Calm in the Madness

So busy still... but so excited about it all.

Since April 2nd, my last post, I turned in the project and we had the interview. I wish I wasn't so awkward in person sometimes, as the written portion was better than the spoken evaluation. I used to be good in person I swear...

Nevermind though. I have been enjoying weeks of great students. Some challenging. Others focused... all of them, however, changed my life and helped me realize that I am in the right career. All of the feedback points into the direction of my continuing this line of work. The topic is important to me so any thing that I can teach helps my follow the vision and mission for my life- protecting the environment. That is the large picture. Like Martin Luther King said, "Keep your eyes on the prize." If I keep this objective in mind, then I can continue on... every second is vital. Every moment anything I can do can change the whole world... it is an inspiring feeling.

After such a horrible Feb~March, this manic difference is a super high feeling. I really like this and feel like this is almost natural... I have felt this way, naturally for over a month. Which means I am in the right place.

Anyways... I was in California for five days. Spent time with the family- parents and grandparents. Spent time with two of my best friends- Wayne and Drew. Spent time in my favorite places- beach and coastal chaparral trails, seeing birds and the ocean... in the SUN! Recharged even more with all of those rays... ahh.

Led some guided walks last weekend in the gorgeous sun in Padilla Bay, WA. Saw tons of birds there and at the learning center too: Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Red-tail hawk, great blue heron, spotted towhee, peregrine falcon, yellow-rumped warbler, northern flicker, plus the usual suspects in Canada geese, ruffled grouse, dark-eyed junco, American robin, varied thrush, Stellar's jay, ravens....

I am in the process of a relationship with a pair of Falcons. Today, when I was searching for the eyre (nest), the male screamed at me as soon as I got out of my car. Looking through my binoculars I saw the the most intense eyes I've seen in a wild creature. It may not have been yelling in a mean way, but it's communication is strong. Maybe it knows that I am peering towards the nest, maybe I am making up a story about my feelings about this bird. It was a moment of sincere and scary interaction. Honestly, that small bird has more energy than I do and I am feeling pretty good.

Last Monday we had a nice seder in Irvine with the family. Last night I hosted a seder in Diablo. It was a great night and I enjoyed it, as did most folks. Passover, or Pesach, is the Jewish Thanksgiving... and it is like my favorite day of the year. I am so happy that dinner was edible... though I got some pretty nice feedback about it!

I have seen a Bobcat (or a Lynx?), am skinning a coyote (to add to the collection) and feel like a part of nature. There is still a lot of time I can spend outside that I am not, but I am trying to get as much fresh air, observation time and exposure to the hundreds of species (plants, birds, animals, insects) that come out in the spring as I type this...

Ahh... playoff basketball too. Good Luck Lakers... you can do it!