compulsive mind

it wouldn't be practical, but i want this book. the last book i wanted this badly was the psychodynamic diagnostic manual.

the amorphous nature of routes

there's a park i like to go to in the meadowlands to look at birds. there's essentially only one public road to it, and although it's only like an 8-10 minute drive there from my house, it's a 55 minute walk. and all but about ten minutes of that is a low-traffic road where the traffic that does come through tends to speed, there's no sidewalk, and much of the habitat has been taken over by buildings or construction sites, or is hidden by reeds. and sometimes it's just too daunting a walk. it's not so much the walk there, but the walk back. knowing that it's another hour to get home *after* i leave the park, and that five minutes of that walk is up a Very Steep Hill, means that i don't go there anywhere near as often as i'd like to, and often don't go unless i have a companion and a ride. (hey, i tend to walk around the park itself for an average of three hours, so to then have to walk an hour after walking four hours... well...)

today on my birding list, there was some discussion about a nearby area that is off limits, and people were looking for clarification regarding it. they found out that it was, indeed, off limits. but in the course of that discussion, someone asked about a road nearby my park. and someone Official from the commission replied and said that even though the road in question is private, birding there is fine provided the birder stays on the road and is cautious about construction vehicles.

maps.google.com is my friend. i investigated, and estimated that this would cut a significant amount of time off of my walk. it's a completely different route, and in fact when i leave my house i have to go in the opposite direction!

i decided to investigate this afternoon. surely it was too good to be true.

- 5:30: left house and stopped at gas station for beverage
- 5:40: left gas station and started on my way. first twenty minutes is on regular road
- 6:00: turn onto private road
- 6:03: habitat
- 6:04: killdeer! (that's a bird, not a recommendation.)
- 6:08: at entrance to my park
- 6:08 and a half: great egret!!!

i walked around for about an hour, very very excited. plus, cedar waxwings!!

- 7:11: started home
- 7:19: back to public road
- 7:40: buying food at grocery store
- 8:00: home

added bonus: the Very Steep Hill is not on this route!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this is all very, very awesome. it means i can go there way, way more often. it means i can stay there til like 20 minutes before sunset without worry. it means i can go there very early if i choose. there's a world of difference between 45 minutes of not-very-populated road that makes me nervous, and eight minutes of private road. it's basically only 20 minutes until i start seeing birds[1], instead of an hour.

excited!

[1] meaning "not neighborhood birds"

*deflate*

i left my umbrella at work.
it's going to rain tomorrow.

:P