Isn’t it Friday Yet?!

Wow, the past two weeks have FLOWN - and maybe it’s because I had so much to do! I wasn’t expecting to get hit so hard worth school, but I did! I realized that I hadn’t posted, and then also that I needed to figure out a farewell blog. So this may be it unless something amazing happens before the new blogs get posted within the next few weeks - btw, they are going to be great! I’ve met the new bloggers and I think they’ll have very exciting input for those considering Ball State. Hopefully one or two of them posts about our visit from Dave Letterman this past Friday:)

Anyway, as it’s the end of my blogging and I’m approaching the end of my schooling (for now, for some self-torture reason, I’m considering grad school within the next few years), I thought the best thing would be to do a “If I could do it all over” list… So here it is:

(it’s a long list after 4 years! Clearly, I may have had to had a different major to do some of these - there is only so many hours in a day, but it’s a general wish list - not a realistic one;)

If I could do college all over, I would have…

Concerning BSU:

- gotten more involved with campus

- gone to more events

- run for homecoming queen - haha, just kidding

- pushed for policy change more (i.e. I wish our dining halls would serve more local food when they can - we could create a market, but we haven’t)

- joined Students for a Sustainable Campus

- applied for more scholarships - worst that could have happened is that I wouldn’t have gotten them

- walked around Christy Woods more often

- sat by the Duck Pond more

- been a tour guide!

Concerning Classes:

- appreciated my classes more - it’s amazing how much of an education I haven gotten, but I always complain while I’m getting it!

- improved my time management skills

- maybe dropped a minor (I have two) so I would have had more time for classes that would have just made me more well-rounded

- studied abroad for more than 5 weeks

- let a B be enough sometimes (that was hard to even type out so maybe I couldn’t have done that)

- picked up a nutrition/dietetics minor (not sure there even is one, though I assume there is) or at least taken a few classes on it

- taken a woodshop class

- repeated social dance just because I loved it

- taken classes P/F just so I could learn the information without worrying about it being for a grade which sometimes takes the fun out of learning

Concerning CAP:

- hung out with my studio mates more - there are only 30 of us, and I wish I knew some better than I do

- walked around CAP to see what other people were doing more

- started more conversations about design with archs and urban planners to improve my own design methods and fostered a better relationship for the professional future

- done more independent reading concerning some of the topics we researched

- sketched more!

- had less MD freshman year - I can’t believe I still have teeth?

- realized earlier that all-nighters in studio can be some of the best memories with friends and classmates (and also some of the worst!)

- taken the second level of computer class - improved autoCAD and Sketch-up skills

- helped with the BSU Backyard project more than the one time

Concerning Life in General:

- spent more outside of studio time with friends;)

- taken roadtrips to visit friends at other colleges every once in awhile

- watched tv less

- had more dinner parties

- exercised more my freshman year - exercised more in general

- not kissed that random guy at that party freshman year - who knows what he had?! (Okay, I still would have - those eyes!)

- explored Muncie more

- walked the Cardinal Greenway

- taken MITS more often

- done outside reading - my “wish list” for books is a mile long, but I don’t make the time for it

- had more of those talks with friends that last until 2 AM

- chosen friends over homework a little more often

- worried about the future less

- kept in better contact with high school friends

- backed up my computer on an external hard drive more often!

- spent less time on Facebook and more time face to face with friends

- told my friends how awesome they were more often - (you GUYS ROCK and I couldn’t have done anything without you)

- spent more outside of class time with professors, they are an amazing resource and can be fantastic friends (Thanks Steve, Dan, Malcolm, German, Cindy, Dr. Eflin, Les and all of my professors who have pushed me that extra step!)

- thanked adminstrators and adminstrative assistants more - nothing would get done without them! (Thanks Marilyn, Judy, Melanie and all of those who do things that keep the all the balls in the air for the rest of us!)

A final note - thank you Nancy, John, Sean, and Jason - you have been the heart and soul of our little operation for the last two years, and I have loved it!

A BIG thank-you to those of you who have actually read my dribble;) I hope it was insightful and informative, or at least a good way to procrastinate! Those of you have asked questions rock my socks - after all, the blog is for you, and not for our own amusement. I will miss this “job.”

Well, I was going to post pictures from the summer, since I am missing New England and the lack of internet restricted what I could post over the summer… but now the images are just showing up as x-boxes, so that will have to be a later entry.

