According to my blog I have been in the Bahamas for quite some time now. As all you readers know, this certainly isn't the case. I'm sorry to have lagged behind on my blogging but life gets in the way and suddenly you remember you are, indeed, not in the Bahamas anymore.
I have thought about keeping up on this blog for a while now and even a few of you have continued to ask about it. I've never been a huge fan of blogs that lay out the minute day to day details of ones life. One, because I think most of our details are quite personal and to be honest quite boring (no one really needs to know what I had for breakfast this morning... cereal with banana and blueberries, thank you) and two, it is sometimes hard to know how much to share with others. A blog is like a diary but I have never managed to keep a diary for more than a few weeks. A new years resolution for 2008 turned out to be two entries in a notebook of which when I look back on, I think, "how stupid, I have nothing meaningful to say."
So, readers, I offer you a compromise. I promise nothing in the way of the regularity of updates that I made during my scholarship year. I also promise to not divulge too many of my daily secrets - if you want gossip, go ahead an call me, you know my number, and I'd be happy to hear from you.
I would like to continue to use this blog as a way of updating friends and family, putting up pictures, and putting out life musings (comments always appreciated). I am also curious to see who is the first to notice that I finally put a blog posting up!
For the first blog posting, a very quick update:
I am in Monterey, CA, back to interning (now being paid) at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and soon to move to Santa Cruz where I'll be starting a PhD at UCSC.
That is all :)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Eleuthera
I made it to Eleuthera! The flights going out of Nassau were all horribly delayed and when it was my turn to board, they filled up a normal jet leaving about 10 of us behind and boarded us half an hour later on this tiny prop plane. We made it safe to Rock Sound but my ride from the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) had left already thinking I wasn't there because I wasn't on the first flight! luckily there are always taxi's available and I made my way to the Island School which is operated by CEI.
It is beautiful here - white sand beaches, coconut trees, gorgeous views. I got in just in time for lunch and diving. The Island School runs two semesters each school year - high school students come to learn to dive, take classes, and learn to do reserach. It's amazing. These kids are awesome and eager. The school and CEI are based on sustainable engineering and architecture so the kids also learn about alternative waste systems, lighting, solar power, etc.
I just had a great tour around the campus and saw the garden and compost area. We have pigs and goats here. Momma pig just had piglets a month ago and they are quite big. Spices are grown along with vegetables galore. A full hydroponics system grows the lettuce we eat for lunch. The aquaculture projects raise tilapia.
All power comes from batteries (partly from a grid) and these are charged by solar and wind. The waste system fuels the gardens and rain water is collected in cisterns for showers and filtered for drinking water.
This place is awesome.
The kids just got to the Island School two weeks ago so they are still in their SCUBA course so I'm acting as a divemaster. Yesterday we went out into the harbor to finish the confined water portion of the course and this morning we went out on their first real ocean dive! It's very pretty, blue and clear water. The wind picked up too much to continue diving so I'm going to start learning about CEI and their research projects.
Everyone here is super nice - tons of people in their 20s and 30s doing research and working here. Very cool.
It is beautiful here - white sand beaches, coconut trees, gorgeous views. I got in just in time for lunch and diving. The Island School runs two semesters each school year - high school students come to learn to dive, take classes, and learn to do reserach. It's amazing. These kids are awesome and eager. The school and CEI are based on sustainable engineering and architecture so the kids also learn about alternative waste systems, lighting, solar power, etc.
I just had a great tour around the campus and saw the garden and compost area. We have pigs and goats here. Momma pig just had piglets a month ago and they are quite big. Spices are grown along with vegetables galore. A full hydroponics system grows the lettuce we eat for lunch. The aquaculture projects raise tilapia.
All power comes from batteries (partly from a grid) and these are charged by solar and wind. The waste system fuels the gardens and rain water is collected in cisterns for showers and filtered for drinking water.
This place is awesome.
The kids just got to the Island School two weeks ago so they are still in their SCUBA course so I'm acting as a divemaster. Yesterday we went out into the harbor to finish the confined water portion of the course and this morning we went out on their first real ocean dive! It's very pretty, blue and clear water. The wind picked up too much to continue diving so I'm going to start learning about CEI and their research projects.
Everyone here is super nice - tons of people in their 20s and 30s doing research and working here. Very cool.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
stuck in nassau
I'm spending the night in nassau - Bahamas air got me a hotel room plus dinner!
I found some other travelers in the same situation at the airport. We banded together and after about 3 hours of waiting we each had new flight tickets plus food and hotel vouchers. Interestingly enough, we've been put up in what's called a dive hotel - they cater to divers. good for me! Although it's quite quiet here... We got our respective rooms but were told that the chef had left early for the day. Hungry and tired we were all upset until they ordered take out for us! I had a delicious whole snapper with rice and beans, corns, and beet, very good. Two gin and tonics and it's actually been a lovely night. My flight tomorrow is 8:30 am so I should be in Rock Sound by no time at all.
Off to bed!
I'm very excited to be here. There's such a thrill with traveling to a new country and being slightly uprooted. The music is playing at the bar right now and I'm outside at the pool - it's warm with a cool breeze. The room isn't all too bad (not 4 star like I had hoped), I've only seen two rats.
This is one thing I love about traveling - you put yourself out there. Sometimes things don't work out as you expect they should but with everything gone wrong there are things gone right.
I think a good meal and a gin and tonic counts as going right.
And for other things?
