The Jaded Texan.

After spending my whole life here, I've grown pretty fond of my state. Even though I've travelled around a bit, there's no place I'd rather live (though Northern Ireland or Hawaii run a close second). Sure, us Texans get stereotyped. Some of those are valid. Others are annoying (lookin' atchu, Geico commercial).

Biologically, we're a diverse state with a whopping 12 ecoregions, in which there are many distinct sub-regions. You can go to the mountains, the beach, the forest(s), the hill country, or the desert--just not all in the same day. We've got lots of endemic species of plants and animals. Como se dice 'biologist's dream'?

I grew up in a really rural area, on a commercial cattle ranch. This past weekend a friend from the Dallas area came to visit and 'experience the country' (her words, not mine). I always feel like a hayseed whenever she's around. Hayseed may be my Granddad's vocabulary...

Country bumpkin, maybe?

Anyway, we loaded up in the truck and headed out, me thinking all the while how she was going to be bored stiff for the next three hours. Granted, she's a biology nerd too, but what can I show her that's 'country?'

A lot, apparently.

Seeing her joy at the landscape and wildlife made me realize (again) how freaking lucky I was to grow up where and how I did. Lucky that I could see something like this every day. My friend loved it all, and her enthusiasm was madly contagious. Not many people get to climb to the top of this...

Yucca aloifolia, more commonly known as Spanish Dagger. In some places
it's common to fry/cook and eat the blossoms. No idea as to the taste but,
until I get really hungry, I'll pass.

and see for miles, like this...

My dad found this several years ago, while he was riding horseback and
looking for some missing cattle. This picture doesn't even
come close to doing it justice.

Or quite literally stumble upon natural wonders like this.

I believe this is some kind of Ferocactus, but maybe it's Echinocactus texensis.
  (If that's the case, the common name is Horse Crippler...pretty flowers, serious name.)

Or get pictures like this, which, even though I'm not much into plant biology, are beautiful to me.

I'm not sure what kind of flower this is, but I've got a date with a botanist later this
week to find out. I've never seen this before.

 



What good would pictures of Texas wildflowers be without some bluebonnets?
Hello, Lupinus texensis, good to seeya. 

Reminders to stop and smell the flowers are always a good thing.

As always, if you like the pictures, please feel free to share them--linkage back to this blog much appreciated!

Currently listening to Nottingham Burns--Marc Streitenfeld

In which I have nothing to say, but pictures to share.

I'm in the throws of despair from constant thesis work, so I thought I'd cheer myself up.

Is there anything more cheerful than puppy pictures?

Yeah.

I think not.

Yes, I was born without a tail. I'm a genetic weirdie, but still adorable.

Flying Leap!

Because I've nothing to say besides

Hai.

Have a good week!

~Roo

NaNo Update, Day #it'stoolatenow

For all you Wrimos frantically writing away, I applaud your wherewithal.

As far as how my NaNo went, well. Eh.

I stopped around 22k. I believe I hit that mark on about day 13, but then that pesky life happened. *le sigh* I haven't been writing much lately, but I've been making up for it by reading.

I have stinkin' missed reading, y'all. I raced through The Hunger Games trilogy in two days over Thanksgiving, and I'm still thinking about the series today, so Suzanne Collins wins. LOL. (And I'm still not sure how I feel about some parts of that series. It's most perplexing.) I've got a little everything in my to-be-read pile, from contemporary thrillers to YA fantasy to paranormal romance to documentary-style prose.

And I absolutely can't wait.

What're you guys reading? Still NaNo-ing?

Things I've learned

over the past few blogless weeks include

1) I stink at blogging. ...This is a bad lead-off sentence I think.

2) Writing a master's thesis also stinks.

3) Weddings 400 miles away are, well...a long way away. (I never said these were going to be riveting.)

• (3a. Optimistic (read: one size smaller) ordering of bridesmaid's dress is a poor decision for a harried grad student. I'm still recovering from the lack of oxygen.)

4) Going for a run with a person who is required by contract to maintain a high level of physical fitness (read: a U.S. Marine) is a poor, poor idea on part of harried, fluffy grad student. Emphasis on the fluffy part. And the harried. Probably more the fluffy.

5) There is no five, because five is the number of DNA primer pairs I'm using for my thesis. And frankly, the number five stinks. I've grown to hate poor old five, and it's kind of sad really. It's not five's fault.

6) I'm all out of learned things. (This is probably bad.)

In other updates, I broke 55k in my WIP. *Wootwoot!* I'll wrap up a short first draft at around 65k, and then I plan on letting it sit for about a month whilst I forget everything and focus my attention on the idea that's been clamoring (with cymbals) in the back of my head for MONTHS. I'm so excited about the new project, but I'm determined to finish the current WIP first. Must. Finish.

