30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '30'

Day 30 – A photograph of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days

Oh. Em. Gee. Did I really make it to the last day? Is this really ending?! I mean, I may not have completed it in exactly 30 days, but that's just a guideline, right?

At Flughafen Zurich!

Anyway, that's me earlier today, before I boarded my flight back to the States. I am now in Atlanta, waiting out the last 3 hours of my 5 hour layover. But, I did treat myself to the Delta Sky Lounge so I'm enjoying free drinks & free internet. I tell ya, this is like airport heaven!

So, three good things that happened in the past 30 days:

1. I successfully completed my sixth excursion to Europe, with two international Educator's Courses!
2. I visited the Doctor Who Experience!
3. I found out the Altanta Airport has a Moe's. I know what I'm having for dinner! Omnomnomnomonom.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '29'

Day 29 – Something you could never get tired of doing.

Well, if you asked me before this trip, I would say travelling. But to be honest, I'm actually very ready to go home tomorrow. Or maybe I'm just ready to go home to a certain someone. 

...Don't judge me.

So I think I would have to say spending time with good friends & family. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a little cynical - and I generally don't really like a lot of people. So the people I do like, I enjoy spending time with very much.

Let the good times roll!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '28'

Day 28 – Your favorite movie.

Yikes, this is a tough one – there’s so many! Where do I even begin?

I think I will have to say Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. It’s a newer movie, but I loved the graphic novels & the movie really did them justice. It was a tribute to video games, crushes, evil exes & general geekery. A must see for any nerd. So go see it!

Some runners up were: The Princess Bride, Wall-E, Love Actually & Spaceballs.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '27'

Day 27 – A picture of you last year and now and how have you changed since then?

Okay, now this is ridiculous. What is this, a third grade essay? Honestly.

Whatevs, here I am, playing putt-putt last year. I had just sank a hole-in-one, and decided to take a PGA victory shot. You’ve seen them. When the golfer makes a great putt, he gets down to the ground and does a little arm pump.

How have I changed since then? Well, I’m a little older & a little wiser. I mean, what do you want me to say? It’s only a year, and I’ve been pretty stagnant. Got the same job, same boyfriend…new apartment though.

I suppose authoring the 30 Day Blog Challenge is just as hard as keeping up with it. How have you changed in a year? Come on, I’m not going to write a bloody soliloquy and publish it to all of the interwebs. I don’t even have a bloody soliloquy.

I guess if I have to think about it, here's a small list: I got better at snowboarding, I enjoy being outdoors now, I feel I'm much more practical of a person, I'm better with money, and I grew my hair out.

Fin.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '26'

Day 26 – A photo of somewhere you’ve been to.

Since today I traveled to a place that I’ve never been, I figured I’d combine it with my blog challenge. It’s not cheating, don’t worry.

Today our Swiss distributor took us to the Rheinfall, the largest natural waterfalls in Europe. I must say, they were pretty impressive. Here’s a picture of me near them!

My boss and I then took a boat to a spot where you could hike up and get a panoramic view of the area. I must say, the Rheinfall were even more impressive from the top. There were a bunch of additional crevasses and smaller waterfalls before the water reached the larger ones. Here are some more pictures!

Halfway up the hike, directly to the side of the large fall.

A view from the top.

Me at the top!

Then we had a very nice authentic lunch at a local restaurant and headed back to the hotel. We also took an afternoon walk through Old Town Winterthur. That was pretty cool, but since it was Sunday, most everything was closed.

One thing I noticed is that the cows seem to be much happier here. They all wear bells around their necks, they seem to almost prance as they walk, and their tails wag as their chewing on grass. It’s incredibly cute.

Since we had a big lunch, we just grabbed some Subway sandwiches for dinner. I know, it’s not authentic food, but most everything is closed today and honestly, I’m still recovering from lunch.

But I am still on a mission to find some fondue before we leave!

Greetings from Switzerland!

Yes, my time in England has officially ended and I have now made my way to Oberwinterthur, Switzerland.

