Friday, August 18, 2017

Introduction of a Frustrated Cat Owner

My name is Nancy, and this is my last semester before graduating from OU. I'm particularly excited about that fact, because I'm one of those older students who put off going back to school for entirely too long! My major is classical studies, with a minor in history...two things that basically have zero to do with my career. After high school, I wandered around aimlessly for a little while before deciding to enlist in the Air Force, a decision that was literally made with a coin flip...it was also the best decision that I've ever made. That coin did good. I did eight years active duty, was stationed in Guam, Germany, and California, broken up by the occasional stint in Iraq.

Balad AB, Iraq

While in Germany, I traveled around Europe as much as I was able. I loved Ireland and England, but Germany holds a special place in my heart. For one thing, the food is amazing!

Kylemore Abby in Ireland

Me and my mom at Neuschwanstein Castle

My job is aviation management, which has quite a few different parts, but essentially I make sure that the airfield is safe for aircraft movement. After separating, I took a contracting job in Afghanistan for about two and a half years. The hours were ridiculous, the food was terrible, the living conditions were horrific, and people kept trying to kill me. It was a pretty good time. That type of environment creates a bond between you and the other people stuck with you that's difficult to describe, and impossible to replicate...plus they paid me a lot.

Our Christmas Wish Lists in Afghanistan (you have to make your own fun)

Eventually, I got tired of being far away from my family and good restaurants, so I came back home. I enrolled at OU and got a job at Tinker AFB, and I've been working and going to school full time for the last couple of years. But, as much as I have loved it, I've always been a little nomadic. Staying in one place for too long makes me antsy, so I'm considering going back overseas for a few years after I graduate. The only thing stopping me is my cat. His name is Dante (short for Dante's Inferno). He's awesome. However, he makes doing homework difficult...

Dante
Dante making life difficult...

Seriously, does anyone know how to keep a cat off a laptop?!


All images from my personal collection

33 comments:

  1. It is so nice to meet a classical studies major, Nancy! When I originally came to OU I was in the Classics department (my research area is Aesop's fables, especially the fables in Latin; I love Latin!), but I switched to teaching online back in 2002 with no regrets: I miss teaching Latin, but teaching online is so much fun! Meanwhile, while I've been happily sitting at my computer, you have been traveling the world having adventures: that is so exciting to read about! As for keeping the cat off your laptop... that is one of the world's great mysteries! I hope you and Dante both have fun with these classes. :-)

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  2. Shout out to the Classics and Letters department! Also, a minor in history? I think we could have really great conversations. I think that it is far more interesting that you had real life experiences before you went into college. I think it brings a different level of understanding to readings, discussions, and is a great different perspective. And brava for almost completing your degree!

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  3. Hi Nancy,
    The pictures from your travels are lovely! What did you think of Iraq? I am studying Arabic, but I haven't learned much about Iraq so far. I went to Morocco this summer, which was an excellent experience, though obviously in a quite different context than your time in Iraq.
    Why did you choose classics and history? It's neat that you have the chance to study something completely different than your job.
    Congrats on being almost done! Hope everything wraps up nicely this semester. If you go back overseas, where would you want to go?

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  4. Nancy,
    I am also an older student, and this is my last semester as well. My cat Mario will lay on a laptop if he gets the chance, but his favorite thing to do if I'm doing homework is to jump on my desk and sit on my notes. It sounds like you have been to some really amazing places! I'm hoping to eventually have the chance to do some traveling. That picture of Ireland is stunning!

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  5. Hey there, Nancy!
    You have had quite the experience traveling the world! I am impressed by the amount of places you have visited. I think it is really cool that you have had so many cool life experiences and so many more to look forward. My brother is currently in the Air Force! He is in Enid at Vance AFB going through pilot training. I thank you for your service as well.

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  6. Guten Tag, Nancy!
    Your introduction story was awesome and I really enjoyed your pictures from other countries. I too have a wanderlust spirit and love to travel whenever I can. It seems like you’ve been to some very interesting places and probable have some great stories. Good luck on finishing up and hope to see some inspiration from your travels. I also love your cat Dante; He’s very cute!

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  7. Hello Nancy!
    I enjoyed reading about your travel and experiences, it was interesting to say the least. Those pictures are really nice and the one of Ireland is amazing. I wanted to let you know that Dante is adorable and it makes me want a cat. But I’m sure it might make my life a little harder. I hope you and Dante find a middle ground for that situation. And I wish you good luck on the rest of the semester!

