November, 14 2008

I wish the 1st of Octember was real. :)

In Vermont, it seems that the significant snow always falls over night. Alaska will drop 4-5 inches on you when ever it feels like it. I went to my one o'clock class and the sidewalks were clear. After class campus is covered in 4 inches.

I've started picking classes for next semester. Unfortunately I have to wait until Tuesday to finish making selections. On the upside, the reason I have to wait is: I have to petition to have some of my credits, that transferred as electives, to count towards my English requirements. I might have a really tough semester but, I really could have my degree by the end of the summer at the latest.

I can't believe I lost my Fantasy Football match up last week. I made a roaring comeback, and losing by 2 points hurts. Oh well, I'm pretty sure I'll clean up this weekend.

Actually sports in general are pretty average. The Steelers lost a game they should have won, TCU lost to Utah ruining a chance for a BCS bid. On the upside, the Lakers are undefeated and the Penguins beat the Redwings in OT!

Swimming is coming to a close right before Thanksgiving. :( It'll start up again Jan. 13, but I'll miss my swimmers; especially those that graduate to the next level. (I know that Chloe will move up; which, while I'm so proud of her, it was really rewarding being her coach, and I'll miss her.)

Fairbanks round two is getting closer and closer. I can't wait to eventually be back in Vermont for Christmas. Shawn, get your skates ready, we'll play some hockey.

10/29

Sorry I haven’t been reporting in. It’s been pretty busy. I had multiple mid-terms last week and I was very happy when the week was finally over. I’m playing hockey every so often, and I skate regularly too. Everything is all set for me to go to Fairbanks this Thanksgiving. I had a great time the last time I went up, and I’m excited to spend much more time there.

This weekend I went to a swim meet. Only two of my swimmers were in attendance, but I was happy to be there to support them. Chloe(8),the swimmer whom, at the insistence of her mother, I have invested the most individual time with, had an amazing race. Everything we worked on, she executed, and when she got out of the water she was all smiles because she knew she did it. Totally worth my time.

School has been a little rough lately, but I just have to settle down and re focus. Communications is still my best class. English and linguistics are also going well.

Fairbanks Weekend Picture Post

Over the weekend I took a trip to Fairbanks for the UAF festival known as Starvation Gulch. Large stacks of pallets were constructed to make various statues that were all set on fire. During the festival it started to snow. Fairbanks got about an inch and a half.

Fire 1

Fire 2

Fire 3

Snow

Here are some pictures that I took on the ride to and from Fairbanks.

Mountains

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

River

Bridge View

Valley

Classes are good and swim coaching is awesome. I coach a little girl named Chloe, who always went last or second to last in her lane. She has great technique, she just moves her arms a little slower. However, we did breast stroke last week: I gave her a few instructions and she lead her lane the rest of practice. That was a pretty rewarding experience for me.

9/14/08

Hey it's been a while since my last blog and I apologize.

Here's a picture of 3 moose I saw on campus.

I took some more pictures of the Seward Highway, but they're on my phone and I can't send them to my Verizon account because I'm roaming in Alaska. Next time I'm on the Seward Highway during the day, I'll be sure to bring my camera. It's incredible.

Swim coaching is great. I love the group I'm in charge of. I have six 6-8 year-olds in my lane and we have a lot of fun.

Tomorrow I can finally actively pursue a front desk job.

And now, the shocker:

I joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity this weekend.

Firstly, nobody is more wary of fraternities than I am. I hate the frat stereotype, and until I got where I am, I wouldn't have given a thought to joining one. However, the group of guys I've met here are very different, and very in to being a real fraternity. In fact, our event this weekend was completely "dry" (no alcohol etc.).

Somewhat unintentionally I was friendly with everyone and friends with no one, and this is what came about. I'm happy to see and be a part of a real fraternity.

School is going just fine and my favorite class is still Interpersonal Communications. (Linguistics is a close second.)

9/5/08

First off, I think I'm just going to do a weekly blog. Every weekend I'll recap the weeks events.

Today I created a PSA (a UAA commercial about events around campus) for KRUA (the university radio station). I learned how to use the sound editing programs, created a write-up based on the information given me, and then I recorded the commercial and layered it over a musical loop.

That was the first step towards getting my own radio show. Tonight I go in to present a show proposal.

Yesterday was my first day as a coach for NLSC. I had a great time with the kids and I'm definitely looking forward to more practices. The only downside is I'm really only looking at 3 hours a week. However, there is a possibility for advancement come summer time.

Right now I'm looking to get a desk job in one of the Residence Halls. It's a good opportunity to make a little spending money, and I can do my studying on the job.

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From what I've observed Alaskans are very much behind Sarah Palin. I wouldn't be surprised if McCain grabbed Alaska's whopping 3 electoral votes.

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I'm in the University Center right now, I will post pictures of my roommates to this blog sometime tomorrow.

8/30/08

My room mates are gone for the extended weekend. I'll try to get pictures of them when they get back.

Everything is running pretty smoothly here. Classes are going well, I'm budgeting my time and I'm getting my work done.

I started swimming again on Thursday. Having not swam in a year and a half (probably longer), it was extremely hard to get back into it. I fared better on Friday but it was still tough. I hope to fully have my stroke back by next week and I hope to have swimming endurance in 3 weeks.

Speaking of swimming. I officially got a job coaching for the Northern Lights Swim Club. I'll be coaching the "Sabre" program. (Northern Light Sabres...get it) I start Thursday Sept. 4th at 4:00. It's not going to be much but at least it's spending money, so I can save what I already have.

I'm hanging out with some people, but I wouldn't say I have any friends just yet.

We've got a long weekend ahead of us, thanks to the holiday. I don't start again until Wednesday but I made sure to get all my assignments done yesterday.

I'm off to go swimming again. Hopefully it'll be better today.

8/27/08

I've been to all my classes, and so far Interpersonal Communications is my favorite. The teacher is very outgoing and already I look forward to attending.

Linguistics has also turned out to be very interesting. We're discussing sound symbolism. Here's an example to give you an idea of what that's all about:
This is from T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men"

"This is the way the world ends/Not with a bang but a whimper."

Contrast that with this option

"This is the way the world ends/Not with a bing but a whomper."

Obviously "bing" and "whomper" have aren't words, but you can see how the meaning changes.

In other news:

I placed third in a free poker tournament put on by Residence Life. I won a 50 dollar Best Buy gift card.

I've woken up early 3 days in a row, and I'm already noticing the positive effects. I'm able to get a work out before my first class, and I feel more productive. My suit and goggles came today so I'm going to hit the pool tomorrow at 6:30.

Speaking of the pool, I'm going in to talk to Cliff (of the Northern Lights Swim Club). Hopefully I'll be checking in with good news tomorrow night.

Until later...