My Interests and Passions

Meteorology

			Meteorology has been an interest of mine for a very long time. Twister was one of my favorite movies as a kid. I watched the Weather Channel a lot - I remember watching their coverage of Hurricane Katrina. When I found out there was an online degree with an emphasis in meteorology through Marshall University, I applied immediately. Of course, I didn't think at the time about how bad I am at math and computer science. We will see if I stick with it, or if I might change my degree later. I would really like to be a volunteer storm spotter, but I don't necessarily want to be a storm chaser. The pictures shown are ones I've taken myself, for my phone's background. The far-left picture is of crepuscular rays (rays that clearly shine through breaks in clouds). The middle picture is of a scud cloud (a harmless cloud that has the appearance of a tornado). The far-right picture is of a gorgeous shelf cloud as storms moved into my town.

Paleontology (and Birds)

I watched Jurassic Park when I was a baby and it has been my favorite movie ever since. So, given that context, it makes sense that paleontology is a huge special interest of mine. If I could go to shcool for this without moving, I absolutely would, no hesitation. I have several books about dinosaurs, and I have a list of books that I want to add to that collection. I have models and figures decorating my room. If you've seen my "Hobbies" page, you've seen how dinosaurs influence my crafting. And, because of my love of dinosaurs, I also love birds (they're dinosaurs)! I have just as many bird books as I do dinosaur books. I have bird knick-knacks everywhere. I have bird apps on my phone.

Animals and Nature

		I have always had a fascination with the natural world, especially with animals. From a young age, I was an avid watcher of nature documentaries - I still am. I have several field guides, as well as posters and decor. My favorite animals are spotted hyenas, but I really love reptiles. At one point, I wanted to go to school to be a herpetologist. I go herping (searching for wild reptiles) occasionally, and I want to get a certification for handling venomous snakes so that I can safely relocate them for my community. Animal husbandry is something I research a lot, even if it is in regards to an animal I don't actually wish to care for. I really enjoy visiting zoos and aquariums, as well as parks and going into forests.