tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82705583687117353162024-03-13T10:39:28.484-07:00Diary of a Geology StudentI've attended the University of Nevada, Reno where I graduated in Spring 2016 with a B.S. in Geology. I have been accepted to grad school at the Universite de Lille1 in Villeneuve d'Ascq, in northern France. I will be attending Lille for as a M2 student (second year Masters)...in paleontology.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-89111036634251780492018-02-10T11:47:00.001-08:002018-02-10T11:47:11.720-08:00European Studies: An Experience of A LifetimeAfter ten months living in Lille, France and studying at the Universite de Lille Sciences et Technologies campus, and doing research through the Universiteit Gent in Belgium, I can say I would do it all over again!<br />
I did complete my Masters in Paleontolgy/Paleoclimatology and received my 5-page "degree". I am now back home in the United States...as the saying goes "there is no place like home" being true, living abroad also becomes "home" to you after a while. I believe we humans are extremely adaptable, as anthropology shows human history and migration from the seat of human origin. Although I certainly did not migrate to France for survival, I did explore my surroundings the best I could. I expected to learn about the French culture and I did, however I think I learned more about myself.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X9htGkPGBts/Wn9LMfTd8-I/AAAAAAAACU4/Ln7hcaGW1vo5s3k8QY-3WV2ME7UgYZDKgCLcBGAs/s1600/Diploma.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="677" height="385" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X9htGkPGBts/Wn9LMfTd8-I/AAAAAAAACU4/Ln7hcaGW1vo5s3k8QY-3WV2ME7UgYZDKgCLcBGAs/s400/Diploma.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grading
system is very different. Only regret is that I had no idea what was
going on Semester 3 with how they do examinations and how they divide it
into sections. Can't complain about a B (S3) and an A (S4). </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Yes, I missed family and friends while living in France, but I met such wonderful people who are now life friends. The use of video calls allowed me to "visit" family whenever I wanted. I sorely missed having my Subaru or a car, but I learned the European train schedules and train station maneuvering that I would not have had to do if I had a car there. I did rent a car from Paris to Lille when I first arrived and drove the A1 from Charles de Gaulle Airport and enjoyed the drive to Lille (with a little panic at the toll booth along the way). I actually Google Earth (r) the route I planned on driving, and knew what landmarks and signs to look for. Glad I did that!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lille train station where I took the train to Ghent to do my research at their university.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning train commuters inside Lille Flanders train station.</td></tr>
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Since I have been back in the United States, I have had dreams of being in Metropole stations, or on a train to Ghent or Antwerp. I think often of the geological sites in the Ardenne I was able to visit in field studies...and even about my little flat there at Reeflex International Residence in Villeneuve d'Ascq. I really miss the staff at Reeflex, such lovely people.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9s67Ti9vNk/Wn9G_KC6SOI/AAAAAAAACUQ/pXnGVkVB_4ouTrCU34ZVXxIc-uKnB4EYwCLcBGAs/s1600/WP_20170211_10_24_03_Pro%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9s67Ti9vNk/Wn9G_KC6SOI/AAAAAAAACUQ/pXnGVkVB_4ouTrCU34ZVXxIc-uKnB4EYwCLcBGAs/s400/WP_20170211_10_24_03_Pro%2B1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my flat at Reeflex at Univ of Lille.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I miss living in Europe but it is nice to be home among my comforts, family and friends. I am grateful for memories that allow me to revisit those events that had meaning to me while living in France. Technology, even though sometimes a curse, has been a blessing to me in regards to staying in contact with my friends in Russia, England, Belgium, France and Ireland. I have also kept my contact with one of my French professors who was instrumental in getting me there. These people and my experiences are treasures of memory locked away safely in my mind and heart.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5MozrBzIJs/Wn9IPOCcnCI/AAAAAAAACUk/sREbNK7NimgXQnYtPkIioI04GgCdtG2jgCLcBGAs/s1600/WP_20161124_20_50_22_Pro.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5MozrBzIJs/Wn9IPOCcnCI/AAAAAAAACUk/sREbNK7NimgXQnYtPkIioI04GgCdtG2jgCLcBGAs/s400/WP_20161124_20_50_22_Pro.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My
wonderful ULST family who I miss and love dearly </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-75752591022012207442018-02-05T10:24:00.000-08:002018-02-05T10:36:31.548-08:00World Traveler to Masters student in northeastern France - Part Deux learning France!Arriving in Lille to attend school has been an adventure, to say the least.<br />
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To be a graduate student from America attending a French university has been filled with some unbelievable issues to overcome (administrative matters). Here are the top ten issues that American grad students might experience.<br />
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<ol>
<li>Getting "<b>registered</b>" at the university has been a long, and sometimes tumultuous problem. The French clerk at the university (did I say "<i>clerk</i>") decided he wanted me to produce a "certificate" from CampusFrance. Problem: He is just a clerk, who wanted to make his own rules up and ask for a certificate that has NEVER existed from CampusFrance. This man was such a jerk, that he shut the door to his office in my and my counselor's face - RUDE right? Okay, no problem! My counselor here takes no enemies...and within a week I was registered. I can say one thing for my counselor and that he is an amazing man who works tirelessly for his international students. I am very fortunate to have him on my side here in France. Same goes for my research professor in Belgium...truly amazing men.</li>
<li>You must have a "stamp" in your passport from the French office of immigration and integration (OFII) if you plan to leave/return to France after three months. The stamp costs 60 Euros for students. Problem: the appointment was suppose to be scheduled for me before thre three months. I wanted to come home for the holidays to the states, however without an <b>OFII stamp</b>, I will not be able to return to France. Solution: Make multiple trips to your assigned regional OFII office and make friends with the front desk workers. Chances are they will make arrangements to help you out in your return to France without the stamp, and then make sure your appointment is scheduled.</li>
<li><b>French grading system</b>....all I can say about it, is that it is bizarre. Best to seek advice frome your counselor if you have one, if not check out the Classbase website at https://www.classbase.com/countries/france/grading-system. Basically instead of A, B, C, D, and F...they use a number system, so 15-20 is considered the "A" range. </li>
<li><b>Classes </b>are condensed, which is not a problem, however it quickly becomes an issue when the university states that you get a week to study for their examinations, and you end up with only three days. Problem: in the U.S. most professors will offer study guides that focus on the most important lessons to understand for final examinations, some professors will hold a "review" session to ensure students understand concepts, and also available are teacher's assistants who are grad students that help tremendously if approached. Lastly, in U.S. universities you have access to tutoring, science labs and workshops. French professors do not offer such guidance. Solution: contact your French professors and hope that they can give you some advice (some will and few will not). Another solution is to stay in the U.S. and pay the ridiculous costs of a university education here and learn the material during a semester of 12-15 weeks opposed to the 5-6 weeks in France. Best advice: have the French professors organizing these exams tell you specifically which classes you received are included on the examinations. In the U.S. it is one final exam for each class enrolled. In France, you have several classes and they have 1-2 final examinations with certain classes on each exam.</li>
<li><b>Housing </b>has been great at the University of Lille. The international residence "Reeflex" is a newly constructed residence hall that features meeting areas, a gym, laundry, study rooms, and even an awesome staff on hand to help you. You have a choice between a 18 square meter room, or a 23 square meter room with private bathroom (my choice). Problem: the rooms can get very cold in the winter. I do not know if the walls are well insulated, but the windows have retractable louver systems that help block some of the cold air. Lighting in the rooms are not that great either. Solution: wear layers of clothing (including a knitted hat and gloves to bed) and buy a desk lamp for studying as the lighting the rooms are great as long as you are sitting on the bed or in the middle of the room.</li>
<li><b>Insurance </b>is a little different also. First you need to purchase medical insurance from a French insurance company. Thankfully, it was only about 600 USD for a year (MUCH cheaper than ObamaCare aka The "Affordable" Care Act of the U.S.). But you ALSO need to have "liability insurance" (about 36 USD) if you plan to do research at another university as a second-year Masters student. Solution: obtained both from same company in Paris. Easy online and great customer service. Despite the "insurances" needed to study in France, they are really affordable and easily obtainable.</li>
<li><b>Research </b>is not completed at the same university you take your classes. For instance, I took all my classes and examinations here in Lille, however my research will be done at the University of Ghent (Gent) in Belgium. Some of my peers are in Germany, Sweden, Russia, Armenia, and Switzerland for their research projects. Then, after research and thesis has been completed, you return to Lille for your defense. There is NO graduation ceremony, but there are private celebrations afterwards. </li>
<li>Learning about the <b>European mass transportation</b> systems is very frustrating. <br /><br /><b>Airport </b>in Paris (CDG) for example...at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, they have signage that will take you to hallways and other buildings in the airport, and then stop directing you to your final destination (e.g. getting on to the CDGVAL shuttle to get to the hotels near Terminal 3). <br /><b><br />Trains</b>: Getting a train in Lille depends on your destination. Why...because there is <i>Lille Flanders</i> train station and two blocks away there is the <i>Lille Europe</i> train station. So you need to learn which trains are out of which station...<u>NOT</u> an easy task when your French is not perfect. The Lille Europe train station does have a dedicated office with English-speaking assistance which helped me personally since I was not in France 24-hours before I had to find the right train to Boulogne-sur-Mer and later over to London's St-Pancras train station. The Lille Flanders train station, no such luck. You might find someone who knows a little English, but better to speak French. Fortunately, the train schedules are easy once you study them a little but, but be advised that these are not set in stone. Trains can be diverted due to track maintenance on the fly, and you might have to take a different route + bus ride to another train station. Not a big deal however, you need to allow extra traveling time.<b> <br /><br />Metropole </b>stations have kiosks where you can buy subway train tickets...sounds easy right? Yeah, NO! You press the Union Jack flag for English, and everything regarding the descriptions of the various tickets are still in FRENCH! This is not unique to the Metropole, but pretty much everywhere you go in France. "English" is used to translate a title to English while the directions are all still in French. I learned to focus on the train numbers as those will help to get you transferred correctly. Metropole also has buses that you can hop onto that take the same Metropole pass (make sure you get the "complete" pass because some ticket choices are just for the train). To make it a little more complicated, (because this is the French way) they offer Metro tickets just for night or multiple nights, for 1 day, 2 days, or up to 7-days, and for even just for 4 hours...WTF France? Oh, not to mention the "ZAP" passes for those who are only using the Metro for only 2-3 stops from your origin. Prices of course vary greatly depending on the Pass. The saving grace of the Metropole is that it runs 98% on time, you can get pretty much anywhere in Lille and Villeneuve d'Ascq with the system with a little walking in between (usually under a mile). <br /><b><br />Buses</b>: so if you do not want to spend 80 Euros for a train ride you can take a bus for only 10-12 Euros. I wanted to take a train to Paris to fly home for the holidays however they wanted 80 Euros for a one-hour trip, compared to 11 Euros for a 2 hour-15 minute bus ride. Bus it was, and I highly-recommend "<b><i>Ouibus</i></b>" compared to Visilines. Ouibus have luxury buses and all the drivers I have experienced have been professional and great (compared to the scary guy from Visilines bus who vaped the whole way from Paris to Lille).<br /><br /><b>Walking</b>: the one thing you will do guaranteed is walk...and walk a lot if you do not own a car. Walking around is easy however and thanks to Google maps you can navigate fairly easy. I liked walking because I got to see more of Lille and figure out the streets and locations firsthand of where I needed to visit (i.e. OFFI office and train stations).</li>
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So if you get anything out of this - it is that as Americans traveling, we need to understand we are NOT in the America and other countries have different ways they work. Having no expectations will set you up to a better experience, as when you travel thinking everything is like home, you are setting yourself up for a major disappointment. Vive la France!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0Lille, France50.62925 3.057256000000052250.548674 2.8958945000000522 50.709826 3.2186175000000521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-4743138119894145592016-09-06T03:59:00.001-07:002016-09-06T03:59:01.971-07:00The Problems of a World Traveler: Part Une<b><span style="font-size: small;">Arrived in France - 04 Sep 2016</span></b><br />
