2011 Wrap Up

It's that time of year again where we deck the halls, eat too much, get our trees, our friends at Fox News have their yearly "War on Christmas" rants, and we ring in the new year. So, in that spirit, here is my commentary on 2011.

We started the year with the tragic shooting of a town meeting hosted by Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. 2011 brought us "the protester" (Time Magazine's Person of the Year) with the Arab Spring and the on-going Occupy Wall Street protests, as well as similar protests, from New York's Zuccotti to Oakland to Tahrir Square . There was also the now infamous footage of our increasingly militarized police force pepper spraying students in the face while peacefully protesting. This incident in at UC Davis wasn't the only one; this has happened at Occupy protests all over the country.

Next year will bring a presidential election and so the fight for the chance to challenge President Obama has begun among the right. With the primary season about to go in early January in Iowa, the coverage of all the smearing and name-calling is in full swing. And how 'bout all those 13(!!) great Republican primary debates? There is a plethora of nonsense and false and bizarre statements that I probably cannot cover it all but here are the most memorable moments. Who could forget all the cheering about death of the uninsured and the death penalty, as well and Mitt's $10,000 bet to Rick Perry? Speaking of the death penalty, this was a hot topic this year with the execution of Troy Davis and an examination of Rick Perry's record.

Going into the primary season, Mitt Romney and Newt Gringrich (yes, I can't believe it either) are the current front runners but apparently Ron Paul could take Iowa. The circus may have just begun. And thanks to the Supreme Court's ruling that corporations are people and money equals free speech, the 2012 election season is going to be truly unprecedented in shenanigans. I'll have some popcorn.

Along with the multiple budget showdowns and the threat of government shutdown, 2011 has truly been a bizarre year in politics, but at least it gave comedians plenty of material.

Other lowhighlights in politics have been Rick Perry's "Strong" ad, Herman Cain's rapid rise and fall (sexual harassment allegations do not bid well for a potential presidential candidate), Michele Bachmann saying that God caused Hurricane Irene as a warning to curb spending in the U.S., Herman Cain's ridiculous 9-9-9 plan, hundreds of pieces of legislation restricting reproductive rights including a (thankfully defeated) personhood amendment in Mississippi that would grant fertilized eggs full rights as a person. Lastly, Obama's HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled the FDA's recommendation that Plan B (emergency contraception) be available over-the-counter and those under 17 may purchase it without a prescription. Dear Mr. President, anti-choicers will never support you, no matter how many concessions you make on the reproductive rights front.

Other notable moments of 2011 was the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the last Harry Potter film was released, Osama bin Laden was killed by Navy SEALS, following a 2008 agreement (GW Bush) all of US troops will be withdrawn by the end of the year, and just recently, Kim Jong II died.

There was also Kim Kardashian's 70 something day marriage and the revelation that the Muppets are Communists. September 11, 2011 marked the 10th anniversary of the attack on the trade towers.

2011 was also the year of well-publicized murder trials of young women. Casey Anthony was acquitted and surprisingly Nancy Grace did not burst into flames (but she was pretty upset). Amanda Knox's murder conviction was overturned and she went home to Washington. Amy Winehouse died, joining the 27 club, Don't Ask Don't Tell was repealed and Steve Jobs died.

Penn State is amid a child abuse scandal involving former offensive coach Jerry Sandusky and the following riots by students after Joe Paterno was fired (which just may be the dumbest protest of the year) and there was the earthquake, tsunami and following disaster in Japan complete with a nuclear plant meltdown. We also had record breaking weather disasters here at home, including super tornadoes, drought, and wildfires.

And who can forget the (former) Governator's affair and secret love child with the housekeeper. Lastly, the Earth's human population reached 7 billion.

What a year! What will 2012 bring?

Happy New Year!

Everybody's going off the deep end, everybody needs a second chance

For approximately 95% of human history* we lived as nomads, no large societies, just small groups of gathers and scavengers. Recent evidence suggests we did not start hunting with sophisticated tools and strategies until  later than previously thought. It blows my mind that for so long we lived a dramatically different lifestyle than what we play out in modern industrial societies.

Globalization. I just (unknowingly) ordered something from China. My first clue after the transaction was complete was the email I received with Chinese characters before the English text. YeePay, the leading online transaction company in China, had processed my transaction. I hadn't heard anything from the merchant in two weeks and there was not a phone number on the website, just an email address. I was worried that I was scammed.

I thought, "What the hell? How can this be happening? Is this a real site? In China?? How the hell did I end up ordering from a business in China?"

Last Thursday, I had a minor meltdown over it after a conversation with my father who was not sure what to do but said his tech guy looked up the site and it seemed legitimate. I called my mom and talked to her and she said that it would turn out and that the package will probably come. After about an hour of worrying, my mom called and told me that she had a notice from the post office that they have a package from China but no one was home at the time of delivery. Ahhhhhhh! Well what do you know, it all worked out. The product would have come from China if I had ordered it from a US company anyway; I just purchased directly from the country of origin. Oh globalization and technology, what have you done?!

