Spring Term

It's been a while since I gave a detailed update of the going-ons in my life, so I'm going to buckle down here and journal a few things.

We are three weeks into the spring term (already)! Wow! Time really flies when you're having fun. And this term really has been lots of fun. Keith decided to take the same classes that I am taking this term. It was sort of a last-minute decision for him. Since he started college, he's been thinking a lot about his goals after he gets a degree. Initially, he was going for a degree in theatre, just because that's always been his thing. But his passion for theatre really seems to have fizzled since we moved here. To avoid turning this paragraph into an analysis into the wild mind of Keith, I will just say that he's recently had more of an interest in pursuing a career that would get him outdoors. So he decided to take the Environmental Studies classes with me because it allows him to get a taste of what he might be getting himself into if he does decide to change his major.

Classes are during the day on Monday and Wednesday, so I've had to shift my work schedule around to accommodate my new school schedule. It was like pulling teeth to get management here to agree to my new schedule, but luckily it all worked out. I'm working 11 ½ hour days to make up for lost time, but it's been worth it. In fact, I much prefer this schedule over taking night classes.

Homework for our birding class consists of... well, to go birding. That's all. How simple and fun is that? For our first lab, we met out at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and spent half the day there. It was incredible! And last week, instead of meeting in the classroom for a lecture, we all met out at Oaks Bottom Reserve and observed all the birds out there. I was surprised to see a bald eagle. Oaks Bottom is located adjacent to one of Portland's hippest downtown neighborhoods. We watched a pair of Osprey mating in their nest and I saw my first Screech Owl. That was pretty amazing.

Our Environmental Class has been equally exciting. We all went out last Wednesday (the warmest day of the year) and mapped a stream. We were in mud up to our knees.

More blog to come… I am having a hard time sitting still long enough to fully update. But I owe Kristin a current book-list and, as always, have more to yammer about.

No time now, though! It's sunny outside! It's Friday night! MUST GET OUTDOORS!
Have a great weekend everyone! Keith and I will be out at Tillamook Bay tomorrow… birding, birding, birding…

Tata for now!