The Condensed Version

Family & Friends,

That was definitely the longest I have gone without a blog! So, because it has been so long and SO MUCH has happened, this blog will be an attempt at a condensed version (If you truly know me, you know that this will be a difficult task for me to do :) Because everything will be condensed, if there is a story/experience that you'd like me to elaborate on, write it in the comments section and I will do my best to write some more about it!

So, without further a due,  here it goes!

To begin, life has been treating me well. The fall semester is now complete and classes have come to a end. To jog your memory, my semester started early in August and is now complete with the arrival of Thanksgiving. I spent the past 14 weeks learning about our forests and natural systems in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My last blog was about half way through the semester, so a lot more has occurred!

Picking up where I left off, many more field trips ensued. The field trips continued to take us to magnificent places, including Little Mountain, Limestone Mountain, as well as a full circle tour of the Keweenaw Peninsula, where we stopped at Cliff Drive, Brockway Mountain, Copper Harbor, and along the east shore near Lac LaBelle. One fun memory was calling into a radio station and having them play for us the Edmund Fitgerald and giving our class a shoutout...fun times in GeoVeg class  :)

My Insect Ecology and LM-GPS classes occurred mainly in the first half of the semester, and were complete by about week seven. Taking finals in the middle of the semester sure makes the semester go fast!

A large part of what we do is forest inventory, or assessing the forest to see what is there. This involves lots of sampling in the field, followed by lots of time analyzing the data in the computer lab. We then discuss what is best for the forest and what we want to the future conditions of that forest to be. Once this is done management plans can be written to work from what we have to what we want. Management plans involve discussing how we are going to go from A to B as well as the impacts of doing so. That sums up a LOT of what we do :)  So, with a team, I was assigned 40 acres of land to assess, analyze, and write a management plan for. This involved two days of field work and countless hours in the computer lab. This report ended at about ten pages and was sort of considered to be our "mid-term."

Now for the story that has a bit more (unintended) excitement with it. As I have said many times before, my friends and I like to adventure whenever we have free time, which doesn't happen too often. One afternoon my friends Evan, Joel, and I explored the almost non-existent town of Herman, MI. A speck on the map and quieter than a ghost town, there's nothing really there. We met a nice lady (after a small trespassing mishap) and she gave us directions to a great set of waterfalls. Taking her advice we headed that way, passing a nice yooper couple on the way there, giving us further (confusing) directions to the falls. We finally parked the car, and explored the cool rock outcrops and large rock faces emerging in the forest. The fall colors were bursting and the autumn weather was great. We finally found the river and eventually the cascading waterfalls. After much exploring we found ourselves continuing our adventures on the other side of the river, exploring more rock faces and cool niches in the forest. As we were hiking, Joel went to go use a rock face for support and a huge boulder (about the size of a full school backpack) came loose and fell, knocking the wind out of him and eventually crushing his right foot. After some choice words by all, we remained calm and began to hike out. Joel hobbled on one foot while being supported by Evan. Sometimes I forget how "in the wilderness" I really am. After descending the cliff, crossing the river, ascending the cliff on the other side and over an hour of slow walking, we made it back to the car, with another 25 minutes down back roads to get to the ER. Long story short, Joel was out of commission, having crushed and sheered off three of his toes. He went on to Marquette for surgery and then went home for a few weeks with more surgeries following.

If in a pinch for time when reading this, now would be a good time for a break  :)

So, after such an adventurous adventure I decided to take it easy for a little while. The following day some other friends and I went to the Sturgeon River Gorge and stayed on the easy access trails :)

Other adventures of the second half of the semester included a trip to Mount Arvon, Michigan's highest point as well as Silver Falls and Ogemaw falls. Pictures of all of these adventures can be found in the photos albums!

The second weekend of October my friend Anna and I went downstate Michigan for the wedding of our friends Dave and Jen. We left a day early, taking our time to enjoy the beautiful fall colors, and stopped by Joel's house to see how he was doing. We camped at Rifle River Recreation Area and the following day we explored the surrounding area and the AuSable river corridor (lots of great pics!). After a quick change in a rest stop bathroom, we went to the wedding, which was wonderful and a great celebration. Between to wedding and the reception we took a quick trip to the shores of Lake Huron. The reception was fun and we had a great time celebrating such a great couple. The trip included many 'firsts' for me, including first time across the renowned Mackinaw Bridge connecting the upper and lower peninsulas, first time on the shores of Lake Huron, and first time spending any significant time in downstate Michigan at all!

The following weekend Dad and Angela came up for the weekend to visit. We had a fun time sightseeing and I enjoyed showing them around the quaint village of Alberta and where I was living.

The following weekend we took a big field trip to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. I had lots of fun at Lake of Clouds and the chain of waterfalls. It was great to revisit these sites, as I hadn't been there in a few years. It should be noted that this was the first day we had significant snowfall  :)  No accumulation yet, but it was a fun drive nonetheless :s

The next big task was the 80 acre final project. Similar to the 40 acre project, we were placed in teams, assessed 80 acres of land, analyzed the data, and then proceeded to write a management plan exceeding 60 pages! This occurred over a few weeks, with data collection, analysis, and report writing all happening at separate times. This project was the culmination of what we had learned, from forest health, to wildlife, to silvicultural practices. Though there is not a lot to write about this topic, believe me, this project and report consumed a majority of my time in the final weeks of the semester.

The second weekend of November was my Grandma and Grandpa Widenstrom's 50th wedding anniversary. I surprised the whole family by going home for the celebration! I had been wanting to make a surprise visit home since going off to college and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. It was so much fun to be home and see lots of family. While home I was also able to see my sister Angela perform in the Wizard of Oz at Ashland Productions.

Once the 80 acre final project report was turned in the semester came to an anticlimactic ending. The last week was focused on the final presentation. Yet another component of the final project was giving a 25 minute presentation on the assessment, analysis, and management plan. These presentations occurred back on campus so the public and professors alike could come, watch, and critique. The presentations were the true culmination of the semester, as we had to speak about the project and know our facts inside and out. The presentations occurred the Friday before Thanksgiving, so following the presentations the semester was over!

It is hard to believe it has come to an end. Though I may not have been super excited about the experience prior to the semester, it was a lot of fun and a lot of good/crazy/weird/fun/bizarre/un-explainable memories were made :) ....like that time Sam and I heard lady sasquatch in the woods...or the time we caught the porcupines on trail cam.....our many times playing hackysack....spilling superglue....pinning insects for our collections.....Kyle Miles.....jumping in Lake Superior....getting the van stuck on day two.....the time the power went out.....Dave on Halloween.....coring trees (haha...)....the party palace....solamonders.... Conserve School.....ah, the list of memories goes on.....

So with that the semester was over, I put stuff in storage and packed up. We said our goodbyes and I headed home for Thanksgiving!

This past week was spent at home. It was nice to be home, as I haven't been home for any significant amount of time in a long time. I got to spent lots of time with my family :) The week also included haircut and dentist appointments. Thanksgiving was at Grandma and Grandpa Widenstrom's, as usual. We had a fantastic meal and a relaxing afternoon. Black Friday was spent preparing to head north (keep reading), over at the Logans, and then back to Grandma and Grandpa's for the annual tradition of eating the Thanksgiving a second time on Friday. The week home also included lunch at Yarusso Bros. restaurant with the family, a trip to the Mall of America, and buying myself a new winter coat.