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Sunday morning at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Aeroport in Paris is definitely something everyone should experience. I can only imagine what it is like on a weekday!<br />
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Prelude to my arrival.<br />
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My student visa arrived on 28 Aug, and so my cancellation of my flight on 31 Aug was needless, but I felt that it was not going to arrive when it did. So I booked another flight out from Reno to Phoenix, Phoenix to Dallas, then Dallas to CDG. My airline was American - <b>BIG MISTAKE!</b>!!<br />
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Problem 1: Phoenix flight is overbooked so people (like me) with Group 4 tickets had to "check our carry-on". This is common sense, which American Airline employees apparently lack...but would you not ask people who are just flying to Phoenix to check their bags to ensure bags are delivered properly. You see where I am going with this right?<br />
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Mood at this point of the trip: Confused<br />
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Problem 2: Phoenix was over an hour late...not what someone wants to experience when their lay-over was only for 50 minutes. Tardy plane = missed plane. Okay, this is getting better by every airport I arrive at. So, I ask where my luggage is. I explained her AA staff asked me to check my carry-on so I have nothing now. She checks her screen, and tells me that my baggage is downstairs, 'in the dungeon' were her words. I asked her why are they there? She had no response. Then I asked her an easier question..."Will my baggage arrive with me in Paris?" Assured my baggage "SHOULD" be there. Oh, thank you American Airlines for your compassion, professionalism, and dedication to making my life hell.<br />
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Mood update: Frustrated and annoyed <br />
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Problem 3: American Airlines (AA) decided to fly me to Chicago O'Hare to spend the night at a Comfort Inn (far cry from the Hilton). I was to leave the following day at 3:40PM to CDG. Great, except I have no toothbrush, tooth paste, night shirt, change of underwear, comb, brush, makeup....you get the point! So I have to buy a charger - only $49.99 at Chicago O'Hare, and of course few personal hygiene items. My shuttle loaded with other AA flyers in the same boat but WITH their baggage are bitching left-and-right about how they will never fly AA again. I get it, but no one is perfect - right? The kicker is I was not asking for perfect, just a safe and comfortable trip. <br />
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Mood by this point: Pissed off<br />
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Spent the night at this Comfort Inn, after this idiot at Dallas tells me there is a Hilton right at the airport. Oh, American Airlines....I have no words right now! The motel I am at is on the Bed Bug Registry website = a night of checking the bed every 15 minutes. My legs itched all night at the thought!<br />
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Mood Update: If I were the Red Queen, I would be yelling 'off with their heads'.<br />
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Flight to Paris actually takes off on time. Impressed. The flight attendant and the gal next to me made the flight very pleasant. So thank you Evy of AA and my seat partner Beth for an enjoyable flight!<br />
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Problem 4: Landed after some turbulence that made me nauseous. Got to baggage claim...carry-on is there...good sign. Wait for it.....yup, <i>no checked baggage - nothing, nada, zelch, zero</i>. Go to American Airlines Service Desk and spoke to a kind lady named Lucie. Lucie states on Sunday that my bag should be delivered by Tuesday. I explain my situation in that I am starting school on Monday and going on two mandatory field trips to the Le Boulonnais and Ardennes for six days starting Monday. How am I suppose to go anywhere if I have nothing???<br />
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Mood: I better stop here before I say something ugly again about AA. More to follow. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-35551064359916820122016-06-09T22:02:00.000-07:002016-06-09T22:02:17.178-07:00Spare Time Rules...Geology Scrapbooks In the MakingOne of the best things about being out of school (until August anyways) is that I can do the things I have not been able to do for quite some time. One of the long-listed items is to put together some scrapbook pages of all my geology trips I took while at Modesto Junior College and University of Nevada.<br />
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Great memories that come along with photos taken of other students and friends hiking to some geologic structure, setting up camp, or cooking in a easy-up while its pouring rain outside all need to be preserved. As a geologist, the first thing collected is normally rocks and/or data from observations and measurements into a field note book, but there are so many memories I have that I need to save them in fun pages and albums.<br />
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Coming from a time when we shoved our Polaroids and 35mm photos into plastic sleeved albums, I have learned that those memories faded and some simply deteriorated beyond recognition. Fortunately, there are new and really fun ways to preserve our memories. One I found is using crafty machines like a Sizzix Big Shot or a Cricut (my daughter got me for my birthday), that uses dies to cut shapes and designs. Also I have learned to visit sites that inspire such as Pinterest and Scrapbook.com.<br />
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The greatest thing is using such modern techniques and equipment is that they are archival-quality, meaning your photos will not yellow or fade, and inks will not bleed through (a big problem I found with pics from the 70s and 80s). Another, is the fact that there are always something available for your skill-level. You do not have to be an artist, just need a little creativity and time to play.<br />
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I realize that there are far easier methods of keeping memories and making them into books such as using Shutterfly and other online services, but what fun is that? Scrapbook.com has more than you need to develop some cool scrapbook pages. They even have a Pinterest group you can follow for inspiration.<br />
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I am in the process of turning my "office" where I have been studying til ungodly hours of the early morning for the past three years, and with the help of my woodworking hubby, transforming it into a crafty room where I plan to create geology trip scrapbook pages and other fun little projects I have been wanting to do for quite a while. Wish me luck. Will post some finished items soon!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-30684730833893304152016-06-04T17:00:00.000-07:002016-06-04T17:00:12.519-07:00Grad School in France<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last April, as I was preparing for graduation and life after college, I met up with my academic advisor to talk to him about grad school. I am the first person in my family to attend a four-year college and earn a degree, and as such, I had no idea what was involved in going to grad school, or if I should/could go to one. What I did know, you could easily put into a nutshell. I knew that as a mature adult graduate with a B.S. in Geology, I would competing with my MUCH younger peers. I also knew that as a person with a Masters degree, I would have much more opportunities available for employment, and that I would be eligible for better paying positions. What I did not know, was how to apply to a grad school and what I needed to know before I applied.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to Dr. John McCormack, one of my favorite professors and academic advisor at UNR he steered me into what I felt most passionate about - paleontology. Fortunately, there was a professor at UNR who is a paleontologist, Dr. Paula Noble, however she left on a sabbatical to France during my senior year. I wanted to take her micro-paleontology course, however it was only offered every other term, and I missed out on the opportunity to take it before her sabbatical. Dr. McCormack took the time to explain to me how to investigate grad schools, and professors that I would like to study and do research with. He recommended that I email Dr. Noble in France as she was due to return to the U.S. for a few weeks, and told me to speak with her. I emailed Dr. Noble, and she agreed to meet with me when she came back to UNR to work with one of her doctorates at the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) lab.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">During our meeting, Dr. Noble had asked me if I had considered studying abroad, specifically in northern France. I told her I had not yet considered grad schools outside the U.S., but I have dreamt of going to Europe someday to live, since I was eighteen years old. I traveled to Great Britain and France in 1978, and loved both countries, however I felt the ancestral connection in France, which I felt quite comfortable in. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-K0cS7JWLo/V1Nqr3GpYMI/AAAAAAAAA1U/zZJlcHGZ3zQyJY71kuH9stAEyc7hFCieACK4B/s1600/Lille%2BFrance%2BMap.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-K0cS7JWLo/V1Nqr3GpYMI/AAAAAAAAA1U/zZJlcHGZ3zQyJY71kuH9stAEyc7hFCieACK4B/s640/Lille%2BFrance%2BMap.png" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lille in northern France (Google Maps)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My mother's family (both maternal and paternal sides) came from France in the 17th Century to help settle Nouveau France (later known as the Canadian province of Qu<span lang="fr">ébec). My thirteenth great-grandmother, Marie Anne Campion was one of the <i>Les Filles du Roi</i>, of King Louis XIV, married my great-grandfather, Mathurin </span>Dubé, 3 September 1670 in Qu<span lang="fr">ébec. Mathurin, was son of Jean and Ren</span><span lang="fr"><span itemprop="name">é</span>e Suzanne of</span><span itemprop="name"> La Chapelle-Thémer, Vendee, Pays de la Loire, France. Thirteen generations later, descendants are found all over Canada and the United States. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span itemprop="name">Dr. Noble and I spoke about my options, and I took a few months to mull it over. I decided that the opportunity given to me was one I could not pass up. I am so grateful to Dr. Noble, and my soon-to-be professor Taniel Danelian at the Universit</span><span itemprop="name">é de Lille 1 (Sciences and Technology) in Villeneuve d'Ascq. Both have worked with me to secure acceptance as a M2 grad student this coming Fall, and to start my process with the</span> Consulat Général de France, in the hopes that I can obtain my student visa and permission to attend Lille. Although there is much involved, it is worth it. I am excited and looking forward to my life in France as a grad student. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="http://www.lavoixletudiant.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Universit%C3%A9-Lille-1.jpg" src="http://www.lavoixletudiant.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Universit%C3%A9-Lille-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo credit: http://www.lavoixletudiant.com/etudes/la-poursuite-detudes/les-universites-du-nord-pas-de-calais-picardie/29869/universite-lille-1-sciences-et-technologies/</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">University education in Europe is quite different than that in the U.S., and I will be writing more about that in a subsequent post or posts. Although, my time as an undergraduate is over, new educational goals as a grad student are just beginning. My life in the France during my time at the Universit<span lang="fr">é</span> de Lille will be full of new experiences and adventures, which I cannot wait to write about and share with others. Taking trains and public transportation will be in itself a new experience, as in the western U.S., we drive our automobiles everywhere. Living in a non-English setting will be fun and a challenge as I have only taken French for two semesters. Thanks to the Rosetta Stone Software company, I will be spending much of my summer learning French. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="tw-data-text vk_txt tw-ta tw-text-medium" data-fulltext="" data-placeholder="Translation" id="tw-target-text" style="height: 36px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="fr"><i>On Se parle plus tard - will talk to you later!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span itemprop="name"><br /></span></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-28620522314479685602016-05-26T23:26:00.003-07:002016-05-26T23:26:59.757-07:00"Disgraceful"...really? No, it is criminal.You might have already heard about the University of Oregon's Lambda Chi Alpha's frat party at Lake Shasta on Slaughterhouse Island that allegedly 1,000 students attended. The party is not the problem, it was the aftermath left behind.<br />
<br />
Students left trash, tents, a cooler with the Greek letters (Lambda Chi Alpha), U of O flip flops, feces, used tampons and condoms, and etc. on the island. Their university officials called it "disgraceful" and that they do not support the event. The national Lambda Alpha Chi fraternity has "suspended" the U of O chapter. Really? Suspended. Disgraceful. Sorry if I offend anyone here but this was way beyond disgraceful and I believe those students should foot the $10,000 cleanup that taxpayers are now left with. One comment I read from a reader on the Huffington Post website regarding this story stated that $10,000 seemed too much for the clean up. I kindly replied to her post explaining that this cleanup was on an island. Boats had to be used to transport workers and the trash they collected. Workers also had to be paid for their time. But more importantly, is that the cleanup of human feces, menstrual blood, and semen is nasty. Proper suiting up and protection is needed for those having to clean this up, as human carry nasty bugs that workers who do this type of cleanup (my son being one) must protect themselves against. Disposal of hundreds of dollars of tents, camping gear, and other equipment along with disposal of human waste is not cheap. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u2jKe3Puri8/V0fey2y2E9I/AAAAAAAAA00/1m76B0Qwd_05WD25RIH65BhdKzfcgdjXwCLcB/s1600/UofOShastaDestruction.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u2jKe3Puri8/V0fey2y2E9I/AAAAAAAAA00/1m76B0Qwd_05WD25RIH65BhdKzfcgdjXwCLcB/s640/UofOShastaDestruction.PNG" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was posted on Facebook by an individual, and these pictures are worth a thousand words.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I am sure that the university and the national fraternity are both counting on the public 'forgetting' about this incident, and letting it just blow-over. I hope that this is not what is actually going to happen, because such mentality simply allows such horrible behavior from students. Such disrespect for our public lands from these students is not only appalling, but it is unforgivable. Animals don't leave behind scenes like this, and sorry if I offend, but I blame the parents who never bothered to teach their children respect and consideration for our land or how to behave as decent adults. <br />
