Hello from the bush
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

Hello from the bush in Dixonville, Alberta coming to you from the EMEND (Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbances) camp.  Today is my day off, I am so excited for a day of rest, yes, although this week of work was pretty calm.  So I am almost done my graduate diploma in EIA and I have no idea what to do next.  I am falling in love with the idea of staying in Alberta, all the people I met through this project are wicked awesome and have made me felt so welcome.  Although the small town mentality sometimes gets to me, as long as I block out the idiots then I would consider moving here permanently, well not Dixonville but Edmonton or Calgary.  On thing Alberta is lacking is quality guys, oh my oh my!!!  I am not into meat heads and most of the guys outside this project are, boo for that.  Oh well, another year has passed and I am one year older and life is good.  Thanks to all my wonderful friends who have been there for me and to all my new friends who will hold a place in my heart forever.  Later

Courtney

8:25 AM - 1 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

update.... far too long
Current mood: hopeful

Finally.... that is what you are all thinking right now.  She usually writes all the time, yeah well school and work have been a really big stress and time consumer, but I am loving the direction my life is taking.  So yesterday was my exam in GIS and I think I did well, I had my work x-mas party and final presentations in my grad classes.  One of the profs asked me to come next year and do the presentation for his environmental legislation class, it was nice to hear that since we worked our asses off to get it done on time.  These days I am looking for my internship for school, I have found some cool jobs and look forward to finishing this coming semester so that I can apply all the cool stuff I have learned.  I think the next few coming years are going to be a real trip and i am going to get to enrich myself immensely.  So I hope that everyone who reads this is having a good time, or if not remember there are always downs in this life, but eventually after a bit you always come back up eventually.  OK talk to you all later

C

6:16 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The silly things we hold on to
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Romance and Relationships

Its funny what silly little fantasies one can hold on to for life, like my ultimate fantasy of "My Johnny", who as of last week I let go of the idea of him being mine.  I mean I never really believed it, but its almost like an era of my life is done and now I am in real life where it sucks, and dating is definitely harder than it was in highschool.  Its almost freeing to let go, I mean he is an amazing actor, and will always be seen like that, but reality is that I will never meet him, why waste all that love and adoration on an idea.  I guess everyone clings on to those ideas, not just of famous people, but even that guy/girl you had a crush on in highschool.  I realize that Johnny or my bud Bryan will never measure up to the fantasy, so why hold on to the idea.  I need to create fantasy of my reality, he he, like I don't already do that!!  This is just a passing thought!!  Not really deep, not really Depp, hehe,  I am sure whoever is reading this thinks its silly, but those who know, understand, Bye Johnny, you missed out!!!!

C

4:11 PM - 1 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

Why is there so much murder?
Current mood: pensive
Category: Life

Today was pretty crazy, Dawson College, a cejep in Montreal, six blocks from Concordia, was a place of death.  To date, 1 woman died and 20 are injured critically.  The Gunman was shot by police.   This sort of thing really scares me, because it makes me feel like my home city is not safe.  I have always felt safe in Montreal.  What would have happened it it was concordia and not dawson.  They still don't know why he did it, what can drive someone to do that?????   I just have to remember that there are sick people out there, and it is not a reflection of the whole human race, though sometimes i wonder.    I am taking a moment to morn the woman who died.  
On a lighter note, life is good, but I know I am not going to have any life this year.  I just got a Teachers Assisstant position in Plant Ecology.  It will be fun to teach the labs.   I have a job at a cool coffee/cake shop on the weekend and I am getting just enough hours.  Neways I am happy in my life but saddened by human nature. Besos, C

8:32 PM - 1 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

crazy roadside experience
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Life

I almost forgot about the craziest thing that happened this past weekend.  When we were driving back from kayaking, I saw this bag of garbage by the side of the road(it was about 11 at night) and thought for a second it was a person.  About 5 min later, we were right by the Rainforest Inn and there was this guy lying on the side of the road, arms behind his head (like he was doing a sit-up) and his shoes neatly placed on the road by his head.  Past out, gone.  We almost hit him and then went back to see if he was ok, we yell out `SENOR`and beeped a few times, he was fast asleep with a smile on his face.  So we just left him, but I felt so bad like `what if someone hits him?' but he was gone the next morning.  Puerto Rico has the most random things that happen, power turnoffs, water shut off, crazy drivers who don't see the use in red lights, but I will miss it so.  BLAAa, NEways later

