Owls and owls and owls, and owls.....

I am gob-smacked by all of the owl boxes available to watch now. And the quality of the cameras people are using to share the experience with us.

When it was just Molly and McGee, we whined and pleaded and kvetched about wanting more views, different views, better views, ever changing views. And for the most part, we got them. Carlos kept adding more and more equipment, and stuck around almost 24/7 to insure it was working. Some question his motives. I don't. Not because I don't believe he had any "ulterior motives", but because I don't care. He did it for whatever reason he did it, and it started an owl revolution.

People from all over the world are watching and learning about owls. School children are tuning in, reachers are using it as a tool to educate, and ordinary people are watching nature in a way they have never watched before. Close-up, immediate, and very, very addictive. And on their terms. Watch for a minute, watch for a day. Stay up all night to see it live, or go to bed and look at all the videos and pictures of the event the next day.

And all while having a virtual conversation with warm, witty, intelligent and interesting people. I mean, really!?! It can't get much better than that. Ah, wait...it can!

Because some of these people went a step further and actually set up a place and a time to meet in reality.
And although some were nervous about what they would discover about their virtual buddies, for the most part, these people have become close friends and developed even deeper connections.

And all the while, most of us have kept the focus right where it started - on the owls. On these intriguing, fascinating, beautiful creatures. And on their irresistible, gorgeously ugly, and endlessly silly owlets.

That's not to say we haven't "branched out...". We watch and comment on hummingbirds and squirrels and pandas and eagles. We watch a watering hole on the African Plains. And we share pictures and stories about our pets and children and spouses and hobbies. We celebrate birthdays and discuss what's for dinner. We share life advice, and mourn with those who grieve.

So there you have it: we are a big, crazy, dysfunctional, lively and ever-changing family. With nick-names, and  in-jokes, and brothers and sisters who fight, make-up, and fight again. We sit around waiting for the next big event - waiting for Auntie Willow to have ANOTHER baby. And we question why in the world so-and-so is doing what she's doing with thus-and-such. And how can Uncle Bobby have married that hussy, and isn't Auntie Gladys drinking too much these days, and, my!,  hasn't Doris' teenager gotten big?

And it's all a great big delight. And unlike a real family, one that you can enter and exit at will. And most of the time, we have something wonderful to share, which keeps the bickering at bay.

I am still, and always will be, a member of that family. And I watch with joy every day. As this site progresses, I will "report"more, and opine less. But I will keep my HORK-ish sense of humor about me and learn a lot as I go.

I already have. And I sincerely thank my friends for their support. Don't forget to sign up for the blog, so that you can be notified when there's something new posted. And don't forget - I adore you!

CAR

Change is good? Okay.

If you are reading this, then you know that THE DAILY HORK has been temporarily discontinued.

That was a hard decision, and I am not very happy about it right now. But I will look at it on a day-to-day basis and let you know what's happening when it happens.

A lot of things have changed...new owls, new cameras, new people in the chat rooms.

Nothing stays the same, thank goodness, but some things never change.  Not everyone is what they seem, and people sometimes do things that hurt other people. It's been going since time out of mind, and it is not in anyone's power to eradicate bad behavior or eliminate destructive or hurtful people.

So it's how one reacts to those people that requires change. Surprise should give way to acceptance. Acceptance should give way to direction. Direction can inform imagination. Imagination can create inspiration. And with inspiration, one can regain control. Not over others -  but over the world we create and live in and contribute to.

And so it goes. This is where my acceptance is going to begin. Let's see where my imagination will take us, shall we?

I will be adding daily thoughts, "editorials" pictures, and things that I haven't even imagined yet. This is all new, and so far, I have no idea what it will become.

I do know that I hope with all my heart that my friends will follow me, and we can share this little experiment together. I have had the most wonderful time getting to know you all, and I want it to continue. I hope you do, too.

Maybe Valentine's Day is the perfect day to start this. My heart can be here, instead of on my sleeve.

Smooches,

CAR

(p.s.- For now, you don't need to sign up to comment. I want to make this as easy as possible. But for our sakes, use a comment name that we will recognize from the chat rooms, so we know who you are!  But please, do sign up to follow the blog,  keep the comments civil,  have fun and tell your friends!  Please? I reserve the right to require a log-in if it becomes necessary. I reserve the right to block anyone from posting if things get ugly. I reserve the right to delete your post if I find it cruel, unkind, or just plain disruptive. I reserve the right to say anything I want and delete your post if you get your back up about it and don't tell me why. And I reserve the right to re-post anything I want, as many times as I want, for whatever reason I want. My blog, my rules :) Oh - and I reserve the right to like you even if you don't like me. So there! Mwaaaah!)