<br />
I see these pictures and I can only image that these kids were the typical "entitled" youth I saw at my university everyday. No respect. No accountability. No common sense. I feel sad when I see these pictures, as there is no excuse at all for such behavior and disrespect towards our Mother Earth. She provides for us, and we should protect her. Children need to know that when they use public lands, they must leave it cleaner than they found it. Parents need to teach their children how to be stewards of the land. Had this been one of my own, they would be spending their summer volunteering at Lake Shasta cleaning up after other campers and people visiting the lake. It would be a summer well-spent and one that would teach to think twice next time they find their self in such a situation. Teach your kids to be leaders - not followers.<br />
<br />
I was also raised by a father who taught all his children how to respect the land and care for Mother Earth. We always cleaned up after ourselves. I have camped as an adult many times, and never have I seen anyone in a campground or national forest leave such trash and filth behind. I don't feel that calling this situation a "disgrace" is even close. I for one, will not easily forget this situation and I hope that the U of O takes action against these criminals. Littering is illegal and I think they should take the time to prosecute those involved.<br />
<br />
Here is the law from the Penal Code...<br />
<div align="left" style="text-transform: uppercase;">
<h4 style="display: inline;">
<b> </b></h4>
</div>
<div align="left" style="text-transform: uppercase;">
<h4 style="display: inline;">
<b>Penal Code</b></h4>
</div>
<div align="left" style="text-transform: uppercase;">
<div style="display: inline;">
PART 1. OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS [25 - 680].<i> ( Part 1 enacted 1872. )</i></div>
</div>
<div align="left" style="text-transform: uppercase;">
<div style="display: inline;">
TITLE 10. OF CRIMES AGAINST THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY [369a - 402c]<i> (Title 10 enacted 1872. )</i></div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both; margin: 0;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><h6 style="float: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">374.4</span></span>.</b></h6>
</span><div style="clear: both; margin: 0;">
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></div>
<h6 style="float: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b> </b></span></h6>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div style="margin: 0 0 0.5em 0;">
(a) It
is unlawful to litter or cause to be littered in or upon public or
private property. A person, firm, or corporation violating this section
is guilty of an infraction.</div>
<div style="margin: 0 0 0.5em 0;">
(b) This
section does not restrict a private owner in the use of his or her own
property, unless the littering of waste matter on the property creates a
public health and safety hazard, a public nuisance, or a fire hazard,
as determined by a local health department, local fire department or
district providing fire protection services, or the Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection, in which case this section applies.</div>
<div style="margin: 0 0 0.5em 0;">
(c) As
used in this section, “litter” means the discarding, dropping, or
scattering of small quantities of waste matter ordinarily carried on or
about the person, including, but not limited to, beverage containers and
closures, packaging, wrappers, wastepaper, newspapers, and magazines,
in a place other than a place or container for the proper disposal
thereof, and including waste matter that escapes or is allowed to escape
from a container, receptacle, or package.</div>
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div style="margin: 0 0 0.5em 0;">
(d) A
person, firm, or corporation convicted of a violation of this section
shall be punished by a mandatory fine of not less than two hundred fifty
dollars ($250) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) upon a first
conviction, by a mandatory fine of not less than five hundred dollars
($500) nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) upon a
second conviction, and by a mandatory fine of not less than seven
hundred fifty dollars ($750) nor more than three thousand dollars
($3,000) upon a third or subsequent conviction.</div>
<div style="margin: 0 0 0.5em 0;">
(e) The
court may, in addition to the fine imposed upon a conviction, require
as a condition of probation, in addition to any other condition of
probation, that any person convicted of a violation of this section pick
up litter at a time and place within the jurisdiction of the court for
not less than eight hours.</div>
<i>(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 416, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2007.) From http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=374.4 </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><i> </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">For more on this story see Huffington Pos<i>t http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lake-shasta-trashed-oregon_us_574511dae4b055bb1170a098 </i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-86554663951220184342016-05-21T00:05:00.000-07:002016-05-21T00:05:25.030-07:00Sierra Snow...in May! <br />
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</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Last March, meteorologists reported that the El Niño ocean surface temperatures were changing rapidly and that El Niño weather patterns were weakening, and also by next Fall we may experience the opposite of El Niño weather, called La Niña. </div>
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qOoLcKhQCyM/Vz_3fVqvHXI/AAAAAAAAAzs/oThhUzgu_cYTqAlUrO-fgaKVi2g13NKQQCLcB/s1600/Snow%2Bin%2BMay%2B2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qOoLcKhQCyM/Vz_3fVqvHXI/AAAAAAAAAzs/oThhUzgu_cYTqAlUrO-fgaKVi2g13NKQQCLcB/s400/Snow%2Bin%2BMay%2B2016.jpg" width="300" /></a>Today, while driving from Reno, Nevada to California on Interstate 80,
we encountered a May snow storm that dumped snow in the high Sierra and
delivered cold temperatures as well as near-white-out conditions. High wind conditions slammed snow onto us and fellow travelers, causing slower traffic conditions, and Amber Alert Message Board warnings to carry chains.<br />
<br />
2015 was reportedly the warmest year on record (since humans started recording temperatures), and this year seems to be basking in the El Niño's complex weather patterns...hence, snow in May.<br />
<br />
Many friends and acquaintances have recently mentioned that they are "ready for the summer", however, I personally like cooler temperatures, rain, and snow storms. In the wake of severe drought conditions in the western United States, which we are not out of the woods by any means, even with May snow, I would think people would be more concerned about precipitation levels than "summer fun".<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/pngs/20160517/20160517_ca_none.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="U.S. Drought Monitor forCalifornia" border="0" height="320" src="http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/pngs/20160517/20160517_ca_none.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphic: David Simeral, Western Regional Climate Center.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln in partnership with national and federal agencies have a drought monitoring website at <a href="http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/">http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/</a> that shows current conditions of drought throughout the United States. In the eleven most western states, over 43 million people reside in some level of drought, and to date California is the hardest hit. California literally represents all levels of drought conditions, from no drought to exceptional drought (D4) conditions. As of today, California's drought map developed by David Simeral of the Western Regional Climate Center depicts the severity. Nevada is close with up to Extreme Drought (D3) conditions.<br />
<br />
We do not know what the next few years will offer in the way of precipitation, and today's snow was welcomed. I feel that any amount of precip equates to the proverbial drop-in-the-bucket, and every drop matters to Californians and Nevadans alike. I hope that those 43 million people realize that despite the wonderful snow pack we received this past winter, we still need to conserve our water, and find ways to reduce our water usage. My husband and I decided to eliminate the waste of water on ornamental lawns at our place in Reno, for a natural landscape with drought-resistant plants. Not only a huge improvement of the house's curb appeal, but our water usage is much less. Win-win for us!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05KCWlVvxaE/V0AD83Z_f5I/AAAAAAAAA0E/a1a-KhtTi4Y1DshlOqHTEh0w2lsz1J8aQCLcB/s1600/Exterior%2BFront%2BBEFORE.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05KCWlVvxaE/V0AD83Z_f5I/AAAAAAAAA0E/a1a-KhtTi4Y1DshlOqHTEh0w2lsz1J8aQCLcB/s320/Exterior%2BFront%2BBEFORE.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our house before we moved into it in 2013.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GI9aAcGhihw/V0AEQbfOyPI/AAAAAAAAA0I/RIjJgmY3ZYQv5Z7sjXxf9qdlVVPyt-xbQCLcB/s1600/IMG_3685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GI9aAcGhihw/V0AEQbfOyPI/AAAAAAAAA0I/RIjJgmY3ZYQv5Z7sjXxf9qdlVVPyt-xbQCLcB/s320/IMG_3685.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After adding a walkway, repairing driveway and sidewalk, and installing natural landscaping, 2016.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I am all for a little "summer fun", but I am so grateful for today's precipitation in the form of rain and snow over the Sierra Nevada.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-7460443971375372492016-05-20T01:34:00.002-07:002016-05-20T01:34:51.877-07:00Finally...graduation is here!As I walked to the Paul Laxalt Mineral Engineering building on campus to take my final Final exam as an undergraduate, I pondered how many times I made this same walk the past two years, and how time has flown by. The Final was at 8AM for Environmental Geochemistry, which is basically the chemistry that involves groundwater and the hydrologic cycle. Tough class with an amazing professor, Dr. Simon Poulson. The day was beautiful, as I walked north from the parking lot south of the Alumni building. White lawn chairs were being placed for the graduation ceremonies on May 13 and 14 on the quadrangle. The grassy quadrangle at University of Nevada, Reno is lined with old elm trees that were planted in 1908. The quad itself was labeled as a "Jeffersonian academic village" by the National Register for Historic Places. The lawn is today called the "Mother Quad", a once-forbidden area for undergrads back in the late 1800s, fortunately, everyone can use Mother Quad nowadays.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bMwO38UYP6o/Vz7F2-4upII/AAAAAAAAAy4/DIuSKADyFtUjAK7jeR6dPGLqj3ikdeINACLcB/s1600/IMG_4581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bMwO38UYP6o/Vz7F2-4upII/AAAAAAAAAy4/DIuSKADyFtUjAK7jeR6dPGLqj3ikdeINACLcB/s400/IMG_4581.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
Taking the Final was as nerve-racking as any other Final exam, however this one was special because I knew it was my last as an undergrad. Walking out of the classroom after turning in my Final packet, I realized that all I had left was to walk and receive my diploma (actually its a rolled up piece of paper saying it is an IOU for a degree from UNR to be mailed in June).<br />
<br />
What a feeling!<br />
<br />
How I got here to this place, to this time has been along and amazing journey. One that I have to admit was peppered with doubt, fear, frustration, success, happiness, and strength. It was not a journey I took alone. I was supported and uplifted by so many people who encouraged me when I wanted to throw-in-the-towel, or when I doubted myself. People like my mom and dad, who never gave up on me and who always told me how proud they were of me and what I was doing. My mom was there in the audience when they called my name and as I walked across the stage. My dad was in Heaven looking down and rooting me on. I carried some of his ashes in a blue crystal heart pendant as I walked because it was one of his dreams to go to college. I wore this necklace a lot at school, and especially when I needed his strength.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MR4lMU2wff0/Vz7JWZm5v-I/AAAAAAAAAzM/JM1HfaJ7DnMeAc7LCKTtbq7cUcqegRmWgCLcB/s1600/IMG_3276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MR4lMU2wff0/Vz7JWZm5v-I/AAAAAAAAAzM/JM1HfaJ7DnMeAc7LCKTtbq7cUcqegRmWgCLcB/s400/IMG_3276.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom and dad in 1952.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
My sister has always been supportive of my goals as well as my two children. My professors and research professors endlessly gave of their knowledge to drive and encourage me to ask the important questions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ojySLJb_mXQ/Vz7J8b5X3wI/AAAAAAAAAzU/czjWhnMuhIQUA9S9yFcEqY6BEBLbeX3UQCLcB/s1600/Rosie%2Band%2BI%2Bat%2Bgraduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ojySLJb_mXQ/Vz7J8b5X3wI/AAAAAAAAAzU/czjWhnMuhIQUA9S9yFcEqY6BEBLbeX3UQCLcB/s320/Rosie%2Band%2BI%2Bat%2Bgraduation.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister, Rosie and I at graduation...yay my hair is blue!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My friends were all full of encouragement and support. Sometimes offering a swift kick in the butt if I needed it (occasionally I did). I might have physically walked alone at graduation, but I walked with so many people who were by my side in spirit.<br />
<br />
Thanks to...<br />
