platypus !

While on our walk to our local waterfall today baronsnorri, who has eyes that are not only quick, but calibrated to Australian wildlife, spotted a platypus in the creek, playing/feeding happily in the pool at the bottom of the falls.

This is the first time I've ever seen a platypus in the wild, and only the second time I've ever seen one at all. The other time was during my first visit to Australia, back in 1990, when my parents took me to a wildlife park in Victoria where they had a tank full of water, a log, some plants, and a platypus, which spent an hour or three a day swimming in the tank on display, and the rest of its time in an environment that it considered more home-like. (Mom, do you remember where that park was?)

Somehow, despite not getting anywhere near as good of a look at it (since we were standing on the bridge, and it was quite away below us, and spent more time underwater than on the surface), it is ever so much more exciting to see one in the wild, minding its own business, rather than swimming in a display tank. I'd heard that there were platypus living on the mountain, but is is delightful to witness it for myself.

Edit: My sister says that the park I went to back in 1990 was probably the Healesville Sanctuary.

platypus !

While on our walk to our local waterfall today baronsnorri, who has eyes that are not only quick, but calibrated to Australian wildlife, spotted a platypus in the creek, playing/feeding happily in the pool at the bottom of the falls.

This is the first time I've ever seen a platypus in the wild, and only the second time I've ever seen one at all. The other time was during my first visit to Australia, back in 1990, when my parents took me to a wildlife park in Victoria where they had a tank full of water, a log, some plants, and a platypus, which spent an hour or three a day swimming in the tank on display, and the rest of its time in an environment that it considered more home-like. (Mom, do you remember where that park was?)

Somehow, despite not getting anywhere near as good of a look at it (since we were standing on the bridge, and it was quite away below us, and spent more time underwater than on the surface), it is ever so much more exciting to see one in the wild, minding its own business, rather than swimming in a display tank. I'd heard that there were platypus living on the mountain, but is is delightful to witness it for myself.

Edit: My sister says that the park I went to back in 1990 was probably the Healesville Sanctuary.

so many birthdays this month!

This time I send good wishes for a very Happy Birthday to vonstrassburg. May you have a beautiful day, and may your next year bring good winds and smooth sailing!

so many birthdays this month!

This time I send good wishes for a very Happy Birthday to vonstrassburg. May you have a beautiful day, and may your next year bring good winds and smooth sailing!

inspirational e-mails

This evening I received an e-mail from my collaborator in Italy saying that she's heard back from the journal and they are happy with our edits, so, pending final approval from the editor-in-chief our paper has been accepted. She then went on to say that another colleague of hers is interested in undertaking further research on the Tasmanian samples I sent her, and am I interested in continuing to work with them on the project? I replied asking if they wished me to continue to provide only the field-relationship data and help with English grammar, or if they want me to take a more active role in the project. If the former, I am absolutely able to help, but if they want a more active role, it would depend on what/when, since I am meant to be finishing up my PhD project over the next couple of months.

After replying to her e-mail I was suddenly inspired to work, and accomplished more than four hours of solid work, including more than 1,000 words written for my thesis. This after an unmotivated day where I spent more time enjoying the company of my loved ones or reading e-mail/livejournal than I did on Uni work. I love getting e-mails from Italy--it seems that every time I do I find another burst of motivation for my own project!

inspirational e-mails

This evening I received an e-mail from my collaborator in Italy saying that she's heard back from the journal and they are happy with our edits, so, pending final approval from the editor-in-chief our paper has been accepted. She then went on to say that another colleague of hers is interested in undertaking further research on the Tasmanian samples I sent her, and am I interested in continuing to work with them on the project? I replied asking if they wished me to continue to provide only the field-relationship data and help with English grammar, or if they want me to take a more active role in the project. If the former, I am absolutely able to help, but if they want a more active role, it would depend on what/when, since I am meant to be finishing up my PhD project over the next couple of months.

After replying to her e-mail I was suddenly inspired to work, and accomplished more than four hours of solid work, including more than 1,000 words written for my thesis. This after an unmotivated day where I spent more time enjoying the company of my loved ones or reading e-mail/livejournal than I did on Uni work. I love getting e-mails from Italy--it seems that every time I do I find another burst of motivation for my own project!