make way for ducklings

There is a gorgeous garden behind the Alumni building on campus (...because that is where all the $$ comes from...)

including a little duck pond.

And there are TWO families of little baby ducklings this spring!

They are beyond adorable and hilarious.

Little duck family

Crossing guard

Oh my gosh so cute.

I WANT ONE!

They dart around in a single group and when one straggler wanders off and then realizes he's left behind he'll run SO FAST to catch up.

I don't know what's going to happen to all these ducks when they grow up...I mean, 45 ducks is a lot. I'd use my biology degree to say that it would exceed carrying capacity.  I guess they'll fly away to an amazing pond in the forest and live happily ever after ??  Yes, of course.

In other news, I have two papers down and two to go! I've been pretty successful so far at sanity maintenance so hopefully I can keep the motivation going...

I can't wait until Wednesday when I will be "done". Ohhh my gosh it cannot come soon enough. 

Although I am still working in the lab and have to finish and defend my thesis proposal.

It's hard to believe I'm almost done with my first year of grad school !!

It has definitely been a crazy intense but happy year.

the world needs more magnolia trees

My favorite thing about college campuses are the FLOWERING TREES!

Unfortunately they are already starting to drop their petals, and it's not even May! Freaky weather.

I had a great birthday on Monday, and am now stuck in paper purgatory.

aaaaaaaa

I am looking forward to being DONE and sunny relaxing fun weekends coming up so soon!

But for the next week I will be stressed and frantic and will probably drop off the face of the earth.

That's just the way it goes.

right now

It is pouring rain.

I am faced with a ridiculous amount of work to get done this week.

My birthday is tomorrow but I really miss my family and friends and feel a bit alone.

I'm trying to keep looking on the bright side.

So here is a little list of things that make me happy right now.

-a weekend with Ben! even though these weekends are always too short.

-eating fudgey chocolate cake with sprinkles right out of the pan

-getting a food processor from the best boyfriend in the universe (!!!!!) I am so excited about this. I feel like my life has changed forever with so many new food opportunities opened before me...seriously. Even though I know I am probably the only person ever who would love to get a food processor for their birthday. ;)

-hanging out with ridiculous friends who wear brown velour jumpsuits, plaid pj pants with olympic hockey jerseys, American flag headbands, and have talented hockey-playing sisters who bring their silver medal when they visit so their brother's friends can play with it.

-finally seeing the end (though still too far away) of this blasted long-distance thing. I am sick of saying good-bye all the time. 

-downloading crazy mash-ups 

-knowing that I will be DONE with my first year of grad school in 10 crazy stressed-out sleep deprived days.

For better or for worse.