“Let’s go make more memories.” So generally starts the planning for a camping/hunting/fishing trip. Andrew and I just got back from 2-1/2 days over on the Klamath River. I wish all of the family had been able to go, but I do admit, it was kind of rough. Randy, Andrew, and I went over there last fall about this time and had a great time. This year when we left it was raining here in Crescent City, and up in the hills east of town it was raining and blowing. We went up Patrick’s Creek looking for deer. We did quite a bit of walking in the rain and wind, but saw no deer. All we saw were hunters, lots of them. So, we cut over on the Toll Road to O'Brien. No, there is no longer a toll road, but at one time about 100 years ago it was a private road and thus a toll could be exacted, or rather extracted by the owners. The fall colors were stellar and just beginning to come on. We were no more than 2 miles out of Del Norte County and we saw our first deer, the first of many more by the end of the trip.
We arrived at Ladd Road about 2:00 in the afternoon. This is the road near Seiad Valley where mom and dad had a mining claim on, and Chuck and I spent many happy summers as children. Walker Gulch is the name of the creek where we never did remove a speck of gold, but we did take many happy memories. Looking back, camping trips that I’ve been on with Randy and Andrew have nothing on the ‘rough factor’ we spent with mom camping on the river. We would take daily 6 mile walks to go to the store and check the mail and mom would reward us by buying Chuck and I an ice cream bar. Long after Chuck and I stopped going mom would still visit the claim and I’m sure make those same daily walks.
This time we didn’t stop at Walker Gulch, but drove on by. I did glance over to check and make sure that our name was still visibly carved in a tree marking the claim as forever ours even though it has since gone back into the ownership of the U.S. Forest Service. We slowed at the bend in the river and were disappointed to see another pickup parked there. I know that both Andrew and I had planned to camp there, but wouldn’t if another car was there. Things happen for a reason, and sometimes it’s “not worth pushing water uphill.” We continued up the dirt road past a point that I had ever been to before. Eventually, the road got rougher and narrower and dropped down to the 20 acre gravel bar about 4 miles upriver from where we had planned to camp. I have seen this gravel bar ever since I first started going over there with mom and Chuck, but had never been to it before. I remember seeing parts of huge gold mining equipment there. Now, we were there standing on the remnants of the past, looking at this, our new favorite place to come in the future. The riffle sweeping by the bank looked every bit as good as any of our other favorite places just downstream.
By Saturday night we had seen about 30 deer including two spikes, but no legal bucks, During the day we had to drive back into the thriving metropolis of Seiad Valley (population 27) for me to call in sub plans. On the way in we saw an older lady with white hair walking briskly along Ladd Road toward Seiad, I remarked to Andrew how much she reminded me of my mom. As we passed I noticed she had a walking stick and was wearing dark glasses, looking very much like what my mom looked like. We waved as we passed and she pleasantly smiled back at us. The thoughts and memories of my mom became even more special and I think that she would be happy for Sandi and I, as I was showing our kids a little bit of the joy she shared with us. Not much has changed, if anything there is a bit less traffic although there are a few more houses. Dreams are still being dreamed and life is still being lived.
We had a nocturnal visitor about 4:00 in the morning. We were awoken up by the sound of something sliding down the tent with a coarse dragging sound. I heard it very well as my head was about 10” from the side of the tent. We both got up and looked around the tent, but our visitor was long gone. The only evidence was two clumps of sand still on the side of the tent and the prints of a large bear with long claws imprinted next to the tent.
About this time I’d like to add something like this....On our return trip back to our campsite we again came up to the lady walking to Seiad. She had been walking pretty fast, and now seeing her better, as we drove down the road toward her I realized that she really did look my mom would have looked walking down one of her favorite roads. I was just about ready to tell Andrew to stop and say hello to the lady, but when as we came to within about 20 feet of her she disappeared into a wisp of vapor and the walking stick she was using clattered to the ground with a puff of dust left as a reminder of what I had just seen. Slowly, we drove by not saying a word to each other, each wondering if we had really seen what we had just witnessed…...but it didn’t actually happen, just a recollection of the past.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Monday, October 06, 2008
The fall
Last weekend was the first weekend of a fall time tradition, or maybe, as in years past, a fall time necessity. Granted, now it is not so much a necessity, but rather something that signals a primordial brain response that says, now is the time to start preparing for winter. It is the time to provide sustenance for the family, to take the club down from its cradle above the door and go out and provide meat for the family for the winter. It is time to catch the deer being active prior to their reduced wintertime routine. Last weekend was the first weekend of deer hunting season.