It’s FINALLY Friday (at least if you have followed the theme of my blog…it’s my last year) Soon, my blog will be replaced with 12 fresh faces - I’ll continue as a behind the scenes gal, but my actual blog days are numbered:)

My roommate, Kristen, has been continually repeating that it is our last first day - a little bittersweet. Let’s face it - when you hit your fifth year of college (which is a huge reality for many college students, and not optional if you are in Landscape Architecture at BSU) you are a little ready for it to be over. However, it is also a little terrifying to realize that in a year, you have to join the real world… YIKES!

Over the last few years, I have realized that it is probably not my last first day… as I’ve been toying with the idea of grad school for awhile - something I had been positive I was not going to do when I signed up for college;)

As far as first days go… it was typically as stressful:) Our first class today was our LA Research class - I think everyone left a little panicked about the school year. I don’t remember any of last year’s 5th years freaking out about it though, so maybe it won’t be as bad as we’re all anticipating! My second class was Water Resources. Our prof seems great - and I think I’ll get some good info from the class. Last, was of course, studio. Foolishly, most of us thought, “oh, it’s the first day, we won’t have to do anything.” I think we all forgot what studio is actually like when we didn’t have it last semester - I can’t think of a studio where I haven’t had at least a little assignment. Anywho - we had two hours to interpret “Urban” on a 12×12 base - people had to be rather creative considering the lack of supplies. Mine was made from recycled materials downstairs, and held together thanks to Kristen and I’s roommate, Marissa, who kindly brought one of my supply boxes (I have all sorts of odds and ends in my tackle box of goodies - including a hot glue gun). Wednesday, we’ll start our next project - a competition submittal.

For now, I’m just prepping for my HONRS 100 class that I am a returning Peer Mentor for. I finally finished my syllabus, and I’m hoping the new freshman enjoy what I have planned for our 9 meetings.

I feel all out of wack - I still haven’t unpacked my room all the way (I’m not sure Marissa appreciates it, since we are sharing the master bedroom), I don’t have all of my books, I just bought my planner this morning - full chaos… which I’ll admit is my accidental style usually, but not to as high of a level as this semester. Too much to do - too little time:(

Yesterday, my day started at 3 AM in New Haven, to prep for a day of travel to Tucson, AZ for the Udall Conference. The Udall is a National scholarship for people focusing on careers involving the environment or for those who are interested in Native American policy and health care. It is a congressionally created foundation in honor of Morris K. Udall. There are 81 scholars this year - and from the 50 or so of them that I’ve met - every one of them are amazing.

My flight out of Hartford took off at 6:40 AM, I had a layover in Charlotte and then went onto Phoenix before finally making it to Tucson. In otherwords, it was a long freaking day. Luckily, after checking in, I got a quick nap before a little cocktail hour (without cocktails) started. We are staying in a very sweet Marriott (fully paid trip)… want to see my “crappy” view:

(hopefully those show up - they aren’t here. I’ll reload them later if not)

After “cocktail” hour, we met the board and those that help set up the conference and then did “speed dating” so that we could meet more people. At the end of the evening we all enjoyed some drinks by the pool - overall a very rough day;)

Not having internet at my house is quite irritating at best. It’s really hard to get in 8 hrs/day when you are basically working on your own, when you have to go in somewhere to work, but you also have to use that time to check e-mail, blogs, facebook;) etc. I received a comment from Bob awhile ago, but only have a brief moment to respond to it now (I’m in Vermont at a hotel that has Wi-Fi… thank goodness).

Bob pasted an article about BSU’s construction of the stadium and how the construction site is causing erosion issues that are creating contamination issues in Cardinal Creek. He asked what I thought about this as landscape architecture student…

Well, honestly, 1) I don’t know how I feel about our stadium construction in the first place. A pretty stadium is not going to change our records… the people who aren’t going to the games aren’t not going because the stadium isn’t nice enough. That’s a little blunt and harsh, but it’s reality. I will admit I went to a couple games last year and actually had a good time because the cheering section seems to have returned… Spirit is what makes a game worth going to… I know that has nothing to do with your question, Bob, but I thought I would put it out there that I don’t know if I agree construction should be going on there at all - but that’s not for me to decide. 2) I agree that Ball State should take responsibility if it is their doing - unfortunately, as a fellow LA, you also realize that sediment is a major nonpoint source pollution issue and is often “untraceable”… not being in the city for the summer, I could hardly say with certainty that they are doing it and I agree full-heartedly with you (sorry for the somewhat political answer, but I think it’s fair in the circumstances?). Erosion control is a HUGE environmental issue, not only on construction sites, but in the aftermath of construction as drainage patterns and vegetation are drastically changed. Sediment is a major pollutant for those of you who were unaware. It doesn’t seem like “dirt” should be such a threat to the health of a waterway, but it truly is.

