Friday, October 23, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
1st day of grad classes
Sooo, I went to my first class yesterday and I had a mineralogy quiz about 15 minutes in. Now, the professor didn't take it up for a grade, but still. I am now looking at a list of about 250 minerals that I probably need to memorize. I also have to write a mini-thesis on a petrological description of a thin section. That is all geology-speak for describing the characteristics of a rock sample in great detail. Oh, and I also get to learn how to use the microprobe. All of that is just for my Geochemical Analysis class.
Tectonics is going to end up being very cool, I think. It seems like it will be really laid back and we will spend most of our time just sitting around and discussing the "big picture" aspects of geology. I am pretty excited about that, and I believe we are going to be taking quite a few field trips. Field trips are arguably the best part of studying geology. Anyways, I think I have a paper to write in Tectonics as well, but I get to pick the topic.
I have also pretty much decided I will be doing a mapping project down in the inner piedmont in Georgia next spring. Honestly, I have a hell of a lot to learn about metamorphic rocks. It is going to be an extremely challenging project due to the polydeformed rocks, and the location. There isn't much relief in my field area, and it also happens to be in the SE United States. Outcrops are going to be few and far between.
Well, I am going to cut this one short. I have to go over to the rock room and bust up some big samples so we can make rock/mineral kits for the undergraduates. Yeehaw!
Tectonics is going to end up being very cool, I think. It seems like it will be really laid back and we will spend most of our time just sitting around and discussing the "big picture" aspects of geology. I am pretty excited about that, and I believe we are going to be taking quite a few field trips. Field trips are arguably the best part of studying geology. Anyways, I think I have a paper to write in Tectonics as well, but I get to pick the topic.
I have also pretty much decided I will be doing a mapping project down in the inner piedmont in Georgia next spring. Honestly, I have a hell of a lot to learn about metamorphic rocks. It is going to be an extremely challenging project due to the polydeformed rocks, and the location. There isn't much relief in my field area, and it also happens to be in the SE United States. Outcrops are going to be few and far between.
Well, I am going to cut this one short. I have to go over to the rock room and bust up some big samples so we can make rock/mineral kits for the undergraduates. Yeehaw!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Liasons, technological peaks, and rain
So, I am a couple of months into my research assistantship. The research group has not yet found any definitive evidence of paleo-earthquakes. At some point this week I am supposed to go and do some recon work with another one of the researchers along some majors rivers in the ETSZ. Hopefully we will find something.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
SO to recap the last two days of field work.... We spent a whole lot of time driving around....A little bit of time standing in corn fields, wheat fields, hay fields, and cow pastures....and a really short amount of time collecting samples. I had one job the first day out, use the post hole diggers. Well, that worked for about a hole and a half. I ended up breaking the handle off clean near the "pincer" end of the diggers. I am not sure what sort of reputation that will get me. Oops! I figured they must have been a damn nice set of diggers too, they had been just fine since some time in the mid-1970's. That is a pretty good run for a set of wooden handles.
I guess I didn't know my own strength or something.
I am going out in the field for about a week starting tomorrow with another researcher. I am looking forward to being out on the road, but I am really going to miss my weekend home with the family. I am pretty sure that I will just take an extra day or two off at the end of next week so I can make sure and spend plenty of time with them.
I guess I didn't know my own strength or something.
I am going out in the field for about a week starting tomorrow with another researcher. I am looking forward to being out on the road, but I am really going to miss my weekend home with the family. I am pretty sure that I will just take an extra day or two off at the end of next week so I can make sure and spend plenty of time with them.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
First real Day in the Field
So,today I went to the field with my adviser as well as a couple of other graduate students. Both of the grad students are working in he Piedmont just east of Atlanta, Georgia. These trips are typically used by the graduate students to get some help from our adviser with interpretations of the data they have collected in the field. I asked a lot of questions, but I felt fairly lost for most of the day. I am pretty sure this is to be expected since it has been a few years since I have had an introductory class on metamorphic petrology. I did come away with a good idea of some things I can learn over the summer to make things a bit easier on myself this fall when I start my classes.
On the way down to the field area I told my adviser that was already thinking that I would like to do my masters thesis on a mapping project in the blue ridge or piedmont. I came to UTK to get a really solid background in geologic mapping in very difficult terrain. I am certainly still going to work on the paleoseismic study over the summer, and I may still be involved on some level when the fall comes around. I wouldn't describe my adviser's reaction as overwhelmed with joy when I told him. However, he acknowledged that I would certainly have the option to work on whatever I would like in the fall.
