Month: February 2014

Cross-Country Connections: 22 Days Until Spring

Brianne Bilyeu650 Comments

Cross-Country Connections is a Biodork weekly blog entry dedicated to telling stories in pictures of three family members – me, my sister and Mom – living in different locations across the country. Every week we choose a different theme and then take or contribute a personal photo that fits the theme. This week’s theme is 22 Days Until Spring.

From Mom in Hagerstown, Maryland:

Backyard - thin layer of snow, sunny, wooden fence, a neighbor's house in the background
Sun is out. Close to 50 but windy.

From me in Minneapolis, Minnesota:

Snow-covered trees, ground and lake.
Spring? What is this “Spring” of which you speak?

From Erin in Takoma Park Maryland:

Brick building framed by leaveless trees against a brilliant blue sky
Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA, with nary a bud on those trees and another sweep of cold air and snow on its way. Le sigh.

Cross-Country Connections: 22 Days Until Spring
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Winter Storm Seneca Blows Through

Brianne Bilyeu, , , , 622 Comments

Last night I participated on panel about Women In Secularism for Campus Atheists Humanists and Skeptics at the University of Minnesota. My fellow panelists were Stephanie Zvan, Niki Massey – who did a guest post for Biodork a few months ago – and Chelsea Du Fresne. It was awesome – there were a lot of thoughtful questions from the (mostly male) audience. We had a chance to talk about microaggressions, how to build and support diversity in organizations, and how to recognize when you might be dealing with an MRA.

The snow had started to fall at about 1pm yesterday afternoon. The snowflakes were big and fluffy and full of water – perfect snowman snow! When we left the panel at about 10pm, we had acquired several inches of snow. But this is Minnesota and the plows were on high alert; many of the major roads had been cleared at least once.

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Winter Storm Seneca Blows Through

Should we be forced to donate blood?

Brianne Bilyeu, 2,373 Comments

Here’s the deal: Your blood donation is going to save somebody’s life. Your blood is the ONLY BLOOD IN THE WHOLE WORLD that can save them. You’ve got protesters outside of your house, demanding that the ethical thing to do, the moral thing to do is to donate. And politicians are arguing that the government should force you to donate to save the life of this person, or risk legal action.*

So should you be forced to donate?

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Should we be forced to donate blood?

Photos of Adler

Brianne Bilyeu, , , 1,080 Comments

As a proud new leopard gecko momma, I’m taking many photos of Adler. And like a proud new parent, I feel an unstoppable urge to share these photos. And you are the patiently resigned coworker who I caught at the watercooler, nodding politely as I point out minuscule changes in a nearly identical expression that has been captured in what seems like twenty thousand different prints.

But it’s not that bad. First of all, there aren’t as many photos as I thought there would be; Adler’s awfully good at hiding in her tree for the majority of my waking hours. Second, Adler’s way cuter than some newborn human baby, right? I know.

So here we go!

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Photos of Adler

Cross-Country Connections: Hobby

Brianne Bilyeu, 626 Comments

Cross-Country Connections is a Biodork weekly blog entry dedicated to telling stories in pictures of three family members – me, my sister and Mom – living in different locations across the country. Every week we choose a different theme and then take or contribute a personal photo that fits the theme. This week’s theme is Hobby.

From Erin in Takoma Park, Maryland: 

Erin looking caught in the act, carrying several balls of yarn and a circular needle set in her mouth.
Caught in the act, trying to put away the end of a knitting project in one trip.

From Mom in Hagerstown, Maryland: 

Sipsy the cat sleeping in a wicker basket atop something that might be embroidery.
I’d show my embroidery but………

From me in Minneapolis, Minnesota:

Me in clear blue water, scuba gear, looking at a large, living coral reef.
Living in Minnesota I don’t get nearly as much opportunity to indulge my enjoyment of scuba diving as I’d like. There’s always Mother Superior, but she doesn’t look anything like this! This photo was taken in Cozumel a couple of years ago.

Cross-Country Connections: Hobby

A Home for Leo

Brianne Bilyeu, , 662 Comments

I’m going to be a leopard gecko mommy!

I’ve wanted to care for a reptile for a long time, but it wasn’t until recently that all of the pieces came together, and now I’m in the position to care for one. My first desire was a chameleon, but the tiniest bit of research helped me realize that a Chameleon was going to be waaaaay too much work. I decided to go with the classic My First Reptile: a leopard gecko! I don’t have the gecko yet, but here is a photo that gives you a general idea of it will probably look like:

Leopard Gecko resting on a gray cloth. Gecko is white and yellow with black dots all over the dorsal/anterior surfaces. Has the traditionally fat tail and flat, broad head.

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A Home for Leo

Cross-Country Connections: Circles

Brianne Bilyeu, 518 Comments

Cross-Country Connections is a Biodork weekly blog entry dedicated to telling stories in pictures of three family members – me, my sister and Mom – living in different locations across the country. Every week we choose a different theme and then take or contribute a personal photo that fits the theme. This week’s theme is Circles.

From me in Minneapolis, Minnesota: 

Flat, circular stone bowl
My new worm bowl for the soon-to-arrive newest member of the Bilyeu household! Soon.

From Erin in Takoma Park, Maryland: 

Five balls of yarns in various colors - red, orange, yellow, blue
The Olympic yarn rings slowly being turned into rainbow socks in honor of the Sochi games. Tell us not to talk about teh gayz and we’ll make ya rainbow socks.

From Mom in Hagerstown, Maryland: 

Circles on the lampshade, a wall hanging and the drapes. Jasper the cat is napping on the table.
The theme – if there is one – for my living room/dining room. Jasper seems chill with it.

Cross-Country Connections: Circles

Cross-Country Connections: Weirdest Thing

Brianne Bilyeu, 799 Comments

Cross-Country Connections is a Biodork weekly blog entry dedicated to telling stories in pictures of three family members – me, my sister and Mom – living in different locations across the country. Every week we choose a different theme and then take or contribute a personal photo that fits the theme. This week’s theme is Weirdest Thing.

From Mom in Hagerstown, Maryland:

CCC Weirdest Thing Mom

“I never saw a purple cow and never hope to see one but I can surely tell you I’d rather see than be one.” -Gelett Burgess. My Grandmother owned one when I was little and often told me this poem. When it went missing after her death my mother found me one of my own. 

From me in Minneapolis, Minnesota:

CCC Weirdest Thing Brianne
Me in the “crystal ball” at the Science Museum of Minnesota. I’m thinking Cassandra from “The End of the World”, no?

From Erin in Takoma Park, Maryland:

CCC Weirdest Thing Erin
I don’t even know what to say about this book. I wish I could share the strange rambling contained within. Though the author has a ridiculous website if you’re into such things.

Cross-Country Connections: Weirdest Thing