I believe in the sanctity of life and thus revere it and recognize it is a gift from our Maker. That being said, the idea of idea of hunting and killing a deer is almost an oxymoron to my previous belief. Then, why in the name of Safeway, Rays, and shrink-wrapped meat do we need to go out hunting? Just that, in the age of convenience, Saran Wrap, and processing there is a certain thing lost. That thing is the idea of the fact that someone had to kill and process that shrink-wrapped steak that we choose from the meat counter in the store; separation of responsibility to the taking of an animal’s life.
I feel by me taking part in the process, it forces me to recognize the fact that even though I may buy meat at the store an animal had to die to provide my sustenance. By me going out fishing or hunting I am putting myself closer to the food chain and to recognize that I am part of it. Dust to dust, that’s what I believe. I cannot separate myself from the fact that I am an integral part of a larger process, and as in the water that I drink, some organic based organism has taken in, processed, and expelled that water before. Maybe it was a dinosaur, or maybe another human being, but it has been cycled through nature before. We do live in a closed system.
Hunting allows me to appreciate nature as its elemental level, a level at which all too often I am too far removed. I am part of the cycle and part of the process of life. The fall is a time of beauty, a time of regeneration where nature is throwing off seasonal appearances and showing off a new look. Hunting season is a time where nature is pushing out its final rush of chlorophyll on those warm fall days and with its final fading gasp it is showing the hidden underlying colors it has for so long cloaked under the green of the leaves. Just after the last chlorophyll rises to the leaves the leaves release their grip on life and fall to the ground to provide a layer of insulation and nutrients to the forest floor for the next organism to use.
And thus starts another life
I believe in the sanctity of life and thus revere it and recognize it is a gift from our Maker. That being said, the idea of idea of hunting and killing a deer is almost an oxymoron to my previous belief. Then, why in the name of Safeway, Rays, and shrink-wrapped meat do we need to go out hunting? Just that, in the age of convenience, Saran Wrap, and processing there is a certain thing lost. That thing is the idea of the fact that someone had to kill and process that shrink-wrapped steak that we choose from the meat counter in the store; separation of responsibility to the taking of an animal’s life.
I feel by me taking part in the process, it forces me to recognize the fact that even though I may buy meat at the store an animal had to die to provide my sustenance. By me going out fishing or hunting I am putting myself closer to the food chain and to recognize that I am part of it. Dust to dust, that’s what I believe. I cannot separate myself from the fact that I am an integral part of a larger process, and as in the water that I drink, some organic based organism has taken in, processed, and expelled that water before. Maybe it was a dinosaur, or maybe another human being, but it has been cycled through nature before. We do live in a closed system.
Hunting allows me to appreciate nature as its elemental level, a level at which all too often I am too far removed. I am part of the cycle and part of the process of life. The fall is a time of beauty, a time of regeneration where nature is throwing off seasonal appearances and showing off a new look. Hunting season is a time where nature is pushing out its final rush of chlorophyll on those warm fall days and with its final fading gasp it is showing the hidden underlying colors it has for so long cloaked under the green of the leaves. Just after the last chlorophyll rises to the leaves the leaves release their grip on life and fall to the ground to provide a layer of insulation and nutrients to the forest floor for the next organism to use.
And thus starts another life
Friday, September 26, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Good news
In spite of all the health issues that our family is facing and Hurricane Ike moving the coastal parts of Texas inland, there is still good news. I've heard that things really are bigger in Texas, and now, I must say, they're right.
We've been working on our Mason Court house evening and weekends for the last month, and we're getting to the point where we can see daylight at the end of the tunnel. We've kept it as a rental since we moved to our home on Gale Way. I've not regretted for a moment the move to our home here, but I've dreaded the time I knew it would take to fix up the Mason Court house. It's been a rental for about 8 years and was long overdue for a major 'fixup.' The time has arrived. We've painted, repaired, caulked, replaced, revitalized, and fixed. New doors, windows, trim boards, stove, bathroom cabinet, laminate (kitchen and bathroom), and carpet.
I'm ready to be done. I've done remodel stuff I've not done before. I feel as if I've earned my Junior Carpenter Badge, Junior Laminater Badge, Junior Electrician Badge, and my Journeyman Painting Badge.
Randy and Claudia are going to be buying it from us, and I must say, I'm glad. The baby is due in January and you can call me 'grandpa' then. The cycle of life continues. This is not to say I don't enjoy this kind of work, I just wish that it would have happened at the beginning of summer, you probably wouldn't have seen so many pictures of my feet!
Jim
We've been working on our Mason Court house evening and weekends for the last month, and we're getting to the point where we can see daylight at the end of the tunnel. We've kept it as a rental since we moved to our home on Gale Way. I've not regretted for a moment the move to our home here, but I've dreaded the time I knew it would take to fix up the Mason Court house. It's been a rental for about 8 years and was long overdue for a major 'fixup.' The time has arrived. We've painted, repaired, caulked, replaced, revitalized, and fixed. New doors, windows, trim boards, stove, bathroom cabinet, laminate (kitchen and bathroom), and carpet.
