The Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Nine

A Year, in Review

I came back to Pullman to begin my last semester at WSU.
Brooke and I cleaned the house, listened to Muse, and Brian told us a scary story involving midgets in closets.
Got two (wonderful) new Rockettes: Sharon and Wendy, to replace Abby and Lauren.
Began insanity, including anatomy and independent study (4 labs, 5 if you count anatomy two times a week).
I studied my brains out.
Had superhero/rock band night at The Rock. I wore a quilt toga and carried a mandolin.
I went to CJ’s pretty much every Thursday night.
I went to the pub and played pool a lot.
Had an epic cupcake decorating night at The Rock.
Five of the Rockettes competed in the WSU 100K.
I watched, and Brooke ate some road.
Talent, No Talent Night occurred at XA.
Sang Three Blind Mice with Alana and Brooke, all in chipmunk voices. I started laughing halfway through.
Our house was attacked by zombies. One of which licked the window… ew
“I think those boys are birdwatching too. And by birds I mean girls. And by girls I mean us.” ~Brooke
Did a magpie/crow experiment with Hannah for Animal Behavior. A hilarious fiasco failure.... silly crows
I stayed in Pullman over Spring Break, and Beth and I drove to Jerry Johnson hot springs.
Hiked in the snow, swam in the hot springs, nearly totaled the Taurus’ transmission on the way home by driving over some rocks.
$500 dollars in towing fees.
Beth and I went to Rico’s on St. Patrick’s Day, and I drank a glass of wine. *gasp*
Made a pie for Pi Day.
We made s’mores on the front porch over the BBQ.
Brooke and I made an epic fort in the upstairs living room that we slept in and studied in and watched movies in for 3 days.
Alana, Dani, Nate, Erika, ZZ, Peter N., Robbie, and I all graduated on May 9, 2009.
Lots and lots of family and friends in Pullman.
I got my Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology with a minor in English.
We had a big graduation party at Mom and Dad’s place. So much food!!
Then a late night stroll through Palouse and train climbing with some of my favorite people.
I continued independent study snail research for Dr. Dybdahl and applied for 41 different jobs, all over the world.
My whole family went to Jerry Johnson, but the nice springs were flooded.
Hannah, Sharoni, Alana, Dani, and I all had a random adventure in Albion/Rose Creek. Sharon and I climbed a train.
Hannah, Alana, and I camped at Palouse Falls (in the back of the pickup).
I had the worst allergies I’ve had in years. Cool hike though.
Julie Ann brought me a baby bunny that she’d found. Took care of it for a day, then took it to the WSU Vet School. Cute little guy :)
I took all the change off my door. $258 dollars.
I got my Matthew 6:26 tattoo on my back; it hurt so much! Alana got Solo Por Ti on her foot.
I got offered 3 different jobs, all within a few days of each other.
I accepted an internship in Hawaii at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center.
A bunch of Rockettes and ex-Rockettes all went to Yakima for Sally and Joel Wells’ wedding. We all giggled a lot, and had a lot of fun.
I said a lot of tearful goodbyes, got a lot of hugs, then flew to Hilo, HI
I was picked up at the airport by 4 other interns, who I eventually, kinda, befriended.
I cleaned up after, made diets for, and observed some of the worlds most endangered birds: puaiohi, palila, maui parrotbills, ‘alala, akepa, and elepaio.
My coworker, Kara, and I explored the island.
I snorkeled, and saw green sea turtles, spinner dolphins, and a plethora of tropical fish.
Alana and Dani came and visited for 9 days.
We rented a Mustang convertible and went all the way around the island.
We camped on the beach, snorkeled, and hiked up Waipio Valley and swam under a 1600 foot waterfall.
We went to the southern most point in the United States, and went to green sand beach, and I got an epic sunburn.
My shoulders blistered… pain and suffering!
I worked overtime a lot, and got $20 a day, and a job that looks great on my resume.
Interns cycled through, and I met and lived with Gretchen, Tamara, Sarah, Michael, Kyle, Amanda, and Bethany.
I rode on the free bus system a lot, and met some interesting people.
I was told I should write a book about my adventures in Hawai’i, and that I have a beautiful aura, and I sat next to a near albino.
Alana went to Uganda while working for the WSU Soil Science Department.
On my last morning, I got up at 4:00 and rode the intern bike (no brakes and rusted through) to Volcanoes National Park to see the sunrise over Kilauea’s crater.
I came home for 2 weeks and surprised everyone. The reactions were amazing!
I helped Daddy put up the sheetrock in the house while home.
On Oct. 28th I flew to Maui to start another internship at the Maui Bird Conservation Center.
I lived in an old prison, built in the 50s. Kinda cool, kinda weird.
We worked with nene, ‘alala, maui parrotbills, and puaiohi, and I got to be there when the first nene goslings of the year were hatched!
I met and worked with Sharon, Josh, Amy, Marissa, Rachael, Michelle, and Brian.
Beth and Kyle got engaged in Italy
Melissa and Austin got engaged (finally!)
I joined deviantART; so much fun!
Kevin was on Maui on my birthday so we went to the Haleakala sunrise (at 3:30 in the morning) and explored Lahaina, built sandcastles, and went to a wonderful bookstore.
The day after my birthday we drove the road to Hana and hiked around the seven sacred pools. Beautiful hike!
On Dec. 6th I got off work and had a ton of voicemails, telling me that Daddy had a severe stroke, lost half his vision, couldn’t talk, and had a paralyzed right side.
I flew home the next day.
Daddy was in the ICU for 5 days, then moved over to the Sacred Heart hospital for a week, then moved to St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute.
A lot of people came to visit and offer support.
We had Christmas in his rehab room.
Mom and Dad’s church is helping to finish the house, and Grandma Dode is helping to pay it, as are a lot of other people.
Alana and I laid the marble flooring in the bathrooms, and helped mud the sheetrock, and helped put in the ceilings.
On New Years Eve Alana and I went to The Rock and made apple pie, carrot cake, rice pudding, snowballs, and present cookies.
Ben came over and we all watched Up, then went to Rico’s to play pool and to ring in the new year. I won the last game of 2009, and lost the first game of 2010.

Happy first day of the second decade of the second millenium after the birth of Christ :)

This year I resolve to get at least one stamp on my passport, live in Alaska at some point, and to complain less. We'll see how that goes.