It sure was a hoot!

Friday I got to attend what was possibly one of the coolest Christmas gifts my parents have ever given me. It was an Owl program at the Arboretum at the University of Guelph. I've heard about it for years, I met the program co-ordinator, Chris Earley, in the summer time and I was determined that this year I would attend. So when my parents came asking for hints, I told them I wanted this and to tell me immediately if I they weren't interested in getting it for so I could register myself. Then I forgot about it. So while it wasn't a complete surprise it was a joy to unwrap on Christmas morning.

Friday was the actual event. I woke up early to make sure I had everything I could possibly need (thermal socks, long underwear, notebook, pens, bird book, lunch) and packed myself into my parents van and drove on into Guelph. I learned about what makes an owl, the size of their eyes, the accuteness of their hearing, and more. I met Einstein the Great Horned Owl from W.E.E.P. and finally mastered creating a bird call with my hands. I can do a great horned owl and a screech owl so far and hopefully I'll get better with practice and one day be able to call out to mourning doves and loons. We learned about the calls for the owls and I have information about what they'll eat, roosting, nesting and ranges.

For all that in todays world many people find owls truly amazing creatures with their glowing eyes and intelligent faces, it wasn't always the case. In ancient europe people used to believe that if you heard an owl call it meant you were going to die... UNLESS you were able to find the owl and kill it. As a result many owls were killed for doing what they do best, giving a hoot.

Anyways Friday's program was great and hopefully I'll have a chance to get out and take part in more programs at the Arboretum. If you ever get a chance to take one of their courses make your way there, I think you'll walk away impressed.

Not Technology Savvy

I've been trying for my benefit to post a countdown on here for my trip to New Zealand. Now I don't have a plane ticket booked or anything like that so I entered January 15th as my arbitrary date of departure. Likely this wont actually be the day I leave, especially since its a Saturday and I can probably get a slightly cheaper flight if I fly out on a weekday. This is where my lack of savvy about technology comes in. I can't get the damn thing to hold a date! At first I thought it was just because it couldn't countdown to something that far in the future, but I can't get it to hold a date for even a month in the future. If anyone reads this, please tell me, how do I do that?

I bought my first travel book today with some of the Christmas giftcards I received. It is Fodor's Exploring New Zealand. I actually reached for Frommers, but I rely on them heavily for Europe and when I last travelled I felt a bit like the guy from Euro Trip who could actually give the tours because he had read the book so many times.

Excited as I am, I'm going to contain my excitement to blogging and journals and non-family types. My family is just as excited as I am, which leads them to do what families to best... give unwanted advice. Whether it's from my brother who has barely left the country, to my parents whom I love but who might be trying to live vicariously through me, it is well meant and a bit overwhelming.

I read today that New Zealand is where Bungy Jumping was invented (spelling it with a y is the way it is done by the natives!). I do not like heights. I live quietly and generally avoid anything considered outrageous (like jumping off cliffs attached to a giant bungee cord). However, I was considering that while I am down there, I might try and jump. It may be one of the few times in my life I am far enough away from my family to try something like this without the freaking out and talking me out of it, which by the time I've seen one of those platforms might be ridiculously easy.

Happy Belated New Year

Ok, so its a new year and this is my first post since spring of 2009 (not very good at this whole posting on a regular basis thing). I can't remember if I ever posted what a foible is. I generally assume people are familiar with the word, but then I have conversations with my boyfriend and he reminds me that my vocabulary is very often archaic. So, Foible- a minor flaw or shortcoming in character or behaviour. I guess its a gentle way to look at those things which make us eccentric, it just sounds nicer than saying lifes faults and flaws, more positive.

Last time I posted I was about to leave for field camp. I went, did field camp and loved it, learned a lot and am now addicted to learning as much as I can about birds! I'm hoping to do some volunteer bird banding this spring. Twice actually, once with my Uncle working with Project Peregrine in Thunder Bay and once with one of the banding stations around Ontario. I have an Owl Workshop coming up in a couple of weeks at the Arboretum UoG. I'm super excited about it.

I'm almost done school. Only Cell Bio to go and I'm doing that through a distant ed program at Athabasca University. So trying to work, lose weight and finish that up. Keep me on track! The goal is to save up money for traveling. Specifically to New Zealand. I met a woman who works for Conservation New Zealand when I was on field camp and I really want to get over there and explore! To save money every month I'm going to put $60 in a savings account. That isn't a lot, about a twoonie a day, during the summer I'll add more beacause I'll have a more regular income. Any money I receive as gifts, from my income tax return, GST cheques any extra cash is going into that savings account!

Knitting Update! I've been working on a blanket, not a huge one just a nice size for watching tv. I've set aside my sweater which is silly I guess. I mean to pick it up again soon but I think I'm scared of it. Finishing it is a big deal to me for some reason. I should really just get knitting. I do a lot of knitting anyway watching tv, sitting with Julian.

Alright so thats what is new with me.