So life's moved on and I've been crazy busy! In the past 4 weeks I've worked almost 25 hours of overtime, but am happy to have done it. I gotten lots of good experience with severe weather.
2 and 3 weeks ago now were my first two experiences "working the radar" as we call it. Basically it means that I was the one issuing warnings. Neither of those days were those "classic" days that you train with, but then again, the majority of days are not the classic days. However, these days didn't come without issues.
My very first Severe Thunderstorm Warning didn't even make it out to the TV or Weather Radio. It was on AWIPS and printed out, but a 1 got in the code that disseminates it to the tv stations and weather radio etc. Everyone in the office was calm about it which was nice...didn't make me feel to stupid. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but it did. Oh well...life goes on.
My very first Tornado Warning was the 25th of April...and I was called in later that evening. The tornado warning was verified with a weak tornado that was on the ground for about 5 minutes.
Each day was pretty intense and puts a day of work in a whole other column. There's a lot riding on your abilities...and that can be nerving. However, not so much that I can't handle it. Just is a different feeling. It is fun though and I'm excited to work more events as May/June move on.
Life is finally calming down a little bit right now, which is VERY nice! I hope you are all doing well!
Love
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Why today sucked!
1. My brain wasn't in the forecast
2. Because my brain wasn't in the forecast, my AFD stunk!
3. People's lack of understanding me
4. Small things, blowing up to be big things
5. Having to stay at work and replay the days events to upset me even more.
But:
Something that makes it all better, A kitty that loves me and gives me hugs when I get home!
2. Because my brain wasn't in the forecast, my AFD stunk!
3. People's lack of understanding me
4. Small things, blowing up to be big things
5. Having to stay at work and replay the days events to upset me even more.
But:
Something that makes it all better, A kitty that loves me and gives me hugs when I get home!
Love
Monday, March 16, 2009
Why evenings are better than mornings
1. Sleeping in is awesome!
2. My body gets to wake up on its own.
3. I don't get tired each day between 10am-1pm
4. I have no problems staying awake for a shift
5. Time flies by so much quicker!
6. Severe weather happens more often during the evenings/nights
7. I get to see Marie
8. Less people floating around the office
9. More project time, if there isn't any severe weather
10. I get to stay up way late...like 2-4am, and have no problems with it!
Thanks Shift work!
2. My body gets to wake up on its own.
3. I don't get tired each day between 10am-1pm
4. I have no problems staying awake for a shift
5. Time flies by so much quicker!
6. Severe weather happens more often during the evenings/nights
7. I get to see Marie
8. Less people floating around the office
9. More project time, if there isn't any severe weather
10. I get to stay up way late...like 2-4am, and have no problems with it!
Thanks Shift work!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
3 Random Things
Three Names I go by:
1. Jerilyn
2. Jeri
3. chnablu
Three jobs I've had in my life:
1. Meteorologist
2. Resident Advisor
3. Wendy's
Three places I have lived:
1. Wichita, KS
2. Norman, OK
3. Reading England
Three TV shows that I watch:
1. Lost
2. Brothers and Sister's
3. Grey's Anatomy
Three places that I have been:
1. St. Petersburg, Russia
2. Brazil
3. Australia
Three of my favorite foods:
1. Chicken Fried Steak
2. Cold Stone Cake Batter Ice Cream
3. Baked Spaghetti
Three things that I'd like to do:
1. Get married and have children
2. Travel to as many countries as I can
3. Stay in the Plains for my career
Three things I'm looking forward to:
1. Evening shifts
2. Summer
3. Sleeping in
Three things I hate:
1. Bugs
2. Ignorance
3. Not being able to see far and wide
Three favorite sounds:
1. Storms
2. Country music
3. Laughter
Three favorite movies:
1. The Holiday
2. Twister
3. Apollo 13
Three places I will never go again:
1. I'd like to never live in NC again, but I'll visit
2. Paris, unless someone makes me
3. parts of Italy
Three favorite animals:
1. Cats
2. Koala
3. Stuffed ones (as in toys, not hunted)
Three things I will never be:
1. Right all the time
2. Someone who doesn't travel
3. Completely dependent on someone
Three things I like to do:
1. Watch Storms
2. Sing
3. Watch TV
Love all!
