Namaste!

Before I get into this blog, I really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really want you all to view the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pRy88R-4BI

In Biology 375 we are discussing threats to corals. Obviously, human impacts are number one on the disturbance list. Just watch this. You'll see my point. Sometimes I wonder if it's good that I'm taking this class....it gets me so fired up sometimes. I'm just going to take it as a good thing, something I'm truly passionate about with my entire being. Thanks to 9to5naturewallpaper.com for the following four images. Earth is B-E-A-U-TIFUL!

Gorgeous...Right?

Soooo....Yoga :)  If you are having any self-confidence issues, take yoga. The class I'm taking is Hatha yoga where we mainly focus on poses and going at YOUR OWN PACE. A quote from a reading, "Your body is the temple of spirit and the care of which is an important stage of our spiritual growth...develop habit of discipline and ability to concentrate (necessary for meditation)." My instructor, Phyllis, is the calmest and most generous woman I know. One day I have having such bad headaches I thought I was going to black out. She told me it was okay to just sit and watch - her yoga is all about going at your pace and discovering your own limits. It doesn't matter if the girl next to me does the perfect Adho Mukha Svasana (downward facing dog) whereas I can't be my heels to touch. **COUGH! Now I can :)** 

I love having a yoga class. I learned so much about my body and I respect it that much more. We did a flexibility and balance test in the beginning of the semester and today. All of my flexibility and balances improved dramatically. In the beginning of the semester I could balance on one foot (tree pose) with eyes closed for barely 6 seconds. Now I can do it for almost 30. It still wasn't as good as some of the others but heck! I improved so much and I thank my body for that. I have a deeper respect for what my feet muscles do all day long, why strong my neck is, and everything. I never felt so good about myself, both physically and mentally. Don't get me wrong...I am still a competitive runner and I will challenge you to a race. But even if I lose, I still give myself a pat on the back for an awesome run and thank my body for all that it has done. (People at the gym probably think I'm a little loopy in the noggin!) Oops.

Since it's close to the end of the semester, I need all the yoga, relaxation, meditation, and breathing exercises I can get. I'll post some photos that calm the mind and help you unwind after a stressful day. If you feel anything like I do on days like yesterday (way too many projects due!!) you'll need about a million of these pictures. 

Curved lines are welcoming to positive Qi (energy). Zen stones and circles that are curved will welcome good Qi to your home while discouraging negative Qi. The Qi in the environment flows within the landscape and us. Our Qi does the same.

This reminds me of ocean waves gently stretching across the sand.

Nature is the key to relaxation. We are Earth.

Balancing Zen Stones help us bring balance into our daily lives.

Balancing Zen Stones and Plants equal Megan's Love.

Let all your negative Qi drip away with the drops in the picture.

Don't push away the bad things in life...Pull the best things in life closer.

Typical scene in a zen garden.

 ALSO...30 MORE DAYS UNTIL GUATEMALA <3

8 More Days...8 More Days

8 more days of class....8 more days...I can do this!

The semester is coming up to a wrap! I never thought it would come. I have 3 more online lectures for Rainforests and 5 for Landscape Architecture. I have 2 more classes of both of the phytopathology courses I'm in, 4 more physics lectures, 4 more times of yoga at the butt-crack of dawn, and only 2 more physics labs! That reminds me...I want to see if my physics TA, Doruk, will be a TA for next semester physics. I'm going to go off on a tangent about physics. Bear with me. If you were in my shoes...you would too. I know it.

https://www.facebook.com/earthfacts?ref=ts&fref=ts  (this is my new obsession). The pictures are stunning. If it was possible to lose your breath, these pictures would take your breath away. I promise. Here's a few sample pictures!