I found some other travelers in the same situation at the airport. We banded together and after about 3 hours of waiting we each had new flight tickets plus food and hotel vouchers. Interestingly enough, we've been put up in what's called a dive hotel - they cater to divers. good for me! Although it's quite quiet here... We got our respective rooms but were told that the chef had left early for the day. Hungry and tired we were all upset until they ordered take out for us! I had a delicious whole snapper with rice and beans, corns, and beet, very good. Two gin and tonics and it's actually been a lovely night. My flight tomorrow is 8:30 am so I should be in Rock Sound by no time at all.
Off to bed!
I'm very excited to be here. There's such a thrill with traveling to a new country and being slightly uprooted. The music is playing at the bar right now and I'm outside at the pool - it's warm with a cool breeze. The room isn't all too bad (not 4 star like I had hoped), I've only seen two rats.
This is one thing I love about traveling - you put yourself out there. Sometimes things don't work out as you expect they should but with everything gone wrong there are things gone right.
I think a good meal and a gin and tonic counts as going right.
And for other things?
where I am going
I'm heading to Eluthera - sorry the picture is hard to see but look it up online!
Update on travels - i wont make my inter-island connection so i'm hoping they put me up in Nassau! four star hotel with room service, here I come!
Update on travels - i wont make my inter-island connection so i'm hoping they put me up in Nassau! four star hotel with room service, here I come!
Hanging out in Orlando
I was going to start this blog entry by complaining about a delayed flight but I just heard over the speaker that we are getting food vouchers - airlines know what they are doing! Nothing like turning a frustrating few hours into something quite bearable with free food and drink! I'm going for dessert as I already had a sandwich. Thanks, Bahamas air!
Now I get to spend some time catching up on the emailing I didn't have time to do last night so all in all, I'm glad to have a quiet space to do so.
**update: more delays and I will not make my Nassau --> Eleuthera connection. Either I will be put up in a hotel for the night or they will get me on a later flight. I wont find out until I get into Nassau
So for your entertainment and mine, here are some long overdue pictures
Getting a behind the scenes tour from Rich Pyle of the Bishop Museum's fish collection
Beautiful sunset on the north shore
1993 Scholar Katie Laing and I enjoy a glass of wine on the beach as the sun sets on the north shore of Oahu
Now I get to spend some time catching up on the emailing I didn't have time to do last night so all in all, I'm glad to have a quiet space to do so.
**update: more delays and I will not make my Nassau --> Eleuthera connection. Either I will be put up in a hotel for the night or they will get me on a later flight. I wont find out until I get into Nassau
So for your entertainment and mine, here are some long overdue pictures
Getting a behind the scenes tour from Rich Pyle of the Bishop Museum's fish collection
Beautiful sunset on the north shore
1993 Scholar Katie Laing and I enjoy a glass of wine on the beach as the sun sets on the north shore of Oahu
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
One final trip
My flight to the Bahamas leaves in 7.5 hours and I have yet to sleep. Okay, so I didn't exactly plan as well as I should have. I'm exhausted from my Hawaii flights (I got in at 4:30pm today) and unpacking/repacking took longer than I had thought it would. I remember building this itinerary thinking, "Oh, I can sleep with the scholarship year is over, why not have the Bahamas experience to its fullest?" In retrospect, what's one more day? I could use one day just to rest but instead I'll be on a plane to NC then Orlando, then Bahamas, then Eleuthera. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I mean, come on, Brenna, you're going to the Bahamas!
I'm very excited to go as this is my last big travel before my year ends. I do have NJ awaiting the end of this trip but this is the last diving experiences I will have and also the last international ones. Come to think of it, I haven't left the country since Christmas!
I'm going to stop here because I desperately need to get some rest. Not sure of my internet connection while in the bahamas, but do check out the foundation I'll be working at:
http://www.ceibahamas.org/
Until later,
Brenna
I'm very excited to go as this is my last big travel before my year ends. I do have NJ awaiting the end of this trip but this is the last diving experiences I will have and also the last international ones. Come to think of it, I haven't left the country since Christmas!
I'm going to stop here because I desperately need to get some rest. Not sure of my internet connection while in the bahamas, but do check out the foundation I'll be working at:
http://www.ceibahamas.org/
Until later,
Brenna
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Tough decisions
This has been an odd week for me and stressful in a way that you'd never think Hawaii would be stressful. I'm writing from the North Shore where I am staying with 1993 scholar Katie Laing for two nights for a bit of relaxation and soul searching. It's a cute little place, very quite, and I've already seen the sunset at the beach.
So it's been odd in one main way - i've been offered two amazing positions for graduate study, one at UCSC and one at UH. Which one to choose? They are both so so so good but in different ways. at UCSC i'd be working with on most likely Marine Protected areas of the central california coastline with two of the best scientists there. Excellent education and collaboration opportunities. Plus, I fell in love with that area as a person.
In Hawaii I've been offered a very unique opportunity (at least I think it is) to work on the forefront of not only a relatively new system (reefs about 50m) but to use integrative methods of genetics, stable isotopes, and of course diving (i'd be using rebreathers, ROVs, Subs). The program itself is excellent and the profs are super nice (one of them has become a friend from the Aquarius mission i did last october).