My 3rd thought concerning your post, Bob, is that there are several things that I think Ball State should really start leading the way in, but it’s baby steps, as we have many promising programs. I wish the LA students could be more involved in general with some campus landscape issues, but there are unfortunately too much politics for that to happen. My guess is, the LA department professors already have expressed concern to the powers that be and don’t need the students to tell them we care about it - which isn’t to say we won’t, but we care because we have professors who have taught us to care about more than the bare minimum.

The next thing to really look at is whether the people all over the area who cause contamination issues every day to Cardinal Creek are ever being addressed. Point source pollution (like the construction site would be if it can be determined that it is coming from ONE specific source) is clearly the “easiest” to deal with, because it can be pinpointed - and therefore, people can point fingers at those who are to be blamed. Nonpoint source pollution - such as the fertilizer people spread on their lawns, the pet waste people do not clean up, the car washing soaps, etc. is another issue that Muncie (and most definitely BSU) should really start to take concern with… and maybe they have and I’m unaware. Like I said, I feel a little out of the loop while I’m out on the east coast, and even when I’m there, I’m so busy (maybe too busy?) with schoolwork to know what’s going on anywhere besides in front of me.

I went home to Lafayette for a week to help take care of my mom and the house a bit… but the real story is my trip back to Connecticut. I flew out of LaGuardia (to save a measely $50 at the end of the day… but it was worth it!) to go home, and also flew back into it. On the way out of town, my roommates and I decided to make a trip out of it, so we all went to NYC for the weekend. Unfortunately, Alice’s phone wasn’t working and she had stayed with her sister while Amandla and I stayed with her aunt in Mount Vernon East. Needless to say, we never connected with Alice because of the phone issue:(

My and Amandla’s trip was low key, but fun. We rode the train to Mount Vernon East on Friday evening, and visited with her aunt for quite awhile when we arrived. Saturday, Amandla needed to get her hair redone (as there are not a plethora of good African hairstyling places in New Haven), which took about 3 hours, so we chatted while she was getting that done. We finally headed into NYC around 4! My friend Josh from school had requested that I find and take a picture of the restaurant Seinfeld was often filmed at, and so Amandla and I did just that. Conveniently, there was a delicious French restaurant just across the street for us to eat dinner at afterwards. After dinner, we enjoyed a little dress-up at American Apparel (you’ll NEVER see those pics… yikes!) We thought we could maybe catch Ocean’s 13 near Times Square so we caught the subwayup there. Unfortunately, the 8 o’clock was sold out, and I had an early flight out Sunday, so we didn’t want to wait for the 10. We found Cafe O which served fresh smoothies (I’m doing a detox and have a weird diet right now), so we enjoyed one of those and ran to catch the train from Grand Central back to Mount Vernon East (about a 15 minute train ride).

Sunday, Amandla got up VERY early with me to catch the train to 125th Harlem, which was the stop to then pick up the M60 bus to go to LaGuardia. Harlem is much nicer than I imagined - weird how history seems frozen in our minds, blocking out what the present is actually like. I must admit, the only parts of Harlem I saw were from the train because the bus stop is literally across the street from the train stop. The M60 ride went much better than I expected and LaGuardia was much smaller than I had envisioned!

The flight back was the most exciting part. On my way back into NYC - we flew RIGHT over Manhattan - and CENTRAL PARK! Oh my goodness, I couldn’t have asked for a better view - it was like paying for a sweet helicopter ride (I was in a commuter plane - only about 40 passengers). I think my fellow landscape architecture students would have squealed with delight (as I did under my breath) - I could see the outlines of all of the blankets on the Sheep Meadow, kids playing in the Great Lawn and tons of people in the pool - I was ridiculously excited. It’s not the same walking through it! I also noticed that Manhattan has a surprising large number of green roofs - not full ones, but ones with trees at the very least… again, very exciting for this landscape architecture student!

