Wednesday, March 9, 2011

A Busy Week

Hey Everyone,
Been a little while since my last blog but just wait till you hear about my week! I flew to Buffalo, New York on Wednesday, and drove from there to Kitchener in Toronto on Thursday to give a talk at the TEDxWaterloo conference there. The next morning I went into the Crossroads Studio in Burlington to do a few interviews, then drove back to Buffalo where I was staying with my mom's aunt and uncle.
I spent the next day with my cousin Heidi and her hyperactive lab puppy Sophia :) The next day I spent with my other cousin, Gretchen and drove back over to Canada to see Niagara Falls. Next day I hopped on a plane and headed back home, got in that night and the next day headed off to Santa Paula where I was working as the still photographer on a shoot for a Dolby commercial. I went to bed around 1:00am and was back up at 3:00am that morning to get over to the tiny Santa Paula Airport and get started. I was picked up before the end of that though because I had to go to school!

Yep, at the end of it all I still have to do my schoolwork. I'm back home now taking a break from studying for some pretty gnarly tests I've got next week so that I can write a blog :) So I really haven't forgotten about you all! Its taken quite a bit of caffeine to get through the past week, but it has all been really fun.

The TEDxWaterloo conference was pretty much amazing. I've done a few different conferences but this one really didn't sound like anything I had done before so I didn't know what to expect. There were about 900 people there, definitely the largest amount of people I have ever spoken in front of before. For the most part things went well, all the speakers were interesting, I met a lot of neat people and my talk went pretty well. I think my talk could have been better which is bugging me a bit... oh well, practice makes perfect, and I'm definitely getting some good practice in.

The two interviews I did went well. They won't be airing until April 18th though, and just in Canada. Seeing Niagara Falls was pretty cool. Of course it was pouring rain, there was quite a bit of snow around, and it was all of 20 degrees out... but still, it was amazing seeing that. I managed to forget my camera there though, so sorry bout the phone camera pictures.

The morning I left to fly home it started snowing! It snowed a few inches by the time I left for the airport, too bad there wasn't enough to build a snowman... Anyway, my flight ended up getting delayed for about an hour, and it was looking like I might not make it to my connecting flight in Detroit, but luckily they held the plane and so back to sunny, warm California (or so I thought). I got off the plane here and it was raining.

The day after I got home, Monday, I spent most of the day trying to finish up homework, but I started researching for a paper I was writing and it was so interesting I ended up working on that until I got picked up to go to the airport where the commercial was going to be filmed. In general, I dread flying, but I suppose thats because up to this point I've mainly flown in big planes where I'm forced to sit relatively still for the upside of 5 hours, not the most fun thing ever. But the son of the lady who's hanger was being used for the shoot offered to take me up in his little Piper Cub and that was seriously fun. I mean I didn't think there was anything that could ever come close to sailing, but that got scarily close.

We all got to bed pretty late, but call time the next morning was 3:00am so all had to be out there starting on setting things up. It was a fun day, there were a lot of neat people all working on it, and getting to photograph the whole thing was a lot of fun. I've always liked photography, and its pretty cool getting opportunities like this to really work on it.

Around 12:00 my mom came and picked me up, and I headed off to class... I had hoped that I would get to stay through the whole thing, but I guess graduating from high school is pretty important, as painful as it might be right now. I have standardized testing coming up next week, so that should be fun... (note sarcasm) but all in all it has been a very fun and eventful past week, and a half. Now its time to get back into the books.

Abby










32 comments:

  1. Hey Abby, WOW, I'm tired just from reading about your week....just to let you know, I'm back to work driving....so maybe I'll see ya on the road sometime...Keep on truckin'!
    Gus

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  2. Worth the wait Abby...great blog and photos.

    I am glad you sorted things for me...I had thought you missed your plane in Detroit and flew back home in the yellow plane...lol. We've still got to get you out on a iceboat!!

    Good luck with those nasty tests sailor. Now...back to your studies.
    john, Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario

    PS We are in our seventh hour of a snowstorm this evening...too bad you missed it...lol.

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  3. It must have been very cold there these days both in NY and Canada.

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  4. Nice to read your blog and all your activities. Quite amazing pictures also.

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  5. Great pictures Abby, thanks for sharing them. YOu looked like you enjoyed the snow, too bad you misssed everything we had in Jan - Feb. That sure was a busy week, I'm glad you're getting to do & see so much. AND you're driving? I saw where you said you got your permit, but do you have your license from CA yet? Good luck with the standardized tests. I know after sailing solo schoolwork must seem like a bore but you're right; graduating is important. Thanks for the update!

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  6. Bonjour Abby,

    Thanks for the post and pictures and slow down on caffeine! LOL!
    Good luck with school, you'll do just fine with your exams I am sure.