Professor Eva Mo, Professor Garry Hayes, Professor Noah Hughes, Dr. Susan Kerr, Dr. Stacia Gordon, Dr. Angela Smilanich, Dr. John McCormack, Dr. Paula Noble, all my professors at UNR (you ALL were the best!!!), Rick Kauffman (my research buddy), Mike St. Clair (someone I could always vent to), Dustin Holcomb (great study buddy and fellow IPA connoisseur), and all my classmates and study groups, my family, my friends (Teresa and Kathy especially), and to my Heavenly Father who never let me forget how blessed I am.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-92057153966077680252015-11-17T01:57:00.001-08:002015-11-17T01:57:20.709-08:00Geology Field Camp Part 3At field camp the geology student must apply many aspects of their education to the their field experience. From the basics learned in Geology 101 up to your senior year geophysics class or rock-forming processes (mineralogy). All those seemingly heterogeneous lessons begin congealing into this huge mass of knowledge that helps you to put geology, and more importantly, geologic processes into perspective. You are literally armed with tonnes of info to glean from so that when you go out into the field, you are able to piece major structures, rock units, mineralogy, and other visual keys within the rocks to 'tell' you their story.<br />
<br />
This might sound easy, however it was much harder than one can expect. Despite your best efforts in trying to interpret what you are seeing in the rock, there is always that voice in the back of your head asking you "are your sure?", "did you forget anything?", or "do you even know what it is your are looking at?" The latter being the most annoying for sure. The insecurity of a new geologist in training is numerous to say the least. We all second-guessed ourselves, and other students we were teamed up with. Questions or doubts as to what you observed and what your partners observed can be quite different at times. It may be as little as not seeing/missing a certain contact between rock units, taking a bad bearing (reading), or placing your colluvium and alluvium in the wrong places on your field map.<br />
<br />
What is she talking about? All these crazy-sounding words? Well to help you out if you are not a geology person here are a few brief definitions that I hope helps.<br />
<br />
<b>contact</b>: where two very different rock layers or formations make contact with each other.<br />
<b>bearing</b>: a reading off a compass (we use something called a Brunton with is a compass with lots of other tools to take measurements of rocks and contacts).<br />
<b>colluvium</b>: is basically the rock debris found at the base of slopes or on slopes that weather from the rock unit(s) above. Other words for colluvium is scree and talus slope or talus accumulation. The biggest differences depends on materials (homogeneous or heterogeneous, and whether or not water was involved in their placement).<br />
<b>alluvium</b>: debris that is usually the size of gravel or smaller that was deposited by some type of fluid/water flow.<br />
<br />
Okay enough with the Webster's lesson. While I was mapping our Antelope Mountain project, which was a five-day project east of Eureka, Nevada, we came across many areas that really challenged our skills. The key to making sense of what contacts and structures we saw was what we wrote down in our field book (a geologists' notebook). Note-taking for geologists is an extensive process because we are looking for so many details of the rocks that lay before us. Of course, in writing our field notes we go back to all those classes from undergrad and upper level courses to ensure we get every piece of information we can from our observations.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4uWhsfZIyFE/Vkr4AxL2DbI/AAAAAAAAAxk/d0IsTamRrsE/s1600/IMG_2851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4uWhsfZIyFE/Vkr4AxL2DbI/AAAAAAAAAxk/d0IsTamRrsE/s400/IMG_2851.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example of Theodolite cellphone camera picture taken at one of many Lake Lahontan sites we visited near the end of our summer field camp.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One part of grading on all of our mapping projects were our notebooks. All I can say is that is it NOT easy to keep your field book looking beautiful and clean...and when you are OCD like me, it is downright traumatic. Equipment is so important to geology and we rely on many tools that help us to read the rocks of our wonderful planet. The best advice I can give to any undergrad geology students in their first or second year at college is to start saving your change. You will be able to save enough to help you start building your field pack with the right equipment.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lOMJwdgYllk/Vkr5YzWX73I/AAAAAAAAAxw/6CbSQ_ZbOZo/s1600/IMG_2780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lOMJwdgYllk/Vkr5YzWX73I/AAAAAAAAAxw/6CbSQ_ZbOZo/s400/IMG_2780.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fourth day of Antelope Summit mapping project was a bit of a wash(out) as it rained so heavy for a day and a half that we had difficulty getting our vans and trucks back into the area...and you thought the Nevada desert was brown and ugly. This is located in eastern Nevada just east of the town of Eureka, NV.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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You can take all the knowledge given to you, and have all the right equipment in your field pack, but always remember that the best tools that will help when you later as you put your project reports together is your field note. Take pictures with your cell phone (and always carry a ruler to show scale) in addition to your field notes. There are even a couple of cool cell phone apps you can get that work well for field work, e.g., Theodolite, Google Earth, Geotimescale 2, etc. Although as you start getting yourself ready for your senior field camp school, the best advice is not to wait until the last minute to put a field pack together...and always carry a lot of water.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-58493461331661369912015-07-17T01:50:00.000-07:002015-07-17T01:55:28.351-07:00<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Geology Field Camp Part Two </b></span><br />
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Hiking Pancake Summit was the first challenge I faced at UNR Summer Geology Field Camp. Being many, many moons older than the "kids" in my class, overweight, arthritic, and studded with neurological pain was to say the least - interesting. However, I found that "mind-over-matter" is a practice that I have mastered over the past 17 years after my injury on the job.<br />
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Each mapping day was a challenge of terrain, sagebrush, thorny plants, loose scree (rock fragments) on steep slopes, and fatigue. It was mentally as well as physically demanding due to our tight schedule. Pancake was a five-day hike and mapping with one day off (which really means you do laundry and work as much as you can on all the reports due for the project), and staying up all night to complete everything that was due on day six at 2PM.<br />
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The beauty of nature was inspiring, however I held onto thoughts that pushed me to complete each day and to not give up (believe me when I say I cried several days from pain and fatigue and wanted to quit and just go home...)<br />
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The following became my inspiration, my strength, and my daily ritual...<br />
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I thought about my two little beautiful granddaughters in Hawaii, and hope that someday they see my example and know that dreams can come true anytime in your life. <br />
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I also thought about my little California granddaughters who are really princesses and they dress like this everyday (really). I see them as often as school schedule allows, and try to instill in them the importance of a higher education. I love to teach them about rocks...and both these little ladies, I mean princesses, are excellent rock finders. [I can't wait til they are older so they can carry rocks for me as we hike around]. </div>
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I thought about my late father, who recently passed away on June 14, 2015 after seven long years of suffering a disease similar to Lou Gehrig's. My dad had only a tenth grade education. He was proud of me attending a university, and took me his dream as a little boy was to go to Cal. I wished he had had the same opportunity as I found in my life to go to college and get a degree. It is an accomplishment that no one can take from you, or minimize in any way.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wcBcsWpsmVU/Vai8en5Xe7I/AAAAAAAAAt4/Z_oZPNFZF7Q/s1600/Dad%2BPortrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wcBcsWpsmVU/Vai8en5Xe7I/AAAAAAAAAt4/Z_oZPNFZF7Q/s320/Dad%2BPortrait.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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Last, I would tell myself that I need to put my "big girl panties" on and buck up and take one day at a time. After each completed day hiking and mapping the geology around Pancake Summit became a huge accomplishment for me. I treated each day as a "win" and that pushed me to continue.</div>
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I have come such a long way, a lot of money, and sacrifice of being with family to NOT do this. </div>
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Truth is, I am happy I was able to finish it despite the lost of my day the last week of camp. But he was with me. I heard him on the winds atop of mountains we hiked. I heard him in the running streams and rivers we came across. I felt him every step, helping me to hike with the weight of equipment, 6 L of water, and a change of clothing. </div>
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We all have the capability of finding strength in those we love, and those who love us...they are far away, or across oceans, and even Heaven, but they are embedded deep in our hearts and minds. They push us each step of our journey...and I cannot be more grateful for their love and support.</div>
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Dad, I wish you could have stayed long enough to see your daughter receive her B.S. in Geology, and although I know you will not be physically there in the audience of well-wishers, you will be there in heart and in spirit. You were a great father, and a true inspiration in my life. I will listen for you on the winds in my future hikes, and feel your strength as I take each step in my life.</div>
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To my little four angels (princesses) - I am doing this mostly for you.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-71385588071680734862015-07-10T17:01:00.002-07:002015-07-10T17:01:27.937-07:00<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Geology Field Camp - Part One</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fqi0DUxsbrE/VaBWMSOSB2I/AAAAAAAAAsg/fgL_pEN8pcs/s1600/IMG_2796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fqi0DUxsbrE/VaBWMSOSB2I/AAAAAAAAAsg/fgL_pEN8pcs/s320/IMG_2796.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the dorm rooms at the Field Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
New Ruth, Nevada is small mining town located in central eastern Nevada, near Ely. New Ruth is the home of the Robinson Mining Company open pit copper mine, and the University of Nevada-Reno's Evasovic Geology Field Station. The Field Station was my home for a little over a month, where we mapped geology in 3-5 day projects.<br />
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Field Camp is 6-week adventure that tests all the education, techniques, methods, and scientific theories that geology students learned from 100-level classes through the 400-level classes. Field Camp presents projects that pull together all that you learned, and allows you to deliver a completed field map, final map, geologic history of the map area, lithic descriptions, cross-sections, and stratigraphy columns.Although the Field Station is far from luxurious, it provided us hot showers, a roof over our head, and flushing privies - all good things when you have hiked all day with heavy packs. Our first night we have a beautifully colored sunset (below).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2oLdfE1rCkQ/VaBXbC4VwXI/AAAAAAAAAss/EzuAbQnOyyw/s1600/IMG_2663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2oLdfE1rCkQ/VaBXbC4VwXI/AAAAAAAAAss/EzuAbQnOyyw/s320/IMG_2663.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First sunset at Ruth Field Station, May 22, 2015</td></tr>
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The "deliverables" for each project were due by the next day following the completion of the mapping/hiking days assigned to the project. If you did not work on anything after each day, it called for you to work through the night (after an exhausting day of hiking and climbing 8.22-12 miles). Working through the night however is not the best way to deliver your project to those grading them because you miss a lot of little things that can really hurt your grade. I found it much more productive to work on my deliverables each night, even if it is just setting up a template for the final item.<br />
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The first of the geology mapping planned for us was that of Pancake Summit. Pancake Summit is located about an hour west of the field station, near Eureka, Nevada. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZnWRBFSbUc/VaBYUd7oyxI/AAAAAAAAAs4/Mk5qdUxhRH4/s1600/IMG_2629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZnWRBFSbUc/VaBYUd7oyxI/AAAAAAAAAs4/Mk5qdUxhRH4/s640/IMG_2629.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
The Pancake range is one that is truly remarkable once you start hiking into it. From Highway 50, it might not seem like a wonderful place to hike and map geology, however once off the highway, the range provides beauty, interesting geology, fossils, and critters. Afternoon clouds rolled in and giving us nice coverage, although a little rain here and there, however a few days we dodged the rain, which seemed to fall all around us, but never right on us. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-frECc9uwtxU/VaBYvWVYr7I/AAAAAAAAAtA/w64b7qgl58c/s1600/IMG_2670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-frECc9uwtxU/VaBYvWVYr7I/AAAAAAAAAtA/w64b7qgl58c/s320/IMG_2670.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch break at Pancake range, day 3 of 5</td></tr>
