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Nov. 23rd, 2009 @ 11:02 pm
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It was a tease, a taste, but perfect.
The past week has been crazy and wonderful.
First, I got a contract. As of December 1st, I'll be categorizing and organizing a researcher's notes and files. He's an ornithologist monitoring the reproductive success of the thick-billed murre. The contract is only 4 months, the people seem nice, and it pays well. It's perfect.
Second, my grandfather sold me his car for $20. The circumstances are actually really sad... he's been told that he will not be allowed to renew his license. So as of February, I will own a car. Hopefully the strike will end by then and I'll be able to drive the car. While I kind of like the image of only owning a motorcycle (or two), a car can be immensely useful. I'm incredibly grateful. I'm still kind of in shock, and haven't figured out a way to thank him for such a huge gift.
Last, I've signed up for 2 courses to begin my biology degree - or, I guess, finish it. Hopefully my new employer will work around the 2 days a week I'll need off. Maybe I can work 4 10-hour days or something. I've been working 60 hour weeks for the better part of the summer, so what's another few months.
Things appear to be going really well right now, and I'm not taking any of it for granted.
I am feeling a little: :  good |
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Nov. 15th, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
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The trip is over. There's nothing quite like traveling alone on a bike for a few weeks. I rarely even listened to music. It was amazing.
But with distinct goals in mind and feet firmly on the path to achieve them I'm glad to be back.
With the chance to see family and friends I've missed, I'm glad to be back.
And with the opportunity to get myself and my life ready to do this again, I'm glad to be back.
Friday night was the end of a 2 week dream, Saturday was my graduation ceremony and celebration, and now it's time to get back to work.
I'm slowly uploading photos of the places I saw, and adding stories about the people who helped along the way. But here's a sneak preview.
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A Solitary Raven.
ink on glass.
soon to have a handmade paper backing.
Tomorrow morning I leave on a 13 day journey down the Pacific coast, across the Southern US, and up the Atlantic coast. I'm doing this on my motorcycle, camping, alone. Leaving BC is hard... it's so gorgeous out here and everyone I've worked with has been wonderful. I'm nervous and excited and sad all at once.Courtesy of:: sufjan stevens - acoustic chicago |
I leave in 7 days for a ~7,500km trip through the US.
Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, DC, Pennsylvania, and New York.
The bike has new fork seals, rebalanced carbs, new front and rear brakes, new fluids, new front and rear tires, new spark plugs, a long-overdue new air filter, and I installed some heated grips myself. With this upcoming trip, my total kms for the year will reach just over 30,000! yeah!
My hdd died. The laptop got soaked during the days of rain leaving Ontario, and didn't work for about 2 months. All of a sudden one day it started working and I was really amazed. But now the laptop works fine and the hdd is gone. I'm bringing it back to Ottawa and trashing the machine. The laptop dosen't work outside anymore anyways - it can't tolerate any humidity whatsoever - shuts down and won't start for a few hours. I will not be buying an Acer.
November 1st is coming up too quickly.
 I am feeling a little: :  stressed |
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Oct. 21st, 2009 @ 11:40 am
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I went on a pelagic cruise the other day. It was a party boat.
The sky was full of rain, cloud, and fog. We saw mostly gulls, but also some porpoises, a few whales, and some loud smelly sea lions.
 
We're still banding saw-whets, but passerine banding was finished on the 18th. I can't believe there's only 10 nights left... then my trip across the US.
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metrum's journal