It has been a long day. I think I am going to call the wife, and then read for a bit before I pass out. My brain in serious need of a recharge.
On the way down to the field area I told my adviser that was already thinking that I would like to do my masters thesis on a mapping project in the blue ridge or piedmont. I came to UTK to get a really solid background in geologic mapping in very difficult terrain. I am certainly still going to work on the paleoseismic study over the summer, and I may still be involved on some level when the fall comes around. I wouldn't describe my adviser's reaction as overwhelmed with joy when I told him. However, he acknowledged that I would certainly have the option to work on whatever I would like in the fall.
It has been a long day. I think I am going to call the wife, and then read for a bit before I pass out. My brain in serious need of a recharge.
Monday, May 11, 2009
0507091132.jpg
On Friday I got to tag along with another grad student to his field mapping area near Newport, TN. It ended up being a really beautiful day outside. The field area is covered with farms that have probably been around for about 200 years. We decided to try and track down some outcrops on the top of a big hill. When we hiked to the top there was a pretty spectacular view to the east where the Blue Ridge mountains are.
This week I am reading up on Appalachian mountain building. I have covered a lot of the topics before, but it has been a couple of years. Neat the end of the week I am going to hang out with the cartographer guy across the hall and learn how to use a couple of new software packages. Sveet.
This week I am reading up on Appalachian mountain building. I have covered a lot of the topics before, but it has been a couple of years. Neat the end of the week I am going to hang out with the cartographer guy across the hall and learn how to use a couple of new software packages. Sveet.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tossed Gauntlet
I just looked at the photograph of my office posted in the previous entry. I guess we will find out once and for all which is mightier, the PC or the Mac. I am pretty sure I already know who is going to win that battle, but in the Mac's defense, it is probably quite a bit older than my lappy. Still, it is sort of funny to have both of them sitting side by side on the desk. Maybe I need to put a piece of tape down the center of the desk to keep them from fighting.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
New office
Well it isn't much at the moment, but I will work on that. I will post some more photos soon of the building I will be working in as well as some updates on how things are going.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Made it to campus early
Made it to campus early and even found a parking spot. waiting on someone to show up in my new department now.
Monday, April 20, 2009
So we are pretty much moved in with the in-laws now. I had a busy couple of days to say the least. we have most of our stuff in storage for the summer. Tomorrow we are going to go camping for a few days in the mountains. Next week we are going to the beach for three days too. w00t
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The End of an Era
"Sounds like the good end of an era" is how my best friend described my after-work activity. I sat on my porch and smoked a Montecristo cigar and had a couple of beers. It really is the end of an era. The majority of my 20's have been spent working at an engineering firm in Chattanooga. I went to work there in 2002 right after I moved home from Denver. After about two years of working I started back to school and decided that I would like to move over to the Geotechnical and Dam Safety Department.
While I was attending UTC and taking Geology courses I got to work on some pretty cool projects that actually involved a fair amount of Geology. I was fortunate to get some work experience while I was in school.
While I was driving home this afternoon it suddenly sank in that, "Holy shit, I am really going to graduate school in a couple of weeks". I put in my notice six weeks ago, but it really hadn't hit me until today. Work has been pretty busy since I have been wrapping up a couple of pretty large projects. So, I guess this is it, the end of the 20's, got the degree, got married, had a child, went to field camp, managed a couple of high profile jobs, and somehow came out the other end in one piece.
Now on to the 30's...... only time will tell.
While I was attending UTC and taking Geology courses I got to work on some pretty cool projects that actually involved a fair amount of Geology. I was fortunate to get some work experience while I was in school.
While I was driving home this afternoon it suddenly sank in that, "Holy shit, I am really going to graduate school in a couple of weeks". I put in my notice six weeks ago, but it really hadn't hit me until today. Work has been pretty busy since I have been wrapping up a couple of pretty large projects. So, I guess this is it, the end of the 20's, got the degree, got married, had a child, went to field camp, managed a couple of high profile jobs, and somehow came out the other end in one piece.
Now on to the 30's...... only time will tell.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Less Than Three Weeks Until Move
Sometime this week I need to go and check on getting a storage unit for all of our stuff. The plan, as of today, is to put about 95% of our stuff in storage and spend a couple of months living at my inlaws house. I think I will be traveling quite a bit as a part of my research assistantship this summer. Also, this will give us a couple more months to get all of our credit cards paid off which will be nice.