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More to follow...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-37647218482767253082014-09-08T14:32:00.002-07:002015-11-17T01:14:59.612-08:00Genoa Fault Field TripBeen too long since my last blog...this summer I thought it would be "fun" to knock out my last Calculus and Chemistry classes, and take on a third for my core humanities. Boy was that dumb! Taking Chemistry122 in 4 weeks was crazy, and at least I had 6 weeks for Calculus, but passed it all so thankfully that was three classes eliminated from my Fall and Spring semesters.<br />
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This semester is Geological Engineering Data Analysis, Geological Structures, Optical Mineralogy I, and American Experience/Constitution Change...all the GEOL classes with labs. I am loving Optical Mineralogy as it plays into much of what I did this summer in my undergraduate research project. I am looking forward to learning a lot in GEDA using MatLab, which is supposedly an intuitive computer program we can write our own code on...so far NOT so intuitive, but it is just the beginning of the Fall semester, so I cannot judge too hastily the goals of this particular class.<br />
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Structures landed us our first field study class to the Genoa Fault outcrop located just south of the little (and quite lovely) town of Genoa, NV. NOT to be confused or pronounced like the coastal jewel of Genoa in Italy. <br />
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Anyways, back to the field trip. Our measurements were taken from the footwall which is where all the students are standing on top of the talus debris. The students are a mixture of mining engineers, geological engineers, geophysicists, and geologists. Guess who was done first with their measurements? Right, the geologists! It was fun though to watch the engineers figure out how to use a Brunton compass to measure strike, dip, trend and plunge.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yLRi-3lV4bs/VA4ezYHxZVI/AAAAAAAAAm8/EtvWvF60y_I/s1600/Measuring%2Bsegments%2Bof%2Bthe%2BFootwall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yLRi-3lV4bs/VA4ezYHxZVI/AAAAAAAAAm8/EtvWvF60y_I/s1600/Measuring%2Bsegments%2Bof%2Bthe%2BFootwall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UNR students taking measurements on the exposed footwall of the Genoa Fault. Note the hanging wall is far right in picture</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The exposed section of the Genoa Fault above, is not the only place where it has been exposed for geologists to admire. There are other places, all which I would love to check out sometime in the near future. However, if you ever find yourself driving your car down Highway 395 in Nevada, just between Carson City and Minden, take the short side trip west towards the town of Genoa and the Historical Mormon Station, and turn left at the stop sign in town. Drive is fairly quick and you cannot miss this gigantic structure on your right as you drive. Take brunton and water as you will want to play...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lyd58MnBXmc/VA4f8rFUfpI/AAAAAAAAAnI/tXM8wT5F4E4/s1600/At%2Bthe%2BFW%2Band%2BHW%2Bjunction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lyd58MnBXmc/VA4f8rFUfpI/AAAAAAAAAnI/tXM8wT5F4E4/s1600/At%2Bthe%2BFW%2Band%2BHW%2Bjunction.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students working at deciphering grain size, lithification, and other data for their report at the handing wall of the Genoa Fault.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-79929376100016180912014-07-14T17:49:00.003-07:002014-07-14T17:50:26.500-07:00Back in the Saddle AgainSorry I have been away for such a lengthy period. First my dad was hospitalized with his third pneumonia this year, then my mom went in for chest pains, and my son-in-law for vomiting up blood. To say the least, I have spent more time in California than anticipated, as I had registered for 11 units this summer semester.<br />
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Started Chemistry 122, and hoping it goes well. 4 weeks, 2 hours of lecture each day with two three-hour labs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fortunately I am taking it with Dr. Martin, who I had for Chemistry 121.<br />
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Enjoying a wonderful summer storm with A LOT of thunder, and down pours. We all need the rain so no complaints here. I sat looking at the rain coming down, and realized just how peaceful I felt looking at it. I think as students, and definitely as adult children of aging parents, stress in ways we do not realize. I started having stomach problems of recent, and my brother who has been struggling with his own medical issues told me about Kefir. So I starting drinking it everyday and it is amazing how good my stomach is beginning to feel.<br />
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Taking Calculus 182 tests really pushed me to the limit with stress as I am not the best math student, but I work very hard and put in 8-10 hours everyday studying...but I learned a great trick from a friend who teaches. While out to dinner at a mutual friend's house I told her how stressed out I get. She shared with me some research she had read. I have tried everything, so although I trusted this woman sincerely, I doubted anything would help me stay calm. I have to admit that I was a little excited for my third Calc exam where I had planned to use this technique. It was AMAZING...it worked so well for me I have been sharing it with everyone I talk to.<br />
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If you have test anxiety try these few steps:<br />
<ol>
<li>Sit in chair with feet flat on ground. Tighten your legs, butt and stomach muscles as hard as you can. I even clenched my fists. Hold it for 15-30 seconds. Release.</li>
<li>Take three nice deep breaths and exhale slowly. </li>
</ol>
Your body will react as if you just ran away from your test. The body and brain start working together and thinking that the danger has passed (kind of like the Fight-or-Flight Syndrome idea). Blood starts flowing back into your brain and you think clearer.<br />
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So hopefully this will help someone else as much as it helped me. It improved my test grades by 1.5 letter grades. If only all my classes were geology...I never feared a geology test. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-55480471072481589752014-06-02T10:46:00.001-07:002014-06-02T10:46:14.135-07:00The most important skill to have at workRecently I was contacted by an individual asking me what I thought was the most important skill one needs to be successful at work. Pondering this request, I thought of many skills that were important to have, that aids in making one's work experience as successful and enjoyable as can be. Communication skills however won out as the most important skill to have. Communication however is broad, and does incorporate various aspects of human communication including electronic communication.<br />
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I have been guilty in the past of writing emails that were either not clear in their meaning, or were misinterpreted because of various reasons. Learning to communicate electronically is difficult, even for seasoned professionals who have remarkable speech communication skills. The issues with electronic communication is that the reader often incorporates their mood or emotion into reading an email, memo, or other electronically-sent letter. When this occurs, your writing can be misinterpreted, skewed, or worse, offend the reader.<br />
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My personal rules in writing communication that I send electronically are:<br />
<ol>
<li>Completely understand the program you are using to write the letter or memo (Outlook, etc). Know all the features to prepare a great document.</li>
<li>Never write a sensitive-material letter when upset, angry, or in a foul mood, this just ends up becoming a rant on the computer screen.</li>
<li>If I am upset, I do type it out...but NEVER, EVER send it. It is only one way that I can get it out of my system, if I have no one around to listen to me. Once I am done, I erase it from my computer so that I do not accidentally send it. Writing it down on paper is another way to sort out your thoughts.</li>
<li>Always be professional when writing, Even if the person is some you know well. If it is business-related...write professionally. Dear Mr. or Sir, Dear Madam or Miss, Sincerely yours, etc. Business communication can be seen by many and leaves a lasting impression.</li>
<li>Before hitting the SEND button - P R O O F R E A D - always!</li>
<li>Finally, be clear and be concise.</li>
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Communication is key in any business and it provides the cornerstone for relationships developed through work. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-70919172574398819102014-05-30T01:06:00.001-07:002014-05-30T01:09:13.345-07:00It Pays to Beg<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last semester I had a wonderful professor, Dr. Gordon for Geochemistry II. I loved the class, and really learned tons from her. My lab partner, Rick and I begged and begged Dr. Gordon for some undergraduate research work. She was busy with her grad students, understandably as they were getting their defenses together and graduating from grad school. It was a hectic and at times, chaotic semester. Nothing really developed for Rick and I, but we were persistent and kept telling her about our interest in getting lab experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At the very end of the semester, it happened! We were taken under the wing of our Dr. Gordon, who gave us an interesting research project on metamorphic rocks from the Himalayas. The project was originally a masters' project, however other possibilities came up for the rock samples. So, we started working in the heavy liquids lab at the Paul Laxalt Mineral Research building. It is a project that will take us in mid-June to UC-Santa Barbara where we will be working at the Laser-Ablation Split-Stream Petrochronology lab for three days. I am so excited to have this opportunity, and to learn how to work in the lab.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VvHbAIUwuEQ/U4g6GNO0x1I/AAAAAAAAAiw/gC_yMtZ5CGc/s1600/Frantzing+Bu13-37B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VvHbAIUwuEQ/U4g6GNO0x1I/AAAAAAAAAiw/gC_yMtZ5CGc/s1600/Frantzing+Bu13-37B.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frantzing at 0.3/20-degrees</td></tr>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My experience so far is using the Frantz magnetic separator </span>that we are using to separate out some of the magnetic grains in the rock samples. We then follow-up using methylene iodide </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> (CH<sub>2</sub>I<sub>2</sub>) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and</span></span> perform a heavy liquid separation in hopes of sinking monazite out of the samples. It is time-consuming process, but the real excitement comes when you look into a different world via the microscope. Seeing these beautiful crystals tinier than a pin-head is amazing.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RGJTNSh90fo/U4g6f-T-shI/AAAAAAAAAi4/HkDZlFnif1Y/s1600/Separatory+HL+Process.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RGJTNSh90fo/U4g6f-T-shI/AAAAAAAAAi4/HkDZlFnif1Y/s1600/Separatory+HL+Process.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MeI in separatory funnel with sample</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I could never thank Dr. Gordon enough for her courage to take Rick and I on as undergraduate researchers, and her enthusiastic approach to teaching us all that she has. I am grateful for being accepted at a Tier 1 research university, where students like myself have these awesome experiences. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Moral of the story: it pays to be a pesty undergrad. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-26796423988598027782014-05-15T01:28:00.002-07:002014-05-15T01:28:22.321-07:00Where is the End?Today at 12:30 PM I attended my last Final of the Spring 2014 semester. On my walk towards Fransen Hall, I walked down the tree-lined path next to the Quad. The Quad at UNR is the place where graduation for the College of Science - Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering happens. The site of the white plastic chairs all in rows lined perfectly, with care reminded me why I was there. Why I sold my house in Modesto. Why I left my Mom and Dad, sister, brother, kids, and grandchildren behind to move to another state. It reminded me of all the hours spent leaning over textbooks, reading chapter after unforgiving chapter. Why I came to a university where I knew no one.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CQ72DUN0WjQ/U3R6as58BeI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/vLd-25fHx-0/s1600/spring+grad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CQ72DUN0WjQ/U3R6as58BeI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/vLd-25fHx-0/s1600/spring+grad.jpg" height="196" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: UNR.edu</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I lingered during my walk to Fransen Hall, reflecting on the long path I have been walking. Wondering what it was going to feel like to walk up and receive my B.S. in Geology. What lies afterwards for me. Teaching? Working at a mine? Whatever door opens for me, I will walk through it proudly, knowing that I worked and sacrificed for something that is so important to me. Something no one can ever take away from me. Knowing that my Mom and Dad, now in their eighties will be proud of their daughter, who at the ripe old age of 54 earned her B.S. First in my family to go to college. Daughter of a man with a tenth grade education.<br />
<br />
This semester has one filled with hard-earned success. I had to take English 102 Composition as one of the core classes needed, since Nevada does not accept California's community colleges courses that are equivalent. Do not know why, just is. I absolutely hated English in high school. I really did not care for my English teachers, they seemed boring and stuffy. I was, however, amazed on how much I enjoyed English 102 with Professor Frank Merksamer. He is a quiet spoken, caring man who taught me "the conversation." Burkean Parlor style. I enjoyed all the homework he gave, writing reflections of the stories we read. I learned to consider a compassionate viewpoint towards animals. I learned what speciesism, biopolitics, and consumerism. I learned more than I thought I ever would in this class. I appreciate Professor Merksamer because he gave me an appreciation for English. His class was one of my favorites.<br />
<br />
