Grad Fab

IN THE TRENCHES

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:53:12 -0400

It’s official, I’m in the trenches trying to fight my way out. The one thing that no one tells to until you’re in grad school is that it is incredibly difficult to get out. Professors tend to like to keep their minions around. Once a student becomes comfortable in grad school, it is time to leave and so they prolong the change…and faculty are okay with it. No one has graduated from my program in two years in a VERY long time. It has been my goal since I began, as both my advisor and I believe a Masters degree should only take two years.

We’re in the final days now. The last possible day to defend is April 12th. So I’ve set my defense date for April 10th, which means I have paperwork due March 27th, which means a draft is due to my committee on Friday morning. YES. THIS FRIDAY.

So I’m in the trenches.

There is no assurance that I will get done on time, but Jeff is optimistic (and so am I-knock on wood).

I’ll keep you posted.

Lonelyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:01:46 -0500

Everyone is gone! Jk, not everyone…but a lot of my “everyday people” left this week. My bestie Emily left to take a job with Golder Associates in Philly, after 1.5 months Ruth left to return to Purdue, Mike Rowe left to take a job in New Zealand and my advisor, Jeff, is off to France for a month….needless to say it has become quite quiet around here. The good news is that will hopefully be good for my productivity.

Molls

The Unknown

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:51:33 -0500

It seems as though I just arrived. I just road-tripped out to Pullman with my parents: literally going across the country from West Virginia to Washington in 5 days with a stop-over at home. I still remember being intimidated to talk to my advisor (oh wait, that lasted a year). Aren’t I still a NEW grad student? Aren’t I still wide-eyed?

The answer is no. I’ve been here 1.5 years. I’m supposed to be finished at the end of the semester and by some miracle, it looks like it might happen (PTL)! Regardless, sometime this year, I WILL GRADUATE.

But the most exciting part is also the scariest part: the unknown.

Where will I be a year from now?

What will I be doing?

Will I enjoy my job?

Where will I be living? When will I move there?

Who will my friends be?

I’ll keep you posted world. But the good news is, it will always be fabulous…as long as I just keep smiling and remember who I am.

Beginning and end of finals week.

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:58:15 -0500

Sunday of Finals week...."I know, let's go to a Christmas concert and take time to look nice and do fun things!"

Thursday night. Last paper ever. Still haven't started. Due tomorrow.

Beginning and end of finals week.

Procrastination Central Over Here

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:40:34 -0500

Hello Blog Family!

If you have been on FB lately, you know that I am suffering from the affliction known as procrastination. I only have 2 assignments left for classes…..yet I can’t find the motivation to do either of them. Whoops! (Don’t worry Dad, I’ll do them and they’ll be great.)

Finals week is one of my favorite times of the semester! There are definitely positives and negatives:

Positive: No classes!

Positive: Lots of coffee!

Positive: I have time to do things such as go out for a Holiday Happy Hour with my girlfriends.

Positive: It’s Christmas, which is my favorite holiday and season EVER!

Positive: I get to see my family soon.

Negative: All my friends leave. Including ones that won’t be coming back because they’ve graduated :(

Negative: The coffee shops become overwhelmed with undergrads.

Negative: I realize all the things I didn’t get accomplished this semester.

Negative: There is no motivation left.

Negative: Grading finals.

I don't trust people who don't like cheese.

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:42:08 -0500

It’s been a couple months now. I’m sorry…I’ve been really busy. LIKE REALLY. BUSY.

Emily is over and we were both going to have a productive night; so naturally we watched “A Time To Kill” and are now procrastinating.

Since I last wrote:

I’ve been buried in school work (not fabulous).
I presented at the national Geology conference in Charlotte (fabulous).
I’ve been working constantly in the lab (not fabulous).
One of my friends and mentor Diane defended her thesis (fabulous).
I didn’t get to go home for Thanksgiving (not fabulous).
We had a Pullman Geology Family Thanksgiving (fabulous).
Diane and I rushed the field when the Cougs won the Apple Cup (fabulous).
I house and dog sat for my advisor while he was gone (fabulous).
We have to go back to school tomorrow (not fabulous).
The semester is almost over (fabulous).