This fall I agreed to accept a winter position at Northern Tier working as the Assistant to the Registrar. This is the same place I have worked the past two summers. I will be working in the office helping with the pre-Okpik work. Okpik is Northern Tier's winter program, where we offer snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and dog-sledding treks. I traveled up to Ely, MN to the Charles L. Sommers Base yesterday, as I start tomorrow! I am excited to be up here in the winter time! I will be here until January 8th, with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. I'm looking forward to a fun, fulfilling, and yet relaxing couple of weeks!

Phew! And to think that what I just wrote is the 'condensed' version......

Well, I hope you feel caught up on all that has happened in my life over the past 9 weeks! The snow is falling, the semester is over, and a new phase of my life is ahead! My spring semester is still up in the air, as are my plans for this coming summer, as is the direction of my career path. Taking one day at a time, I know that the Lord's plan will pan out :)

Wishing you all a very joyous December and remember to keep Christ in Christmas!

Fall is upon us...and so is Week 6, wow!

Greetings Family and Friends!

It has been just under a month since I last blogged and it has been SUPER busy!

I arrived in Alberta, MI (for the Fall Camp program) over a month ago and have been going, going, going with academics since. Please note, I have just put up gobs of new photos!! Words are great but the pictures are worth 1000x more ;)

In summary the past month has consisted of school work, trips to Houghton for various reasons, and fun crazy adventures with my friends. The daily schedule involves breakfast at 7:15am, class from 8am to 5pm, with an hour break for lunch. Dinner is at 5:30pm and after that involves finishing the daily report/memo and the accompanying map, graphs, table, figures, and charts. The reports are due the following morning at 8am and the cycle starts over again! Everyday involves going somewhere for data collection and then analyzing the data collected to help us look at various environmental factors and their interactions. As I am van driver-certified I generally drive one of the vans, which is always fun, to the cool places we go. We get to go to so many fun places! From the shore of Lake Superior, to the Huron Mountains, to Baraga Plains (oh, the beloved jack pine :), to the Sturgeon River Gorge.......SO MANY GREAT PLACES! I can truly say that I am enjoying the experience. Even though I may have had bad feelings before coming here, and maybe still do to some extent, I am thoroughly enjoying being so connected to nature. If anything, the past five weeks have been great opportunities for nature photo shoots :) In essence, the academics are going well and the schoolwork is fun.

Being a resident assistant (RA) for the dormitory here in Alberta has had its ups and downs. I am enjoying it for what it is, though I certainly miss making the impact I feel I was able to make on campus in the residence hall. I am looking forward to putting on some programs and boosting hall enthusiasm.

My friends and I live in an AMAZING place and get to go fun places EVERYDAY so my friends and I have gone on some of our own adventures when we get a chance, usually returning to a place we went for class. This is a shout out to my FANTABULOUS friends for being just a goofy and weird as I am :) We have gone blueberry and raspberry picking, participated in K-day, Homecoming, and Parade of Nations festivities, explored the Sturgeon River Gorge, and have spent countless hours at Canyon Falls.....and these are just a few of the many, many, many fun things! And how could I forget the brain trust and the countless hours of reading and scholarly debate, especially in the Quad :)

Life is swell and my future is looking exciting! I am currently working on aligning work for this winter break as well as next summer. The closer time table includes a possible visit from my Dad and a trip downstate MI to a wedding for two of my friends!

May God bless you all on this first official day of autumn and may you see His beauty in nature!

~ Kyle

Welcome to Alberta! (Michigan that is)

Family and Friends -

Well, my time at Northern Tier in Atikokan as Business Manager has come to an end. It was a long, hard, fun summer, full of good memories, great people, and times to be cherished in the years to come. It was tough leaving, knowing that Northern Tier and the town of Atikokan will always hold a special place in my heart. I will certainly miss being at camp and in Canada :(

On Tuesday August 13th I traveled home from Atikokan. After an extremely long day of driving, only stopping when crossing the international border, I got to see many family and friends. It was so great to be able to see some of you during my very short time home. The 36 hours went quick and included running errands getting ready for school, going to appointments, and packing my life into "my" car..Thanks Mom and Dad :) It was quite the whirlwind, but after a day and two nights I was back out the door and on the road.

On Thursday August 15th I traveled from the Twin Cities up to Alberta, Michigan, where I will be spending the semester. As I have explained to some before, for my degree program (as well as two other programs) the fall semester of your Junior year is spent participating in the Integrated Field Practicum (IFP) curriculum, which is held at the The Ford Center in the village of Alberta, Michigan. IFP is better known to some as Fall Camp. This is a semester of outdoor classes and hands-on learning. We go outside every day, the skills and terrain are difficult at times, but in the end I think it will be good. It is really cool that we utilize the natural environment around as as our classroom. I am enjoying the people and the learning and it should prove to tough, but a satisfying opportunity.

Though not as prevalent or involved as being a member of Res Life on campus, I am an RA (Resident Assistant) here in the residence hall at the Ford Center. There are only 29 residents, and they are all my age or older, so it should be a fairly low key semester :)

Living in a new town comes with learning the "sites". Pats Foods, Frosties (ice cream place), the fruit stand, and the zip code 49946 have now entered my vocabulary. As has Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Canyon Falls roadside park. Canyon Falls is a cool water fall along the Sturgeon River just a mile south of the village. It has a nice walking trail as well as a good place to go cliff jumping. I have not ventured off the cliff myself, but we have gone to the park multiple times to hangout and enjoy being outside.

Though age does not hold great significance to me, it should be mentioned that I am no longer a teenager and have entered my twenties...yikes! On Wednesday Anna and I went back up to Houghton and we went out to Applebees with friends to celebrate with appetizers and dessert. It was lots of fun to see friends and hangout for my birthday!

The first week of classes went well. My classes include: Land Measurements and GPS, Multi-Resource Assessment, Survey of Silviculture, Forest Health, Geomorphology and Vegetation, and Insect Ecology. The schedule here is only one class a day and that class lasts the entire day. So, with that said, I have not had all of these classes yet, but I think I'm going to particularly enjoy Survey of Silviculture and Multi-Resource Assessment!

Food is part of my meal plan during the week but not the weekends. So, this weekend included some cooking and baking :) The weekend also included taking a field exam to test my skills of taking tree heights and diameters, determining species identification, the use of a compass, and pacing out distances. Saturday morning some friends and I went birding and took a hike on some of the land Michigan Tech owns. While hiking we found a huge patch of wild blueberries. We ate a lot, picked some, a made blueberry muffins. Mmm...good! Look for pics eventually!

Today was very hot, but relaxing. It was nice to be able t be outside without a set agenda (as it has been all week). The first two weekends and week have been a definite adjustment but have been overall good.

Remember the blessings in your life and thank the people who make a difference! Wishing you a wonderful remaining week of August!

I Can't Believe It's Not...JULY!

Well ok, in another 3.5 hours......

Hello Family and Friends!

This is just a quick post to welcome you all to my second favorite month of the year! (PS my favorite is October/autumn in general :) The end of July was a bit turbulent, but all is well, no worries. The majority of life wouldn't be as great if we didn't have those moments of difficulty, right?

The end of July means we are closing out on the busiest part of our season here in Atikokan. We only have one more "peak," which consists of 8 crews coming in on August 4th...looking forward to it! Things are finally started to slow down and the focus has turned to thinking up wrapping things up. Along those lines, I have begun to write my notes for the next person in my position...hope they like reading novels!

