Late Night Visitors

This post is my 400th. I'm both happy or sad about this. On one hand, 400 is a ton of writing. This blog has been a therapist, a forum, and a great excuse to write. I love writing it and I love sharing the interesting things I find. I've enjoyed every step of the way. But on the other hand, it's taken me almost a year and a half to get to 400. That's a lot of days missed. So I'll try to be faster with the next 400. I don't intend to slow down with this anytime soon.

That said, on with the show. I have to share about my new found friend. My new noisy neighbor who keeps me company late at night. Since I broke my leg, I haven't been sleeping well. I can doze off for about 45 minutes at a time. Then I wake up and need to find a new comfortable position so I can get another 45 minutes of sleep. What that means is that I'm up for a good chunk of the night tossing and turning. I've started to dread bedtime because I know that sleep won't come easily. But there is one bright side to the early morning hours.

I think it was the second or third night after my fall that I heard it. He or she (I'm actually not sure) is a Great Horned Owl, a name that cannot help be remind me of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Every night, starting shortly after midnight, it begins its calling from the woods right near my house. It will keep up its quiet hooting up until 3. When I first heard the hooting I was intrigued and couldn't sleep. Now I find it soothing. The owl's quiet noises lull me to sleep. I've started looking forward to hearing him. I probably won't ever get a chance to see this magnificent bird but hearing him has certainly eased my insomnia a little. It may still take me an hour or so to fall back to sleep but at least the time is peaceful and relaxed.

If you get a moment, check out the Great Horned Owl entry on the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology. You can even play a recording of the typical hoots of this beautiful bird. Or any other bird. This has to be my favorite site for learning bird calls. Great resource.