There is so much in this world that we have to learn, explore and see. This blog is an account of the beautiful world as I see it, explore it, and learn about it.
Go to the shore, take pictures on the rocks showing how you're enjoying the weather and explain the weathering process of the rocks...
We enjoyed the weather by going to Leif Erickson Park.
Miss Sarah enjoyed throwing rocks into the lake, Miss Sam enjoyed making footprints on the rock, and I enjoyed taking pictures of it all :)
Many of the causes of Climate Change are natural. Things we cannot reverse; things we haven't caused. Some of the other causes, are anthropogenic (human caused). There are a lot of things humans can do to reduce our "footprint", but there are somethings we cannot avoid. One of those unavoidable things is reducing our agriculture-related impacts on the planet.
This video is a TedTalk by Jonathan Foley, called "The Other Inconvenient Truth". Here he talks about how we, as humans, need to seriously change our farming techniques to farming for the planet, terraculture. He uses some really interesting computer models to depict his points, and I find this to be incredibly interesting. Somewhere around 13 minutes he starts a REALLY cool video with SUPER intense music. If you don't watch the whole thing, watch the last 4 minutes.
The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) described some of the scary impacts that will happen with the rising temperature of the Earth.. and to be honest.. they're kind of terrifying. Read it.. Seriously take a look. If you don't read it.. at least skim it. Look at some of the things we're going to have to face in the future.
How do we make changes to our behaviors.. when many of our behaviors are necessary? We COULD expand farm land... but we shouldn't. We COULD farm better.. but how many people are willing to cough up the cash to make the change? Maybe the better question is.. How much are we willing to put up with before we decide to make a change?
Let's be honest, society isn't making the best effort to make a change because most people refuse to believe something is happening.. but my fear.. my biggest fear.. is that by the time people are ready to admit what's happening.. our time will run out.
Well.. where did that week go?
So far this week:
Monday--
Slept through World Regional because I wasn't feeling well
Movie in Political Science on Civil Rights-- Freedom Riders (Excellent movie)
Double Lab in Phys Geo making up for the lab I was gone for (last Monday when I was being driven back to school by my awesome sister, brother-in-law and niece.
Tuesday--
Slept through Environmental Conservation (still sick and nothing going on)
Slept through Dinos (same)
Physical Geography-- watched a boring movie about Earthquakes before the test that was today
Wednesday--
World Regional: definitely brought my laptop and registered for classes while taking notes because my registration slot was at 9AM. My schedule is interesting..
Political Science.. I'm thinking we finished the movie? I didn't go.. This week isn't the best recorded week of my student determination.. but I promise it gets better.. and doesn't happen often.
Religions... got to class.. note on the door say to Have a great night and go enjoy the weather..
Thursday-- TODAY
Environmental Conservation was really interesting.. more to come..
Dinosaurs.. I went. I wish I had not. We got to talk about the KPCOFGS (Kingdom, Phylum, Class...etc) of dinosaurs and she talked to us about how her notes have been inconsistent.. but for the final we need to know them all for the dinos. Then, she continued to ramble about the final and Dino Biology (actually semi interesting) annnnd then we had a quiz.
Physical Geography Exam.. I am confident that I knew all but two of the questions on the exam... and those two.. I narrowed down to an almost positive answer. Best way to end a day of classes EVER.
Also, today we get to go sign for our rooms!! I'm wicked excited to get to sign up for an apartment with friends!
Environmental content to come within the next few hours... first, while I'm still motivated to do homework.. I'm going to finish my lab for Environmental Science (not conservation).
Meet Maki! This puppy is my favorite puppy in the world. Yesterday I drove ALLLLL the way out to Nebagamon to take this little guy out on a run. We ran somewhere between 6-8 miles. It was amazing!
The ice is out, which is pretty early. Not to mention it was 73 degrees outside! It was such a beautiful day!!
I was told I looked like I'm fourteen. I'd argue that that's not as exciting when you're.. ya know.. almost 19. I think when I turn 25 or 30.. I'll like being told I look like I'm 20.. but not now.. and NOT 14.
