Planning

Toiling, rejoicing, sorrowing,
so I my life conduct.
Each morning see some task begun,
each evening see it chucked.

You can probably identify who I was reading last night within two guesses.

If you have the chance to see Ashfall Fossil Beds, do. I would not make a trip out west just to see it, but it is worth a detour. The ash from the eruption didn't kill everything at once--some of the creatures lived for weeks. (The final bursts piled another 4-6 feet of ash on top. At least I think there was more than one--or else continuous ash fall for months.) The predators, not having to stuff their noses into dust to eat, outlived everybody else.

Snakes crawl into the digging pits in the Hubbard Rhino Barn at night, and they must be escorted out before the day's excavations begin.