I know I can't go wrong in this decision but it's getting to me. I'd hate to turn down either but I have to say no to one of them. This past year (hell, the past three years) have been amazing for me - not only have I learned a lot and have worked with the nicest people, but I've grown as a person. Each experience has been one that I "can't pass up." I've lived my life so far in that manner - Friday Harbor Labs comes to mind. It was an opportunity that "i couldn't just say no to" - but so far it's only been one at a time! I've been chasing these things down and excelling at them. I've thrived on the new experiences and learning. I don't think i've been selfish in this regard because at each place i've contributed to the community and even a bit to the science (yay!). But is enough enough? I'm tired, this year has been wonderful but I"m tired of traveling. Yes, things are exciting but I guess there is something to be said for doing something boring every now and again. That's the thing I see with Hawaii - it's more of a risk for me as a person and a scientist. Well, i take that back, as a scientist it'd be amazing for my own growth, but it's a bit of a different system that I'm not used to. Of course I'm not really used to kelp forest ecology yet but I have dove in them and they are drop dead gorgeous. I see Hawaii as a risk and not sure why. Am I willing to take that risk? How many times in my recent life should I keep putting myself in these positions? Is enough enough? is Santa Cruz my safe haven? It's so hard right now to separate the "this would be good for me as a person" vs "this would be good for me as a scientist" and i KNOW that both UCSC and UH would cover those but - in different ways.
Oh, decisions! I am extremely flattered that I have been offered these positions. I have until about April 15th to decide. Flip a coin? Get my cards read? Which leap of faith will I take?
So it's been odd in one main way - i've been offered two amazing positions for graduate study, one at UCSC and one at UH. Which one to choose? They are both so so so good but in different ways. at UCSC i'd be working with on most likely Marine Protected areas of the central california coastline with two of the best scientists there. Excellent education and collaboration opportunities. Plus, I fell in love with that area as a person.
In Hawaii I've been offered a very unique opportunity (at least I think it is) to work on the forefront of not only a relatively new system (reefs about 50m) but to use integrative methods of genetics, stable isotopes, and of course diving (i'd be using rebreathers, ROVs, Subs). The program itself is excellent and the profs are super nice (one of them has become a friend from the Aquarius mission i did last october).
I know I can't go wrong in this decision but it's getting to me. I'd hate to turn down either but I have to say no to one of them. This past year (hell, the past three years) have been amazing for me - not only have I learned a lot and have worked with the nicest people, but I've grown as a person. Each experience has been one that I "can't pass up." I've lived my life so far in that manner - Friday Harbor Labs comes to mind. It was an opportunity that "i couldn't just say no to" - but so far it's only been one at a time! I've been chasing these things down and excelling at them. I've thrived on the new experiences and learning. I don't think i've been selfish in this regard because at each place i've contributed to the community and even a bit to the science (yay!). But is enough enough? I'm tired, this year has been wonderful but I"m tired of traveling. Yes, things are exciting but I guess there is something to be said for doing something boring every now and again. That's the thing I see with Hawaii - it's more of a risk for me as a person and a scientist. Well, i take that back, as a scientist it'd be amazing for my own growth, but it's a bit of a different system that I'm not used to. Of course I'm not really used to kelp forest ecology yet but I have dove in them and they are drop dead gorgeous. I see Hawaii as a risk and not sure why. Am I willing to take that risk? How many times in my recent life should I keep putting myself in these positions? Is enough enough? is Santa Cruz my safe haven? It's so hard right now to separate the "this would be good for me as a person" vs "this would be good for me as a scientist" and i KNOW that both UCSC and UH would cover those but - in different ways.
Oh, decisions! I am extremely flattered that I have been offered these positions. I have until about April 15th to decide. Flip a coin? Get my cards read? Which leap of faith will I take?
Friday, March 14, 2008
Because I'm a big believer in maps especially when I have a Window's Paint option available, here you go:
Aloha
I started in San Jose, California, now I am in Hawaii. This weekend I'm spending time with past scholar Katie Laing for a bit of R&R and then on Monday I scoot on over back home for about 10 or so hours (long enough to do laundry and sleep, I suspect), then head straight to Eleuthera, The Bahamas for 10 days. From there I go straight to Seacaucus, NJ (half an hour way from Westfield, Aunt Bub!), and then finally back home (arrow not shown).
This is my last bout of intense traveling for the scholarship and thank goodness because I'm getting tired! Hawaii is nice so far although I've spent most of my time here inside talking with Professors. This weekend I go to the beach!
Aloha
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
I thought this was great
Thanks to my sponsor, Aqualung, I get featured underneath a Cousteau! This is what happens when one Googles ones self.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Deja Vegas?
Who would have thought - in six weeks, I've been in the Las Vegas airport three times. Here I am again sitting next to the casino machines awaiting my flight. This time, however, I am leaving the California coast and heading to Honolulu, Hawaii. I'll be there for ten days mostly to interview with the University but also to dive with some cool people. I'm hoping to connect with the national marine sanctuary people down there too.
Oh, gotta run, see you in Hawaii!
Oh, gotta run, see you in Hawaii!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
And that's a wrap!
Yesterday was the final day of live Immersion Presents presentations from the RV Fulmar. All went well including another siting of a harbor seal. Oh, I didn't even write about the last one. The other day I was filming a Pycnopodia (sunflower star) and look up to find my dive buddy, Paul, playing with a harbor seal! I swung my camera over and caught a good couple seconds of the interactions. The filming turned out great (I'll post later), the colors were right, and everything in focus. Paul, you owe me! But yesterday morning I saw another one!
The diving has been great and the presentations have gone well. Life on the boat is fun too as everyone is friendly, helpful, and social. I talked a lot with the video people and learned a thing or two as well.
To celebrate we all went out last night for dinner and drinks (many drinks). Some highlights:
My flag flying on the RV Fulmar with Monterey in the background
Immersion Presents divers and technicians!
