Webbing

Today was really swell. I did a little work in the morning before heading over to Belfair for a Jr. Ranger program. Borrowing the idea from several other sources, I led a program entitled "webbing" during which we took a nature hike. On the hike we stopped to talk about a Doug fir tree, a dead doug fir, oregon grape, soil, the birds, sunlight, and water. The trail took us to the shore, so we got to see several different environments. At each stop we paused to talk about how it related to the stop before. When we got back, I asked for something we saw on the trail. The child that answered ("Douglas Fir") held one end of a rope. Then I asked what might rely on the Doug fir. Answer, "birds for nests!" That child held a part of the rope. We continued making the web until the whole rope was used, and then illustrated what would happen if all of the earth worms disappeared. The "earthworm" tugged on her part of the rope. When others felt a tug, they started tugging, until the whole web was effected by the loss of the earthworm. It was pretty neat and I think they really started to think about how everything was interconnected.

What especially great about this program were the answers that the kids gave when I asked things like "why do plants need the sunlight?" While the adults giggled a little at the answers of 4 year old Rosie, she had it right. Continually the kids would answer things in a way that we are not used to thinking, and point out the most important parts of this web. "To live."

After, Jamie and I explored the coast of Twanoh. We then went to Belfair for a potluck with the volunteers, staff, and others. It was absolutely wonderful! They were quite welcoming of these seeming vagabonds and we had a grand time. I hopped over to watch Joel (area manager/ranger) and Steve (ranger) give a campfire program on littering, etc. It was great to see the interest in the crowd.

Returned to the potluck where others were and played some music. First time I've played for a group greater than 5, and I'm still strumming most songs. It seemed well received and was a great excuse to sing with Jamie. I have to practice!

Jamie and I went out on the pier when we got home and checked out the pilings at night. Found some ginormous (that word is for David Couch) sea stars. Fish, mussels, crabs, sea stars, sea weed, spiders, insects. Crazy environments.

Great day.


Styrofoam never decomposes.

a friday night before a thursday day

Worked at home this morning, then hiked with Jamie to practice my "interpretation." Over to Belfair for orientation and planning. This evening Jamie and I went to the drive in movie theater where we spent the first several hours waiting for dusk and people watching between paragraphs of our respective books. Finished Travels with Charley. Indiana Jones was, well, Indiana Jones. Fun indeed and now it is off to sleep; Jr. Ranger again tomorrow and then hopefully some beach exploration. There are so many projects that I want to work on! Today proved to me that I am actually learning some things out here: the plant identification is going well, but I need more stories. My Salmon research is going well and I am working on the presentation now. Quite interesting questions are brought up when one shouldn't buy farm salmon, hatchery salmon, or wild salmon...

Twigs

Today marks the first day that I am exhausted. Someone must have stepped on the twig that is me because I have snapped. I think the lack of sleep of the last two days combined with giving seven half-hour presentations to 3rd graders combined with the fact that gas is 4.05 and groceries are as expensive has driven me bonkers. Today was actually a great day. The kids were great and then Jamie and I went out for a fun dinner. After, we went to go get groceries and I realized that I had left all my grocery bags at home. For some reason the last several hours of my life have been complete and utter confusion as I oscillate between complete joy because of Jamie’s visit to complete distress over the amount of waste we as humans produce and over the utterly daunting and perhaps unavoidable prospect that we are suffocating all other life on this planet to serve our own selfish needs. Perhaps sleep is what I need to “fix” this, but it is deeper than just me being uncharacteristically upset. Everything I’m working on this summer explores how we can live in greater unity with the earth, and then I come back to my heated house in my SUV with my plastic wrappers from lunch. I actually feel sick to my stomach.

Also, if anyone knows what I am doing and where I am living come September, if they could please let me know that would be great.

But really, I’m fine and I’m enjoying the violin, and am now we are going to “jam” together. Tomorrow is another day.

Chatter

"The love of my life is here." ~ Jamie's suggestion of what I should title this blog. Worked at home in the morning, went to some elementary classes in the afternoon, and then gathered Jamie from the airport. Been quite refreshing and bizarre having a guest in what is normally my silent house. We began catching up in the car, sharing stories; talked her ear off about my job, about my life, about birds. Stopped at the canal before coming home, and then made dinner and had very fulfilling talks over pasta and tea. Many questions that I hope we will answer throughout our week of living together.