My third semester of my master's degree has come to an end but winter break does not mean release from all school work like it did during my undergrad years. I am taking a vacation to Minnesota for 10 days but I have  to start writing my thesis and analyzing my data! My research does not take a break (until I graduate then wait three months for my PhD program to begin, that is). I wish I could spend a month doing whatever I want (which would probably involve a plethora of movies, books, and naps), but I am becoming a professional scientist now. But Dr. Veech was totally cool with my MN trip, so vacation here I come! Resuming work on thesis till after New Year's Day.

The rat babies are almost all grown up now, 4 months old. They have reached sexual maturity (that happens at 5-6 weeks!! Thanks mama Phoebe for demonstrating this!) but they will reach "social maturity" around 6 months of age. I'm not really sure what that means in rat world, but I read that on a few websites about rats. Io and Phoebe have apparently just reached social maturity; I guess they had Matilda and Marley (until she died in October) to show them how to be rats. And they are teaching Tempie, Fancy, and June.

Zeus and Splinter are huge and determined to find the girls. They live together in a separate cage from the girls . I heard male rats were supposed to be calm. But the boys run around like mad men and try to scale up the sides of the girls' house. Maybe I should move them to a different room? Believe it or not, rats can be neutered. But, I don't think I'm going to go there.

I just realized that I never gave Marley a blog tribute. You were a sweet girl and a good auntie. Watching you carry the babies around was so sweet and I feel lucky to have shared nearly two years of my life with you. I hope you had the best life possible.

In the lane, snow is glistening

Another year is coming to a close. I still cannot believe that it is December. Time (feels like) it moves differently here. There is no snow. No sub-zero temperatures. Is it really the holiday season? I am going to Minnesota again  on December 23 for a white Christmas. Last year, I experienced the holidays away, lonely and longing for the place my heart lies. Suddenly "White Christmas" held a whole new meaning. Last winter was brutal. Not due to weather since I live in Texas but painful because I was here while the rest of my family and friends began their normal celebrations. My favorite Christmas carol of all time became something new, something relevant to me. It played over and over in my mind and through the tears and sadness, I hoped that next year would bring me back to MN, that a line in the song will come true.

"In a year, we all will be together."

And now, it's almost here. A good friend of mine told me this morning that she is very happy at the progress that I have made over the last year.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your hear be light.
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles will be miles away

Through the years, we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star on the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Take it away Judy Garland.

I think this compass is broken

Thanksgiving is upon us again. I am making a turkey for the first time.

I am thankful for all the things that I have and for how lucky I have been.

It's pointing east, east, east, east...

Tell me am I getting in too deep?
Every night I'm talking in my sleep
Lately I am so confused, I really don't know what to do

Some time has passed, but I'm not any closer to an answer.

Alexandra told me that I won't have a shortage. It's probably true. Will I ever figure this out?

How do you measure a life of a woman or a man?

It's time now to sing out, though the story never ends.

The heat has finally subsided here in Texas. Last year at this time and the (sort of) winter months, I was satisfied with the weather and enjoyed the warm winters. This summer, Austin Mabry had 90 days of above 100 F as of 10/20/2011 (most on record since 1898). And until a cool front came at the end of last week (and by cool the highs are around 70-77 and lows around 50), it was quite warm here in central Texas. I didn't wear jeans or long pants from mid-April to last week. Six months of very warm weather. Brace yourself, but in spite of wearing skirts and flip flops for 6+ consecutive months, I decided that I do not like the long and hot summers. Northern latitudes are preferable to this sort of climate here at the 29th parallel north. The weather was beautiful for October in Minnesota. It was when I arrived back in Austin last Sunday while waiting for Blake in the warmth that I realized the north is awesome.

Home is where the heart is, indeed.

My trip to Minnesota was short but sweet. I saw a few friends but mostly spent time with my family and Dillinger, Josh's puppy. Red nose American Pit Bull Terrier but sweet as pie. What a lovely puppy. I cannot wait to see him in 7 weeks. How big will he be then?! That head! He even wore a gopher jersey for the Homecoming game.

Some memories play over in my head like a broken record. Over and over again. Some are from long ago, some from recent times. They go in cycles, oscillating through the seasons and the years. Memories that zipped through my neocortex over and over at one instant in time have now faded and others follow the same pattern.  

One summer eve's with kung fu and the winds of change began to blow stronger than they ever have.

Lately I am so confused; I really don't know to do.

Enough about the past. This week, I am giving my first talk about my research. I am excited and nervous. I am practicing tomorrow so I think I have a handle on it.

And finally, to the future. I have my sights set on a particular place.

Happy Halloween!

Pending: Sweet reunions

In less than 12 hours I will be at my mom's house in Burnsville. I am extremely excited. It's easy to take things for granted, like seeing your parents daily (or nearly daily). I can't wait to see them again. Reunions are beautiful.