I'm ready to be done. I've done remodel stuff I've not done before. I feel as if I've earned my Junior Carpenter Badge, Junior Laminater Badge, Junior Electrician Badge, and my Journeyman Painting Badge.
Randy and Claudia are going to be buying it from us, and I must say, I'm glad. The baby is due in January and you can call me 'grandpa' then. The cycle of life continues. This is not to say I don't enjoy this kind of work, I just wish that it would have happened at the beginning of summer, you probably wouldn't have seen so many pictures of my feet!
Jim
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Note to self: Choosing motels.
Next time we stay at a motel that we're unfamiliar with this is the procedure I'll follow.
Even if it's 11:00 p.m. at night, drive around the block instead of pulling in upon first seeing it. Maybe, drive around the block twice if it's in the experienced part of town.
Don't take it for granted that the motel is the same as it was when you stayed there 25 years ago. Things change.
Be aware if there are ANY tattoo parlors in the close proximity.
Check to see if there are people leaning off the 2nd story balconies smoking, before going to the office.
Ask to look at the room before signing on the dotted line. If there are ANY signs that there is something wrong about the room, chances are there probably are.
And last, as you're driving around the block the 2nd time, read all the signs and be on the lookout for any that say anything about monthly rates.
Even if it's 11:00 p.m. at night, drive around the block instead of pulling in upon first seeing it. Maybe, drive around the block twice if it's in the experienced part of town.
Don't take it for granted that the motel is the same as it was when you stayed there 25 years ago. Things change.
Be aware if there are ANY tattoo parlors in the close proximity.
Check to see if there are people leaning off the 2nd story balconies smoking, before going to the office.
Ask to look at the room before signing on the dotted line. If there are ANY signs that there is something wrong about the room, chances are there probably are.
And last, as you're driving around the block the 2nd time, read all the signs and be on the lookout for any that say anything about monthly rates.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Trip back from Tahoe
I know that you like barbeque so I have to share this story with you. On our recent ‘working’ vacation trip our relatives wanted to share one of their favorites haunts with us except they were a little fuzzy on some of the details. They thought that the name was Mongolian Barbeque Buffet and that it was about $12.95 a plate and that the food was REALLY good.
Well, I do like barbeque and I don’t discriminate with any country’s culture or food. I really didn’t know too much about the Mongolian food fare, but I was willing to try. I really expected a lot of sheep and goat on the menu.
First, I didn’t see anyone that looked like they came from Mongolia. Second, the cost was actually $22.95. Third, I didn’t see any food that I couldn’t buy at Safeway. What really surprised me was all the seafood that was used in the buffet. I don’t know a whole lot of Mongolia but I didn’t realize that they used too much seafood in their diet since Mongolia doesn’t have a seaport. And there wasn’t any barbequed sheep or goat on the menu.
I kid you not, but I saw this road cleanup sign alongside the road as we were coming home from our trip, ‘Improved Order of Red Men. It made me wonder if there was an ‘Unimproved Order of Red Men’ doing community service too. If not, I think that they should consider it.
On our way back we had to go through Redding and it was 117* at 4:00 in the afternoon. That’s the hottest temperature that I’ve ever experienced. In fact, it was so hot I saw a car with Arizona plates that was being carried by a car carrier.
Road signs are interesting too. One we saw was Igo, 2 miles, Ono, 4 miles. They didn’t say what was at 3 miles, but I’m sure it wasn’t as bad as whatever was in Ono!
Have you ever noticed those deer crossing signs along the road. They always show the same deer; a 4 point buck starting to jump. I always want to look in the opposite lane and see if they have a sign of the same deer landing. What I thought was really weird was the deer crossing sign we saw in Gazelle. You’d think that there wouldn’t even be any deer in town called Gazelle!
Well, I do like barbeque and I don’t discriminate with any country’s culture or food. I really didn’t know too much about the Mongolian food fare, but I was willing to try. I really expected a lot of sheep and goat on the menu.
First, I didn’t see anyone that looked like they came from Mongolia. Second, the cost was actually $22.95. Third, I didn’t see any food that I couldn’t buy at Safeway. What really surprised me was all the seafood that was used in the buffet. I don’t know a whole lot of Mongolia but I didn’t realize that they used too much seafood in their diet since Mongolia doesn’t have a seaport. And there wasn’t any barbequed sheep or goat on the menu.
I kid you not, but I saw this road cleanup sign alongside the road as we were coming home from our trip, ‘Improved Order of Red Men. It made me wonder if there was an ‘Unimproved Order of Red Men’ doing community service too. If not, I think that they should consider it.
