The end of the semester approaches at an unbelievable rate. And that remains my excuse for not posting anything in the past few days. Any waking moment (and I have lots more of those than sleeping moments) I spend doing homework or working at the battlefield or wrapping up my assistantship or getting my thesis rolling or thinking about how much I miss my pillow and can't wait for a full-night's sleep again...
And for the record, Stones River National Battlefield opened the tour loop today. So go check it out!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
I'm just going to say this
I dislike bugs. A heck of a lot. I love everything about springtime except the plethora of itty-bitty crawly things. I am a park ranger who does not like bugs; you do the math. I appreciate Jerry Seinfield's comedy routine about how a female can take hot wax, pour it between her thighs, then rip strips of paper off to remove hair in that sensitive area, yet will jump at the sight of a bug. Don't ask me to explain this phenomenon. It's just life.
And for the record, heels make terrible spider-squishers. And m&ms do, indeed, melt in your hand. These are both things I have learned this evening.
Now that I have all of that off my chest, I can get back to work.
And for the record, heels make terrible spider-squishers. And m&ms do, indeed, melt in your hand. These are both things I have learned this evening.
Now that I have all of that off my chest, I can get back to work.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Dream On
Once upon a time, in a far away land, there existed a happy place called Working Technology. Those who lived in Working Technology wore a bright smile on their face, as their technology always, well, worked. They'd never heard of that adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,” because their first tries were always successful. Nobody was ever cranky in Working Technology, because all pieces of electronic equipment functioned properly. Period. What an amazing concept- technology that works they way it was designed. What a dreamy place.
I wish I lived there. Then I would not have to resist the urge to throw my computer against a wall when it doesn’t cooperate.
I wish I lived there. Then I would not have to resist the urge to throw my computer against a wall when it doesn’t cooperate.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Battlefield Photos
Here are some pictures of the damage incurred by the tornado on the battlefield. The pictures are from different dates, so you can see some of the progress made by the [amazing] work crews.
Today I will be happier than a bird with a french fry
It is still cloudy and will probably rain today. But since I don't have to work and get to wear my civies, this rainy day means I get to wear my polka dot rain boots! I have to go to a ceremony to accept an award from the History Department, so I will probably have to bring nice shoes, too. Unless I wear my rain boots to the ceremony. Functions where I am required to behave myself only spark thoughts of how I can cause trouble unnoticed. Not that I plan on causing trouble, or anything. Maybe I'll just wear my boots and pretend to be in shock when people comment about them. "How did THESE get on my feet?" It's going to be a good day.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The joy a 2-year-old brings
I felt like I had a long day at work today. I already am not a huge fan of working on Sundays and the gloominess of the day only made me feel like crawling into bed and not getting out until the sun came up again (at this rate, that would be Wednesday). Then stuff at work continued to drag me down.
On Sunday evenings I volunteer at my church with a kids organization called AWANA; I work with the 2 and 3-year-olds, the group called "Puggles." A puggle is the name of a baby platypus. I love my Puggles. Working with them always brings a smile to my face. It isn't always fun to go straight from work to Puggles, because I usually am tired, but it is always worth it. I walked into the nursery today to see one of my Puggles waiting for me with her mom. When she looked up and saw me, she ran to me with her pigtails bouncing and her arms outstretched and gave me the biggest hug a two-going-on-three-year old can. She called me "Miss Is-a-biss," the closest thing to Elizabeth most toddlers can say. She then proceeded to walk me over to the toys she was playing with, talking up a storm about her skirt, the color purple, and the rain earlier in the day.
I cannot begin to describe the absolute joy Brenna brought into my life at that moment. Working with kids, especially little ones, always brightens my day. The world is new and uncomplicated and waiting to be explored. Kids, especially those little ones, love unconditionally and are not afraid to show it. I learn so much from my Puggles.
And now my day is better.
On Sunday evenings I volunteer at my church with a kids organization called AWANA; I work with the 2 and 3-year-olds, the group called "Puggles." A puggle is the name of a baby platypus. I love my Puggles. Working with them always brings a smile to my face. It isn't always fun to go straight from work to Puggles, because I usually am tired, but it is always worth it. I walked into the nursery today to see one of my Puggles waiting for me with her mom. When she looked up and saw me, she ran to me with her pigtails bouncing and her arms outstretched and gave me the biggest hug a two-going-on-three-year old can. She called me "Miss Is-a-biss," the closest thing to Elizabeth most toddlers can say. She then proceeded to walk me over to the toys she was playing with, talking up a storm about her skirt, the color purple, and the rain earlier in the day.
I cannot begin to describe the absolute joy Brenna brought into my life at that moment. Working with kids, especially little ones, always brightens my day. The world is new and uncomplicated and waiting to be explored. Kids, especially those little ones, love unconditionally and are not afraid to show it. I learn so much from my Puggles.
