Finals

Formal classes are over and finals begin next week. Glad to have a few days to catch my breathe.

Getting my hair cut, dyed and styled tomorrow before Hubby's Christmas party. So happy to get pampered for a few hours!!

Spring 2011 Classes

This is more for my Grandma than anyone else, because she specifically asked for clarification on what my classes for next semester are all about. I don't know how helpful these descriptions will be, however. :)

Biostatistics
Organizing data; distributions, measures of center and spread, scatterplots, nonlinear models and transformations, correlation, regression. Design of experiments: models from probability, discrete and continuous random variables, normal distributions, sampling distributions, the central limit theorem. Statistical inference; confidence intervals and test of significance, t procedures, inference for count data, two-way tables and chi-square procedures, inference for regression, analysis of variance.

Historical Archaeology
Survey of the basic data and methods of research in the material culture of modern history. The New World from first European contacts to the 20th century.

Natural History of Our Closest Relatives
Comparative primate biology, behavior, ecology and evolution.

Contemporary Approaches to Human Biology
Study of humans using biocultural perspective. Emphasis on human growth and development and human population ecology. Includes application of method and theory in the analysis of nutritional, disease and lifestyle factors. Involves scholarly exchange and secondary research

Huge, Life Changing News

I recognize that the news I am about to bestow upon you will probably seem sudden and out of the blue, however, I can assure you that it has been well over a year in the making.

Hubby has been accepted to the Marine Corp Officer Candidate program as a reservist and will be gone for approximately 1 year of training.

I know!! HUGE NEWS!! I am still in state of shock and I will be honest, it was all fine and dandy while it was still "if" and "maybe". Now that it is "absolutely gonna happen" I am in panic mode and I have a stomach ache. At this point there are still more questions than answers (as I am sure is customary with the military) but what I do know is:

1. Hubby leaves the first week of January 2011
2. OCS (Officer Candidate School) will last 10 weeks and is in Quantico, Virginia
3. Hubby will graduate from OCS over my spring break, so hopefully I can go visit him
4. After OCS is TBS (The Basic School) and than additional training in his field of expertise in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
5. I will be staying in Tucson to finish my final semester at the University and there are no plans for me to move with him at a later date
6. Hubby will not be home to see me graduate

I am so proud of Hubby for pursuing his dream and serving his country. There are few more worthy causes in the world! I only wish we weren't going to be separated for so long...

Grad Check

I am about half way through my grad check process and so far, so good. Everything appears to be in order.

The process:
1. See graduation coordinator
2. Get charged $35 (because tuition just isn't enough!!!)
3. See Minor advisor
4. See Major advisor
5. Return paperwork to graduation coordinator
6. Graduate in May 2011

Almost there.....

Election Party 2010

My sis accompanied me to an election night party this past Tuesday. I was pleasantly surprised she agreed to join me since politics isn't really her thing, but I think she may be coming around! We were thoroughly entertained by the crowd and their reactions to the poll numbers coming in. We left a little early when we realized that some of our local races were going to be too close to call.

It was crazy fun, and I don't regret it, although I am paying the price now for fraternizing with my fellow people, I have a 101.4 fever.

Jesse Kelly

Halloween Costumes 2010

Lily and Trudy got new Halloween costumes this year. In case the pictures are not sufficient, Lily was a cow and Trudy was a bumblebee. We took them for a Halloween eve walk and they had a great time, although no one saw them because trick-or-treating was virtually non-existent in our neighborhood.

So Much For Free Thinking

I came across this communication the other day and was mortified. I hope you too will find this as repulsive as I do. I fully support everyone voluntarily going to vote, I am disgusted however by the thinly veiled attempt by a company to coerce its employees into voting for what it thinks is best. I also seriously doubt anyone was asking for the owner's opinion. Finally, way to go with the bipartisanship! Voting Republican down the board sure did take a lot of effort!!!

