If it's a terrible day when words can not reach us...but

...Then what to make with a day when words are within reach? I stuttered three times when trying to say that...

I'd love to promise you that you're done reading ellipses in this post, but is is sort of the theme of this entry. My last posting was January 16, just over three months ago. As per my scientific self (NEWS! see below!), I will take a very concrete approach to updating you, my reader.

What is new:

• I have many new songs, and I even have played/recorded some of them for people!
• I moved! But only about 140 steps to the southwest...
• My computer perished; This loss happened precariously close to my M.S. defense; don't ask.
• My new machine runs Windows 8 isn't all bad...But it is kind of gimmicky
• I found my headphones!

• This happened about 12 seconds ago...I thought they were lost for the past several months (*coughsincemovingcough*)
• I finished my thesis...
• I fell in love with my Thin Mints. They are all gone now...

Wait, what was that last one?

     Thin mints?

Before that...

     Thesis?

Yeah.

     Elaborate?

I finished my Master's Thesis. 

¶ I moved to Knoxville, Tennessee in August of 2009. I had just finished a really fun summer of field work, "hanging out" at Molas Lake, and driving across the country with my Saturn station wagon full of rock samples from Homestake Creek.

When I showed up in Knoxville, I was psyched.

The friends I had made while visiting Knoxville the previous spring as a prospective student were still there.

There were new people; more importantly, I was beginning to like people.

I found a new hobby (story of my life...gear, gear, gear...) in climbing, and friends to climb with (i.e. Liz,  
   microbeast).

¶ In the spring of 2010, Kali moved down to Knoxville. We had a grand old time, but even the...well, it is a terrible day when words can not reach us, and, needless to say, we were all silent on the eve of Christmas of 2010. 

¶ However, 2011 was filled (...maybe not initially, or at least apparent to me, but it was) with friends and love, recovering strength, rejuvenating old friendships (some as old as time), and kindling new friendships. My father's friend, Paul Zarembo, was kind enough to replace my broken guitar with a fantastic Seagull mini-jumbo that has served me very well over the past two years.

¶ In 2012, as you know, I made the decision to head back to Knoxville, and finish my graduate degree at the University of Tennessee. Mind you, when I say that I made the decision, I am glossing over some rather sturdy coaxing, brazen encouragement, and unwavering belief. Thanks for that, mom, dad, sister, Peg, Roger, and all the people who impacted me greatly, whether or not you know it...I have had a grand old time, rejuvenating old friendships, kindling new friendships, and falling in love with Angelyn. 

¶ In 2013, it was time to start making progress (ha ha!). Micah had been incredibly supportive of me (hey, we all have our moments; but seriously), although this semester marked my sixth semester as a M.S. student. For those of you that don't know, upon entering graduate school to pursue a M.S. degree, there is an agreement that the school can only guarantee your tuition to be covered for 4 semesters. Head to the ground, I got my thesis drafted up from a collage of sentences in my "THINGS_TO_SAY_IN_THESIS.docx" document to a barely readable draft in a couple of months. No solitary act, here are just a few of the Earth and Planetary Sciences village members who helped me get there:

From left to right: Remy, some joker, Tim, Kyle, Liz (I think? She never calls me!), and Jackie

Oh, yeah, and let's not forget this one:

Rose the Riveter

While working "wire-to-wire," as Jessup described it, the team and I managed to pull it off this spring. I defended my thesis, got seals of approval from my gracious committee members with very minimal edits, and   have submitted my thesis...Well, I have submitted it three times, I am presently waiting for approval from the University Thesis Consultant to be sure that it is formatted correctly. Regardless of whether or not I have to make ~30 minutes worth of formatting revisions (for the fourth time!), I am now comfortable saying that

it's a done deal.

Well, I won't leave you entirely hanging...

Future?

• I will be travelling to Anchorage, AK at the end of June to see Jamey Jones and Kim King get married
• Travelling convergently but separate: Jacob, Erik, Julie!
• I will be TAing field camp for the ~5th year in a row.
• Previously hosting me as a prospective student in spring 2009, this year's field camp will be run by Mike DeAngelis.
• Is anyone hiring?
• I am searching for jobs in the east Tennessee area, or really anywhere. I don't think I'm quite done with this neck'o'the woods... 

With extra love to those who braved this text-heavy entry, and even more love to all those I mentioned, forgot to mention, and wished to have mentioned.

Until next time.

Donnie

Hello, 2012!

"No distance of place or lapse of time can 

lessen the friendship of those who are 

thoroughly persuaded of each others’ worth." -

 Robert Southey

     Wow. Do you realize that it is nearly mid-May? I turned 25, and 2012 is nearly half over. Here is a concise summary of my year thus far in a poem and a few collages, which I will follow up with a more elaborate description. 

