Final Thoughts On Colloquium

Looking back on this semester in Colloquium, I really enjoyed taking the class.  I have to admit that in the beginning of the semester I was aware of some of the environmental issues in our society, but now I can say that I have become much more educated on the topics and have learned a great deal.  I really enjoyed getting around the Southwest Florida area for our field trips. Most of the field trips provided us a chance to get in touch with nature and spend some time out in the fresh air.  When I was younger I spent a great deal of my time outside playing in the woods and camping, however, as I’ve grown older I don’t seem to do many of the activities I used to enjoy.  That is one thing this class did show me. I have become a little out of touch with nature and haven’t done one of my favorite things to do in years, which is camping.  The one thing that I did notice in our class was how most of the students were really out of touch with nature. I remember one day when Neil suggested that we spend an hour in the woods with no cell phones.  Most of the students couldn’t stand the thought.  I am a little older than most of the students and it’s amazing to see how dependent that generation is on technology.  It made me think about my children and how important it is that I support getting them to spend time outside playing and investigating what nature has to offer. 

Although at first I dreaded doing it, the required service-learning hours I did ended up being one of my favorite activities in the class.  I helped with a dinner at Vester Marine Lab for the School Science and Mathematics Association.  It was a lot of fun down on the water and we ate the food we could.  I also helped with a field-trip to Crew Trust Preserve, which was one of my favorite field trips of the semester. I think that it should be one of the field trips for the class to take. Overall, I feel that the Colloquium class is a very beneficial class for the students to take, and for society as a whole.  Had the class not been required, I probably wouldn’t have taken it, and after taking the class I can understand the importance of taking it, and why it is a required course.

Plan B Presentation

For our class presentation on Plan B, we were responsible for covering chapter ten.  Our chapter was titled Can We Mobilize Fast Enough.  The chapter really put an urgency on the world as whole, taking responsibility for global warming and the factors associated with it.  The chapter discusses how we are marching forward to a civilizational collapse and food supply is one of the major concerns.  The thought of a civilizational collapse with food shortages is a scary one.  How is it that we are considered the most intelligent people to have ever walked the earth, yet we are now at a major breaking point globally?  What will happen if we cross that threshold and a collapse begins? 

That is what’s so scary.  Our world as a whole has never been in this type of situation and who knows how people will react, but most likely it would be ugly.  This is exactly why we need to be urgent now, and do our best to avoid such a catastrophe.  One of the ideas presented in the chapter is to lower income taxes and tax activities that contribute to global warming at a much higher rate.  The idea is to almost penalize those who participate in activities that contribute to global warming.  This would include a gasoline tax to encourage car pooling, a landfill tax to encourage recycling, and even use a cap-and-trade system where those who wish to engage in these activities are required to purchase a permit.  I believe that all of these ideas are good because they directly penalize the person or persons who choose to participate in the activities.  Those who do not engage in those activities are not penalized.  One of the final points in the chapter is that the United States should lead this charge for change and help to get rid of illiteracy, disease, poverty, and we can restore the earth’s soils forests, and fisheries.  The author makes a suggestion of shifting 13% of the world’s military budget to the Plan B budget, and that would be more than adequate to move on a path that would sustain progress.  I look at it like this, either we shift the 13% of the budget, or we collapse.  The answer seems obvious, and if we don’t do something, that world military budget is going to be worthless anyway.  We might as well adopt this plan and start moving forward before its too late. 

SW Florida Historical Museum

Last week we took a class field-trip to the Southwest Florida Museum of history in downtown Fort Myers.  The museum is housed in a circa 1924 restored train depot, and also has a replica of a pioneer “cracker” house.  The museum has numerous exhibits, including, Paleo Florida, the Calusa Indians, the Seminole Indians, Spanish explorers, and a turn of the century exhibit that included Thomas Edison.  Walking through the museum felt like we had gone back into time and there was a lot to take in.  I’m thinking about a second visit so that I can spend a little more time to absorb all of the information in each of the exhibits.  The museum also had a traveling exhibit with black and white fine art photographs from Clyde Butcher.  We only spent a few minutes at this exhibit, but I really enjoyed looking at the photographs.  That was the first time that I have ever spent any time looking at black and white photographs that were considered art.  Outside of the museum there was a replica “cracker” house. 

These homes were single room homes of the early cattleman, who were named “crackers” for the sound their whips would make when rustling cattle.  The houses had sloped roofs so that the rain would run off, a front porch, and were raised to avoid any flooding issues.  After the museum we walked around downtown and went to the Indigo Hotel.  We went to the top floor, and we were able to look all around downtown.  The view was spectacular and the most interesting part was that we could see all the trees throughout the downtown.  I could see green for as far as I could see, and they were spread out all over downtown amongst the buildings and streets.I had no idea there were that many trees in that area.  The view of the Caloosahatchee was also awesome from up on the top floor.  After the Indigo, Neil let us walk downtown a little, and we went for pizza at one of the shops. 