On our way back we had to go through Redding and it was 117* at 4:00 in the afternoon. That’s the hottest temperature that I’ve ever experienced. In fact, it was so hot I saw a car with Arizona plates that was being carried by a car carrier.
Road signs are interesting too. One we saw was Igo, 2 miles, Ono, 4 miles. They didn’t say what was at 3 miles, but I’m sure it wasn’t as bad as whatever was in Ono!
Have you ever noticed those deer crossing signs along the road. They always show the same deer; a 4 point buck starting to jump. I always want to look in the opposite lane and see if they have a sign of the same deer landing. What I thought was really weird was the deer crossing sign we saw in Gazelle. You’d think that there wouldn’t even be any deer in town called Gazelle!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Bigfoot news
left hand side: reputed BF. right hand image: a costume of BF that is available.
Looks kinda of fishy! One, Tom Biscardi is involved (a known BF hoaxer). Two, Fox was the first mainstream news to run this on 8/13/08. 2nd strike.
If so, why couldn't have been in Del Norte County?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/14/bigfoot.body/index.html
Friday, August 08, 2008
This is a letter I wrote back to my principal after receiving a "Welcome Back to School Letter" a month early.
Mr. Fab,
What I want to know is, are you still on the fruit and nut diet for breakfast? It sounds like all on the trip were in agreement as to its merits and it was a pretty heady commitment. It would be my guess that it was probably right after breakfast with a full stomach. A classic weak moment. The question is; was it just a ‘pinky pact,’ or a comment to be disregarded at the golden arches the next morning before breakfast?
Personally, just so you know, the re-charging of my batteries has only just begun. I’m going to stuff as much as I can into the remainder of summer vacation. I have a whole list of things to do before school starts, and that doesn’t even include playing like SOME people do. Some of us are dedicated to responsibility, commitment, perseverance, and hard work. Wow, that sounds like the beginnings of some kind of pep talk from a football coach or something! I better be careful.
I did look at the pics on your trip’s blog. It looked like a very memorable time. You were able to go to some really neat places. In a sense, I kind of envy you the trip, just not with that many people. Wait a minute, you’re a principal, you deal with groups of people all the time. No problem. You probably had it all planned out and I’m sure everyone saw your way as the best way and there weren’t any arguments! Did you EVER win an argument with your wife?
In fact, it looked like the males were vastly outnumbered by the females, much like at Joe Hamilton, out-womaned and under-gunned. Those don’t appear to be very good odds, and I’m not even a gambler. I remembered something about probability, chance, and odds from a 5th grade math book. As much as you like to gamble you should’ve thought this one all the way through! Or, was it, to get your way you had to take your son aside and bribe him to throw a temper tantrum on the floor in sight of your wife while you just looked at her with that “I don’t know what to do” look in your eyes? Actually, I don’t think your son would do that, I just made that up.
You made me recall the trip we took in 2001 across the US in a Toyota Dolphin. Yeh, it had a bathroom too, but anytime anyone said that they had to go to the bathroom I would start looking for trees along the road or wide spots with tall grass just so the one in the Dolphin didn’t get used. As you can imagine, it was a real problem getting across Kansas (not too many trees). Going to the bathroom behind a redwood tree is much more comfortable than trying to hide everything behind a skinny two year old poplar tree. I guess we’re kinda spoiled out here. Nevertheless, As soon as they saw a tree they always made a beeline for the tree line. But, there were wheat fields, a lot of wheat fields, generally amber in color. Those amber waves of grain are really pretty short.
I don’t even want to know how many farmers’ dinners we interrupted when we had to stop.
“Hey, Myrtle, what’s that dark spot out in the field? Where are my binoculars? Geez, it’s another damn tourist. They must be from northern California, they have white cheeks, I can even see their tan line. Get my shotgun, the one with the rock salt in it.”
“Well quit staring then!”
I guess it probably gave them a story to talk about at the feed store the next morning, it didn’t look like a whole lot else went on there.
Iowa was much better as there was always a cornfield nearby; although there were a few times I had to lay on the horn to guide them back to the road. It seems that those cornfields are really tall and it’s easy to get disoriented. It wasn’t all bad though, most of the time they would come back with an armload of corn, so all was forgiven. Sometimes though they just had to jump out, settle for a lull in the traffic, and do their business. Interrupting farmers didn’t seem to be as much of a problem there.
Now, on to more serious business; I recall something about proposed schedules for the 2008-2009 school year, and while I didn’t commit them to memory, I was wondering if any of them involved starting any later? I’m having a real hard time waking up at 7:30 a.m.! I keep trying to convince my wife that I’m a ‘morning person,’ but my evidence is pretty weak. So, if it’s easier to ‘raise the bridge than lowering the river’ that’s the one I’m voting for.
