Hello friends and/or family! Now that I am officially living on my own and paying my own way in life, I wanted to write my very own Christmas card! Welcome to the First Annual Cameron Pritekel Christmas Card Spectacular! You know how Christmas cards work no doubt, so let’s get ready to ruuuuuuummmmbllllleeeeeeee (Space Jam reference)! As most of you know, earlier this year I graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with my degree in Geology. I graduated with cum laude honors, and writing my honors thesis was a very challenging yet rewarding experience. For my project I investigated the crystal structure of schreibersite, an iron-nickel phosphide mineral found in some meteorites. It was a very neat project! Presenting my research was nerve-wracking, but with a “packed” room with about 10 people present, few witnessed my discomfort. My dad did have a very strange face for most of my presentation, which sort of threw me. I’m still a little bitter. Along with my honors thesis, I was also involved in another project working to determine the thermobarometric conditions in the Big Thompson Canyon around 1.7-1.4 billion years ago. For that project I got to do some honest to God field investigation, make some thin sections (and Tara’s Valentine’s Day gift!), use an electron microprobe and work with thermobarometric software. I learned a lot about being a true scientist and the proper way of conducting research. I got to present my findings at the Rocky Mountain Sectional Meeting of the Geologic Society of America in Casper, Wyoming this May. I think we worked on the coolest project there, but I might have been a little biased. Overall, this project was a key factor which lead to my admission to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for graduate school. Earlier this spring I was admitted to RPI’s geology program, and my intention had been to go there for a master’s degree. The department flew me out to Troy, and I got to see the campus and experience some of that infamous Upstate New York weather. Alas, it was not to be however as RPI did not have funding for me, and I would have needed to pay for my tuition out of pocket. In the end, I decided against going to graduate school and focused on finding a job instead. Since I was not bound for graduate school, I lived the College Graduate Dream and moved back in with my dad after graduation. Goodbye dorms, hello Dad’s basement! Uh-uh-uh-upgrade! But seriously, listening to the younguns “drop the bass” at 3am during finals week gets a little old after a while. While we are on the subject, this was my third and final year as a Resident Advisor at CU. I was in Sewall Hall this last year, which is where my mom lived as a freshman; I believe I even broke up a party in her old room. In all seriousness, being an RA was an extremely worthwhile experience. Before I was an RA I would have described myself as an “introvert who liked people.” I would say that the job changed me for the better, however. I really feel like I came out of my shell and it has

taught me a lot about myself. The people I met as an RA were exceptional, and most of my best friends today were made through the experience. Tara Albrecht, the person you know and love as my girlfriend, was one of those people. Tara and I met in Williams Village North over two years ago as we both worked for Residence Life. We have been dating for over a year and a half now and are still going strong! She’s a real gem, and I am so lucky to have her in my life. I won’t be too gushy, but I am really excited to see what the future holds for us. Going back to the timeline of my year, after graduating and moving back home I worked as a cashier at Tipsy’s Liquor World. It wasn’t the ideal situation of course, but I met a lot of really interesting people while working there. I’m so grateful for the experience, but I’m glad I don’t have to stand at a register all day anymore! My feet used to hurt so bad at the end of each day! While working at Tipsy’s I bought copious amounts of alcohol and learned more about beer then I could have imagined. I still have some great beers in my refrigerator that I bought during my time at Tipsy’s. Looks like I know one New Year’s Resolution I won’t be making! (to give up alcohol, that’s the joke) Earlier this fall, I was offered a job at Hensel Phelps as a Field Engineer. My dad also works here, and he helped me network to find the position. When I was interviewing, I had three options: either wait for a spot to open up in Denver, work in Texas or work in Northern California. I love Denver, but I didn’t know how long I would need to wait for a position to open up there. I also knew that this might be my only chance to live in the Bay Area, and I wanted to take it. I was very afraid to leave everything and everyone I knew behind, and honestly I still am really scared sometimes. While the fear comes and goes, I am more excited then anything else. I pushed myself and I am all the better for it. I may not know a lot about construction, but with each passing day that changes a little bit. Hensel Phelps has been an awesome company, and I can see myself having a career here. First though, they need to be able to spell my name correctly on my business cards! Going along with that, I want to inform everyone that, contrary to what my mom wrote in our Christmas card about 10 years ago, I am actually a pretty good speller. You can rest easy world. Again, I am still a little bitter about that one. Maybe my New Year’s Resolution should be to let go of lingering anger (haha). As of right now I have joined an adult soccer league with my workmates, have enjoyed sightseeing in the Bay Area most weekends, and discovered a passion for cooking. Since I lived in the dorms, cough, I mean “residence halls,” throughout college I never pushed myself to prepare a meal beyond apples and peanut butter (or as they slowly devolved into, just peanut butter). My favorite meals to cook now are steak with asparagus and Hawaiian pork with grilled pineapple. Watch out Gordon Ramsay! That about does it for me, thanks for making it this far see you in 2016!

Cam’s Favorites from 2015:

• Favorite Quote that Summarizes the Year: “Stay in drugs, don’t do school!”

• Favorite new artist: José González

• Favorite video game: Far Cry 4 • Favorite book: Periodic Tales: A Cultural History of the Elements, from Arsenic to Zinc by

Hugh Aldersey-Williams

• Favorite new TV show: Humans

• Favorite dessert I’ve learned how to make: White chocolate blondies • Favorite movie: The Martian • Favorite mineral: Rhodochrosite, duh • Favorite Bay Area restaurants: Mr. Pickle’s in San Bruno and Genova Delicatessen in

Walnut Creek • Favorite beer(s): Oh boy…

- Favorite Beers subsection “Sours”: First Place has to be the San Juan Sour from Avery, Second Place goes to the Hawaiian Bartender by Odd13, and Third Place is the Piña Agria from Odell

- Favorite Beers subsection “Dark Beers”: First Place is Elysian’s Night Owl, my Second Place choice is the Pumpking from Southern Tier, and the Narwhal from Sierra Nevada comes in at Third Place

- Favorite Beers subsection “India Pale Ales”: An obvious choice and my most-recommended beer at Tipsy’s, Number One is the Grapefruit Sculpin from Ballast Point, the 120 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head comes in at Number Two, and Russian River’s Pliny the Elder is Number Three

- Favorite Beers subsection “Miscellaneous”: With another Number One choice, Ballast Point’s Calm Before the Storm cream ale take the top slot, the Calabaza Boreal saison from Anchorage in collaboration with Jolly Pumpkin is Number Two, and Strange Craft’s Cherry Kriek rounds out the list at Number Three

Tara and I at the Rapids game on the 4th of July Bae and I before I left for California

Outside Sewall Hall after finishing my final year as an Resident Advisor

At graduation inside Benson Earth Sciences next to a nice piece of gneiss

Dressed up for my interview with Hensel Phelps

Celebrating a Hawaiian Friday with Hensel Phelps

At the TV on the Radio and alt-J concert at Red Rocks

Hiking to the Royal Arch at Chautauqua Park in Boulder

Hiking up the Second Flatiron in Chautauqua Park. Not one of the smartest things I did this year

Outside my new apartment complex in Burlingame, California

The family outside Libby Hall after my graduation ceremony

Sunset outside Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport and the new control tower Hensel Phelps built

A cold January sunset outside Benson Earth Sciences

Sunset in Trailmark

Sunset on the Cathy Johnson Trail standing on the Morrison Formation

For a minute or two in the mornings, the light inside the hangar where I

work is exceptional

Snowy hike behind the Flatirons in Chautauqua Park