As many followers of this blog know, I have spent much of my education learning about animals and nature. I have also held numerous positions teaching other about these topics, as well as developing further knowledge. I also performed in choirs and plays in high school, and narrated trips on the New England Aquarium's whale watch.

This blog began when I moved to Michigan to start graduate school to keep my friends and family abreast of where I was and what I was doing. It has been really handy in sharing photos and stories of my travels over the years too.

What could be more perfect that a position with Discovery Communications with the following description:

We are seeking people in their 30's to mid 40's who have experience and knowledge in any of the following areas...wildlife biology, zoology, ecology, and anthropology (indigenous cultures/tribes/rituals) to ideally be the face of a new show. We are seeking someone with energy and charisma, however, not someone "over the top." In fact, authenticity and credibility are just as important. This will require someone who is physically, mentally, and emotionally fit as it may involve some extreme situations. Shooting would likely require traveling, possibly both domestically and internationally, so ability to travel for weeks or potentially months at a time could be necessary.

Who ever though I would say "Thank goodness I am over 30"?

With the help of James, Lisa, and Courtney, I put together an audition tape and sent it off last week. Here it is! (Pardon the poor visual quality, the version I submitted is much better_



If you know anyone at Discovery Communications, feel free to put in a good word for me. :)

Thanksgiving weekend, James and I headed to Rochester to see the family. With no wedding to participate it, we had a little more free time to see friends and family. We met Krishna and Dave at the Old Toad to hang out and catch up. My mom hosted Thanksgiving at her house, although it was small this year. My brother traveled with his in-laws and Hutch was visiting his grand kids in Ohio. My grandma came to my mom's and then we met the extended family at my grandpa's nursing home.
In honor of the English Christmas I would experience, I brought some Christmas crackers. We had a good laugh at the terrible jokes and mind puzzlers. I was hoping they would have the crowns, but apparently the ones I bought were too small (according to James). Now I know for next year.

The day after Thanksgiving, James and I headed to Buffalo for some true buffalo wings at Duff's. We met our friend Ralph there, who taught James everything there is to know about this Western NY delicacy.


James and I dog-sat for my brother, which was fun (at least I thought it was). We were also able to spend some time with my nephew, Mikey, who was crawling around everywhere. Mikey followed James around in fascination but every time James approached him or tried to hold him, Mikey would start to cry. My mom had everyone over for another dinner. Mikey entertained everyone.
Here is Oma entertaining Mikey with a German song.

On the way back home, James and I stopped in Michigan near the Ohio border. James had never been to cut down a Christmas tree before. He looked like a pro with the saw as he chopped one down in the rain.
We put the tree up that week. Luckily, he loves Christmas as much as I do. Well, maybe a little less because he wouldn't let me listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.

James turned 29 in October. Per James' request, I made him an autumnal birthday cake from scratch. It received rave reviews at an MSU tailgate from our friends and the birthday boy himself. Personally, i enjoy it but thought it tasted like pancakes (probably due to the large amount of Vermont maple syrup I used in the batter).

To continue the celebration, we headed up to the "UP" (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan. He did his field work up there for 2 summers, but I had never been. We spent a day touring Mackinac Island on tandem bike (there are no cars on the island) after taking a ferry over.
The bridge.
Early morning ferry ride over to the island.
The very impressive Grand Hotel.
No cars here, just bikes and horse-drawn carriages.
James and I took the tandem for a ride all the way around the edge of the island.
It was fun! James will show you:



Luckily we just beat the rain as we left the island.



James loves the colors of fall (or autumn as he would say). He stopped a few times to take photos of the leaves changing colors on our way to Sault Ste. Marie.



That night we drove up to Paradise, MI and stayed at a hotel on the lake. I was so excited to wake up to a few inches of snow even though it was early October.






After breakfast at the hotel, James and I went out to White Fish Point. This is a huge place for ship wrecks (think Edmond Fitzgerald). They had a new museum and light house you could tour. Our rental car wasn't too pleased about the snow and made me love my Subaru even more.




Afterwards, we hiked Tahquamenon Falls and had lunch in the brewery.


It was a great weekend getaway to celebrate James catching up to me in age. Now I can check a few things off of my Michigan list. I am always so amazed at how beautiful Michigan is once I leave the city and head out into nature.

Our next wedding was September 26th in Rochester. One of my best friend's, Krishna, married Dave. I love the two of them together. I was in the bridal party, which left little time to see my family. The rehearsal dinner was delicious at the Memorial Art Gallery. Afterwards, we hung out at the hotel bar with a few folks from out of town. Coincidentally, my friend Priya from high school was in town from LA, so I got a bonus in seeing her too.

