Leather Skirt?

I was discussing the topic of leather with someone today and it reminded me of a nickname I used to have: Leather Skirt.

It is a nickname that came about quite innocently. It was the holiday season and I was attempting to manage different events that seemed to be scheduled around the same time. One particular event was going to this party hosted by one of my professors who invited graduate students from the department, fellow faculty, and a few faculty from neighboring universities. I came to this party dressed to the nines so to speak. I wore a fuzzy angora sweater, a leather skirt, and high heels. The dress attire to the party was very casual, and my attire was quite appropriate for the event that I attended previously in the day. I had no time to go back home and change into more casual attire and my attire from the previous event would just have to do.

I remember when I walked through the door, all eyes were upon me. I think a few jaws even dropped. I suppose no one had ever seen me so dressed up. Most of the time my attire was wearing a lab coat with casual clothes underneath. I guess no one had ever seen the dressed up part of my world.

One of the male graduate students walked up to me and asked if my skirt was really leather. I told him it was. He then asked what my sweater was made out of. I told him it was angora. He asked if he could pet my sweater. So, I allowed him to pet my sleeve. He asked if he could touch my skirt to see if it was leather. I, of course told him no.

After this event, this particular graduate student insisted up giving me the nickname, "Leather Skirt", and proceeded on calling me that in the chemistry department. He thought nothing of calling down the hallway,"Hey, Leather Skirt, how is it going?" This was in front of other faculty and students. Sometimes it embarrassed me.

Fortunately for me, this particular graduate student went off to attend the medical school down the street and the nickname died down.

However, every once in a while, my best friend will remind me of my nickname. But that is what friends are for, no? To remind you of the things you have forgotten...

Suits my mood

It has been a difficult few weeks for various reasons and I have to confess that a blog post that is fun and light suits my mood today. Hence, I decided to do one of those little blog quizzes to have fun. Here is the result:

Your Seduction Style: Ideal Lover

You seduce people by tapping into their dreams and desires. And because of this sensitivity, you can be the ideal lover for anyone you seek. You are a shapeshifter - bringing romance, adventure, spirituality to relationships. It all depends on who your with, and what their vision of a perfect relationship is.

What Is Your Seduction Style?

Raptor Watch

It is really cool to be able to watch these raptors from the computer.

Check this out.

Friday Cat Blogging

This is really worth the look.

Viewing, this, I would have to say that there must be some cat in me.

Katie for sale?

I have already been contacted by the Shaker Lakes Nature Center requesting some of my photographs. It turns out that not only will they be on display, but also will be offered for sale.

So, if anyone wants to own a part of me, now is the chance.

The photographs will be signed by me and the proceeds will go to a good cause to benefit the nature center.

My Life as a Grad Student

The comic strip, Piled Higher & Deeper mirrors my life so well that at times it is scary. This particular one is no exception.

Giggle Time

I decided that today I need something to make me smile and perhaps even give me a giggle. So, I found this on the internet and thought I would share:

Effective Daily Affirmations
(For the slightly twisted)


-I have the power to channel my imagination into ever-soaring levels of suspicion and paranoia.

-I assume full responsibility for my actions, except the ones that are someone else’s fault.

-I no longer need to punish, deceive or compromise myself. Unless, of course, I want to stay employed.

-Joan of Arc heard voices too!

-I need not suffer in silence while I can still moan, whimper and complain.

-I honor and express all facets of my being, regardless of state and local laws.

-Only a lack of imagination saves me from immobilizing myself with imaginary fears.

-Today I will gladly share my experience and advice, for there are no sweeter words than “I told you so.”

Coffee Addiction

This weekend I had the joy of going to a coffee tasting event. I imagine it is just like wine tasting, only with coffee.

Part of the event was watching an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Also, I got to taste the coffee prepared by this traditional method. The coffee that was prepared in this manner was incredible and beyond words. The green coffee beans are roasted over heat (it probably doesn't get any fresher than roasting prior to preparation) in the presence of cloves and false cardamon. The cloves and the false cardamon give it such an incredible nuance that I can't even begin to describe. More info on this method can be found here.

As many may already know, coffee is Ethiopia's gift to the world. No doubt that they would have found an incredible manner in which to prepare this wonderful beverage.

The coffee prepared in this manner has left such an impression on my taste buds that I must master this method. Although I think I will pass on the actual ceremony.

First Exhibition

Last night I decided to finally join a photography club. Yeah, I know, just one more thing on my plate that is already overloaded.

Anyhow, the cool thing is that the members of the club will be submitting photographs to be put on display at the Shaker Lakes Nature Center. How cool is that? My very first exhibition of my work. I agreed to submit photographs for each category, so that there will at least be three photographs I submit to be viewed by various people in the community. Also, since my favorite subject matter is rare and endangered species of plants, it will give others a chance to view something that they normally don't see, or don't know that it exists. I really like the idea of not only being able to display my work, but also be able to "educate" people about the world around them.

