Green Love?

I just had the randomest thought.

But it's rather interesting, so I thought I'd share.

First of all, I will shamelessly admit to you that I have been sitting here watching The Big Bang Theory, knitting, and drinking hot chocolate (or hocho, as I call it). And watching Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, and Raj bumble through their nerdy little lives has gotten me thinking about dating.

Typically, in any of the hard sciences or engineering, a strange thing happens -- for which I will coin the term The Nerd Phenomenon -- where  the ratio of men to women is extremely high. That is, there are about 100 nerdy guys for maybe 1 or 2 girls. Thus, the boys of the physics and egineering department find themselves hung up over Penny. And, finding this amusing (as well as my sad appreciation for science jokes) I continue to watch the show.

However, I just realized that the same situation seems to happen in the environmental sector. It seems to me, through my meetings with other environmentalists and people of the like, that the opposite occurs. We shall call this The Green Phenomenon. Everywhere I look, there are young single ladies such as myself striving for environmental solutions and sustainable living. But there aren't all that many young suitable males...

I read a green dating post over at Grist, stating that the same Green Phenomenon has been happening elsewhere! The general consensus seems to be that there are tons of young green women, and few men. One poster stated that at his local Green Drinks events, there is a huge abundance of single women, and only a few men, who happen to bring their wives...

As environmentalist and secondly a nerd, I have to say it seems my chances are pretty slim.

In response to the poster from Grist, I have to say that, in my experience, all the green men are so attractive that they get snatched up quick. I mean, what's hotter than a guy who enjoys hiking and wants to live sustainably, too? The thing is, environmentalism isn't just a department, like physics. It's a lifestyle. If you're into climate change and the outdoors, every life decision you make is going to be influenced by that --  so it's only inevitable that environmentally-minded people are going to hitch up fairly quickly!

I wonder why there aren't more men in the environmental fields? It seems that there are many older men working in the field, but who knows, maybe they jumped on the bandwagon while it was empty, back when environmental fields were just starting out. Now, I'm looking around my classes and I'd say there about 70-80% women. Where are all the guys at? Seriously...there's a whole world of active, fun, and  tanned environmental ladies out here in the boonies.

Well, you'd say to me, head on over to the physics department and bag yourself a Star Trek loving theoretical physicist!  It would make sense, after all, if the Nerd Phenomenon and the Green Phenomenon met up and made little nerdy green babies...our kids might even come up with a theory for mitigating climate change.

But is there something wrong with wanting a like-minded life partner?

It would only make sense for two environmentally-minded people to fall in love...they would have similar values, which would probably extend beyond their discipline, such as a love for nature, a particular outlook on children,  a need for exploration and fun.

But, at the moment, there are a whole lot of single men in suspenders hanging around somewhere, and a whole lot of single women with hiking boots.

Guess I'll just have to revert to my animal instincts and hunt a green man down. But with the trend I'm seeing, it would seem futile. I might as well just sit at the end of a trail and wait for him to come to me...

Hello, again.

Would ya look at me, updating once again.This is madness!

I have to say, I should be updating more often with more of my pseudo-philosphical thoughts, but to be honest I haven't really been thinking too hard lately. I'm not finding my classes this semester to be challenging at all, however they're so time-consuming that I don't get to spend much time reading. Speaking of, I'm hoping to finish The Shack by William Paul Young, and hopefully break out my old copy of Walden to spark that old environmental flame...I might even hunt down some Aldo Leopold.



So what has my life been filled with as of late?

I'm not even sure.

I've been trying to keep up my training, but it's kind of slowed down a bit. Still running strong, though. I managed to run Armour Hill up Hunter St. 6 times the other day (woo!) and I did a quick 2.5k around campus yesterday followed by the OC stairs a few times. I also biked to tri clinic on Sunday, trying to avoid the many puddles. The weather's been nice lately...can't wait to take the road bike out for a spin.

Classes have been....gruelling. Fairly uninteresting, unfortunately. I'd like to say that I'm learning some new and valuable information, or that I'm at least being inspired to undertake new projects or research on my own...But I'm not. Quite frankly, I'm a little annoyed with Trent as we're taught the same things over and over again without much deviation. I know it's very important, and it was very interesting the first time I heard about it, but if I have to hear about eutrophication and the ELA one more time, I'll explode.

Profs keep telling us not to focus on big cases such as Temagami or James Bay because they're sick of hearing about it...but you know what, there are important environmental case resolution lessons to be learned from those cases. Eutrophication is an ongoing issue, yes, but at least teach us about what's being done now, and what other related processes are important, not that it's just there, that Lake Erie died and came back, the end.

Sorry. Frustrated rant.

Somebody tell me something interesting, please. Something I can analyze or learn from or learn more about.

Anyway, what else have I been up to?

Looking for a job, for one. Something outside and active.

It has also been "surprise roommates with dinner" week, and so far we've had
-- maple salmon/wine and herb salmon with asparagus
-- chicken divan
-- pierogi casserole/lasagna
-- fettuccine and peas with homemade garlic bread
-- honey garlic sausages and baked potatoes (tonight)

Assignments are so much less exciting after a glass of wine...

Anyway, I need some fun in my life. Perhaps I'll make a music video or something.

I must be off now, though. My chariot awaits.

(aka the scary old lady who drives the east bank)

Update

Hey there...

Quick update on the tri front.

Since my last blog, I was struck down by a vicious sinus cold which put a cramp in my training...and my schoolwork...and my sleep...and my life, really.

Honest-to-God, I was so sick that at one point I crawled under my desk with a cup of tea because, in my teary-eyed delusion, I thought it would make me feel better. And, on top of that, I still had to walk to the bus stop and get my butt to school each day because apparently lab demonstrators don't care if you can't breathe or talk, there are samples of estuary water that need to be tested for pH!

Anyway. I've had some successes in the tri department, regardless. I shall shamelessly update you on my somewhat less-than-impressive running successes. My long term goal for the tri course was to be able to pace this guy in the class for the 2.5k run, but I did so last Sunday. We even had a conversation the whole way!

I've been running on the treadmill lately, as I'm still somewhat recovering. I've been upping my mileage over the course of the week, and so far I'm up to 4.5k, which is almost double last week. My min/mile has been dropping as I get stronger, and I'm looking forward to seeing it decrease!

I'm hoping, for this month or so, to log a 5k time under 25min, which I think should be possible. By race time, I should hopefully get it sub-20, or at least sub-22. I shall work hard!

My roommates have started the TriForce, my training support team, who basically will cheer me on when I finish my first triathlon. They might make tshirts, I'm not sure. But by all means, feel free to join. We'll have a barbeque at my house after, hopefully my family will come up and my nieces will be there to cross the finish line with me! :)


I've also graduated from frozen yogurt to normal and frozen fruit to fresh in my smoothies. Addiction to blackberries starts now.


In other news, I'm now also addicted to rock climbing. Yes, I tried it at the gym and it was really fun. Calling all climbing buddies, come belay for me and I'll return the favour!! I'll have to get some decent climbing shoes first.

Also, you can look forward to an upcoming blog post on environmental thinking...it'll be more or less a paper I'm writing for one of my classes but it should be very interesting.

Oh, almost done my sweater, too. I need to knit the sleeves and cuffs, then add the zipper, but it should be wearable in a week or two :) Woo!

Anyway, have a great week, try not to get sick!