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  8. Hello Nancy! I think it is so cool that you have been to so many different places and that you have loved your Air Force experience so much. My best friend's dad was an Air Force pilot so I have heard really cool stories from her that he's told and it sounds like such a rewarding life. I hope you have a great last semester at OU. That would be so cool to go overseas again after graduating.

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  9. Hey, Nancy! First of all, your cat is adorable and there is no good way to keep a cat off a laptop, mine does the same. Secondly, I love your picture of the Irish abbey. I am really interested in all things Celtic and Irish, I recently watched a documentary about Irish Castles and it was fantastic. I love history as well and actually entertained the idea of getting a history minor but settled on anthropology instead. I hope your semester is going well!

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  10. Hi Nancy!
    My dad actually works at Boeing in OKC so he is kinda your next door neighbor up there at Tinker! I grew up being around a lot of airplanes, so I think your job is really cool! It is awesome that you got to travel so much and got to have the experiences you do! I bet it feels nice to be back with your friends and family though! My dad had to go to England for Boeing so my family went with him for six months and I remember coming back home and being so happy to see my friends, and a Chick-Fil-A haha! Your cat is too cute, it definitely would make up for him not letting me study if it was me! I love his name too! Best of luck this semester!

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  11. Hi Nancy! I think it’s awesome how many places you have traveled to. I’ve always wanted to visit Germany and Ireland so hopefully one day I’ll be able to share some pictures with others as well. I got a good chuckle out of the first image of Iraq. Congratulations on almost graduating and hope you have a great rest of the semester!

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  12. Hi Nancy!
    I'm jealous of all the places you've traveled to throughout your years. It's amazing all the experiences, food, locations you get to see during your time serving. I've wanted to travel the world since I was a little kid and hopefully that may be true for me one day. Your cat is so adorable! And ironically, my project for this class is over Dante's Inferno!

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  13. Hey Nancy, your cat is so cute! I think its really cool that you've been to so many places. That is something I want to do after college is travel. I agree that being away from family and good food is something that would make me come back as well. Thanks for your service! And good luck with your last semester!

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  14. Hi Nancy! It's so nice to meet you!

    Okay, honest opinions, when I first read the title to your introduction, I couldn't decide whether you were frustrated BECAUSE you were a cat owner, or you were a cat owner who was just frustrated in general.. (it's also late at night so I might be losing it.) But now I see why! I can not relate more than when you say you get antsy staying in one spot for too long. For me it's a literal itch that I can't explain to other people, other than the fact that I just gotta go!!

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  15. Hi Nancy, I'm so jealous that you've been able to travel so much! I want to travel to a lot of places but just haven't had the opportunity to yet. Your cat looks so fluffy and adorable! I can't believe you've gotten to visit a castle. It all looks so amazing! I'm glad you decided to come back and be with family and good food, can't go wrong with that!

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  16. Hey Nancy! I am glad your coin flip worked out for not only you, but our country as well. Thank you for your service! 😊 I liked how your pictures looked like polaroids. I am also one of the older students. Major changes and transferring a few times have delayed my graduation date by a few years. I enjoy the sarcasm in your introduction. My dog tends to separate me from anything that is in my hands. I completely know the struggle.

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  17. Hello and good morning Nancy. Another older student who didn't know what to do here. At times I think I should have went the military route but I ended up doing something else that helped me travel the world. Now just an old man with a cat haha. The trick to getting them to let you do homework is to put the textbook next to the laptop and more than likely they will choose a book because paper/cardboard.

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  18. Hi Nancy! Wow, it's so amazing to read about your journey, and what has lead you back to OU today. I think it's great that you are finding yourself in the process. I am, however, really fascinated by all the places you were able to visit in the meantime during your life's journey. All places I have never been before! That's amazing. In regard to your cat, I don't have any tips or advice, as I have a dog. But, that cat is super cute and I can see why he's the reason who's keeping you from traveling. It was nice to meet you and I wish you the best of luck throughout the rest of the semester!

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  19. Hey Nancy! It was interesting to read that you've been so many places. It's really cool that you've decided to come back to school after initially not going. I've never had a cat of my own, but an old roommate had two and they always were sitting on my laptop when I needed it. I understand holding off on your travels because of your cat, my family is thinking about not getting another dog after our dog passes away simply so that they can travel more without the responsibility of a new puppy. Good luck the rest of the semester.