My personal focus has turned to preparing to go to school in 15 days...yikes! This fall I will be attending Fall Camp, which is a Michigan Tech program for Wildlife, Forestry, and Environmental Science students (I'm in the 3rd group :) The program is still 14 weeks long (a regular semester) but we start early meaning we are done early -- at Thanksgiving!  The program is held at the Ford Center, which is on Michigan Tech property about 45 minutes south of Houghton. I will live, eat, and have class at the Ford Center, meaning for the most part I will not in Houghton this fall :( My address is up on the Contact page so feel free to send me mail! I will be an RA in the residence hall at the Ford Center, which I'm excited about, and look forward to living amongst my peers.

I come home on the 13th and then off to school on the 15th...in case you're wondering I'll be home 43 hours total :)  I can't believe how quickly summer has gone by! It feels like a just started the job. Great times and good people make time fly I guess. I really do hope that you all have been having fantastic summers. I'm sorry that I haven't kept up with you all as much as I had planned. Hopefully I can talk to you soon or even seen you while I'm home!

Well, as I say.... it's another day in paradise! Enjoy the life you've got and embrace the situations you find yourself in. You never know what's in store!

PS - PHOTOS!!!!! I have FINALLY posted photos from my WFR class and of my time thus far at Northern Tier for the summer. Go ahead and take a look in the "May 2013" and "Northern Tier - Summer 2013" albums for new pics!

PPS - Shout to my friend Michael as he turned 20 yesterday!

A.Crazy! B.Fun! C.Stressful! D.Super-duper! E. ALL OF THE ABOVE!

Hello family and friends!

This is a holler to say "I'm still alive from the northwoods!" The past few weeks have been ALL OF THE ABOVE :)

Going back a few weeks....I had a good fourth of July. It was a beautiful day with little crew activity. The next few days were relatively stress-free. Monday the eighth I had a wonderful day off with some good friends, Boni and Jim, who came to visit me way up here in Atikokan! We spent the day touring camp and then hiking at the Charleston recreation area. We had lunch at a beautiful lake tucked away in the woods. Also, the place we hiked is where the old mine (the reason for the town) is.  It was cool to see the old rail road beds and old buildings. Boni and Jim were around through Monday and I and showed them all the "hits" of Atikokan :) We had a fantastic dinner at the White Otter Inn. Thanks Boni and Jim for the visit!!
The next few days, though stressful, went by relatively quickly knowing that I had more vacation days coming up. I took a half day Friday the 12th, the whole day Saturday, and a half day Sunday to go camping! My good friends Rich and Judy and their dog Izzy came to visit me for the weekend and we went camping in Quetico Provincial Park. We had a good paddle, with me kayaking and them canoeing. Izzy had some troubles adjusting to the canoe, but after a few times falling out she started to jump out..haha! We stayed at a gorgeous campsite on Pickerel Lake. From there we paddled farther into Pickerel Lake to explore even more. We had beautiful weather and I had a great time camping with friends. It was great to get away from work for a few days. The trip certainly reconnected me with the outdoors and the reasons why I love the outdoors and why I'm studying it :)
Then, after some relaxing days away it was time to get back to work. I work seven days a week, and way to many hours a day to count. But I know that it is all worth it and that keeps me going. I did get another little break away from work on Wednesday the 17th when I took a road trip to Kenora...my second annual! It was fun taking a different route to get there, getting to see a bit more of the Canadian wilderness (that all looks the same after a while :) Lilja and I had another fun trip, with the much needed stops at Walmart and Tim Hortons :) Car trips with Lilja are always an adventure ;)

This is a shout out to my Great Aunt Laverne who's birthday was on Friday and to my sister Kayla who's birthday was yesterday!! I should also give an early shout to my Godchild and cousin, Ruthie, as she turns 6 on Saturday!

In summary, it has been a good month thus far and things are going well. I am excited to get back to school to see my friends! Less than a month now...yikes!

Praying for us all to have glorious days and peaceful nights. May you be filled with happiness, walk with a pep in your step, and there be an ever-present smile on your face!

Cruising along!

Hello Family and Friends!

Life is good up here in the bug-invested northwoods. My past month has been wonderful -- a good balance between relaxing and doing my work as Business Manager for the Atikokan base of Northern Tier. I am enjoying the work and another summer full of fun people and great memories. And, though it's busy with work, life has been fairly ho-hum. There is nothing much to speak of...but I guess no news is good news, right??
The weather has consisted of rain, more rain, a peak of sunshine, and more rain :( The weather has been getting better, and with less rain let's hope the bug diminish somewhat (dreams!). The crews seem to be having a good time and we have only had a few minor issues as we open for the season. The crews certainly help remind me of why I'm here and why I do what I do. I love helping people have a trip of a lifetime and wish them all the best on their high adventure!

Today was my first real day off since starting work on June 3rd, one month ago. It was a beautiful day, weather wise, and it was great sleeping in and going to town with friends. We went to the ballpark, walked around town, and enjoyed the day relaxing. Tonight we celebrated Canada Day (July 1st) and the 4th of July, combined in one, with a barbecue. The other night we had fireworks to celebrate Canada Day and we all wore our "Canada apparel."

This time of year doesn't come without its memories. A year ago (Sunday) I lost a friend from high school and two years ago, tomorrow, my Grandfather. May they rest in peace and watch over us in our earthly lives.

I hope all is well in your lives and that each day brings you new opportunities. Enjoy the ever-fleeting moments and cherish those around you!

Retreat to the Northwoods

Hello from Canada!

     The past two weeks have been lots of travelling and tons of fun! On Saturday June 1st I took the exams for the Wilderness First Responder course....and I passed! I am now a WFR! that night I hung out with my newly made friends and had a fun last evening with them all. I awoke early on that Sunday and began my drive to Ely, MN. The drive included seeing the mysterious albino deer of north-central Wisconsin and stopping to go to church on an early Sunday morning. Later in the day I had the privilege of meeting up with my friend Margaret in Duluth for brunch. We had a fun time catching up and enjoying the sights of Duluth. Moving along through the day, I picked up my friend Lilja, who also works at Northern Tier, near Eveleth, MN on my up to camp. I finally got to camp just north of Ely around dinner time.
     I spent the next few days at camp in Ely working on paperwork and getting everything ready to go up to Canada. I spent some good, quality time copying, faxing, scanning, and emailing: I also had some fun times with old (and new!) friends. On Thursday (the 6th) I travelled from Ely to Atikokan, Ontario, via Thunder Bay, Ontario. I went from Ely south to the North Shore of Lake Superior and had a wonderful drive up the lake shore to Thunder Bay to pick up two fellow staff members. I had a smooth border crossing, got my work permit...legal to work in Canada! I certainly love this area! In Thunder Bay I waited for a few hours for the two staff members, each coming in on different buses from across Canada (one from British Columbia and the other from the eastern part of Ontario). From Thunder Bay we had an eventful drive to camp that included seeing five moose, two bear, a wolf, three fox, two porcupine, many deer, and a few raccoons. And that was just the wildlife....the northern lights were the BEST I have ever seen! Unfortunately I didn't get any photos, as I was driving for most of it. A short stop to stand out under the stars and stare at the sky was all I got to soak in before we had to continue driving. We got to camp late and went right to bed.
The past few days have included settling in, cleaning up base, preparing the office, sending email, making and taking phone calls, ordering food, running to town on various errands, and countless other things. It is so good to be back with old friends and working at camp again. I can already that it is going to be a good summer :)
To enlighten all of you who don't know/remember, I am working at Northern Tier National High Adventure Base - Don Rogert Canoe Base (which is the technical name for our Atikokan, Ontario location). Our main camp is just north of Ely, MN and we also have a third location in Bissett, Manitoba. Yes, I work ~ 20km outside of the town of Atikokan, Ontario on Perch Lake...in CANADA!! We have great camp, in a great location, with lots of great people. I work as the Business and Office Manager, meaning I do all of the office-type work (scanning, emailing, faxing, phone answering, etc.) as well as do all of the behind the scenes work in ordering food and other products for the camp as well as communicating with the crews prior to their arrival to make sure they are all set to come up and experience the Canadian wilderness. I work a lot with the finances and the logistics of the camp operation and help to make sure the operation goes smoothly. We have our first crew this Thursday...we'll see how we're doing!

