it as funny as I do!

A Brilliant Day

This past weekend was amazing.  I had a friend who came to visit us here on the island.  We rested a bit, ate out at some amazing places, did crafts, and my favorite...explored the island next to ours and then sat in a legitimate coffee shop (you know..the ones with the couches!)

And then today was great!  It was hard to open my eyes this morning because it was cold and bright outside.  I just wanted to sleep.  But I made myself a promise.  I said that I would read my bible first thing in the morning and be more intentional with my prayers.  So this morning...after about 10 mins of the prayer, "Please help me get up..." I was able to read my bible.

I got a nice cup of Joe and headed to work in the Hijet.  (The Hijet is our little work truck...its like half the size of a real truck and its a right hand drive. Overall and adorable and fun way to get around campus)  Once there I was able to get a lot done.  I typed up my lesson plans in the proper format and even settled some things with the EPA regarding water quality tools.

On the note of lesson plans...I have been working a little over two weeks.  I am working on my second lesson plan and I am loving the feeling of getting things done.  Anyway, I walked into my boss's office the other day and she informed me that my lesson plan was being placed into the curriculum and taught this Spring.  My heart is filled with joy because I have been here less than three weeks and I have already contributed to the program!

Anyway, back to today.  We went down to the docks to do some collecting for the plankton monitoring network. With the help of my binoculars we saw some cool ships coming in...one from Saudi Arabia with Arabic written on the side of the tanker.  Also the dolphins were getting pretty close to the dock...which was beautiful to see.

We also collected some food stuffs from the floating docks with hand nets for our aquarium buddies.  I love feeding the fish because they chase the grass shrimp all around the tank.  Then they look so satisfied if they actually catch one.  I found some sort of sea cucumber-like filter feeder too.  We put him in the big tank and will figure out what he is tomorrow.

After work I went out to the marsh for a little bird watching and I got a letter in the mail from the little girl I used to nanny...and tonight will be a night full of knitting a scarf for this most precious girl.

Overall it was a brilliant day!

The Fuzzy Peach

It's been a week and a half now at my new job.  I have gotten quite a bit father than I thought with the lesson planning, mostly because I push myself really hard and because I bug my friend/co-worker (Alesha) incessantly with questions.

 I think I need to learn to relax a bit.  The problem is that I work really well under pressure...so if there is no pressure, then I create it.  And the trouble comes in when I force people around me into my schedule.  I expect my computer problems to be fixed as soon as I report it.  I expect my questions to be answered with certainty as soon as I ask them.

Overall, I need to relax.  Pray that I can...

On a happier note, I am doing a great job separating work from home.  I don't do work off the clock.  Instead, I keep busy running, cleaning up the beach, listening to podcasts on my walks, or for a more relaxing evening I will watch Bob Ross.  I picked up some extra painting stuff and hope to join in with him tonight. Haha.

On the way back from the store, Alesha and I found an all-you-can-eat (or fill in the cup) frozen yogurt bar.  It's called the Fuzzy Peach....and it is delicious.  Basically you grab the cup and fill from the wide selections of yogurt and toppings then you pay by the weight.  Can you guess which one is mine?

Fuzzy Peach Creations

DAY TWO

So remember how I thought that my job was too good to be true.  Well, it's day two and I am super happy with it still.  I mean, I am even pretty stoked about going to work in the morning.  It just looks like I am going to have a rocking year.

And here are some photos for you:

 Above is the view from my room.  No don't worry...that's not a windstorm outside...it's just the way that tree grew.  Coastal Winds ya know?!?!

To the right is a part of my room.  I am trying to make it homey!

Also on the island is a healthy dune system, a marsh, the beach, and the ruins of the old forts and batteries.   I haven't had much time outside work because of the early sunset...but I am hoping to do some more exploring soon.

Also hoping to get you some photos from work eventually...but until then we have to practice patience. :-P

Thoughts from My First Day

Today was my first day on the job at Caswell Beach.  I am not sure how I feel just yet.  You know when everything is surreal.  I went for a little run after work today (and I mean just a baby run around the campus) and I stopped on the pier and stared out at the water.  I could see where the Cape Fear met the ocean and I was stuck in the thought, “this is your life…”

It seems like just yesterday that I was walking my morning commute to a school full of teenage girls who could only say “hi teacher…bye teacher…”  And it seems like just last week that I was looking through a microscope in the back office of my professor and scrambling to get my thesis done in time.

But alas, that was a whole year ago.  How can a year fly?  And how can so much change inside you in a year, and on the outside it changes so little?  How can I be watching the sunset create a rainbow at this moment, and know that this very day last year I was confused and scared in Thai hotel, rescued only by some German backpackers?  I don’t know.

But what I do know is that you don’t really know much on your first day of work.  I spent the morning getting keys, signing papers, putting in work shirt orders, and basic orientation.  So much information went into my head that I don’t know where to start.  I was told of several projects that we are hoping to accomplish before the summer, curriculum development, current research, and daily responsibilities.  I was then left to get to work.  I went straight away into one of the projects dealing with NC geology.  We are hoping to get an interactive geology display ready for the camp kids this summer.  I spent the rest of the day researching all of the rock samples we had available for the display and then did some minor brain storming about what we can put together.  I hope to spend tomorrow reading up on more of North Carolina’s geology…this way I can really know my stuff and maybe even make a lesson out of it.

Also, my boss today gave me two books on Dune Ecology.  She hinted that she wanted me to work on lesson planning ideas for a Dune lesson for the summer camps as well.  I really will enjoy that!  I had a great day at work.  The people are friendly, my boss is amazing, I work with a great friend of mine from school, and my workload is something I love doing.

BUT, here is my problem.  I was not able to fully enjoy it.  I can’t honestly believe that I could enjoy work.  I feel like I shouldn't be paid for reading books on Dune Ecology.  I guess I am just waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I am waiting to be told that I am doing something wrong…that this is not how things are going to be.  Can something this good really happen to me?

I have a good friend that reminded me to pray about that.  That feeling is not from God…because God has not given us a spirit of fear!  I shouldn't be fearfully waiting for something bad to happen.  I should enjoy the good that is happening now.  I should know that God provides great gifts for his children, and that perhaps having a job that I love is a gift from Him.

I will definitely be in prayer about that tonight.  And I will pray expecting great things!  I WILL have freedom from that spirit of fear.  I will spend tomorrow doing a job that I know I am going to love.

Wish me luck all, and keep me in your prayers as I adjust to a new place.  Also, I will try to get some photos of this beautiful campus up soon!