Me and my SIMoN boys (and Paul)
Steve, Josh, me, Paul, and Chad
Geared up ready to go for the last dive
The party starts
MBNMS crew
Hugo, Sonya, Me, Gary
Sacha and Lorraine
The bickering couple, Andrew and Paul and, when I start my own production company, my first hires
The diving has been great and the presentations have gone well. Life on the boat is fun too as everyone is friendly, helpful, and social. I talked a lot with the video people and learned a thing or two as well.
To celebrate we all went out last night for dinner and drinks (many drinks). Some highlights:
My flag flying on the RV Fulmar with Monterey in the background
Immersion Presents divers and technicians!
Me and my SIMoN boys (and Paul)
Steve, Josh, me, Paul, and Chad
Geared up ready to go for the last dive
The party starts
MBNMS crew
Hugo, Sonya, Me, Gary
Sacha and Lorraine
The bickering couple, Andrew and Paul and, when I start my own production company, my first hires
No, Andrew, my watch is cooler
Monday, March 3, 2008
Immersed
Two successful days of live presentations on the RV Fulmar! Five shows a day - three of them underwater and two topside. Each morning has started very early and we're off the dock at 6am to get ready for the 8am start. The water is great, not too cold, and okay visibility. Check out the live presentations at 8, 9, 10, and 11 (WST) at www.immersionpresents.org
I've been having a great time on the boat. Everyone is super friendly and excited and it's neat to see the production involved in live presentations. I'm enjoying the dives as well. These are my first ocean dives in Monterey and I've had some time to explore and look for neat invertebrates. Right now I am mostly filming behind the scenes and helping with the many cords and tethers for the camera systems. Later on I'll be a scientist in the water. Today, though, I got to be featured for a few minutes along with Paul and Mark, other videographers. Mark is the main camera guy who is filming Steve, the lead scientist, and Paul is like me - we're filming the behind the scenes views.
But today Paul, Mark, and I got to show off our cameras to tell the students about how we take electronics underwater. Quinn was great to have some screen shots and although they are quite blury, i'm happy to have them!
Getting introduced
Showing off the LMI camera
Steve and I
I've been having a great time on the boat. Everyone is super friendly and excited and it's neat to see the production involved in live presentations. I'm enjoying the dives as well. These are my first ocean dives in Monterey and I've had some time to explore and look for neat invertebrates. Right now I am mostly filming behind the scenes and helping with the many cords and tethers for the camera systems. Later on I'll be a scientist in the water. Today, though, I got to be featured for a few minutes along with Paul and Mark, other videographers. Mark is the main camera guy who is filming Steve, the lead scientist, and Paul is like me - we're filming the behind the scenes views.
But today Paul, Mark, and I got to show off our cameras to tell the students about how we take electronics underwater. Quinn was great to have some screen shots and although they are quite blury, i'm happy to have them!
Getting introduced
Showing off the LMI camera
Steve and I
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Immersion Presents
Something to check out this week: www.immersionpresents.org
Immersion Presents is a Bob Ballard production unit that delivers live programs to school and family groups. This week the special is Monterey Bay!
I'm part of the expedition team!
People and camera equipment started arriving this past week and today was the first day out on the NOAA RV Fulmar. Since all programs are live, today was our dress rehearsal to make sure the dive schedule would work and the equipment and cameras were all good. We did three dives, one to check out the dive site, and two to do two practice presentations. I am mostly helping out watching the divers in action and making sure tethers and camera cords do not get too mixed up in the water. It also gives me a chance to film the presentations myself although with no audio.
Beautiful kelp beds
So three excellent dives today! The site is very pretty and we saw many organisms (although no cute, friendly, megafauna yet).
Steve Lonhart and Dawn Hayes practice a presentation on RV Fulmar
Steve underwater being filmed by Mark
both are wearing AGA masks and communications
Immersion Presents is a Bob Ballard production unit that delivers live programs to school and family groups. This week the special is Monterey Bay!
I'm part of the expedition team!
Beautiful kelp beds
Steve Lonhart and Dawn Hayes practice a presentation on RV Fulmar
Steve underwater being filmed by Mark
both are wearing AGA masks and communications
Thursday, February 28, 2008
filming at the harbor
After spending the night in Santa Cruz, I made it to Monterey just in time to help out on some more filming. There is a long term project to remove the invasive algae, Undaria from the Monterey Harbor. Every month Undaria is removed by volunteers on the topside of the docks by volunteers as well underwater by divers. I met up with Rita Bunzel who runs these volunteer days at the Harbor Master's office. Paul, who had been coaxed into filming when I was in Seattle, ran off to do slightly more important Immersion Presents equipment things on NOAA dock.
So, I spent the day with Rita and a group of high school girls to film them all in action. The removal took about 5 hours with a 45 min lunch break. It was a lovely day and the girls had a great time. It was fun to point out metridium anemones, crabs, and other algae. The footage I gained will all go towards a public service announcement as well as up on the national marine sanctuaries page hopefully in the near future.
Pretty boats in the harbor
Filming algal removal
So, I spent the day with Rita and a group of high school girls to film them all in action. The removal took about 5 hours with a 45 min lunch break. It was a lovely day and the girls had a great time. It was fun to point out metridium anemones, crabs, and other algae. The footage I gained will all go towards a public service announcement as well as up on the national marine sanctuaries page hopefully in the near future.