1. Jerilyn
2. Jeri
3. chnablu
Three jobs I've had in my life:
1. Meteorologist
2. Resident Advisor
3. Wendy's
Three places I have lived:
1. Wichita, KS
2. Norman, OK
3. Reading England
Three TV shows that I watch:
1. Lost
2. Brothers and Sister's
3. Grey's Anatomy
Three places that I have been:
1. St. Petersburg, Russia
2. Brazil
3. Australia
Three of my favorite foods:
1. Chicken Fried Steak
2. Cold Stone Cake Batter Ice Cream
3. Baked Spaghetti
Three things that I'd like to do:
1. Get married and have children
2. Travel to as many countries as I can
3. Stay in the Plains for my career
Three things I'm looking forward to:
1. Evening shifts
2. Summer
3. Sleeping in
Three things I hate:
1. Bugs
2. Ignorance
3. Not being able to see far and wide
Three favorite sounds:
1. Storms
2. Country music
3. Laughter
Three favorite movies:
1. The Holiday
2. Twister
3. Apollo 13
Three places I will never go again:
1. I'd like to never live in NC again, but I'll visit
2. Paris, unless someone makes me
3. parts of Italy
Three favorite animals:
1. Cats
2. Koala
3. Stuffed ones (as in toys, not hunted)
Three things I will never be:
1. Right all the time
2. Someone who doesn't travel
3. Completely dependent on someone
Three things I like to do:
1. Watch Storms
2. Sing
3. Watch TV
Love all!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Life passes by quickly
I'm not quite sure how it's mid March already...but alas it is. I'm catching up, but I'm behind on a lot of TV...just proves I'm not home to terribly much. February was a whirlwind. My parents came down for a weekend, I went home for a week and I worked a whole lot of different shifts at work. Here it is almost the 3rd sunday of March, and I can see the end coming very quickly.
A couple weeks ago at work the scheduled switched to the non-peak convective season. For those of you who aren't meteorological in nature...that's storm season. With the schedule change, we now have morning and evening shifts. The first pay period of the season, I spent on mornings...but that will not happen again for a while. Right now we are down to one Intern (me) in the office and with that, the majority of my shifts will be the evening variety! Which if you know me, you know I prefer those. However, with that I will be busy most nights. I don't really have much of a life for that to be a bother, but there will be times, when I just want to be free in the evenings. BUT that is much preferred at this point in my life than any stretch of 6am shifts!!! I'm just not a morning person. This will only last a few months though, until the new Intern joins the group. Then it will be back to the normal rotation.
Today is my actual weekend off...which I don't really even care if my weekend's are sat/sun. I just don't get the need to have sat and sun off each week. I don't do anything different than if it was a mon/tue...in fact I may even do more when I'm off during the week..because businesses are open. Regardless today I finally got to sleep in and I really enjoyed that!! I also put up the Easter decorations and cleaned up some of the apt, which makes the apt fun!
Spring is finally arriving...window's open and no coat outside! Wonderful!
Love all!
A couple weeks ago at work the scheduled switched to the non-peak convective season. For those of you who aren't meteorological in nature...that's storm season. With the schedule change, we now have morning and evening shifts. The first pay period of the season, I spent on mornings...but that will not happen again for a while. Right now we are down to one Intern (me) in the office and with that, the majority of my shifts will be the evening variety! Which if you know me, you know I prefer those. However, with that I will be busy most nights. I don't really have much of a life for that to be a bother, but there will be times, when I just want to be free in the evenings. BUT that is much preferred at this point in my life than any stretch of 6am shifts!!! I'm just not a morning person. This will only last a few months though, until the new Intern joins the group. Then it will be back to the normal rotation.
Today is my actual weekend off...which I don't really even care if my weekend's are sat/sun. I just don't get the need to have sat and sun off each week. I don't do anything different than if it was a mon/tue...in fact I may even do more when I'm off during the week..because businesses are open. Regardless today I finally got to sleep in and I really enjoyed that!! I also put up the Easter decorations and cleaned up some of the apt, which makes the apt fun!
Spring is finally arriving...window's open and no coat outside! Wonderful!
Love all!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The New Year
Happy New Year everyone!
YES, I know the month is half over, but life has been somewhat hectic. I don't know where my boring life got hectic...but it did. I'm hardly home (and my DVR can prove it), and when I'm home I'm not so excited to be on the internet. Sorry...
Some things going on...
1. I'm heading to Norman in a week, for a little over a week and I'm so very excited about it! This is part of my DLOC (or radar training to non-NWSers) course, and there will be about 21 other Interns from around the country also coming into Norman for the trip. So it's like an all expense paid trip to one of my favorite places for a week! I don't know how many people I'll be able to see, but I'm sure hoping a bunch! The class is just M-F, and I'm heading down the friday before and not leaving till sunday night or so. Life's pretty good! I can't wait to see some friends that I haven't seen in over 6 months and I live 2 hours away! Crazy!
2. I will be the "Senior" Intern come March or so. The Intern here at ICT was hired on as a General elsewhere, so I will be moving up the chain, and will no longer be the newbie! Good thing I'm in the first residence course for Radar training. I'll need to step up my game when I'm the one who's supposed to know what I'm doing. It's going to be a hectic storm season with loosing a valuable asset to the team. As I said, luckily I'll be able to fill in some.
3. I found my W-2 online and have semi-figured out what I'll get back in taxes and I'm WAY! excited!
4. Tory is finally able to be out 24/7 and he's much calmer when he is out. The christmas decorations are down and while he just about became homeless last week...he's behaving this week.
5. It's freezing and I'm not enjoying an ounce of it! I am, however, thankful that I don't live any further north than Wichita! Anchorage, AK had a 80 some degree temperature swing in the last 5 days...can you believe it. That's high temps people! -40 some to 44 today! Insane!