    Looks like we'll have to make you an honorary Canadian citizen...Our gain! :-D

    Take care, be safe! :-D

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  7. Abby thanks again for your contribution to TEDxWaterloo. We enjoyed having you there and the attendees certainly appreciated your perspective. For fun, you should search #tedxwaterloo on twitter. We'll post HD video of the talk on the YouTube TEDxTalks channel soon.

    Matt (TEDxWaterloo curator)

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  8. PS - Kitchener is NEAR Toronto (another city...) and IN Ontario (a province). You're excused this time....

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  9. Wow Abby what an adventure. You are very fortunate to experience so many fun things. Good luck and you must get that diploma
    Benny & Lily

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  10. Abby, there is nothing wrong with the photos you took with the phone cam.... just glad 2 see them! You are a very busy person! Stay safe and have FUN!

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  11. Hey Abby, can you let us know when your TED Talk goes online? I'd love to watch it. :)

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  12. Abby, I am glad you enjoyed the Cub flight. I always say that if I ever have to quit flying, I will turn to sailing. Keep up the great work. We really enjoy following your life. If you ever pass through Memphis on one of your trips, we would love to sponsor you speaking to a youth group we are involved with here.

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  13. Wow, that's amazing! Are you going to learn how to fly too? :D That would mean you're able to travel land, sea, and sky, basically all the forms of transportation on this planet, all before you graduate high school!

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  14. Hi Abby,
    I just preordered my copy of your book --- YAY!
    Great blog and beautiful photos... Keep having fun and good luck on the exams!

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  15. If those pictures are from your phone they are amazing quality! Good luck with your tests and your adventures are amazing!

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  16. The pictures are AWESOME! I want to be you :-)

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  17. must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
    And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
    And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
    And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

    I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
    Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
    And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
    And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

    I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
    To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
    And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
    And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over. - John Masefield
    Fairwell & fairwinds 2U Capt,
    (?,?)

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  18. Hey Abby - Is that wild Eyes I spot in San Diego dry dock next to the naval base?
    Regards,
    Adrian Maree
    Cape Town

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  19. Wow Abby really nice pics!! That picture of you in the snow is so refreshing. I live in Florida and I haven't seen snow in 20 years. I was raised in New Jersey and I miss the snow but seeing your picture brings back nice memories.
    Thanks,
    Virginia

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  20. Hey Abby, what about trying to join Jessica's crew to race the Sydney - Hobart ? Now that really would be a story !

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  21. Ahoy Captain! If you would be so kind as to navigate your Google Earth to the following co-ordinates, you will find a gift 4U :-) (19º43'12.55", -156º07'55.89")
    Fairwell & Fairwinds♥
    (?,?)

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  22. Niagara Falls eh? Get the boat! :P

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  23. The pictures are awesome. Good luck with your studies and more traveling in the future :)

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  24. great pics! love the one of the huge wave. ever think of photography as a career? you'd be good at it!

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  25. Too bad you couldn't build a snowman! But seeing Niagara falls is a great accomplishment. Did you know that many people who live in NY never have even visited the Falls?

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  26. Abby, Your book came in today's mail! Thanks for working so hard on it for all of us. Are you willing to sign my copy? Kim, S.V.

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  27. Congratulations to you! Being one of the headlining speakers at such a big event... How exciting!

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  28. Hi Skipper!
    Wager you don't need reminding but as a great honor to your voyage by my way of thinking here goes:
    ABBY SUNDERLAND BECOMES YOUNGEST PERSON
    TO SAIL AROUND CAPE HORN ALONE
    March 31, 2010
    "Abby aboard Wild Eyes has weathered some powerful Southern Ocean storms followed by tedious calms but has finally rounded the most southern tip of South America in her bid to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone. Abby has done a remarkable job and we all are extremely proud of her. Abby also wants to send out a HUGE thank you to her supporters, especially her support team, for their tireless encouragement"
    We surely miss tracking you and your dear boat...
    it was our voyage too.
    ken h

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  29. Great photos, Abby! You've been busy! I live in NJ, and personally, am tired of all the snow after the winter we've had. I know you hardly see any of it being from CA, so that must have been a treat for you.

    Also, is your book out? I saw on Amazon.com a book that says they have it in stock.

    Michael
    New Jersey

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  30. Hey Abby, is there going to be a book signing?

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  31. I just finished your book. You really are an amazing young woman. What you went through at the end, I couldn't even imagine. I know for a fact I wouldn't have been strong enough to try what you did. For one I'm terrified of water I can't see the bottom of and two I don't like small boats. A huge cruise ship, sure I'd be fine. Anything smaller than that, no way. lol I'll be writing my review of your book tomorrow on my blog if you'd like to check it out sometime. :)
    Good luck with everything you do.
    L.

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