My roots are in rural south Alabama where my family lived for generations. My love of nature began while visiting my grandfather’s farm, wandering around outdoors, and spending time on the Gulf Coast. I left home young and moved often, making the regular tumbleweed jokes while following my ex-husband’s military and civilian careers across the country. I explored each new place with the curiosity of a geographer.
My education was scattered across the country as well and included business, government, international affairs, geography, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), tropical biology in Costa Rica, environmental sciences and economics. I finally graduated at KSU in Kennesaw, Georgia with transcripts from 11 Universities in 5 states and nearly twice the hours a B.S. requires.
Studying geography in Grad school was the sweet spot because geography can include everything, especially at UGA where the geography department includes both human and physical geography. Connections are everywhere and fascinating. Tobler’s Law- Everything’s connected. Near things are more connected than far things, Is how I see the world, and I see that as being tru across all dimensions, not just spatial dimensions.
My career is also full of varied interests, a scattered mash up across subjects and locations with a lot of volunteer work. Family ties now keep me in the Atlanta burbs where I hope to improve my balance between family and goals, but that’s the challenge for everyone isn’t it? I’d personally enjoy living where I can have a vegetable garden, a greenhouse and potentially a meaningful project without worrying about an HOA. Rural life offers a lot that city living doesn’t, but that’s a two way street and it’s important to remember to appreciate those things one has. I plan to plant flowers where ever I live.
Like Russ, I am happiest when there is balance between curiosity, creativity, being active (both mentally and physically) and meeting goals. My interests have included gardening, fine hand sewing, SCUBA, cycling, hiking, reading, biodiversity, native plants and habitats, hot-air ballooning and exploring new things.
Writing is my current focus, both on this site and elsewhere. I struggle with organization and constantly rewrite trying to say things better, not terribly compatible with current trends to produce content fast, but hat’s ok because I don’t really see the purpose in what I’m doing as producing content. I rarely use AI, with the exception of baked in processes like spell check and phone photos processes that predate the current wave of more intense AI. I sometimes use the “Pro” setting on my phone to avoid that automated processing that many don’t even realize is there, but generally leave phone photos as they are taken on default setting and always acknowledge anything more.
The website is seriously under construction. I recently fixed what I thought would be a small problem with the mobile view and ended up changing the entire appearance and structure of the site. Please forgive the transitional mess. I anticipate, because that’s how life works, that the page, and my life, with be a permanent study in transition.