But before I get too mushy about my ardor for MN, I want to say a few things about my life in Texas and the people that I know here. Don't confuse for my love for MN as a symptom of hate for Texas. Not true. I am glad that I came here. I have learned a great deal. If you get the opportunity to live somewhere different from where you grew up, I highly recommend it. It's fascinating how within the US cultures and customs vary. The differences are subtle but profound.

I truly believe that I am better off knowing the people that I have met here. I have made some wonderful friends out of truly amazing humans. I am lucky to have been blessed with their presence.

This chapter of my life will come to a close next summer when I (hopefully) move on to a new state to a PhD program. It has been short but very, very sweet.

I love the tacos. I love the wildlife and the landscape. It's very different from what I experienced higher latitudes. I can't get enough of the caracaras and the roadrunners.

What an opportunity! What a blessing! I am very lucky, indeed.

I can't wait to reunite with my parents and brothers. I love seeing their faces after time has passed. It's like no time has passed when we embrace.

All the while, I will be reminding myself "to not cry because it's over; smile because it happened."

I do it for love.

It's autumn somewhere

Over 41 surveys since mid-May, I have seen over 500 scissor-tailed flycatchers and 41 loggerhead shrikes. These birds are found in similar habitat; it's clear that the shrikes are not very dense. About 1/4 of my shrike sample size has come from the last 3 weeks! The northern breeding populations head south below the 39th latitude. I still feel blessed by the Universe every time I spot the unmistakable masked head of the loggerhead shrike. There are still a few scissor tails hanging around, although most have begun the annual journey to Central America.

Meanwhile, our lords of the dark leaders are busy dismantling the Clean Air Act and further suppressing women's health care choices, in the names of jobs and protecting life of course. Unless you are a breather and/or a woman, that is. Help me out here teabaggers, how exactly does tens of thousands more ill (or dead) people equal a better economy?

Apparently, the 19th and early 20th centuries were great times since our leaders, particularly on the right, are working hard to bring us backwards. The republicans have gone off the deep end. When Newt Gingrich is considered a moderate in the party, you know they have gone right of the right.

The daily actions of the GOP are morally indefensible.

Another one bites the dust

When I go out on my bird surveys, which are sadly coming to an end (gotta get that thesis done!), I often catch the 9 at 9 on Bob FM. Listening to the 9 at 9 on Bob FM (the Austin counterpart to Jack FM in the TC) makes this scientist happy and sometimes perplexed that certain songs were ever popular. They pick a year and play 9 songs from that year. Yesterday was 1991. The previous day featured 1980 (hello disco!). I'll admit, I love jammin out to the "oldies", which now officially includes the 80's and maybe even the early 90's. Wow. Last night as I was channel surfing, I came across Nick at Nite and FRIENDS was on. What the hell? I guess it did start 17 years ago... and I am almost a quarter century old. If I were living during the conditions in which humans lived for most of history (small nomadic groups), I'd probably be dead (or geriatric) by now! Technology is really something, isn't it?

I recently tried to abandon coffee and cut back on my caffeine consumption, but it beckoned me back. I washed my coffee thermos that had been sitting in my office (with some coffee in it) yesterday and I pulled out a gelatinous like sheet of fungi. The next few minutes involved hot water and a copious amount of soap. When dealing with our close relatives (the fungi, closely related to the metazoans), the thought of me inhaling fungal spores and then dying enters in my mind. I cautiously approach our eukaryotic kin. Those creatures are tricky and sometimes nasty little things. Hats off to you, fungi! Thanks for the penicillin, beer, bread, and LSD! Our paths have been intertwined probably since we both first emerged from the slime and will continue to cross into the future. I wonder if there is a "Fungi Appreciation Day" or something like that. There should be. 

Anywho, the GOP primary race is in full swing, even though the first primaries have not yet happened. The candidates have been playing a game of popularity musical chairs, with Michele Bachmann starting out strong, then came Rick Perry, now Herman Cain and Ron Paul are rising to the top as the GOP flavor of the week. The wonderful writers at huffpost put out this hilarious gem today which pretty much sums it all up. 

Occupy Wall Street continues on. Rock on to the people have showed up, and continue to show up in NYC and in cities all over the country. Don't listen to the pundits or the douche bags leaders of our country. 

The rhetoric spit out by our leaders (particularly on the right but some Democrats are guilty, too) involving the "debt crisis", unemployment, and the austerity measures is so ridiculous that I wonder if they know they are regurgitating indefensible bullshit and just continue to do it anyway. 

Oh, and you go Elizabeth Warren. 

You don't need money, don't take fame

The good news is that I did just fine on the test. I keep thinking of the episode of "Full House" where D.J. is anticipating taking the SAT.

"It's no big deal, it's just a test."