That was the first time I have ever walked around downtown Fort Myers, and sitting outside by the street and eating was a good time as well.  There is a lot to look at when walking around and many different shops and restaurants to stop and checkout.  This was one of my favorite field trips of the semester, and I would like to take a Saturday and go spend some time walking around, and checking out the sites.

Service-Learning Project

This past Friday and Saturday I completed my required service-learning hours for Colloquium, by volunteering to assist with a dinner and a field-trip.  Friday afternoon, several of us volunteers arrived at FGCU’s Vester Marine Lab to set up for an evening dinner on the water.  We set up tables, prepped food, and assisted anyone we could to get the event set up for dinner.  Although it was a little cool, it was a perfect setting for dinner by the water.  A couple from Gatorama, which is located in Palmdale, set up and cooked alligator ribs.  The ribs were unbelievable.  I’ve had gator tail many times, and honestly did not know that people ate gator ribs.  Along with the gator ribs, we served a variety of seafood for everyone to eat. 

Most of the people that attended were professors and professionals from across the country.  All of them seemed to have a very good time and were very friendly to all of us students.  After dinner, the couple from Gatorama brought out a live alligator and crocodile for people to hold and take pictures with if they liked.  It was pretty funny to watch many of the guests who had never seen, let alone touched an alligator or crocodile.  It was a great time for all us.  

On Saturday, I went along to assist on a field-trip to Crew Trust Preserve.  It was a great way to complete my service-learning requirement. Honestly, it felt more like a class field-trip, than anything else.  The preserve is beautiful and I really enjoyed going along.  Susan Cooper, a professor at FGCU, was very nice and was very knowledgeable about our local environment.  I really enjoyed spending time and speaking with her.  Our guide at the preserve was a white-haired lady named Brenda.  All of us on the trip really enjoyed the walk through the preserve, as Brenda educated us on a variety of things. 

One thing that I was surprised to learn was that the dahoon holly, which is native to Florida, is easily mistaken for the Brazilian pepper tree.  The dahoon hollies red berries are much larger than those of the Brazilian pepper tree.  My favorite spot along the trail was when we came upon a wooden stand that overlooked a wide open space of saw grass.  The wind was blowing from the north, and it was a peaceful site to watch the saw grass bending in what seemed to be waves of wind.  The boardwalk that followed was enjoyable as well.  I think that the preserve should definitely be on the list of field-trips for Colloquium.  In all, the two days of service-learning were a lot of fun and very enjoyable.

The Everglades

The assigned reading on the Everglades made me think back about a couple of things. Prior to coming back to school, I worked for a company that located underground buried electric cables for LCEC.  I covered all of Collier County and parts of Lee County.  Although I spent the majority of my time on Marco Island, I was also responsible for locating all lines within the Big Cypress National Preserve.  I traveled U.S. 41 from Naples to Everglades City, and then up State Road 29 into Immokalee.  I used to spend my lunch hour parked on the side of 41, watching the alligators in the canal on the north side of the road.  Over near Freeport, there is a waterway where every now and then you could see a couple of manatees playing, and there are some beautiful views out on Chokoloskee Island.  One afternoon while traveling north on SR 29 from Everglades City into Immokalee, I saw a black bear cross the highway, climb over a guard rail, and it jumped into a ditch full of water.  It looked like it was after something, but as I got closer; it scooted off into the woods.  During the rainy season, I even saw several otters playing in the ditches over in the Immokalee area. It was a great area to have to work in.  The second thing that the reading reminded me of was the only time that I have ever been camping in the Everglades.  It was in April of 1984 when I was seven years old.  I’m not sure where we actually were, but it was a spot that my step-father knew of.  We camped out for the weekend, fished, swam, and hiked all around.  I remember swimming in the water and seeing alligators.  I grew up on a canal with alligators, and we swam in the water all the time, so I didn’t really have a fear of it.  That’s funny though, because I would never do that now, and I probably wouldn’t let my children either.  Anyway, I spent most of my time there fishing and I know it’s hard to tell, but if you look closely at that picture of me holding up a bobber, there is a fish on the hook.  It’s really hard to tell, so take my word for it! The best part of the whole trip is that we went out there to celebrate Easter weekend.  My mom and my aunt’s had made sure to bring all the Easter baskets, candy, and of course, chocolate. By Sunday morning all of the chocolate had melted and left a mess in our baskets.  It’s funny now, but not so much when I was seven.