Again, it's great to be back, in a different role, and I am enjoying my time here. Kayaking, going in the sauna, fun times in the town of Atikokan, working with fun people at a camp I love, doing what I love to do...I couldn't ask for more!

As most of you know, my phone is off during this summer months, as I don't pay for international nor do I even have service here if I did. the best way to get a hold of me is via email, kyleyarusso@gmail.com. Check my website, http://www.kyleyarusso.com for my other contact info (mailing)!

I have internet so feel free to message me! I look forward to talking to you all soon!

To Do - Wilderness First Responder Certification: Check!

Hello Everyone!

I have just completed my 9-day Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification! Hooray! All news from the northwoods of Wisconsin is well. The days were long and learning arduous, but I have certainly gained a better understanding on wilderness medicine. Not to mention all of the wonderful, cool people I met! I certainly have to thank each one of them for their support and help throughout the course. The WFR course is not something you can learn on your own and it takes a great group to help each other learn the material. I had one day off during my time here. I slept in, went out to breakfast, went to Minocqua/Woodruff for a bit, and had a fantastic afternoon kayaking on Boulder Lake.
Again, I cannot stress enough how much I have learned in the past 9 days and how great it has been to be surrounded by people who also share a passion for helping others and working in the outdoors.
I will be traveling to Ely, MN tomorrow, as I am headed to Northern Tier's main location, the Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base. I will begin working on Monday and then will travel to Atikokan, Ontario later next week, where I will be at Northern Tier's Don Rogert Canoe Base. I will be going to church, meeting up with a good friend, and picking up a carpooler along the way! Hopefully my journey to Ely goes well!

I hope life has been treating you all well, wherever that may be, and remember...life is good!

Three States, Three Days

Whoa! Time is certainly flying by!

I have left Hawaii :( and made it home safely. After a few long flights and layovers in LAX and DEN airports, I made it home Tuesday afternoon. My time here in MN has been consumed with sleeping, to-do lists, and errands. I have been busy unpacking and repacking, getting ready for the next few adventures! Today I leave for Camp Manito-Wish in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, where I will be taking a 9-day Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Course and Certification. This course will teach me how to deal with medical and certain emergencies in a wilderness and remote setting. The course is quite intense, with eight 11-hour days. I will be disconnected (likely) while at the course and attentive to my studies. I am taking this course as a part of my job working for Northern Tier High Adventure, part of the Boy Scouts of America. The WFR course runs from tomorrow (Friday May 24th) through Saturday June 1st. On the 2nd of June I will be headed up to Northern Tier to begin my summer employment as Business Manager of the Atikokan Base!

Continue to read my blog, follow my adventures via photos, and stay in touch!

Goodbye MN, off to the northwoods of WI!

More from the Big Island

     My vacation to Hawaii continues to be marvelous! On Thursday I took the bus to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I spent to day hiking the park, walking over ten miles total. I had a great time hiking and reconnecting with nature (my favorite past time :) I began the day at the steam vents, witnessing the steam and gases produced by Kilauea volcano as they rise up through any and all cracks in the Earth's surface. Continuing, I hiked along Crater Rim Trail, and yes, as the name suggests the trail runs along the edge of the crater's rim. When the hot spot moved all time ago, the volcano's shape (as we all think of it) changed and the top portion collapsed inward, creating a crater at the top of the volcano. The volcano though is still very active, and steam and gases still rise from the crater. I hiked the trail all the way to the Jaggar Museum, which sits atop a high bluff overlooking the crater and the volcanic activity. The trail up to the museum allowed me to see numerous tree and animal species, which was cool. I hiked through a desert of sorts and was thankful to have reached the top. In the afternoon I hiked to the Thurston Lava Tube. Lava tubes are cave/tunnels formed after the lava stops flowing and the lava leaves behind the outer shell of where it was flowing. It was cool to walk through the tube where lava once flowed like a river. I also hiked along Kilauea Iki, another crater/valley adjacent to the main Kilauea Caldera. The afternoon hike was dominated by raindrops, as I hiked in the pouring rain. I guess that's what I get for hiking in the RAINforest :) This part of the park is very lush and green. It was cool to hike in completely contrasting ecosystem in a matter of hours. After enjoying the visitor center and hiking all day, I was relieved to catch the bus back to town.

     Friday morning I explored the parts of Hilo I didn't see on Wednesday. I visited the public library, St. Joe's Catholic Church, and some more shops in the downtown area. I had a fairly lazy morning, comparatively, and it was nice to relax. Friday afternoon Anna and I went to Akaka Falls, a 440 foot waterfall a few miles north of Hilo. It was pouring rain as we viewed waterfall, but it was fun nonetheless. 

     On Saturday I was planning on going with the crew into the field to see where they work and what they do. Unfortunately the plans didn't work out and so I took Betty (the car) and spent the day in Hilo. I spent the day to myself exploring more hidden treasures in the town of Hilo. I started by exploring Kaumana caves. They were covered by moss and very cool. I continued by visiting and touring Mauna Loa macadamia nut factory and production facility. It was a quiet day at the factory but the orchard/property was cool to see. Next up I visited the Imiloa Astronomy Center. It is a very cool museum that has exhibits about Hawaiian culture, astronomy (especially in regards to Hawaii), and space in general. I spent the majority of the day here, and walked the beautiful gardens outside, where I enjoyed my bag lunch. I spent the mid-afternoon to myself, enjoying the cool breeze the relaxing feeling of being on vacation :) I picked the crew up late afternoon and then went to St. Joseph Catholic Church for evening Mass.

     Today (Sunday) I took a second attempt at going with the crew out to the field, and, with a little more luck was able to go out with them. I got to experience where they work (the middle of nowhere!) and the rough terrain of the lava fields (see pics and video). I got to see how the methodology of capturing and banding (marking) birds, but unfortunately they didn't catch a bird the entire day :( To make matters worse, I twisted my ankle on the hike through the Kipuka (blob of forest in the lava field). I was in pretty rough shape for the rest of the day. With the fog rolling in (misty/rain), we discovered another hurdle.....we had locked the keys inside the vehicle...yikes!! After some phone calls, a really long time (a couple of hours), and a few REALLY bumpy rides, we were able to return to town. The crew decided it was pizza night so we bought the ingredients and we made a few different pizzas...yum! It was fun and great to see everyone in a good mood after a long day. For dessert I already made an ice cream pie, which we all enjoyed thoroughly :)

Now I sit here, with my ankle elevated and wrapped in ice, writing this blog on my second to last day here in on the Big Island of Hawaii. Tomorrow Anna and I plan to go to the other side of the island to the town of Kona, where there are nice beaches. I fly out tomorrow night and will be home late Tuesday afternoon. Then I get to spend 45 hours at home and am headed to northern Wisconsin Thursday morning to begin my Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training and then go on to Northern Tier for the summer. Let's hope my travels go well and that I get to see some of you in my short time home! As always, I wish you all well in whatever you find yourself "tackling" today. Enjoy the journey your on and remember that it's the journey, not the destination, that truly defines your life! I can honestly say that I am extremely happy with the adventures I am having and I'm looking forward to the planned and not-so-planned moments ahead!

