Beam Reach

I would like to announce that at 10:48pm my paper presentation and everything else was DONE!!! WhooHoo!
I spent the last 3 nights working until 3am! It was great. Research is cool. Analysis is cool. Significant results are even cooler - but no luck this time. I have faith though! I still have confidence that theres [...]

So, my time here with Beam Reach is almost over.
I’ve begun analyzing data, and I’m not gonna lie - I’m excited.
The boat… has been the boat, and it’s definately not an ideal research platform, but we’ve been able to have several good enocunters with the whales regardless.
Dalls porpoises are in love with [...]

I didn’t shake during my presentation today! or speak at riddiculously high speeds! Or stumble over every other word! And!… I LOOKED at the Audience!!
Whoa.
teehee.

It’s been an experience, being out here. Really getting started on what I know I’m made to do. I’ve changed, in big ways, and surprisingly, the changes have come softly, and with a quiet sublte persistance. I’ve wanted, for a long time, to have the focus and drive I needed to really propel myself. And [...]

So, before I launch into an update about the last week, and all of our marvelous adventures, I’m going to talk about this evening.
This evening I was supposed to go into dinner, grab a quick bite to eat at Downriggers (my favorite restruant on the island - try the Angels on Horseback, they’re fantastic) [...]

I saw my first Orcas this past Thursday!!! They were transients, and over a mile off, but still visible w/o binocs. So Amazing - saw two spyhops… the first 1/3rd of the whales was the size of the NOAA research inflatable that was right next to it! And that little boat held 4 people! damn… [...]

Getting on the boat in a couple hours, after a crazy, nonstop week! Talk about exhilarating and exhausting! Tons of experts - David Baine, Robin Baird, Jeff Nystuen, Lynne Barre, etc etc etc etc! Phew! Great week overall and feeling pretty excited about my project. This update is rushed and lame, so I’ll end it [...]

I’d forgotten a couple other fun things:
When we first hung out at Val’s house, (week 1) Fred Felleman dropped by and gave a really interesting talk on the politics of whale research and legislation. Definately someone to keep in touch with, as legislation has always been on great interest to me, despite it’s frustrations and [...]

I would like to start this entry by stating that I would like to give Ken Balcomb a hug and say *Thank You* for your 30 years of legwork, figuring out all these little details about the whales so that I get to ask a more interesting question for my Beam Reach project (as well [...]

So ok, this is the only update *actually* from 8/27. Updates abound!,br>
So ok, I *did* see my first orcas at Lime Kiln! Unfortunately the were so far off that they were tiny in my binocs, and it doesnt feel real. So until I can get a recognizable picture, I dont think I’m going to officially [...]