45 Days...
So I have to admit, I'm getting incredibly excited about going out to Los Angeles for Thanksgiving to go see Dustin. I really miss being able to hang out with him, and it's been so long since I've been to Los Angeles. Here is what we have planned so far:
Wednesday: I fly in and land around 7pm ish.
Thursday: Go to Magic Mountain in the morning and then to his uncle's house for Thanksgiving dinner.
Friday: Drive down to San Diego to go to the Zoo and potentially the USS Midway. Hopefully staying in the Gaslamp District so we can just walk around in the afternoon/evening. Might meet up with a couple of his friends for drinks that night.
Saturday: Drive back to LA, probably go to Amoeba and CityWalk that night.
Sunday: This this is 3rd street/pier day.
Monday: Not sure.
Tuesday: I fly back to Atlanta.
But before then there are several weeks to get through. Today has been chill...had some really great conversations with my boss. She is incredibly supportive of my career goals and helping me to realize how to accomplish things. I love working for her and think she has very realistic expectations. Work is still boring to boot, but at least I have a great manager and coworkers and amazing work-life balance. Tomorrow after work I plan to go to yoga at 6pm and then over to see my folks around 7:30 or so. Wednesday I am going to a SHRM Atlanta Wellness Conference, so that will be a good day of learning (Yay HRCI Credits!!!) and then Thurs, working from home and finally taking Conservation 300 at the Aquarium. Friday Hailey mentioned potentially going to a cornmaze...but I haven't heard too much about it...and not sure it will happen. Saturday is Lewis Black, though the Clemson FSU game is that night at 8pm, and I'm having a hard time deciding if I want to go see Lewis Black or watch the game...hmm... Lewis Black will probably be done around halftime, so I guess I can do both. Then there's a 5k in the morning on Sunday, and October will be more than halfway over. :)
Some other fun things: I love volunteering at the Aquarium. I'm also super ecstatic about my behind the scenes shift in Tropical Diver. Steve, my manager I guess, reminds me a lot of Nick (my manager at SIS when I first started there), which is a really good thing. I am learning so much about the chemistry and mechanics involved in maintaining a saltwater aquarium. It's kind of fascinating to learn about how different additives can affect the pH level and what that means for the survival of the animals. Or how different organisms compete for resources, even in a self contained environment. Makes nature all that much more intriguing.
One of my favorite duties is feeding HoneyNut and GrapeNut (the two juvenile spotted eagle rays in Tropical). It's cool too because they have different personalities/habits when they eat. HoneyNut is more timid and takes her time. GrapeNut knows what he wants and chows down. GrapeNut also tends to be naughty and try to chew on my waders more frequently. Naughty ray. Also, waders are just freaking cool.
OOOOH and I'm excited because on Oct 30 I get to go do my Beluga Encounter. SO. FREAKING. EXCITED!
Anyway, that's about all I got for now. Hoping work goes well tomorrow...yoga too...and seeing Mom and Dad. Dad is doing terrible. *sigh* I'll write about that some other night. For now...
Wednesday: I fly in and land around 7pm ish.
Thursday: Go to Magic Mountain in the morning and then to his uncle's house for Thanksgiving dinner.
Friday: Drive down to San Diego to go to the Zoo and potentially the USS Midway. Hopefully staying in the Gaslamp District so we can just walk around in the afternoon/evening. Might meet up with a couple of his friends for drinks that night.
Saturday: Drive back to LA, probably go to Amoeba and CityWalk that night.
Sunday: This this is 3rd street/pier day.
Monday: Not sure.
Tuesday: I fly back to Atlanta.
But before then there are several weeks to get through. Today has been chill...had some really great conversations with my boss. She is incredibly supportive of my career goals and helping me to realize how to accomplish things. I love working for her and think she has very realistic expectations. Work is still boring to boot, but at least I have a great manager and coworkers and amazing work-life balance. Tomorrow after work I plan to go to yoga at 6pm and then over to see my folks around 7:30 or so. Wednesday I am going to a SHRM Atlanta Wellness Conference, so that will be a good day of learning (Yay HRCI Credits!!!) and then Thurs, working from home and finally taking Conservation 300 at the Aquarium. Friday Hailey mentioned potentially going to a cornmaze...but I haven't heard too much about it...and not sure it will happen. Saturday is Lewis Black, though the Clemson FSU game is that night at 8pm, and I'm having a hard time deciding if I want to go see Lewis Black or watch the game...hmm... Lewis Black will probably be done around halftime, so I guess I can do both. Then there's a 5k in the morning on Sunday, and October will be more than halfway over. :)
Some other fun things: I love volunteering at the Aquarium. I'm also super ecstatic about my behind the scenes shift in Tropical Diver. Steve, my manager I guess, reminds me a lot of Nick (my manager at SIS when I first started there), which is a really good thing. I am learning so much about the chemistry and mechanics involved in maintaining a saltwater aquarium. It's kind of fascinating to learn about how different additives can affect the pH level and what that means for the survival of the animals. Or how different organisms compete for resources, even in a self contained environment. Makes nature all that much more intriguing.
One of my favorite duties is feeding HoneyNut and GrapeNut (the two juvenile spotted eagle rays in Tropical). It's cool too because they have different personalities/habits when they eat. HoneyNut is more timid and takes her time. GrapeNut knows what he wants and chows down. GrapeNut also tends to be naughty and try to chew on my waders more frequently. Naughty ray. Also, waders are just freaking cool.
OOOOH and I'm excited because on Oct 30 I get to go do my Beluga Encounter. SO. FREAKING. EXCITED!
Anyway, that's about all I got for now. Hoping work goes well tomorrow...yoga too...and seeing Mom and Dad. Dad is doing terrible. *sigh* I'll write about that some other night. For now...