Excuse me, I must get back to enjoying summer,
Jim
What I want to know is, are you still on the fruit and nut diet for breakfast? It sounds like all on the trip were in agreement as to its merits and it was a pretty heady commitment. It would be my guess that it was probably right after breakfast with a full stomach. A classic weak moment. The question is; was it just a ‘pinky pact,’ or a comment to be disregarded at the golden arches the next morning before breakfast?
Personally, just so you know, the re-charging of my batteries has only just begun. I’m going to stuff as much as I can into the remainder of summer vacation. I have a whole list of things to do before school starts, and that doesn’t even include playing like SOME people do. Some of us are dedicated to responsibility, commitment, perseverance, and hard work. Wow, that sounds like the beginnings of some kind of pep talk from a football coach or something! I better be careful.
I did look at the pics on your trip’s blog. It looked like a very memorable time. You were able to go to some really neat places. In a sense, I kind of envy you the trip, just not with that many people. Wait a minute, you’re a principal, you deal with groups of people all the time. No problem. You probably had it all planned out and I’m sure everyone saw your way as the best way and there weren’t any arguments! Did you EVER win an argument with your wife?
In fact, it looked like the males were vastly outnumbered by the females, much like at Joe Hamilton, out-womaned and under-gunned. Those don’t appear to be very good odds, and I’m not even a gambler. I remembered something about probability, chance, and odds from a 5th grade math book. As much as you like to gamble you should’ve thought this one all the way through! Or, was it, to get your way you had to take your son aside and bribe him to throw a temper tantrum on the floor in sight of your wife while you just looked at her with that “I don’t know what to do” look in your eyes? Actually, I don’t think your son would do that, I just made that up.
You made me recall the trip we took in 2001 across the US in a Toyota Dolphin. Yeh, it had a bathroom too, but anytime anyone said that they had to go to the bathroom I would start looking for trees along the road or wide spots with tall grass just so the one in the Dolphin didn’t get used. As you can imagine, it was a real problem getting across Kansas (not too many trees). Going to the bathroom behind a redwood tree is much more comfortable than trying to hide everything behind a skinny two year old poplar tree. I guess we’re kinda spoiled out here. Nevertheless, As soon as they saw a tree they always made a beeline for the tree line. But, there were wheat fields, a lot of wheat fields, generally amber in color. Those amber waves of grain are really pretty short.
I don’t even want to know how many farmers’ dinners we interrupted when we had to stop.
“Hey, Myrtle, what’s that dark spot out in the field? Where are my binoculars? Geez, it’s another damn tourist. They must be from northern California, they have white cheeks, I can even see their tan line. Get my shotgun, the one with the rock salt in it.”
“Well quit staring then!”
I guess it probably gave them a story to talk about at the feed store the next morning, it didn’t look like a whole lot else went on there.
Iowa was much better as there was always a cornfield nearby; although there were a few times I had to lay on the horn to guide them back to the road. It seems that those cornfields are really tall and it’s easy to get disoriented. It wasn’t all bad though, most of the time they would come back with an armload of corn, so all was forgiven. Sometimes though they just had to jump out, settle for a lull in the traffic, and do their business. Interrupting farmers didn’t seem to be as much of a problem there.
Now, on to more serious business; I recall something about proposed schedules for the 2008-2009 school year, and while I didn’t commit them to memory, I was wondering if any of them involved starting any later? I’m having a real hard time waking up at 7:30 a.m.! I keep trying to convince my wife that I’m a ‘morning person,’ but my evidence is pretty weak. So, if it’s easier to ‘raise the bridge than lowering the river’ that’s the one I’m voting for.
Excuse me, I must get back to enjoying summer,
Jim
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
A fishin' story...
Copy and paste the link below.
http://www.triplicate.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=9730
http://www.triplicate.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=9730
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Point to ponder.
Big people talk about ideas.
Average people talk about things.
Small people talk about other people.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
My grandchild!!!!!!!
When a person looks at images like these it helps to have a pretty vivid imagination. Luckily the head is marked. Everything is sorta vague from there.
Jim
Sunday, July 06, 2008
The ZAP on CNN's iReport
Our ZAP made CNN. They posed a question that I couldn't resist.
http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=41879
http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=41879
Friday, July 04, 2008
Thursday, July 03, 2008
A quick camping trip.
Andrew and I took a quick camping trip over to the Klamath River. It was REALLY smoky. We fished, took pictures, and paddled the kayak. We left on Tuesday morning and came back on Wednesday night. We made dinner at a place called Bolen Lake, it's a lake at about 5,400 feet, 36 miles air from here. It takes about 2 hours to get there, but worth every moment. Beautiful setting, great campground, and 0 people.
