just a side note

music, magic, forests, oceans, & more quaint ideas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rissa, 25, bi 🏳️‍🌈, she/her, biologist (MSc 🎓) 🐬🐋🦭 loves her violin, obsessed with cetaceans, owns too many ballgowns, has the sweetest friends, loves all magical and nonmagical creatures, probably says "awww" and "cute" too much for her own good. Generally a nerd and proud of it.

[theviolinonfire]

I figured it was time to make a pinned post since I never update my blog header (except for my age)!

✨️🌊✨️

Hi, you can call me Rissa (she/her, 25, bi 🏳️‍🌈, woefully single, originally from the midwest USA, 🇺🇸🇺🇦) ☺️ I've been on Tumblr since 2015. I mostly reblog posts that make me happy, but I occasionally post my own thoughts or photos (#theviolinonfire). This is a SFW blog (but I do interact with NSFT Tumblr).

I am a [redacted] biologist and thus have very strong opinions on oceans, science, ecology, environmentalism, and conservation. Proceed with caution 😂 For ocean-y memes, search "#marine biology shitpost" 🐋

I am also a conservatory-trained violinist, so I enjoy music memes. I'm otherwise a nerd; I like many subfields of biology, paleontology, acoustic physics, iNaturalist, nature, reading, gaming, sketching/arts/crafts, dad puns, Star Trek, Sherlock, and dogs. 🐾🌻 proud Trekkie 🖖🌌 and Midwest Princess 💖✨️

I am happy to answer asks or DM, but I reserve the right not to reply if I feel uncomfortable. Most of my posts are queued, so even if my blog is active, I may not be active on Tumblr.

~

Searchable tags:

#theviolinonfire: my own photos, ramblings, etc.

#marine biology shitpost: reblogged marine bio memes

#yum! / #yum!!: recipes I think sound scrumptious

Various common or taxon names: corresponding critters (e.g. "penguins", "brush-tailed penguins", "cetaceans", "procellariidae", . . .)

#theviolinonfire fieldwork photos: my own photos from my fieldwork adventures

#theviolinonfire polar posting: anything (photos, thoughts) related to Earth's polar ecosystems

#rissa's to read list: papers/ideas/thoughts I have stumbled across, aggregated, and would like to explore further

#theviolinonfire ramblings: self-explanatory

You may also have luck with #star trek (shitposting), #Scotland, #cetacean, #pinniped, #seabird/#seabirds, #violin/#violinist, or marine-related/music-related tags. Idk, my tags are not well-organized. Happy hunting, I suppose. ✨️

~

Do not interact if you are anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-equality, anti-feminism, pro-Trump/MAGA, anti-abortion, or do not believe that genocide is occurring in Gaza and Ukraine, etc. These do not align with my values, and I don't want them in my space. ✌️🖖 I believe everyone should have access to good healthcare, food, water, education, libraries, and free speech (read: respectful, open dialogue). However, this is not a political blog. It's my safe happy space.

Sea you later!

[skleechtheleek]

Forest spirits

[theviolinonfire]

Orcas

[theviolinonfire]

Wishing I was in Antarctica now.

Take ONE look at iNaturalist - it's penguin chick season! Also a bountiful time for krill, so many of the cetaceans and pinnipeds are also out and about and feeding 💖

[theviolinonfire]

Side note that 12/31/2024 was the BEST new year's eve I have ever had and likely will ever have:

-full day of fieldwork

-saw and learned about a phenomenon called a "fogbow"

-saw an entire pod of strap-toothed beaked whales

-saw 60+ Type B orcas, including calves, to ring in the new year

-did all of this with an incredible team of friends/colleagues

But I can dream that I will one day have the chance and the opportunity and the job that affords me to ring in another year similarly.

[theviolinonfire]

Fog bow. Also see this post.

Strap-toothed beaked whale (zoomed; og photo courtesy of my professor)

Orcas - I'll link to a separate upload as it's a video and too big for this post. Edit: link to video

Also search my tag "theviolinonfire polar posting" to see more of my Antarctic photography. NGL, I'm hoarding it...I don't want AI to see it...

[theviolinonfire]

Wishing I was in Antarctica now.

Take ONE look at iNaturalist - it's penguin chick season! Also a bountiful time for krill, so many of the cetaceans and pinnipeds are also out and about and feeding 💖

[theviolinonfire]

Side note that 12/31/2024 was the BEST new year's eve I have ever had and likely will ever have:

-full day of fieldwork

-saw and learned about a phenomenon called a "fogbow"

-saw an entire pod of strap-toothed beaked whales

-saw 60+ Type B orcas, including calves, to ring in the new year

-did all of this with an incredible team of friends/colleagues

But I can dream that I will one day have the chance and the opportunity and the job that affords me to ring in another year similarly.

[theviolinonfire]

Wishing I was in Antarctica now.

Take ONE look at iNaturalist - it's penguin chick season! Also a bountiful time for krill, so many of the cetaceans and pinnipeds are also out and about and feeding 💖

[raven-foxx-art]

Adélie penguin mixed media piece for a friend.

Gouache and coloured pencil on toned tan paper.

[inatungulates]

Gerlache killer whale Orcinus orca

Observed by stevestevens, public domain

[lost-lycaon]

Young penguin getting some sun on the western cape of South Africa

[unusual-suspects]

St Andrews Cathedral in Fife, Scotland

[catadromously]

top 5 newly discovered animals of 2025 :)

a lot of sea neighbors dropped this year thanks to the Ocean Census project, yahoo! also a great one for tiny cryptic mammals, and amphibians. 5. Marmosa chachapoya, a pathetic little marsupial guy!

4. there's a new carnivorous tree sponge, yet unnamed, Chondrocladia sp.

3. Careproctus colliculi, the bumpy snailfish, described by MBARI! view him.

2. Myotis himalaicus, a bat, was first observed in 2016; its patron researcher caught the second specimen in 2021, and officially described it this year.

1. Mobula yarae, a near-cryptic newly separated from Manta birostris! the third manta ever!

welcome, new cousin

[inatungulates]

Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis

Observed by stephen220, CC BY-NC

[melonwah]

[aquariumgirlsdiedforever]

snuggly my mama

[sarahmackattack]

You ready for our 2026 Valentines?? The art is ready for ya 😍

This year's cards were designed by Philly artist April Finfrock. I'm completely obsessed with how these turned out.

As with everything on our shop, sales of these valentines support Skype a Scientist 😘

Order at SquidFacts.net! They'll ship the week of January 19th!

[yorksnapshots]

White Roses and St. Mary’s Abbey, York, England.

[eusexuanal]

Settles down on your dashboard gingerly and with a big heaving sigh