That’s all stuff you probably already knew if we’re Facebook friends. Pictures to follow.

Also, Emily would like me to convey to the blogging world that she doesn’t trust people who don’t like cheese.

I have recently been taking a daily (ish) photo to show what a...

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:23:13 -0400

I LOVE PICKING GARNETS

I HATE PICKING GARNETS

BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER-STILL HAVE TIME TO LOOK NICE

LOOKS ARE SLOWLY DETERIORATING...NO TIME TO WASH YOUR HAIR

LATE NIGHT PANIC

OKAY I'M GOING TO TRY TO CARE ABOUT HOW I LOOK AGAIN

ALL HOPE IS LOST. I DON'T EVEN CARE.

MUST BE A MONDAY. ONLY THAT KIND OF HOPE EXISTS ON A MONDAY

I have recently been taking a daily (ish) photo to show what a grad student goes through. Click though them to begin to understand.

They say pictures are worth a thousand words.

Yesterday

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 12:34:46 -0400

It seems like yesterday I was in Arizona living the dream. Alas, yes alas, it was not. After an amazing summer (fabulous, if you will), my co-workers AKA friends threw me a wonderful going away par-tayyyyyyyy. I got up the next morning and drove 12 hours to Salt Lake City. Slept. Drove 12 hours to Pullman. I had a day in Pullman to accomplish all sorts of little and big things. After they were accomplished I flew home to visit the family for a few days and am now currently sitting in the Denver airport waiting for the second leg of my trip back to Pullman. Class starts tomorrow.

I associate Pullman with stress and drama. However, I am resolved in making this year the best yet! It’s not getting off to a great start as I’m having some “scheduling/technical difficulties,” but I’m choosing not to worry about it. Jeff said it will all work out and I believe him. Here is a quote a friend of mine recently shared with me:

“Do you remember the things you were worrying about
a year ago? How did they work out? Didn’t you waste
a lot of fruitless energy on account of most of them?
Didn’t most of them turn out all right after all?” – Dale Carnegie

So here is your tip of the day…and of the semester: Worry less. A lot less.

I may disappear a little this semester as I jump more into my thesis but I will try to keep the fabulous updates coming!

Molly

A “stay-cation” in Scottsdale.

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 22:14:44 -0400

Girls Night/Kami's Birthday

Photo shoot with "The Asian Persuasion"

More of the photo shoot

BEST PICTURE EVER! CUPCAKES!

A “stay-cation” in Scottsdale.

Photo

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 15:27:25 -0400

Lien and I at the Hotel Monte Vista

Visiting Katy and Nate!

CAPE COD!

Our seats! Lien trying to get the ball!

How to Write a Scientific Abstract

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 15:19:49 -0400

I am currently writing my abstract for GSA. This is how my writing process works.

Drive to Starbucks.
People watch.
Drink iced coffee.
Look up abstract requirements.
Type a very poor and nondescript draft.
E-mail my advisor and let him know that he will have the draft by the end of the day-that should hold me accountable to finish it.
Drink some more iced coffee.
Look at pictures from the last 365 days on iPhoto.
Stalk my friends profile’s on FB.
Look at my really crappy draft.
Text Lien about going shopping later.
Spend an hour on Pinterest.
Drink some more iced coffee.
Make a few revisions.
Look at weather for the week.
Make a few revisions.
Glance at the 3 new posts on FB since I last looked.
Text Stephanie.
Think about everything else I need to do today.
Make a few revisions.
Write blog post.
Make final revisions.
Send it to advisor because he’s going to tear it apart anyway.
Waste some more time at Starbucks.