After sitting in traffic and fretting that I was late and would not be let in (only to find out that there is a 30 minute period to arrive after 8 AM), I was insulted by a stranger then I yelled something not so nice back. I rarely use such vitriolic language to strangers (well people in general, except for this and scary steakhouse man) and I shed some tears a few moments later. In retrospect, I probably looked completely ridiculous. However, the guy working the front of the test center looked completely calm and handed me a glass of water. It's probably not the first time he has seen tears in the testing center.

I will get the official scores by November but I have a rough estimate of my verbal and quantitative scores. The results are satisfactory and a vast improvement from my previous scores. My verbal score is apparently between the 65-80 percentile, which is awesome for me. It means that my score was better than 65-80% of all test takers' scores. Woot! And the best news is, I don't have to take it ever again!!

I am working on finishing my application materials for PhD programs. I have been blessed by the Universe to have a few great opportunities. Just putting my best foot forward. Some readers who are close friends of mine may know the schools that I am applying to, but I'll wait until I know more to reveal anything too detailed here. If I get into more than one program, it will be very difficult to choose.

My data collection is coming to a close but it has been successful and enlightening. I saw two American kestrels and five loggerhead shrikes today. I have driven this route three times before and this is the first time that I have seen shrikes (and kestrels, but they don't breed here). I suspect that some or maybe all of the shrikes I saw today are wintering visitors. I feel lucky every time I see one. There are still scissor-tailed flycatchers, but fewer. Also, the stfc's that I am seeing now may be migrants coming from KS and OK on their way to central America. Although it is still hot here, the harbingers of the season change have arrived. I have spotted a few northern breeding birds on their way to the wintering grounds. The first kestrels have appeared.

One more month until my visit to Minnesota! I miss everyone and I can't wait to come. I hope the weather is nice. I am ready to wear sweaters in October again. I still can't stand even the thought of wearing jeans or long sleeves in a Texas September.

Thanks Netflix for your sub-par customer service but your selection of movies on streaming is satisfactory. I just watched Lo. Not a horror film as advertised, but worth a watch. I recently watched SmileyFace. Every time I watch Anna Farris in a movie, I like her more and more.

Alternet (if you have never visited, check it out. But if your a teapublican living in la la land or believe that the super rich are "job creators", well it will probably make your skin crawl) was a powerhouse of awesomeness yesterday. This piece was my favorite. But there were some other great ones, here, here and here.

Another story that surfaced yesterday is worth sharing again (I even shared this one on fb, even though I am cooling it on the fb posting).

To wonder!

It is estimated that there are 100-500 billion galaxies in the Universe. Not just stars, but galaxies. The vastness is incomprehensible.

"For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love." - Carl Sagan (of course)

Dr. Lopes, who teaches a seminar that I am taking, greeted me with a big smile and said "Erin, the Carl Sagan  reader!"

Kiss today goodbye

Conversation on the TX State bus this morning:

"Dude, it's awesome that my dealer is also my best friend."
"Yea, that's really convenient."
"It was totally destiny."

I take the GRE (for the LAST time) on Friday. I hope I do well and don't completely bomb it and end up on the street because no PhD program will take me due to an abysmal score. Universe, please let me get into a PhD program!! Please let my master's thesis be AWESOME! I am cramming (so to speak) today and tomorrow. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't let me defeat myself. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get a good score!!!! I just might jump off a cliff if I don't. This stupid f***ing test, doesn't measure my competence and potential as a scientist.

I'm not bitter at all.

My decision to come to TX was the right one, but after this I am totally done living at latitudes below 40 degrees. It is too damn hot for too long down here at 29 degrees. I understand that this summer is exceptionally hot, but I really prefer temps in the 60's and 70's in September, not 90-100+. It is the 21st day of the month currently 95 F. I'll be ready to go back up north when this is all done. Leave it to a Minnesotan to discuss the weather.

Fringe starts again on Friday night (seriously, who the hell is at home to watch tv on a Friday... oh wait, me) so I bought the third season a few weeks ago. Blake and I have had Fringe marathons over the last 2 weeks.

Ashton Kutcher made his debut on Two and a Half Men this week. I didn't watch it but it's all the rage this week in the world of television.

Also happening this week is an execution of a (likely) innocent man. I thought the justice system was supposed to prove your guilt, not your innocence. Is this state-sanctioned murder? I say yes. And along with thousands (maybe over a million) other souls, this is an unbelievable event, the state-sponsored murder of a man that probably did not commit the crime. I was explaining this to Blake yesterday and he asked, "Is he black?" "Yes," I respond. He sighed and said, "That's probably why."

Are we too barbarian?

And there's this. It reminded me of a great piece that I read on Alternet last month.

Won't forget, can't regret what I did for love.

Just bust a move

My day started early since data collection was Tuesday morning's calling. It seems like there are more hawks than there have been during the summer, but that may not be real (yet, at least). The scissor-tailed flycatchers are still hanging out, but will be gone soon. It's possible that these individuals are migrants, but there is no way for me to tell (within the scope of my study). My data collection is coming to a close soon. Then comes the part where I actually have to do something with it.