Aloha from Hawaii!

Family and Friends - 

After a wonderful week at home recuperating from the end of the school year, running errands, enjoying being home, and preparing for the rest of summer, I have begun my summer adventures! 

Kayla came home for the weekend (Mother's Day) so I got to spend a day with her while we were both home. Kayla then brought me to the airport on Monday morning for a full day of flights. I flew out of MSP first to Denver, then to Los Angeles, then finally to Hilo, Hawaii. With a few layovers and a lot of air time I made it to Hawaii! I landed about 8pm local time (which is 1am at home). Anna picked me up from the airport and we drove to the house she is staying at. I went to bed right away in order to get up at 2am to hike to see the lava flows!

Anna, myself, and four other people from the house (other researchers) get up really early, drove about an hour, then hiked across old lava fields for another hour to reach the coast where, in the dark, you can see active lava flows flowing into the ocean. When the lava and the ocean meet gases and steam rise high into the sky. It is quite the sight! See pics! We stayed out there for a few hours and were also able to get up close to some active lava flows. It was really hot but very cool! We were also out there for the sunrise, which was beautiful. We then drove back and went to breakfast at Hawaiian Style Cafe, where the food portions are gigantic! I had some french toast made with Hawaiian Sweet Bread. It was pretty good. We then returned home and everyone went back to bed :) I took a nap and then Anna and I took Betty, the car, to see Rainbow Falls and to explore the Wailuku River. After that we drove along the coast, stopping at a few "beaches." This side of the island is not sand beaches, but rather lava rock outcrops and some black sand. On the way back we got homemade ice cream - yum! The locals play frisbee in town on certain days and so Anna and one other from the house went and played frisbee and I walked the Wailoa River recreation area. For dinner we joined the group to a Mexican restaurant along with other researchers (not living in the same house as Anna) for a going away party for one of the researchers. And with that, an extremely long, but fun, day came to a close. 

Today the researchers, including Anna, had to return to work so I had the day to myself. I explored the town of Hilo, walking everywhere. I visited Coconut Island, the Liliuokalani Gardens, Big Island Candies, the Hilo Shopping Center, many shops in downtown Hilo, and the Hilo farmers market. I thoroughly enjoyed my day exploring the town, conversing with many very nice people and seeing a variety for things. From the ocean waves, to the candy factory, to the root beer float at a cafe, to the local farmers market, I'd say today was pretty good :) 

I am enjoying my time in Hawaii thus far and I'm looking forward to the fun things to come! The humidity could decrease and the rain stop, but really, I'm not complaining :) The sun is shining and the lush greenery makes up for it. Be sure to see my pics and continue to follow my adventures! I hope all is well in your corner of the world! 

Let the Adventures Begin!

And with that, classes are finished....wow! Let's go back an entire month....

The last time I blogged it was Holy Saturday. Jeez, that was a while ago. We had our Easter egg dying program and that evening I attended the Easter vigil. It was a beautiful Mass (my favorite all year). I went to church then again on Easter Sunday and then we had a wonderful Easter dinner with the hall. We had over 30 people there! It was a lot of fun and it was great to have some many good friends to share the holiday with when many of us were unable to go home. April 1st we had another snowstorm (not a April fools' joke!). That next week I had another husky host and then the following weekend I made a surprise visit home :) I surprised most of the family and had a fun time. On that Sunday I helped in celebrating my friend Josh's accomplishment of becoming an Eagle Scout. All of my "brothers" and I are now Eagle Scouts :) :) :) I was happy to be able to come home for the ceremony. Shout out to my sister Rachel is needed at this time....she's now 17! Yikes! I also need to take a moment to mention that we have added another vehicle to the "Yarusso Fleet." A beige 2004 Buick Rendezvous now takes its place among the Odessey, Vana White, the purple plum, and Rory. He has yet to be named :) I will be using this new vehicle this summer and next academic year. Thanks Dad :)

I returned to Houghton to lots of snow and cold. That next week I got things straightened out in regards to my fall position as an RA at Fall Camp. Again, I will explain Fall Camp later, but it is a part of my academic program/degree and I will live and go to school there next semester. It is about 45 minutes south of Houghton. I will be an RA in the residence hall while I am there. That next week I also had outdoor lab for biometrics, where we went timber cruising (tree measuring). April and it was still snowshoe weather....

Over the past few weeks we have continually gotten snowstorms periodically. Just when we think that we had the "last snowstorm of the season" another seems to crop up. Overall we have exceeded 300 inches, or 25 feet, for the season. That Thursday evening we had the Forestry Department end-of-the-year banquet, called Overstory. Anna and I and it was held at the Magnuson Hotel downtown Houghton. It was a wonderful evening with friends, good times, and good (free) food :) Yet another snowstorm hit on the weekend (April 12-13th). Some friends and I took advantage of the on-going winter and went sledding and I attempted snowboarding. It was hard to believe it was April 12th and the snow was peacefully falling like late December....

I had my first bonfire of the year on April 13th atop a snow-pack of about three feet. Some friends and I went to Redridge Dam in Freda, MI and had a fun time singing around the campfire, making s'mores, and having a snowball fight :)  That Sunday there was a soccer tournament that TreeHouse had a team participate in. Let's just say they had to plow the field.....

The next Wednesday (April 17th) we had a Wads Learning Community Transition dinner, where the Wads LC staff from this year and the staff for next year had dinner together. It was great to see next year's staff and to chat about the job. This week was also really busy with final projects, papers, exams, and end-of-the-semester shenanigans. That Friday the 19th we had another major snowstorm, bringing another foot of snow and bring our snow total for the season to over 300", or 25 feet. But, keeping in mind that Michigan's Upper Peninsula weather is bipolar, the next day was 40 degrees and sunny. Some friends and I took advantage of the nice weather and went north to Eagle River to the waterfall and the beach. We had a great time playing with the ice and the melting snow (see pics). And, before you know it, that Sunday we had our last mandatory hall meeting explaining to the residents end-of-the-year procedures....yikes! After the hall meeting we attempted to bring spring to life by painting flower pots and then planting seeds.

As I said before, the next week was also filled with more exams, final reports, lab practicals, and final projects. That Wednesday was my last meeting for the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) as a 2nd year representative and my time on the Ways and Means Committee. I am now a non-voting member (Associate Member). I have thoroughly enjoyed my two years on the University's student government and can definitely say that it has helped me accomplish things and make an impact on campus. Last Thursday we held our TreeHouse gag awards show, properly called the Arbor Awards. It was a lot of fun and everyone got an award.

And if I haven't mentioned it enough, it continued to snow, more and more. It seems as if spring will never arrive at this rate. That Friday (April 26th) we had our staff banquet. It was a lot of fun and the last "hoorah" as a staff. Hannah and I were awarded the "On the Right Path" Award, one of four special staff awards that were handed out. We are grateful to our peers for recognizing our work. 

That Friday was the last day of classes...wow, time flies. The next weekend was heavy on the studying sprinkled with study breaks of frisbee and walks here and there. I had three finals; GIS, US Environmental History, and Institutions. They all went fairly well and I should end the semester with an improved GPA!

