Muse

I've been busy in the past 2 weeks getting some new song-writing done. I don't know where my muse was hiding, but I've found her again and she's back in full force. I'm not suggesting that my new music is good or anything, but it makes me happy at least.

Here at UWC we have a really nice recording studio that I have free access to, and I've been taking advantage of it. One of our first year students, Tyler, is a very accomplished studio engineer and has been helping me put together the rough cuts for what might turn into a full album at some point.

Most of the tunes are typical for me, but at least 2 of them are more rock-influenced, and one of them is a reggae tune...definitely different for me.

So over the next month or so, if you're interested in hearing some of the stuff, please let me know and I'll get you some music files.

take care!
jeff

Eyes on the horizon...

I dream of it at night. My thoughts sit on it during the day.

It has become an idol that has taken over every fiber of my being. (well, not really, but that just sounds cooler)

As Kelley and I have spent over 6 months in New Mexico now, we have come to love so many things about it. The weather, the stark landscapes and beautiful vistas have pleased us so much and renewed our love for the west. The kind people and completely different perspective on life has both satisfied us as well as made us so very appreciative of our home in South Carolina.
Then with the "onlslaught" of Moira, our connection to South Carolina has been growing even stronger as we are missing parents and our siblings (Kelley's sister, her husband, and our little nephew).

So with all of the thoughts being thrown back to the east coast, my mind has drifted to surfing again and I so long for this coming summer's vacation in South Carolina. We have plans for beaches and I have plans for waves...good ole dirty, salty, short SC waves. And so I will get a longboard...

...this longboard, in fact. I'm hoping that it will bring Kelley and me some great times at Hunting Island and Folly Beach during the summer months.

My two girls

I don't need to say anymore.

Any Day Now...

The bags are packed, the car seat is ready, the diapers are here and the rocking chair is all greased up and ready for 2!

We got word from the doctor this past Wednesday (Nov 26th) that the baby could come within' the week!

We can't wait to meet the little girl!

When the snow comes...

...I'll be ready!

Yesterday I received an early Christmas present from my amazing "in-laws". I swear I think they completely understand my inner-child. Because of our recent relocation to more alpine climes, Kelley and I have been eagerly anticipating a good snow like we've heard happens often here. I guess Mom and Pop Bateman have anticipated our anticipation, because they put a lot of hard work and love into finding me a perfect sled for the winter weather! They did some research and found Mountain Boy Sledworks, which is based out of Silverton, CO. They bought me this "ultimate flyer" which, honestly is a moving work of art. I feel like a 6-year-old again! I can't wait for it to snow!

It'll be just like Christmas Vacation baby, "preparing to set a new landspeed world record...Clark W. Griswald!"

The Folks

Last week my folks came out for a visit to Montezuma. These are some pics from their time at the UWC and in Santa Fe

Another day...another dollar

Sorry for 2 posts in one day, but I thought I'd post some images from our field work today. We've been heading to the Gallinas now every day for about a week to do this last big ecology project.

This is my first year, Higher Level Biology class hard at work in the Gallinas river area just west of campus.



The kids were given the following prompt as their lab: Design and conduct an experiment to survey a biotic component or investigate the relationship between a biotic component and an abiotic component of a river ecosystem.

The rest is up to them. Here's what some of them are studying:

1) stream richness vs. stream flow rate as determined by measuring the number of different species (and # of individuals in each species) of aquatic macroinvertebrates (water bugs)
2) grasshopper population and distribution study using the capture-mark-release-recapture method
3) cattail distribution study as affected by soil moisture content
4) a few other various plant studies and how varying abiotic factors affect plant distribution
5) pocket gopher population study (capture-mark-release-recapture)

Pretty cool stuff huh!?

cheers,
jeff