Yun

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

When I was little, I wasn't allowed to have a dog or cat or bunny or fish. So instead I raised grasshoppers, water striders, and pond snails, because they don't affect people with dust allergies, they don't cost anything, and sometimes mom can't bring herself to get close enough to throw them away.

Despite my interest in insects, it never turned academic or professional. I'm more "ooh aah" than "[insert knowing description]". Partly because I'm lazy, even with the things I really like. But mostly because I am satisfied when I found out what I want to know about it, which isn't much -- what it's called, what it eats (especially since we have a veggie garden), whether it will affect me somehow. And the last reason I'm not as learned about these cute critters as I'd actually like, is because I tend to forget things I've studied. Clearly, that was not helpful in my recent university years. (lol).

Interesting tidbits:
- They say that on average, a person eats 8 spiders a year in their sleep. Why do I have the misfortune of waking up while I'm unknowingly in the process of nearly snaring one?? TWICE?? (read: waking up with unwelcome and unsexy arachnid walking across my lips)

If your kids want pets and you don't want pets, get your kids to raise bugs --- they are economic, good for the environment (dead or alive), and doesn't count towards cheating tactics if your kids end up following after you into the field of science...