New binoculars!
I went out to the Audubon Society after work yesterday and tried out several binoculars. The most beautiful pair cost about $1200! No, that's not a typo. That's twelve HUNDRED dollars. Yowza! I opted for the "less expensive" pair, but they actually are very nice and I think they will work well for me. I can also give myself props for buying the binoculars made by a local company, called Leupold. They are quite reputable and are stationed out in Beaverton.
Right after buying the binocs, I just had to go out and try them, so Keith and I wandered out into the trails at the Audubon Society and searched for birds. First, we spotted the American Robin, and then wandered down to the pond and watched a pair of Mallards for a while. Sure, both are easy birds to spot, and common everywhere, but I need practice so I'll stare at anything with feathers right now. And they really are all so beautiful to see up close.
We then ventured down to the creek and spotted some Northern Waterthrushes. We watched them for quite some time and then spotted some Brown Creepers, creeping up the trees. We started losing light and the park closes at dusk, so we had to leave.
I'm so excited about my new binoculars, though. I've brought them with me to work today. I think on my break I'll wander out to the Willamette to see what I can spot. If only the river were not so horribly polluted these days. What a wonder it would be if the Bald Eagle returned to this region. There must've been a time when they were abundant; before we turned the river edges into industrial waste sites. We trade the wildlife for green ($). Such is the price for profit.

"Maybe Sparrow"

This is just a beautiful video and anything with birds makes me happy right now.

The singer is Neko Case:

Neko Case

Happy Spring Equinox!



It's finally here! My Statistics final is tonight and then I'm hitting the trails at Forest Park as fast as I can! I need to get back into shape in time for our trip to wander around the Utah desert this summer. I have to mold my backend into something more than just a hunk of unsculpted clay. I do believe I have actually developed the dreaded "secretary's butt". That will not do.

Happy spring everyone!

Spanish Final Today.

I was unsure how I really was doing in my Spanish class, so I sent an email to my instructor last Thursday to see what my grade was thus far. I'm glad I asked, because my instructor has told me that I'm doing well in the class, but that she plans to give me a B because I (according to her records) have three absences! She says I can get an A if I make up my absences. Hello?! What is she talking about? I only ever missed ONE class and I had called her prior to missing that class to let her know I wouldn't be there. The instructor never officially took role until about the middle of the term, anyway, so I can only assume she had mixed me up with another student, but marked it on my attendence record. It makes me mad that my grade should be affected by attendance when I always have to go to such trouble to get to and from class every night.
Anyway, I sent my instructor an email objecting to her claim and told her I've only ever missed one class and that I can probably get my classmates to vouch for me on that, but she hasn't bothered to respond yet. I'm slightly worried because another classmate of mine was complaining that the instructor told her she was missing a ton of homework, when this girl knew she had turned it all in, but the instructor got very angry assuming the girl was lying and demanded proof that she really had done her homework. So the girl had to dig around to find her all of her old homework.
So how do *I* prove that I was in class? That won't be easy.
My Spanish final is this evening, so hopefully my instructor is fair and I can talk to her about it. It's just a B, sure, but since I know I've earned an A and that the only thing from keeping from that grade is her poor organizational skills, well, that's just not right.
Last week, I found out that I don't have to take anymore Spanish to complete the degree requirments and I am SO relieved about that. I prefer sciences and math over foreign languages. Yuck.

Just counting down the days until spring break.

Just one more week of classes and then finals are next week. I cannot wait for this term to be over.
I've registered for spring term and I've signed up for the funnest classes! I just can't wait! First, I'll be taking Environmental Studies. It is a day class, so I have to figure out how to work around my school schedule. We'll see how that goes.
I also will be taking Birds and Taxonomy. That is the class that I am particularly stoked about. I was planning on taking a writing course, but the one I wanted to take was all filled up, so I ended up browsing around for a class that would interest me and I discovered the Birds class. Keith is also signed up for it, so we will be taking this class together.
I'm so excited for the Birds class because I've been trying to study birds on my free time, reading books and observing calls, etc., but homework has had to take priority in my life, so I've not reallybeen able to dedicate as much time to birding as I have wanted. This will satisfy my hobby AND earn me credits in college. Can't beat that!

A brilliant, brilliant group. I love everything Elbow. This band is from Manchester and they are touring right now for their 3rd album "Leaders of the Free World". We've got tickets to see them here on April 12th and I'm absolutely ecstatic! They are my favorite band this year. You've got to check them out, if you've not heard them before.

ELBOW


"Picky Bugger"

I've Been Tagged!

4 Jobs I've had:
1. Millcreek Coffee Roasters - Barista/Manager
2. Lerner (NY & Co.) - Part-time Clerk
3. Trask Britt - File Clerk, Accnts Payable, Legal Assistant
4. Klarquist Sparkman - Legal Assistant

4 movies I can watch over and over:
1. Ferris Beuller's Day Off
2. Edward Scissorhands
3. Sixteen Candles
4. Annie Hall

4 Places I've lived:
1. Taylorsville, UT
2. Salt Lake City, UT
3. Beaverton, OR
4. Oregon City, OR

4 Places I Want to Live:
1. Arizona or New Mexico (just for a year or two)
2. Virginia
3. Arkansas
4. Maine/New York (? somewhere up there)

4 TV shows I love:
1. Sex & the City
2. Family Guy
3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
4. Dirty Jobs

4 Highly Regarded TV shows I've never watched a minute of:
1. Desperate Housewives
2. ER
3. West Wing
4. Scrubs

4 Places I've Vacationed:
1. Zion/Capitol Reef/Bryce Canyon, etc.
2. Redwood National Forest
3. Yellowstone National Park
4. London

4 Places I Wish I Could Vacation:
1. Galapagos Islands
2. Germany
3. New Zealand
4. Amazon

4 Favorite Dishes:
1. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
2. Hummus, Calamata Olives, Feta & Pita Bread
3. Veggie Sushi and Tempura
4. Scrambled Eggs n' Cheese

4 Sites I Visit Daily:
1. grist.org
2. webct.pcc.edu
3. yahoo.com
4. blogspot.com

4 Places I'd Rather Be Right Now:
1. Home in bed
2. In the desert sitting on a red rock watching the moon rise and bats fly about
3. Snuggled in a sleeping bag without a tent… in the desert (oooh! I miss it!)
4. Hiking a forest trail with my backpack

4 People I'm Tagging:
1. Kristen
2. Anita
3. …who else reads my blog?...
4. …lame… I've got no one else to tag.