 

Nature-Deficit Disorder

After reading the assigned chapters from Gifts of Nature by Richard Louv, the chapter that stood out the most to me was titled Nature-Deficit Disorder and the Restorative Environment.  The chapter discusses how studies show that nature may be a useful therapy for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  I wrote a paper about 11 years ago for a course at Edison Community College, where I felt then and still do now, that children are being incorrectly diagnosed with this disorder.  In my opinion, we are over medicating our children, so that parents can be lazy.  What we really have is a Parental Deficit Disorder.  Parents buy their children all these technologies and video games, and the kids rot inside their rooms all day.  It keeps the kids out of their way.  Then they go to school with all this wound up energy and they act up.  Immediately the school suggests medication and most parents follow through and put them on Ritalin or one of the other medications.  I personally feel that the problem is lack of parent interaction, and a lack of time spent playing outside.  My children have all the fun video games, computers, and whatever else they’ve talked me into; however, their time is limited and accounted for.  I make sure they play outside each day, and we do simple things like eat as a family and discuss our day.  Most families these days don’t even sit at the table and eat their dinner.  I even know a few that eat in separate rooms so that everyone can watch their own television shows.  I don’t think a lot of people realize how important of a connection you get with your children when you take the time to listen to them. 

We also take walks around the neighbor and talk about anything and everything you can imagine.  Two weeks ago we not only added a baby boy to the family, but we also added a 13 year old young man who has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder.  I have known him his entire life, and he has gone through more terrible situations than good in his life.  He was about to go to foster care, and I just couldn’t let that happen to him. Adding him did make it five children in my household, but hey what’s one more.  Anyway, he was diagnosed with ADHD when he was around 7 or 8 years old.  I always disagreed with the diagnosis and have always fully thought it was a lack of parental guidance in his life. He is a kid with a lot of energy, but honestly, what kid isn’t.  He didn’t pay attention well in class and he misbehaved.  I think he misbehaved because he was acting out about his home life.  Now being that he is bi-polar makes his situation a little different, however I believe that positive adult interaction and some time spent with nature is a good way to help him fight his mental illness.  After two weeks of staying with us, the school has taken notice on his behavior and he told my sister he wants to stay with us because he feels loved for the first time in his life.  All the kid needs is someone to actually care and spend some time with him.  Last weekend we started building a fort in the woods behind the house, we are planning a family camping trip for next month, and tomorrow he is going hunting at Cecil Webb.  I think that if I keep him in a positive situation and expose him to the outside world, he can spend all that energy up, while enjoying the fresh air.     

RATTLESNAKE BITE

 

Last week when we were walking along the path at the Fort Myers Historic Cottage, there was a black snake that slithered across the ground.  As soon as I noticed the snake I jumped out of the way and a couple of people kind of laughed.  It was funny, but my fear of snakes is definitely real.  When I was 11 years old, I was bitten by a 29 inch eastern diamondback rattlesnake.  Prior to being bitten, I had a couple of close calls with snakes growing up. A couple of years prior, I was in my backyard and jumped over a pile of wood and my foot landed on the head of a water moccasin.  I jumped and was able to get away, but that was the first time I had encountered a snake that put fear in me. Then, two weeks prior to getting bit, I was walking across the street from my house to go fishing in a canal, and I noticed a large snake coiled up next to our mailbox.  I walked close and the snake did nothing.  I thought it was dead, but decided to go get my older brother.  He came outside with a shovel and took a poke at the snake.  It was an eastern diamondback rattlesnake, and as soon as that shovel got close that snake struck the end of the shovel, recoiled and did it again.  We both jumped back and the snake scurried away across an open field.

Two weeks later, May 4^th 1988, I had just got home and my brother and I were going to go over to our friend Billy’s house.  My brother called me a name when we got out of the car and I proceeded to chase him through the back yard, into Billy’s yard and in between Billy’s house and his neighbor’s.  As I passed the air conditioning unit on Billy’s house, I felt a sharp pain around my ankle on my right foot.  When I looked down, there was a snake clamped onto my leg.  I screamed and tried to kick the snake off. I eventually managed to shake him loose and as I tried to get away, fell to my knees and began to crawl to the front of my friend’s home.  My brother was screaming like a little girl too, and all the commotion led Billy’s mom to come outside to see what was happening.  She immediately called 911 and tied a tourniquet just below my knee. At that point I began to pass out and really don’t remember much for the next two weeks or so. By the time the ambulance had arrived, my foot had swollen so large that they had to cut off my shoe. My step-father went to look for the snake and found it in the exact spot where it had bit me. The snake was digesting a frog when they found it.  They killed the snake and brought it to the hospital.  The doctor told my mother that the snake had injected two and a half teaspoons of venom into the muscle in my leg.  They told my mom that there was a 50% chance of survival and that if I did survive; they were going to have to cut off my leg at the knee.  Somehow, with a lot of prayers, the majority of the muscle in my leg was healing and after 5 opinions from doctors, I was able to keep my leg. I initially had three surgeries to open the wound, which was a long cut from the knee to the ankle, and then two cuts on top of the foot, to relieve pressure and allow for cleaning of the muscle.  About a week later, I had three more surgeries to close up the wound and had it stapled and stitched up.  After about 3 months of physical therapy I was able to walk and eventually able to play football, baseball, and basketball in high school. So, if I see a black snake and it makes me jump and even scream, I think I’m entitled to that.