The Sweet Life

I'm a nerd. That's just about the only way to explain it. Of course, there are many things that make me nerdy, but right now we aren't focusing on all those other things. We are focusing on my love of my Beekeeping class.

My roommates, friends, family, and I laugh about my Beekeeping class all the time... in fact I can't even say the words "In Beekeeping today..." without busting out laughing. Christine and I have decided I have to use the generic term "In class today" instead. 

This Monday was our honey extraction lab. It was a record breaking 111 degrees outside, but that didn't stop us! We all put on our closed toed shoes, jeans, long sleeve button-up shirts, beekeeping gloves, and veil (which is the hat thing) and headed out to the bee yard. 

I had asked my professor if I could bring my camera to class that day, so I tried to take some cool pictures. Let me tell you, it's really hard to take good photos when you have a big thing on your head.

Also, because it was our beekeeping lab, I got to bring home two big containers of delicious honey! Now I just have to make sure I don't use it all before I go home for Thanksgiving... that way I can share with the rest of my family.

Anyway, here are some of my photos... Enjoy!

Pulling the frames from the bee boxes.

Honey comb!

Hive

Bees (it's out of focus.. it was hard to get it in focus when I couldn't see through the view finder... plus, bees don't stay very still!)

Me in my bee gear :)

The bee boxes

P.S. I got my bee gloves yesterday. I was going to wear them downtown last night... but we decided it wouldn't be a very attractive outfit.

P.P.S. In order to see more Beekeeping photos, or just more photos in general, visit my Shutterfly site!

Salem Church

When I visited my grandparents this summer I went with my Grandfather to the church they go to every Sunday. The church has some amazing history and always draws me in to the past. I'm not one of those people who watches the History Channel a whole bunch, but historical events have always been something that peak my interest - even when I was little.

Salem Church has been standing since the middle of the 1800's. The church closed for a few years in the middle of the 20th century, but reopened in the 1950's. My grandparents were among the 30 original members when it reopened. The church that was the main sanctuary back then is now the chapel which is only used for special occasions such as weddings.

I love the chapel, I think it is beautiful, but my favorite part of the church is the cemetery. I know, it is kinda weird, but cemeteries hold so much history and so many memories. They don't bury anybody in the cemetery anymore, but there are still tombstones from the 18th and 19th centuries. A lot of the people buried there were buried during or after the Civil War.

The brass GAR stars are for men who were honorably released from the Union Army during the Civil War. They are next to about a third of the graves in the Salem Church grave yard. 

Note: While I was there I was debating whether or not it was appropriate to take pictures of the graveyard. I even Googled the subject before heading to the church with my grandfather. A lot of people felt as though as long as you stay far enough away from those people who are there to pay their respects as well as being respectful yourself, it is okay. 

the last first day

Today was my last first day of school. That means that I only have thirty more weeks of class until I am officially thrown into the real world with no training wheels, only grownup things like real jobs, real rent, real bills, and all of my own decisions. 

Even though I wasn't in Spain for the beginning of this Fall Quarter like I was last year, today was a pretty good last first day... 

Christine and I took the bus to school (my first time in the history of ever.. except in Spain of course). 

I understood everything my Spanish professor said in class today.

Public relations is going to be easy.

And my Beekeeping class was pretty interesting.

That's right, you heard me correctly. I'm taking beekeeping.

Today was our lab day, so we went out and got introduced to the bee boxes, the smokers, and the super cute veils we have to wear ;) Yup, I get to wear one of those weird hat things that you see in pictures. However, tasting the fresh honey from the honey comb was totally worth it. 

Oh yeah, and I got stung.

Hopefully I'll be able to take pictures at some point soon.

Until then, I'll leave you with this from a google search I did:

Bees really are beautiful and amazing creatures. The only downside is the swollen sting I have on my right side.

thoughts on the corporate world

For the past 10 weeks I have been an intern at AAA. I have written press releases, checked fax lists, redesigned brochures, sat in on meetings, presented a "what's what" of social media, and assisted in any of the other mundane things that always get handed off to the intern. Oh yeah, and spent way too much time on Facebook, Blogger, and DIY sites - you know, in all the downtime that I have at work, like right now (and 3+ hours yesterday)...

Anyway, here are a few thoughts I've had throughout my brief (for now) stint in the corporate world...

• Why, on elevators, do people insist on repressing the already lit buttons? Pressing the up arrow or your floor's button one or two extra times will not get you there faster.
• Why, on telephones and number pads/calculators, do the numbers go opposite directions? Wouldn't it be easier if "1-9" was always going the same direction?
• It doesn't surprise me that some of the most timid drivers I know work at AAA. It's scary out on the road! You could be the best driver in the world, but other drivers do stupid things... all those crash stats are frightening!
• Why do airlines have you pick a seat when you buy your tickets, but then have you pick different seats when you go to check in online?

uncomfortably laughable

Okay, so I've always thought Snuggies were absolutely hilarious/ridiculous. Not to mention that they have Snuggies for dogs (I tried to convince my mom to get one for our dog so that he could match my step dad in the one my sister got him for Christmas... she didn't go for it). Every single time I watch a Snuggie commercial I get uncomfortable because it is so awkward... this time, however, I was beyond uncomfortable. I was laughing, out loud, by myself, because it was so awkward.

Check it out and laugh for yourself ;)

P.S. The version of the Snuggie that is advertised on airplanes in SkyMall is called a "Slanket". I think I like that name better.

And just for good measure, another commercial that makes me too uncomfortable for words: