Life of Megan: Love Affair

Guys and gals, I have something very serious I need to tell y'all. I'm having an affair. I mean I love Aspergillus and everything but yesterday I spent all day and all night with a virus! Oh I know, I'm a terrible human being! How could I ever cheat on my beloved Aspergillus? Wait, it's because there is this terrible class called 501 that has a virology section in it that had an exam this morning! Don't worry Aspergillus, I promise to never betray you in such a way ever again! Can you possibly forgive my horrendous act and take me back?

Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because in will int the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness. -Thomas Jeferson

I've been living a farm on the days I don't have classes. What a better way to spend my day than driving across the state to husk and shell corn (and then proceed to spill it all over the truck) and then drive back across the state! It's not as romantic as you may think - driving into the sunrise hurts the eyes and riding off into the sunset that's glaring off of cars going 10mph in a 70mph. I promise you, it only sounds cute but it's really not. Honestly, I love working on the farm - I would really like to be a permanent farm hand out there! So yeah, I'll pile up the picks below so you can see the process I go through everyday out on the farm :)

Live a good and honorable life, then when you get older and think back you can enjoy it a second time.
-Words of Wisdom from a Farmer

Yeah, so running and climbing are dominating my life (when I'm done on my dates with Aspergillus that is). The leaves are changing color finally so I'm going to go to a few parks this weekend and douse myself in nature. My friend also informed me he's going back to Red River Gorge this weekend - you know, not jealous or anything. It's like putting a steak in front of a vegetarian; not tempting at all. I really really really need to get my climbing friends to go on weekend expeditions with me! Bring your girlfriends, I don't care, I just want to climb! Bring little blondie who doesn't want to get dirt under her nails - I just want to climb! Bring miss city slicker who is afraid of a cricket - I just want to climb!! Look what you turned me into Aaron...

Words that soak into your ears are whispered and not yelled. -Wise Old Farmer

Well, this plant geek needs to do her online class and then start the job search! Hopefully Northern California, Oregon, and/or Washington are looking for a super smart plant pathologist that is an expert in crop consulting and best management practices. Hey guess what! I just so happen to be studying the exact same thing! Wow - it's like a photobiont/symbiont match!! I'm glad all y'all put up with my geekiness :D

Essentially, all life depends upon the soil ... There can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved together. - Charles E. Kellogg

By the way, I won't be making it to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving. Have no worries, Christmas is shortly after and I'll be attending that as long as I don't die of liver cirrhosis from aflatoxin! I wish I could say I was kidding - if you want to know all about aflatoxin just google search it! Please don't eat any of corn that looks like any of the pictures I post :)

172 bags of corn, 9288 ears of corn coming right up!

Toy Numero Uno!

Toy Numero Dos! I can back trucks up like a pro!

Husking, shelling, and weighing station

Heft bag onto table, write down plot number (Fung 204), empty bag onto table and begin husking.

Throw husks into garbage.

Separate into insect damage (top left), fungal (bottom left), and disgustingly healthy. Count the amount of insect and disease and the total amount of ears. Record in scientific notebook appropriately.