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All About Barb
I'm sure you're asking yourself...why do I want to read about this chick? Well, maybe we have something in common ...
The Basics
My name is Barbara Elizabeth (Prater) Mayes. I was born in Plymouth, Michigan, and lived there till I was 10 years old; then I grew up in Roscommon, MI, which I consider my "home town." My mom's house (the house I grew up in) is just a couple hundred yards from the sixth most beautiful lake in the world (according to National Geographic), Higgins Lake. I moved from a house in PA and a job in DC out to Iowa in May 2005 to make a fresh start.
College and Career
I graduated in May 2000 from Central Michigan University with two degrees: a Bachelor of Science, with majors in Earth Science: Meteorology and Geography and a minor in Mathematics, and a Bachelor of Arts degree with an English major and a History minor. I performed in CMU's Concert Choir and Marching Band and took occasional voice lessons. I graduated in May 2002 from Penn State with a Master of Science in Meteorology. If you're interested in the details of my masters research, check my meteorology page. After Penn State, I moved on to work at NOAA's National Weather Service, in the Climate Services Division at NWS Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. My work bio is probably still on their site. In short, I was an outreach leader for the climate program, with fantastic opportunities to travel and meet people who use the products that NWS provides. In May 2005, I began work at the Quad Cities/Davenport, IA, National Weather Service Forecast Office as a forecaster. I still get to travel every now and then, but my job is much more focused on the weather and the local impacts of weather and climate, which suits me very well!
Fun Life
Occasionally, I even get time to relax! My social life was limited while I've worked in D.C. due to my living situation, but I have at least kept in touch with my friends and am becoming more social out here in the Plains :). This social life includes cautiously entering a relationship with a longtime friend, Josh, who lives in Omaha. (I'm tired of long distance already!) I remodeled and sold a house in PA, which taught me a lot about the work should the home I buy in Iowa need it. I write a lot, both short stories and poetry. Once upon a time, at CMU, I took ballet lessons through a local studio (?!), and I actually hope to continue dancing, if it will ever fit into my schedule. More than that, though, I'd like to pick up my music again (singing in a choir or band or something). I'm not big on exercising, but I do like to take walks with JJ, my dog. My most famous hobby, though, is storm chasing in the spring and early summer with that longtime friend and a few other renegades -- an expensive hobby that is a perfect combination of adrenaline and geekiness. During the summer, I love to go boating and jet ski (when opportunity allows), ski, tube, swim, sunbathe, and generally soak up as much as I can of the sun and the water. Fall is dominated by football, baking, and getting the nest ready for the cold weather. In the winter, I'm mainly housebound, but I do get out to snowmobile and ice skate if offered. I much prefer curling up in front of a fireplace with a good book, or renting a few movies and snuggling under a thick blanket. And, I must admit, I'm a red-blooded girl who enjoys just going out sometimes to play pool, throw darts, dance, throw back a few, and have some fun!
Favorites
| Color |
Purple, because it's regal, pretty, and deep |
| Animal |
Fox |
| Food |
I couldn't possibly pick |
| Style of Music |
Again, I couldn't possibly pick ... generally, pop, country, classic rock, Broadway tunes ... anything I can sing to :) ... then some hard rock/metal (Metallica), blues/jazz/swing, ... get the idea? |
| TV Show |
Currently, American Idol, Survivor, Friends, Sex and the City (HBO version!), Rachael Ray shows on Food TV, and any weather or disaster-related documentary |
| Movies |
Braveheart, Fried Green Tomatoes, Last of the Mohicans, Terms of Endearment, Titanic, The Patriot, The Perfect Storm, Little Women, Pearl Harbor, We Were Soldiers, Sweet Home Alabama, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and so many more |
| Actors |
Mel Gibson, Tom Hanks, Josh Hartnett, Reese Witherspoon, Ashley Judd, Winona Ryder, others. Top 5 (last two change depending on mood!): Vin Diesel, Bruce Willis, Harry Connick Jr., Josh Lucas, Josh Hartnett |
| Hair Color |
On me: strawberry blonde (though current is highlighted blonde and lowlighted light brown) |
| Type of Clothing |
Dresses. I'm such a girlie. |
| Flower |
Tie between the red rose and lilacs |
| Place |
Another tie: Higgins Lake, MI and St. Armand's Key (Lido Beach), FL |
Pet Peeves
- Bad grammar
- People who cheat in school
- People who don't speak up for themselves
- "Twister" (no, that's not what storm chasing is really like)
- "The Day After Tomorrow" (no, that's not what climate change is like)
- People who ask me, "Are you going to be on TV someday?"
- Abusive people--mentally, physically, whatever
- Athletes' perks and salaries
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