Finally!

Dear Kathleen:

Congratulations! Your application and supporting documents have been carefully reviewed by the Admissions and Awards Committee of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University and I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to begin study in the professional master’s degree program commencing with the 2010 fall semester.

For those of you who know, April of last year (2009) was a very stressful time for me. I tried, without success, to apply to graduate school. My life was consumed by the decisions I would receive. Once I didn't get accepted anywhere, I was devastated, and felt that I had no self worth. Rediculous, I know. Instead, I found a job, had some free time to see visit Kurt and do the things we love to do, and by doing that, I realized that I was more than just my academic career; my amazing fiance, family, hobbies, values, etc, make me who I am.

Once we realized that we'll be living in NC to go to Fort Bragg, I decided to apply to grad school again. This time, however, I knew it would be just a piece of my plan for the future, not the whole thing. I was content knowing that if it didn't work out, I could find another job, spend time getting settled together in NC, and take it from there.

Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised to get this email last night! Finally! My hard work has paid off. Although the program is expensive, right now I'm just basking in the contentment of finally achieving my goal. One that I almost gave up on after the discouragement of taking the GRE twice, and having professors tell me I was close, but just not close enough, to being admitted.

Finally, the only thing I want to say is, YAY!!! :)

Only Two Months Left!

It's official. As of tomorrow, there are only 60 days left until I am Mrs. Kat Hoenke. That being said, the invitations are all addressed, stamped, and ready to go out! The blizzard allowed for work to be canceled, and for me to have much needed time to get these things done. Hopefully the additional 10 inches expected tomorrow night doesn't put a damper on my Valentine's Day date in MO with Kurt!

It's crazy, sometimes I really think luck is on our side with this wedding; the tiniest coincidences just keep happening. For example, the rehearsal dinner place happens to have a huge painting on the wall of army cadets in the same uniform Kurt used to wear. We didn't even know until after we booked it! Also, the post office just happened to have EXACTLY 150 wedding style stamps today. Needless to say, everything is going really smoothly, and hopefully stays that way!

My Mom ordered M&Ms to put in the favors, they're light yellow, blue and purple, and will have our faces on them, as well as some little thinks like K+K April 2010. Too cute!

Blizzard in Delaware!

So, here we all sit in good ol' Dover, awaiting the "Blizzard Conditions" that are supposed to start at around noon today. Up to 24 inches of snow! It's unbelievable. From working at the Delaware Coastal Programs, where we're designing a climate change adaptation plan for the state, I should say that climate change is causing an increase in "Nor' Easter" storms, and therefore I should be upset that it's about to snow buckets down on my little apartment in the middle of East Bumble****. However, I have to say I'm really happy about it! I love the snow, and I feel like we need one more blast before spring arrives. I'm trying to get home before the snow starts today, so that I can get our invitations addressed before the end of the weekend!

Moving on, after looking at the Duke website today, they already have their weekend for admitted students (March 26-27) posted on the web! I'm hoping to hear some kind of news in the next two weeks!
Ugh, I hate waiting. I really wish I was doing something right now to keep myself busy, like off somewhere with Kurt, in some wilderness camping :)

Inching Forward!

We're supposed to get a foot of snow this weekend, AGAIN. I don't know what's going on with that. I feel like one yr we have no snow, and now it's been slowing non-stop. The state can't really afford to pay DelDOT workers to plow on the weekends/overtime so this should be interesting. I'm going to attempt to make it up to Wallingford before the snow starts, but I doubt that will happen. I like the snow though, reminds me of going to Marquette with Kurt.

Anyway, after coming in to work today, I got an email from the professor I want to work with at NC State, asking me if we could have a phone interview/discussion! This is good news! I would definitely love to work in his lab, he does more applied research, measuring the success of protected areas and conservation practices by looking at wildlife populations, among other things. If I get in here, I'm going to definitely need a new pair of hiking boots. I still feel like Duke is my first choice, but I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do financially :(. I guess we'll just let the chips fall and see if I get in, and what money is offered.

I really really can't wait to live with Kurt. I started looking up some more apartments more closely today, and found one that seems perfect. It'd be right in between Bragg and Raleigh/Durham, and aparently a lot of military families live there too. The same company owns 4 or so apartment communities in the area, and all of them look great. I guess it's just a matter of what one we like the best! HOpefully Kurt will like this one too. I really miss him a lot today, looking up apartments and planning out our lives together makes me feel closer to him.

I realized yesterday that the best way to get motivation to go to the gym, for me, is to pack my work out clothes and go straight from work, so that's the plan for today.

Going Crazy

So, I think I have officially gone crazy. I mean, I know the wedding stuff, grad schools/jobs, and Kurt maybe being deployed, is enough to stress me out.... but to leave your car with the keys locked in, STILL RUNNING for 9 hours, that's just a symptom of insanity. I don't know what I can do to remedy this situation, but whatever it is, I better figure it out fast.

I applied for another job today. A fisheries technician job that is about a half our away from Fayetteville. It would only be from May to October, but if I got into graduate school, maybe I could work there for the summer (it pays up to 20 bucks an hour) to save some money for Kurt and I. A gal has to contribute to the family income right? ;). Who knows with these jobs though, half the time they don't even call back!

I had my dress fitting last night too, the dress is beautiful, but I really need to go to the gym more. Just as I suspected, last night provided a giant blast of work out motivation. Off to the gym I go!

Just Passing the Time

So, in an attempt to pass the time before the wedding and grad school notifications go out, I decided that reading would be the best way to keep my anxiety down. Basically, I'm hoping to acquire a huge pile of books that will keep me busy for the next three weeks. I've found that the best way to actually do this is Ebay! Right now, I'm reading "Moon Shell Beach", by Nancy Thayer, and I got the book hard back, basically new, for $4.00!



I've found that books with beach settings, or forest settings, calm me down the most (even though I love suspensful ones too. My favorite was "The Hunger Games", by Suzanne Collins. BOTH OF THEM, you won't be able to put them down). I enjoy the author's description of being outside, and the feelings associated with it. I really love Luanne Rice, and she had Moon Shell Beach on her recommended list. In the book, one of the women owns a chocolate shop on Nantucket. I always love reading books like this. I sometimes wish I could own a bakery, or a flower shop, or even a bed and breakfast by the ocean. Eh, maybe someday ;). I have always wanted to go to Nantucket though, maybe Kurt and I could go sometime!

I also am going to try to kick working out into high gear now that the wedding is two months away! I went running yesterday, and it was freezing. Snow was still on the ground too, but it was fun. Made me feel much more relaxed.

Dress fitting tonight!!

The Economy = Blah.

So, I just asked a prospective advisor from UNC what the status of my application was, and he replied by saying that it was 'on hold for the moment, funding issues are the biggest challenge.'

GAHH!!!

Again?? Really? Won't the economy get any better for us poor youngins that just want to further our education?

Same goes for NC State. My prospective advisor there has time for a student, but can't fund them. He said he'd be willing to accept me if I could pay for my first year (which could be a possibility bc I will be an NC resident at that time).

Needless to say, Duke, which would cost a bajillion dollars anyway, should start sending out acceptance/rejection emails starting the end of next week, and continuing on until March 15.

The waiting game continues.........