I got to go to Oklahoma Saturday afternoon for a quick trip. Sarah graduated with her Master's Degree Friday night and had a celebration Saturday afternoon. On top of accomplishment of a Master's Degree she got engaged Wednesday. I'm so excited for her!
I drove down after working 4 hours of work and got to Chickasha around 2pm. I not only got to see Sarah, but I got to see Amy, Margaret, Tiffany and a lot of other old friends. I didn't get a lot of time with them, but it was nice to see them. Sarah is moving up to Wisconsin early this next week and she might stop by Wichita on her way. I will be sad to see her leave Oklahoma, but happy for her and her new life.
I was also fortunate enough to meet up with the NCSU crew down in Norman to start up Vortex 2. Adam, Casey, David and Kate, whom I just met, met me for dinner at Applebee's. It was so nice to see them and catch up. It'd been a year and a half almost since I'd seen them. It's been a long time, but not so long ago in my life. Grad school was my life for 2 years...and it doesn't seem like that long ago. I'm excited for them, for the Vortex 2 adventure! Maybe I'll get to see them again.
I finished up a stretch of 3 morning shifts this morning and it reminded me of how much I hate morning shifts...especially when we are opposite with evenings. When our schedule is only days, I get use to the morning time frame..but now when I can go to bed at 3-4am...getting up at 3-5am is not fun! I'll be happy for our new Intern to arrive, but sad because that will mean I'll be back to the normal schedule. Not necessarily my idea of a fun time. But with the bad comes the good. I will have a lot more evenings free, which while I like working evenings better, I miss having some free.
I have a couple more evenings before a couple days off and I look forward to what I might accomplish this week. I don't have any big plans and that in and of itself right there is a blessing. I should be able to accomplish quite a bit, even if some of it is only watching TV and cleaning off the DVR some more.
Happy Mother's Day!
Love
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Warnings
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
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
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!