A Song For The Gaps (And Erik)

I finally started to write and be happy with my words;

And no, I wasn't singing about granite or rocks

But sharpening a knife I suppose, or hope,

And wondering how it took so long

Expect less and you'll get more

Don't get caught (you'll be late for sure)

      By and by

Concrete thoughts

And just know that viscous switch

Can find you; if you know.

Catch a ride a boat, a bird, across you'll float,

Grab me if you can,

As we meet across a sea yet again,

And pass by to yet another "Bye"

But not before a beam of light

To last until the next "Hello."

[hook]

Maybe that is how we see

If we choose to measure a soul

How bright the light on this bow

How much it did and does

Reverberation

Reflection

Redemption?

I know now, I hope.

So smile real big,

So that she may borrow,

A swill of light, A still life born,

Enough to hold me over until,

Another time my mind works fine,

Til the next beam, say thank-eee, Sai.

So write,

Even if you can't edit,

So that I can put a loan out on,

Until the next time that the dogwood's bloom

Til you feel southern wind,

And it blows you through.

Please keep our fire burning slow,

Soft tho and nurse it like a baby Rose

And stand back for future turns,

Try and Diverge when thinking

And please always wonder with intent,

If not for reason, for a sake

A cause of wondering (promise)

Don't ever let me win

Even if I can't make sets of this

Don't ever hyperbolate

That shit crazy, for our sake

And when the hardship comes again,

As it will, like ka, like a wind,

Know that we can't know,

And that is completely

Intent

Alright

Hmm. That seems like an adequate description of what has happened since moving down to Knoxville on January 12, 2012. Here are some other salient/obtuse _____lights of the first 5 months in K-town:

• I mis-gauged the amount of time/resources that teaching labs and coursework would take out of my weekly schedule. That being said, the first semester is completely over here at UTK and I was more than successful! That shouldn't be understated (please understand that I only say this last part for my sake, who would be the first to understate these kinds of accomplishments - I think mayn of you can relate to this?). I didn't work on my thesis a great deal, but I achieved so much else along the way.
• I got more involved in the Knoxville running community, participating in a few Knoxville Track Club events this spring, as well as the Fall Creek Falls 50km race. My proudest running accomplishments to date -- 4th place overall in the FCF50k and 3rd overall in the Dark Hollow Wallow -- were achieved this spring.
• I have met a lot of amazing people and re-met a lot of amazing friends. As a completely non-exclusive and stream-of-consciousness list...:
• Jackie and Paul are truly amazing people. I will miss them dearly once they move to Asheville.
• Renee Arozqueta is a really amazing person. A person whom I met in Barley's and immediately thought, "I have to be this person's friend. Please."
• People like Maggie Malam, Peg&Roger, Jamey, Kim, Erik/Jacob/Ben, Hannah, Tim Diedesch, Holly, Remy, and Bekah continue to make their love easily accessible, transparent, and abundant.
• I met this amazing woman Angelyn whom I really really like. 100%..
• My parents, sister, and for that matter, all my family, continues to be the most amazing family ever. Do you know how every person thinks that their family is truly the greatest thing ever? It's very nice that they think that, but in reality, I do have the greatest family. :-)
• My roommate, Christy, is a really genuine and loving person. She would never curse at me ;), show me disdain, or hatred. She is a dreamer, and there are many days which I am envious of that trait. I am really glad I chose to live with a roommate at all, and consider myself immensely lucky to have Christy as a roommate.

Bottom line is that it has been a very productive year so far, and there are so many things which I try to express my gratitude for - no doubt often falling short - and hope that the rest of 2012 brings the same modicum of experience & experiences.

In another couple of weeks, I will be leaving for Colorado do to field work, a race, and TA a field camp. Here is my approximate summer schedule for those of you that are interested (and those that aren't, since your peripheral vision has at least glanced at the list already).

June 9 - Laura Marling Concert in Asheville. I am very excited for this....

June 11 - Leave Knoxville in the AM with Hannah Johnson, my road trip companion, and drive to Kansas City-ish.

June 12 - Leave KC, drive to Denver.

June 13 - Drive to Montrose and pick up Micah (5 hours). 

June 13 - 15 - Field work with Micah (and Rose!) in the Black Canyon.

June 16 - Drive Micah to Montrose airport, pick. Liz up from Montrose airport. Drive to Lake City (2 hrs)

June 16 - June 23 - Hang out in Lake City with Rose, Liz, and Donnie, acclimatizing for SJS, race, rest on the 24th

June 24 - Drive Liz to Montrose (2 hrs).

June 25 - July 12 - Field work in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

July 13 - Drive up to Molas Lake to meet up with UALR

July  13 - July 27 - TA field camp with UALR/Mike DeAngelis/Beth McMillan

July 28 - Drive to Denver, pick up Hannah

July 29 - 31 - Drive from Denver to Knoxville, stopping at least one night en route to rest. Cities TBD.

That's it. I hope to catch up with you all on the other side.

Thank you all so very much,

Donnie