Jim
Jim
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The "Next Chapter of my Life Contest" entry
The “post 50” phase of my life will be life-changing, career molding, and even more interesting than the first 50. While I enjoy things like fishing, kayaking, painting, and photography, I feel I am doing the most important thing I can be doing; teaching the next generation by passing on the values that were planted in me. Principles, that my parents, if they were here, be proud of me for. I am a 5th teacher.
I am what you may call, a “late bloomer.” In part of my working career, I’ve been a logger, commercial fisherman, and developed my own sign business. My wife and I were the first ones in our respective families of a combined 14 children to receive our B.A. degrees, during which we lived apart as a family to fulfill these goals. We have since raised our two sons that have also completed their college educations. I started to teach when I was 42 years old and haven’t regretted a minute of it. I do not need to go on a Vision Quest. My vision is clear and I’m fulfilling my quest, even though I am still paying off my student loans.
Teaching can be an all-consuming and rewarding job at the same time. It is important to recharge one’s batteries and energy. Thus, I believe that it is important to visit the places that I must teach about. This is the reason I’ve taken the opportunity to travel to the East Coast and visit some of America’s historical sites. For my 50th birthday my grown sons gave me their present by accompanying me on my life-long dream of hiking the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska. Fulfilling life’s goals with those that you love is a very satisfying experience.
So, the next chapter of my life will be simple; keeping myself healthy for those I love, and aspire to be the best teacher my students will ever have. Being a teacher really does allow me to affect and inspire the future. My best reward? The future that they create and the positive impact they make.
Carpe diem
Friday, June 13, 2008
Fuel cost cut by 1/2!!!!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/06/13/zakaria.oilprices/index.html
This guy is right-on!!!!
Jim
This guy is right-on!!!!
Jim
Rick's retirement.
Rick said he didn’t want to have a formal roast, so we’ll just have a slight baste.
Before I get into this I’m going to give him one last chance to redeem himself. Since Rick first brought up this crazy idea of retiring I’ve endeavored to make him see the error of his ways. I’ve offered myself in place of him. I know it’s a great sacrifice, but I figure that it would be it would be in everyone’s best interest.
I’ve offered to trade my years of service for Rick’s years of service. That way the District will go on reaping his years of experience and I can do foolish things like fishing, kayaking, painting, photography, fishing, and maybe even get serious about surfing. Did I include fishing?
I know, I know, foolish things, but that’s what I’d do. That way it’s a win-win for everyone. Rick gets to keep working, and I get to, well, get to play. He really shouldn’t rush into this retirement thing with having thought it out first.
He’d probably do something foolish like go to Alaska to visit friends and go fishing, and not come back until December. I can see it now, you’re watching that show on TV, ‘Deadliest Catch,’ and you catch a glimpse of Rick baiting King Crab pots aboard one of those fishing boats. It’s either that or possibly on the show, ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
With this crazy retirement thing I’m really concerned that Rick will go on some kind of Vision Quest and realize too late that he doesn’t have a map. A GPS wouldn’t help because it’s too close to a computer, and we all know about Rick and computers. Let there be no question, Rick, unlike Al Gore, did not invent the Internet. Rick’s idea of new technology is to buy a brand new chisel and a new stone tablet. This means he’s finally going to have to learn to use his TV remote, but he’ll have to find it first.
Don’t try to call him on his cell phone, he only turns in on long enough to charge it up.
You may not know it but he really is a conscious kind of guy, he admits to coming to work late at times, but he makes up for it by leaving early.
In case you didn’t know it, Rick’s been retired about 6 months already. His kids know everything there is to know about surfing and Tsunamis.
Actually he’s pretty smart in dealing with other principals, he knows when to keep his mouth shut.
Yes, Rick is entering those ‘Golden Years’ where he won’t have anything planned, anywhere to go, and not in a hurry to get it done each day, but he’ll feel successful and vindicated at the end of the day because he will have accomplished all of it, and his clothes will be folded.
The good news is, he’ll probably be able to give you updates on 'Oprah’ or ‘Sex in the City’ reruns if you want.
By the way, I understand he’ll be available for babysitting jobs, and the best thing, he works cheap, if you don’t mind your child smelling like fish when he leaves.
In the spirit of Jeff Foxworthy, you know you’re getting close to retirement when you to in turn in a request for days off and Angie sends it back with the note, ‘Sorry, champ, you’re out of sick days.’
Actually, Rick is planning this retirement thing out pretty well, he’s doing it before Tony suggests it.
I know he’ll feel true guilt this September when he starts to drive downtown and get coffee and his truck makes a involuntary turn into the Joe Hamilton parking lot.
So, as he steps on the threshold of retirement I hope he doesn’t trip up and make any rash choices.
I’d like to give him this sign and painting. It was either this or a lifetime supply of bingo cards.
