I was born in Baltimore, MD on 9/26/63. (You do the math.) Since I want to be a biologist when I grow up, I'm going to graduate school. I also do volunteer work for DNR (Department of Natural Resources), which is interesting, for it combines office and field work, and has given me an opportunity to work with GIS (Geographic Information Systems). GIS is software containing information about a given region, and the information can be anything from the location of wetlands to the location of a bald eagle nest.

The fieldwork is often plant-oriented, involving either a survey or "invasive plant control". That might sound tedious, but this summer I've gone on three canoe trips and visited Assateague and Chincoteague while working for DNR. It beats working in an office (which I did for ten years for a succession of insurance companies). Plus, I feel like I'm actually doing something. While removing invasive plants, you can see the results right away, and if you do the job properly, you can come back later to see native plants growing in their place.

I've also done some fish and water invertebrate monitoring which involve catching the desired organism, ID'ing it to genus or species and recording such particulars as approximate age or weight. The point of such monitoring is to see how healthy the waterbody in question is. Lots of creatures of many different kinds is a good sign; the opposite is not.

I am also the besotted owner of two cats, Bagheera and Grizabella. Bagheera is named for the black panther in The Jungle Books. (Three guesses what color he is.) His sister is named for a character in Cats.

The only kids I have are the ones with fur that I mentioned earlier. I also have three nieces and two nephews ranging from a month old to six years old.

Current Events Department

9/15/01--My younger brother, Stuart, is getting married today. It's his second marriage and I really hope it works this time; his first one only lasted two years. I'm going to be a bridesmaid in the wedding.

9/21/01--My newest niece has been born. Her name is Zoe Elizabeth Grotz and she weighs 8 pounds and 4 ounces.

9/26/01--My birthday.

10/18/01--I receive my first Epinions check. Yippee!

Shameless Plug Department

Book Reviews

Billions and Billions A Phule and His Money The Bush Dyslexicon Brain Plague

Sarum James and the Giant Peach Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Magazine Reviews

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