I’m back and better than ever. July 3, 2009

Well I went on my first dive as an official certified diver!  Drift diving is highly popular in Florida.  They drop you off a boat in the ocean, and you kind of follow the current along the reefs, ooooohing and awwwwing at the reefs and fish, and then you come up when your tank is empty, and the boat picks you up!  It’s great fun.  I got 3 of my friends to come with me to West Palm.  Seth was certified when he was younger, and hasn’t been since he was 14, Paul was certified last year, and then Eric was certified with me!  We had tons of fun, and got to swim in Shark Canyon with real sharks!  No, they don’t think humans are tasty, I promise!

Our second dive was a wreck dive!  It was called the Corridors.  We went down to 85 feet deep, and saw 2 sunken ships!  It was awesome!  I saw a huge sea turtle up close, and a goliath grouper (or Jew Fish).  I really enjoyed the morning.  We left Melbourne at 5:15 am, were diving by 9am, and were back home, safe, sound, and wet by 2pm.  What fun!

Here’s some pictures of the dive

Worst Blogger Ever. October 30, 2008

I’m sorry for not keeping up with this.  I hate it when my friends tell me they want to see what I’ve been doing in Florida and I can’t show them pictures immediately.  So here goes…. my next goal in Florida is to update my blog once a week.  Maybe then I can still keep my mom off facebook… and I know she reads this… Love you mom!

New updates.

1.  I ran a 5k in 33 minutes… no stopping (this is good)

2.  I went to Atlanta for homecoming

3. I bought rainboots to keep my feet dry (when it rains in FL, it floods)

4.  I bought a surfboard (woah!!!)

5.  My birthday is this weekend.

Pictures of the previous announcements…

update… September 24, 2008

Sorry I haven’t updated recently.  I seriously want to update every weekend at the least.  Everything is going really well.  I joined a gym that I can walk to from my house, and I signed up for a 5k with a work friend!  My weekends are spent shopping, going out with friends, and running the causeway in melbourne!  I’m having a really great time, and I’ve met some unexpectedly awesome people!  I was worried about working in an engineering environment, but Harris really looks for new grads and awesome personalities.  I’m thrilled with everything I’ve found here.

Last weekend I went to the Space Coast GA Tech alumni “football viewing” so I could watch the Mississippi St. game with some fellow fans.  I ended up meeting a group of 3 gatech alums who invited me surfing afterwards!  I had alot of fun, and walked away with a huge bruise on my arm, and no recollection of actually getting hit by my surfboard…hmmm

Disney World is a great way to spend a Saturday!  I went to Epcot when David came to visit.  We had a great time exploring Melbourne too.  Friday night we met up with some of my friends from work and went to a classy wine bar.  Sunday we spent the morning at the beach before heading to the airport.  It was a perfect Sunday morning at the beach, complete with surfers and tourists.  For some reason the fish were flying…into my head and ankles.  I’ve never experienced something like that at a beach before.

I guess that’s all I’m up to right now.. work…gym…eat…sleep.  Don’t worry, I’m enjoying myself.

My new apartment and first “real” weekend! September 4, 2008

Here’s a couple of pictures of my new furniture in my apartment! I also wanted to post a few pictures of me before I tried out surfing on the Melbourne beaches. I met a new friend at Harris orientation; he used to live here before high school, and then he moved. He went to college at N.C. State, and after he got his masters he decided to come back to Melbourne where he grew up, and work for Harris! He took me surfing, and then showed me around town. He took me out to this spot near Palm Bay Rd. where he says manatees go all the time! He sure was right! We saw a huge manatee up close! I used to love these things when I was little, the whole “endangered species” stage. They are so incredibly cute, kind of in a way like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. I think I like this new place… there are lots of things to do, if you go out and do them. I’ll have to make a list of everything I want to try out in the next year. First thing I can cross of my list is Walt Disney World. Hopefully, if Hurricane or Tropical Storm (they can’t make up their minds) Hanna stays out of our way, one of my best friends is flying in from Saratoga Springs, New York this weekend. If he makes it, we’ll make it out to Epcot on Saturday! Please, please, please…

and from my Saturday beach outing…

Posting from my new home in Florida! August 23, 2008

Hey guys,

I don’t know how many people are actually going to read this since I’m back from Europe… but I definitely want to keep up my blog, just so those few people who want to check on me, can! Plus, I know everyone wants to see my new apartment, and it’s just easier to put photos up here. Facebook scares me more every day. So here I am in Melbourne, FL. If you recognize this city’s name from the news, it’s because Tropical Storm Fae just came through and tried to flood people out. Thankfully, I’m near the Palm Bay side, and my apartment is fine, a few of the other buildings in my complex had about 2 feet of water in them. I also want to keep up some photography on the side here, and of course…music! So check in on me here… and don’t forget the phone works too! Love you guys!