The trip back to New Haven was an adventure, that went much smoother than I was expecting. I caught a shuttle from LGA that goes straight to Grand Central Station ($8.50 student fare… P.S. Ball State’s Student ID doesn’t work to buy it… we don’t have an expiration date, so they won’t accept it. Amandla bought mine when we went into New York) and then caught the 7:07 train back to New Haven ($14 - cheaper if you buy it online) after grabbing a quick bite to eat. Alice picked me up from the train station when I got in at 8:56 - it was a breeze. I’m not sure I’d want to do that on a flight that wasn’t nonstop, but it wasn’t too bad with a nonstop flight.

Work gets better every week here. This past week, Chris, my boss, and I really hammered out how to go about working on the booklet for the community. I realized just how overwhelming these books are. When we make them in studio, we make one spread usually (2 pages facing each other), and now I am doing about 20 spreads by myself on a wide variety of topics! See as how I’m looking at a possibility of being in Boston or LA after graduation, it’s probably good that I understand coastal issues. I am learning so much, and I am also getting an opportunity to teach others about not only what I am learning, but also what I have learned from my four years at Ball State.

On Friday, I showed an FES (Forestry and Environmental Studies) grad student some simple graphic techniques for landscape design so that her community groups can see a level of professionalism and so her thoughts can be visualized more easily by them. I’m around FES students who are interns for my boss, Chris, working for a different cause (they are doing work for something called U.R.I: Urban Resource Initiative – a program I think Ball State could really pick up as well). It’s good for both of us… because I’ve learned a lot being around them, but can also share my graphic knowledge, as well as my plant knowledge.

Work continues to move steadily along, spread by spread. I am still doing some work at City Plan, but since the Indiana Jones’ filming started here, it’s nearly impossible to get close enough to it - so I’ll start back up there when I come back from visiting home next week. For the Fourth, I am helping check people into a private viewing area for fireworks. Those who are members of the Elm City Parks Conservancy can go to the top of East Rock (a park here, but also the name of one of the cliffs that overlooks New Haven)… this also means I get to be up there and supposedly you can see all of the fireworks around New Haven. I get to add my two lovely roommates, Amandla and Alice to the list.

How is it already July?! It is oddly cool here for July - but maybe it’s not odd for New Haven… just for me? I am not melting like I would be in Indiana - but this cool weather would bum me out if I was going to the lake. Since I am just working outside occassionally, and not getting in any water - it seems absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

Yes sirree… this is a tough job. I had to go canoeing twice this week, as the sun was setting on the Quinnipiac River (the largest of those that run through New Haven, CT). I helped take out a group for the Arts and Ideas festival/Parks Department. It was absolutely beautiful and I got to see the barge designed by Louis Kahn. I also saw the exact replica of the Amistad, which took to sea yesterday… retracing its original route (well, kind of).

I’ve been working in the City Plan office updating a GIS map, which I was amazed I remembered how to do from my short info in my 4th year studio course. I am learning a lot about public access to water and easements. I have also continued to work on the booklet that will be distributed to the community to help them become more aware of the issues surrounding the Q River.

Yep, tough life I have at this internship. Wednesday was especially hard - when I worked at a butterfly garden just before my canoe trip;)

This weekend I am going to Block Island (Rhode Island) with my roommates and the Yale Presidential Fellowship program students. The fellowship puts Yale students in positions around New Haven to help them become more invested in the community. It sounds similar to BSU’s Business Fellows program… there are usually a number of different ones at BSU each year. I have a few friends who are in Business Fellows for an environmental project - but instead of being placed in a job position, they work in a group with local business groups.

This coming Tuesday there is an Indiana Jones celebration (part of the 4th one is being filmed here!!!!) - guess where I’ll be on Tuesday?

I have also learned that I really enjoy bike riding, as I took a 14 mile bike ride last Saturday… maybe I’ll really use the Greenway when I get back to Muncie… I’ve been too whimpy to try to take my bike out, because it had been a long time since I had ridden!

There are people out here who know about BSU - my jaw almost dropped to the floor;) Everyone assumes I am a Yale student… but I proudly correct them. I have decided that I am glad I did not try to go Ivy League… I’m sure it’s great for some, but I prefer our more directed studies:) Everyone here is wonderful (so far), but I do miss my friends from school a bit!

Okay, the major downside to my cabin in the woods? No internet! I am in a coffee bar and it is time I head to the Parks Department to pick up some research materials. I have a tough evening in front of me - listening to the Wind Orchestra for free:)

I did not fall off the face of the planet. As I mentioned earlier, my family had a little mini crisis. My mom was recently diagnosed with cancer and my bosses were, fortunately, very understanding as I took 2 weeks off to go to various doctors appointments and a surgery with my mom.