THINGS THAT I MISS

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 21:53:00 -0400

A new friend of mine has decided to leave his job and return home to take over the family farm. He said to me “You don’t realize what you had until you move away.” While I take delight in my travels and different opportunities I’ve been presented with over the past 8 years, this statement resonates with me….with all of us, I think. Maybe it’s the grind of working 9 hours a day in a “real job,” but there are things I miss (from several different places I’ve been):

My family (obviously)
Living in Roberta….while it can be rough and we couldn’t wait to leave…I do miss it. The fact that a new wardrobe or a person to listen was only 3 steps away was extremely wonderful.
The feeling in college that the world was your oyster; freedom; lack of TRUE responsibility
The excitement of returning to school in the fall
Milwaukee. I adore that city.
The calm wisdom of Ann Bruno, the humor of Anna Griffith, the adventurousness of Stephanie Schultz, the perfect combination of Rachel Solomon and Dianna Grayson (I refuse to accept that her last name is now Pittman).
A good summer thunderstorm.
Grilling. Royals Games.
Ambassadors-BEST JOB EVER.
Kamp-TIE FOR BEST JOB EVER.
Humidity? (Okay, this one is debatable)
The Pub in Maryville.
OPO on Fridays in Pullman.
The Daily Grind.
Diane Wilford. Duh.
Katie Cooper’s style (and weekly guidance)
The excitement of the next trip!

I am truly blessed and I would not change anything in my life! I am having a wonderful summer that has exceeded all expectations…but I feel it is always necessary to take some time and reflect. Some of the things that I miss will come back into my life, some will not.

Until next time….

Drillers

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:19:00 -0400

Today, I got to go out to the rigs with Kacie (a NW alum and friend) as she went out to conduct her weekly environmental inspections of the rigs. Here are my thoughts on drillers:

I adore them.

They are messy.

And dirty.

And a little rough around the edges.

And they remind me of Armageddon (think Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck …not really Steve Buscemi).

But they are also kind.

And VERY intelligent.

And they do a necessary and skill specific job.

Not to mention dangerous.

If you ever meet a driller be sure to treat them with the respect they deserve. They may be dirty and chain-smokers….but they are good people. And without them drilling you wouldn’t be able to read this on your computer….because their drilling develops mines and the mines produce products used in everything from your computer to your car to your cell phone to your blowdryer.

And that’s all I have to say about that.

Resolution

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:07:33 -0400

Well, it’s been a month and my firm resolution to blog more has fallen short. Oh well, I guess it keeps you in suspense?

The last time I updated I had just been to the Grand Canyon….a bunch has happened since then. Life has continued to be ridiculously exciting! I am so blessed. I DO work during the week. However, I DO play on the weekends:

June 16-17: Floating on the Salt River with co-workers (AKA friends)

June 22-23: Road trip to visit Katy and Nathan Schmitz in Pima, AZ. Katy and Nate are good friends from NW and I can’t even begin how awesome it was to get to see them. They even took me to Tombstone, after first watching the movie! I appreciated their hospitality soooooo much.

June28-July2: CAPE COD! (I can’t believe it either.) Emily-my bestie from grad school-has a place on the Cape so I flew in for a long 4^th of July weekend! The Cape is just how I imagined it: little (big) cottages, ocean air, the sea, and lots of accents.

July 4^th: Party at Richard and Amber Hudson’s. Multiple children under the age of 5. Enough said.

Last weekend: Lien and I did nothing except watch the second season of Game of Thrones. Haha.

The internship is going well. I finished up my month in core prep and moved on to logging. And now I’ve moved on to my current tasks. Basically, I am working on two special projects for Hamish. I’m not sure about the company policy on talking about projects on the internet, so I’m going to keep my mouth shut. They’re pretty strict about releasing company stuff to the public.

Anywho, on the 25^th I have to give my final internship presentation to the big wigs up top. My last day will be August 10^th. I don’t want to leave.

Molly

Click on the photos to enlarge and read the captions!

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 15:56:56 -0400

Idaho

Fountains in Vegas

Vegas at night

Welcome to the desert

Comicon!!!!!

Memorial Day BBQ

My friend Brice at Boyce Thompson

Hiking

Biking the Grand Canyon

Haunted Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff!!

Click on the photos to enlarge and read the captions!

Lost in the Desert

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 14:59:05 -0400

You might think that I had gotten lost in the desert from my lack of updates! Indeed, I have gotten “lost in the desert”-it is a wonderful place to lose yourself or find yourself depending on where you are in life.

