Countdown to Liftoff

Things are finally slowing down a bit.  I was tallying my hours for April, and was feeling a little worried, like I had not gotten enough hours in.  Turns out I had, it's just after having a couple consecutive months of 210 hours plus I didn't feel like I had quite pulled my weight.

I've been loving some of the "special" projects I've been involved in.  One of those things was participating in an Earth Day project, which is one of four required service projects for our team.  For those of you who know me well, I know what you're thinking: "Oh man!  Julia had to participate in an Earth Day project?  That must have been such a difficult thing for her to do!  And on a beach...even worse!"  Let me assure you though, it was awesome.  We lucked out big time regarding weather.  Blue skies, no clouds, and it was almost warm!  The first thing we did after piling out of the car was to scamper down to the beach and dig our toes into the sand.  Yes, I did wish you were there (bonus points to whoever can cite the reference...).  I also dipped my toes into the waves.  It felt good to be back in the Pacific.

The next day we got up bright and early at 5:45 am to make sure we were ready to go for the beach Clean Up event that Coast Savers was putting on.  Breaking camp was a little difficult to do with semi-frozen fingers, but the shining sun bribed me with a sunny day to come.  Two days in a row, who could be so lucky? I just got some numbers from the organizer, and over 1100 volunteers cleaned the Washington Coast and picked up 23 tons of trash!  It's a shame we, as humans, can't get out act together to make these clean ups unnecessary, but kudos to those who came out and worked for the cause of caring for our Earth.

Another activity I've been taking part in is Fiero Marine Science Center training so that I can hopefully work/volunteer there this summer after school is out.  For me, it's like being back in school without exams or homework!  The instructor is very knowledgeable and humorous, and the classroom in on the pier, so I can gaze at the water at sunset while learning about limpets and chitons and octopus and plankton and mussels and kelp.  Between the work that I do everyday, a few field trips I've been on recently, and going to this training, I'm thinking more and more about how important Environmental Eduction is and how I can make my passion into a career.  

The sun is continues to play peek-a-boo with us, but when it does not only do I soak it up (literally), but I also get to gaze at the snow capped mountains and the light reflecting off the water in the Strait.   Even though it is so incredibly beautiful, I find myself counting down the weeks until I'm able to return home to California.  Home to the Yuba, and baking on the rocks and jumping into the refreshing swimming holes and floating down the rapids while letting out exuberant yelps of joy and surprise.  Home to Oscar's burritos.  Home to the Delta Breeze on summer nights.  Home to family and friends' lives which I hope I can wiggle my way back into.  While I have this mental countdown, I want to savor the moments I have here.  Giggling in the kitchen with Marie and Megan over the long long long list of "inappropriate cheers" we come up with.  Passing by friends through the neighborhood.  Seeing my kids throughout town on the weekend and then hearing them say "IIIIIIIII saw Julia when she was walking her dog!"  Living so close to the water.  It's always a balancing act, right?

I'm excited for the rest of this week.  There's an AmeriCorps retreat where we'll get to be together in a non-meeting setting, an old friend who I haven't seen in ages is coming down, there's a very low tide at some tide pools Saturday, and I think a group of us are going Contra dancing Saturday night!  California, I hear your call, but for now I gotta live it up here!