HOW YOU DOIN'

I had been reading on social media about owls being spotted and heard in my neighborhood. Some of the comments were pretty good and there were the typical rude ones. Of course you have the owl experts offering their often incorrect information. I've stopped trying to correct them because they always seem offended. No one likes being pointed out as wrong, especially when they're wrong.

 I awoke the other night about 3am to go make sure the plumbing was still working. Of course when I came back to bed I was wide awake. As I was laying there with all kinds of thoughts running through my head and listening to 7 beagles snoring, Ghost started hooting. Even though his mew is 50 feet from my house, I can hear him clearly through the thick log walls and windows.

 It made me wonder what he thinks. He turns 15 this year. In the wild he would have passed away several years ago. For his snowy owl age he's still very active, vocal and healthy. Though he lives in Alaska, he's not living in a part he would normally be in this time of year. So his calls for a mate go unanswered.

 Back in October 2005, I assisted our then Director of Avian Care, Cindy, in examining a snowy owl with a broken wing. He was in his first year and still showed some of his immature colorization. Story short, his wing didn't heal properly and he became one of the Bird Treatment and Learning Centers Education Ambassadors.

Ghost and I and some of the other presenters have done hundreds of education presentations over lots of Alaska seeing thousands of people. He has helped educate them on what's in our backyard that they don't get to see all too often or not at all. We've recently been doing it on Zoom.

 In years past I've done presentations with great horned owls, great gray owls and bald eagles. The last bald eagle I presented was named Hal and he was an Exxon Valdez survivor. He's been gone a couple years nows.

I walk my dogs around the neighborhood most days. There has been an eagle soaring above searching for his latest meal. I like to think that it's Hal checking in on me.

 My house has become quite the home in the past 5 years I've lived here. I have good neighbors that tolerate some of the different noises and sights that they hear and see.

 There are presently 7 beagles living here. That's why it's unofficially called the Beagle Ranch. They all have their stories. Some good and some not so good.

I enjoy making their lives as enjoyable now as much as possible. That includes blueberry pancakes for breakfast some days. Today it a rainy spring day, so all of them are taking long naps.

 I've traveled over lots of Alaska and plan on doing it a lot more. This is an exciting state to be in and there's always a new adventure around the corner. Even though I've been to the end of the road, there are many more to see what's down them. BTW, all national parks are closed this year. Most Alaska State Parks are open. Check this link for the latest updates http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/

 I've traveled many places around the world in my life, but this is definitely where I call home. Times are tough now. This covid-19 hasn't been a cake walk for anyone. The states economy is a disaster. Tourism will be at it's lowest level ever. I'm afraid to see what and how many small businesses won't survive. My thoughts are with the people who are suffering the most. But Alaska will survive and  in time, bounce back stronger than ever.

This is how I use to greet a friend where I use to work at. I'd ask her "How you doin'"? So the question to you is "How you doin'"?