Had a case of the college blues today... and did nothing as far as homework goes... so I've watched a lot of Bones today.
1. I am a lucky girl. I have family and friends who stand beside me. I have a house and a job and a place to sleep. I am safe when I fall asleep at night, and I am lucky to have the opportunity to educate myself at this university where I am studying. I am lucky to have gone to high school and worked with the people I worked with, the opportunities I've had, and I'm lucky for the places I've been.
2. I love to write. I love to write fiction and poetry and non-fiction. I love to write because it helps me figure things out. Sarah Kay-- the speaker in the video-- says she writes poems to work through what she doesn't understand.. and I do it too. I write to figure out how I feel, how I want to grow and where I want to go. Maybe a reader can't see it from the things they read of my writing, but that's how it works for me. By the end of a story, maybe unrelated, but I know where I stand, and I know how I feel.
3. Ted Talks are awesome and distracting. I can't focus on that paper I mentioned yesterday because I'm too interested in listening to Ted Talks about Language. I've been on 55 words since 12:30 and I have about 500-550 words to go..
This is a Ted Talk by Sarah Kay. I like the first 8 minutes, but I love the rest of it too. She is amazing. Her words make sense to me. I like it a lot. I think you might too. Enjoy!
"If you tell me that I can do the impossible, I'll probably laugh at you."
Tonight I spent about 30 minutes wrestling with my broken can opener to open Spaghettios for my dinner.. Now, there are three possibly stupid things with this statement.. 1. 30 minutes.... 2. BROKEN?? 3. Spaghettios
1. Yes, I spent 30 Minutes because I was really hungry and determined to conquer the stupid can opener. 2. Broken... Why don't I buy a new one? ... because I'm a broke college kid who has 5 weeks left (and counting) in their first year in school... why on EARTH would I buy a new one when I'm going home soon.. where there's a not-broken one, AND an electric one.. 3. Spaghettios. Worth it? Definitely. Everyone loves to relive their childhood in a bowl of squishy O shaped noodles doused in some tomato-ey sauce. Less worth it when every bite burned a different part of my mouth.. but totally delicious and satisfying to my hungry belly.
Anything else special happen today?
Professor Pine moved a paper to Friday that was due today.. which is GREAT because I definitely hadn't started yet... oops.
I got to see my boyfriend! Always a plus.
I got Mine-craft.. A nerdy game where I get to build stuff... Don't judge. I'm in college.. I'm stressed... and it'll help de-stress me a bit.
SAD NEWS: I left my pink camel-back at home.. so I now don't have a water bottle. I've been debating buying a UMD water bottle.. because I don't want to spend money on individual bottles, and I don't want to waste the plastic.
Good News: My African Violet is coming back to life... funny how that happens when you water your plants... (oops) I'm being productive today! Time to get back to work!
22 SCHOOL DAYS LEFT!!! 30 DAYS TOTAL LEFT!! Happy Wednesday!
So, earlier I mentioned that we're down to five weeks. Now, that's pretty exciting.. until you factor in all that comes in the next five weeks..
My list so far:
Housing Lottery (Room Draw/Sign-Up) With-in the next four weeks leading up to finals, 10 exams Four Essays Two Projects One Speech News Presentation
and the most exciting (before summer..):
Miss McKenzie Rae will be born!!!
Then...
Come the Finals
Monday 5/7: Environmental Science
Tuesday 5/8: Life and Death of the Dinosaurs
Wednesday 5/9: Environmental Conservation (8am), Political Science (10am), World Regional Geography (2pm)
Thursday5/10: Geography of World Religions
Friday 5/11: Physical Geography
Friday, May 11th concludes the first of four (or five) years here at UMD.. and I'm scared, excited, anxious and a little sad to see it go. But, I can definitely say my second year up at UMD will be even better, because I get to room with my two best friends here at school.. and hopefully come to get to know Alex as well as I know and love Sam and Sarah. I can't wait.
But, that doesn't mean that summer shouldn't take it's time.. I'd prefer if it didn't fly as fast as the last three months.
