jewelweed

Hello Everyone!

Where to begin, where to begin... I am currently a university student in biology. I realize now, however, that I should have done an environmental degree. I don't know why I didn't from the first place, I never have liked medical or micro biology, but I have always loved me some trees. They're writers you know, keeping a history of their past in tiny rings inside their trunks. Perhaps it was the required philosophy classes that was holding me back, but hey, no matter, I'm only one year away from obtaining an extremely expensive piece of paper.

I have camped for as long as I can remember. There are few things I would rather be doing than canoeing, fishing and canoeing, even better. There's no better place to be than outside. Nature has some amazing stories and, for me, park naturalists where the ones to tell them. I remember looking up to their uniforms and thinking I want to be you when I grow up. Life goal achieved at 19, well sugar, where do I go from here? In all honesty I don't want to go anywhere. Being a park interpreter is the most rewarding job I have ever had. Now I weave those tales and I love telling people of all the wonders right in their own back yards.

This leads nicely into my username and avatar picture, jewelweed, one of my personal favourite flowers, and not just because it makes a superb ointment for poison ivy rashes. My fascination for this plant began a few years back when I was working as an Ontario Ranger. We were bushing a trail when I came upon it growing in the mash beside a boardwalk, such a beautiful colour and interesting shape. Soon after that I learned the name, spotted jewelweed, but that was all. When I became a naturalist three years back I learned some amazing things about this plant. The name comes from the leaves, which remain dry when you submerge it in water, the air trapped around the leaf shimmers like jewels. Another name for this plant is touch-me-not, this originated from the seed pods. They will explode, projecting their seeds in something as light as a breeze when they are ripe. This is my summer job, this is what I love to do.

Of course I wouldn't be here if I didn't love art. Although I think I'm just a mediocre artist I still enjoy doing it. My very favourite medium to work in is watercolour. Many, many hours were spent painting when I should have been studying. Books also seem to suck up a lot of my study time, who doesn't love a good book? My best writing is done during exam period. Despite the heightened creativity induced by procrastination, I do not really enjoy school. Yes, I am a prodigy student.

I have had puppy fever very badly for the past six months. As soon as I can reasonably get a dog I will, which will probably be at least a year away from now. I do expect a lot from a dog, the only way I will get that is if I have the proper amount of time to dedicate to training it and providing it with a happy, healthy life. I want a high energy dog that I can take for regular hikes and swims, I'm thinking a border collie, or perhaps a German Sheppard (the kind my boyfriend going on 4 years wants) Although I defiantly do prefer the company of a dog I still like cats. Growing up I've always had one of both. Our current two, one year old cats came along just a month after my springer spaniel passed on. Their mother, the neighbor's cat, had them under our deck, a litter of 7. It was great to have some four legged friends back in the house. They are the most social and fun cats I have ever had.

If you made it all the way through, congratulations! Thanks for taking the time to get to know me, but there's no prize :)

What, your main character is a thief? SOLD! The Lies of Locke Lamora part of Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard series is tied with the Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. Read them now! Go on, I can wait. I love to laugh, and generally I've found thieves make hilarious characters.

Besides thieves I love stories about future societies where everything's gone to shit, sorry I couldn't think of a more eloquent way to put it. Hunger Games, 1984, The Uglies, Wither (haven't finished but I know will make my fav list) Storm Thief (haha best of both worlds)

Greek Mythology, I love the stories, the legends, the characters. Especially Hermes, why? Because he's a conniving, clever little thief. I took a Greek Mythology class once hoping to learn some more stories. I did. But why? Why, why, why spend so much time studying them, people have made carriers off of looking much to deeply into these things. Ever heard of the Oedipus complex? That's some weird sh...stuff right there. I'm just in it for the stories and enhancing my storytelling.

Remember thieves? I found a Robin Hood series on Netflix done by the BBC, love! Also, I'm very excited for Arrows, a modern day Robin Hood coming out this fall.

My guilty pleasure, Class of the Titans, a Canadian children's show that first aired in 2005, long gone off air now. It was about a group of teens that were decedents from various Greek heroes. Similar to Percy Jackson.

Of course I still keep tabs on what Ash is up to in the pokemon world, but I can't watch the show for more than an episode now and then. Drives me insane and there's never enough Arcanine.

Fish - Lake Sturgeon

Bird - Whip-poor-will

Reptile - Smooth Green Snake

Amphibian - Red-backed Salamander

Mammal - Canids (Foxes, wolves, Coyots)

Tree - Oak

Insect - Scissor Grinder Cicada

Beetle - Dogbane Leaf Beetle

Spider - Arrow Shaped Micrathena

Fungi - The Destroying Angel

All of these have their own stories like jewelweed, just message me if you're interested to learn something about these organisms. Or, maybe we could do a nature swap of some sort :)

On to other things...

Myth - Hades and Persephone

Legend - Robin Hood

Creature - Mermaid (though just by a smidgen)

Food - Steak cooked over a campfire

Dessert - Pie

Pie - Coconut Cream

Drink - Chocolate Milk

Colour - Green (But I'm not partial to like art done in green more than art done in other colours. Bring on all the colours!)

Hat - Cowboy

Time of Day - Sunrise (although I miss it quite frequently)

Type of Movies - Disney and other children movies

Time of Year - Spring

Day of the Year - Summer Solstice June 20th

Art Period - Renaissance