2013 Here I Come!

Happy New Year! Hope you had a great holiday season! My new years was a lot of fun with getting to see my friends from home. I'm so happy that we are all still close friends. The best part was that we all hung out playing games, drinking and just talking. Just being us! But what kind of a finish to the year would it be without a major change in my life? 2012 definitely had its downs while definitely had its ups. The ups included: moving out of Minot, ND, Meeting Nate, Moving to Sioux Falls, SD, and getting a job at the zoo here in Sioux Falls(!!)just to name a few. Like I mentioned, there were definitely some downs too... such as my first permanent zoo position being washed away in a flood. But without the downs, I guess we cannot appreciate the ups fully. 2013 is a new start and I hope it has many more ups than downs for once! But to update you on the ending of 2012... October was good with Nate's birthday and housewarming party. It was a blast! Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. I got to go home and enjoy being with my parents. Christmas was good. I got to see my parents, brother and Vinnie. I had to work the morning of Christmas, but right after, I headed home. My parents gave me a whole new look to my bedroom with a pillow and shams and a new quilt. Vinnie is getting so big! He is talking up a storm and full of personality!! 2012 was also full of personal changes. It took so much of my courage, but I began playing soccer and basketball. I have experienced myself getting better and better, so it's very rewarding! I have joined a dance center. I am hip hop dancing there and go to zumba there. Oh and as if that isn't enough, I began swimming weekly. I have a swimming instructor, Jill, who is helping me become a better swimmer! My goal is to be able to pass swim tests. I've learned a lot about my kicking and endurance. I also learned that even after a year, I can still dive.. boo ya! lol I can honestly say that I am proud of myself for becoming so active. I have lost about 23 pounds this year and hope to lose a few more! On another note... Unfortunately, Marty and I moved into an apartment. He is adjusting well, and this is definitely the nicest apartment I've lived in yet! Trying to look on the bright side. I'm hoping to make it to North Dakota this February. I'm so grateful to be so close to home and many of my friends! I am always so grateful for all of my friends! Where would I be without all of you? So all in all, I'm ready for 2013. Here's to an awesome new year. I'm afraid to make resolutions cause I have so many goals already!! haha Go figure right? Missing all of my friends and family, Nessa