I also completed GEOL 260 Intro to Field Mapping. This class was very different than Frank's. Our instructor became ill during the semester, and the class was a little rocky (no pun intended). I had to purchase about $100 of books to understand the class. I felt that most of the class was self-learned, and not that this is bad, but wished a little more from it then what I received. I did receive an A, however I worked very hard for it. It did not come easy because the class was not a lecturing class whatsoever. GEOL 212 - Earth Materials and Geochemistry II was my favorite though. I loved learning about the geochemistry of igneous (new rocks made from magma), sedimentary rocks (cool stuff you see on Colorado Plateau), and metamorphic rocks. Up until this class, metamorphic rocks were probably my second favorite type of rock, first being igneous rocks. Dr. Stacia Gordon teamed up with Dr. John McCormack to deliver a wonderful (but not easy) semester.<br />
<br />
I have the next FOUR days off. Meaning I have nothing on my plate but my personal life. I am going to California to attend my dear friends' annual wine party, see my Dad (still recouping from pneumonia), and of course my best girls....Mom, daughter-Megan, grandaughters-Eowyn and Lucy. Because Mother's Day was the weekend BEFORE Finals, I had to stay in NV so we will be celebrating Mother's Day this weekend. <br />
<br />
On Monday the 19th I start my Summer Sessions. I am tackling Calculus 182, Chemistry 122 and Ancient/Medieval Cultures. I feel that there is no end to school and wonder if my classmates feel the same way. Last week, several of the Geology majors met at Mike and Scott's house for a barbecue for "Dead Day". UNR has what is called "Dead Day" which is no classes, and basically you just don't do any thing related to school...<i>and I didn't</i>. I enjoyed the camaraderie with my classmates, relaxing, laughing and eating. I think we ALL needed that day more than ever. I am grateful that this semester, we all got closer as majors, and lean on each other when it gets a little rough. <br />
<br />
I know the end is somewhere even if I cannot see it now. Seeing all those white lawn chairs gave me hope. And I know that soon, my family and friends will be sitting in those white chairs when I get my degree. I cannot wait.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-45413906580861129292014-05-01T03:21:00.002-07:002014-05-01T03:21:41.369-07:00Western Undegraduate Exchange<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4f3VuMRgSs/U2IfxhQPdwI/AAAAAAAAAho/iMaJeLe0cBE/s1600/Alabama+Hills+01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4f3VuMRgSs/U2IfxhQPdwI/AAAAAAAAAho/iMaJeLe0cBE/s1600/Alabama+Hills+01.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The joy of going to school and living on the Eastern Side of the Sierra Nevada...</td></tr>
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If you are attending a community college, like so many of my friends are, or did...AND plan to transfer to a four-year to complete your BA or BS degree...you might want to consider applying for the WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange program) which allows students in neighboring states with good grades, the chance to attend for little more than a in-state resident student.<br />
<br />
Technically, the WUE Program is one that you are responsible for applying to if you are looking to go from say, California Community College to an Oregon University or Nevada University. Each 4-year has their requirements, but it is easy to apply as long as you have a good GPA (believe most are 3.0 or 3.2 +). What it will save you is thousands of dollars each semester.<br />
<br />
Some other options for out-of-state transfers is that you pay the "out-of-state" fees for one year, and then you can apply for in-state resident after the first year. Unfortunately, I applied for WUE and received that, and they do NOT allow you to apply for residency after the first year. To stay WUE you have to keep up your GPA...which means you study like I do until 3-4AM every night...and have very little free time to enjoy. The dangling carrot at the end of the stick however is that your student loans are minimal - and you have a degree!<br />
<br />
Would I like to be sitting out in the livingroom at night with my hubby, or for that matter go to bed at the same time...sure. But school IS priority, because it is only a few years of sacrifice for the ultimate goal. If you are thinking about returning to school, and are curious about attending a university out of state...give a call to their admissions office...they normally are very helpful and willing to send you information. <br />
<br />
I will be very honest here in closing. I do miss being with my family and friends, and spending time doing medieval reenactment with my group, but school is <u>NOT</u> forever, and it will be so worth all the sacrifices. Yes, there are some events and experiences that I missed out on, but I believe that my education and obtaining my degree will outweigh all the "fun" I missed out on.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hPhyOO5ykFc/U2Iew-QbJkI/AAAAAAAAAhg/xfLT2JhRZmY/s1600/MIddle+Jake+Staff+Site+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hPhyOO5ykFc/U2Iew-QbJkI/AAAAAAAAAhg/xfLT2JhRZmY/s1600/MIddle+Jake+Staff+Site+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working with our Jacob Staff to record Verdi sed layers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c_pHbOnL-JA/U2IdUdjcRoI/AAAAAAAAAhU/QJYYFnV4fSU/s1600/20131110_123202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c_pHbOnL-JA/U2IdUdjcRoI/AAAAAAAAAhU/QJYYFnV4fSU/s1600/20131110_123202.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">University of Nevada Seds class out in field measuring stratigraphy. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-74742676364738037202014-04-29T21:25:00.002-07:002014-04-29T21:25:22.500-07:00Opportunities!This summer break has been replaced with classes. I decided that instead of taking time to relax or involve myself in a home improvement project or two, that I would get a few necessary classes out of the way. So my first session will be full of Calculus 182 and Physics 151R, while my second session will be dedicated to Chemistry 122A/122L. Joy.<br />
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I believe that I am probably on some unconscious path of destruction, and that somewhere in this dark and crazy brain of mine, I feel that rest is something you earn when you die. Come Fall however I will only have to worry about my last Physics class, all upper Geology courses, and 2 stupid core history classes (NV did not all me to transfer my CA over). At least I have ONE awesome thing to look forward to this summer...research!!!<br />
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One of my professors, who shall remain nameless until a future date has taken pity on me, and has extended a chance for me to do undergrad research with her and two of her doctorate students. SO EXCITING!!! Can't really get in to detail just yet but it involves rocks from distant lands and the chance to work at UCSB with their petrochronology lab equipment. I am literally on Cloud Nine and look forward to doing some cool things this summer besides math, physics, and chemistry. It really pays to "bug" your professors...because there just might be one that thinks that you could be beneficial to them.<br />
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Personally, I just wanted something to be able to put on my resume, and never expected to land such a cool project. May 23rd, I will take my mandatory lab training class, and after that be ready to go. I just hope now that I will do a great job for my professor, and hopefully have a few more doors open up to be in the near-future. I am fortunate there are opportunities here at University of Nevada and that I have such awesome professors in the Geology Department who care.<br />
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Last thing to share is my geological map project for my Final in GEOL 260 (Intro to Field Mapping) that I did on the Red Rock Canyon State Park in California. Here it is...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qHECNbtFqdU/U2B5utkVm2I/AAAAAAAAAg4/puJSGLAt9F8/s1600/11X17+FINAL+MAP+Png.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qHECNbtFqdU/U2B5utkVm2I/AAAAAAAAAg4/puJSGLAt9F8/s1600/11X17+FINAL+MAP+Png.png" height="412" width="640" /></a></div>
It was a fun project that took over a month to do. Glad it is over, and done with. Keep in mind this is non-published, undergrad work, but comments are always welcome. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-477722650061612522014-04-14T01:28:00.001-07:002014-04-14T01:33:43.207-07:00You might be young....My poor dad is back in the hospital and at this point of the game I am fearing that he will not see me graduate UNR. His heart is starting to weaken from all the health issues. I think about my dad when I was 12-years-old, and was out in the middle of Darwin Street in Hayward (CA) pitching softballs to him and taking his advice on how better to throw. He was never a huge man (5'11 and 185 at his best) but to me he was a giant. Seeing him so frail and sick is very hard but I know everyday he fights.<br />
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My mom who was born September 17, 1933 in Old Town, Maine is still working. She works at Osborne School in Turlock a few hours a day, and she oves the kids there. They keep her young. I come from an obvious tough family with great genes, and know that I have another good 20-30 years to offer working. I am like my folks, and even though Dad is suffering a lot of health problems - the point is he has not given up. He fights and he fights. My mom is from a tough-breed of pioneer Quebecois folk, raised in a New England, by a lumberjack father and a mother of 7, who became a nurse.<br />
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I have been thinking a lot lately about people my age who are retiring or getting ready to retire. I fit in neither category. I am preparing for a second career. I see the kids I go to school with, many who are brilliant young people, scholastically, but who have not yet earn their notches for life experiences. In the employment world they have their youth to offer. I, at 54, have experience and great work ethics. I do not feel sometimes as smart as they are, as most came from high school right into college. I left high school in 1978, married in 1980 and was a mom by 1981. I raised my awesome kids, and decided to go back to school for a degree. <br />
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Do I regret losing my youth? Honestly, I do not. I do miss being young enough not to care what I do to my body, because now I have to be cautious of what I do and how I do it. Do I regret not going to college right out of high school? Not one minute of regret there...I have two great kids who have given me four beautiful granddaughters (so far) and I am young enough to take them camping and go and play with them. I regret nothing.<br />
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I do worry that youth is much more appealing to employers than my middle-aged status. I worry that I might be someone who is judged for age only. Here is the truth of the matter...yes my age is 54. Yes I feel aches and pains. Yes I love Advil. No I am not giving in. I do not care that I ache or hurt. I will NOT lay down and feel sorry for myself. I will not use my age or limitations to get out of doing what is expected of me and my younger peers. I hurt when I am done, and work hard at keeping the pain at bay until such a time I can relax and rest, letting my body heal. <br />
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Sure the students I am in the geology program with are much younger than me. I remember who I came from, how I got here, and why I am doing this. Being a geologist is what I exist for. Learning and developing my skills are all a part of this great time of my education that I will carry with me to my grave. My peers are young, but I am not dead yet. I still have much to give. I look forward to the day I can walk away with a degree in hand, and start my career. I got this!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-13601692492484911312014-04-11T01:51:00.000-07:002014-04-11T01:55:41.947-07:00What Did He Say? That Was Not Gneiss!It feels like forever since I have been able to post anything. Mid-terms were a blast. Happy to report I aced everything from Geochem II to English 102. Relieved to say the least!<br />
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Unfortunately my father is back in the hospital. Mom and he have been married forever - no seriously - forever...and he tunes her out like a champ. He refused to eat, and take his meds, fell twice in one day to boot. Mom got tired of his refusal to eat (falling because he is so weak from NOT eating) so she called 9-1-1. Needless to say when my Dad saw the gurney he was NOT a happy camper, thankfully a Turlock firefighter whose last name was Gonzales made him smile. They say as your parents get older and older, you become the parent. Boy Howdy if that is not the truth.<br />
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So geology! That is why my few friends come here to hear about...<br />
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Have to tell you that metamorphic rocks are what we are delving into right now. LOVE metamorphic rocks - from here on out - MetaM rx. Writing metamorphic rocks over and over in your notes gets pretty tiring. The DOWNFALL of MetaM rx is their names. No "real" geology student can resist the urge to pun using gneiss (pronounced 'nice') or schist. Going to a Tier 1 university apparently does NOT prevent such antics from the geology students here. Heard in lab today:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>"Why does this rock smell like sunscreen....it's kinda gneiss." </li>
<li>"Who has A16? Oh, thanks that is gneiss of you to share."</li>
<li> "Did you just lick that?"</li>
<li>I can't believe I signed up for this schist.</li>
</ul>
You get the idea. Granite works well to...just don't don't take it for granite. Fault. Orogeny. Cleavage. Hardness. All geological words that can be fun to use in a sentence, however there is a disclaimer...do not overdo it or you might become the target of your fellow geology students. I just bite my lip and listen to the nonsense...of course usually laughing when delivered properly.<br />
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Geology students apparently have a few attributes/skills I lack, which makes me wonder if I choose the correct field of study.<br />
<ol>
<li>You must be a beer drinker (almost a connoisseur is your older than 30).</li>
<li>Your handwriting must equal a doctor's signature.</li>
<li>You wear khaki hiking pants everyday of the year (close!)</li>
<li>Baseball caps are essential accessories (I like my boonie thanks).</li>
<li>Taking "shots" around the campfire at field camp is a MUST.</li>
