About Desert Darlene on HubPages!

This is a hub all about my life on Squidoo (now Hubpages) and off and online in general. I will not be giving out too many of my personal details such as where I work or make a living, for example. I like to keep my work life separated from my online life, though where I work is really no big deal. I just don't want to get things mixed up because, being a writer, there is a potential of getting into real trouble if they get mixed up. My employer has certain rules about working other jobs and conflicts of interest, so I am very careful not to mix my writing life with my work life. I will just say I work for the government. Some of you might know where.

Otherwise, on this hub you will see what I like and what I do when I'm not at work. These activities influence what I write and read here on Hubpages.

**Update: In the beginning of September 2014, Hubpages acquired all of Squidoo's content and this lens/hub was transferred over. I'm trying to make it fit in the world of Hubpages. Please forgive me if Squidoo is referred to now and then.

Well, I was born in Detroit, Michigan and I lived there until I was almost 13 when I moved to San Diego, California. Some of my family lives out here, too, but a lot of my family still lives in Michigan and parts of Canada, too. I have to say that I hate snow, so living out here in San Diego is a good thing. But, it gets cold here sometimes, too, we get frost and even a little flurry now and then. Of course, there's snow in the mountains, but I'm not one of those crazy people who go to the mountains when it snows unless I have to. A lot of people in San Diego deliberately go out to the mountains to see the snow. At least, here, we have a choice.

I've called myself Desert Darlene for many years mostly because I love the desert! I plan to move there someday. A lot of my artwork and photography is based on the desert, specifically the Anza-Borrego desert. However, I am now in love with shorebirds and water birds, so I don't mind living here closer to the coast. We have a couple lakes near my home and driving or riding my bike to places where I can see lots of shorebirds. Since I got a camera with a zoom lens a couple years ago, I really enjoy taking pictures of birds.

The photo is of me sitting in the desert a few years back.

OK, I know this isn't a really feminine-looking photo. I am a Tomboy and don't like to wear make-up. I sometimes take my bike out to the desert and sometimes I just go out hiking, usually alone. Now, however, I'm into birding trips done in groups as I learn a lot about birds when I go on these birding trips.

I still go out on my bike, but I haven't taken it out in the desert in a long time. Mostly, I ride it around my house. Though that photo was taken some years ago, I still have that bike and those bike pants.

Here are some topics I like to write and read about.

• The desert
• Ducks and other waterfowl
• Shorebirds
• Birds
• Endangered species
• Wildlife conservation
• Hiking
• Bike riding
• Horses (I used to ride, but don't much anymore)
• Cats and other animals
• Art and artwork
• Food

A couple items that I've actually bought in the past that I've really enjoyed.

My favorite bird is the killdeer, which is a kind of plover. I have a couple of lenses about killdeer on Squidoo (which you may be able to see above). Killdeer are so cute, especially their little chicks which look like cotton balls on stilts. Also, I like other shorebirds and ducks.

This bird is sitting on a nest which is out in the open on the ground. They can sure blend into their surroundings.

Here's a short list of other sites I write for. It's not a comprehensive list.

Thanks for stopping by and say "hi" while you're here. Please don't post HTML or links because I will delete them.