What could happen when I'm racing around, cleaning, trying to "get things done" so that I can get out of town to retreat? Racing down the stairs to the basement on clogs, for example. Yes, a sprained ankle. Aggressively RICE and I'm walking and biking but the other thing, is…

slowing down. Sort of.

I went back down to Reedy Creek to search for vernal pools and salamanders. I didn't see salamanders but I did see the snake I dreamed about last night. For those of you with dirty minds, rest assured it was resting on the surface of a very mucky swamp. I stepped tenderly on a delicate ankle through the muck, breathing in the pungent organic smell. The snake didn't move.

I tried to get down to its level.