10 random facts Meme

Posted by lapazfarm on October 24th, 2006 filed in Random Ramblings

Since I have finally been tagged (twice, actually, by Jennifer and Doris), here goes my version…

1. I have been published twice in scientific journals for articles about spiders. This was in a former life when I used to actually “do” science. Now I just teach it to my children, which I find entirely more pleasant and enjoyable.

2. I have yet to meet a cheese I did not like. Dairy will be the death of me, I’m sure!

3. I have pondered writing a book about doing nature study with children, but always chicken out. (In fact, just writing that sentence scared me).
4. When I visited the Redwoods in California I literally hugged a tree. Yes, I am certifiable!I have pictures to prove it.

5. I drink Sangria like coolaid. Yum! (Goes well with the cheese).
6. The only foreign country I’ve ever been to was Canada. Briefly. And I’m not sure that Canada even really counts.
7. I was editor of my high school newspaper. I guess I peaked early!LOL!
8. I love all animals, but moths really give me the creeps. I hate to admit it, but it is true.
9. In the 14 years I have been married to dh, we have moved 14 times. I think. I may have missed one. I am a bit tired of it, actually. But I doubt it is over.
10. I cannot sew. at. all. I am apparently missing some necessary gene sequence or something because I really have tried, but it is hopeless.

There you have it, the most boring list of facts you have read all day (unless, perhaps, like my children you like to read the ingredients list off the cereal boxes every morning. But then again, there’s some pretty fascinating stuff in there…)

I tag anyone who has made it this far without slipping into a coma.

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14 Responses to “10 random facts Meme”

  1. Dawn Says:
    October 24th, 2006 at 6:10 pm

    Theresa, I love your list! I’ve only ever been to Canada too! (Perhaps Mexico when I was an infant and my dad was stationed in TX - not sure!) Love cheese, sangria, tree-hugging … ;) And I would be *first* in line to buy that nature study book! I hope you will seriously consider it! :)

  2. Nina Says:
    October 24th, 2006 at 7:52 pm

    I would be second in line to purchase your nature study book. Your work and the work of your children inspires me! You really should think about it!

  3. Jennifer Says:
    October 25th, 2006 at 11:54 am

    Mmmm…Sangria and cheese! Perfect boater meal. ;) Delicious!

  4. Elizabeth Says:
    October 25th, 2006 at 12:13 pm

    Write that book! Your scientifically illiterate sisters will thank you!

  5. momof3feistykids Says:
    October 25th, 2006 at 1:00 pm

    This is fun, Teresa! I feel like I “know” you better. I can’t imagine *not* liking a person who was photographed hugging a tree. ;-) What type of science professional were you in your previous life? I hope you will write the book on nature study (though considering everything you have on your plate, and how utterly intimidated I feel at the prospect of writing a book, I can understand what’s holding you back). The things you’ve written here about nature study, and how it relates to whole learning and to your relationship with God, are really beautiful. Your book would be a tremendous gift to all of us.

  6. 10 Random Things - “Tag-You’re It” at A Room of My Own Says:
    October 25th, 2006 at 1:35 pm

    […] I got this from Teresa, who tagged anyone who read her entire blog entry … I did, and I thoroughly enjoyed every word of it. I’ll give it a whirl … […]

  7. Marjorie Says:
    October 26th, 2006 at 7:44 am

    Thanks for your list Teresa. I love learning this interesting bits about everyone! I too would love to see you write a nature study book of any type. I loved reading about your field trip to GSM Park and the berries. We adore the mountains. Question: What kind of scientist are you? An entomologist? My oldest daughter LOVES nature - especially insects and wants to be a biologist. Also, do you have a good recipe for sangria? I have very happy memories of a summer long ago, staying on a sailboat (during a storm, ack!) and drinking many draughts of sangria at the little port’s restaurant. I would love to try making it!

  8. lapazfarm Says:
    October 26th, 2006 at 8:19 am

    Well…since you asked…
    When I was a student at the local university (studying biology) I was lucky enough to get a job working for one of the world’s top arachnologists. Mostly I did stuff like caring for his spiders, dissection, mounting specimens, and measuring spider anatomy under a microscope. But he also had a grant which allowed for him to sponsor some student research, which I was lucky enough to do. I did a study of the courtship and mating behaviors of an African funnelweb spider and that was accepted for publication (co-authored with my mentor) in the Journal of Arachnology, and then later I did a study of the behaviors of a kleptoparasitic spider which lived in the webs of a Jamaican funnelweb spider. This was also accepted for publication. So I was published twice as an undergraduate, which is pretty rare. But then I went to grad school (several, in fact). The coursework I took in grad school was extremely varied due to my inability (or unwillingness) to focus on one specific area for too long. So I took courses in forest ecology, entomology, aquatic ecology, ethology, soil science, ichthyology, algae, and genetics/evolutionary biology, just hoping to find my niche. I never did because I wanted to study it ALL! I finally decided I was more of a “naturalist” than a scientist at heart. It ended up that I completed all my coursework, did all my research for my masters thesis, and promptly QUIT without writing it up (and without getting my MS) to be a teacher for a few years and then homeschool!
    So, that is my history, in a nutshell!
    And the sangria I drink is the cheap grocery store type I grew up drinking.

  9. mtpleasant Says:
    October 26th, 2006 at 3:24 pm

    ahh, could you check out our yellow and black garden spider and tell us whether we have the name correct. She’s about 2″ long, big thing. The boys have enjoyed watching her eat, and examining her new web everyday. We were also wondering where she goes for the winter or where she might lay eggs for spring hatching. Thanks

  10. lapazfarm Says:
    October 26th, 2006 at 6:45 pm

    Hi! I responded briefly on your blog, but will here as well. You identified the spider correctly. She is an Argiope aurantia, commonly called the Black and Yellow Garden Spider. I am not certain, but I think they live only one year, so she will not overwinter. Before she dies she will build a papery-textured egg case that looks alot like a Christmas ornament, round and dangling from a thin, stiff attachment, in which she will lay her eggs. I believe this species the spiderlings hatch in fall and overwinter within the egg case, but again, I am not certain. It woul be worth observing, though, should you find her egg case. Just take care not to disturb it too much or you may lose the spiderlings to the cold.

  11. Big Brother Says:
    October 27th, 2006 at 11:01 am

    #6 isn’t correct. You’ve been the the Bahamas.

  12. lapazfarm Says:
    October 27th, 2006 at 1:19 pm

    Oh, Geez, you are right. I had totally blocked that whole experience from my mind! Thanks for the reminder, Bro.

  13. Jenn Miller Says:
    October 28th, 2006 at 5:02 pm

    Not sleeping here…you are so talented. And patient–14 times for moving! Yikes.

    I wish you would write the nature study book….I would definitely buy it! I’ve got a few books rolling around in my brain. Maybe I would sleep better at night if I put pen to paper!

  14. Alice Says:
    October 29th, 2006 at 1:57 am

    There is nothing boring about this list–I love it!

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