If you happen upon an OK state quarter, check out the picture.

Even though it is still quite warm here, the rest of the things I associate with fall move in like any other year. Glee is premiering right now! I would totally be a musical theater actress if I wasn't a scientist (and if I could sing well, of course).

The rat herd is doing well but exponentially messier than 2-3 rats. The babies are almost as big as Phoebe. I wonder if young rat moms have stunted growth. She is even smaller than her sister, Io. At least she does not bite anymore and (sometimes) lets me hold her. Gus says, "let ME hold her, ah hahahha". Nice try, feline. 

Rock lobster

"Cleveland, sit down. I'm gonna play you a little song that kept me going when I had troubles."

Lately I am so confused, I really don't know what to do.

Is really better to have loved and lost than to have never loved?

Would life be better if I was a clam?

The GRE and I meet once again on Friday morning. Hopefully I will walk away as the victor with the test as my slain dragon. Or something like that.

Fog, a lost site around here, covered the landscape this morning. The rat babies are over 5 weeks old now. Zeus and Splinter have moved into their bachelor pad. They are growing quickly. Chocolate chip cookie was the special Sunday treat.

I want inner peace.

Enjoy the soundtrack.

Football is back but the heat has stayed. At least the rains came and now it is cooler.

Gypsy

Some days, well right now most days, I wish I was a clam. Or something of that nature. I don't know what it's like to be a clam, but they lack complex social relationships and emotions (at least in the human sense). NOFX says clams have feelings, too (actually they don't). Wisdom from pop culture.

On the other hand, you can probably guess that I recognize the wonder and beauty that comes with such a large neo-cortex and complex social relations, so I don't really want to be a clam...(?) But the power of our enlarged cerebral cortex comes with a price. A large one.

Suddenly I found myself as Erin the instructor, Erin the graduate student. Moving into a Brave New Phase. It's scary and exciting. It's full of promise, uncertainty, doubt, growth, and soul-searching. Once, everything was clear. And now, it's muddled again.

Complex social relations means complex emotions and situations. Hats off to natural selection! Thanks for this  very large neo-cortex, but some days I feel the price is too high.

How 'bout those clams?

Paradigm shifts, transience, Texas, relational ecology, scissor-tailed flycatchers.

Do I miss the way it was? That depends. The way it was, and has always been, changing at a rapid pace.

I'm in the infancy of yet another phase; one (hopefully) set to begin next fall. The winds may have something else for me.

Will the nightmares and patchy sleep end when this is all resolved? Will it ever be resolved? Will the headaches cease? What more do I need?

Things are currently volatile, sometimes hostile. And hot.

Although, wouldn't you know, it rained today. Poured. Thunder roared and lightening flashed. The limestone kept the water on the roads. I left the umbrella at home and walked in the rain.

I'm sorry

My intention was never to hurt anyone. If I have caused any sort of hurt, I am truly sorry. I may not get a chance to tell you and you may never see this. But at any rate, for whatever it's worth, I really am sorry.

The life with rats- week 2 for the babes

I finally held the rat babies for the first time yesterday! Phoebe has been extremely protective of her offspring. When I returned all five to the nest, Phoebe jumped out of her tunnel and bit me twice in the pinkie. That makes 7 bites since she has given birth. I finally dug out my hide gloves to handle Phoebe but she didn't try to bite at all. I put her in with the other girls which she seemed to enjoy. I suppose moms of any species need a break. I am still amazed at how small Phoebe is; she is, after all, just 10 weeks old.

I was able to sex the babies this evening while Phoebe was enjoying time with non-infant rats. I'm 90% certain that there are 2 boys and 3 girls. This was just the ratio that I was hoping for! The girls all live together while the two boys will be in their own cage in a separate room. Blake talked me into keeping the boys and I assigned him the task of naming the pair. I am eager and a little nervous to learn his choice. Brainstorming for the girls' names has begun. What an exciting surprise the Universe has bestowed upon me!

The babies haven't open their eyes yet, but they have whiskers and peach fuzz covering their tiny bodies. Their ears are beginning to perk up and I expect them to be fully furred in a few days (day 12 of development). They should also open their eyes around the same time. The cuteness nearly chokes me. I really can't think of a better "gift" (if you will); this has been exciting and joyous. And there is more ahead!

The babies on day 6. The one with the black head is a boy. I'm excited to see what the other four look like; they will be blonde or white!

What an adventure.

Lessons from Life with Rats- The Surprise

As many people know, I have kept pet rats since November of 2007 when I got Maxine followed by Moo Moo. I added Matilda and Marley to the bunch following Moo Moo's death in December 2009. Maxine died in May 2010. I took Matilda and Marley to Texas last summer. The two of them are enjoying a life of bliss, now approaching 2 years old. I recently found out that Marley has a small uterine tumor and endometriosis. It's a bummer, but rats just don't live too long. Two or three years is all they get, even less in the wild. Dealing with their deaths is difficult; there are, after all, like any other pet. However, even the short time is worth spending with our sharp incisor-ed mammalian (and fellow Euarchontoglires) kin. 


