Guess What...

Yesterday. Was. Crazy. Like so crazy. 

We travelled down to Louisiana by Lake Ponchartrain to have out last camping trip. So we spent the night in Fontainebleau State Park. It was a lot fancier than the last park we stayed at, so I didn't complain. I actually had a bed to sleep on and not outside in a tent on the cold, hard ground. Apparently that night the carbon monoxide alarm went off but I slept through it. It was taken care of, don't worry. But seriously, that would have been horrible if everyone were like me and slept through that...We're living on the edge in herpetology.

That next morning, which was yesterday, we did our usual and checked traps and stuff. Then, we rented kayaks and rowed down Cane Bayou. This was the highlight of probably the whole class for me. I'll post pictures hopefully soon for everyone to see how pretty it was. It was very secluded and quiet. We all wanted to see a gator. Our eyes were on the lookout for at least one. And guess what...we saw a total of 6 alligators. Six!

I was in a tandem (2-seater) kayak with a classmate and we decided to try to catch one with our net. And guess what...we did! Yes, America, I, Claire Elizabeth Robinson, resident of the snooty suburbs of Nashville, caught an American Alligator in the bayous of Louisiana. And I did it all while in a kayak. How redneck and legit is that?

Of course once we got back from this 3.5 hour kayaking trip we were all sunburned to a crisp. Me especially. It hurts to bend my knees. Have you ever felt that feeling? You're so sunburned that you can't bend your knees. It's horrible. Don't do it. I'm applying aloe every 30 minutes and praying that it won't peel like crazy. 

It's gorgeous. But you know what? It was worth it. I got to see wild alligators and I have the battle scars to prove it!

Monday Week 2

This morning consisted of the last lecture! (Hallelujah!) And we also discussed a total of 3 scientific papers. I almost shot myself. It was so boring. But I got out of it without damaging myself or anyone around me, so that's a win for today.

We went on a little trip to the edge of the Mississippi-Louisiana border this evening to set some more traps near the Stennis Space Center. Apparently this place is known for having gators...I'm crossing my fingers that we will find one tomorrow morning in one of the traps!

We also went dip netting a little afterwards. Dip netting is pretty much how it sounds. It's dipping a big net into the swampy habitat and seeing what you can get. We actually got some frogs and a ribbon snake. Not too bad. One of the frogs we caught was a bull frog; it was the biggest frog we have caught to date. Exciting stuff. I obviously had to get a picture with the big guy.

This place is a frog's paradise.

We'll be camping tomorrow night through Wednesday afternoon, so pray for me. Again. Hopefully I won't kick someone's head off. I'm not making any promises, just like last time. I'm still a loose cannon. Who knows what will go down. I think at one point we will be taking a 4 hour kayaking trip into alligator infested waters...so, yeah. I hope I can make it back alive and in one piece!

His Love is Like an Ocean

I can't help but be reminded of God's love when I see the ocean. Is that weird? Maybe it's just me. But really, think about it. The ocean is as close of a worldly example of His love that we can get. I don't know about you, but I can't say that I always feel God's love. Like fully, 24/7. I feel His love more intensely when I am actively seeking Him and running after Him. I only feel the ocean's full beauty and atmosphere when I flock to it. When I see it in person, that is, with my toes in the sand and the breeze in my hair.

I only see the surface, the top layer. I don't realize the full extent of how deep and how wide and how expansive this ocean is. I have absolutely no idea what is below the surface. It's mysterious and inviting. It perks my curiosity. I want to get closer. The Lord's love is so deep and mysterious that I can't even fathom it all. I probably will never be able to.

The ocean is powerful. Its waves crash. Its currents can carry things far away. Its storms are frightening and deadly. It overwhelms me. It compels me to look closer. How powerful is His love...how powerful is God himself? His love is extreme.

I could probably go one for a while about how they correlate so well, but I don't want to bore you too much. I just thought about that the other day. God may have given us the ocean as a reminder of how expansive and mysterious and powerful and unfathomable and beautiful and vital His love is for us. Just something to think about.

Sovereign

Sovereign in the mountain air
Sovereign on the ocean floor
With me in the calm
With me in the storm

Sovereign in my greatest joy
Sovereign in my deepest cry
With me in the dark
With me at the dawn

In Your everlasting arms
All the pieces of my life
From beginning to the end
I will trust You

In Your never failing love
You work everything for good
God, whatever comes my way
I will trust you

God, whatever comes my way
I will trust You

All my hopes
All I need
Held in Your hands

All my life
All of me
Held in Your hands

All my fears
All my dreams
Held in Your hands

God, whatever comes my way
I will trust You

"Sovereign" by Chris Tomlin

Brain Overload

This herpetology class is only 2 weeks long. I knew it was going to be a lot of information in one small time period. But geez, this is a lot! There is so much information it's ridiculous. 

Every time we go out in the field to herp as a class, the species we find are added to an ongoing list. This list is our master list. We are responsible for those. We are required to learn the family, genus, species, and common name of those organisms we have found, and also be able to visually distinguish them. That might not sound too bad, right? Well, it's been one week and we have found almost 50 different herp species. Who knows how many we will have by the end of next week! 

We also are responsible for knowing the information from lectures as well. Oh, and we have to memorize 15 distinct frog calls. And keep a field notebook every time we go out in the field. It tells what and how many we found, where we found it, when it was, who we were with, etc. And we have class discussions on scientific papers every other day of which we are supposed to read and participate in discussion. And, on top of all that, we have a class project!

It's safe to say that I'm pretty swamped.

Herp Selfies

Just in case you haven't seen these pictures, I am posting all of my herp selfies. Herp = herpetology, by the way! Don't get any weird ideas. I'm not that kind of girl.

This is my eastern glass lizard selfie!

Another eastern glass lizard selfie.

Black pine snake selfie!

Another smiling black pine snake selfie!

American alligator selfie!

Another alligator selfie!

Another black pine snake selfie!

Red-eared slider and river cooter selfie!

Last, but not least, crawfish selfie. It's not a herp, but he was the biggest crawfish I have ever seen. So yeah!

Take away message: herps like to take selfies.

I'm Not Bitter!

It seems that with every post lately I'm sounding more and more ticked off and bitter. So, let me just say for the record that I'm not! I'm definitely glad it's the weekend. However, it's not like I'm hating my life right now or something. It's been great. I just am always finding something to complain about. Don't we all do that, folks? Can I get an amen? 

It's been a whirlwind of a week that has gone by like a month and a day all at once. I'm having a great time. Walking out of my dorm every morning to see the beach in the background is the best. The scenery around campus is awesome. I'm soaking it in. 

Just bear with me and pray for me! That's all I ask of you! This will be a roller coaster ride. There will be ups and downs and times when I don't know which way is up. But I'll look back and love every second of it once it's over.