Pros and cons: Airport edition

I travel on planes pretty often, so you would assume that I am pro at airports and catching flights. You would be very wrong in this assumption. I seem to be incapable of having a smooth airport/plane experience. Either I get picked for extra screening, or I sprint around the airport with my frame backpack and act frazzled. Or there was that one time that I got on the wrong flight. Turns out I was waiting at the wrong gate, and there were two flights to Bangor at 9 pm that night. Why I so stupid??

This weekend I was traveling back to Prescott from DC and stupidly had a half an hour layover in ATL (never do this!!). The airport is huge and I had to sprint through two terminals only to easily get on my flight and wait around while other late people just strolled in. Then I almost missed my shuttle and got stranded in Phoenix.

But I still love flying because you get views like this:

And you get to be places that you love:

With the gimps that you've been missing:

It was a wonderful weekend with camp friends in DC, and we even squeezed in a trip to the Cove. Now it's back to school. I'll put on my teenage mutant ninja turtle hat and go to class now.

Happy Halloweeeen!

Mepps

My housemate Noah bought some stylin' hats at the D.A.V. a while ago. And for some background, the D.A.V. is this magical thrift store where you can find whatever you are looking for for under a dollar, depending on the mood of the lady who rings you up. I've figured out the trick though. When I wear my hair down I get major discounts (Major Discounts!), so I guess she's a curly hair fan. Anyway, the point is that Noah and I have matching hats and this has spawned a couple of fantastic twin days! The first one happened by accident, except for the hats.

The second one was planned out way in advance.

We don't know what 'Mepps' means. It is the great mystery.

And now a word from our sponsors!

General Studies

General Response

Major Beetle Kill

Major Impact

The Ruth Fire

I finally found it! It being 'My Spot', and 'found' meaning I had to go there for my Fire Ecology class anyway. I hadn't been actively looking for a spot, but now that I have found It, my spot it shall be! I'm envisioning it as my place to draw, daydream, reflect, learn, and relax in the sunshine. Oh! I haven't even shown you what it looks like. Here:

Just a barren hillside, I know what you're thinking.


Look a little closer:

Nothing like mullein to make me feel at home.

Juniper sap!

It's quite beautiful and calm. The hill sort of reminds me of the Bald, which is maybe why I like it so much. Ponderosa pines are surrounding the fire site which is a bonus because I think they are my favorite tree species. And there are signs that a possible hobo has been camping at the top of the hill... so that's exciting.
Next time I'll bring my binocs to do some birding.
Stay tuned for the actual latin names of the species pictured-- I'll learn them in class tomorrow!

General Management Plan!

Sometimes I get bored in class. Especially classes that are four hours long, like my block course in Park and Wilderness Management. I occupied myself by writing down all of the "Major" and "General"-isms that were said by people in my class. This is an entertaining game that I learned from How I Met Your Mother. Of course, it was picked up at camp and we couldn't get through a staff meeting without endless salutes. And once you start something, it is hard to stop! We created a monster!

So here is a summary of what I learned over block:
General Feeling
General Land Office
General Idea
General Trend
General Question
General Plans
General Stuff To Bring
General Yahoo Behavior
General Public
Major Conservation Group
Major Barn Was Burning
Major Form
Major Points
Major Concentration
Major Battle
Major Thoroughfare
Major Hike
Major Undertaking
Major Management Thing
Major Lookout Point
Major Conclusions

Imagine saluting to all these higher-ups! I will obviously continue writing these down in class. And post the best ones.

Guessing Game!

Just for shits and giggles, guess what tree is shown in each pic! 
Clue: they're all Arizona trees

1

2

3

To be a white-throated swift...

This morning I had a moment. One of those moments where you can't help but smile, you want to laugh out loud, yell and jump around. But instead you just sit and soak it in and feel content and ecstatic. 
My mom and I were at the Grand Canyon for the past day, and we walked out to the semi-secret overlook, Shoshone Point, at 7 this morning. While my mom was jogging, I sat at the edge of the canyon in the sunshine and all of a sudden I was surrounded by dozens of white-throated swifts. They swooped and soared within feet of my head, so close that I could hear the sound of their wings. The sun was rising, the birds were twirling through the canyon... I can't think of a more perfect beginning to a day.

Mom + sunset at Shoshone Point

I have a new favorite spot and a new favorite bird now, until I have another moment. 

















I've now been to the Grand Canyon twice this week, and I want to go back right now! And go to every other park in the southwest. Hopefully in the next 3 months I'll get to at least a couple more. I feel so lucky to be living in Arizona right now, and taking classes that show me spectacular vistas so that I can take pictas (shout-out to Vista 2 monongo!).

Here is one of my classmates exhibiting the most exhilarating way to look at the canyon... upside down!

I need a time-turner...

...because I just spent way too long reading Harry Potter facts. BUT. I learned SO MUCH. As fun as it is to research white-nose syndrome in bats, I would much rather discover that Diagon Alley is actually a diagonal street. Diagon Alley = diagonally! AAAH!! Knockturn Alley = nocturnally!
http://hpotterfacts.tumblr.com/


In other news, J.K. Rowling took an online quiz and was sorted in Hufflepuff House. I'm a Huff!


In actual real life news, I didn't know what to blog about so my default was Harry Potter. I suppose it is slightly relevant, because exactly one year ago I was having a Harry Potter themed birthday party. In fact, I had the MOST Harry Potter birthday. Ha!

As for Prescott news, I have a week left of my block course-- it's gone by super fast. Pretty soon I'll be moving in to my actual house! As fun as couch crashing has been, I'm excited to have a space to myself. 
I've taken up a hobby-- collecting dead cicadas and painting their heads with glitter nail polish! So many Ke$ha cicadas. But not even the enormous western Ke$ha cicadas can top the original, seen here in Jessie's equally Ke$ha-ed hand.

I will try to actually come up with something to blog about next time. Until then, be on the lookout for a Ke$ha in a mailbox near you!