But yesterday my boss & I spent some time hitting the major landmarks in London. First, I insisted we stop by King’s Cross since I heard rumors of a Platform 9 ¾ mock-up. Let me tell you – what a disappointment! I don’t know if things became too touristy, or if it was due to the construction, or if it was always this way, but ‘Platform 9 3/4’ was a really lame cardboard backdrop of a brick wall, with a trolley going into the wall. Since we travelled all the way out there, I decided that I should take a picture anyway.

See? Pretty Lame. I tried to get excited though.

Next, we took the Underground to London Bridge, walked that & then walked to Westminster & South Bank. Since it was raining, there weren’t too many weird street performers. Here are some more pictures!

Me on the London Bridge, with Tower Bridge behind me.
Umbrella too, cause it's London.

Westminster Palace & Big Ben!

Then we retired to the hotel early since we had early flights today. There was a pretty cool pub in the hotel, so I was able to get my fish & chips fix in.

Tomorrow our distributor is taking us to the Rhinefalls here in Switzerland, which should be gorgeous. Then the course Monday & Tuesday, meeting with Google on Wednesday and home on Thursday! <3

30 Day Blog Challenge - Days '24 & 25'

Day 24 - A photo of something that means a lot to you.

I’m not at home so I can’t take a picture, but I must say this item is my Winne-the-Pooh. I’ve had him since I was one, and is probably one of the most sentimental things I own. He’s moved to college with me and all the way out here in California. He’s my ‘safety blanket’ I guess and I could never imagine throwing him away (couldn’t give him away, he’s pretty worn).

If I’m sick or in a wretched mood, I’ll still take him off the closet shelf & cuddle with him. He makes me feel better. :]

Day 25 - What’s in your purse?

Well this is kind of a strange moment since I’m travelling and my purse is a computer bag. So here goes:

• Laptop computer & power supply
• Cell phone
• Camera
• Nook Color – rooted to run the Android OS :]
•  Agendas & maps
• Wallet
•  Passport
• Ninendo 3DS (Which apparently has the only power supply on this planet that doesn’t accept 110 – 240 V, so it’s currently dead. WTF Nintendo?!)
• Tide To Go
• Pencils & Pens
•  Headphones
• Flash drives

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '23'

Day 23 – 15 facts about you.

Gosh golly I'm really rubbish at this aren't I? Can't say it's not that I haven't had the time, but the past couple days I've been busy with work and have been too tired to tackle this giant. And I'm not giving up yet, even if this 30 Day Challenge takes 60!

So here goes...

One - I despise cooked spinach.

Two - I'm awful at taking (and remembering to take) pictures.

Three - I don't really like sweets, and really have to be in the mood for them.

Four - I love stand up comedy shows.

Five - I am completely, ridiculously, head over heels in love with my boyfriend.

Six - I forgot how hilarious the IT Crowd, but it was just on TV & now I remember and want to re-watch it.

Seven - I was born in Wisconsin, but raised in Florida - and I used to be ashamed to admit that I was from Florida because I felt it made me uninteresting.

Eight - In high school, I dreamed of being a Broadway star.

Nine - Nowadays, I've stopped making plans & just plan to be surprised.

Ten - I was a teacher's pet & straight-A student in school.

Eleven - I almost always have to have a blanket over me when lounging on the couch, even if it's ridiculously hot outside.

Twelve - I love swimming.

Thirteen - My favorite munchie is popcorn.

Fourteen - I enjoy the occasional craft beer (and Steven Homebrew).

Fifteen - I usually have to hit the snooze about 5 times before I'm able to get up in the morning. Something I'd really like to change but can never seem to.

So there you are 15 things you may or may not have wanted to know. This really was a lot harder to put together than it should have been. Ah well.

Jolly Ol' England - It's Business Time!

Well I'm now on Day 6 here in jolly ol' England, and I must say I've been enjoying myself quite a bit!

Tuesday we met with our distributor, Active Robots for coffee in Bath and then took a trip to see their office. This was my second time being there, and I must say it's a great atmosphere & they have a lot of neat products. For example Maximus, who appeared on the Gadget Show.

Maximus - Autonomous racing robot.