6. American Idol is back (while I yet to watch this week, it's back) and LOST starts back up this Wednesday!
7. I'm trying to be healthier...and halfway succeeding....working on the second half. We'll see how that goes!
8. Thankful for those that I got to see over the Christmas break. Even if only for a few hours!
As a general forecaster at work always says.... "These are all I can think of at this juncture"
Wishing you a fantastic second half of January!
My Christmas Artwork...I love me some decorated Sugar Cookies!
Much love!
YES, I know the month is half over, but life has been somewhat hectic. I don't know where my boring life got hectic...but it did. I'm hardly home (and my DVR can prove it), and when I'm home I'm not so excited to be on the internet. Sorry...
Some things going on...
1. I'm heading to Norman in a week, for a little over a week and I'm so very excited about it! This is part of my DLOC (or radar training to non-NWSers) course, and there will be about 21 other Interns from around the country also coming into Norman for the trip. So it's like an all expense paid trip to one of my favorite places for a week! I don't know how many people I'll be able to see, but I'm sure hoping a bunch! The class is just M-F, and I'm heading down the friday before and not leaving till sunday night or so. Life's pretty good! I can't wait to see some friends that I haven't seen in over 6 months and I live 2 hours away! Crazy!
2. I will be the "Senior" Intern come March or so. The Intern here at ICT was hired on as a General elsewhere, so I will be moving up the chain, and will no longer be the newbie! Good thing I'm in the first residence course for Radar training. I'll need to step up my game when I'm the one who's supposed to know what I'm doing. It's going to be a hectic storm season with loosing a valuable asset to the team. As I said, luckily I'll be able to fill in some.
3. I found my W-2 online and have semi-figured out what I'll get back in taxes and I'm WAY! excited!
4. Tory is finally able to be out 24/7 and he's much calmer when he is out. The christmas decorations are down and while he just about became homeless last week...he's behaving this week.
5. It's freezing and I'm not enjoying an ounce of it! I am, however, thankful that I don't live any further north than Wichita! Anchorage, AK had a 80 some degree temperature swing in the last 5 days...can you believe it. That's high temps people! -40 some to 44 today! Insane!
6. American Idol is back (while I yet to watch this week, it's back) and LOST starts back up this Wednesday!
7. I'm trying to be healthier...and halfway succeeding....working on the second half. We'll see how that goes!
8. Thankful for those that I got to see over the Christmas break. Even if only for a few hours!
As a general forecaster at work always says.... "These are all I can think of at this juncture"
Wishing you a fantastic second half of January!
My Christmas Artwork...I love me some decorated Sugar Cookies!Much love!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
December 10th
So I've been thinking about blogging for a couple weeks now...and now I can't remember what I was going to write about. How awesome am I? Well I guess today can be a quick reflection on the past year.
A Year ago yesterday I started my Job at the NWS Wichita!
I am so very excited about this milestone...while it really isn't anything special in the grand scheme of things, but in my world it's very exciting! I started my job arriving just after an ice/snow storm, and this year...mon/tues was a snow storm in Wichita. So I've now got 2 years of storms and so I'm now going to keep a record. We are back to what I call our weekly storm. Another storm system is coming through early next week. Fun times! Welcome Winter! blech!
Well things I've done or learned in this great year.
in no particular order....
answering the phone and being able to answer the public's questions.
how to better forecast the weather with the knowledge I have
how to use and become proficient at GFE
how to use WarnGen
how to issue warning products
writing AFD's
doing the TAF's
Plus much much more. I learn something new just about every day! Yesterday I was at a conference/meeting about Water and Energy. Suprisingly interesting and informative. Things I never thought I'd learn. I'm happy to help out in any and all areas. I'm so thankful that I'm in Wichita with my dream job! I will be sad the day I leave for my next position.
This anniversary date brings many good things, so I'm thankful all around!
Much love!
A Year ago yesterday I started my Job at the NWS Wichita!
I am so very excited about this milestone...while it really isn't anything special in the grand scheme of things, but in my world it's very exciting! I started my job arriving just after an ice/snow storm, and this year...mon/tues was a snow storm in Wichita. So I've now got 2 years of storms and so I'm now going to keep a record. We are back to what I call our weekly storm. Another storm system is coming through early next week. Fun times! Welcome Winter! blech!
Well things I've done or learned in this great year.
in no particular order....
answering the phone and being able to answer the public's questions.
how to better forecast the weather with the knowledge I have
how to use and become proficient at GFE
how to use WarnGen
how to issue warning products
writing AFD's
doing the TAF's
Plus much much more. I learn something new just about every day! Yesterday I was at a conference/meeting about Water and Energy. Suprisingly interesting and informative. Things I never thought I'd learn. I'm happy to help out in any and all areas. I'm so thankful that I'm in Wichita with my dream job! I will be sad the day I leave for my next position.
This anniversary date brings many good things, so I'm thankful all around!
Much love!