Dalhellu, Faroe Islands, Denmark, Earth

Lapland, Finland, Earth

Gosau, Austria, Earth

So Physics. All 5 of my advisers asked me how physics 103 was going and I said, "Decent...I'm above the average." That surprised them because apparently physics 103 is the worst-taught class on campus. Damn, were they right! Basically, I have to read 50 pages a week for 90 minutes of lecture a week. And when they lecture, they basically reread the book to us. No examples of how to perform the calculations or explanations of why we use this modulus instead of the other guy's. The best part --> every time the professors try to do an experiment it never works. At least I get a laugh out of that instead of falling asleep. ANYWAYS...Doruk leads the discussions and lab sections. HE ACTUALLY EXPLAINS THINGS! Whoa, I know, it's a new concept that nobody has ever heard of before! I almost fell out of my chair from shock. Haha, just kidding. Doruk explains everything so well that even us non-physics majors can understand what we are supposed to be learning. Out of all the TA's I've ever had, he is by far the best. He will literally sit down next to you and help you work out the problem when you don't have any clue. Or he will go through it and show you where you went wrong and explain why it is wrong. Then he will show you how to do it right and explain why this is the correct way of doing it. If there was a recognition or reward for being the best TA ever...he would definitely get it. Basically...all of the students in my section are begging him to be a TA next semester so we can continue to pass the class. Otherwise we are going to hunt him down (we know where his office is).

Zhangjiajie National Park - China

Killaloe, Clare, Ireland, Earth

Thankfully this semester is almost over. I finished one group project. Please don't ask how many more I have to do. I may burst into tears at any second when I have to tell you how much I have left to do. Oh oh oh! I also finished my disease diagnostic reports - there were 20 of them. Lena (my roomie from freshman year) and I went for a hike in Blue Mounds. It is absolutely gorgeous there...you have to go! When we were there, I found 5 diseases that I needed for my collection. (see the relevance of telling you about my hike with Lena?) I found a conk and big as my head and we all know my head is big. BECAUSE IT IS FULL OF KNOWLEDGE DUH! Ha - bet you didn't see that one coming. Wow, I'm a funny one today. Also, I'm really bored and feel like writing a blog. It feels like I'm writing my life story to a computer. Actually, it feels like I'm talking to myself a lot. That's good so I don't talk to myself aloud. The roommates may get freaked out by that. I'm getting hungry so I'm going to make lunch. That's what people do when they're hungry right?

Atitlan, Guatemala, Earth

32 more days until Guatemala :D  

My Lil Annie

First picture of Annie <3

 As much as I like coming home to see everyone for Thanksgiving and all, I'm so ready to go back to Madison. I don't really have too much to say so I'll just post some photos of my puppy Annie! She is almost 6 months old. My Annie got spayed about 2 weeks ago and got her du-claws removed. She's had a cone on her head for the time being. I have to bring to her the vet to get stitches removed at 8a! So....I'll post photos of Annie because I have nothing better to post (plus she is a cutie pie).

How can you resist this darling?

I didn't believe at first site until I set eyes on her.

Lil Annie is going to be a Tank! Look at her paws :)

Jeez, she could be a model!!

Puppy Love <3 <3

Ready for a Latin Lesson?

Since my life is so important and exciting, I started a blog. And just to prove how exciting and important my life is, I must inform all yall I have an exam tonight for Plant Pathology 309: Diseases of trees and woody ornamentals. I know, I know...you're life feels so much more complete knowing this vital fact about my life as a PlantPath Girl. Sorry for not telling you this sooner; I won't leave you hanging like that ever again. Promise.

Before I teach you Latin, here are some pictures I took. Relax your brain before it gets stressed!

Anyways, who's ready for a Latin lesson? I'm going to give you a list of every disease I have to know for my exam tonight; first in Latin and then the English common name. Ready? If it hurts your head reading it, it's okay. Just think of me who has to know how to pronounce them, how to spell them correctly, how to identify them, and distinguish them from similar diseases. Just another way to prove how exciting and important my life is. Wow, I'm so cool.

Do you know how hard it is to capture a picture like this. It took me over 50 times for the bee to land, stay there, my camera to snap the picture and for it to turn out beautiful.

Ready? Make sure you're sitting before you start this. My apologies if your mind explodes after 10 of these. Mine did too the first time I saw a name like this.

Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae - "Cedar"-apple rust
Gymnosporangium globosum - (American) Hawthorn rust
Gymnosporangium clavipes - Quince rust
Blumeriella jaapii (sex)/Phleosporella padi (asex) - Cherry Leaf Spot
Rhizopus sp. (multiple speceis) - soft rot of fruits and vegetables
Pythium sp. - damping off and root rot of seedlings
Scoria sp. - sooty molds
Taphrina spp. - Peach leaf curl and oak leaf blister (for example)
ALL OF THE POWDERY MILDEWS (thousands of species - literally)
Venturia inaequalis - apple scab
Stegophora ulmea - elm leaf spot
Gnomonia caryae - hickory leaf blotch
Phyllosticta spp. - Phllosticta leaf spot
Rhytisma spp. - tar spots of maple
Rhizosphaera kaloffii - Rhizosphaera needlecast of blue spruce
Lophodermium seditiosum - Lophodermium needlecast of pines
Rhabdocline pseudotsugae - Rhadbdocline needlecast of Douglas-fir
Phaeocryptopus gaeumanii - Swiss needlecast
Discula spp. - Anthracnoses of all types of trees
Dothistoma pini - Dothistroma blight of pines
Lecanosticta acicola - Brown spot needle blight
Sirococcus conigenus/S. tsugae (2 name because of taxonomic issues) -Sirococcus shoot blight of conifers
Diplodia pinea - Diplodia shoot blight and canker of conifers
DECLINE "DISEASES" - not really a disease but tree dies from multiple stuffs
Cronartium ribicola - White pine blister rust
Melampsora medusae - poplar leaf rust
Cronartium quercuum f. sp. fusiforme - loblolly pine fusiform rust
Phragmidium sp. - rose rust (autoecious but macrocyclic) - one host but all 5 basidiospore types <-- not the most common thing to have
Chrysomyxa weirii - Weir's cushion rust of spruces
Cronartium quercuum f. sp. banksiana - Pine oak gall rust
Peridermium harknessii - pine pine gall rust
Coleosporium sp. needle rusts of pines
Melampsorella caryophyllacearum - broom rust of fir
Ophiostoma ulmi (Ceratocystis ulmi) and Ophiostoma novo-ulmi - Dutch Elm Disease (this is why there are barely any Elms left in the USA....thanks horticulturists!!!) both of these pathogens are exotic 
      *three spore-producing forms: Graphium (asex/imperfect), Cephalosporium (asex/imperfect), Ophistoma (sex/perfect)
Ceratocystis fagacearum - OAK WILT - (this is why the Oaks are dying...once again thanks to the damn horticulturists!!!)
      *two spore producing forms: Chalara (asex/imperfect), Ceratocystis (sex)
Leptographium wagerneri/ L. procerum/ L. terebrantis - pocket mortality of red pine in the western USA and Canada
Ceratocystis virescense (C. coerulescens) - sapstreak of sugar maple (northern US) and tulip popular (TN and NC)
Verticillium sp. - Verticillium wilts of a lot of tree species
Cytospora (Valsa) sp. - cytospora canker of peach and other trees (conditional)
Phomopsis sp. - Phomopsis canker (conditional canker - least bad)
Biscogniauxia atropunctata (Hypoxylon) - Hypoxylon canker of oak (cond.)
Tubercularia ulmea - coral spot canker of maple (conditional)
Cryptococcus fagisuga (Nectria complex) - beech bark disease complex (cond)
Fusarium solani - Fusarium canker (annual) of sugar maple
Apiosporina morbosa - Black knot canker of the genus Prunus (perennial canker)
Neonectria ditissima (Nectria galligena) - Nectria canker (perennial)
Eutypella parasitica - Eutypella canker of maple (perennial)
Cryphonectria parasitica (Endothia) - chestnut blight (diffuse - worst type of canker) also why the American Chestnut is almost extinct
Sirococcus clabigignenti-juglandacearum - Butternut canker
Sexmeria cassioides - parasitic flowering plants of the figwort family
Striga asiatica - witchweed
Cuscuta sp. - dodders of the morning glory family
Viscum sp. - European leafy mistletoes
Phoradendron sp. - American leafy mistletoes
Arceutobium sp. - dwarf mistletoes
Inonotus obliquus (Poria) - "canker-rot"/sterile conk on birch
Phellinus pini - white rot/heartrot on pine and conifers
Phellinus tremulae - white rot of aspens
Phellinus ignarius - white rot of various hardwoods
Phellinus everhartii - white rot of oaks
Phellinus robiniae (Fomes rimosus) - heartwood decay of locust
Grifola frondosa - white butt rot of hardwoods and some conifers
Ganoderma sp. - white rot of conifers and hardwoods - annuals/perennials
Laetiporus sulphureus - cubical brown rot of hardwoods and conifers
Piptoporous betulinus - cubical brown rot of birch
Trametes versicolor - sapwood decay of hardwoods, white rot
Fomes fomentarius - hoof shaped white rot of hardwoods
Fomitopsis pinicola - brown cubical rot of hardwoods and conifers
Oxyporus populinus - heartrot of maples
Armillaria sp. - Armillaria root rot of conifers and hardwoods
Heterobasisidon irregulare - stringy white rot of hardwoods and conifers
Onnia tomentosa - white pocket rot of spruces
Phaeolus schweinitzii - (try spelling that right) - brown cubical rot of roots and butts of conifers
Hericium erinaceous - "hedgehog" decay
Hypzizygus almarius - "elm oyster" decay fungus