Finals week was fairly quiet. I had my three finals and helped my residents and friends move out. The hall became increasingly quiet as people moved out, and with that my music got increasingly louder :) I enjoyed having time to myself the last few days, packing and getting ready for summer. It was bittersweet helping to shut down the hall for the summer. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Program Assistant of TreeHouse this past year and working for Michigan Tech Housing and Residential Life. It is sad to see this year end, but I know that it only opens the door for even more great opportunities to present themselves and more fun memories to be made.

Dad and Angela came to help move me out on Sunday morning and I moved some of my things to a storage unit in town (I have a lot of stuff :) We loaded up and I finished some last minute PA job stuff. Again, it was bittersweet turning in my staff stuff, but I know that many great things are yet to come and this job and past year were just one part of my life's plan.

Now I find myself back in Lake Elmo, MN (home) for a week. I have just enough time to unpack, repack, and run a few errands before I'm off to Hawaii next week! I am going to visit my friend Anna, who is working in Hawaii currently as part of a SURF grant. She is studying invasive rats and how they affect birds. It should be a trip of a lifetime!

The week following that I am headed to Boulder Junction, WI for a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course. It is a course on emergency situations and first aid training for remote locations. After that course I am headed to Ely, MN, and then ultimately Atikokan, Ontario to work for Northern Tier - Boy Scouts of America as the Business Manager.

The plans are set....let the adventures begin!!

P.S. - Be sure to follow me regularly now, as I will be in six places in six weeks and will blog after each!

Craziness is in the Works!

Hello Everyone!

In case you were wondering, yes, I'm still alive and well. I know I haven't posted in an entire month...yikes! Well, let's get started....back in late February.

February ended quietly and quickly. The first weekend of March I was a part of the Registered Student Organizations Budget Hearings process as a part of my role on the Ways and Means (WAM) Committee on the Undergraduate Student Government (USG). I sat in a conference room from 5pm on that Friday until late into the evening on that Sunday listening to people explain their student organization's budget and their reasoning for why they should receive funding. As a student at Michigan Tech we all pay a student activity fee which then the WAM committee I sit on divides it up between all of the student organizations. This process of listening to everyone explain their budgets and then determining how much $ they get is how we divide up the money. This process is long and arduous but fulfilling. I feel like I am directing impacting students and their college experience. Though sometimes its tough work, I truly enjoy being on the committee.

The following weekend was the start of spring break! Whoohoo! I stayed in Houghton until that Saturday and then made it home in time to go the MN state boys high school hockey tournament championship game, down at the Xcel Energy Center downtown St. Paul, in which Hill-Murray was playing! Unfortunately they lost but they had a good run and a were a great team. The week at home included a haircut, doctors appointment, and getting together with friends. On Wednesday I went and watched the Hill-Murray girls basketball team in their state tournament down at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Unfortunately they lost as well. Also, that afternoon the Catholic church got a new leader, Pope Francis! On Thursday Anna was in town to visit her Aunt you lives in Cottage Grove. We went to Como Zoo and the Conservatory and had fun looking the variety of plants and seeing the animals. We also had a delicious lunch at Pizza Luce in St. Paul :) On that Friday I went to the Ramsey County Courthouse in downtown St. Paul to observe court for my legal careers class. It was a really profound experience when I saw a man convicted by a jury of domestic assault, handcuffed, and taken into custody. Also over spring break I got my taxes and FAFSA out of the way, after many hours and a few revisions. I returned to Houghton that Sunday morning....only 6 more weeks left at that point!

When I returned we had received over a foot of fresh snow over break. The week following we also got another foot and some of snow. "Spring break" was really just a "late winter break!" Sunday night some friends and I walked down to and across the bridge just for fun :) Monday we had a meeting in preparation for Fall Camp, which is where I will be in the fall (if I haven't described this yet I will in another post). I should note that I applied, was offered, and accepted the position of Resident Assistant (RA) at Fall Camp! Exciting! Also that week (Friday) I attended the USG retreat and we March Madness started, including a bracket tournament! AND, I couldn't fail to mention that Wednesday March 20th was technically the first day of spring, though it was a blizzard outside! I took a picture of the first day of spring last year and this year and put them side by side -- what a contrast! I posted the contrasting photos on Facebook and got over 50 'likes' and 1400 shares! WOW!

That brings us to last Saturday when some friends and I explored the Keweenaw. We went along the east side where I hadn't explored as much before. We went trekking off into to woods at one random point and explored some old building ruins at another. We also went to the town of Gay, Michigan and went to the bar :) See pics! Sunday night into Monday I hosted another perspective student, which is always fun. We went bowling in the MUB and had a good time. Also in bowling news, I am in a bowling class right now and the other day I bowled a 183!

This week had been busy, as the last few have been too. I had multiple exams and quizzes and lots of meetings. This past week I was a part of the Special Budget Group Budget Hearings (different groups than before but a very similar process). I helped set the budgets for things such as Homecoming, Winter Carnival, WMTU (our campus radio station) and Spring Fling. Again, this process is long but well worth it.

So, in more current news, last night we went to Walmart and bought all the supplies for the  grand Easter brunch we will be making tomorrow. It is going to be great! We are dying eggs tonight and then I am going to the Easter Vigil.

And, over the course of the past few weeks I have working out my summer plans. Here they are!!!

I am done with school on Sunday May 5th and will travel back to the great state of Minnesota. The following Monday I will be traveling to Hawaii (yes, Hawaii!) to visit Anna as she is working in Hawaii for the summer on a undergraduate research project. I will be in Hawaii for a week and return the next Tuesday (May 21). Then that Friday I will starting a 9-day Wilderness First Responder course at Camp Manitowish in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin. It is a course where I will be trained in first aid and medical response in a remote and outdoor setting. I am receiving this training in order to be a certified health officer as part of my summer job. After the course is complete on June 1st I will be headed directly up to Northern Tier to begin my summer job as Business Manager of the Atikokan Base. I will be in Atikokan, Ontario, Canada until Tuesday August 13th when I will travel home to Lake Elmo for a few days. Traveling again that Friday, I will be headed off to school which will be at Fall Camp.

Phew! I am sure I missed a ton of things but I think this post captures most of what has been going on in the past few weeks. I will working photos and they should be up soon. I truly hope that all is going well in your life and that you are feeling the presence of the Lord during this most holy time.

Love and Peace, Kyle

Bursts of Energy

Hello Everyone!

Last time I wrote (last Tuesday) I had a half day because Michigan tech closed due to a blizzard. Then...guess what?!?! We had Wednesday off too! They cancelled school and all activities on Wednesday! A day and a half "snow day" was great! Tech NEVER closes so this closure was certainly rare and we took advantage of it...I slept in :) Then that afternoon some friends and I carved tunnel into a HUGE snow pile and then connected them in the middle. We ended up carving it out and making a sweet snow cave. See pics and videos!

Then, back to reality again on Thursday. Two classes and then watched some husky mens basketball Thursday evening. Shout-out again to Angela on turning 15! Friday I had class and then I cleaned my room top to bottom. Everyone is sick around here and I don't have time for that! Clorox wipes and Lysol are my friends :) Friday evening I had a husky host, which is where I host a perspective student. We went to the SDC and forestry building, went to Dominoes, and watched a movie...the classic things to do on a Friday night for me :) He seemed to enjoy his time at Tech and I had a lot of fun hosting.

