Photoblog: Trinity River Audubon Center

It's summer in Texas.  It's your first week of a 6 week long vacation.  You want to get out, finally visit places that have been added to your DFW must-see list over the last year, and work on your photography.  Unfortunately, the high will be over 100, again.  What do you do?  If you're me, you get up early and go anyway.

The Trinity River Audubon Center is near the schools I worked at this past year, yet because of their operating hours I never visited.  When I arrived I found out I was the first visitor of the day (thought I might be the only one, but eventually some youth groups showed up).  If the heat didn't bother me, I could do both the left trails and the right; otherwise, the right trails were much shadier.  Since it was still in the mid 80s, I went left.

Of course, the draw to the center are the birds, and this morning there were egrets aplenty.  Unfortunately, they did not want to share the space with me, so I saw them flying away or perched in the distance.

My favorite animal encounter, though, was with a family of raccoons that were scurrying up a tree.  When one of them locked eyes with me and let me photograph with him, I wasn't sure if we were bonding or if he wanted to jump off and attack me, so I moved on...

Other wildlife was smaller and more unexpected... from grasshoppers and crickets constantly jumping across my path, to dragonflies and butterflies flying on and around me, to tiny frogs right at my feet.

Butterfly on flowers

Grasshopper

Frog on leaf

Of course, for all of this wildlife to exist there have to be beautiful landscapes.  I walked five miles of trails, around ponds and through forests that housed these creatures.

Finally, no trip outdoors would be complete if I didn't notice the flowers. :)

By the time I had walked the trails (and yes, I did every trail), it was over 90 degrees and even this crazy Southerner knew it was time to get into a cool building.  It's a beautiful site, and of course I took many more pictures.  I'm looking forward to many more adventures, no matter what the weather tries to throw at me :)

A post-grad bucket list

With the pressure of graduate school slowly fading away (pending Thesis Office approval) and a job secured, I've started thinking about what I want out of the next phase of my life.  I've started creating a bucket list, if you will- hobbies or activities that I would like to get involved in now that I will have a normal schedule and no studying or writing to do in the evenings.  Many of these have always been interests, but I never pursued them further when I was younger for various reasons (money, boyfriend distractions, etc).  Also, I've just grown a lot in my passion and confidence over the years.  Anyway, here's the list, in no particular order.

• Rejoin my church choir (hey, I'm in that picture!)...gain more (er, some) formal music/voice training...otherwise get more involved in music

• Keep working on my photography...find a club of local photographers...take a class and learn some advanced techniques (everything I learned about photography I learned in video lab at Hook Jr. High)...eventually get a fancy camera that will make my pictures even better

• Become active in social issues, likely focusing on human rights issues (we'll see where opportunity takes me)... Take a JustWorks Service-Learning Trip, or some other active part in helping others

• Become a volunteer with CASA, or otherwise become involved with issues surrounding foster children....learn more about other non-profits in the area that I might be interested in joining that could use my skills

• Play more with my dog...go on more hikes... spend more time outside, even if it's by a pool reading a good book

• That reminds me, I need to read for fun again...I have a pile waiting for me!

 

• Travel!  I want to see the world...go to Mexico or Central America at least every year or two...and some Disney trips in between :)

I think this is a good start...let the adventure begin!

Falling into Place

In the last week my life fell into place. It's a rare moment in life when you can say that.  It's not complete, yet so much of what I have waited for is over.  It's a liberating feeling, full of accomplishment.  I have much to be thankful for.

On Monday, a week ago, I was offered my first job as a school psychologist.   I found a district that has a good reputation, a job description that fits my skills, and all in a location that keeps me near my friends and community that I have been building this past year.  I was very warmly welcomed by the staff when I accepted the job, and am very hopeful about my future.

On Thursday I made the trip back to College Station to prepare for my dissertation defense.  First I met with my chair to discuss the publication and future of my research studies.  I was then lucky enough to meet a friend who happened to be in town for coffee.  We later joined two other friends for dinner at Chuy's, where we drank margaritas and pretended that we were on a Mexican beach.  Unfortunately it was quickly time to go back to my hotel room and do my final rehearsals and preparations for the morning.

Friday morning I woke up way too early, nerves on full steam, but once I got to campus it was time to get down to business.  I was able to get everything set up in plenty of time, no technical difficulties (very relieved that I remembered everything I learned working in the computer lab three years ago!), and soon people arrived, committee members and friends.  The time for small talk helped calm me, and when it was time to begin I just jumped in.  The process itself went just as I had imagined, if not better.  Good presentation, manageable questions.... and 90 minutes later, I was Dr. Peterson!

After checking in on paperwork and my corrections, my friend Stevie, who had also attended the defense, invited me to lunch with our dear friend Andrea, who I hadn't seen in a very long time.  After a great meal and conversation we went back to campus, where I found out a form had been misplaced.  A little running around campus later, and I was free for the day.  First up was coffee with my favorite professor, catching up on internship and jobs and our visions for transforming Mexican schools.  After that, I took a few hours to rest and recover before my scheduled evening celebration- which was attended by one person.  Summer in college towns can be challenging, but an evening of drinks, food, and dessert with my old friend Mark was a great end to the day.

Saturday was a day all to myself until the afternoon.  It was my time for reflection, remembrance, and, of course, photography.  I actually started off unexpectedly, stopping by the fountain on University Dr. as I picked up my car (which I had left at the restaurant across the street from my hotel.. you know, that celebrating thing).  The lily pads were in full bloom and I had to stop and admire them.

I then went to downtown Bryan, a favorite location for food and shopping for the last five years.  I wasn't sure where to find inspiration, and then I found St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.


















I stopped at my favorite intersection before leaving...

Then I went to campus.  First I walked by Kyle Field (where they must have been prepping some SEC video, could hear it but not see it), then went through the MSC to see if I missed anything last time and walked through the Stark Gallery to ogle some Faberge eggs.  I then went to see my favorite building, the Academic Building.  It doesn't matter how many times I walk by it.  It always captivates me.

I then walked back to the MSC and rested before I moved on.  Walking around campus made me realize that I really was at the end of my journey.  My next visit will be for graduation, where I will be busy with family and friends and pomp and circumstance.  It was my last time to treasure my university by myself, and it was a very emotional experience.

Also, I made friends with squirrels.  Two separate squirrels seemed curious about me and approached me.  Were they friendly or dangerous...

Squirrel 1, walking from MSC

Squirrel 2, by Academic Building

Squirrel 2, up the tree

Squirrel 1, walking back to MSC

I spent the rest of my day with some friends who were hosting a party.  They are relocating due to graduation, so I was glad I was able to make the time to see them and our other friends.  It made for a very late drive home, but it was worth it.

Yesterday I started to return to normalcy- church, laundry, dissertation... wait, that sounds weird.  But edits have to be done.  I also rested some.  Today marked two more steps in the journey- my corrections were approved (still one more entity to please, but we won't talk about that today), and I had my final evaluation for internship.  I'm starting to feel that sense of completeness and finality.  It's joyful and emotional, a sense of accomplishment that can't be put into words.  There is just a lot of awe that my goals are being reached, and that all of these people are proud of me.  It's going to take awhile to fully process, and of course it's not over yet- there is the end of internship next week, and graduation, and then of course just as it's all ending the next chapter will begin.  New goals and dreams are already waiting.  This is a magical time.