These are the sort of roads i like to travel on

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.

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.

0507091132.jpg

0507091132.jpg
Originally uploaded by Queazel

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.

0506091350.jpg

0506091350.jpg
Originally uploaded by Queazel

The view from the end of the hallway looking west across campus.

0506091349.jpg

0506091349.jpg
Originally uploaded by Queazel

The door to the office I share

0506091348.jpg

0506091348.jpg
Originally uploaded by Queazel

The view from the office window looking toward South Knoxville.

0506091123.jpg

0506091123.jpg
Originally uploaded by Queazel

Welcome to grad school!

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.

New office

0505090954.jpg
Originally uploaded by Queazel

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.

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.