I adopted all of the rats as juveniles; 7-10 weeks of age. I watched them grow from rambunctious juveniles to adults to senior rats. They are frisky and squirmy as youngsters but as they get older they are more likely to sleep in your lap. They enjoy being pet behind the ears and stroked on the head and neck. You can teach them their names and simple tricks. 


Under two weeks ago, I added two more rats to my family. I brought Io and Phoebe home to Matilda and Marley. The two new girls were only around 8 weeks of age. Both were skittish at first, but Io is comfortable with me and her new environment. Phoebe, on the other hand, is still unsure of me. Over the last week, Phoebe constructed a gigantic nest with all of the material from Marley's nest plus nearly a quarter of the bedding in the cage. When the little girls first came, Phoebe would sleep with Io and the other girls. Over the past few days, she started sleeping alone in her massive nest. The nest covered the small hut on the upper level. I really thought nothing of it; all of my rats in the past have been nest-builders. My girls love shredding newspaper and cloth to make comfy nests. 


A few days ago, I noticed that Phoebe looked really bloated. I asked Blake if she looked bloated. I thought, "hmmm, I didn't think she was a fat rat but I have had chunky rats (Moo and Marley)." Yesterday, Phoebe bit me (twice!) when I was trying to find and her and bring her out of the nest. This afternoon while I was petting Marley, I heard squeaking. A light bulb suddenly turned on in my head. 


It all makes sense. Rat babies! Phoebe, 10 weeks old, gave birth to 5 pups. Rats are prolific breeders; they live the "Jimmy Dean" lifestyle. Live (breed) fast and die young. That's they way the evolutionary cookie crumbles. 


Luckily, Phoebe had a small litter (rats can have up to 13 pups, and average 8-9), Io is not pregnant and I have only female rats. 


"Oh my gosh! What are you going to do with them, Erin??!!" my mom said to me over the phone. 


"I'll probably keep them, mom. Or maybe I'll give away the males when they are weaned." I replied. 


What a Sunday surprise! I am excited to watch rats grow up from birth. The life with rats continues with an exciting new twist. 

Don't need no credit card to ride this train

August 1st! Where does the time go?

On this day in 2007, the I35 bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River during rush hour. Hey Congress, let's invest in infrastructure!

Well Congress has reached a deal on our "debt crisis", but no matter who "won", America is the real loser. Check out any news outlet, except for "fixed noise" (aka Fox News), and you'll see what I mean. However, I stumbled upon this gem today. Give it a read. It was just what the doctor ordered.

My mom called me tonight to tell me that an old canine's life was over. This faithful friend was my aunt and uncle's dog. She was around 16 or 17. Molly, as we called her, had a good life. She spent copious amounts of time chasing after small rodents and patrolling the yard. She had a plethora of belly rubs and table treats. It's never easy to lose pets; I understand how much they mean, how great of friends they are. But, at least we had the joy of the time that they were alive, however brief it was. As Alec Baldwin, guest starring on "Friends", said about a dog long gone, "Bow wow, old friend, bow wow."

Speaking of our furry companions, the rats are visiting the vet tomorrow for respiratory infections (an easy fix) so once the rats are all better, I am going to get more rats! Probably just 2. But maybe 3. It will be great fun!

The Netflix movie viewing continues during my breaks from collecting data and playing around with Breeding Bird Survey data (google it if you want an explanation). I have been watching horror movies for the last week. I saw some good ones, including Let the Right One In, Dance of the Dead, and Warlock. The English remake  of the first movie, Let Me In, is also worth watching if you don't like subtitles (original is in Swedish). Warlock is an 80's flick and a little campy but it is one of the better films to come out of the late 80's. I also watched Altered and Trick r Treat. Altered didn't really do anything for me and Trick r Treat was decent, but there sure was a lot of child-killing in the latter. And by that I mean children being killed, and a little bit of children killing other people (but mostly the former).

Blake and I caught a matinee showing of Cowboys and Aliens yesterday. It was a fun summer action flick. I thought it was worth the $5.50 I paid.

A sleep study awaits me tomorrow evening. Sleeping attached to electrodes will be a first for me.

Current Events and other Happenings

"If English was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for us."

This quote was revived in a recent article, as well as a friend's facebook status, and since it came from a gem in the long line of great TX governors (that includes Good Hair or as I like to call him "ass-clown"), I deemed it appropriate to start this post. 

The tragedy in Norway is unbelievable. A terrorist attack in Norway?!?!? By a Norwegian? What is the world coming to? My thoughts go out to the families of the victims and the citizens of Norway. 