Me & The Active Robots Crew

 Yesterday and today I've been teaching an Educator's Course at the University of Bath. More on that later!

Jolly Ol' England!

I must say, I have been having a blast here in England. I got in on Saturday afternoon and stayed with my friend Nick and his girlfriend in London. They were great hosts: we went to dinner and to a party Saturday night & then the Doctor Who Experience and the Natural History Museum on Sunday.

The Doctor Who Experience was absolutely fantastic! They had props from the show & a fun little walk-through ride where you assisted the Doctor in escaping from another Pandorica. You got on the TARDIS (which was totally bigger on the inside), fought Daleks, ran from the Weeping Angels & saved the universe from imploding. It was great.

Me & a creepy wax statue of Matt Smith.

Me & Nick on board the TARDIS!

Then today I met up with my boss & did a bit of sightseeing through Bath. We toured the Abbey & went to the top of the bell tower (which I had missed last time). There were some really narrow staircases but it was really cool to see the bell tower & the back of the clock face!

View from the top of the bell tower.

Me halfway up the tower (it's in the background).

Anyway, tomorrow we'll be meeting with our distributor Active Robots to go over some more details about the course. And then, who knows? Probably more sightseeing.

Until then! <3

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '22'

Day 22 – A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.

Really? This isn't something I'd want to broadcast to the entire interwebs, but here goes...

Dear Children Operating the Dalek at the Doctor Who Experience,

You really were spending much too long at this part of the exhibit. I may be 25 years old, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't want a go at it. Plus, I really wanted to take a campy photo of me pretending to be cornered by a Dalek, and you ruined it by spending much too long messing around. 

I hope you enjoyed yourselves.

Cheers,

Jessica

30 Day Blog Challenge Days '20 & 21'

So I missed a couple of days since I was busy having fun in London. Don't worry, pictures are coming soon, jet need a chance to get them on my computer. But in the meantime, I'll catch up on my 30 Day Blog Challenge.

Day 20 - The Meaning Behind your Blog Name

Well that's fairly obvious, isn't it? In case you haven't noticed, I'm a bit of a nerd. And if in case you haven't noticed, I'm not really ashamed of it. I'm happy & proud to be a geek - hence, Gleefully Geeky.

Day 21 - A Photo of Something that Makes you Happy

This is a really vague question as there are many things that make me happy, so it's hard to choose one thing. Honestly, the more I think on it no one thing pops into my mind as making me really happy.

So I'm sorry, dear Blogland, but I don't have an answer for this one.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '19'

Day 19 – Another picture of yourself.

Really, couldn't think of anything better? Well, it's actually kind of fitting I suppose.

I leave for a 12-day excursion to England & Switzerland today, and believe it or not, everything I need for those 12 days is in that nifty carryon bag. I think I deserve a medal, I really do.

Now that I've experienced the magic that is travelling without checking a bag, I never want to go back. Seriously, it's incredible. And my parents got me this super fancy hardshell Hartmann suitcase (which I am obsessed with) which makes it really easy.

And never fear, dear blogland! In addition to bringing you these riveting posts for the 30 Day Challenge, I'll also keep you updated on my European travels.

Cheers!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '18'

Day 18 – Something you crave a lot.

In-N-Out Burger, most definitely. I cannot get enough of this place. How I'm not 300 pounds, I'll never know. But their grilled cheese - oh so yummy. And at $5 a meal, the price is definitely right!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '17'

Day 17 – A photo of you and your family.

We don't take too many photos in the Uelmen clan, so the most recent one I could find of all of us was from my graduation in 2008.

That's (from left to right): Mom, Mollie, Me, Dad, & Matthew. Matthew doesn't really like to smile in photos. Call it 'teenage angst' if you will.

Anyway, I love my family, they're the best! Don't know what I'd do without them. <3

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '16'

Day 16 – Your celebrity crush.

Oh dear, this isn't going to get me in trouble, is it?

Meh, Steven already knows it I suppose. He did accuse me of 'swooning' during Doctor Who.