And now my day is better.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
dealings
I was organizing my school and work papers (which will probably take another month, as my current way of organizing was to stack everything in on pile that has turned to five piles... eesh) when I pulled out a paper with an article from last summer. I looked down and I realized why the name Kori Bryant sounded so familiar. Kori Bryant was the woman who died, along with her nine-month-old baby, in the tornado that hit Murfreesboro last week.
I had been thinking the name must have just resembled that of the basketball player, so I tried to push it out of my head. So I had a shock as I read through the article and reexamined the picture. The realization of who Kori was hit me. I worked with her for a day in Cool Springs last year at the "Staycation Expo." She worked for the city parks and rec and I for the park service; we were there to represent tourist activities in Rutherford counties on behalf of our respective agencies. (You can see the article here. We are on page 16).
I think the word "sunshine" could best describe Kori. She had a bright smile and engaged with those who approached the table with cheerfulness. What we talked about ranged from hairstyles, to interior decorating, to schooling and working, to crazy families, to futures and more. She had recently found out that she was pregnant and was very excited about her new baby. We talked about the crazy ideas we had about being "grown up" when we were kids and how things are different and how odd the concept was of starting our own families. We were two extraverted twenty-something-year-old females, chatting up a storm. We connected for the day, but didn't keep in touch. I think we were too tired from the day.
I don't know why she stuck in my head. My job allows me to meet lots of people. Maybe because our lives were so similar in many ways, and yet she was where I wanted to be in many ways. She was starting a family and kind of inspired hope in me that one day I, too, would do the same. So now realizing who she is has created a huge empty feeling in my gut. Why did that have to happen to her? Why do I feel so sad to know Kori passed, when the chances of meeting her again were so slim? Regardless of my knowing her or not, a young mom and baby died, so why did it take the personalization for me to get so upset about it? Now I feel almost guilty that I didn't feel as sad as I am now before I knew who the two were who perished. And now I am dealing with all of this. In an empty house. By myself. Which is probably the best way, since I don't like verbalizing my feelings when I feel like crying. I'd rather just cry by myself then move on with life. And now you know.
Tomorrow is a new day with fresh beginnings. But I still have to deal with tonight.
I had been thinking the name must have just resembled that of the basketball player, so I tried to push it out of my head. So I had a shock as I read through the article and reexamined the picture. The realization of who Kori was hit me. I worked with her for a day in Cool Springs last year at the "Staycation Expo." She worked for the city parks and rec and I for the park service; we were there to represent tourist activities in Rutherford counties on behalf of our respective agencies. (You can see the article here. We are on page 16).
I think the word "sunshine" could best describe Kori. She had a bright smile and engaged with those who approached the table with cheerfulness. What we talked about ranged from hairstyles, to interior decorating, to schooling and working, to crazy families, to futures and more. She had recently found out that she was pregnant and was very excited about her new baby. We talked about the crazy ideas we had about being "grown up" when we were kids and how things are different and how odd the concept was of starting our own families. We were two extraverted twenty-something-year-old females, chatting up a storm. We connected for the day, but didn't keep in touch. I think we were too tired from the day.
I don't know why she stuck in my head. My job allows me to meet lots of people. Maybe because our lives were so similar in many ways, and yet she was where I wanted to be in many ways. She was starting a family and kind of inspired hope in me that one day I, too, would do the same. So now realizing who she is has created a huge empty feeling in my gut. Why did that have to happen to her? Why do I feel so sad to know Kori passed, when the chances of meeting her again were so slim? Regardless of my knowing her or not, a young mom and baby died, so why did it take the personalization for me to get so upset about it? Now I feel almost guilty that I didn't feel as sad as I am now before I knew who the two were who perished. And now I am dealing with all of this. In an empty house. By myself. Which is probably the best way, since I don't like verbalizing my feelings when I feel like crying. I'd rather just cry by myself then move on with life. And now you know.
Tomorrow is a new day with fresh beginnings. But I still have to deal with tonight.
Friday, April 17, 2009
i know him! i know him!
There is a line Will Ferrell yells in his movie, Elf, when he hears that Santa will be visiting:
I have a tendency to feel that way whenever somebody mentions somebody or something I recognize (though I usually keep my reaction internal). I yell those lines a lot, even if only in my head.
A lot has been covered about the tornado, particularly about the damage at the battlefield. Yesterday a local news station produced a story about the damage at the battlefield. The images on the news story spark the "I know him!" reaction in my head, especially the part when the newscaster walks by the desks... I sit there, almost daily; that's where I check my email and that's where I compose my official NPS correspondence (or just do my research, but that is not nearly as fun to say). I know [those desks]! I know [those desks]!
