Walking around my town

I know I haven't been posting lately bit I've been busy...walking around my town and getting paid for it. Yes that is right I am getting paid. I am working with the Federal Government to develop the listings for the 2010 census. I have areas that I drive to and then I walk around knocking on doors to make sure the census' address list is up to date and classified according to their system. The weather has been mostly rainy and drizzly with a few nice and warm days here and there.
Mostly I am enjoying looking at the flowers and flowering trees emerging from winter. It makes me want to go home and garden...
I've gotten to do some bird watching. I've seen gold finches, blue jays, cardinals and lucky for me I saw a rosebreasted grossbeak on a feeder one morning. I have seen this bird before but it's been quite a while and in a different part of the country.
I carry a little computer around with me so that working in the rain can get pretty tricky trying to protect the electronics. Very few people are around during the day; the ones you meet are mostly pleasant. Some get into long conversations with you when all I need to know is their mailing address. A few are hostile. I've met a lot of dogs. I ring the door bell at a house and then I hear the barking. I am probably the most interesting thing the dogs have seen all day. They bark and press their noses against the door. Some stare at me as I walk down the driveway. Some come out to "greet me." I've had a few narrow escapes from canines protecting their turf. It's funny, some of the nicest people have all kinds of "private" and "no trespassing" signs along their driveways. Go figure. Others have invited me in to see their place. Some houses are back in the woods in beautiful wooded settings. It's detective work to figure out how to categorize a structure; asking questions of people that are associated with a building and making observations about the structure from outside. Walking is also great exercize although the driving starts and stops can be hazardous if you don't pay attention to the road while you are moving.