There also may be a display later at Loganberry Books. So, possibly two exhibitions this year for me.

This has also motivated me to return to posting my pictures on my blog. I have gotten lazy, I know.

I think I made a good decision overall to join this photography club. I am going to have fun and improve my skill level.

Blogosphere Goodbyes

It always saddens me when a fellow blogger whose blog I read decides to finally leave the blogosphere. This has happened to me more than once. I don't ask why and I respect the reasons that the fellow blogger may have. But it is still sad because even a virtual part of my life is still part of my life.

Blogging for me has never been a pressure or need to post. I suppose it is done according to my whims? Sometimes I do it to convey a point or share an experience. Sometimes I do it to just express myself. Sometimes I do it just simply for me and me alone as an online journal.

I suppose the latter is what may be most important. That blogging is done for yourself.

For me, I will continue to roam the blogosphere until I find reason not to. I will continue to post and welcome comments. I will also continue to enjoy the thoughts of others in this virtual plane.

I also hope that those that have left the blogosphere will on occasion, venture back, even if only to lurk.

Friday Cat Blogging

Found this on the internet. Enjoy.

Hamlet's Cat's Soliloquy
Shakespaw

To go outside, and there perchance to stay
Or to remain within: that is the question:
Whether 'tis better for a cat to suffer
The cuffs and buffets of inclement weather
That Nature rains on those who roam abroad,
Or take a nap upon a scrap of carpet,
And so by dozing melt the solid hours
That clog the clock's bright gears with sullen time
And stall the dinner bell.
To sit, to stare Outdoors, and by a stare to seem to state
A wish to venture forth without delay,
Then when the portal's opened up, to stand
As if transfixed by doubt.
To prowl; to sleep;
To choose not knowing when we may once more
Our readmittance gain: aye, there's the hairball;
For if a paw were shaped to turn a knob,
Or work a lock or slip a window-catch,
And going out and coming in were made
As simple as the breaking of a bowl,
What cat would bear the household's petty plagues,
The cook's well-practiced kicks, the butler's broom,
The infant's careless pokes, the tickled ears,
The trampled tail, and all the daily shocks
That fur is heir to, when, of his own free will,
He might his exodus or entrance make
With a mere mitten?
Who would spaniels fear,
Or strays trespassing from a neighbor's yard,
But that the dread of our unheeded cries
And scratches at a barricaded door
No claw can open up, dispels our nerve
And makes us rather bear our humans' faults
Than run away to unguessed miseries?
Thus caution doth make house cats of us all;
And thus the bristling hair of resolution
Is softened up with the pale brush of thought,
And since our choices hinge on weighty things,
We pause upon the threshold of decision.

Wishful thinking

Right now, I have a lot of stress in my life. Hey, I am a graduate student, this is normal.

Anyhow, when I am under stress, my mind often wanders. It is easy for me to get distracted and thus have my thoughts wander.

Most of the time, my thoughts wander to wishing I was somewhere else. Anywhere but here. It does not always have to be wishing that I was at some exotic locale, it can even be someplace fairly close, like being in a nature preserve photographing interesting plants.

But sometimes my mind does wander to some exotic locale. Like here. A festival devoted to chocolate? Gosh, a dream come true for me!

I don't suppose I could convince my advisor that I need to go to this next year and spend some grant money? I am sure I could come up with something to relate my research to chocolate. Really. Just give me some time, I could do it...

All the buzz...

I was listening to NPR a few days ago about the problems with the declining honeybee populations.

The story certainly concerned me being a nature lover as well as a botanist wannabe. But it also brought back feelings of nostalgia.

You see, my father used to be a beekeeper. He only kept about five or so hives. But still, it was enough to keep me entertained for hours watching them in their daily duties. It also offered me the opportunity to learn about bees firsthand. As a child, I was never afraid of various insects, spiders, and other things found in nature. Perhaps this exposure might have been the reason. While most girls would be screaming down the street after seeing a spider, I would take the opportunity to watch the spider.

Watching the bees also taught me early lessons about the environment and how so many things are connected to each other. This lesson was taught to me by the Blue Jays who considered the bee hives an "all you can eat buffet".

Beekeeping also taught me the lesson how we must care for the things around us. This was taught to me by watching my father tend his hives in the winter and taking measures so that the hives would survive until spring.

I have to confess that these feelings of nostaglia made me wish to have hives of my own. However, this would prove foolish for me, even fatal considering I have an allergy to bee stings. Who would have ever thought that a beekeeper's daughter would develop a bee sting allergy?

Anyhow, hopefully the bees will eventually come out ok from this environmental concern. In the meantime, I will keep a watchful eye out for them from a safe distance with epinephrine in hand.