Yes, my celebrity crush is without a doubt David Tennant. I mean, come on, he was the Doctor. Brilliant and gorgeous, a winning combination in my book.

::Swoon::

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '15'

Day 15 – Something you don’t leave the house without.

Well there are a lot of things I don't leave my house without, but they're all standard and boring: wallet, cell phone, keys, etc. So I'll list something fun: my 3DS!

Seriously, you never know when you're going to get a Street Pass tag, and your steps count toward Play Coins. New update rolls out tonight, so now I'll get internet, weeeeee!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '14'

Day 14 – A TV show you’re currently addicted to.

Wow, well, another easy one. In case you haven't been paying attention...

As Steven puts it, I have an 'unhealthy obsession'. I suppose that's true, but there are worse things to be obsessed with. Heroine, for instance.

People always ask my why I'm so in love with this show, and honestly that's a little hard to answer. I guess to put it simply, the show's just completely impossible. Weebly wobbly timey-wimey, if you will. Every episode is a new stretch of the imagination, with interesting creatures and plot lines. You've got a brilliant madman with a blue box as your main character, running around saving entire planets and even the whole universe on a consistent basis.

And not to mention, inspring. Of course it's all fiction, but some episodes take place hundreds of thousands of years in the future, with humanity spread across the cosmos - surviving, adapting and exploring every inch of the universe. That's just too cool to think about - what's out there, how we'll respond as a race when we find it, and to think that even after the Earth burns up, our ancestors will still be spread out amongst the stars.

Anyway, it's a fantastic show and if you're not watching it, you should.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '13'

Day 13 – Your favorite musician and why?

Is this really a question? I mean, I like a lot of musicians and 'favorite' artists change quite a lot. But there is one...one artist who I never tire of, whose songs I hardly skip when my song library is on random...

Yes ladies and germs, "Weird Al" Yankovic. Hands down, may favorite artist of all time. I mean, he's brilliant! I saw him in concert last year at the California State Fair & it was absolutely incredible. It's always enjoyable to go to concerts where you can tell that there is nothing else the artist would rather be doing, but Weird Al takes it to an all new level - elaborate costume changes, audience participation & of course Al TV.

Anyway, "Weird Al" Yankovic is a musical genius, and my favorite artist of all time. Plus, he's got a new album coming out on June 21st! Weeeeeeeeee!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day '12'

Day 12 – A photograph of the town you live in.

I currently reside in Sacramento, California and it is awesome. Our apartment is in midtown, which is the 'hip' neighborhood. I love that almost everything is within walking distance, and that we can decide to go out to dinner without a destination in mind. In fact, here's a picture of our complex!

It's got a very nice pool, and if the weather ever warms up, I'm excited to use it!

I also love that we're only 1.5 hours from the mountains and 1.5 hours from San Francisco - tons of fun isn't far away at all! I also love the dry heat, after growing up in Florida, it's very nice to not deal with humidity.

Yikes..

So I guess I'm failing miserably at this 30 Day Blog Challenge, huh? I have good reasons, I swear! Last week, I was in San Diego for the Boy Scouts of America National Annual Meeting (they chose one of our robots as a resource to promote the badge, so I was there promoting it - read about it here if you like) and then after flying back from San Diego, I made the drive down to Santa Monica for a bachelorette weekend.

Meg, Kim & I at the Santa Monica Pier!

As you may or may not know, Steven's brother is getting married in July. So since the boys went for brewery tours up & down the coast - we decided to hit up SoCal for some fun, sun & shopping. It was a pretty enjoyable weekend!

So, now that you've heard my excuses, let's see if we can pick this 30 Day Blog Challenge up again, shall we? Instead of cramming a week's worth into one post, let's just pick up from our hiatus on the day we left off...

Day 11 – What’s in your makeup bag?

Erm, well, this is a little awkward as I don't keep a makeup bag. I'm a 'slap some Bare Essentials mineral powder & blush on in the morning and call it a day' kind of gal. I do carry some Burt's Bees & put that on if my lips are particularly chapped, but that's about it. 

To be perfectly honest, I'm not really sure of the proper way to put on eye makeup. Never really looked into it...