Pretty boats in the harbor
Filming algal removal
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
no go, san jo
After almost 5 hours of delay, mechanical problems, and a fuel spill, they decided to load the plane and take off. But after talking to a passenger who had boarded the plane previously and him telling me that he "saw fuel spilling out from the wing," I decided not to get on that plane. Call me paranoid but I just did not feel it was worth it. I'm also exhausted and fed up. I'm sorry to have to miss the U. Washington prospective student days but I will contact the profs. I'm interested in and at least we can talk on the phone. U. Washington is quite a back up anyway for me and I was mostly going just to see anyway. I will also miss hanging out with Jules but that can wait for when I have more time. So, sorry U. Washington, it would have been fun and informative, but my sanity is at stake. I am now heading to Santa Cruz to crash on a friend's couch :)
stuck in san jose
So I haven't yet left San Jose yet. Two hours delay turned into four hours with a mechanical problem and fuel spill on the tarmak. So not only does the fire department have to come and clean the spill up, mechanics have to work on the plane. Stay tuned. I may be driving back to Monterey soon. If not, I'll write from Seattle when I do get there... finally.
hurry up and wait....and wait
It's been a full month since I've been at an airport and I had started enjoying not feeling the frenzy, overpriced-overpackaged-overplastic-unfriendly life that is airport waiting. I'm in the San Jose Airport awaiting my flight to Seattle. I rushed up here just in time to learn that my flight is 2 and a half hours delayed. Although unfriendly might be a bit too harsh to say of the San Jose airport - they did give me a $6 ticket for dinner. I think I'll order soup.
But, these two hours do bide me some time to do some writing, catch up on this blog, catch up on my Scrabulous games, and enjoy a meal and a drink from the airport so all is not lost.
I am only gone for one night. The main reason being that I was invited to U. Washington for a prospective graduate students days. The days are Thursday and Friday but I am needed in Monterey on Friday so I am only going for the Thursday events which is fine because that's the main day. I'll get to meet a few professors that I am interested in as well as hear some panels on funding sources and general "what you're getting yourself into when you're going for a graduate degree" advice. Looking forward to learning something new and meeting interesting people. Plus, I get to stay with Miss Juilia for the night, my wonderful Seattle B&B.
In other news, we're getting geared up for the Immersion Presents program that is to start this weekend. Check it out: www.immersionpresents.org and look for me! I'll be in front of the camera a few times.
My job for the last two weeks was to help produce two canned segments to supplement the live internet programing. They are only 2 minutes long but took a while to produce. I'll point them out when I see them up. But through this I got to do quite a lot of filming and work alongside Paul, a Sanctuary filmer and editor who has taught me a few nifty Final Cut tricks and has been a good source of advice on all things not to do when editing.
Here are some highlights
Paul wanted a Vogue shot, so here we are thinking of how to edit our intertidal piece
Paul and I filming in the intertidal, this woman, Dawn, came from Santa Barbara to star in the segment
But, these two hours do bide me some time to do some writing, catch up on this blog, catch up on my Scrabulous games, and enjoy a meal and a drink from the airport so all is not lost.
I am only gone for one night. The main reason being that I was invited to U. Washington for a prospective graduate students days. The days are Thursday and Friday but I am needed in Monterey on Friday so I am only going for the Thursday events which is fine because that's the main day. I'll get to meet a few professors that I am interested in as well as hear some panels on funding sources and general "what you're getting yourself into when you're going for a graduate degree" advice. Looking forward to learning something new and meeting interesting people. Plus, I get to stay with Miss Juilia for the night, my wonderful Seattle B&B.
In other news, we're getting geared up for the Immersion Presents program that is to start this weekend. Check it out: www.immersionpresents.org and look for me! I'll be in front of the camera a few times.
My job for the last two weeks was to help produce two canned segments to supplement the live internet programing. They are only 2 minutes long but took a while to produce. I'll point them out when I see them up. But through this I got to do quite a lot of filming and work alongside Paul, a Sanctuary filmer and editor who has taught me a few nifty Final Cut tricks and has been a good source of advice on all things not to do when editing.
Here are some highlights
My desk in a great office
Paul wanted a Vogue shot, so here we are thinking of how to edit our intertidal piece
Paul and I filming in the intertidal, this woman, Dawn, came from Santa Barbara to star in the segment
Saturday, February 23, 2008
passing the crown
You know your scholarship is almost over when....
they pick your successor! The scholarship has named the 2008 NA scholar for this year. His name is Jamie and so far seems awesome. I was in the loop for the process and the interviews (mainly because I had a good friend in the running... she didn't make it but I'm hoping she'll apply again, right...? you know who you are!). But new guy seems great and he's coming to the Beneath the Sea dive conference in Newark where I can help kick start his year with some key introductions. So I'll soon be passing along the crown. I knew this time would come but it does feel odd that it is now here. My scholarship year is no where near over but the clock is starting to tick to a close and I know I will be left feeling a range of emotions. Am I sad to end the year? Happy? Relieved? Probably all of it, too. I'm very excited for new guy and hope that I can be helpful in anyway to make his year just as good as mine or even better (although I can't see how my year could have been better anyway).
There are some new responsibilities involved with ending the year namely making the documentary. Since I am relatively settled here in Monterey and am doing a bunch of video editing anyway, now's a great time to be working on my own video and that's what I'm trying to do. I thought it would be fun, going back to my old video - and it is, but it's daunting that's for sure. I've barely put together anything remotely polished and am overwhelmed by the amount of footage I have and what kind of story I want to tell. So it's good that I've started early. I'd like it to be good and I'm sure all of you would like it to be good to. If you have a special music request, let me know, I can try to work it in.
