Kateroni’s blog

Drive halfway across the country: check
Camp for three weeks: check
Drink excessive amounts of wine: check
Wear sexy chest waders all day: check
Intimately get to know my study organism: check
First real live official field season: CHECK CHECK!

Just completed my first field season out in Northern California.  It was a "learning experience" to say the least.  I was pretty terrified going out there considering I've never really done research on sticklebacks by myself and was going to a place I've never been with no outside assistance to try and do studies I've never performed before.  All in all, it went well.  I got lots of cool field data on stickleback personality that I'm excited about analyzing and definitely lots and lots of experience in problem solving!  But, now, all my fish have died =(  The Grand Plan was to bring them back to Illinois to retest them in the behavioral assays and then set up breeding experiments to look for genetic and environmental effects on the development of personality and then to use their babies for further study.  All of which is pretty much impossible if you don't actually have any live fish.  So poop.  Alison said we might be able to come back out in the fall to collect more which I'm sure if she twisted my arm, she could get me to come along with....

So my research interests in a nutshell:  The importance of individual variation in behavior.  Specially, the variation of behavior within a single individual.  To the layman, the best way to think of this is personality, or as I like to call it, "Behavioral predictability" (less anthropomorphic than "personality").  It's essentially how consistent will an individual act time and time again.  Take me for example, you can probably safely expect me to be outgoing at your next party because I've been outgoing in the past.  Sure my behavior changes slightly over time and based on my condition - sometimes I'm more extroverted because I'm excited sometimes I'm a little more subdued because I'm tired - but overall I will probably be in the upper extremes of extrovertness.  The same goes for almost all other organisms.  From spiders, to pigs, to mice, to birds, to fish!  Many of them seem to behave similarly even though that might not be the best thing for the situation.  (ie. it's cool to be silly and goofy at a party with your peers, but in a job interview, probably not so much).  I want to figure out why are some individuals more predictable than others and when are those individuals favored. 

Sorry for the geek-out =)

I found this game last year and used it to waste some serious time will I slacked off at UMD.  I just rediscovered and still haven't solved it.  I can get to about question 80 and then DIE.  Only start playing if you want to waste at least a few hours!  The impossible quiz

Dude Obama is rocking.  Seriously, he's the first candidate to really inflame the young kids of America, including myself.  The main reason I like him - he's young!  He's not entrenched and indoctrinated with all the political bullshit that usually accompanies candidates with more "experience."  It's time for enthusiasm and passion and idealistic zeal to come back to the White House.  And as proof of his ability to excite the common American here's a quote from a recent NY Times article discussing his decision to not accept the f-ed up public funding:

"...he raised $95 million in February and March alone, most of it, as his aides noted Thursday, in small contributions raised on the Internet. More than 90 percent of the campaign’s contributions were for $100 or less, said Robert Gibbs, the communications director to Mr. Obama."  Read the full article here

Holy smokes - at less than $100 per donation to raise that much money - just imagine all the slews of people that must have donated!  Talk about a candidate for the real people!

This past weekend was my faux birthday!  Yay!  And we all know how excited I get about birthday parties!  And to celebrate this momentous occasion I planned a big shindig complete with deer burgers, slip-n-slide, tiki torches, major dance party, ice cream cake, water guns and my tablecloth dress.  Then to complete the fun, a buddy brought a bottle of absinthe, of which I decided to try half a shot.  I'm a big girl and can handle some serious tequila so how bad could it be.  Well....1am found me like this (AT MY OWN FREAKING PARTY!)

N1947348_43860147_2786

But at least, before that happened I was able to do THIS!:

Bday 012

I want each and every one of these!

Hahahahaha oh you silly Lesbians!

So after driving back to Maryland from Illinois for the 3rd time, I've developed some opinions about the states in between.  They are as follows:

Illinois - this state is developing a soft spot in my heart, especially when you call it either "The illi" or "Bring the illi-NOISE!"

Indiana - Nothing but good things to say about the Hoosiers.  Their speed limit is 70mph and thanks to the complete desertion of Indianapolis, even their capital city has no traffic!  Washington DC should seriously be taking notes

Ohio - I have arguments with this state every single freaking time I drive through it.  Ohio: "Oh no, an accident/construction/livestock-in-roadway, how about I just shut down an entire 4 lane major interstate" Me: "That's a really stupid idea" Ohio: "Oh rly, then why don't I just make the speed limit 55mph for shits and giggles then too, BIATCH"  I lose every time.  Avoid this state at all costs. 

West Virginia - meh

Pennsylvania - The only thing good about this state is the Steelers.  And Quaker Steak and Lube

West Virginia - All the inbreeding that occurs in this state has caused it to mutate so it appears twice on my drive

Maryland - I would say some bad things about the ridiculously twisty roads through Cumberland, but they make up for it by naming their mountains such gems as "Negro Mtn" and "Polish Mtn" (......which is actually a hole, those silly pollacks).
 

So this is pretty much what I think about on the 840 mile journey from Champaign IL to Easton MD.  I also like to make faces at other drivers and am creating quite a collection of boogers.

And after I drive to California this summer, I'll let you know what I think about the Left Side of the country.  Get ready for your rave review Utah. 

The epic summer journeys have begun.  I just safely returned from Maine where I:

- saw seals
- hiked around Penobscot Mtn instead of up it.  Getting to the top of a mountain is so cliche
- rode a bald eagle
- performed plastic surgery on a lobster
- had the professor ask me if I "got laid on a rock"
- wore my trucker hat and aviators while driving a 15 passenger van
- climbed a beehive
- ate lobster ice cream
- almost fell into a pitcher plant
- rekindled my passionate relationship with hot dogs and fluffer-nutter sandwiches
- taught a raccoon how to untie our shoes

So all in all a successful trip I think.  I'll put up some photos at some point.  They'll prob be of rocks and incredibly boring.