After a lovely Catholic ceremony, we took photos at the Lamberton Observatory in Highland Park. The reception was downtown and so much fun! More friends from high school and more dancing. Krishna changed into a sari for the reception and looked like a princess. I don't think she and Dave left the dance floor other than to eat dinner. James and I decorated their hotel room as a surprise with rose petals, candles, and chocolate. :)

Sunday morning, Krishna's family was gracious enough to have a breakfast at the hotel for out of town guests staying at the hotel. It got James and I fueled up for our long drive back to Michigan.

Select photos:
My friend from high school, Priya, happened to be in town this weekend too. :)
Getting ready at the church with Krishna.
Krishna, Dave, and her parents.
James and I all dolled up.
Me and my mom. What lovely ladies!
The newlyweds in the limo.
Krishna in her sari with Dave, cutting the cake. Yum!

My reenactment of being hit in the head with the bride's bouquet when she threw it. Greaaat.

Time to play catch up....

My apologies for being absent. Fall was a busy time. Things were busy at my jobs. I was auditing a class as part of my full-time job at MSU, teaching spin once a week at the local YMCA, and working Sundays at Preuss Pets. Throw in all the trips we took, and it kept me out of trouble. Let me update you on a few.

Labor Day weekend James and I attended 2 weddings. The first was in Gloucester, Massachusetts. My roommate from college, Sarah, married her long-time boyfriend, Chris. James and I flew into Boston Friday night and drove up to Danvers, MA. There we met up with friends from MSU who had graduated and relocated to MA. Another friend, this one from BU, and her husband met us out for drinks too.

Saturday morning, I woke James up early and took him on a whale watch. Let me remind you that if I could have any job in the world, it would be working on a whale watch boat. Also, I repeatedly have dreams about seeing whale from land. So I was happy as a clam being back on the water. James seemed to enjoy himself too. We borrowed a digital SLR from a friend and got some great photos.

After the boat trip, we headed back to the hotel for a quick change. We dashed back to Gloucester for the beautiful marriage ceremony in a quaint little church. Sarah looked gorgeous as I knew she would. The reception was in Danvers right on the water. It was great to see Sarah's family again. It had been a long time. In college, I spent Easter with her extended family every year. All the attendees hit the dance floor with a great supply of fun props until the wee hours of the morning. It was wonderful to see my BU girls again too. I miss them so much. Congrats to Sarah and Chris! It's about time. :)

Here are some photos from the weekend:
Sarah and her dad walking into the church.
Sarah and Chris after cutting the beautiful cake.
James and I enjoying dessert.
Sarah and I with matching hair-do's.
The rest of my BU girls: Steph, Kate, Erin, and Lauren.
Erin and Lauren moonlight as rock stars.
GO BU! Alumni photo.
James and Steph having a dance off.
Me back on the whale watch boat in an extreme close-up. WOAH!
Humpback whale surface feeding.


The next morning, after only a few hours of sleep, James and I flew to Atlanta, Georgia. Ashwin, a friend from high school, was getting married to Lavanya at the Ritz-Carleton in a big Indian way. Unfortunately, James and I missed Ashwin riding on his horse because we were upstairs getting ready. We managed to sneak a peak out of our window though. The traditional wedding ceremony was a little long, but I loved the message behind it and how beliefs about love and commitment were presented. The food was AMAZING. Once again, we danced the night away but this time with friends from high school. Our reception table managed to get a rivalry going with Ashwin's MIT friends. Needless to say, we won.

Photos from the wedding:
Ashwin's ceremony (horse and all) outside the Ritz. What a commotion!
James, Ashwin, Ashwin's little cousin, and I later in the evening after much dancing.
The dance floor was PACKED the entire night.
Penfield High School Class of 1997 alumni with significant others.
Ashwin and his lovely bride, Lavanya.

James and I took a day to tour around Atlanta and the CNN world headquaters. Neither of us had been there before. The aquarium is incredible. We took a behind the scenes tour and talked with our tour guide for a while. We also saw Martin Luther King Jr's memorial and museum. Atlanta is a pretty town with plenty of sunshine and a great subway system (that apparently no one uses).
One of the whale sharks at Georgia Aquarium. This is a view behind the scenes above the huge tank.
Me at home with the fishes.
Very cool dancing fountain in Atlanta built for the Olympics. It was so hot that day and the kids loved playing in the water.
James at MLK Jr's birthplace.
James with MLK Jr's grave in the background.