Colorado State University, I have arrived!

(Me @ CSU, 3/14/11)

So, here I am in the great state of Colorado! This morning marks my 2nd day of being here. Yesterday I traveled about an hour and a half north to the city of Fort Collins to visit the Colorado State University campus. The drive was cool, the interstate we took runs parallel to the foothills of the rockies, which are about the size of my beloved ADK mountains! On the left of us were the "foothills" and to the right was flat flat grassland, towns, farm land, OIL FIELDS, etc. I've never seen an oil field. It was slightly depressing to see. For as far as I could see there were oil drills that looked like this:

(http://mikespub.net/pictures/Patagonia/page18.html)

I'm aware that they are a necessary evil at this point of time, but the environmentalist in me wishes for alternative energy to be exclusive some day!

After arriving to CSU, I had a brief orientation presentation, and then a tour. We walked the campus, which was suprisingly not that spread out. I want a bigger school than I've been at, but I don't want to be overwhelmed by a college that's its own city. So, I was relieved to find all of the buildings that I would be primarily spending time in very close to one another. After the walking tour I had an appt with an advisor to just go over my transcripts and figure out where I stand. It was an awesome meeting an Dr. Savidge was such a sweet, helpful, knowledgeable woman! I can't thank her enough :) :) :) I really got to know my potential degree (fish/wildlife/conservation biology), so all of my stress and many of my fears are layed to rest. I just now need to pass chemistry, get my math classes under control...and figure out if I really want to move 1700 miles across the country! I think I do...but I still need to do some 'figurin'.

So far the only wildlife I've seen are prairie dogs, and a magpie! Both were pretty cool, as I've never seen either! Still holding out for a big cat, bear, elk, black footed ferret, eagles, etc. I'll take whatever I can get! There have been recent Lynx and Cougar sightings by friends of my cousins in this area, so I'm hopefull. Also, my cousin Evan has an interesting tree at his house with some interesting marks on it. I think that will be the topic of my next blog....until next time!

Spring is rushing in!

Today I went down to Ithaca with a good friend of mine from school, Sarah. We went to the Museum of the Earth, and then made a few stops at Robert H. Treman State Park and Buttermilk Falls State Park.

The air temperature today was in the mid 40s- mild, calm weather compared to what we've been used to for the past 4 months. Snow. Cold. Blustery. Misery. But today, although overcast and a little drizzly, was mostly a typical March spring day. When we stopped at RHTSP, and walked along the channel up to the swimming area where the falls are, all that we could hear was rushing water.

To me, one of those sounds of spring is rushing, dripping water...it's a good sound. Jack Frost is melting away, hopefully for good until the NEXT winter season. It also makes me look forward to what's coming. That rushing water makes me think of my life rushing in. Out with the old, in with the new. Spring and summer are going to bring new (and old) wonderful things for me. 

Tomorrow evening I'm taking an evening flight out west to Denver, CO. I will be meeting with transfer advisors and starting the next expedition in life- moving and transferring to Colorado State University in Fort Collins! I don't want to say I'm 100% on this decision yet, but I'm about 75%. I will be touring the Rocky Mountains with a dear friend from my first summer at Raquette Lake Camps. I'm so excited about "spring awakening" if you will, and my renewed love of learning and life! For many people reading, if any, I'm sure you have no idea to what I'm referring. But trust me, when I say I feel like my ice is melting, and my spring is rushing in!

2011 is a good year.

I've been through some big "life changes" this past year or so, and so with the prompting from a well respected professor, I've decided to start keep track of my thoughts, wanderings, experiences, adventures, and so on. I have never been one to journal faithfully, but I have heard that it's quite therapeutic to do. And if there's anything I need these days, it's some personal reflecting and therapy! I plan on using this blog to not only put my thoughts "on paper", but to share with friends and family, near and far, the things that keep me busy! I'm a very active student at Finger Lakes Community College, in the Conservation department. I am dual-majoring in Natural Resources Conservations AAS, and Environmental Studies AS. My dream at the moment is to transfer out of state, to finish my bachelors in Wildlife Biology or Management. Colorado is the pot at the end of the rainbow. And in 7 DAYS I will be there! I've been so busy with school, my club, and being sick- I forgot that spring break and CO were only a week away!

Anyway, that's enough about me...actually, it's MY blog so I can talk about about myself all I want...but that's enough for now. This is a big comittment for me! I rarely stick anything out like this for very long, so we'll see! I'm interested to see where this goes...

(Photo credit John Van Niel)

One more thing, this is a little explanation behind my blog name: Bearly Alyssa. I've been feeling out of sorts the past few months, dealing with some personal issues, and not been feeling myself. And I also love bears! So, there's my explanation :)