The battlefield continues to get busier, as more people arrive to help. We have work crews from Natchez Trace and Land Between the Lakes. They've been busy with chainsaws attempting to clear the tour road and the area around the Hazen Brigade monument. We had an archeologist team out the last few days to survey the areas that have been recently exposed to see if any artifacts surfaced (they did not find anything major as far as I know). We've also been planning for Junior Ranger Day. Initially, we were going to have upwards of 400 kids bused in from Nashville for the event (plus any local kids), but now that number looks to be closer to 200. It allows for a little sigh of relief, but not much. I stay out of trouble when I stay busy, right?
Oh, and for the record, I also like smiling. Smiling's my favorite.
I have a tendency to feel that way whenever somebody mentions somebody or something I recognize (though I usually keep my reaction internal). I yell those lines a lot, even if only in my head.
A lot has been covered about the tornado, particularly about the damage at the battlefield. Yesterday a local news station produced a story about the damage at the battlefield. The images on the news story spark the "I know him!" reaction in my head, especially the part when the newscaster walks by the desks... I sit there, almost daily; that's where I check my email and that's where I compose my official NPS correspondence (or just do my research, but that is not nearly as fun to say). I know [those desks]! I know [those desks]!
The battlefield continues to get busier, as more people arrive to help. We have work crews from Natchez Trace and Land Between the Lakes. They've been busy with chainsaws attempting to clear the tour road and the area around the Hazen Brigade monument. We had an archeologist team out the last few days to survey the areas that have been recently exposed to see if any artifacts surfaced (they did not find anything major as far as I know). We've also been planning for Junior Ranger Day. Initially, we were going to have upwards of 400 kids bused in from Nashville for the event (plus any local kids), but now that number looks to be closer to 200. It allows for a little sigh of relief, but not much. I stay out of trouble when I stay busy, right?
Oh, and for the record, I also like smiling. Smiling's my favorite.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
dilly-dallying
I have a list of things to do (on a sheet of paper in a little notebook), but decided to procrastinate. I find that writing things that I don't have sometimes inspires me to write the stuff I do have to. Actually, I am down to one official assignment left due for school, but have stuff to do for the battlefield, stuff for projects related to this class, and stuff to do for my sister's wedding in May. Oh, well.
Yesterday the battlefield hosted its annual volunteer appreciation picnic. It was ridiculously cold, especially considering we live in Tennessee and it is April. White air came out of our mouths while we were talking (no kidding). But I had a good time. We have some pretty spectacular folks working at the park, both paid and volunteer. I don't know if I have worked with such an outstanding group of people before.
Our superintendent talked with me briefly at lunch yesterday and said, "I bet you never expected to deal with this when you signed on." I replied, "I bet you didn't, either." He said in all of his career, he had been fortunate enough to escape the emergency situations. But there are some that deal with it all the time. Yesterday, a level-3 incident team was formed to work out of the battlefield. We will be at "emergency" status for another two weeks. The team established will help us coordinate plans and efforts to move forward in clean up, removal, and overall attempts to get this park back in order. Easily 1,000 trees have been knocked over or torn up (some of the trees literally look like someone just twisted them in half and then left them there). But the people who are a part of this team deal with emergencies all the time. They are expected to leave for days and weeks at a time at a drop of a hat in order to help parks get back on their feet (they helped the national parks in Kentucky last winter after the ice storms). I have a lot of respect for their job; I don't think I could do that. They have to go see destruction and devastation and help people make sense out of it... regularly. Either way, the basement has become their base of operations, at least for the next ten days to two weeks. The craziness will continue for a while, yet.
I work tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday, so I should probably go do some homework. The semester is almost over! Yay! and Eek! all at the same time.
Yesterday the battlefield hosted its annual volunteer appreciation picnic. It was ridiculously cold, especially considering we live in Tennessee and it is April. White air came out of our mouths while we were talking (no kidding). But I had a good time. We have some pretty spectacular folks working at the park, both paid and volunteer. I don't know if I have worked with such an outstanding group of people before.
Our superintendent talked with me briefly at lunch yesterday and said, "I bet you never expected to deal with this when you signed on." I replied, "I bet you didn't, either." He said in all of his career, he had been fortunate enough to escape the emergency situations. But there are some that deal with it all the time. Yesterday, a level-3 incident team was formed to work out of the battlefield. We will be at "emergency" status for another two weeks. The team established will help us coordinate plans and efforts to move forward in clean up, removal, and overall attempts to get this park back in order. Easily 1,000 trees have been knocked over or torn up (some of the trees literally look like someone just twisted them in half and then left them there). But the people who are a part of this team deal with emergencies all the time. They are expected to leave for days and weeks at a time at a drop of a hat in order to help parks get back on their feet (they helped the national parks in Kentucky last winter after the ice storms). I have a lot of respect for their job; I don't think I could do that. They have to go see destruction and devastation and help people make sense out of it... regularly. Either way, the basement has become their base of operations, at least for the next ten days to two weeks. The craziness will continue for a while, yet.
I work tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday, so I should probably go do some homework. The semester is almost over! Yay! and Eek! all at the same time.
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