An update for 2011

Has it really been nearly a year since my last update? Where does the time go?

I just finished up my second year of graduate school, which really feels like a major accomplishment. One year closer to my career as a landscape architect! In the last school year, I worked on a conservation plan for a natural bog in southeast Michigan, designed a green-streetscape for an historic district of Ann Arbor, worked on a plan for a massive brownfield in Flint, designed several plazas on campus, designed an outdoor classroom for a local high school, and built a large art installation in a neighborhood in Detroit. In addition to that, as a member of the student government, I initiated a garden design for my building at school, which is in the process of being implemented with the help of the university. I also began my year-long master's project with the Pensacola Scenic Highway Foundation in Florida, where I'll be helping them design several areas along the 11-mile stretch of highway in order to highlight and protect their natural resources.

Pensacola Beach

Also, my job working as caretaker at the university arboretum is over. As much as I loved living in the woods, I'm tired of living away from civilization. Two years in the forest of Ann Arbor after two years in the remote village of Madagascar is far long enough for me to prove that I'm a bad-ass.

And so now for something completely different, I decided to move to Washington DC for the summer. I'll be interning with the US Fish and Wildlife Service working with the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation helping out with their continuing efforts to conserve wildlife habitat around the continent.
This means that I will be revamping my wardrobe. Carhartts and Chacos won't cut it in DC. So on to heels and slacks. Let's hope I can pull it off somewhat gracefully.

I'm also planning my next trip out to Black Rock City. Last year's burn was epic, so I'm going back to do it all over again with the Cirque du Cliche.

And let me not forget to mention the law student whom I dearly adore. And although we'll be spending the summer apart, he's never far from my heart. <3
That's the update for now. I'm not sure anyone reads this anymore, but there it is anyway.