Wordle. July 16, 2008

This is something really cool I found on my friend Lauren Wright’s blog. You can allow the program to search your blog, and it will use the most common words to make this picture! Try it out here

I apparently talk about travel in my blog… who knew?

Why go Smart car? June 10, 2008

So in Oslo this weekend, I think my group came upon another reason to own a smart car. I think the picture can explain without words. I’ve seen some crazy places where smart cars were parked: between the big parking space with a car already in it and a pole, or on sidewalks. However, this really takes the cake…

Dinner at the profs? June 5, 2008

GTL has a great atmosphere between teachers and students. After every weekend, the teachers always take a few minutes out of class to ask us about our weekend. In French class, this isn’t as much fun, because it’s definitely a French speaking exercise. This year, my professor, Henry Owens and his wife, invited all the students from their classes to dinner at their apartment. Jean Sands, his wife, cooked a very French meal for us. It was great! She also laid out at least 4 different cheeses, and had a book explaining them and what region they’re from. They didn’t serve us wine, because it was a Georgia Tech function, but it was fun nonetheless. Here’s a menu of our dinner, their beautiful/paid for by Tech apartment, and their view of Place St. Jaçues (The main square in town). The only thing they complain about is the yelling from the bars downstairs when there is a football (soccer) match being shown on television. Uffda, what a life.

Menu Chez Henry et Jean

Escargo

Mussels

Pear and blue cheese salad

Boeuf Bourguignon with noodles

Green bean casserole

Tarragon Carrots

Brownies

Cookies

Chocolate Mousse

Assorted Cheese

p.s. I like mussels just fine, but escargo is a little much…

apparentely, escargo is popular in France, because snails attack the vineyards. Not eating them would just be a waste right? They usually cook them with lots of garlic and butter, so you wouldn’t know you’re eating one of their pests that destroy their beloved grapes. You slide out the snail from the shell (yes they’re served in the shell) and put it on a piece of bread or eat it plain. Not appetizing.

And if you haven’t heard…. I’m going to Oslo, Norway tomorrow! Everyone that is staying in France, or going to Italy/Spain on the 4 day is going to have 70 degree weather and rain. On the other hand, Ashleigh and I will have beautiful scenery, clear skies, and 80 degree weather to worry about. Uffda!

Field Trip May 23, 2008

Yesterday we went to the Lorraine American Cemetery and to see a fort near the Maginot line.  There are tons of fortresses (they’re more like caves) left from WWII, that Americans, French, and even Germans come and see.  I’m not much a war memorial person, my Dad used to always take my sister and I to see this stuff when we were little, but I was impressed by how nice they kept an American cemetery in France.  They really do appreciate what we did for them.  I’ve heard amazing stuff about Normandy, and how they even have a day where they celebrate the Americans on the beach.  I’m planning on going to Normandy and Mont Saint-Michel later this summer.

Who said the French hate Americans? May 20, 2008

After classes, Stephanie and I went to book our reservations to Prague.  Afterwards we went looking for the perfect khaki rush skirt at the new Gap in Metz (Parisian Gap yay!)  I went to Printemps (“Spring”)  a store that sells cute purses.  Basically, Eden comes back with a Longchamps bag from Printemps everytime she goes to Europe, so I have been dying for my own!  We were looking at the overpriced nylon/leather bags, when a lady tells us they had promotional ones left.  She said this in French, I got a few words,  but Steph translated for me.  She dug into a cabinet, got one, and then went into the back for a different color, “Verte.”  Yay I got two purses, each for half the original price.  One is for my sister, if she can ever let go of her Vera Bradley bags   I told my friends she’s preparing for the Vera Bradley diaper bag one day (far, far away).  See… the French love Americans… when we’re spending euros