Saturday was relaxing. I did some homework and watched more huskies womens basketball. Hanging out with friends is always fun...fun times to be had in the Campus cafe :) Yesterday was also relaxing. Some friends and I went to McLain State Park yesterday afternoon and explored the ice caves and the shore of Lake Superior. There was pretty cool formations! Take a look at photos and videos!

This week looks to be sunny and around freezing...in other words, nice. Broomball championship games are tomorrow. Cheers to a couple of non-stressful (hopefully) days ahead! This upcoming weekend is budget hearings for USG. I will talk more about this later.

Wishing you all a marvelous Monday!

Embracing Our Wonderful Weather

Hello Family and Friends!

Let's take a look back at the last (almost) month...Yikes!

Well, on Saturday the 26th I went snowshoeing with a few friends. I had a lot of fun and it was good to take advantage of the beautiful scenery and the trails we have up here. The next week was busy with Winter Carnival special events. We had a broomball game that evening and we won 4-1! We had our WC TreeHouse broomball game on Monday night. Unfortunately we lost, but we put up a good fight! On Tuesday we participated in the ice bowling competition. On Wednesday I got to tour the Houghton County Courthouse as part of my law class. It was really interesting and I enjoyed seeing the "insides" of the Courthouse. Also on Wednesday there was an event put on by Career Services to learn how to "promote" yourself. There were a lot of incentives to get people there and I am extremely proud of the number of residents I had go to the event. We even won a pizza party because of our attendance numbers! Thursday we had a broomball game and lost :( But, I had a husky host, which is always fun. He was from MN, which was cool, and he seemed to enjoy his time here. Friday and Saturday were fairly relaxing. Sunday was full of fun. I went to church, did a little homework, watched the Superbowl and played broomball! Watching the Superbowl commercials is always the best part :) Also, we won our broomball game, 2-1!

The next week was also full of fun. Monday we had a hall meeting and Tuesday I did homework in order to get ahead. Wednesday was the start to our winter celebrations, known as Winter Carnival. Wednesday night is called all-nighter and we stay up all night building snow statues. There is live music, vendors, broomball games, outdoor movies, etc. and the whole campus is out enjoying the the beautiful place we live. As a hall, TreeHouse made a snow statue of the Lorax and a Truffula tree. It turned out amazing! There were a lot of other great statues too..be sure to see my pics! Wednesday night we walked around and watched others working on their statues. We then picked up some pizza to celebrate our work and to finish off the night (early morning). Thursday we all got to sleep in. It was a relaxing day. We went and saw the beard competition, where people put on skits and dances, and then we went and toured the statues. That evening we had reserved practice ice time for broomball so two of the TreeHouse teams scrimmaged. It was a lot of fun! Friday was another relaxing day. I had a broomball game at 2pm, we lost :(, and watched husky hockey that evening. Saturday morning I participated in the Bigfoot Snowshoe Event with some friends. It was nice to get up early and snowshoe at the Tech Trails. I did a little homework, a few essentials, and then watched husky hockey again Saturday night. I also had a nice get-together with a bunch a friends (and the visiting girlfriends) where we played games and had a good time. I am certainly blessed with great friends! Sunday was somewhat back to reality in preparation for Monday, spending most of the day doing homework and relaxing. Sunday night the power went out in Houghton and a large portion of the Keweenaw. That was interesting! It was out for a few hours. The quirks of a "small town"  :)

Last week things were back to normal, and with that, quite busy. I had a broomball game Monday (which we lost). Tuesday night there was a hockey game versus Northern Michigan. I watched the game from the skybox with the President of the University! We won big time! Then I had a GIS exam on Wednesday and a US Environmental History Exam on Thursday. I did well on both :) Wednesday was extremely busy with meetings and then church, seeing as it was Ash Wednesday. Thursday was Valentine's Day :) I had an exam and then the rest of the day was pretty good. We watched The Notebook for movie night. Friday was pretty slow. That evening I was a SLATE evaluator, which is part of the hiring process for first time applicants to student affairs positions. Some friends and I also went to Walmart and Taco Bell...just for fun (YOLO!). I also was an evaluator for the Saturday morning SLATE session. Then.....Saturday afternoon my family came!! AND, Kay surprised me by coming too! We had all 6 of us in the same place at the same time, which is quite the accomplishment these days. I had a broomball game and we lost, but my family was there to see me play. That afternoon we watched broomball, went and saw the winter baja (go-kart racing in snow), went to Walmart, and then to dinner at Gemignani's. Again, it was saw nice to have the family together. That evening we celebrated Angela's and Anna's birthdays with a little party and ice cream in the Kitchenette. Also, Rachel stayed over in the residence hall to get a feel for it. Sunday we went to church and then went to lunch. The family took off that afternoon and I returned to doing homework. It was nice to have them all here! Sunday night I had dinner with the Buckardts in the kitchenette and celebrated Anna's birthday.

Again, back to reality after a weekend full of fun and family. Yesterday was fairly slow. Today I had an exam in institutions and then....BIG NEWS....Tech cancelled school as of noon!! You know it is a bad blizzard when Michigan Tech closes because of weather. We are expected to get upwards of 10 inches, but the bigger factor is the 35mph winds that are making visibility little to none. For me it means that I didn't have lab this afternoon, meetings tonight, or broomball. The rest of the week should be relatively quiet. Shout-out to Angela, as it is her birthday on Thursday!

I know I just covered a lot, and I skipped a lot. In essence, it has been a crazy month full of snow, more snow, homework, fun, friends, family, and...did I mention snow?!?! Take a look at pics!

I hope all is well in your life! May the Lord be with you during this Lenten season and always.

These are the Days...

Hello Everyone!

I know, I know, it has been 20 days since the last post. Looks like my new years resolution is already broken :) Also, before I go too far, be sure to check out http://kyleyarusso.com if you haven't already! Here's the low-down on the last three weeks!

I enjoyed the first full week of January at home. I got a lot of things done that I have been needing and waiting to do for quite some time. I got my haircut, had a dentist appointment, ran errands, worked on photo projects, and spent time reading. I also helped both of my grandmas with using their new ipads, which they are hopefully reading this on :) It was a pretty relaxing week overall. I also went over and spent time with the Logans, which is always fun. On the Friday before returning we had a nice family get-together with the Millers, eating at Donatelli's and playing board games. Early on Saturday Jan 12th my friends Sophia and Adam met at my house and Sophia's parents graciously drove us back to Tech. It was nice to be back in Houghton, and best of all, see friends. On Sunday I went to church and then I had Staff Training in the afternoon. We had a few meetings and then went bowling  and ate food at the Mineshaft. It was really great to be back and spend time with each other as staff. PS - I bowled a 144! Sunday evening we had  mandatory hall meeting. I will also mention that my Grandma Yarusso was in the hospital for intestinal blockage soon after getting back to Florida after Christmas. She had surgery and is recovering at her home in FL. Please pray for speedy recovery.

The first week of classes went well. My classes are as follows; Intro to GIS (Geographical Information Systems), Biometrics and Data Analysis, Institutions, US Environmental History, and Orientation to Legal Careers. GIS is a software program that allows you to work with maps, similar to google maps & google earth, for environmental purposes. Biometrics is applying statistics to ecology related jobs and is a very practical course. Institutions looks at the formation and existence of institutions and is a pure social science class. US Environmental History is just as it sounds :) Orientation to Legal Careers is an intro to law course and we are learning about court cases and how to apply to law school. All in all, my classes seem to be going well thus far!

