All About ME...
You may already know that I love animals & nature. (Nooo, I do not love spiders, I just respect them.* I don't love bees either, I appreciate them.* (I do love honey though)! Yes, I do have pet Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. As a former Science Teacher, naturalist or any reponsible citizen, you have an unwritten obligation to never release a non-native into the wild. The rule is to... (Wait, what?! Ummm, "terminate" them? Err, I'll just keep them I guess. They are not my favorites! Those would be fireflies, dragonflies & crickets of course.*
The children & I learn about many overlooked or misunderstood creatures. Mostly to gain understanding that everything plays an important role in the 'Circle of Life'.
*Without spiders & bats the world would be covered with insects! You're rethinking spiders at this moment aren't you???
*Without BEES there would be no honey, but also no flowers, fruit or veggies!
(-Hencewhy I am the Queen Bee my little busy bees! Ohh, bee-hive!)
*Fireflies - Uh, hello...they glow! *Crickets - it's a musical insect people! *Dragonflies -Oh, come on! They look beautiful & they can hover!
Okay, okay...my real pets? I've had a donkey, ponies, rabbits, goats, ducks, chickens, peacocks, parrots, parakeets, dogs, cats, hamsters, & upon my first year teaching, I inherited a gerbil.
(Yes, my mom still has chickens and peacocks and yes, I always promise the children a peacock feather if I can get them...they just don't understand that I don't live with my mommy anymore! Or why my bed isn't at school for that matter.} They are not quite patient with the fact that she can't pull out the feathers all at once either...I'm working on it!! (-If they don't have them by the end of the school year - they can come visit me at school & claim one!)
At the moment, I have a dog named Pete. He is a Yorkie-Poo, I don't know why they do not call them, as I prefer to say 'Pookie'. We rescued him and even though he drives me crazy, sometimes he's the one who rescues me! I call him Pork-Chop...he snorts like a piggy, and acts like one too!
The next pet I am planning on getting is an invisible one! ;) My goal is to live in a Sportsmobile & go on adventures! For now, I will have to be satisfied with my favorite 'toys'. Right now my dirtbike is in the lead. -I mean, who doesn't love mud?
Speaking of time, why does everyone call it "bad" weather?! It's wonderful...there's so much nothing to do! When it's cold or rainy I am at home by the fire reading or watching one of my favorite movies. But when it's nice out...
I enjoy kayaking, camping and taking road trips (& traveling when I can). My own kids are big now, (My daughter is an organic chemist & my son is a doggie dentist!) but when I'm lucky enough to have them with me, I'm also lucky that they love the great outdoors too. Wherever we go, we love to climb stuff & 'play' outside, especially where there are things to explore! We also like to go fishing, but we usually throw our 'catch' back and we 'hunt' with our cameras.
Here are a few of our favorite places to go... (But sorry, you can't climb the trees!)
Manasquan Reservoir (You have to see the trails in the Spring!)
https://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?ID=2531
Longwood Gardens (My absolute favorite!) Tree houses, fountains, concerts, a Children's Garden... http://longwoodgardens.org/
DeepcutGardens (Not big, but not too far.)
https://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?ID=2518
AllaireState Park (I hope you've already been here!! Explore or sight-see. http://www.stateparks.com/allaire.html
NJ Lighthouses (-we've been to 6 so far...) http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/nj.htm
Grounds for Sculpture - Art & Nature!! http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/index.cfm
Did I mention my favorite campsites? Nope, I can't do it - if I share my secret spots, then they won't be a secret now would they?! I will tell you they are all in State Parks! North for fabulous foliage (Waterfalls, wolves & bears oh my!) South for beach areas, fishing & trails.)
Well, what are you waiting for? Get out there!
All witty humor & dumb jokes ©M.P.Videtti 2014... Except ^ that one!