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December 18, 2007
Lucky Girl
I've spent the last few days martyr-ing around about a certain professional problem that I have almost no control over. Today, I was reminded that I am a very lucky girl, as my long run this afternoon was remarkably replete with wildlife. It was very "12 Days of Christmas"-like in that I spotted several ravens, 3 coyotes, 2 wolves, 1 snowshoe hare, and a partridge in a pear tree. Ok, everything but the partridge part is true.
About 35 minutes into the run, out on a local trail, I came across a fuzzy thing laying in the bushes. I immediately recognized it as a coyote, and it looked dead. As I stood there, though, its ear twitched and I realized it was instead a snoozing coyote. I should have turned around and left it alone, but for some reason, I said, "Hey!" The coyote woke up and looked for the source of the noise in the opposite direction of where I was standing. So, again, I said, "Hey!" This time, the coyote looked directly at me, jumped up, and bolted off towards the river below the trail.
My eyes followed the coyote's movement and then settled on another scene at the edge of the river: a dead elk being fed upon by two more coyotes and several ravens. This elk was surely killed and fed upon by wolves perhaps the night before, and now the coyotes were cleaning up the last tasty morsels. I watched the scene for a few moments before heading on.
About 2 1/2 hours into the run, I came around a corner and startled 2 wolves at close range. One was a mottled gray and the other jet black. They shortly disappeared over the hillside. This was as close as I've ever been to Yellowstone's wolves, though I see their tracks and scat all over the trails. The sighting lasted all of 10 seconds or so before they were gone, but it was an amazing experience.
Then, with about 45 minutes left in my run, in the last little bit of twilight, I flushed a white snowshoe hare from beneath a sagebrush. This hare wasn't the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, if you know what I mean, because it couldn't figure out how to get away from me. This was a rather entertaining and long-lasting encounter.
By the end of this run, all of my grumbly thoughts about work had been overprinted by a reminder that I am very lucky to work, live, and run here in Yellowstone.
Merry Christmas, all! Tomorrow I'm headed out of the country for the holiday. Sigh, another Christmas on the beaches of Mexico. See, I'm such a lucky girl!
PS. You've probably noticed that several things are "not quite right" about my blog's new layout. Well, I really screwed up the layout while trying to install a new template, and I don't know how to fix it. If anyone is good at this kind of stuff, I would love a little help. Thanks!
Posted by Meghan at December 18, 2007 9:10 PM
Comments
Well, I coulda helped with blogspot, but don't know anything about running-blogs. Sorry. Have a great holiday in Mexico!
Posted by: backofpack at December 18, 2007 10:10 PM
Enjoy your time off on down south!! Sounds SpLeNdID!!
Posted by: Audrey at December 19, 2007 11:30 AM
Enjoy sand and ocean! Email Bob-the blogger, he fixed everything for me when I did same stuff screwing my template:)
Posted by: olga at December 19, 2007 12:19 PM
Sounds like heaven, having Yellowstone out your back door - and front door and beneath you and above you.
I'm surprised there's so very much wildlife.
Here in Colorado, is seems there is less. People have tried to explain it by saying it was the re-introduction of lynx and wolves, and the come-back of several endangered birds-of-prey. But Yellowstone has all that and more, yet still the landscape is crawling with wildlife.
Have fun in Mexico! Take lots of photos - drink lots of cocktails with umbrella-thingies!
Posted by: JeffO at December 19, 2007 1:47 PM
Yeah on the umbrella thingies! I love the tops that look like minimarshmallows. From wolves and elk carcasses and coyotes napping in the snow to the warm dry sands of Mexico (I only now realized how nicely that rhymed). On the twelfth day of Christmas my ______ gave to me, a ______ in a ____ ____:) Have a happy vacay, Lucky Girl.
Posted by: K Bo at December 19, 2007 7:57 PM
Before I die I HAVE to visit you and go for a run with you. I want to see a snoozing coyote too!!! :)
Hope you have a wonderful holiday and a great trip to Mexico!
Posted by: Beth at December 20, 2007 4:25 AM
OK GO to Mexico BUT understand you won't be allowed back into the states unless you move ur blog over to Blogspot!!
Thank You da Border BLogerrrr Patrol
Oh & Merry Christmas to you & Trev Enjoy the Sun & Sand!
Posted by: Bob Gentile at December 20, 2007 6:56 PM
I can give your formatting a shot, but no promises. If you want to send me a couple of files, I'll try. Log in under where you write your entries, and click on Templates (under configure). Send me the "Stylesheet" and "Main Index." The easiest way would be to click the icon on the far right (it says "View Published Template" if you hover) and then either just do Save As on the page that comes up or copy/paste it into a text document. My email is above. And hooray for wolves! They've been my favorite animal for as long as I can remember.
Posted by: Alisha at December 24, 2007 5:58 PM
Merry Christmas Meghan!! I hope you are having a wonderful time in Mexico :)
I haven't been commenting much lately but I am as always in awe of your running accomplishments, excited to hear more, and really impressed by the care you take in writing your entries.
Barb
Posted by: barb at December 27, 2007 3:11 PM