On my Self-Education

I'm not going to get super philosophical with my definition of self-education. In this case, I'm simply referring to voluntary activity similar to what I would be required to do were I still in school. Essentially, my efforts are being focused on obtaining textbooks, reading them, and taking notes. You could argue that it's not the most effective way to learn, but it's what I'm used to so why not go with it? It's unfortunate that I can't really incorporate a field component very easily. For example, my current subject of study is geology. I can go out and attempt to look at rocks and rock formations all I want, but without an experienced geologist to guide me, answer questions, and either confirm or correct my thoughts, it isn't going to help me much. And so I am utilizing the textbook. But no matter: knowledge gained from books, if nothing else, provides a solid basis for experiential knowledge that may be gained later in life. I am aware of how inarticulate this paragraph may be...and I don't really care all that much. I'm sorting through thoughts a little bit here, and I feel like updating so why the hell not?

So geology is sort of interesting I guess. Learning the basics is a little dull, and I'm eager to get to chapters later in the book. But I don't want to rush it, because oftentimes boring stuff can be important to know, and it may inform more exciting stuff. Overall I'm making decent progress. I think I've read 6 chapters at this point? And since the book is due back next Monday, I've had it for 2 1/2 weeks. Not too shabby, but I'll definitely be renewing it at least once, probably twice. Interesting observation: one would think that chapters on natural disasters would be the good, juicy stuff that most people would want to read about. But I skipped the chapter on volcanism after the igneous rock chapter in favor of trudging right through sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, and I definitely plan on skipping the chapter on earthquakes. I may go back to them later, but my initial reaction was that these topics just didn't pique my interest.

I know that it's looking somewhat far ahead, but I'm debating whether my next subject should be Ornithology or Genetics. If I put off genetics, I'll probably continue to do so in favor of more interesting topics, but I'd really like to have a basic understanding of the subject (beyond the Mendelian stuff you learn in intro bio and E&E). And given that my textbook source is currently the library, and said books have a due date and a limit on the # of renewals, I don't want to take on multiple subjects at the same time (especially since I plan on reading various other books too). I suppose if I find a good textbook at Goodwill or something I can pick it up and take as long as I would like. But last time I was there (which, admittedly, was a couple of months ago) they didn't really have anything that I felt like buying.

Question: how bored does one have to be to actually read through blog posts of this nature? If someone else wrote this and I started reading it, I think I'd move on after the first few sentences...

Oh well, whatevs.

2009 New Years Predictions!!!

I know they're late, but it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, does it? I am determined to go through with this tradition, especially after Reyan actually WROTE about it.

1.Winter and spring in WA will be dull, but the summer will make it worthwhile.

2.President Obama will assume a major role in addressing climate change, but will fall short with energy policies.

3.Reyan will get another job writing about sports :)

4.I will get a sub-par job, but I will actually be making money (which I will then save up for travel/grad school)

5.While in WA, I will consistently follow a self-education program which I began this very day by checking out a geology textbook from the library. Genetics is next.

6.Erin and I will coordinate a really awesome camping trip for this summer.

7.At least one more of my friends will get engaged.

8.I will once again remain single this year.

9.I will NOT get poison ivy or stung by bees at all this year!

10.I will find $5.


So there you go. Happy New Year! Just think, this is the last year that you'll be able to date things with a year beginning with '0. Unless the science of preserving heads in jars to survive indefinitely is perfected within our lifetimes. Which is possible, given that many modern celebrities have heads in jars in Futurama. Of course many dead people also have heads in jars, so clearly they will develop the technology to resurrect heads, but in a lot of cases I doubt some of those celebrities WOULD be resurrected. I'm sure it's a costly process, and it wouldn't be worth it for many of the heads on that show. But the point is still moot I guess, since heads in jars can't sign a date anyways. Unless they have cyborg or robot bodies. I'll bet most of us won't get those.