"As a reminder, Election Day is Tuesday, November 2nd. Voting is our opportunity to have a voice in our local, state, and federal government. We encourage everyone to exercise the right to vote. The polls are open from 6am to 7pm. Poll locations can be found at: www.pima.gov/elections
Many folks have asked 'enter name of owner here' for 'his/her' stance on the candidates and propositions. While everyone should research the issues and candidates themselves, in an effort to assist those who are interested, 'enter name of owner here' is willing to share 'his/her' voting with you as follows:

United States Senator: John McCain
US Representative: Jesse Kelly
Governor: Jan Brewer
State Senator, Dist 28: Greg Krino
State Rep, Dist 28: Ken Smalley
Attorney General: Tom Horne
State Treasurer: Doug Ducey
Superintendent of Public Instruction: John Huppenthal
State Mine Inspecctor: Joe Hart
Corporation Commissioner: Brenda Burns and Gary Pierce
Clerk of the Superior Court: Patti Noland
Constable, Justice Precinct 5: Margaret Cummings
Arizona Supreme Court: Yes
Superior court: Yes to all
Prop 106: Yes
Prop 107: Yes
Prop 109: Yes
Prop 110: Yes
Prop 111: Yes
Prop 112: Yes
Prop 113: Yes
Prop 203: No
Prop 301: Yes
Prop 302: Yes
Prop 400: No
Prop 401: Yes
Prop 402: Yes

Thank You!"

Registered!

This past Monday I registered for my final semester at the UA. If registration didn't start at 6 am I think I would have enjoyed it more...

My final semester classes are:

Biostatistics
Historical Archaeology
Natural History of Our Closest Relatives
Contemporary Approaches to Human Biology

Neighborhood Feud

When our new next door neighbors moved in not long ago, I knew there was going to be a difficult period of adjustment. The houses are close together, the backyards are small, and our dogs weren't used to their presence. It was a tough adjustment, their dog barked at all hours of the night for awhile and our dogs responded in kind. All of the anti-bark procedures we had implemented before they moved in were ineffective in light of the fact that their dog was barking too.

Well, yesterday we received a note from those very same neighbors on our car which said "Your dog barks constantly whenever its out in your yard. Please do something about this or we will!" Signed Disgruntled Neighbors

I am so pissed! Not because they brought a problem to our attention but because they were so rude about it. I am home 90% of the time and they easily could have knocked on my door and discussed the situation with me. I would have been happy to rectify the situation and apologize.

I am also pissed because I first interpreted this note to mean that they were going to physically harm Trudy. I hope it isn't what they meant, but the word-usage could be construed in a number of ways, one of which makes me fear for Trudy's safety.

So, I ask you my blog followers...what does one do in this situation? Make peace and grovel? Ignore them and try to fix the problem without their help? Or being planning revenge?

Old Ladies Night Out

My Sis and I went to a Jimmy Eat World concert last night. I know, on a school night (and boy am I tired)!! It was amazing and I had a wonderful time!!! I don't have many concerts under my belt but this one was absolutely fantastic!! The venue was very small and we had incredible seats. I can't thank my sister enough for such an exciting evening.

Twitter

Although not nearly as exciting or life changing as KK's news, I got an email today that the Admiral of the Battlestar Galactica follows me on Twitter. So....Very.....Cool!

Arizona State Museum

Just a quick update to let all of you know that I am still alive, but extraordinarily busy. School started and I fell behind in the first week. Not because I am a bad student, but because a majority of my books didn't arrive at the bookstore until LOOONNNNGG after classes started. Now I am playing the game of catch-up and I am losing. Long days and long nights of reading, as I am sure you can imagine.

Also, I start a new volunteer opportunity this week (I stopped volunteering at ICS until winter break). I will be working at the Arizona State Museum on campus at UA assisting in the repository. My job is pretty open at this point, but it will be a lot of cataloging, organizing, and sifting through thousands upon thousands of cultural artifacts. I am certainly excited but very worried that I might be spreading myself thin.

A couple of other housekeeping type items that you might be wondering about:

The air conditioner was fixed with minimal hassle.

Lily has finally been granted a clean bill of health. There are still a few kinks we are working out regarding her diet but her infection is finally gone!!

Also, we are back to seeing our old vet, Dr. L, again. It is kind of a long story but we were really starting to feel gouged by the new vet and when Dr. L's new office opened, I took Lily for a second opinion. Since the switch she is doing much better and so are we. I am happy with our decision!

Letter

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall.

Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:

Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special?
Any response would be appreciated.

The response:

Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured..

A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning airshow?' The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.

Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.