Oh by the way, this isn't a complete list of the diseases we learned. My fingers got tired and I didn't want to give you too much of an overload!! Ha, who am I kidding...five of those names is enough to give anyone a stroke. Hey, at least it was a really good review for me :)  Sorry if anyone has a stress headache from trying to make sense of the fancy schmancy words above! I'll throw in a few pictures to give your mind a break. And I'll even provide a biaurnal beats video to relieve your headache!

Here's the video (of course it has nature in it!)  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uumZMVylvs0

PICTURES!!!! - from forestryimages.org - excellent website if you ever get bored

Striga hermonthica- purple witchweed

Apiosporina morbosa - Black Knot of Black Cherry

Phoradendron sp. (all the green you see on the tree is the mistletoe NOT the conifer needles!

Rhabdocline pseudotsugae on Douglas Fir

Venturia inaequalis - Apple Scab - perithecium with ascospores inside (the blue blob)

Melamspora medusae - the orange pustules are the uredinial phase which then give rise the the brown/rusty scab which is the telial phase

Rhytisma - tar spot of maple - there are acervulli in the black spots. Each black spot is caused by a different spore infection. This leaf has been infected with 7 spores each at a different time.

Registered For My Last Classes

I OFFICIALLY AM REGISTERED FOR MY FINAL SEMESTER AS AN UNDERGRADUATE!!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!! I CAN APPLY FOR GRADUATION IN EXACTLY ONE MORE MONTH!!!! :D

I am registered for 6 classes (only 2 are actually required). Here's the list:
PLP 699 - Capstone project with Dr. Hudelson
PLP 375 - Urban and Organic Argriculture
HORT 375 - Growing Food Crisis
HORT 334 - Greenhouse Propagation of Plants
ATM 100 - Introduction to Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
PHYSICS 104 - Second Semester Introductory Physics

It seems to be a trend that people get sad and say graduation is bittersweet. I have to admit, I have NO idea what they are talking about. All I'm thinking is, "HELL YES!! One more semester to go!!" A lot of my friends in classes don't want to graduate - they are actually trying to figure out how to take another semester of college before graduating. (Mommy and Daddy must be paying). Why on Earth would you want to spend another semester at college?? Bring it on real world!! Maybe I should come with a warning label??

Quick question: is the cup half full or half empty?  TRICK QUESTION! It's actually always full :) Check out this picture if you don't believe me. (Wow, I guess I just proved to myself how big of a science-geek I am. Oh well.) I don't have too much to say so I'll just post a few science-geek photos. They are quite hilarious in my opinion.

See my Point?

Jut a good inspiration

the quote I live by. Never Stop Questioning.

Sorry if you can't read it!

Need a new pick up line? Well I found you one!

 49 more days until Guatemala. Yes. Bye!!

Plenty of Projects

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nGeXdv-uPaw

Before you read this posting...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE watch the video in the link above. I promise with all my spirit that it is worth your time. It's only 4:30 minutes - please watch it. For me, for you, for Her.



Anybody interested in doing 3 term projects and a term paper? Come on! I promise it will be loads of fun! You can do the projects on top of taking classes and working 15 hours a week! Sounds like so much fun....tempting huh?

