Insignificance and Arsenic

I occasionally get moments where I feel insignificant. My moment occured this morning on my daily commute where I happened upon an article suggesting that there are more stars in the universe than previously conceived. The article states that we have an estimated 300,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars (that's 300 sextillion).

When I was a kid, I use to try and imagine the farthest reaches of our galaxy and as I tried to visualize, a wave of nausea and dizzyness would hit me. It was physically impossible to conceive infinity and my body couldn't take it. But, now when I try to imagine, I get an overwhelming sense that my being really means nothing in the larger scheme.

Insignificance....

As my thoughts drift back to the present my mind wanders on to other things, but it's amazing for that single moment that life can feel trivial.

On an unrelated note, a friend forwarded a very interesting article from NASA citing the discovery of a microorganism thriving and reproducing in Mono Lake, a body of water with high levels of arsenic.

"We know that some microbes can breathe arsenic, but what we've found is a microbe doing something new -- building parts of itself out of arsenic," said Felisa Wolfe-Simon, a NASA Astrobiology Research Fellow in residence at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, Calif., and the research team's lead scientist. "If something here on Earth can do something so unexpected, what else can life do that we haven't seen yet?"

Incredible! I can only imagine the religious/evoluntionary debates that will appear with this article, but I think it's absolutely fantastic!

A serious contemplation of education

For those of you that know me, you are quite aware that I'm not incredibly thrilled with my current job.  I work in the financial industry, mostly doing pawn like work, and while the job itself is fine, it lacks the ability to keep me interested.

The past few years I've thought long and hard (that's what she said) about what I've wanted to do with my life.  With pawn like work, I've felt like I've had no real direction or purpose.  If you've ever been in this position you can understand how stressful, depressing and demotivating it can be.  It was only a few weeks ago that I realized I may have found the direction I probably should have gone years ago . . . Nutrition.

On Saturday I attended an Open House at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition.  I had been researching the school for a bit and decided to attend to get more information.  There were lectures on adrenal fatigue and nutrition in relation to memory retention and the psychology of disease.  I felt incredibly comfortable as I sat there like a sponge absorbing all this fascinating information.  I gathered all the information I could and left feeling invigorated about the possibility of finding a career that was meant to be.

As I continue to ponder each day, I'm realizing that it might be time for me to go back to school; as terrifying as that feels since I graduated college nearly a decade ago.

Step one:  Apply

...and then we wait...

Macro Mushi

Mushi and the 7D test

A short video of Mushi using the Canon 7D. 

Lens: Canon 50mm f/1.4

It's a Boy!!

Welcome to the family, Mushi! 

Birth date: Aug 04, 2010.  9 weeks old

I decided to take the Friday of the Thanksgiving long weekend off to have some time to introduce Mushi to our resident 2 year old cat, Nami.  Mushi settled into the bedroom almost immediately when I brought him home, as any curious kitten probably would.



After a couple of days of separation and a handful of hisses and growls from Nami, she and Mushi play gently under the door.

 

By Sunday we decided to have them meet.  Mushi was placed in his carrier and brought out to the living room so Nami could investigate the bedroom where Mushi has been kept.  As cats rely completely on smell and are extremely territorial, the first couple of days both kitties were rubbed down with towels and exchanged several times a day.  Mushi didn't really respond much to Nami's smells, but Nami's nose worked over time as she sniffed his odor filled towels.  With the continous swapping, Nami adapted fairly quickly to his scent. 



After Nami explored the bedroom and mainly ignored the kitten in the carrier, we decided to release him to test her reaction.  There were several gentle bops on the head and a few more hisses to show Mushi her first rank in the household.   Lots of chasing back and forth through the apartment followed by crash naps for both, we continued to separate them for extended periods and repeat short meetings.  We are having much success!

I am so incredibly proud of our Nami! :) She's making the transition for Mushi an easy one. 

most recent self portrait

Project 365 FAIL and the Return of the Shutter. . .

The last time I picked up a camera was the end of May when my husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary. The time before that was in April when I took one of my last shots for Project 365.
I failed 365 miserably and have been a little embarrassed to post anything since I've quit the project. I don't know why I stopped. I have many excuses in my head and I've been very ashamed.  What's done is done and maybe I'll try again someday.  Time will only tell.
But, enough is enough. It's time to pick that camera up again and start snapping! It's about 37 degrees celsius with the humidity right now and the bed is an oven. Nami and I are hanging out on the balcony with a glass of water trying to keep cool because the apartment feels like the Apocalypse.
I'm looking forward to the coolness of Fall . . .