Jamie and I have known each other since we were five. We met in kindergarten over what I believe was a sandbox and what she believes was an owl puzzle. Despite this minor dispute, we continually grow together, and I am excited for our week.

Tomorrow I have 8 classroom presentations. Ahhhhh!!!

bioluminescence

Today was awesome. Got my phone fixed (for free...thank goodness), set up the internet on the state computer, and looked at Cameras. A friend and I hung out doing errands, playing guitar, and hanging out in the park. Spectacular day and now I must be to bed for Jamie comes tomorrow!

Travels with Twanoh

At 4:45 this morning, I put on some shoes and went out to the dock. Not only could I not see the top of the Olympics, but I could not see the tops of the trees across the canal. There went our hiking plans. After talking to Stacy, I found out that she found out that even the bottom trailhead was inaccessable by car, and we would have had to trudge many miles in ten feet of snow to reach where we originally wanted to start from. Hiking plans are on hold until further notice.

Instead, I watched the fog become a little brighter (sometimes this is what we like to call sunrise), listened to the birds chirp their good mornings, and found some sea stars on the pier. Then I went back, read some, and almost doubled the amount of sleep that I originally got last night.

I think I am officially in love with Steinbeck. or Charley. Probably Steinbeck.

At 6, I joined Stacy at her house and we took her dog (appropriately named Twanoh) for a run in a nearby forest. Absolutely gorgeous and a great adrenaline rush. Then she fed me (good thing too; note to self: groceries tomorrow). Over dinner, Stacy, her fiancé, and I watched Casino Royale. Great movie, especially with our side commentary relating the movie to work in Parks or Fish&Wildlife (Jason is a Game Warden). Overall great day.

Tomorrow running some errands with a coworker, and then preparing my house for Jamie!! She'll be here for a week, and then several days later Kelly (dear friend from school) is coming to visit! I will have several weeks where this house will be filled with laughter, music, and probably, if we try to cook, the fire alarm.

zoOo0oOo0oOom

Time has flown by. Today marks two weeks in Washington and was the final day of my second week of work. Bird walk early this morning that didn't result in much other than reinforcement of calls for Spotted Towhee, Wilson's Warbler, and Swainson's thrush. Spotted a Stellar's Jay chasing a squirrel around a tree which was kind of neat. Bad weather but good walk; nice people. After I led another Junior Ranger program with awesome kids. absolutely.

Spent the later afternoon making friends at a garage sale. Read in the sun, cleaned some, etc. This evening went quickly too! Now to bed because tomorrow I am to rise at 5, step outside, check the mountains. If i can see the top of the mountains, we are going hiking. I have been told there will be 10 feet of snow at the top. Nervous but excited! Hopefully tomorrow I will have tales and pictures from the summit :0)

Events

This morning I woke up, made pancakes because I am out of cereal and bread for toast, and left for work. At 11 I held my first Junior Ranger program. It was, I would say, successful. I have to be back at Penrose tomorrow, and it seemed to go over really well, so I am doing another one tomorrow morning! I hung around the park for several hours, checking out the day-use, campground, and hanging out with the rangers.
On my way back, about 4 minutes from home, I stopped next to an accident. I was in my “Park Ranger 911” vehicle, with a light bar (typically covered). As I went to call 911 and then Stacy, I saw that Stacy was right in front of me. She had stopped on her way into work today. She called in, and then I uncovered the light-bar and set that going. We directed traffic for an hour as the troopers, paramedics, and fire came. No one was seriously injured (we think), and it was quite the experience. I felt sort of official (what with the first lights on the scene). With my assistance in catching those catching too many oysters and my response at this accident…I’m ready for a badge. Close your eyes mom…Stacy might take me to the range soon.
Now I am taking a quick respite before heading back to work. Campfire program at Belfair tonight. Extra hours today means fewer hours tomorrow which is great. Might be leaving Twanoh at 5 on Monday to go hiking, so I could use the rest.

*a* slug- *to* slug. *a* book-*to* book. I love english.

As if to mock me, a very large banana slug sat at the entrance to the running trail today. About five steps into run, this slimy friend was added to my list of things I can legitimately talk about, while at the same time reminding me I am dearly out of shape.

