Adulthood

As children, what is the one thing everyone wanted?
To be an adult.

To children, being an adulthood is something that is going to be so cool. Everyone has thought it. "When I'm an adult I'm gonna..."

     - "eat what I want"

     - "go to bed when I want"

     - "do whatever I want to do"

     - "insert your's here"

Everyone had there own form of adulthood dreams. It was something we were built up to look forward to. "What are you going to be when you grow up" is a question every child deals with, and if not on a daily basis. I can remember that the first profession I wanted to do was be a doctor, but then I realized what that actually entailed and I swept that notion under the carpet. In third grade, our Girl Scout troop went to Space Camp and after that I dreamed of being an astronaut. I'm not sure when that dream ended, but it did. Then, there was the dream of Marine Biology.

"I love the beach. I love the ocean. I love marine life. Why not? Wait, you mean there is math involved?! Well, forget that! I'll never be able to do that. I'm terrible at math!"

...and there that dream died and by my own hand none the less.

We are so excited to become an adult but then when we reach adulthood we feel as if we have been conned into some terrible lie. Adulthood is supposed to be fun. We're supposed to be able to go to bed late. Eat whatever or whenever we want. Buy a "toy" if we want to. But that's not how it works. We have to go to bed at a reasonable time for school/work. We can't eat anything we want because we'll get fat and sick. We can't buy that "toy" because we're on a budget.
Once we enter into that glorious time of adulthood, all we want to do is sit back and relax but realistically all we get to do is pay the bills, go to work, pick out classes, fill out financial aid/loan forms, and (dare I say it) clean the house.

To be fair, adulthood isn't all bad. Yes we do have to pay bills, and yes we do have to go to work, but the things we can do are limitless. We can drive. We can travel. We can buy those cool things off the t.v. (everyone does that, right?); we really can do whatever our heart desires, as long as it doesn't break state or federal laws..

The past three weeks have been brutal to my psyche. With taking Biology, Physics, and French, it was too much new material for me to grasp in such a short time. So, I had to make the decision to let Physics go and take it at a more opportune time. As Chris told me as I reached for advice, "Good grades are more important than finishing on time." Do you see why I love this man?! He keeps me sane and supports me through everything. I would be lost and in a padded room without him.

My heart has always been and always will be with the ocean. It's a part of me.
This past Friday, Chris and I went to a lecture series at the Georgia Aquarium called Science on Tap. This month was on Whale Sharks so I just had to go. Dr. Guy Harvey was speaking and showing the beginnings of a documentary that he is working on and I realized something. As I watched the footage of Whale Sharks and Sailfish and my eyes began to water, I realized this is it. This is what it's all about. This is why I'm enduring the academic torture. Dropping my Physics course was hard on my pride, but if it just means an extra step to work with these beauties and save them from harms way, dammit I will gladly take that extra step.

Do NOT walk away from your dreams. Stick with them. Work through the storms and obstacles. If your dream doesn't require your hands to get dirty, ask yourself, is it really worth your time? 

- Ashley

+Embrace the Day+

This week marks the 28th year of me gracing this earth. Yup, it's my birthday.

I have yet gotten to the age where I dread that day, I actually welcome it. Every year I still get a homemade birthday cake, of my choice, from my mom and dad and who doesn't love cake on their birthday?!

Getting older doesn't scare me, at least not yet, as I've been told. The thought and process of getting older is great! With age comes wisdom. I read something funny the other day... "We've all been told that "old" people are wise but you know, stupid people get old too." Being back in school has taught me and shown me how much we take knowledge and intellect for granted, and I refuse to take part in that "fad." I will teach myself something new up until the day that I die. 

The past few months I have come across a few items that I have mentally enlisted on my birthday wish list. Everyone makes a wish list for their birthday, realistic ones and unrealistic ones, and I figured that I would share with you a few items that are definitely on a wish list... 

Who wouldn't want to adopt their own shark?!?

Or their own whale...

Every woman needs a fantastic watch. 

This watch will not only make my wrist look great, but it delivers

100 meals to to children in need

An Ernest Hemingway first edition

A great handbag

And a nice pair of flats

I love birthdays. I love [cup]cake. And I love this birthday dog. 

Don't run away from your birthday. You've survived another year. It may have endured some hard times, but you've grown stronger through those times and I guarantee that the good outweigh the bad. Be thankful for each day that you have for we are not promised tomorrow. 

Love the life you live. Get out there and accomplish your dreams. Go there. Eat that. Drive. Fly. Walk. Experience. Love. Try. 

You never know what you love or like to do if you don't get out there and do it. I have wasted postponed so many years in fear that I couldn't do a career in Marine Biology, and I am currently entering into my third semester back ...without a single failed Math class. Trust me, if I can go through without failing a Math class, you can do anything. I mean it. The only thing holding you back is yourself. 

So, here is to all the birthdays. Try something new on your birthday or plan on completing something before. And don't worry about the cake ...I'll make sure to eat a piece for you. This year is chocolate ;)

Ashley 

Good Medicine

For all of you know, Shark Week took place last week, and if you didn't ...let me give you time to crawl out from under the rock from which you live.
I don't know if you are a yearly viewer but if you are, were you as disappointed as I was?! I mean, for a show that is based upon science, there wasn't very much science. If you follow me on any social media, you saw my frustration with Discovery Channel about creating a mockumentary about Megalodon still existing.
My problem with it was not just that they created lies just to get good ratings but that people are looking to programs such as these for facts. And according to a poll I saw after the first showing, around 79% of people believe he is still around. That is crazy!?! People. If a 50 ft shark is still thriving in the ocean, even if he is deep down in there, don't you think we would see proof of it? And I don't mean terrible CGI images ...Discovery!

