I am so board with my life today - all I seem to do is work! I drive to work and sit in front of a computer three days a week, I work at home for another three days, work, work, work! I was simply in a pity party mood today.
Then I remembered that I still had one pack left of Thin Mints in the freezer!
My life is still boring, but for these next 5 minutes while I am eating my allotted 3 thin mints, everything seems right in the world!
The cool news: two graduate students and a couple professors from my major are doing studies with autistic children and these new robots that some engineering students made specifically for this project. An important part of the study is the video recording of the interactions between the child and the robot. In my major there aren't really any research assisting opportunities for undergraduates, you're VERY lucky if you have a chance to work on anything practical as an undergraduate because most opportunities are given to other graduate students. I was informed by one of my professors of this opportunity to work as somewhat of a research assistant for this project and jumped at the chance. And I got it! It's just a volunteer thing so it's not a job but it's an incredible opportunity for me to work with a couple of my professors and graduate students and be a part of this new study with a couple of awesome kids. :) I'm so excited! I had all my training today and I actually start on Monday so I'm hittin' the ground running for this one but I can't wait to learn so much and have a great experience. Only a VERY small number of my classmates and I get to do this so I'm excited for what's next.
For the last few days, everyone in the DC area has been freaking out about the end of days that was to come in the form of a BLIZZARD! Seriously, everyone was talking about this storm and I was kind of thinking it would be a letdown because there was just so much hype. But ALAS it was all that I was hoping for AND MORE!
I meant to go to the store on Thursday night, but I couldn't make it. I ended up going on Friday morning at 7 am thinking no one else would be there. WRONG!! I had to wait in a checkout line for about 30 minutes and the shelves were totally depleted.
I had a responsibility at school on Friday, but I was able to get out of DC around 5 pm and get back to Virginia before the whiteout. I holed up and waited for the snow to pass! While I got some reading done, it is really hard to do anything when the world is ending by snow right outside your window, you know?
After the 30+ hours of straight snow started to calm down, Ann and I decided to go and check out the damage.
Exhibit A: Ann's Car
Yeah, I dug her car out last night thinking that it wouldn't be as as much work the next day. WRONG AGAIN!!
Exhibit B: Dan's Car
Yeah, I dug part of my car out last night thinking that it wouldn't be as as much work the next day. WRONGGGGGG!!
Exhibit C: The entrance to Ann's Apartment Complex
That's not going to melt until May.
While we were out, Ann and I decided to venture about a half mile to see if the store was open. We got someone to take a nice picture of us sitting on the bench.
THERE WAS NO ONE AT THE STRIP MALL AT 6pm on Saturday night!! Only this 12 foot mountain of snow that was built by the bulldozers clearing the parking lot. Of course I am going to climb to the top. Ann and I just had a good cry together as we saw this video in its final form. Inspiring barely begins to describe it.
It was a great trip out and on our way back Ann and I walked through some pristine, knee-deep snow. I tackled her.
In the end, we survived the storm, had some great fun, and church was even canceled so I don't have to teach Elder's Quorum so I can fully concentrate on Super Bowl. On the downside, do I have to try and dig out some cars tomorrow. And the next one might be here before next week.
A Fabulous Trip to Cabo And so before the new job we flew away to be lost on a desert island paradise (for a glorious week). Cabo was a fantastic getaway. Highlights: Doing absolutely nothing but reading and sitting by the pool. Walking around the harbor until we decided what we wanted to eat. Sitting on the beach with the pounding waves and the sunset. Scuba Diving at 60 to 100 feet. Sleeping in to 10 AM if necessary. Chasing Crabs only to have them evade us. Boat Ride to Pelican Rock and Lovers Beach (can I say that?) Crab Ceviche and chips with lemonade.
I know it's already the 20th of January (which is absurd) but I just wanted to post some pictures I took over Christmas break. I love and miss you all. I also want to say how proud I am of every single person in our family. Each person in our family has had some struggles lately but also very good news. I'm proud of mom for her Stake Conference talk, dad for his new developments in work, Tyler and Christine for their faith and decision making about externships, and Dan for his grades last semester. I love you and I'm proud of you! Here are some pictures. :)
Because I'm bored and trying to take a short break from studying, I just wanted to let you all (in Southern areas) know that if you think you're cold, I bet you anything I'm colder. 40 degrees colder. Yesterday AND today the temperature as I walked to school was exactly 1 degree. Not including the freezing cold wind. I've been wearing tights under my pants, two jackets, and a beanie and I still freeze. So as you sit at home in the 45 maybe 50 degree weather, just be glad you aren't here. :)