This slug has been featured quite a lot in my life lately. The book that I just finished, Blue Highways (William Least Heat-Moon), talked of this slug creeping around his truck. I highly recommend the book. The slug…I’m not so sure about.

There are many recipes for the banana slug. Last weekend on my fungus-walk, the guide shared that, although he never tried any of the recipes, he did take a big lick once. Didn’t have a tongue for a day and a half. I am all for encouraging the use of multiple senses to enjoy nature, but I am perfectly content sticking to “sight” on this one.

Got a library card today! Checked out 14 books and read four more in the library. Some are children’s books, some science-type, and some are books I hope to personally get to this summer. Steinbeck & Dillard (thanks Antonia!), and several field guides. Under the guise of “it’s my job,” I am hoping to further explore this crazy world of birds. And for the record, I enjoy split infinitives. To the chagrin of many an English teacher, I vow to fervently use them. I also enjoy starting sentences with “and,” and omitting the subject of my sentences. So there.

and coming up on your left, my right, is a love-hate relationship...

...with what you ask? Technology. I am now fortunate enough to have access to the world wide web from my very own living room. Still, I don’t have the admin information for my state computer, and am now locked out because I tried too many passwords. My cell phone has decided to limit my text messaging ability to zero, and my dialing ability to sporadic.

This morning, after waking up to my natural alarm clock because my phone died overnight, I went to an elementary school to help the rangers discuss beach rules with the kids before they come to the park on a field trip.

My boss: “Alright kids, we’re not going to take any shells or rocks from the beach because animals need them for new homes and protection.”
Girl 1: “What if the shell is broken?”
Green sweater: “Um…this one time…um my mom and me…”
Blue T-shirt: “Are we going to see jellyfish?”
Curly headed girl in the front row who thinks jellyfish are gross: “What about Dolphins?”
Sage t-shirt and glasses: “Um, if, can, um, can we take a really pretty shell from the beach?”

Them: very cute, very excited, somewhat distracted. Me: very excited to have them come to the beach. Very excited to have them go back to their parents at the end of the day.

But really, I am giving my first Junior Ranger program on Saturday. I am excited to hang out with the kids, but I’m rather nervous because of the parents who will be with us. I’ve been reading a lot about getting children to tune into nature and I think I have the beginnings of a program. Tomorrow my research will be about animal camouflage.

ecosystems are neat

Worked from home today: much less distracted than I anticipated. Read about children’s games and salmon and common plants/animals. At about 2 I was dying to get out of my house, so I bundled up and headed into the woods. About four steps in I encountered my first garter snake, later on I found an adorable little salamander and watched the little guy stalk out a bug. Her/his muscle control was amazing! Bird, plant, amphibian, reptile, fish: check. I don't think I've found a mammal yet. About the same time that I found the snake it started to drizzle/rain, so I got my first real experience with the rainforest. I began to practice guiding a group out loud and realized that I know squat and can maybe fill five minutes worth of presentation. Back to the books.

Oh, and ecosystems are neat. Look up the life cycle of salmon. chum salmon is a good example. just check it out. riparian ecosystems in particular. what a world we live in.

The picture here is totally random, but if i didn't mention it before: we got snowed on in Yellowstone. it was not flurries. it was decidedly not flurries, but instead about four inches. At points along the road, the snow towered feet *above* the car. This is us thoroughly enjoying the fridid landscape.

Treasures

Day off number two again saw me getting far too much sleep. I attempted to make pancakes this morning…edible but not delectable. I made enough for breakfast for the next couple of days, because I find myself getting hungry at 9 if I stick to granola and yogurt. Read a lot, did some household things. Another attempted run that reminded me I must get in shape before this climb next Tuesday.

Went panning again today and found gold. I checked out a local thrift store I was informed about last night. Treasures beyond belief and it turns out that Tuesdays are half-off days. I loaded up with things that I needed…and wanted. Some dishes, etc. and some music for the state rig that I am driving. I hope the tape player works! I also found some music books with chords (and sometimes tabs) inside. 12 cents a pop. Gold I say! $8.66 for two stuffed bags.

This evening my plans are as follows: Clean. Call a friend. Build a fire. Read a book. Call another friend. Play guitar. Read a book. Fall asleep outrageously early.