Pumpkin Spice Latte Season 2012

Happy Pumpkin Spice Latte Season Everyone! Haha This should really be a season! :) I have definitely been excited about lattes. But really... Since June, quite a bit has happened. At the zoo, we have had quite the excting last 3 months! We had three red panda cubs born and a giraffe calf. One red panda cub didn't make it since it wasn't fully developed. The other two have been going strong! They are both beautiful and constantly growing. I wasn't able to tell anyone about them until after they were formally announced by the zoo. So sorry I couldn't say anything in my last post. Then the giraffe calf was a surprise. Libby, our oldest (13 yr old) giraffe, is the mother to a male calf. He was born on Sept. 2nd. We had all agreed that she was getting rounder and rounder. She even began to waddle. I didn't think that was possible for a 13 foot plus giraffe to do! They do fecal tests on giraffe fecals to see if they are prego. The test said that she wasn't pregnant... how wrong it was! She gave birth to a six foot, 147 lb baby boy! (no pics on my computer yet, but maybe next time!) Other than the zoo, things are pretty busy. I joined a basketball team, in which I learned that I know absolutely nothing about the game! haha so let's just say I'm the weakest link of the team, but I try! haha! Besides that we just finished up a kickball season, and I joined soccer again. I am on the same team as before. That game actually makes sense now! So hopefully I will get the hang of basketball too! Marty is getting so big! He is in the beginner obedience class with the American Kennel Club. He had a rough first two weeks after having a break from Puppy Kindegarten class. He is getting so handsome the older he gets! There are better pics on facebook. When I can upload pics off of my phone, I don't always put my pics on my computer right away. My niece, Amelia, turned 9 today. I can't believe it! I feel old. haha Miss all of my nieces and my nephew all the time. Thank goodness that Nate has an adorable nephew, Micah, who I get to help watch each week. He is precious and will be 2 in December. What else to tell? Nate and I went to the apple orchard! Thank goodness since that is a Fall tradition! It was a lot of fun and still have a billion apples to use up! haha If you ever need a new snack, try apples dipped in peanut butter/apple butter mixed. It is delicious! OH! I joined a hip hop class at a dance studio here. I am the oldest one, but I don't care. I keep up with all of the teens, and I keep getting asked what high school I go to... haha! And when I tell them, "Sure I'm 18 with a college degree..." They respond with "Oh so you're like 22?" BAHAHAHAHAHA yes! lmao Cracks me up! But it's fun, hip hop and keeps me active. I take the class after a full class of zumba, where my friend is the instructor. She definitely keeps our butts moving! I'm feeling so good now that I'm staying active. I have even lost weight! Not that you'd be able to tell, but I can definitely feel it! I'm watching my calories etc. People at work ask why. I just want to see if I can get down to where I want to. I'm at a weight that's even less than my high school weight! Go me haha. My birthday was good. I spent the day shopping, and a friend met me to get our nails done. Nate's family and I went out for Texas Roadhouse for supper! It was so yummy! My parents came up on Sunday, the 2nd (the day the calf was born ironically). And they spent the night since Monday was Labor Day. We went out for Johnny Carinos, and I didn't count my calories that day! LOL I got so many great gifts! I got a pillow that stays cool. It is amazing! It's an ISO-Cool pillow in case you too like cold pillows! I got a gold/silver/bronze dolphin necklace/earring set from my parents besides the pillow along with giraffe slippers and a Dream necklace. They spoil me! But seeing them was the best gift I could ask for. Nate gave me lotion and body spray as well as ironing on a giraffe patch to my kickball shirt since I was the "Giraffe Whisperer." I didn't make that up, but I sure like it! He also got me FLOWERS and a dolphin watch bracelet. IT's blingy, but I love it! His fam gave me a new purse, bill-fold, shirt, bracelet, and an awesome pic of Micah! My aunt even sent me a cookbook, candy, notepad, fancy new bic girlie pens, decoration and a cool little ceramic pot. I am spoiled. I went up to Fargo the following Monday and spent time with some friends there. I miss seeing them all the time. I miss college cause you got to keep learning and you saw your friends all the time. Ugh. Time goes by too quickly. If you're reading this, thank you. I'm awful at posting but when I do it's a long one! And I miss you. Call whenever. I sound busy, but I've always got time for you. Love, Nessa

June 2012

Hey Everybody, Sorry it's been so long. Last time I wrote I was about to meet all the staff here at the zoo... Well it has been 3 months. I think I will feel like the new person for a long, long time. I'm learning a lot all of the time. It's mostly about how things are ran here. I can definitely tell that the animals are getting used to me. The zebras usually were very stand-offish while I fed them, but now they approach their feeders before I'm out of their stall. I've had to get used to going in with the bongos. Now we are friends. The giraffes are a hoot. I get slapped in the head almost everyday by Chioke, the male giraffe. They're really fun, and I enjoy seeing them. The supervisor and I chatted on Monday. I am the main Cheetah person for sure. They are really fun, and I am hoping to get training them soon. There are 3 cheetahs: Kimbaya, Ellis, and Crybaby. We have had some babies at the zoo this season. There are 2 baby sheep ( whatever they're called lol), 2 baby goats, 2 red panda babies, and a mini horse (Tango). We did have a crane's nest of the African Crowned Cranes... but a giraffe stepped on it :/ maybe they will have another clutch again since it's early in the summer. Other than that, I am working on getting to know everyone. One of the keepers says I may be taking her place as the funny one in the group... haha!! I'm just more free-wheeling with my dorkiness. HAHA Sioux Falls is still treating me well. I got lost 3 times today, but those are 3 more adventures I got to have. :) It was 99 today, and my day off to stay in A/C. Until a friend from college came to visit, and she dragged me to the zoo. Haha Since I last blogged, I moved in with Nate. We moved into a house in a quiet neighborhood. It's 4 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath and has a deck and washer/dryer and dishwasher! It's coming together. It needs a lot of landscaping to be done, but it'll get there. My parents have already came to visit twice, and Vinnie got to come along once too. They surprised me at the zoo one day. It was an amazing surprise! Besides the house, we got a PUPPY!! His name is Marty. He is a lab mix. The mom was a lab, and the dad was a stray. He is almost 5 months old, so we have had him almost 3 months. As of last night, he graduated puppy kindegarten! We are so proud :D Well that's all I really have for today, But I promise I will ttys, Nessa