Last weekend T and I went to talk with a realtor about getting a house in Knoxville. We were sort of hoping to get a really sweet deal on a foreclosure. Apparently, most of those deals are being scooped up by investors, so they are hard for regular people to find. I think we will probably just end up renting a place for the couple of years we are up there. T and t are going up to Knoxville today to look around at some townhomes and condos. We really need some space. Right now we are making due with a 1,000 square foot duplex, and it is really crowded, especially now that we have t. He really needs his own space, and T and I really need our own space for an office. So, hopefully she will come across something that will fit that bill.
I will really only have two more weeks of work after tomorrow. Awesome....
Last weekend T and I went to talk with a realtor about getting a house in Knoxville. We were sort of hoping to get a really sweet deal on a foreclosure. Apparently, most of those deals are being scooped up by investors, so they are hard for regular people to find. I think we will probably just end up renting a place for the couple of years we are up there. T and t are going up to Knoxville today to look around at some townhomes and condos. We really need some space. Right now we are making due with a 1,000 square foot duplex, and it is really crowded, especially now that we have t. He really needs his own space, and T and I really need our own space for an office. So, hopefully she will come across something that will fit that bill.
I will really only have two more weeks of work after tomorrow. Awesome....
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
citg.jpg
Alright, so an entirely new level of cuteness has been attained. Seriously, it is almost impossible to be upset with him these days.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Update and musings
So, I accepted the offer at UT-Knoxville last Thursday. I turned in my notice here at the office. I think my last day is going to be April 17th. I talked with the wife and I think we are going to try and go on a vacation before we move up the road.
There is an extensive laundry list of things I have to do in the next six weeks. Obviously we are going to have to start packing. We will also have to start looking for a place in Knoxville. Also, Tonya will have to start looking for a job of some sort. It is a little daunting, but I am really pumped about getting started on the whole grad school thing.
I am going to start working on a research project this summer with my advisor at UTK. We are going to be looking for evidence of earthquakes in the Tennessee Valley for a government agency. It is going to be a chance for me to get my feet wet with research and also get in some field work. It is going to be an absolutely enormous transition for me I am sure.
Gotta run.... more later
There is an extensive laundry list of things I have to do in the next six weeks. Obviously we are going to have to start packing. We will also have to start looking for a place in Knoxville. Also, Tonya will have to start looking for a job of some sort. It is a little daunting, but I am really pumped about getting started on the whole grad school thing.
I am going to start working on a research project this summer with my advisor at UTK. We are going to be looking for evidence of earthquakes in the Tennessee Valley for a government agency. It is going to be a chance for me to get my feet wet with research and also get in some field work. It is going to be an absolutely enormous transition for me I am sure.
Gotta run.... more later
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
UT-Knoxville
So..... I did, in fact, get an offer from UT-Knoxville. When I originally applied there it was sort of at the bottom of my list. Since I went up to visit the folks at Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) I have really changed my opinion of them quite a bit. For one, the professor that would be my advisor (if I accept the offer) is pretty much the guy as far as Appalachian Structural Geology goes. Also, their department is particularly well funded. I don't think I will have to spend much of my time writing grant proposals.
On the one hand going to UTK would put me in an extremely advantageous position. I would be free to concentrate on my research without the looming threat of losing funding. If I do end up in academia though, it might be good to know how to write grant proposals. Of course, I am sure I will have the opportunity to see how that entire process of getting money for projects works. I may not get any hands on experience though.
I am really excited about the prospect of actually getting out of my current situation though. I am thankful for all of the experience I have gotten while I was an undergraduate student. I am certainly ready to take the next step in my education though. I plan on really busting my ass, no matter where I end up. This is going to be my opportunity to finally work exclusively on things that really interest me. I plan on taking advantage of that.
More to follow soon. I have to send UTK a reply by March 9th.
On the one hand going to UTK would put me in an extremely advantageous position. I would be free to concentrate on my research without the looming threat of losing funding. If I do end up in academia though, it might be good to know how to write grant proposals. Of course, I am sure I will have the opportunity to see how that entire process of getting money for projects works. I may not get any hands on experience though.
I am really excited about the prospect of actually getting out of my current situation though. I am thankful for all of the experience I have gotten while I was an undergraduate student. I am certainly ready to take the next step in my education though. I plan on really busting my ass, no matter where I end up. This is going to be my opportunity to finally work exclusively on things that really interest me. I plan on taking advantage of that.
More to follow soon. I have to send UTK a reply by March 9th.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Whew
I got an email from a professor last night which stated I should be getting an official offer to attend graduate school later this week. I was really not enjoying sitting around and waiting to hear something back from someone, anyone at this point. Now, at least I know all of that scrambling around to get all of those applications in on time wasn't a total waste.
