Ultimate Wish List

Hammock.  This one. In the Tequila Color.  I've been toying with this idea for awhile now and it really seems like the most attractive, space efficient, comfortable and affordable option for all my sleeping, lounging and entertaining needs.

Trekking Poles.  Two of em. I hike. Often. I have knees.  I'd like to keep it that way.

Books! A whole list! Here are the most important ones!

Peterson's mushroom guide.  I want to forage in the spring.

Peterson's edible plants.  Again, foraging.

Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the study of Insects.  We have a copy of this book in the lab.  It's my bible.

Hedrick, Genetics of Populations.  I need this for the evolution class I'm taking next semester.

Kaufman's Field Guide to Insects.  I'm working out of the Peterson's guide right now.  Peterson's is good for technical information, and uses sketches/drawings.  Kaufman's has actual pictures of the insects, which can make identification easier because it is the most realistic representation.



     



























I do have interests other than insects and evolution.  Although not really any different from chemistry, I love to cook.  I really would like to own, and cook my way through, Julia Childs' Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 Volume Set).  While I will admit that this has been inspired in part by Julie & Julia (the movie about a young lady who cooks her way through the book, blogging as she goes),  I have always wanted to learn a specific style of cooking.  My family is polish/german, so growing up many of the meals I make use aspects from that-- although really it is at best improvisational cooking.  So, added to the list: 

Making Time

I'm a pretty busy person.

15-20 hours a week: tutoring
8 hours a week: Teaching
4 hours a week: Grading and writing lectures.
10 hours a week: Class
10-15 hours a week: Research
5 hours a week: Studying

That's 52-62 hours.

Now there are 168 hours in a week.  If I want to get 6 hours of sleep every night (42 hours for the week) after work, studying, and research I've got 64-74 hours(9-10 hours a day) left to travel, cook, eat, socialize etc. I can do that.  I can make it work.  But its exhausting.

If ever there was a time to develop super powers. . . I'd want super speed.  Seriously.  Take the flash.  Imagine how fast this guy can do the dishes.  His place must be pristine.  And the morning commute?  Its a flash. (haha)

The Flash

Class today was a whole spoonful of awesome.

I simply must write about it.  Here's the idea:  Cities are ecosystems.  They're divided neatly into blocks, which are further divided.  In the city you might get a series of planters, all exactly alike.  Perfect for experiments. Think about it.  Urban ecologists (like me!) need to study cities.  More specifically, we're not really sure what happens in all the green stuff we use to make things pretty.  So why not set up some experiments in the planters we already have in place? 

Planters on Euclid Ave. in Cleveland Ohio

More planters on Euclid Ave.  These are integrated into the Euclid Corridor Project which is pretty cool. 

There will be more on this later!

A bit of ecology for your perusal. :) *CLIMATE CHANGE

Had an ecology midterm last week.  It's interesting stuff!  Read on!