In May 2020, I began working in this new format because my familiar ways of writing were and had been exhausted. I did not expect either sheltering in place or the lectures to last a whole year. But they did. And now (whatever the calendar might claim) spring’s coming in fits and starts, I just received my second vaccine, and I’m trying to imagine what comes next … and having a difficult time of it.

For early April, we’ve been having some pretty summery weather here in Minneapolis. This has meant a run of absolutely perfect days, but also a few summer-style thunderstorms.

One week until the release of my next lecture and I feel like I’m still, after eleven months of doing these, finding new obstacles to throw in front of myself. On the other hand, I did see this bald eagle standing at the edge of the ice next to the remnants of its most recent meal. It was even closer than it looks in the photo. And above both of us was a vulture of some sort waiting in a tree for the eagle to leave so it could pick at the leftovers. When the eagle did leave, it made a murder of crows in the tree on the far side of the river it decided to depart for pretty vocal about how upset they were. It was cool to see that.