This guy.

...he knows what's going on. 

Husband for the win. 

 I love Aaron. And this is so accurate. 

I literally cried when I read this. I just, I can't... :* D

Ashley

Summer of 2013

Looking out the window, the remains of the a recent summer storm cling to glass and quietly remind me that the summer of 2013 is coming to a close. We were greeted to the summer in a very trying and upsetting fashion which I thought would never be so hard. Our family said goodbye to our loving dog, Sophie, of 4 years to Glaucoma and what we believe was cancer. It was a new and devastating experience for our family, but we pressed on and made sure Bella's first "school's out summer" was filled with fun ...and it was.

 First day of school is Monday and not only will she being going back to school, but she is going back as a first grader. Where did the time go?! Of course, the only thing on my mind right now is ...I can't wait to do it again next year!

Ashley 

Nuggets of Wisdom

Kids say the darndest things. If you have any, you know what I'm talking about.

I have always been drawn to the sea or anything sea related, hence my career choice. So naturally when Finding Nemo came out, I was determined to see it. Chris and I had just graduated high school (and gotten engaged) and I was getting ready to visit my grandmother in Florida for a week with my sister and two cousins (good times, good times...), and we wanted to make sure we spent time together before I left. So, Chris being the awesome person that he is, knowing I desperately wanted to see it, took me to go see Finding Nemo while expecting it to be childish and boring. When he walked out of that theater not just one but both of us were in smiles. I turned to him, "See, that wasn't bad now was it?" To this day it is still one of my favorite movies...

I can't tell you the joy I felt when Bella took a shine to Finding Nemo like I did. Well, that might now be true; she took to it a little more than I did. When she was a toddler she watched that movie every. single. night. You think I'm joking...
She still watches it to this day and I love it because I am able to teach her about the ocean along the way.

We were on our way home from a PTO meeting last night when this conversation came from the backseat:

Bella: I love Finding Nemo but the swordfish freaks me out

Ashley (Me): How are you scared of the swordfish, he doesn't even do anything?

Chris: I think she's talking about the fish in the beginning.

(to Bella) Are you talking about the one in the beginning?

Bella: Yeah.

Ashley: That's a barracuda. 

Bella: Well, he has sharp teeth and that's creepy. That "ca-coon-ga" freaks me out...

I lost it. There is nothing quite like a good life and it to be something from your child seems to make it even more special. I love her mispronunciations and I love that she shares my love of the ocean and things ocean related. I really need to keep (or start) a book of all the funny things she says. That will definitely be a little nugget of wisdom when she gets older and learns how to pronounce and accurate names. 

Although I know sequels usually ruin the nostalgia of the first movie, but I cannot wait for Finding Dory. We will definitely be making a trip to the theater for that one. 

Good Medicine

If someone were to ask me the most important rule in marriage my answer would be laughter. Yes, love is a very important thing, and you can't have a healthy marriage without it, but a marriage without laughter is the same as no love ...in my opinion.

Laughter has so many different benefits. It is known to lower blood pressure, increase memory, and even give you a workout; not to mention how close it can bring people together. I encourage you to have a good laugh at least once a day. If you need help in this department may I please recommend Regular Show. It is a cartoon, but who says cartoons are just for kids?! I love this show and I have recently gotten Chris hooked on to it as well, we love it!

I'm always looking for something to make me laugh because, well, who doesn't like to laugh?

 This only seems appropriate with finals being next week, because this is truth...

 The expression the cat is making gets me every time. The longer I stare at it the funnier it gets

 Sharks are so misunderstood and that makes me sad. 

You know this is what is really going on 

 I have always wanted to get our cat a harness to test this "theory" out.

....Stayed tuned and I might ;) 

I hope these at least gave you a chuckle...

Ashley 

Hug a Tree

Earth Day always brings back memories of elementary school. I loved Earth Day! It was the one day we were exempt from school work and spent the entire day outside to take in "Mother Nature;" one year I even got to sing in the trio ...it was a rap, what?! Yup, that's how I roll... My favorite park was always the artificial rainforest. Every year one student's dad would set up a tarp with plants galore and a sprinkler system all inside to simulate a rainforest ...it was awesome. It's the small things like that that make childhood so great.

Anyway, a couple of months ago I became aware of the documentary Trashed, and even though I have yet to see it myself, I urge you to take the time to. It is a problem that we most definitely need to care of, and we can't make motion unless everyone does their part.

Before Chris and I moved from our home a few years ago we were avid about recycling, but we got off track when we moved into the apartment. So, our decision for Earth Day is to start back in our recycling and making sure all of our plastics get reused and stay out of landfills and most definitely our oceans.

With my heart (and my career) being with the ocean and the animals who call it their home, this hits home for me and I most definitely want to do my part. It is hard to talk about ocean conservation and not hear the world Sylvia Earle. I admire her for all that she has done in her field and only hope to make a change in my field as she has. If you find TED Talks interesting, I urge you to take the next 15 minutes and watch Sylvia talk about how we can protect our oceans. So what are you doing for your part this Earth day?

Happy Earth Day!!