The other big story of the summer is the debt ceiling showdown. I don't think I can even go into this because it  enrages me. So I'll just point you to some great pieces that sum up my feelings, here, here, here, and here. If I hear the right say, "We can't tax the job creators!!", one more time...

But hey, if the multi-millionaires  (billionaires) of the NFL can make a deal, so can our leaders!! Right? Right?

 ...crickets...

My summer has been good, full of swimming, birds, data, writing, reading, and movies. The cats STILL haven't cleaned the apartment while I'm away, but I read an article recently that light house cleaning apparently decreasing the risk of breast cancer, so at least there is a bright side! Thank the Universe for technology because Netflix streaming is one of the best things ever, even though those bastards are changing the plans and raising the prices. I watched "Being John Malkovich" for the first time. It was weird but I enjoyed it.

Pandora Internet Radio has become a favorite of mine lately. I was jammin out to 80's pop radio on Pandora when "Hungry eyes" came on, which reminds me that I made Blake watch Dirty Dancing about a month ago. It was one of my favorite movies when I was growing up. And it stars Patrick Swayze. But Blake made fun of it and predicted the ending while telling me that every cartoon he watches has made fun of it. Sigh. Well at least I get some payback for seeing Alien vs. Predator 2 in theaters. Speaking of movies, I decided to watch "Unborn in America" the other day, a look at the religious right and their fight to end abortions. I should have known from the start that this was a bad idea (if you didn't already notice, yours truly is an atheist liberal aka Rush L.'s nightmare), but I went forth anyway. 

UGHHHHHH!!!!!!! and AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! 

accurately describe my reaction. 

I turned it off half way through. I just couldn't finish it. Most of the speakers shown (they interviewed 2 women), including the founders of the group in focus, are men. What's the probability of a man getting pregnant this year? Zero. If it is impossible for men to get pregnant, then why are the even leading the conversation? And the wonderful male governors of states such as TX, FL, OH (just to name a few) have signed into law policies that are surely to increase the number of unwanted pregnancies (and therefore abortions). 

The religious zealots seem to have a large influence on today's Republican leaders (and policies at the local, state, and federal level- Intelligent Design anyone?). They seem to be taking us backwards in time. I thought we were living in the 21st century. I could rant on and on about this issue, but I'll just to direct you to a wonderful article on Alternet that sums it all up.

Ok, enough of the "controversial issues". My adventures of the VS swim suit continue. What can I say? If you got it, flaunt it! Right?

I'm baaaaaaaack!

Hello again.

I have abandoned this blog for the last six months. What can I say? It's been a busy six months. I have officially completed a year of my master's program and out collecting data. Much has happened since the last time I wrote, but I won't go in to great detail here. The highlights of the last six months have been my 5 year anniversary with Blake, a trip to the coast, and a trip to Sequoia National Park in California. I saw bears, a western rattlesnake, waterfalls, HUGE trees, and lots of birds including the mountain chickadee.

I also celebrated my 24th birthday with a wonderful party complete with a cake and good company. My birthday present from Blake was a Victoria's Secret swimsuit (I chose the present!!). And if you are reading this blog (and can use the internet) then no doubt you are aware of the VS product line. And you can also imagine that VS swimsuits are sexy. I chose this as a gift because the suits are by bra size and the top was sure to fit! Anyway, those of you who have seen me in person are aware of my (relatively) large breasts. So add my slightly good looking face to the VS suit and guess what happens?? The not-so-discrete stares and chatter start.

"Dude, look over there!" Conspicuous head turn.

I decided to go to the river this afternoon for a swim, just to get out of my apartment. I jumped in the water and I was swimming around when I caught the stares of two young men standing just upstream.

"Dude, look at that chick!" Friend turns around. I laughed and swam underwater.

"The power of boobs over men never ceases to amaze me," I thought to myself as I continued to swim around.

When I got out of the water, the two aforementioned friends were still staring at me when I said, "Hello, how are you?"

The friends were surprised but then invited me over for a beer. I thought "why not?" and accepted. We chatted for about 20 minutes. They told me I was hot; I laughed and told them that I'm glad they enjoyed my swim suit. One of the friends then asked me, "Did you expect guys not to stare?"

The people at VS totally know what they are doing. Reminds me of a scence from a classic from my childhood, The Sandlot.

"Oh man. Too cool."

"She don't know what she's doing."

"Yea, she don't know what she's doing."

"Yea she does, she knows exactly what she's doing."

A Story About Birds

Just yesterday, I let someone draw a permanent image on my right ankle. I choose to get a Black-capped Chickadee. As everyone knows, birds are my thing. It's hard to choose just one favorite since there are a plethora of fascinating and wonderful avian groups. But the black-capped chickadee has a quality that no other bird species possesses.

Fall 2007, I was enrolled in Animal Behavior. We were required to design and conduct our own animal behavior study. My partner was an incredibly intelligent and sharp peer who had a passion for vertebrates of the avian variety. She came up with the idea for our study and it focused on black-capped chickadees. Prior to this class project, I was not familiar with this bird. In fact, I did not pay much attention to birds. I enjoyed sightings but I did not have the enthusiasm and love for our avian cousins that I have now.