One of these days I will have to start doing work.

Day off!

Today was my first day off of my new job and it was spectacular. Fell asleep at 8:15 last night which proves how exhausted I was. Woke up early and did a few household things. Then to the Thaler wetlands near my house for some birdwatching and then on to explore a nearby town. I hoped to do some more house-hold things today but was easily distracted, so hopefully tomorrow I will do some errands and put the final touches on my house. Things are great and I'm learning tons of plants and birds. So far very few mammal sightings, but for now I am completely happy learning bird calls and special things about plants.

A few of the birds today: Swainson's thrush, Spotted Towee, some song sparrows, a Greater Yellow-legs, some geese, assorted gulls, a tern, Wilson's Warbler, Barn Swallows (really beautiful when they zoom right by your ear), a few more Violet Green Swallows, Red-winged Blackbirds, and some displaying hummingbirds which were really neat. I'm sure there were more that I have forgotten. New plants too! Gradually collecting my list of edibles...and not edibles. And some things you can eat if you are really brave, but that end up tasting really bad.

Wrote a song last night called "In Four"...basically I-IV-I-IV-I-V-IV-I...but is a prediction of how crazy I will go in four months on my own. Right now I am quite busy talking with parents, friends, coworkers, and myself (a lot!), playing guitar, reading, learning plants, and falling asleep outrageously early. Rain started today, which means probably several days of overcast yuckiness. The view across the canal from my house on clear days is the spectacular Olympic Mountains which I will now be saying goodbye to as the ceiling lowers. Still, knowing they're there is enough to keep one in awe of her surroundings.

Interpretus Internus

My days off are Monday and Tuesday. That means when I go to the library at 7 on what I think is a Wednesday, it is actually a Friday, and it closed at 5. Learn something new every day. Yesterday, my Wednesday, your Friday, I went back to Penrose to finish my paperwork (I'm free!! or exactly the opposite). Got my uniform and reviewed safety policy. In the evening I took my guit-fiddle to the canal and played until it grew dusky. relaxing evening of music and a book. This morning, Twanoh hosted Brian, a man whose knowledge of Washington flora is infinate. On my yellow notepad, I scrambled to record his anecdotes, and hopefully a common or Latin name, before we moved on to other plants and fungi. I also decided that scientific names should be used as seasoning, only to highlight interesting features or humerous names.

I am inundated with reading material and tasks that I have been given or have given to myself. Tomorrow I am helping with a cub scout program over in Penrose, and then back for my orientation at Twanoh with Stacy. I hope to have some down time soon to do research. The good and bad of being a volunteer. The good: I have no supervisor yelling at me because he has to play me overtime. The bad: I don't get paid. I have a feeling things will balance out.

I got my uniform yesterday. Snazzy tan polo shirts with SCA, some patches, hats. People are taking care of me. Met Ranger Joel's wife today. Offered me two things that I quickly took her up on: 1) to take in any baggy pants (much needed) and 2) to give me a Harley ride around the Canal. I am quite excited. Also, a woman who attended the program today told me she had some things in her trunk that she was taking to a thrift store. I found gold! Two plates, a rice cooker, and a dish drying rack. I am very excited about the washing quantity possibilities facilitated by this drying rack. After I heard Stacy play her violin, she invited me back to her new house. Showed me hiking pictures and then loaded me up with a jacket, swiffer, and some glasses. My house is filling out and I like it quite a lot. I have borrowed a vaccuum so I will finally be able to clean.

I have struggled to post pictures, and hope to continue to do so, perhaps finding an easier way. I lost my camera in Michigan, and hope to get a new one soon. For now, the house picture was taken by Stacy before I came out, and the trip pictures will be from my companions.

Love!

Friends?

Last night I made friends with the librarians and tonight I am going to see a ranger from my park play violin. I spent some time this afternoon on house stuff, and so must return to work now. I have yet to figure out how to upload pictures...but hopefully they will come soon.

Continued Musings, etc.

First day of work today. Went to Penrose Point State Park to have beginning orientation; spent the morning on the trails and filling out paperwork. After lunch, we drove over to Kopachuck, where I met the supervisor over there and again walked trails. Overall, I felt the run that I took yesterday. I have slightly more energy and much less creativity then yesterday, so I will begin to describe my life here in the Pacific Northwest.