The situation with my mom has really made me think about those with similar situations who maybe are trying to decide whether or not they should go away to college when they also want to be at home with their loved one. Right now, I’m trying to decide if I even want to stay at my internship, and how to fix my schedule for next semester to optimize time to go home. My mom, of course, protested me coming home for the summer – because she knows I love my job. If you are in a similar situation – I still suggest going “away” for school – but maybe to the college only a couple hours away, rather than the one across the country. Being at BSU, I can get home in 2 hours flat. And if you don’t have that situation, but one comes up later – you can’t feel bad because at some point you had to leave the nest and live your life as well. Phones and e-mail can be amazing tools – and more recently, I truly started to appreciate just how genius a blog is, as my family started keeping one to let close friends and family know about what’s going on with her treatment.

On a lighter note, I am back in Connecticut and finally in my house. I love my roommates – they are two “Yalies” – and you thought Cardinals was weird;) They are officially the Bulldogs (I think) – but they go by Yalies. We’re all working for different parts of the Parks department (essentially, anyway).

My job has changed since the situation with my mom started. I am no longer working for an SCA program (Student Conservation Association). My bosses decided to cancel the program for the summer – due to my needed flexibility, and the fact that the other intern decided not to show up and the policy for the job I was going to do is that 2 interns must be on the sites at all times. So now, I am primarily focusing on the booklet for the grant that I started working on awhile ago. It’s kind of great because it is similar to studio projects I have done… *GASP* something was like a real life project! Actually, one of my professors has even been helping me here and there – sending me good sources to look at. Anyway, I love the work I’m doing – though I must admit, digging through permit requests at City Planning has not been a highlight, per se.

I still get to do some of my outdoor work. I will be canoeing to document some of the riverfront properties and also to give tours of the Quinnipiac River. I will also still be doing some landscape work with community groups. Next Wednesday, I get to start working in a butterfly garden with a bunch of naturalists who are going to school me on plants that attract butterflies and humming birdsJ

The last exciting note for this very long blog entry, I just found out yesterday that I am a finalist for the Frits Loonsten scholarship which is for landscape related major students in Indiana. I have an interview in a couple weeks for it. Some good news was a nice treat for once in a somewhat dreary 3 weeks.

The time I have spent in New Haven, I have absolutely loved… but life had a road bump planned and so I have to see where to go to next. My mom had some emergency medical problems arise, so I actually flew back to Indiana on Tuesday and will be home for a couple of weeks as my family deals with the issue at hand. Then, if the prognosis is good, I’ll head back to Connecticut, otherwise, I may be doing some work from here for them.

Isn’t technology amazing? I absolutely love my job and I don’t want to have to leave doing it, but I NEED to be here with my mom and dad - and I can still do at least some work from here!

Updates may be a bit sparse as this is not going to necessarily be a public issue - but I needed to share why updates about my internship may be a bit short for awhile.

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I’m in love with this part of the country - though I will repeat that Midwestern drivers are more courteous;) It is crazy what has happened so far. I ate dinner at President Bush’s aunt’s house last week and yesterday, a World Champion whitewater canoer taught my certification course for canoeing - he was a very cool guy and I did get my certification (phew - it’s kind of needed for my internship). Yesterday, I was at a party that Paul Hawken’s (author of The Ecology of Commerce - which I highly recommend!) daughter was at - CRAZINESS! I’ve gotten to know some of the Environmental/Foresty students here and they are wonderful. What makes me feel good is that I feel like I’m at their level - we’ve had great conversations (the Yale Grad students and I) - and I’m going to say that I think I’m getting a pretty good education at Ball State - esp. with my Sustainable Land Systems and Natural Resources minors:)

My official job doesn’t start for a couple of weeks (when the other interen, Eugene, will be getting here), but since I have to take off a few days for the Udall scholarship conference, I need to put in some hours in advance. I’m working with the Elm City Parks Conservancy which is a park advocate group for New Haven. I’ve already helped with 2 events. This past week there was a Sip into Spring event (wine tasting and silent auction) that I helped prepare some things for and also helped with set-up and tear down - that was tough;) Today I got to go into the Five Mile Point Lighthouse, which hasn’t been opened to the public for a very long time… but it was open for 4 hours today. It overlooks Long Island Sound… GORGEOUS!

I am, unfortunately, still not really settled in - but hopefully my house will be ready next week!

This week I’m really going to be diving into research of the Quinnipiac River - which I’m pretty excited about.