<li>You should have facial hair (okay I am almost there thanks to menopause).</li>
</ol>
Being a geology student however has many pluses and they include challenges that your professors are probably behind closed doors laughing over. I must admit that university professors are a little different in that you must do office hours to get anywhere. They are helpful, don't get me wrong, but YOU must make the efforts to visit them during their office hours to clarify concepts, check on homework projects, etc. <br />
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Learning cross-sections are fun, challenging and are really not gneiss when they don't work out right. I had to do 4 before this one, and it is only my "draft" I am delivering to my professor tomorrow. It is the mapping field trip we took during school break a few weeks ago. Red Rock Canyon State Park. Thanks to my MJC geology professor Garry Hayes...I was the only one who had been there before which helped abundantly. Kept my old notebooks...and never take those for granite!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uANhPkxn_FE/U0el1ycrE7I/AAAAAAAAAgY/39Et06trY-Y/s1600/Cross-Section+Final+Color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uANhPkxn_FE/U0el1ycrE7I/AAAAAAAAAgY/39Et06trY-Y/s1600/Cross-Section+Final+Color.jpg" height="179" width="640" /></a></div>
I do think I need to trim off the bottom a little though and start my elevation at 2000 feet. It is a little weird going back to feet since all I have been immersed in the past year is metric. I am actually preferring it too. This cross-section was a blast, but hard work to get the strikes and dips, and even harder to hike all day long up slopes with unstable debris. Thankfully, my lab partner Rick is a saint and walked ahead at times to gather intel, or waited for my sorry old butt to catch up.<br />
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This is ONE of three things I am preparing for my Final Project. The Final is a geological topographic map with all the different contacts of rocks, nonconformities, and other geologic symbols of the structures we found on our field mapping adventure. The pink (Tertiary tuff) and the lavender colored section (Ts1) a tertiary sedimentary are easiest thanks to Garry, but the other "newer" stratigraphy layers are not familiar and took some thinking and remembering my "laws" of deposition.<br />
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So here's to having a fun challenge. I love learning geology. I love learning about our planet we are so blessed to have in our care. The layers tell us stories of time before us...millions of years of our planet changing and creating different landscapes. Different animals and climates all play into this time travel through this cross-section. How can you not be amazed to look at these homoclinic rocks from several million years of deposition (Miocene: 23 mya) and not wonder what it must have looked like. Many cool site available to learn about the geology, flora and fauna of the Ricardo Formation of the Red Rock Canyon State Park, CA.<br />
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<a href="about:invalid#zClosurez" target="_blank">California State Parks</a><br />
<a href="http://inyo.coffeecup.com/site/redrock/redrockfossils.html" target="_blank">Fossils Found at RRCSP</a><br />
<a href="http://www.nhm.org/site/research-collections/vertebrate-paleontology/red-rock-canyon/about-red-rock-canyon" target="_blank">Natural History Museum of Los Angeles</a><br />
<a href="http://geotripper.blogspot.com/2014/02/out-of-valley-of-death-explorations-in.html" target="_blank">Geotripper's Blog </a><br />
<a href="http://www.shallowsky.com/redrock/redrock.html" target="_blank">Geology of RRCSP</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-51844825886992332562014-03-26T01:41:00.000-07:002014-03-26T01:41:26.902-07:00I Can't Go Back to School...This is dedicated to those who "think" about going back to school...<br />
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What are the costs of going back to school? What will I sacrifice? Is it really worth it?<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>First, <b>what are the costs of going back to school</b>...tuition is different wherever you go. </li>
<ul>
<li>There are so many programs out there that you really need to call around and just ask! Trust me...college admissions and welcome center staff are more than HAPPY to answer questions for you. </li>
<li>Consider grades. If you have over a 3.0 GPA you may qualify for a exchange student program. I lived in California, attended a community college to get my transfer studies completed at a MUCH LOWER COST than a 4-year. I had great grades so I qualified for a WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange Program). I would have had to pay almost $9,000 for out-of-state fees, however they waived that thru WUE. I pay a few hundred dollars more than a Nevada resident. I save $18,000 a year, so I make sure my grades are still good.</li>
<li>Bottomline...the prize at the end of your education (considering you are ambitious and get a job) will make up that money. Education is priceless - NO one can take it away from you.</li>
</ul>
<li><b>What will I sacrifice?</b> A lot. This again depends on where you go, and what your life is like now. I have aging parents (I am 54 and my Mom is 80 and Dad is 82), so I planned to attend a school under 4 hours drive time away from them in case of an emergency. My Mom and Dad ARE my world...I come from an insanely close-knit family and therefore I sacrifice a lot of time away from my parents, kids and granddaughters (4 total). You might sacrifice more, or less, but overall the sacrifices can be minimal if you consider the following:</li>
<ul>
<li>Attend a local community college and get all your GE (General Education) classes done there. You will benefit greatly as community colleges offer classes that are transferable and taught by teachers who WANT to be there to teach you. There class schedule is flexible making it easy to work and take a few classes each semester. Class sizes are small too (I miss that).</li>
<li>Make sure you complete the Board of Governors form each school year so that you might be eligible to get your tuition waived at the community college (at least this is the process in California). Might be different where you are....but ASK!</li>
<li>Schedule classes to minimize travel time (saves on gas and time)</li>
<li>Be willing to sacrifice what ever it is...as school is not forever..but your future with a degree is.</li>
</ul>
<li><b>Is it really worth it?</b> You will doubt yourself all the time. You will continually play a tennis match in your brain...should I quit school and just get a job or should I stick it out? STICK IT OUT...a job is just that - a job...but a career is so much more. It means you wake up in the morning and go to a job you have a passion for. It is worth it. Worth the sacrifice and worth the agony of stress and doubt.</li>
</ol>
I took a $150,000 lost on my house in California when I sold it to come to Reno, Nevada to attend the University of Nevada-Reno (NEVADA). I downsized and my husband and I now live in half the house we had. This is okay as it is less time cleaning, and it is more comfy for the two of us. We still have space in case kids or friends come to visit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jFjF_D3WQUs/UzKRZFrxn4I/AAAAAAAAAgA/_TVIQgzG6bk/s1600/DSCN1917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jFjF_D3WQUs/UzKRZFrxn4I/AAAAAAAAAgA/_TVIQgzG6bk/s1600/DSCN1917.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEFORE: 2850 SF House in CA</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjHYq-jdsWQ/UzKRsIQTNoI/AAAAAAAAAgI/Rv3KQjX1F20/s1600/Driveway+and+side+of+the+house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjHYq-jdsWQ/UzKRsIQTNoI/AAAAAAAAAgI/Rv3KQjX1F20/s1600/Driveway+and+side+of+the+house.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AFTER: 1405 SF Reno house (we since put in new driveway though and removed the junipers.)</td></tr>
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<br />
You can sit all day long and think of EXCUSES to not go back to school. I have to work....I am too tired after work to go to a night class...I need to be available for my family...I am too old.<br />
<br />
ALL OF THESE excuses are just that...an excuse to keep depriving yourself of what you want to do. Think about it this way...what REASON do I have NOT to go back to school?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Qf1eGlUTlw/UzKPxPsqWPI/AAAAAAAAAfs/jbIYoDPOthw/s1600/Megan+Scott+and+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Qf1eGlUTlw/UzKPxPsqWPI/AAAAAAAAAfs/jbIYoDPOthw/s1600/Megan+Scott+and+girls.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My daughter, Megan and husband Scott McAndrews with daughters, Eowyn 6 and Lucy 6 months.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kDcRXgpuOfs/UzKQjJJuZbI/AAAAAAAAAf0/O1Xd6bE4D2A/s1600/Ryan+Madison+and+Lily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kDcRXgpuOfs/UzKQjJJuZbI/AAAAAAAAAf0/O1Xd6bE4D2A/s1600/Ryan+Madison+and+Lily.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granddaughters, (L) Ryann 8 and (R) Lily 6 years who live on Maui.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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My biggest reasons for going to school...these little girls I call granddaughters. I am proud to be an example that success in life is available to all of us if we are just willing to try our best to reach our goals. At 54 I will be the first in my family to attend and graduate college. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-56600665263400652162014-03-25T01:15:00.000-07:002014-03-25T01:15:13.419-07:00The Road TraveledI am constantly amazed in talking to fellow geology majors here at UNR how many have never been to places like Yosemite or Lava Beds. I joined our Mackay Rockhounds Club and one of the things we do as a group is go somewhere geologically interesting. At our last meeting, we listed the places we would like to go.<br />
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Some places listed were Great Basin NP to see Lehman Caves, Lava Beds National Monument to explore lava tubes, Yosemite National Park, and few other sites in Nevada. Two of the ladies in our club one who is a Masters student has NEVER been to Yosemite. I honestly thought she was joking with us when she told us this. I think my mouth dropped open and stay in that awkward position for the rest o the meeting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_inLEl_pBAw/UzE0g-tBmKI/AAAAAAAAAfE/eTH0g_5ZIwo/s1600/DSCN1807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_inLEl_pBAw/UzE0g-tBmKI/AAAAAAAAAfE/eTH0g_5ZIwo/s1600/DSCN1807.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merced River in Yosemite NP</td></tr>
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Yosemite is one of California's most beautiful places...in fact I believe it is one the world's gems. John Muir gave a tours to the likes Theodore Roosevelt and Ralph Waldo Emerson in Yosemite before it became first a state park, and then later a national park. I often wonder how much more beautiful it was prior to restaurants, campgrounds, stores, tourist spots, hotel, and the blacktop parking lots. I imagine however despite all the modern conveniences, my geology club friends will love Yosemite as much as I do.<br />
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Although my ex-husband, Dave and I took our kids every New Years Day to Yosemite from the Bay Area, I truly got to "experience" it with my community college geology professor who opened my eyes to even more wonders than I had seen in Yosemite in prior family visits.<br />
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Not only have I been on college geology trips to Yosemite, but I have experience beautiful sunrises in Lava Beds with my fellow MJC classmates. I have seen places like Cape Disappointment in Washington, however the real disappointment came when I went to see Mt. St. Helens which was so fogged in I could only see my hand in front of my face. I have seen Mt. St. Helens in 1974 prior to her 1980 eruption where she puked up the entire side of herself. That's okay though because I have seen so many other wonders.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k2Tn_3Ua3OU/UzE5HjQJZQI/AAAAAAAAAfY/KKetv4kvdHg/s1600/VA+Memorial+Detail+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k2Tn_3Ua3OU/UzE5HjQJZQI/AAAAAAAAAfY/KKetv4kvdHg/s1600/VA+Memorial+Detail+1.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gettysburg - VA Memorial Monument</td></tr>
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Glacier National Park, Yellowstone (several times), San Juan Mountains in Colorado, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon (several times), Bryce Canyon, Zion NP, Capitol Reef, Antelope Canyon, Ancient Bristlecone Forest, Long Valley Caldera in Eastern Sierra Nevada, Fossil Falls, Red Rock Canyon, Petrified Forest, Acoma-The Sky People Pueblo, Taos, San Ildefonso Pueblo where my dad was raised...and The Redwoods. This is to name just the ones I saw on my geology trips.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-831aGHLBeNk/UzE4Pw4A95I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/pLfM7BQbvXQ/s1600/Alaskan+Native+statue+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-831aGHLBeNk/UzE4Pw4A95I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/pLfM7BQbvXQ/s1600/Alaskan+Native+statue+1.JPG" height="200" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inuit Statue in Fairbanks AL</td></tr>
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I traveled to Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Eastern Seaboard, the South, and all the way back to California in a year with a fifth-wheel. I have seen beauty in nature at Lake Louise and Banff, Alberta...Hope, British Columbia, and Skagway, Alaska to name just a few of my favs.<br />
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Geology students all have very different backgrounds. Many have never been outside of their region. I am grateful that I had such great family and a teacher who took us places that some only dream about seeing. I am grateful for all the opportunities I have had and shall never take them for granted.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-23874648819198608522014-03-21T23:51:00.000-07:002014-03-21T23:51:01.020-07:00Evolution of a Geology StudentA few years ago I enrolled in a Death Valley geology trip with my professor (Garry Hayes) while attending Modesto Junior College. Our trip began a trip down the California Central Valley on Highway 99 South to Bakersfield. We spend the first evening camping near the Kern River Campground. The second day we traveled to nearby Sharktooth Hill for some fun fossil finding time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CV1HbpK_sos/Uy0xZwI8enI/AAAAAAAAAeg/VQiwsaoEFlA/s1600/Shark+tooth+sample.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CV1HbpK_sos/Uy0xZwI8enI/AAAAAAAAAeg/VQiwsaoEFlA/s1600/Shark+tooth+sample.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharktooth found at "the hill" outside of Bakersfield</td></tr>
