Peeeep

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

Spent the last two days climbing up and down crazy steep slopes, in and out of old mine ponds, fighting with multiflora rose and black raspberry bushes, sweating away layers of bug spray and sunscreen, while trying to avoid poison ivy, ticks, mosquitoes, and dying.

I'm learning how to deal with days like these--and that usually means coffee for the drive, packing an extra sandwich (and carrots, which seem to offer good hydration, believe it or not), a couple bottles of water plus a sugary sports drink, lots of bug spray, 50 SPF sunscreen, long sleeves, thick pants, a ball cap... and, if I'm lucky, a candy bar (thanks wife!).

Despite the conditions, which sometimes seem hellish, it's not unusual that we stumble upon little, fascinating creatures like this tiny spring peeper and a million of his or her peeper friends and family. Snakes, turtles, salamanders... colorful woodland birds (like the common yellowthroat)... mastodons and terradactyls--wait, no. Even plant life can be as awe-inspiring as the animals that seek refuge in the places we find ourselves.

So, while I might complain about my job, I'm pretty lucky in many ways that I have the one that... I have.