My time here in Monterey is about to get very busy. I've combined scholarship responsibilities with determining where to go to graduate school. This also means that I'll be in Santa Cruz a few times this week while getting sanctuary footage edited for the immersion presents program the following week while also going to Seattle for a night to see U. Washington (and to see Miss Julia too of course).
This is my last weekend relatively free so I'm enjoying it by eating lots of good food and sitting in front of my computer working on my video and probably ending up with carpel tunnel in my shoulders and needing a new eye glass prescription by the end of it. It's a great experience and will probably steer me away from actually making video a career. I'm having fun with it now, at least.
So, stay tuned, perhaps I'll even make a teaser for everyone :)
they pick your successor! The scholarship has named the 2008 NA scholar for this year. His name is Jamie and so far seems awesome. I was in the loop for the process and the interviews (mainly because I had a good friend in the running... she didn't make it but I'm hoping she'll apply again, right...? you know who you are!). But new guy seems great and he's coming to the Beneath the Sea dive conference in Newark where I can help kick start his year with some key introductions. So I'll soon be passing along the crown. I knew this time would come but it does feel odd that it is now here. My scholarship year is no where near over but the clock is starting to tick to a close and I know I will be left feeling a range of emotions. Am I sad to end the year? Happy? Relieved? Probably all of it, too. I'm very excited for new guy and hope that I can be helpful in anyway to make his year just as good as mine or even better (although I can't see how my year could have been better anyway).
There are some new responsibilities involved with ending the year namely making the documentary. Since I am relatively settled here in Monterey and am doing a bunch of video editing anyway, now's a great time to be working on my own video and that's what I'm trying to do. I thought it would be fun, going back to my old video - and it is, but it's daunting that's for sure. I've barely put together anything remotely polished and am overwhelmed by the amount of footage I have and what kind of story I want to tell. So it's good that I've started early. I'd like it to be good and I'm sure all of you would like it to be good to. If you have a special music request, let me know, I can try to work it in.
My time here in Monterey is about to get very busy. I've combined scholarship responsibilities with determining where to go to graduate school. This also means that I'll be in Santa Cruz a few times this week while getting sanctuary footage edited for the immersion presents program the following week while also going to Seattle for a night to see U. Washington (and to see Miss Julia too of course).
This is my last weekend relatively free so I'm enjoying it by eating lots of good food and sitting in front of my computer working on my video and probably ending up with carpel tunnel in my shoulders and needing a new eye glass prescription by the end of it. It's a great experience and will probably steer me away from actually making video a career. I'm having fun with it now, at least.
So, stay tuned, perhaps I'll even make a teaser for everyone :)
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monterey underwater
Went for a nice short dive yesterday in the Harbor to collect some Undaria sp. film. Undaria is a non-native species of algae that has arrived to the west coast from our friends further west most likely by ship ballast water. Monterey remains the northern most point that Undaria has been found (yet) so researchers here including many from the UC system and at the sanctuary are trying to determine as much as they can about Undaria. I went diving with Rita a woman who has formed a volunteer group that clears the harbor of Undaria every month in hopes of reducing it's population and therefore impact on the ecosystem. I am working with Rita now to begin filming a Public Service Announcement to call for more volunteers. I do not think we will get that done while I am here but at least I can be handy and help provide underwater filming.
Undaria - recognizable by it's lasagna noodle appearance with strong midrib and flimsy holdfast
Undaria's small holdfast as and slightly developed sporophyll (it's reproductive structure)
It was a lovely dive although quite short but nice to be back in the water. I found very little Undaria but did get to play around with some crabs on the pilings.
A cute decorator crab, I think.
A chiton on a piling.
Undaria - recognizable by it's lasagna noodle appearance with strong midrib and flimsy holdfast
Undaria's small holdfast as and slightly developed sporophyll (it's reproductive structure)It was a lovely dive although quite short but nice to be back in the water. I found very little Undaria but did get to play around with some crabs on the pilings.
A cute decorator crab, I think.
A chiton on a piling. Monday, February 18, 2008
planning
The end is near and I've finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Or, at least the edge pieces are laid out nicely in a box and now I just have to figure out how to put the blank sky pieces together (they're always the hardest, right?).
Here's the plan:
Monterey until March 9th.
Hawaii from 9th-18th
DC for one night
Bahamas 19th-28th
Dive show in Newark NJ (aunt bub, you'll be hearing from me soon) 28th-30th
Home to finish video and end the year 30th-April 10th.
Very much looking forward to these travels. I'm enjoying being settled for a bit but the rest of March I'll make one final crazy scholar push to finish off the year with a bang, some warm water diving, and possibly a glowing tan to show off in April. That or a burnt nose.
Going for a dive tomorrow morning and hoping the weather holds.
Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend.
Here's the plan:
Monterey until March 9th.
Hawaii from 9th-18th
DC for one night
Bahamas 19th-28th
Dive show in Newark NJ (aunt bub, you'll be hearing from me soon) 28th-30th
Home to finish video and end the year 30th-April 10th.
Very much looking forward to these travels. I'm enjoying being settled for a bit but the rest of March I'll make one final crazy scholar push to finish off the year with a bang, some warm water diving, and possibly a glowing tan to show off in April. That or a burnt nose.
Going for a dive tomorrow morning and hoping the weather holds.
Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
spending quality time outside
This past week has been relatively easy for me. I've been given several tasks to get done mostly with video and editing but this can be done at any time. Good weather and the right tides help, of course. These past few days I've been spending time outside doing such video work and this weekend I hope I can put together a few clips for my supervisor, Steve.