7:38 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Bioluminescense bay
Current mood: peaceful
Category: Life

SO Meredith, Shane and I went to the Lagoona Grande in Fajardo to see the bioluminescent bay.  Basically there are thousands of microscopic dinoflagelates that when disturbed let off a bright fluorescent blue light as a defense mechanism.  We got to swim in the waters and it was so amazing how my whole body lit up with every motion.  When you took your hand out of the water it was like hundreds of tiny stars were on your hand.  It is so hard to put into words, you just have to see it to believe it.  It is the most amazing thing I have see in my whole life.  To get into the bay we had to kayak through the Mangroves( my first love) and i was so moved by the experience that I had no words at the end (its hard to believe that I had no words, he he).  The next day I learned to surf, pretty cool.  We stayed at the RAINFOREST INN, very cool place in the middle of the El Yunque, anyone reading this shouls check it out.  Bill and Laurie are very cool.  So that was last weekend, and this is our last week in Puerto Rico, boo hoo, but soon a new chapter will begin in my life, so I should be excited.  OK well just wanted to share my experience.  Later

8:06 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Belly Baldo
Current mood: chipper

Today Meredith, Nina and I went bushwacking, I got to use a machete and get the carasco plant which has tormented us since the beginning of time.  We also saw the most tiny tiny nest ( almost the size of a golf ball) with a tiny tiny egg in it ( smaller than a jelly bean).  It was so amazing,  I also got to finish my remake of the oscar meyers weiner song.  It goes something like this:

My Belly has a first name it's B-E-L-L-Y,       My belly has a 2nd name its B-A-L-D-O,    Belly Baldo its so big, its the only one I dig,     Cause Belly  Baldo has a way of making everybodies day!!!!!

I know you are all thinking "Musical Genius"  and I would have to agree with you, although I do need to give some credit to Meredith who supported me and guided me throught the process and Nina for enduring the silliness that is me when we are stuck in the rainny forest of Rio Abajo, climbing Magotes and Meredith big head trying to avoid the wasps nests.  We got another site to take data on today, we are trying to get 8 natural transects, so far we have 4, but we have 3 weeks to go so we should get it all done.  I am getting excited about going back home to Montreal, I have a few apartments to see and resumes to hand out, then to NS to pick up my stuff.  NEways nothing more to say today,

besos

3:42 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

One month to go
Current mood: groggy
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

The last two days have been great, Meredith and I got a lot of work done.  We hid the bananas from the guys and now have started a retaliation that will end up with something of mine being hidden.  Watch out Patrick we will hit  you with the floating sponges, he he, I am way to good at this retaliation stuff (its good clean fun).  The guys are playing psychological warfare on us, hinting there is something to come when I know its all talk.  NEways the guys leave in three days, I am sure they will be happy to see their significant others and kids.  I am trying to registrar for school but all is not working as planned, I sure it will work out in the end.  I got an offer for a masters degree in North Carolina in forestry, but again I am not sure what will be done.  Other than that life is good, I will miss Puerto Rico and Mexico and even Mississippi, but it is time for this snowbird to migrate north and see her family. I will keep you posted(whoever you may be)

C

8:32 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Moment of truth
Current mood: pensive
Category: Life

So I have been reading other peoples blogs and I was really surprised at how one has kind of kicked me in the head and inspired me.  Its so easy sometimes when you are a biologist to fall away from the reality of the world and not deal with the attrocities that are happening.  I have always had a want to help humans, but I have decided to go the "help the environment and in that way help humans".  I think it may be a cop-out, and I know now I need to be more involved in World politics.  i am not really sure how i will help, just brainstorming, instigating thought in myself.  NEways thats all for now.

1:37 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

interesting survey
Current mood: drained