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  21. Hi Nancy! First off, I love the title of the blog! Also, congrats on almost being done, especially now that we are over halfway done with this semester. Your travels look gorgeous and I am so jealous! I have always wanted to go to both Ireland and England. Your cat is beautiful! Good luck with the last remaining weeks of the semester and good luck in the "real" world!

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  22. Hi Nancy! It's so cool that you got to spend so much time overseas and can't wait to go back! I loved living in Indonesia, of course I was a kid though, and would love to live abroad sometime as an adult. Congrats on almost being done! What are we like five weeks away from the end of the semester? I feel like time has just flown by! Dante is gorgeous and I can definitely see how he would make it hard to get work done!

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  23. Hi Nancy! I can definitely relate to being a bit of a nomad. Over the past two years I've traveled more than everything before that and the second I graduate I'm getting on a plane to somewhere. Congratulations on being almost done! As for Dante, I have no idea what you could do. My cat, Charlie, doesn't sit on my laptop, but he does like to jump on me at three in the morning. I still haven't managed to convince him that is a bad idea.

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  24. Hi Nancy! Wow, what a unique life track. I love that you eventually made it back to college and are finishing your studies. The fact that you have been everywhere definitely gives you a lot of life experiences most people will never have. I love that you want to move back oversees a lot of people say they want to do that and then never do. Good luck with your life adventures after school.

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  25. Hey Nancy!
    You have already done a lot! It is so cool that you made it back to college after a break to finish it off. That must have been a hard sacrifice, but it seems like you are the person for the challenge! Also really cute cat.
    Hope you have a great rest of the semester!

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  26. Hi Nancy!
    First of all, I really like the design and layout you have chosen for your blog. I also like the personal photos you have incorporated into your introduction. I think it gives your blog a nice personal touch! I think it’s great that after doing time in the Air Force you have come back to school and you are about to graduate! I hope you are having a good semester so far and I can’t wait to explore the rest of your blog!

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  27. Hello Nancy!
    Your major sounds like a lot of fun. What made you decide to study classical studies and history? It is really impressive that you are working at Tinker and being a full time student. Good luck graduating next month! I hope you find a new and exciting place to live for the next couple of years.

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  28. Hey Nancy,
    I am so jealous of all of the traveling you have gotten to experience. I have never been out of the United States. For a year we had a foreign exchange student that was from Germany. Her name was Stephanie, and she has always said we are welcome to visit anytime. Hearing that they have delicious food in Germany is very comforting because that has always been a little fear about what I would actually have to eat in another country (I am a little bit of a picky eater). Good luck on your last semester, you only have a couple of weeks left. I hope you can figure out a way to travel with your cat so that way you can still get out to see the world.

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  29. Hi Nancy,
    I have never heard of someone literally making life decisions based on a coin flip! I'm so glad that worked out for you! I don't know that I could do that. I'm so jealous of all the traveling you've done so far! All your pictures look awesome!! I appreciate your sense of humor a lot! You made me laugh when you said "it was a pretty good time." Dante is so precious!! Let him live his life and lay all over your laptop always!!

    It was so nice to meet you!

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  30. Hi Nancy! First, Dante is so cute! Those blue eyes! Also, the "Keep off grass" sign in your picture of Iraq made me laugh. How wonderful that you've been to so many places. Not many college students have so many varied experiences - I think that's really cool! Wow, that job in Afghanistan sounds like a real experience. That's a pretty good reminder for me not to complain about finals, ha ha. Huge congratulations on graduating in a few weeks!

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  31. HI Nancy!

    Wow you’ve done so much already! My mom lived in Guam when she was younger because my grandpa was stationed there, and she went to Germany for high school for the same reason! Your cat is so cute! Such pretty eyes! And I haven’t figured out how to keep mine off a laptop either! It’s a mystery for sure!

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  32. Hi Nancy! Wow, I'm so glad I got to read your introduction for the end of this class. You have such an interesting life track, and this line of your intro made me laugh: "The hours were ridiculous, the food was terrible, the living conditions were horrific, and people kept trying to kill me." I'm glad you're safe and almost graduating — this is my last semester! Your cat is gorgeous, also. Love those eyes! Have a great finals week!

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  33. Hi Nancy!
    Thank you for your service! I am glad you are studying something that truly interests you. I too decided to study something that has nothing to do with where I want to go in life. I love that you named your cat Dante. I love cats but I am allergic and can only interact with the neighborhood cat for a few minutes at a time.

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