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!

busy = best

at least for me... (very little or) no sleep, as I anticipated. A finished project. a 70-page non-profit organization... and a sweet-looking business plan. An amazingly rewarding teaching experience. Great camaraderie with my partners in crime. A cancelled event that may in fact may be a blessing in disguise. I will sleep very well tonight after watching some basketball. I have time to just fuck off and consider my own needs and that feeling is liberating. Crazy weather... lots of rain, an inch of snow yesterday and more rain to come. I can take a 2-hr class online, get my taxes done hopefully write an article for an environmental ed journal and tie up loose ends as the spring comes flooding in... and I can get into the "moment" once again! And a step closer to freedom.

Mustache March

This was taken during 72 hours of sillyness....

stress into overdrive

Well, the latter half of last week was great. Wonderful to teach students again, they were such awesome people- we hiked, observed, and enjoyed nature... Discovered indoor soccer capabilities along with basketball in the indoor gym. Saw Athena, Sudip, Barbara and Jyoti in Bellingham. Good conversation, wedding discussions and delicious food. Got my own copy of The Lorax and Oh the Places You'll Go. Yeah for Dr. Seuss. Lunched with Nicole in Mt. Vernon. Thai food is wonderful on a Saturday afternoon. Got more info about taxidermy and how to handle the otter and raccoon. I'll be back to those pelts in no time. Shopping for food... fresh produce now at my home! Enjoyed my first coffee in over a month... I stopped drinking it when the headaches settled in. NO MORE HEADACHES! It was just over three weeks of having them. And I am exactly a week from having one (though I still have medicine handy just in case.) No more drinking alcohol. I will have to get used to "not being fun" or "being a tight-ass" but no more poison for me... it's just not worth the repercussions. Helped John move into his house for three hours yesterday- I earned my dinner and my sleep, that is for sure. And tomorrow my body will ache, I'm sure. And for the next week it is non-stop teaching (everyday), working on non-profit project (due Friday) and finishing the alumni reunion event that takes place on Saturday and Sunday. The non-profit project has been in the works for over four months now, though a month of that was during winter vacation... our group is almost there, but we have a lot of cleaning up to do yet. I am working with Codi on all of these projects too. She and I have a fun dynamic (worked together on the curriculum project also) but it's about to get stressful--that's for sure. Hopefully she and Jimmy had a chance to spend time together over the weekend so that she is also fired up and recharged for this week of insanity. Then it's teaching... but a more normal life... from April 4th. Lots of weekend getaways, jobs and small things to do... but more manageable, and with extended daylight hours I foresee more enjoyment and energy in my life in the upcoming months. In the meantime, I have to stay focused for an entire week... starting NOW!