Before I get into this I’m going to give him one last chance to redeem himself. Since Rick first brought up this crazy idea of retiring I’ve endeavored to make him see the error of his ways. I’ve offered myself in place of him. I know it’s a great sacrifice, but I figure that it would be it would be in everyone’s best interest.
I’ve offered to trade my years of service for Rick’s years of service. That way the District will go on reaping his years of experience and I can do foolish things like fishing, kayaking, painting, photography, fishing, and maybe even get serious about surfing. Did I include fishing?
I know, I know, foolish things, but that’s what I’d do. That way it’s a win-win for everyone. Rick gets to keep working, and I get to, well, get to play. He really shouldn’t rush into this retirement thing with having thought it out first.
He’d probably do something foolish like go to Alaska to visit friends and go fishing, and not come back until December. I can see it now, you’re watching that show on TV, ‘Deadliest Catch,’ and you catch a glimpse of Rick baiting King Crab pots aboard one of those fishing boats. It’s either that or possibly on the show, ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
With this crazy retirement thing I’m really concerned that Rick will go on some kind of Vision Quest and realize too late that he doesn’t have a map. A GPS wouldn’t help because it’s too close to a computer, and we all know about Rick and computers. Let there be no question, Rick, unlike Al Gore, did not invent the Internet. Rick’s idea of new technology is to buy a brand new chisel and a new stone tablet. This means he’s finally going to have to learn to use his TV remote, but he’ll have to find it first.
Don’t try to call him on his cell phone, he only turns in on long enough to charge it up.
You may not know it but he really is a conscious kind of guy, he admits to coming to work late at times, but he makes up for it by leaving early.
In case you didn’t know it, Rick’s been retired about 6 months already. His kids know everything there is to know about surfing and Tsunamis.
Actually he’s pretty smart in dealing with other principals, he knows when to keep his mouth shut.
Yes, Rick is entering those ‘Golden Years’ where he won’t have anything planned, anywhere to go, and not in a hurry to get it done each day, but he’ll feel successful and vindicated at the end of the day because he will have accomplished all of it, and his clothes will be folded.
The good news is, he’ll probably be able to give you updates on 'Oprah’ or ‘Sex in the City’ reruns if you want.
By the way, I understand he’ll be available for babysitting jobs, and the best thing, he works cheap, if you don’t mind your child smelling like fish when he leaves.
In the spirit of Jeff Foxworthy, you know you’re getting close to retirement when you to in turn in a request for days off and Angie sends it back with the note, ‘Sorry, champ, you’re out of sick days.’
Actually, Rick is planning this retirement thing out pretty well, he’s doing it before Tony suggests it.
I know he’ll feel true guilt this September when he starts to drive downtown and get coffee and his truck makes a involuntary turn into the Joe Hamilton parking lot.
So, as he steps on the threshold of retirement I hope he doesn’t trip up and make any rash choices.
I’d like to give him this sign and painting. It was either this or a lifetime supply of bingo cards.
Where are those pickled herring?
I just read a story of this Dutch woman who was the oldest person in the world. She just died at the ripe old age of 115. She was "sharp right up to the end, joking that pickled herring was the secret to her longevity." Scientists say that Henrikje van Andel-Schipper's mind was probably as good as it seemed: a post-mortem analysis of her brain revealed few signs of Alzheimer's or other diseases commonly associated with a decline in mental ability in old age."
I read that at the age of 82 she called a uninversity to inform them she wanted to donate her body to science. When she was 111 she made her second call worried she might no longer be of interest.
I thought it was really nice of the elder home she was staying in, when asked what she really died of, "the director of the elderly home where she was living declined to give a cause of death, pointing to her extremely advanced years." Pretty safe answer.
"She died from stomach cancer, and you and I can also die from stomach cancer, her case demonstrates that very old people die of diseases, not simply old age.
I guess the secret is in the pickled herring, and her last piece of advice.
Asked what advice she would give to people who want to live a long time, she once quipped: "Keep breathing."
Jim
I read that at the age of 82 she called a uninversity to inform them she wanted to donate her body to science. When she was 111 she made her second call worried she might no longer be of interest.
I thought it was really nice of the elder home she was staying in, when asked what she really died of, "the director of the elderly home where she was living declined to give a cause of death, pointing to her extremely advanced years." Pretty safe answer.
"She died from stomach cancer, and you and I can also die from stomach cancer, her case demonstrates that very old people die of diseases, not simply old age.
I guess the secret is in the pickled herring, and her last piece of advice.
Asked what advice she would give to people who want to live a long time, she once quipped: "Keep breathing."
Jim
Friday, May 16, 2008
Randy and Claudia are married!!!!!