Right now I'm reading GENERATION KILL by Evan Wright. Final verdict is still out (I'm only about 6-7 chapters in), but I will say I'm enjoying it thus far. I'm dying to get my hands on Lee Child's new Jack Reacher book, THE AFFAIR, as well as read a couple other books of various genres that I picked up in a bargain sale. Life would be better if I had more time to read.

Other than that, nothing much going on in my life. How're all of you?

Ah! Janitors!

Hi folks.

Long time, no blog. I know. [hangs  head]

Even though I haven't been blogging much (erm. AT ALL), there's still been lots going on with me. Firstly, I completed all my summer classes, which means that I'm done with real classes FOREVER*. Yay! Secondly, I've been overrun with labwork, and the IT guys at my university apparently hate the genetics lab because they killed our internet to the room**. So that's where I've been--cooped up in the cold, boring lab without Pandora to keep me company. Que terrible!

Anywho. [Knows none of the above is particularly interesting]

So the point of this blog post is to thank Ellen over at WordThief for sending me JANITORS by Tyler Whitesides. Admittedly, in all my awesomeness***, I won the book, but still, she sent it.

Like it arrived. In the mail. For the realsies.

I've had a little trouble focusing as of late, so I haven't quite finished it yet, but I'm really enjoying it thus far. The main character, Spencer Zumbro, cracks me up with his mannerisms. Daisey 'Gullible' Gates is JANITORS version of Luna Lovegood, and who doesn't love a Luna? All in all, I'm sure I'm going to really enjoy it (once I find two seconds to sit down and finish it.) And seriously, how can you not love that cover? The little stripey newt thingy is twelve kinds of adorable and you know it. But I digress.

I have a feeling I'm going to really love this book. Not to mention, once I get done with it, I'll probably hold my own giveaway for it--pay it forward and all, y'know.

So. Follow Ellen. She's a YA writer who always has some great blogposts going on, as well as some rockstar-awesome contests. (And Ellen, I'll be getting you a picture with the book--once I drag a rake...er...comb through my hair. :)

Until next time,

~l


*Thats a lie. Sort of.
** Damn them.
***This is also a lie. The only awesomeness in this post is Ellen, who hosted the contest. I just posted a comment.


What I'm listening to: New Slang by The Shins

Why hello there, stranger.

Admittedly, I know it's been about four million years since my last post. I know that's not good. It's not because I haven't had much to say. Quite to the contrary: I've had A LOT to say...just not really about writing. This mainly because that evil monster called School consumes my life. She let me out for a short reprieve, however, so I'm here to make the mostest of it.

So, what have I been doing in the last two months? Well. I've--

1) Written 3 not-for-funsies papers*

2) Completed a rough draft of my thesis proposal

3) Completed AFLP analyses on 40 of my 130 specimens

4) Created presentation over completed research

5) Presented presentation at BigScaryScientificConference (Subtitled: PlaceWhereGraduateStudentHatersCongregateAndAnnihilate)

6) Collapsed with relief once BigScaryConference was over

7) Had a drink. Or three.

8) Made and presented another presentation.

9) Collapsed. Drank.

10) Attended music festival. Did not drink.

11) Ate copious amounts of candy

11.5) More candy/caffeine here.

12) Studied and took 3 finals.

13) Collapsed.

14) Preoccupied my mind by surfing youtube. (This is fantastic. I ran and bought several of her originals from itunes after finding this cover.)

15) Realized I haven't really done crap in the way of Actual Writing**

The good news is, however, that I've spent most of the day alternating between AW surfing and glorious WIP-writing. (AKA, It's been a damn good day.) I've basically outlined 3/4 of my romance novel, and that's something that makes me verrah happeh. I've also figured out a queue for my WIPs and set some goals. (Goals are a good thing.)

I plan on finishing two WIPs this year: my historical romance and my YA Contemp (which basically just needs a middle-section-rewrite), come hell or highwater. It's going to be tough, but I think I can do it.

So. hello! More stuff coming here (hopefully good stuff) soon, so check back!

Up next: It's okay to suck.

*Not-for-funsies=anything school related. Usually dry, boring, scientific style writing that sucks my soul.
**Actual Write=well, basically the opposite of above.

Hello, bloggosphere

Yep. It's happened. After all this time resisting, I've finally decided to get a blog. (Obviously.)

Welcome!

I won't say that this will be one of those profound, deeply terrificallywondiferous blogs. Quite to the contrary, in fact. I’m on a journey to become a published writer, and I’m sure there will be huge potholes along the way. Like monumental, ginormous quicksand-filled pits with vipers at the bottom.

Pit vipers.

But I digress.

However, like most things worthwhile, the work is worth the gain (fingers crossed). I’m currently working on a time-travel romance. Writing a straight-up romance is new for me—I’ve tried my hand at UF, YA, and thriller/suspense. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to make up my mind. Stick around here long enough and you’ll see that for yourself.

Anyways. My dog (LittleMonster) is eating one of my shoes. Until next time,

~l