Giving Thanks

I've just returned from a much needed weekend back home at the farm. In a shocking turn of events, there was no cattle work to be done. This was entirely the fault of the rain that muddied up our corrals, thus preventing us from giving our females vaccinations as was planned. I did, however, pay a couple visits to my lovely bovines and I am happy to report they're as content as ever. Chewing their cud and what-not.

Look! Cows!

It's Canadian Thanksgiving, so in the true spirit of the holiday, I thought I'd share a few things with y'all that this city-dwelling, education-getting, country girl is thanking her lucky stars for.

1. My family. It's not very often anymore that we get all three girls and my parents together in the same place. I'm grateful for the laughs my sisters and I have quoting silly YouTube videos and being able to sit down and brag to my parents about what I've been up to. My grandparents and their excitement over our latest adventures, as well as hilarious comments, always make the holidays special.

Rosie, Byron, Roberta, Carolyn, Jocelyn
Picture by the very talented (and coolest photographer I know), Grant Rolston 

2. My involvement in 4-H. I attended the Southern Alberta 4-H Regional Celebration on Friday night with my sister Jocelyn and my parents to be recognized for a scholarship. My ten year career as a 4-H member allowed me to build communication and leadership skills, and motivated me to pursue a career in agriculture. I am thankful for my years as a member and the fact that the program keeps giving back to me in the form of scholarships and opportunities as an alumni.

3. The farm. Living in a city full-time has truly made me grateful for my upbringing in agriculture. I enjoy the city and university life a lot, but nothing quite compares to the fresh air and open space back at home.

Happy place.

4. My education. I'm grateful to be pursuing an education in the field that I grew up in. I know this is what I was born to do, and I'm extremely grateful to be able to do it. I'll try and remember than next time I'm writing a history paper at 2 am and cursing my university (ahem..last night).

And just since four is a weird number for a list, I'm going to cap it off there. What are you thankful for?

Back to School

And suddenly, university has consumed my life again.

I started year 2 at the University of Alberta yesterday. I moved up to Edmonton last week. I will not have cable or internet for two more weeks. This may kill me. If it doesn't, my semester of Economics, Philosophy, Agriculture Resource Economics, History, and Biology will certainly do the job.

This is my university, currently being overrun by confused first years with a "kicked puppy" expression on their faces at all times. I refuse to admit I looked like that last year.

In more exciting news, I have decided to make choosing this year's courses extremely difficult by planning a bit of a switch for Fall 2012.

And by "a bit of a switch," I mean the moving 2825 km away to complete my undergraduate degree kind of switch. The University of Alberta to Oklahoma State University kind of switch.

Just so y'all know how to get there. You know, to visit. 

I seem to have a talent for thinking of ridiculously far-off things I could do and then actually doing them. I'm really not sure if this is a good thing, but in this case, I think it will be.

I'll be going to OSU for a double major in Agriculture Communications and Agriculture Economics. I have a feeling this degree was made for me, and I couldn't be more excited to be going after it.

Rosie the Okie? Photo. 

This is incredibly bitter-sweet for me. The Agriculture Club at U of A is one of my favorite groups of people, ever. I have two phenomenal roommates and a gaggle of good friends who I will miss dearly. And I am only used to moderately cold to freezing cold temperatures. And I don't know anything about football.

In the somewhat possible turn of events that I get dismal grades this year and don't get accepted to OSU, please disregard this post. 'Cause that will just be embarrassing.

Also, it's a big deal that I'm finally actually putting this in writing. And by big deal, I mean terrifying. I've completely overhauled and tailored my schedule this year to fit with OSU requirements. Meaning: I'm totally screwed if I stay at U of A because I am NOT following the rules for my degree here.

Welcome to the mess of unconnected thoughts that is my brain during school. Just wait until the posts you get during finals.

If you are an OSU alum, I'm probably going to require your guidance. If you are an incredibly wealthy investor who would like to contribute to this adventure, you are more than welcome to do so.