2008 New Years Predictions Reviewed.

In the past I've been good about getting these done before the new year, but this year the holiday time was unusually busy. In a good way. I saw a lot of people, and I'm glad I did because I had to. I fly back out to WA tomorrow, and I won't be back in OH again until August. It's kind of scary that 2009 will be roughly 2/3 over by the time I get back; oh how the time does fly.

Unfortunately, the first thing that I happened to do in 2009 was get the flu. It was actually really bad, too. I wasn't able to travel back to Maple Heights on the 1st, so I spent an additional night at Erin's house. I REALLY hope that nobody else gets sick!

Anyways, in the interest of brevity (since I'm still not feeling so great), I shall review last year's predictions and hopefully I will still be motivated to post 2009 predictions tonight.

2008 Predictions Reviewed:

1. I will graduate from Denison, and it will be an incredibly messy slew of emotions.

Yes, I suppose this was a given, but I was surprisingly numb on the actual day of graduation. I guess there was just so much going on and it happened so fast. I am, however, extremely glad that I've been able to see as many Denison people as I have since graduation, I'm glad that I've stayed in contact with so many people, and for those who I haven't seen yet, hopefully there will be opportunities in 2009.

2. One of my friends will have a difficult time adjusting to life after Denison.

Nothing too serious that I can think of.

3. One of my friends will be presented with an amazing and unexpected opportunity.

Hmmm...not super sure about the "unexpected" part. I'm also apparently having a mental block tonight (I blame being sick) and apparently can't think of specific examples of anything, really. Also, this question is so very subjective and relies on the perspective of the one granted the opportunity much moreso than me...

4. Reyan will finally finish something (I’m not giving up on that one)!

Have you? ;)

5. I will show interest in another girl, but I will remain single the whole year.

Depends on how you define "interest." I did go on a date, but I doubt that will lead anywhere, seeing as she's going to be in Costa Rica for most of the time I'm in WA. I did, however, remain single :D

6. I will go on an amazing camping trip and finally see a large predator in the wild.

Ha, I don't even remember how many black bears I saw in the Smokies. Somewhere between 10 and 20. If you count them as large predators. They're mostly omnivores, sure, but they ARE in the Order Carnivora and they DO weigh more than me. Aside from that I did see some rather large cougar tracks while hiking in the Cascades with Erin, but we never saw the owner of said tracks (of course we were hiking at night and probably wouldn't have seen the kitty if it were right off the trail, but I digress...)

7. I will come to a realization about my future which will inform my grad school search.

More like scattered thoughts I suppose. I did realize that I definitely do not want to live in a large city (my definition of large is probably much smaller than most people's...). Ok, so I figured that before but living in Everett has really proven it. Other than that uhhh...I guess I haven't really thought about grad school all that much. I still have plenty of time. I do miss the academic environment, and so I guess that's telling too, right?

8. Someone I know will decide to live in a different country.

Does it count if I also met said person this year? Sure, why not! Paul, one of my fellow SCA interns from the Smokies, is doing a Masters program in England. Oh, and I guess Alice Brindle is too, so there's two people in different countries.

9. I will have distressing financial troubles.

I wouldn't call them "distressing" yet, at least not for me, but I'm sure many people would not be too happy if they were in my shoes. Or boots, specifically, because my lovely Gore-Tex boots are getting too worn out, and so they leak. And I can't afford new ones. Oh, and my other pairs of shoes are falling apart. I've pretty much brushed footwear off as a low priority until the situation becomes much more dire.

10. I will spend my “time off” after graduation meaningfully.

Yay SCA! The summer was good. My AmeriCorps position has certainly been meaningful so far as well, if not consistently as enjoyable as the SCA internship. I'll just have to try to get as much out of my residency in the Evergreen State as I can while I'm there!

So 6/10 for 2008. 7 if Reyan actually finished anything, but I'm guessing since he was so busy getting published a billion times that he probably did not...