10 Down, 1 to Go!

Hard to believe it, but I've now completed 10 semesters and just have one more to go!  The semester I just completed went really well.  I had Weather Dynamics I (atmospheric thermodynamics), Remote Sensing of the Environment, Tropical Hazards, and Advanced Synoptic Meteorology.  I ended up with three A's and one B.  The B was in Weather Dynamics.  That class was pretty tough; I got a D on my first test and learned very quickly that it was going to require more time than I was used to giving to my other meteorology classes.  After that first disastrous test, I made sure I understood everything along the way as we were learning it in class.  I bugged the TA a lot, asked lots of questions to the kids in class that were doing exceptionally well, went to the professor's office hours, and continually improved.  So I'll take that B!  The craziest part of the semester was that I had three huge research papers (10-14 pages each) due the same week at the end.  I haven't had to write a research paper in two years so to do three at once was pretty insane.  Strange how that worked out.  To my knowledge, I don't have any to do for next semester's classes.  


Next semester is going to be insane.  I have Weather Dynamics II, Engineering Physics II (something that has to do with circuits and electricity), Mesoscale Meteorology, and Regional Climatology.  Plus, I have been selected as an intern at the National Weather Service for spring semester, although I am actually starting this month over Christmas break.  I am super excited about this...it's what I've always aspired to do.  I know I will learn a ton working there.  I'll have to stay on campus on Wednesday nights because one of my classes goes until 8:45pm and it's dumb to drive home.  Fortunately I have quite a few friends who have offered up their couches.


On the personal side of things, I am sad to report that the "Death of the Month Club" membership I somehow acquired in 2011 has continued.  I lost my stepmom  in October.  I'm glad she's with my dad now but it's tough having no family left.  As of the date of this blog, I have lost 19 family/friends/family of friends in 2011.  2012 simply has to be better.  Nobody should have to attend 19 wakes in one year.

Everything else is status quo.  I am relishing every moment of Christmas break since it is the last one I'll ever have.  Kaitlyn's cheerleading season ended up being a month longer than usual because they made it to the state competition, so cheer ended the same week as school.  I don't start school again until January 17th so I have plenty of time to be lazy.  I just want to get through Christmas and kiss this horrible year goodbye.  2012 hold so much promise with my graduation and 3 weddings.  I hope it also includes a job for me, because we are drowning financially with the ever-increasing costs of commuting to school among everything else.  




Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and especially a blessed, healthy, and happy 2012.  The next post I'll have on here will likely be my graduation post.  :)  I miss having time to update more often but time just doesn't permit and most of you keep up with my day to day posts on Facebook and Twitter anyway.