Waugh!
Waugh!
Monday, February 9, 2009
It has been a few weeks since I posted and I suppose it is time for an update. The meeting up at UT-Knoxville went well. I met with Dr. Hatcher and we talked for quite some time about upcoming research and the way things work in the life of grad students there. I also met the acting department chair as well as the graduate admissions chair. Currently, I have the application submitted, but my transcript from UNC still hasn't been added to my application packet. I am a little frustrated about that, but hopefully that will be resolved this week.
I spent almost tow weeks working up at Center Hill Dam immediately after I went to UTK. It was pretty cold weather for drilling, but we made due and got finished ahead of schedule.
The sitting and waiting to hear back portion of applying to graduate school is definitely my least favorite so far.
I spent almost tow weeks working up at Center Hill Dam immediately after I went to UTK. It was pretty cold weather for drilling, but we made due and got finished ahead of schedule.
The sitting and waiting to hear back portion of applying to graduate school is definitely my least favorite so far.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
More Stuff Sent Out
Sitting here, drinking a home brew, listening to Tool, and contemplating life's many complexities.......
Well, all of that except for the part about the complexities. I am going up to UT-Knoxville on Thursday to talk with one of the professors there. He sent me an email and asked that I be prepared to stay from mid morning until mid afternoon. I am not exactly sure what he has planned, but it sounds like quite an ordeal. Well, I am sure it isn't going to be an ordeal exactly, but it sounds like there is going to be a lot of talking. Hopefully I will get to meet several of the professors as well as some of the administrative staff in the Geology department as well as the graduate school.
I am pretty pumped about this. It seems like I might actually be wearing someone down at this point. :)
I have already got all of the application materials turned in at Stanford and Chapel Hill. I have UTK and NAU still to go. I had sort of forgotten how much of a pain in the ass it is to get all of this crap together.
Oh well, you have to want it right?
laters.....
Well, all of that except for the part about the complexities. I am going up to UT-Knoxville on Thursday to talk with one of the professors there. He sent me an email and asked that I be prepared to stay from mid morning until mid afternoon. I am not exactly sure what he has planned, but it sounds like quite an ordeal. Well, I am sure it isn't going to be an ordeal exactly, but it sounds like there is going to be a lot of talking. Hopefully I will get to meet several of the professors as well as some of the administrative staff in the Geology department as well as the graduate school.
I am pretty pumped about this. It seems like I might actually be wearing someone down at this point. :)
I have already got all of the application materials turned in at Stanford and Chapel Hill. I have UTK and NAU still to go. I had sort of forgotten how much of a pain in the ass it is to get all of this crap together.
Oh well, you have to want it right?
laters.....
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Supplies for the weekend.
I looked at the weather forecast today, and it looks like it is supposed to rain in East Tennessee on Saturday. It has been raining all week so far, but perhaps things will dry out a little bit. Last weekend I went to my uncle's house with Jonny and worked on some primitive fire-making. We used flint and steel and also a bow and drill. I am not really sure how many people have started a fire with a bow and drill, but I would say that is a pretty small number in the continental US.
It was actually a pretty inspiring weekend. I started three fires and made my own bow and drill kit. As far as hobbies go it doesn't get much more inexpensive than this. The reason I was looking into the weather this weekend is because I plan to make up some more tinder and char cloth. I might sneak over to my parent's house and take over part of their back yard. I need to make a campfire for a couple of hours to make the charcloth.
Last night I went and bout some materials for the firemaking. I got about 200 yards of jute twine. I will have to unravel this and sort of tease it into filaments like hair.
I also bought 2 yards of monk's cloth which is an untreated, woven, cotton cloth. This stuff will make great char cloth which can be used to catch sparks from flint and steel.
It was actually a pretty inspiring weekend. I started three fires and made my own bow and drill kit. As far as hobbies go it doesn't get much more inexpensive than this. The reason I was looking into the weather this weekend is because I plan to make up some more tinder and char cloth. I might sneak over to my parent's house and take over part of their back yard. I need to make a campfire for a couple of hours to make the charcloth.
Last night I went and bout some materials for the firemaking. I got about 200 yards of jute twine. I will have to unravel this and sort of tease it into filaments like hair.
I also bought 2 yards of monk's cloth which is an untreated, woven, cotton cloth. This stuff will make great char cloth which can be used to catch sparks from flint and steel.
cotb.jpg
Torin at 11 weeks, hanging out on the big boy bed. He really does change every day. It is an amazing thing to watch.
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