Personal Interests

Earth Energy
Well, there's only one of 'em for the moment. It's about time we concerned ourselves with Her well-being and her/our future. While not a confirmed fanatic, I do subscribe to much of the Gaia theory and perhaps a view of our planet as a living being is a nice way to make a start. But let's not wait much longer! She's gasping pretty hard these days!
 
Organic Gardening/Farming
Ok... so this is part of what I DO... I raise organic produce and herbs ... both culinary and "medicinal." And this is the topic of one of those "Curmudgeon" essays I warned you about. No, it's not here yet... it's still here (can you see me pointing to my head?)... but what IS organic anyway? And why is there a need for someone else to tell me and you what it is? And what in Hell is the USDA up to with their new standards? Why, for example, is it ok to include crops genetically engineered, irradiated, and grown in 'sludge?' (You figure out what "sludge" refers-to... hint; use your imagination you're probably right on target!) And, as an aside, why should I have to pay someone else to tell you that I raise my produce organically? I'm telling you right here, right now ... I hereby certify that all produce raised by me is raised naturally and organically. Period. There, I just saved the however-many-hundreds-of-dollars "certification fee."
 
 
Music
Music. Music is the sum total of all which goes on around us. It is a translation of energies... an interpretation of cosmic vibrations ...an artform of the highest order ... for those who are able to interpret this My Way (NO! Not the song title) I have the highest regard as artists, as interpreters, indeed, as people.
 
Writing
Hmmm.. well perhaps you're getting a hint. I can be very wordy... but writing is, for those of us less talented than the musician-types our entry into the translational realm... the transferring of abstract concepts from one person to another via such a concrete medium as the written word is a phenominal undertaking and a wondrous process -- especially if it works!
 
Herbalism
While this is an area of extreme interest to me at the present time, it is additionally, in part, an outgrowth of Gaia issues, in part, an outgrowth of Organic issues and, in part, an outgrowth of Economic issues. (Do I sense another Curmudgeon piece here? Yep! Take your best guess as to the direction... lots of options... drug companies, governmental agencies, the Almighty Dollar -- and the consumer's Green Weenie!) Apart from the political issues, the fact is that Nature has quite a pharmacopia available to us and we can all use a bit of grounding and renewal from her at times. The broad evolution of plants and the chemicals which make them work is a fascinating subject and one which affords us a direct link back to the earth. Maybe just a bit of "Earth Energy" issue here? Yes... we all need to live in balance ... herbs can help. By the way... did you ever wonder why people are extremely quick to accept the role of plants as forming the basis of nurturing our bodies but so quick to question their abilities to heal us?
 
Entomology
Well, this isn't any more so much what I DO as what I studied to do. While I have never formally "worked" as an entomologist, I have always found a knowledge of insects and their ways to be both fascinating and useful. My particular area of expertise is the taxonomy ...(classification/identification) ... of spiders ... although other groups such as beetles and, especially, (see below) aquatic insects and crustaceans.
 
Aquatic Ecosystems (includes fishing!)
One of the largest "sub-divisions" of entomology is "Aquatic Entomology" which involves the study of the insects found in water and aquatic ecosystems. I have long been fascinated with aquatic insects and their neighbors and the tremendous variety of evolutionary pressures with which these organisms must contend. Not only the issue of "water" but secondary components such as disolved gases, temperature, and rates of flow. A special interest in the area of Aquatic Plants keeps me busy and my fish in the aquarium happy!
 
Canoeing
Well.... I quess in part because it's a great way to travel among aquatic sites... and allows for a bit of trailing a fly behind in an attempt to perform food-habits-analysis studies on some aquatic predators. (I'm tempted to use one of those silly smilie face things here, but I'll resist!) I've recently been re-introduced to the pleasures of canoeing on many of the tidal rivers and near-shore areas of coastal Maine and now spend many weekend hours shifting upstream and down with the tides.
 
Sailing
See canoeing above... only this time letting the wind replace the paddle.

 

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