Long Needed Update from Sioux Falls

Why Hello... Finally,
This post is long overdue. For a while there, I didn't have too much to update on I thought. Sioux Falls is a great city! My mom and I were even talking today about how much safer it is here than in Minot surprisingly enough. I really like how large of a city it is and the Falls Park is so pretty! The Falls Park is the park that Nate brought me to on our Christmas together :) I have been living with Nate and his family for the past two months that I've been here. Can you believe it's been 2 months already? I've enjoyed being here and his family has really taken me in and made me feel so very welcomed. I love being here with Nate. I look forward to seeing him everyday when he gets home. Believe me, I don't take that for granted. It's so much better than seeing him for a couple days here or there every now and then. When I first got here, it took only a couple days, and I got hired at Applebee's. It really wouldn't be a bad place to work if people had people skills. There are a few kind people there but wow how rude the rest of the people are. I finally gave up trying to get to know people. But happily, my last day at Applebee's is this sunday.
Have no fear, my first day at the Great Plains Zoo as the newest FULL TIME ZOOKEEPER! I am very excited to say that after two interviews and being contacted by the Director of Animal Care to apply for the position, that I have been chosen to be the Savannah keeper. I will be caring for Zebras, Giraffes, Cranes, Cheetahs etc. Tomorrow, well today I guess it is by this time of night, I am meeting with my supervisor and the rest of the staff! I'm so nervous! I'm excited for this next leg of my adventure through life :)
I will update soon!
Love!

2+0+1+2= A Year Not Yet Written

Hope all of you had a great new years holiday and Christmas! Hard to believe it is 2012, but that's also very exciting! Big changes are coming. Change is in the air! I was very lucky in having been able to head home for Thanksgiving and then Christmas, but not before making it to Nate's home to meet his family. Nate is my boyfriend and is from Sioux Falls, SD. I'm sure most of you saw on facebook that him and I are a couple. He is so sweet and amazing that I couldn't be luckier! :) He is 24 also and an engineer. His family is very kind and welcoming. What a relief after being so nervous! lol I spent Dec 22nd-the morn of Dec 24th at his home. Nate made me a tie-big enough for two people, a picture frame of us two, a jewelry box engraved, and a bracelet with both of your sets of initials engraved! He definately surprised me! Then he had a great, perfect date planned during my visit to SF! :)Then he was able to join my family for Christmas evening and the day after. The night after Christmas, both sets of our parents met even, and that went very very well. We were both really happy it went so well. In fact, I enjoyed Sioux Falls so much that after a lot of thought I decided that I will be moving there come the 20th of this month. Living there allows me to be there with my boyfriend, be 3 hours from home, 3 hours from Fargo, and I'm hoping to volunteer at the zoo there. So why not?! I'm very excited and ready to move!! :)
Even with moving, I am still applying and will remain applying. But I'm still waiting to hear from Fort Worth Zoo as to if I got the position or not. I interviewed with them on Dec 1st. So fingers crossed! The zoo here in minot promised that they'd call me when I was able to come back. I hope they keep that promise. But we will see how this year pans out.
While I was home, my grandma unfortunately had a stroke they think. I'm glad I was home, so I could go visit her in the hospital. She was supposed to be sent to the nursing home right after I left for physical therapy.
Besides all of that, not to much happened since last time... well I'll write soon, but it'll be from Sioux Falls, SD!!
Love,
V

Goodbye Flip Flops, Hello Boots

Heya,
Surprised I'm writing already? Heck I'm surprised myself. lol There isn't a ton to catch up on in the last two weeks. It snowed a good 6 inches last night. That was a surprise to go out into! Wish I had windows that overlooked the street, so I could have an idea of how bad it is. ha My windows face a building.
Bella and I are still in Minot. I am more than ready to move. Just sent an app to California. I'm so ready to have a job I love. Met with the director of the zoo today. Yeah another ten months to 18 months before they might be getting animals back. Does that sound like an eternity or is it just me? But anyways, sending out apps as fast as I can. Thanksgiving will be good, so I can spend some time with the family.... I miss them so much. Vinnie I saying words already. Feels like yesterday he was born. I've been away for far too long. Only nine days til I go home! It'd be great if it were only 8! haha And then it's Christmas! Already listening to the music and watching the movies for background noise. Just don't know what I want for Christmas!! jeesh who has that problem ever??
Well I suppose that's pretty much it for now. Hope you all are warm and safe.
Love mucha siempre (always)

Sonrie en los tiempos malos y buenos...