PLP 309 - Diseases of Trees and Shrubs - collect 20 diseases of trees/woody ornamentals (a lot harder than you may think especially with this bipolar weather). One specimen has to be from the Basidiomycota phylum, one from the Ascomycota phylum, one abiotic factor, and one from the "Deuteromycetes." Then for 10 of the 20 collected, write up a diagnostic sheet with signs/symptoms/management techniques/lots of Latin names....oh and some specimen have up to 3 different names AND the taxonomy is in a huge state of flux - yay :)

Before Ceratocystis fagacearum

After Ceratocystis fagacearum (Oak Wilt)

LA 250 - how does a Feng Shui landscape benefit human health --> write a 2 page summary and design a Feng Shui landscape using the information found and describe how your design fits the definition of Feng Shui and benefits human health

When we create harmony and balance in nature, it is reflected in our own lives.

Rainforests/Coral Reefs 375 - Why do we need to protect our coral reefs? What are the conservation struggles with the Great Barrier Reef/Ningaloo/Swains? Why should we be concerned with preserving biodiversity? What are the human impacts on coral reefs and how can we lessen or delete these? --> making a lesson plan for high schoolers based off of these questions...and then we get to get it published on the web (this will be my 2nd publication!!!!!)
      ****It's best not ask me these questions at the dinner table...I am VERY EXTREMELY pro-diversity and will spend the rest of dinner convincing you that you should care about biodiversity too ****

Ningaloo Reef (parts that haven't been destroyed)

Coral Reef destroyed by humans and our greed

PLP 875 - term paper on biofuels in Guatemala (Eucalyptus) and how they are or aren't sustainable and if they are even a good idea - turning our food into fuel...what do you think?

Just another plantation that destroyed another 100 or so hectares of tropical rainforest.

Any takers? I'll even start you off with an outline and trusted academic/scientific resources!! Oh, and 53 more days until Guatemala :D
 

Capstone

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!  I got approved for my capstone research project! :) :) :)    :D :D :D    C: C: C:    (: (: (:

For most hard science majors, a capstone research project is required in order to graduate. The capstone usually includes working with a Doctor in his research and doing some type of formal report (and potentially get published). In the hard sciences, most people who go on to be Doctors will be doing research and not teaching. So, it is very important that undergraduates get some hands-on research before they graduate for experience in basic lab techniques and how to keep a very detailed laboratory notebook. For example, pretend I discovered a new biological control factor for plant parasitic nematodes. In my lab notebook, I have to write down every single step, every detail, the exact chemical/processes and where they were purchased from, EVERYTHING! This way, if someone wants to repeat the same exact experiment to make sure I'm not bullshitting, they can pick up my lab notebook and do the experiment without asking any questions. <-- This my friends, is one of the most valuable qualities you can have as a plant-pathologist.

Funny...but false.

Anyways, back to my capstone project. I will be working with Dr. Brian Hudelson, the UW-Extention professional on campus. He runs the plant diagnostic clinic where anybody can bring in a sample of a plant that is "sick". He in turn will diagnose the plant and tell them how to prevent it or lessen the impacts. Also, he goes to conferences and gives speeches, lectures, etc. I get to go along with him to see what a Plant Pathology conference is like. Basically, this capstone project is exactly what I want to be doing after I receive my Ph.D. Yup, not excited in the slightest. 

See...Plants are cool. They can grow on top of rocks.

Ever feel like you've been working so hard forever and things just aren't coming together quickly? Then suddenly, everything falls into place perfectly and you can't believe it? Well, that is the story of my life right now. The only thing I need to complete the puzzle of undergraduate study is being accepted into graduate school. I check my email like 5 times a day to see if any university emailed me. I probably won't hear until Feb/March but I'm still hoping everytime I open the stupid email. Besides that, everything else is fitting together perfectly. All my classes are lining up, the material is overlapping, I got accepted into the capstone project I desperately wanted, I have an incredible job, I'm attending university in the recession....everything. I'm so grateful for what I have...but I can't help but be impatient to hear back from grad schools. That is like the darn cake, not just the cherry on top.