My house. What everyone here describes as my “little cabin” is an absolute mansion. I am told it is 1,000 square feet. I have a quaint kitchen with a huge (and currently fairly empty) fridge. Cabinets all over the place remind me that although my trunk was bursting, I came with very little. Overall, my “stuff” provides no match for the shelving, closets, and drawers in the house. It was obviously built for many people to survive in a small space. Bathroom, two smallish bedrooms, and an enormous living room. In the bathroom, I hung one of Charlie’s fabrics: blue and gold, black characters.

The living room has been my favorite room: wood-paneled walls, vaulted ceilings (white wood), windows on three sides. The far wall has wonderful bookshelves and drawers. The opposite wall is home to my very own fireplace. The first two nights we had 1-match fires, of which I am rather proud. There is practically infinite fire wood. This wall is special. My Atlantic and Pacific shells are on the mantle. One of my favorite parts of the house is the pair of wall sconces that hang above. Between is a picture of mountain goats and bighorn sheep that dear friend Bill made for me.

The silence of yesterday was quite exhausting, but the house is already becoming my home. Yesterday afternoon I could not handle the echo of music from my computer so I picked up my beautiful and wonderful and absolutely amazing guitar and played E-A-E-A-B7-E as loud as I could before attempting some picking. When I got back from the library last night (after blogging), I was interrupted twice on the phone by call waiting! It is wonderful to know people (mom) are still there when I am far away.

This is quite out of order, but I am fondly remembering it now and so am moved to share. Indeed, I wanted to wait to talk about my guitar until after I have sent all my letters, but it really has become an important part of my life already. Thank you notes are coming, I absolutely promise! It was day three of our drive. We had driven 716 miles in 13 hours on I-90 from Madison WI to the Badlands and arrived at about 7. The drive was fantastic, we got along wonderfully, wade in the Mississippi (first for all of us!), noted the changes in the land, and sang together.

After dinner at the campsite, as the sun was setting and it was growing colder, the girls and I took our blanket and some lyrics that I had printed out and had an amazing time singing, playing, and drumming. We kept playing as it became dark, eventually going back to songs we had already sung, until some of the other campers called us over to their light. They had me play a song (Jolene), which led to another song (some J.Cash), and so on (familiar?). We (friends&I, guitar&I) had adventures before and have had adventures since, but that was an absolutely striking moment of peace.

The library is closing in ten minutes and I do not yet have internet access at my house, so for now I will sign off. That was not nearly as much as I intended to talk about, but alas I am a bit verbose, as my co-workers are learning and of course you know. In sum, I had a great first day and am ready for bed at 7:52. Tomorrow I have more orientation, and am getting some furniture for my house.

Oh! The most important thing that I was going to do today was gloat about how awesome my job is! I am getting paid (not really...) to identify plants, animals, and rocks, and explain why they are cool. I cannot possibly describe the flora that is here, but I hope you bird watchers are reading and I will try to report on species. (The drive across the country led to quite a few interesting hawks, falcons, etc.) Today I saw a Wilson's Warbler and what I think was a Pileated Woodpecker. AND I watched an eagle fly to it's nest right about me. What a great job!

Love!

Early Thoughts

3 women. 13 states. 3638.5 miles. 1 goal. to grow.

Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington.

A shell from the Atlantic and a shell from the Pacific now sit on the mantle of what will be my home for four months.

Now: 1 woman. 1 state. 1 goal. to grow.

A friend noted last week that I have developed the spectacular ability to ignore completely the sounds of the city. Will the silence that echoes in my cabin eventually become background noise, easily unnoticed?

I have no idea how to begin to document that 8 day journey across the country. I have no idea how to begin this blog because I have abounding faith in my inability to articulate why I am here or what I will be doing this summer. I don’t care to begin with the fears I have for I hope they are fleeting. I am too exhausted for joy. I am excited and nervous. Perhaps my proclivity for symbolism prevents me from strictly outlining the facts of my trip, of my internship, of my house, of my coworkers. They will come in due time; for now, I am otherwise engaged in silent thought of “why?”. My task is so daunting that I weakly leave it in the eloquent hands of H.D.Thoreau:

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
~Thoreau