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!
Hope you are all well! As always, where has time gone? So much to update you all on, where to begin?! Well first and foremost, the water has receeded! The town is once again dry and has been thoroughly stripped down. The amount of debris that came from the flood area was remarkable and took forever to clean up! Still today you can find random things on the curbs. Things are moving MUCH slower at the zoo than anticipated. From the sounds of it FEMA has been quite difficult to work with. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten to help clean up the grassy areas of the zoo yet unlike I was promised. Doesn't look like us, zookeepers, will be helping with the clean up much at all.
Today, Maya, my toucan I have been training, was transported to Delaware. :( I know it's for the best, so she can stay warm this winter. They'll be keeping the North Zoo at around 50 degrees, which is WAY too cold for a toucan who needs it around 70. So she got shipped off to a training facility. I hope they're impressed with her! She targets, is patient for varied reinforcement, and comes when you say "here"!!!! That is HUGE for her and I!! I gave her as many kisses and hugs as I could yesterday. We even took pictures....




It was extremely hard to let this precious bird to leave. Correction: it was so very, very difficult to leave this smart, beautiful bird. I sort of took a deep breath and left. Hope to see her again someday!

Other than that, I am working working at the ice arena now for my main job. I drive the zamboni on my own these days without any difficulties. They trust me with it HA I hardly see the workers that gave me a hard time before, and next week I am gonna have a skating party to actually put working at the arena to a benefit. I can have people skate for free after hours. I just have to zamboni. So next time one of you is in town... ;)
As for Space Aliens, I am soon to become a Team Leader to be on my way to being manager. Too bad I'm not satisfied staying at a restaurant.
I sent out two more applications tonight. Last week, I traveled to Miami, Florida of all places for a swim test with the Miami Seaquarium!!!! The test didn't go so hot. My front stroke wasn't as strong as they wanted. This was embarassing, but I have the experience and now know what to expect. I saved my trip though and had a blast (even though I was by myself). I was more than nervous going to miami on my own, not to mention renting a car, getting the hotel room, finding my way around, and finding places to eat. I had such a good time! Hey, for the 2nd year in a row, I got to wear shorts in October! How amazing! Not to mention, I got to see an ORCA, MANATEES, and use my spanish more than my english :D You guys can't even imagine how excited I was to actually get to use my spanish!! And may I add, I did quite well at it :) Heck, to even check out of the hotel, I had to use my spanish. Such a cute old man :) hehehe All in all, miami didn't go as planned at all. But I'm so happy I went. I proved to myself I could go on a trip by myself completely, and I needed to leave Minot. No matter how bad of a morning I had, I swear when I stepped on the beach the water took my worries away just like the sand at my feet.... It felt good ;) Even made a friend from Cuba! haha His name was Rodrigo. he has my e-mail so we will see if he writes me. lol
NDSU homecoming was an absolute blast. Kristi had her baby shower (which she had her baby on Halloween!!). The Bison stomped all over our opponents, and I got to see my friends again. I am so happy to have gotten to see my friends, who I miss all the time. Wish we could all live together again.


I'm already listening to christmas music. haha I love it! Even have my grinch pajama pants on ;) Good thing Corey likes Christmas music since he is staying at my apt cause of his nose surgery. Poor guy had a deviated septum. I'm in charge of his meds-lmao is that smart? haha just kidding. The guy has to put up with me for a week.
Anyways, I'm so excited for Thanksgiving! 19 days and counting til I go home!! WOOOOT!
Well folks it's super late here, so I will try to write soon.
Call anytime, any of you,
Love,
Nessa