Happy New Year all! It's been a hectic one for me so far, but still great!
New Year's weekend at the lake is always a good time. Recreational opportunities were on the short side this year due to the lack of snow, but we—I—found ways around that. The time at the lake managed to go by just as fast as my short winter break did. Every minute was filled with something—fishing, visiting, applying for jobs (not so fun, but necessary), and of course, eating! I love food far too for my own good J We had an awesome fish-fry from some of the walleye Mom caught over Memorial weekend!
Ice fishing was probably the highlight of the weekend. I can’t remember the last time I went ice fishing…it’s been a while though! To build up the excitement (and maybe for a bit of luck!) grandpa pulled of the most iconic ice fishing poles I’m sure most anyone who has seen Grumpy Old Men would recognize in a heartbeat: the Green Hornet! I have no idea where or how he acquired it or if he made it. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had made it.
Here is a picture of it; hopefully it works!
To catch up those of you with the misfortune of unfamiliar with the Green Hornet or Grumpy Old Men, it is an ice fishing pole one of the characters has had since he was a little boy and it has basically been his good luck charm out on the ice throughout his life. Grumpy Old Men is a classic as far as our family is concerned. Yes, this is highly subjective, I realize, but for anyone who’s seen it, is it not one of the best ways to ring in the winter season? I think so anyway…it’s one of those films that never gets old no matter how many times you watch it. (And, yes, that was double negative also!)
So far this new year, I’ve come to realize just why people are driven to drink coffee or other such caffeinated beverages…Well, I think I have at any rate. There is a point, I promise.
Coffee has been a friend of mine for some years now, not only for the smell as it brews or the acquired taste of it that I’ve become appreciative of or even the fact that it wakes me up in the morning. It’s more that it has become a part of my routine. Each morning I boil water and pour it over the fresh grounds in my French press…and wait four, five, six minutes depending on how strong I want it that day.
Routine, that is really what it is, I swear.
However, I’ve become more open (intimate, if I’m being honest with myself) to its caffeinated properties of late, and never more so than in the last seven days! The reasoning for this observation is quite simple: Natural Resources 490 also known as Integrated Resource Management Seminar.
This seminar course is not really anything one could fully prepare themselves for. Since last Tuesday,and the nine others in my group and myself have worked round the clock (literally) in some cases brainstorming, researching, writing, and editing a proposed land management plan for a private landowner based on a hypothetical situation. Coffee has helped me through this, allowing for late nights of sleeplessness due to the need for a little more energy to…keep…going! The part I seem to keep forgetting is that it takes a while to absorb into my system and therefore, the burst of energy tends to come as I trying to get a little sleep (much like now!)
We are presenting tomorrow. I can only hope it goes smoothly. The presentation is meant to simulate a real-life situation, so that means…role-playing on everyone’s part: my group as A+ Natural Resource Management consultants and others as the landowner and other stakeholders.
I’m a little nervous. I detest public speaking. It’s far too easy to get caught up in a bundle of nerves and uncertainty, which I often find myself in despite the little pep talk I’ll give myself or how many times I practice my part. It’s just one of those things…
Once this presentation is over, we are half-way through the madness! One more project and presentation, then hello to the last weekend of winter break before the real semester starts.
I’m hoping for a good one!
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