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We then continued our trip to 58 East past Tehachapi and onto Highway 14 to Red Rock Canyon State Park north of Cantil. It was my first time at Red Rock Canyon. My first thought was OMG (yeah I just did that) it is so beautiful. I immediately saw stratigraphic layers, but at the time I just thought simply that I saw colors in layers and knew that there must be different things occurring in the rocks to make them different colors.<br />
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All the students piled out of the college white Ford vans, grabbing our notebooks as we KNEW this is one of Garry's "note stops" - It HAD to be because this place was too geologically beautiful NOT to be one.<br />
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Garry did his lecture as he always does on stops to discuss what the nearby geology "tells us."<br />
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Honestly, I had NO clue whatsoever as to what geologically happened here and what the time span must have been...but I did know that it took significant time as the layers dictated through my common sense. We learned of "ancient lake deposits" and fossils that were discovered here which included weird Latin names. They included animals like the "bear-dog" and the four-tusked elephant. Garry introduced me to a world I never imagined. A world where prehistoric time involved flood plains, stream beds, weird animals and cool geology places. He taught us carefully.<br />
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What I mean by this is that he took great care in feeding us baby food as new geology students so that we didn't choke, and walk away from it. He taught us carefully and precisely what we needed to know as first or second year geology students.<br />
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I am forever grateful for that geology stop at Red Rock Canyon, and thankful to drive college vans for him on following trips to Death Valley. On March 14-18th I spent my third trip at Red Rock not as a geology stop but as a Intro to Field Geology Mapping for UNR geology and geological engineering students.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cjpoTzHJFCg/Uy0u4pLqGGI/AAAAAAAAAeI/w2q-rugI6no/s1600/RRCSP+CA_+(25).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cjpoTzHJFCg/Uy0u4pLqGGI/AAAAAAAAAeI/w2q-rugI6no/s1600/RRCSP+CA_+(25).JPG" height="264" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow covered Sierra Nevada</td></tr>
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It was like coming back to a place similar but yet strange to me as we camped at the campground there instead of just passing through. I set up my tent on Friday after me and my classmate and fellow geology major Rick Kauffman arrived. We drove in my XTerra and enjoyed a nice 6-hour drive down 395 to 14 from Reno. Seeing snow covered mountains along the way made for a picturesque adventure. Rick being from Phillie was introduced to Schat's Bakkery, Obsidian Dome, and talks about the Mono-Inyo Craters and the Ancient Bristlecones. It was a nice trip to our final destination - Red Rock Canyon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kUKVj__qVgg/Uy0vYjBO0VI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/ZkS1EC31vnA/s1600/RRCSP+CA_+(53).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kUKVj__qVgg/Uy0vYjBO0VI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/ZkS1EC31vnA/s1600/RRCSP+CA_+(53).JPG" height="264" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua Trees,Mohave Desert CA</td></tr>
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By 7 PM the rest of my peers arrived from Reno. We enjoyed a wonderful campfire together laughing and getting to know one another a little beyond our previous classroom lectures. These young men and women were bright and full of life, they were exciting to get to know on a more personal basis under the stars at a beautiful desert geological site.<br />
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On Saturday morning we started mapping for our final.<br />
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My notebook had been replaced with a plastic mapbook made two 9x12 plastic sheets taped together with bright orange (go Giants) duct tape. My daypack was replaced with a GeigerRig Backpack. The backpack contained TWO Nalgene bottles filled with ice and water for the 8-hour hike. I also filled the Geigerig bladder with water as a reserve. We all had our hand lens strapped to our necks, hats, sunglasses, hiking boots, walking sticks, colored pencils, maps and Bruntons ready to go...<br />
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The next three days were spent climbing ridges, precariously straddling ridges, and looking for geological structures such as contacts and measuring strikes and dips with our Bruntons. It was hard, hot, tiring, and fun. We walked until I could barely move. The first day out was extremely hard on my aging body. It was not happy with the hiking and my knees, ankles and hips screamed painfully at me. I had the time of my life though. I hated and loved each moment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Xy_GCI18nk/Uy0wCG4j9KI/AAAAAAAAAeY/9rQ9YR2JIkM/s1600/RRCSP+CA_+TS2+and+TB1+Bake+Zone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Xy_GCI18nk/Uy0wCG4j9KI/AAAAAAAAAeY/9rQ9YR2JIkM/s1600/RRCSP+CA_+TS2+and+TB1+Bake+Zone.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teritary sediments (Ts2) near the bake zone of Tertiary basalt layer (Tb1)</td></tr>
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The "beautifully colored layers" became lacustrine and stream sediments with crossbedding and volcanics with different mineralogy. I realized on the afternoon of Day Two that I was actually becoming a real geologist. I was measuring the grain size, percentages, and grading in the sedimentary layers. Using my Brunton to gain strikes and dips to later add to my map and making notes in my "Rite in the Rain" All-Weather Geological Field Book" became a reality that I was actually learning about being a geologist...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8PFsqeR0KGA/Uy0yClSAs_I/AAAAAAAAAeo/p4kr2N9pSfI/s1600/RRCSP+CA_+(168).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8PFsqeR0KGA/Uy0yClSAs_I/AAAAAAAAAeo/p4kr2N9pSfI/s1600/RRCSP+CA_+(168).JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacustrine and stream sedimentary layers</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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My dreams were coming true. I feel that my transformation from a few years ago to now has been a great adventure. I have learned so much from Garry and so grateful for his lessons at Red Rock. I am glad I took good notes, as I was able to share what I learned a few years ago with those who have never been to Red Rock. I am grateful for my education at Modesto Junior College and the University of Nevada.<br />
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I am especially grateful to those students and teachers who understand my disability and allow me the same opportunities as the other students in seeing as much geology as I physically can.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to Rick Kauffman, Dimitri Hiyood, Gerry Meneses, Big Mike, Mariah and those who "hang out with me" and go slower than normal to make sure I get from point A to point B. You guys are the best! I will NEVER forget your help in making sure that I get the best geological experience I can get as an ol' gal with crappy knee replacements and back pain. I feel so blessed to have you all beside me in my geological adventures. You all will never realize just how important you are or how grateful I am for you.</span></i><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-88226067745920521942014-03-08T03:51:00.002-08:002014-03-08T03:54:16.014-08:00Geology - not a job...its an adventure!I am NOT joking. I have not met one geologist who doesn't love their job. Good for me right?<br />
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I look forward to many adventures to come. My first multiple day geology trip is next weekend during the first half of our spring break at UNR. We are going to Red Rock Canyon State Park in California. Our base camp will be at the Ricardo campground. As any geology major...these trips are what we live for. Like professional geologists who love their jobs, majors love their trips!!!<br />
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Blessed is one word I can use to express my past experience as a geology student for the first two years of college. I had a great geology professor (Garry Hayes) who took us to places I only dreamed of through the years. I learned to camp like a "mundane." A mundane is the term my medieval re-enactment group calls modern-day life play.<br />
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As a middle age enthusiast I camp very different than a geology major does. There are no tunics, late night fires singing body songs (adult ditties not to sung around children, or adult who act like children). Camping geology style it is the cot and a Big Agnes sleeping bag under the stars. In a medieval camp it is the pavilion with tapestry and persian rugs everywhere.<br />
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Geology camping is so much fun, but it takes a student a few of them to get the hang of it. My very first field camp was to the Eastern Sierra Nevada. The flyer said to travel light. To me that is a few changes of clothes, sleeping bag, a tarp, a cooler, a camp stove, fuel and a flashlight. Of course toiletries are essential to masque the 4-day human odors.<br />
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Well, that didn't go so well. I packed too light. I ended up buying a one-person tent at the campground store and other items because apparently everyone else packed "not so lightly." Lesson learned...next trip was more comfortable. By the end of my second season this ol gal had a REI self-inflating campbed, a two-person Big Agnes tent and sleeping bag. Two totes. One for kitvchen stuff and one for clothing, rock hammers, tools, toiletries, towels, lamps, etc.<br />
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Last summer Garry asked that instead of driving one of the college vans for our summer 2-week field camp if I would be interested in cooking...for about 30 people. Hmmm....sure why not! I have done medieval feasts for over 50 people, cooked in camp for our war unit, even made stuffed game hens for 15 in camp one night after one of our Royalty feasts had leftover game hens. So I researched recipes and manipulated a few favorites. I felt that it went well and hope that people enjoyed the variety and seemed like the amounts were adequate.<br />
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Feeling ready for our trip coming up. In lab today we had our meeting about the trip. I was a little taken back by students who confessed that they have not ever "really camped"...I think that translates that they camped RV style. Anyways, I felt grateful to Garry and the Society of Creative Anachronism for my camping skills. Our family camping each summer is even different from the other two, but we camp with fun in our hearts, and comfort.<br />
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I am so thrilled that my geology adventures have not ceased despite school, and that I still have the opportunity to get away from real life. Mapping rocks for four glorious days at Red Rock Canyon...WHAT A LIFE!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270558368711735316.post-44216114786416533182014-03-07T00:27:00.000-08:002014-03-07T00:27:02.277-08:00Cell Phones-our umbilical cord to the World<br />Cell phones have become such an important part of human communication that it has replaced my voice. I do not live on my cell phone at all, not like the kids at school do, but I do use it enough that it seems to do and be everything I need.<br />
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I have to wake up early tomorrow...better set the alarm on my phone (what sound do I want to wake up to tomorrow? Hmmmm)<br />
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I know my mom is at the hospital visiting my dad, better text her to call me when she can.<br />
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I can't believe I ate that...better scan that barcode with MyFitnessPal before I forget.<br />
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Need to check my email, where's my phone?<br />
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Oh, look honey isn't that cool. Grab my cell phone and I will take a picture.<br />
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I can't see where the heck I am going, its so dark. MyFlashlight app will illuminate the way!<br />
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What is the weather going to be like on Saturday? My cell phone has a weather app.<br />
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Pork loin needs to be at what temperature? Internet on the phone should tell me.<br />
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Seriously, our phones seem to be an umbilical cord to the world. GPS, Bluetooth, apps that mute your phone in a movie theater (and gives you free stuff when you use it), calculator, the internet, the periodic table, calculus formulas, games...you name it...our phones can do it.<br />
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I love my Android. I do. It is a great tool that enhances my life, home and school work. I am sure you love your phone too. Last week I found a cell phone in the parking lot of a neighborhood shopping center. Fortunately, the owner called and I got it back to her. I would hate to lose my phone or have it stolen.<br />
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Just one thing...<br />
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I absolutely despise people who walk across the street and hold up cars at the crosswalk as they walk slower than a snail, while on there stupid cell phone! Worse - being at a store and having an employee trying to ring some idiot up who is on his cell phone talking to God-Knows-Who and holding everyone else up in the line.<br />
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Common courtesy people - it goes a LONG way!<br />
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Rant out!<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490609547220034503noreply@blogger.com0