The project was challenging and gave me my very first taste of studying wild animals in the field. Upon the completion of the project, I asked my grandmother (who happens to be an amateur ornithologist) for a bird guide for Christmas. This class project had sparked my interest in birds.

It's over three years later and I am in graduate school conducting a thesis project on avian habitat associations and population dynamics. For those who know me well, you know that birds are one of my favorite things. I owe this passion and life long commitment to spotting as many species as possible to the feisty little passerines known as black-capped chickadees. Their behaviors and vocalizations are fascinating. Additionally, they brave the winters of Northern latitudes.

So here's to you, chickadees, and the journey you sent me on.

The Mild January

After a five week hiatus, I once again have a busy schedule and hold many responsibilities. Tuesday brought a reunion of the survivors of Statistics for Biologists I. The classroom buzzed with chatter before our instructor welcomed us back; there was a sense of familiarity there, filled with friends.

I have been ambitious and have taken on the challenge of preparing two more grant proposal applications due by February 1st. Practice practice practice. 

I taught my first section of the spring semester today. With some experience behind me, I went ahead with more confidence and ease. Three sections of Introductory Biology (Organismal) for biology majors to teach in a week. That's around 55 students. Well, the pay check will be a little bit larger. s

Let's celebrate to one week of diligent exercise! Thank you, Dad, for the funds to attend fitness class for the semester. The joys of exercise had evaded me. It is difficult, sweaty, and pushes me to my muscular limit, but benefits do indeed follow. Furthermore, I have curbed my dessert and sweets intake and I have not made a dessert in almost two weeks. For this dessert connoisseur, it is quite an accomplishment. 

The weather has been beautifully mild and wonderful. I confess: Minnesota is miserably and brutally cold in January. Sunny skies with crisp mornings and warm afternoons, reminiscent of Minnesota in autumn.

I enjoyed a walk to the Supple Science Castle this morning. The castle happens to be on the complete opposite side of campus from where I live, as well as through a land of rolling hills. 

Oakleys on as I walk out of the door, down the stairs, and towards the campus. Pass the neighbor's orange tree. As I walked down the hill, I listened to the vocalizations of the ubiquitous feathered vertebrates. A lovely symphony composed of a myriad of voices and varieties. The chickadees are loud and chatter their name along with a suite of vocalizations. 

The Blue Jays make their presence known in the neighborhood. They squawk loudly. One squawks in flight while more garrulous jays' calls can be heard from all directions. 

Mocking birds and Great-tailed Grackles are also abundant. 

If you stop and watch the birds, you enter a world that our feathered kin inhabit around us. The grackles continue on communicating with one another by bill tilts, puffing their feathers, songs, and various other behaviors. To me, it's mildly amusing and brings about a slight calmness. 

They carry on with their avian ways, above and around their bipedal cousins.

What would it be like to live as a bird? One can only try to imagine, restricted by our world view based upon the lives of our nature as ground-dwelling, bipedal mammals.

But, at least we can appreciate the diversity of other sensory worlds that exist in parallel to ours.

2011- January is here again

Happy New Year! Today is also Martin Luther King Day. Here's to you MLK. 

It turns out that graduate school (sometimes) feels like an extension of undergraduate life. The spring semester commences tomorrow after a five week break. What did this graduate student do? Watched many hours of movies on AMC and adult cartoons, baked a plethora of holiday treats, and indulged in alcohol and desserts. 

My tree went back to it's cardboard home on January 2nd. Not bad. 

And then right after the New Year, I finally became (somewhat) motivated to write my grant proposal and thesis proposal. I finished the proposal four days before it was due. Good for me! And since I am teaching three lab sections this semester, as well as the start of my data collection, I have spent the whole weekend watching movies and football. I cleaned my apartment and I haven't slept until noon in almost two weeks. The semester is welcomed. 

Not a New Year's resolution, but a new-semester-new-routine-so-might-as-well-exercise reasoning. I did it once, I can do it again. Grains and legumes are stored in my cupboard. Fitness, yes!

My wonderful parents gave me a pair of nice binoculars for Christmas. Exciting (and probably sometimes boring) times ahead on my roadside surveys!

I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to accompany a fellow graduate student to three caves in central Texas. Two of the caves did not have bats, but we had to suit up with knee-high rubber boots and a helmet with a headlamp. The smell of guano is intense and smells of decaying organic matter, but it has a distinct smell among feces. When we went into the Old Tunnel, where there were a few thousand bats, we had to walk through knee high muck; it was guano mixed with water. One of the worst things that I have ever smelled. But, I live for these experiences. I found a bat skull in the first cave, along with a plethora of tiny wing bones. 

I'm equipped with new Nike sneakers. I'm ready for the spring 2011.