Taking a break from filming the intertidal
Elkhorn Slough near Moss Landing
There really isn't much else to report on scholarship end. They've chosen the new European and Australasian scholars already (a girl from the Netherlands and Steve, my Australian dive buddy - he got it!!!). Soon the North American scholar will be chosen and there will be a new trio for 2008. I was just talking to someone at the Sanctuary about the fact that I'm ending my scholarship year pretty soon. I always say it's bittersweet and it remains so even now. I'm pretty tired and am enjoying my relatively free time here in Monterey. I can cook myself dinner, hang out with people from my office, and not have to rush around to finish a course or get on the next plane. I think I'll be perfectly okay when this year is over. I am continuing to build my contact base almost every day especially in the Monterey area. I will miss this part about the scholarship but I'm thinking old and new contacts will not simply go away because I'm ending my year.
In other news it looks like I'll be going to graduate school next fall. I wont spoil any surprises but in the next month I should know.
Time for bed!
Taking a break from filming the intertidal
Elkhorn Slough near Moss Landing
There really isn't much else to report on scholarship end. They've chosen the new European and Australasian scholars already (a girl from the Netherlands and Steve, my Australian dive buddy - he got it!!!). Soon the North American scholar will be chosen and there will be a new trio for 2008. I was just talking to someone at the Sanctuary about the fact that I'm ending my scholarship year pretty soon. I always say it's bittersweet and it remains so even now. I'm pretty tired and am enjoying my relatively free time here in Monterey. I can cook myself dinner, hang out with people from my office, and not have to rush around to finish a course or get on the next plane. I think I'll be perfectly okay when this year is over. I am continuing to build my contact base almost every day especially in the Monterey area. I will miss this part about the scholarship but I'm thinking old and new contacts will not simply go away because I'm ending my year.
In other news it looks like I'll be going to graduate school next fall. I wont spoil any surprises but in the next month I should know.
Time for bed!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Last day in Nevada
I just got back to Monterey - it's almost 1:30am and I'm ready for bed! I took a flight from Las Vegas to San Fran and drove back down south.
Today was great and long once more. We utilized the day light hours yet again to their full potential by waking up before dawn and staying out until sunset. But it is certainly a beautiful place and seeing the sun rise and set each day has been magnificent.
Sunrise #3
Our diving platforms
We got four dives in so everyone was plenty busy preparing throughout the day. I had picked up quickly how things are done and was able to help out today with much greater efficiency and anticipation of diver and camera needs. We did get to put one more toy in the water - a small ROV (remotely operated vehicle). I was put in charge of operations (first being asked if I was any good at playing video games) for the mission to find and recover a set of lights at the bottom (about 140feet). After a bit of looking I managed to find the lights (everyone was surprised) and Andres, an NPS diver, managed to grasp it using the ROV's claw, and we brought it up. Apparently I'm supposed to get a six pack from Dave Conlin for finding his lights for him... We also looked for a mooring block but this mission was not successful.
Helping get cameras into the water
Helping Becky put her bailout bottle on
A camera goes down
On the ROV
Found the lights!!
Search and recovery, a success
I'm very impressed with the group, everyone gets along well and is eager to help to make the planned dives easy, efficient, and safe. The cameras and lights worked for the most part and I was continually thrilled to view the monitor screen to watch the progression of the dives.
Brett Seymor and Dave Conlin of the NPS Submerged resources center getting ready to splash
Becky, Evan, and I, happy after a successful day
The boys of Lake Mead and I
Unfortunately I couldn't stick around for dinner tonight as I had to catch a the last flight out to San Francisco. Jeff and I were picked up by the faster boat so that we could make it to the rental car back on shore. Jeff was wonderful to drive me back to the city and to the airport. Now, after an hour and a half flight to San Fran, and an hour and a half drive to Monterey, I'm exhausted so I'm signing off for now!
Sunset #3, perhaps the prettiest one yet
Today was great and long once more. We utilized the day light hours yet again to their full potential by waking up before dawn and staying out until sunset. But it is certainly a beautiful place and seeing the sun rise and set each day has been magnificent.
Sunrise #3
Our diving platforms
We got four dives in so everyone was plenty busy preparing throughout the day. I had picked up quickly how things are done and was able to help out today with much greater efficiency and anticipation of diver and camera needs. We did get to put one more toy in the water - a small ROV (remotely operated vehicle). I was put in charge of operations (first being asked if I was any good at playing video games) for the mission to find and recover a set of lights at the bottom (about 140feet). After a bit of looking I managed to find the lights (everyone was surprised) and Andres, an NPS diver, managed to grasp it using the ROV's claw, and we brought it up. Apparently I'm supposed to get a six pack from Dave Conlin for finding his lights for him... We also looked for a mooring block but this mission was not successful.
Helping get cameras into the water
Helping Becky put her bailout bottle on
A camera goes down
On the ROV
Found the lights!!
Search and recovery, a success
Brett Seymor and Dave Conlin of the NPS Submerged resources center getting ready to splash
Becky, Evan, and I, happy after a successful day
The boys of Lake Mead and I
Sunset #3, perhaps the prettiest one yet
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Sunrises and sunsets, long days
Today was a good day. A long day, but a good day. I saw the sun rise and the sun set and then some. I'm thrilled to be here to participate and help on this really neat project. As I said below, the National Park Service is documenting the B-29 in hopes to create historical documentation as well as information to divers. Currently the wreck is just beyond recreational diving limits (typically) but as the level of the water continues to lower, more and more divers will be attracted to this site. The wreck is of huge historical importance and much is known about it including the exact crash, how the pilots self-rescued, and when the wreck was discovered.