I had never been to this part of the country before and it is BEAUTIFUL! I ended up making the drive down here by myself after my dad got sick-he’s feeling better now no worries but thanks for all the kind thoughts and prayers! I took 3 days and drove across Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona (3 new states for me). I got a chance to check something off my bucket list as I stayed in Vegas on the last night of the trip!

I arrived in Gold Canyon (outside of Phoenix) not knowing exactly what to expect from the summer. Needless to say it has surpassed any expectations that I might have had! The first night here I found out that Lien has a super awesome house with two of the coolest dogs I’ve ever met (great danes-Hank and Lela). The Northwest Crew and some of what will from now on be called the Resolution Crew had me over for a welcome BBQ; the first of several.

I dove straight into work that Monday. I had a week of MSHA training and then began my internship. I’m spending the first month is core prep/logging to get a better understanding of the deposit. After that I will be spending the remainder of the time working on a project with the chief geologist (and New Zelander) Hamish. Work is great and life is great! So far events on the weekends have included: numerous BBQs, a trip to the Grand Canyon, a trip to Sedona, a beautiful hike in the Boyce Canyon State Park/Arboreutm, Comicon, karaoke with coworkers, pool parties, and more!

I’ll put a few pics up here in a second!

Until next time (I’ll try to update more!),

Molly

F.I.N.A.L.S

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:07:01 -0400

HEY ALL!

Guess what?!? It’s finals week which means I’m writing this in order to avoid facing all of the work I still have left to do tonight :)

It is an exciting time out here in Pullman, WA. The coffee shops are PACKED with undergrads cramming for the first day of finals tomorrow. I have two papers due on Monday and then a big assignment due Wednesday. The good news is after I turn it in on Wednesday, I will be driving to Spokane (lovingly referred to as Spokompton) to pick up my parents!!!!

Originally they were just going to come for a few days but it looks like they will be staying and making the drive to Arizona with me. That’s right. ARIZONA. IN THE SUMMER. YIKES.

Pending all of the paperwork, I will be starting an internship May 14th with Resolution Copper Company/RioTinto (AKA the LARGEST mining company IN THE WORLD).

There are 3 former Northwest Bearcats down there already and they put in a good word for me and then one is going to let me crash at her place for the summer. I AM BEYOND EXCITED! I had the chance to chat with Lien (my future roomie) today and they are all so excited for me to come down….I can’t really put into words how much that means to me!

Better get back to work….more soon….

Molly

Here is a picture of Sandra (the bride-to-be), Mary-Kate, and...

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:21:52 -0400

Here is a picture of Sandra (the bride-to-be), Mary-Kate, and myself at the bridal shower this weekend (see post below).

Wonderful Weekend

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:39:52 -0400

It’s been a while, and similar to an old friend calling, I feel the need to catch up with everyone out there!

I’ve been very busy but things slowed down a little last week when I became very sick. Not hospital sick, but definitely “not going to class/my whole body hurts/don’t bother me” sick. And because of this, I did the unspeakable….I WENT TO STUDENT HEALTH (dun dun dun). No matter where I am, I dread going to student health. I have this fear that no matter how sick I am, I’ll pick up another, WORSE disease from going there. Surprisingly, it was a GREAT experience. The doctor was pretty sure I had mono and put me on some meds. Luckily, I felt better by Friday so it definitely wasn’t mono (yay)!

Being sick kind of gives you a “free pass” from accomplishing all the things you need to get done…and then it was the weekend. It was a wonderful weekend! The grad students got together on Friday at a local establishment and relaxed. Saturday I climbed Kamiak Butte with my good friend Kirk at 8am. It was a gorgeous day and a gorgeous view! Then I went to a baseball game with my good friend Allen; even though the Cougs lost, it went to extra innings and was just an all around good time. The rest of the day was just spent relaxing, which is hard to come by in grad school.

AND THEN THERE WAS SUNDAY. SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY was girls day. 5 girls. One SUV. One trip to Spokane. Unlimited shopping. Sandra’s bridal shower. Shoe shopping. Several long chats with by bestie Stephanie. Oh Sunday….why is it Monday???????

Photo

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:37:48 -0400