On to Marsupials!
Marsupials are, in some ways, weirder that monotremes. The females have pouches on their bellies where the barely-born embryo lives attached to one of the mother's nipples for several weeks. After it is grown enough, it can leave the pouch for short periods of time, coming back for warmth and food.

There are many marsupials, and although most are found in Australia, there are a few found in Central and South America. Those most commonly found in the US are called opossums, although there is also a more monkey-like species found in South America. In Australia, the virtual absence of placental mammals for such a long time allowed marsupials to radiate to fill all sorts of niches. There are carnivorous marsupials like the Tasmanian devil and the now extinct Tasmanian wolf. There are rodent-like marsupials, even ones like moles. There are kangaroos, koalas, and all the other most famous Australian marsupials. So there's your little blurb on marsupials. Pretty cool, eh?

I like to learn~
Yesterday I got a letter, a tape and some candy from my friend J____ who is in the MTC. I felt a little bad, I should have been the one sending her the letter, tape, and candy. Oh well. The tape was awesome. It reminded me of how much we grow. Every time we leave our comfort zone and stretch ourselves we make amazing progress. So there's my first part of the blog.

Here's the second: have you ever wondered what marsupials are? And what about all those other wierd things, the monotremes? How are they different from "normal" (placental) mammals? I will tell you.

First of all, marsupials and monotremes are mammals. Mammals have mammary glands, which produce milk (learn about mammals in one of my favorie songs). If you are reading this you are a mammal. There are several types of mammals that have split apart as evolution has occured. The first branch that split from the mainstream mammal tree is the monotremes. Monotremes are perhaps the weirdest mammals around. The order Monotremata only has two members: the platypus and the echidna. Monotremes lay eggs!!! They also don't really have nipples, they just excrete milk from their skin. Talk about neat! Oh yeah, and the male platypus has a venomous spine on its ankle. The echidna has a spine, too, but it's not dangerous. I think that's enough for one day...we'll move on to marsupials later, and then maybe touch on placental mammals.

Another Tuesday Morning~
Yesterday evening I thought of something. Eating is a pain. I do not have an eating disorder. I just think that buying, preparing, and eating the easy-to-prepare food I end up eating is a pain. The problem is that I am too lazy or don't have time to make something good. So when I finally get some good food I overeat, which is also a pain. It's just a big hassle. I think when I rule the world I will abolish eating.

On to bigger and better things...Wasn't conference great? I have my perennial favorites, and they did not disappoint. I think my favorite was Elder Wirthlin's talk. It was so good.