There were three dives on the wreck today all with cameras. Two cameras are connected via fiber optic cables back to the boat so that the technicians can manually focus, zoom, and white balance. We use communication devices between topside support and divers to tell them where to swim and point the camera. My job is as a general assistant - I helped get the divers in and out of the water, get the cameras in and out of the water (they are heavy), as well as manage camera operations topside. While I certainly would have loved to get in the water to see the wreck myself, I thoroughly enjoyed being on top and helping as much as I can. I am ever more interested in the camera technology and end-games in using video as a message for the public. I am quite fortunate to meet people involved in such work and have talked their ears off the past two days.
Let's see some of the highlights:
Sunrise #2, just as pretty, just as early
Helping put together a rebrether unit
The three cameras, Big Blue, Bumblebee, and Minibee, all ready to go
We did most of the set up motoring out to the site. You'll notice in the above picture the scenery looks a bit off - almost like the top half of this rock outcrop was dusted in dirt. In fact, the lake level of Lake Mead has been dropping steadily over the past 5 or some years. The wreck used to lie at about 240 feet. It now lies at 150feet, almost a hundred foot difference. This water level discrepancy can be clearly seen by just looking around.
Getting the boat ready (i'm in red)
(pic by J. Bozanic)
Using nifty GPS/GIS software to find out site
We found the site of the wreck and moored up. In total we had four boats tied together which made for really cool walking platforms. The house boat has a full kitchen, bathroom, and sitting area which makes for a very comfortable place to eat lunch.
But before lunch we had some diving to do. I helped where I could and eventually we had the first group in with cameras. They had a 40 min scheduled dive with about a 40 minute decomression (if you want to know more, ask me later to talk to you about diving physics and phsyiology).
Bumblebee camera goes into the water.
(pic by J. Bozanic)
Divers in the water holding Big Blue
Two of the cameras are equipped to send the video feed back to the boat where we could watch and record the dive on monitors. All this work was being done with a WHOI imaging analysis lab. Even though I would have much rather have gone on a dive myself, seeing the wreck so clearly on the screen was amazing. It is a beautiful sight!
Some of the WHOI folks show me how it's done
Dave Conlin of NPS after a dive
Being good topside support to a diver
The diving platform
I have one more day here then back to Monterey!
There were three dives on the wreck today all with cameras. Two cameras are connected via fiber optic cables back to the boat so that the technicians can manually focus, zoom, and white balance. We use communication devices between topside support and divers to tell them where to swim and point the camera. My job is as a general assistant - I helped get the divers in and out of the water, get the cameras in and out of the water (they are heavy), as well as manage camera operations topside. While I certainly would have loved to get in the water to see the wreck myself, I thoroughly enjoyed being on top and helping as much as I can. I am ever more interested in the camera technology and end-games in using video as a message for the public. I am quite fortunate to meet people involved in such work and have talked their ears off the past two days.
Let's see some of the highlights:
Sunrise #2, just as pretty, just as early
We were all up by 5:30 to meet and prepare for the day. Unfortunately one of the house boat motors needed some maintenance so we were held up about an hour. But all three boats made it out the site to start getting ready for the dives.
Getting ready for the day of diving requires a lot of work and time and involves getting both divers and cameras ready for being in water. All the divers in this group were on rebreathers which require fairly extensive set ups and checks. The cameras had batteries to be changed, weighting issues, and set ups to the monitors and computers. All this set up can take a few hours easily.
Getting ready for the day of diving requires a lot of work and time and involves getting both divers and cameras ready for being in water. All the divers in this group were on rebreathers which require fairly extensive set ups and checks. The cameras had batteries to be changed, weighting issues, and set ups to the monitors and computers. All this set up can take a few hours easily.
Helping put together a rebrether unit
The three cameras, Big Blue, Bumblebee, and Minibee, all ready to go
We did most of the set up motoring out to the site. You'll notice in the above picture the scenery looks a bit off - almost like the top half of this rock outcrop was dusted in dirt. In fact, the lake level of Lake Mead has been dropping steadily over the past 5 or some years. The wreck used to lie at about 240 feet. It now lies at 150feet, almost a hundred foot difference. This water level discrepancy can be clearly seen by just looking around.
Getting the boat ready (i'm in red)
(pic by J. Bozanic)
Using nifty GPS/GIS software to find out site
We found the site of the wreck and moored up. In total we had four boats tied together which made for really cool walking platforms. The house boat has a full kitchen, bathroom, and sitting area which makes for a very comfortable place to eat lunch.
But before lunch we had some diving to do. I helped where I could and eventually we had the first group in with cameras. They had a 40 min scheduled dive with about a 40 minute decomression (if you want to know more, ask me later to talk to you about diving physics and phsyiology).
Bumblebee camera goes into the water.
(pic by J. Bozanic)
Divers in the water holding Big Blue
Two of the cameras are equipped to send the video feed back to the boat where we could watch and record the dive on monitors. All this work was being done with a WHOI imaging analysis lab. Even though I would have much rather have gone on a dive myself, seeing the wreck so clearly on the screen was amazing. It is a beautiful sight!
Some of the WHOI folks show me how it's done
(pic by J. Bozanic)
Again, I am thrilled to be here and have the chance not only to meet these people but actively participate in their work. It's a wonderful group with terrific collaborations across many organizations. Everyone has been so friendly and open to letting me help and I have learned a few new skills.
Dave Conlin of NPS after a dive
Being good topside support to a diver
The diving platform
(pic by J. Bozanic)
I have one more day here then back to Monterey!
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