In the non-academic world lots of things are in the works. Winter Carnival month-long statues are underway and things are starting to form around campus. Also, special events for Winter Carnival are starting, with sign-ups complete and TreeHouse signed up to participate in a lot of fun activities, including curling, ice bowling, ice fishing, skiing, snowboarding, broomball tournament, snow volleyball, and human dogsled. Should be interesting!

And, it wouldn't be a complete blog without mentioning broomball! The first Friday back we had our first broomball game and we won 4-0! The team played great and I am looking forward to a good season. TreeHouse has three teams, the Whomping Willows (that's the team I'm on), Team Tsuga, and The Honey Badgers. Be sure to follow us all! Last Friday there was also a coffeehouse, which was great as usual.

Last Saturday was a relaxing day. I enjoyed a morning workout, watched some broomball, did some homework and went to a hockey game. Unfortunately the Huskies tied Bemidji State, 2-2. Better then a loss I guess! Sunday I went to church and then bummed around town with friends. Our afternoon shenanigans included Walmart, McDonalds, Swifts Hardware, The Surplus Outlet, Down Wind Sports, and Dunhams. When we returned we went to the gym and I ran my longest (in a while) consecutive distance of just over 6 miles. I also ran my fastest mile in a while at 6min 35sec. That evening I had a great time hanging out with friends. Sunday evening I went to a perspective staff gathering where I answered questions regarding the job and role of a Program Assistant and helped fellow students decide if they should apply to become one.

Up to this point I have failed to mention the three feet of snow on the ground or the extremely cold temperatures :) Yes folks, except for one day, it has been snowing since the Saturday I got back after break. We have had over two feet fall since then, accumulating to over three feet of snow on the ground! It truly is a winter wonderland up here and we are certainly using it to our advantage. Snowboarding, Skiing, snowshoeing, snowmen, and snowball fights are in our daily conversations. On Monday, MLK day (which we had off) we went sledding! It was well below zero and the wind chills were flirting with minus 30 degrees F! But, we braved the cold and went anyway. We had a great time!

This past week has been busy. Tuesday I had a full day of class and then broomball! Unfortunately we lost. But, you win some and you lose some. Wednesday was busy with classes, an interview for working for residential life next year, and meetings. Although I won't be on campus in the fall I am still applying to work for housing and res. life for next year. If an RA or PA leaves half way through next year I would like the opportunity to replace them. In order to do that I have to go through the hiring process now. Thursday was more relaxing. Thursday night I went running and then some friends and I ordered pizza and it was movie night. Yesterday was also fairly laid back. I did some homework, went to the game room and played air hockey and ping pong, and went to see a comedian, Pete Lee. He was pretty funny! It was a good way to end the week. Today looks to be pretty good. Doing homework this morning, possibly snowshoeing this afternoon, and broomball games tonight!

I truly hope all is well wherever you find yourself this Saturday morning. Wishing you a happy day and wonderful week!

2013.....Wow!

Though a few months away, one of my first thoughts of 2013 was "I turn 20 this year...Wow!" Sometimes it is hard to fathom that my teenage years are almost over. Here's a look at my 2012.

     Let's see...I started the year off by attending LeaderShape, which was amazing! January brought some fun winter activities including learning how to play broomball, snowmobiling, sledding, and watching hockey! February included participating in Michigan Tech's famed winter carnival and continued root sorting and moose data entering for my job. It also included the announcement of being hired as the Program Assistant of TreeHouse for this school year. March included spring break, USG budget hearings for student organizations, and the announcement of being hired to work at Northern Tier in Canada over the summer! April brought on Easter, an amazing showing of the northern lights, and the completion of my first year at Michigan Tech.
     The month of May was a nice break from the craziness. Anna visited MN and I got to spend some time at home, visiting with friends and prepping for the summer. I left for Northern Tier on Memorial Day and spent a few weeks in Ely, MN. By mid-June I was in Atikokan, Ontario working in the Trading Post and on the Northern Tier Canoe Base. At the end of June the family came to visit me and we celebrated Canada Day (July 1st) and the 4th of July. I took a few days off and we went to Thunder Bay, ON and Grand Portage, MN. Around this time I learned of the passing of one of my Hill Murray classmates, Adam Gott. May Adam forever rest in God's peace.
     July and the first part of August were spent in Canada. I worked in the Trading Post, relaxed on the lake, went kayaking, and had some great times. Then, on August 15th I came home from Canada and was in Lake Elmo for approximately 24 hours. Before you know it I was unpacked and completely repacked, ready to go up to school to begin training for becoming a Program Assistant. I moved in and began training. The end of August and the beginning of September were hectic as I learned the ropes and everyone got settled. Michigan Tech...Year 2!
     This past semester was the best of the three thus far. I made some amazing friends and some great memories have been made. September included camping, frisbockey, football games, and a host of different programs (guest speakers, tours...even a mushroom walk!). It also held another spectacular viewing of the northern lights. Events in October included volleyball games, soccer games, hockey games, career fair, homecoming, Make a Difference Day, Safehouse, and Halloween. It also included a visit from Uncle Dan and Aunt Nicole as well as a trip to the Porcupine Mountains for a class. November events included voting for the first time and a short trip home to see Angela in the show "Joseph!", which Mom helped to direct. I'll have it noted that this was the first time home (minus the one day in August) since May! Thanksgiving came and after that there were only four more weeks until Christmas! Over Thanksgiving I finally got to see Kayla, who I hadn't seen since before she left for Argentina in early May. The snow fell and the academic load (18 credits) showed itself. Christmas and holiday festivities emerged and the semester finally came to a close.

And that brings us to the last two weeks. Christmas eve was spent here at home with the Yarusso side of the family, as is tradition. It is always great to see cousins and relatives I don't get to see very often. Christmas day we went to Mass and then spent the day at Grandma and Grandpa Widenstrom's house. My new baby cousin was born Christmas eve and we got to see her on Christmas day. Her name is Meysalyn Hope. See pics! The day after Christmas I spent helping at church and then with the Logans. We also reconvened for Christmas dinner, take 2 at Grandma and Grandpa's. Last Friday I had a dentist appointment and then that night we had some family time. We went to dinner, drove through the Holiday Light Show at Phalen Park, and then went and saw the movie Guilt Trip. It is always nice when all six of us are able to do things together.
     Last Sunday I was the emcee at an Eagle Court of Honor for two friends. After the ceremony we went to Mary's for our annual Mary Merry Christmas! This year Mary through us a curve ball and we took Mary Merry Christmas on the road! Mary took us all to the Ordway in downtown St. Paul to see Elf the Musical. It was really fun! Great music and a good show. More good family time :) Monday Kayla left for Florida for a conference so we said our goodbyes until March. Tuesday we rang in the new year with our annual new years day party. The rest of the week has been fairly relaxing. I did some necessary errands, including shopping/bank/etc. Yesterday I went to watch the HM boys hockey team beat Edina 2-1 in overtime. Today was another "nap in front of the fireplace with the dog" kind of day.

A quiet week is ahead. A few minor things and then I'm headed back to Houghton on Saturday! Also, I would like to update you all on some changes coming to my blog and photos. I have a new domain name, http://kyleyarusso.com. This new address will be the MAIN SITE and then from there you can go to the blog, my photos, and soon-to-be more! The address sayyatodaupeh.blogspot.com will still get you to the blog directly.

Wishing you all the best in 2013!