This has been a whirlwind week. Randy announced last Sunday that he and Claudia were going to be married soon. Real soon. They got married last Wednesday at the local courthouse. They went through the wedding planning phase a few months ago and it quickly grew out of control. They opted for a small wedding with a reception sometime later this summer. We're happy for them.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Some talk about getting in the water, and, well, some actually get in.
Another fun day with Rachael and Andrew. We went to a dog obedience class this morning and then went up to the river this afternoon.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Your True Nature
Advice from a tree
Stand tall and proud.
Sink your toots into the Earth.
Be content with your natural beauty.
Go out on a limb.
Drink plenty of water.
Remember your roots.
Enjoy the view.
Stand tall and proud.
Sink your toots into the Earth.
Be content with your natural beauty.
Go out on a limb.
Drink plenty of water.
Remember your roots.
Enjoy the view.
3-29-08 Lyons Ranch / shooting
Yes, it was cold at Lyons Ranch, but there were beautiful vistas to look at. Looking to the east we could see the Trinity Alps, to the west the Pacific Ocean, to the south Redwood National Park, to the north the lair of Bigfoot. No, we didn't stop in.
Ahh, what a nice, and 'coolish' (Hooperism) day.
Jim
Friday, March 28, 2008
Be Careful Out There:
IDIOT SIGHTING:
We had to have the garage door repaired. The Sears repairman told us that one of our problems was that we did not have a 'large' enough motor on the opener. I thought for a minute, and said that we had the largest one Sears made at that time, a 1/2 horsepower. He shook his head and said, 'Lady, you need a 1/4 horsepower.' I responded that 1/2 was larger than 1/4. He said, 'NO, it's not.' Four is larger than two..'
We haven't used Sears repair since.
IDIOT SIGHTING
My daughter and I went through the McDonald's take-out window and I gave the clerk a $5 bill. Our total was $4.25, so I also handed her a quarter. She said, 'you gave me too much money.' I said, 'Yes I know, but this way you can just give me a dollar bill back.' She sighed and went to get the manager who asked me to repeat my request. I did so, and he handed me back the quarter, and said 'We're sorry but they could not do that kind of thing.' The clerk then proceeded to give me back $1 and 75 cents in change.
Do not confuse the clerks at McD's.
IDIOT SIGHTING IN FOOD SERVICE:
My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and ordered a taco. She asked the person behind the counter for 'minimal lettuce.' He said he was sorry, but they only had iceburg lettuce.
From Kansas City
IDIOT SIGHTING :
I was at the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport employee asked , 'Has anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge?' To which I replied, 'If it was without my knowledge, how would I know?' He smiled knowingly and nodded, 'That's why we ask.'
Happened in Birmingham , Ala.
IDIOT SIGHTING :
The stoplight on the corner buzzes when it's safe to cross the street. I was crossing with an intellectually challenged coworker of mine. She asked if I knew what the buzzer was for. I explained that it signals blind people when the light is red. Appalled, she responded, 'What on earth are blind people doing driving?!'
She was a probation officer in Wichita , KS
IDIOT SIGHTING:
At a good-bye luncheon for an old and dear coworker. She was leaving the company due to 'downsizing.' Our manager commented cheerfully, 'This is fun. We should do this more often.' Not another word was spoken. We all just looked at each other with that deer-in-the-headlights stare.
This was a lunch at Texas Instruments.
IDIOT SIGHTING :
I work with an individual who plugged her power strip back into itself and for the sake of her life, couldn't understand why her system would not turn on.
A deputy with the Dallas County Sheriffs office, no less.
IDIOT SIGHTING :
When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the drivers side door. As I watched from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked. 'Hey,' I announced to the technician, 'its open!' His reply, 'I know. I already got that side.'
This was at the Ford dealership in Canton, Missippi
STAY ALERT!
They walk among us... and the scary part is that they VOTE and
they REPRODUCE !
We had to have the garage door repaired. The Sears repairman told us that one of our problems was that we did not have a 'large' enough motor on the opener. I thought for a minute, and said that we had the largest one Sears made at that time, a 1/2 horsepower. He shook his head and said, 'Lady, you need a 1/4 horsepower.' I responded that 1/2 was larger than 1/4. He said, 'NO, it's not.' Four is larger than two..'
We haven't used Sears repair since.
IDIOT SIGHTING
My daughter and I went through the McDonald's take-out window and I gave the clerk a $5 bill. Our total was $4.25, so I also handed her a quarter. She said, 'you gave me too much money.' I said, 'Yes I know, but this way you can just give me a dollar bill back.' She sighed and went to get the manager who asked me to repeat my request. I did so, and he handed me back the quarter, and said 'We're sorry but they could not do that kind of thing.' The clerk then proceeded to give me back $1 and 75 cents in change.
Do not confuse the clerks at McD's.
IDIOT SIGHTING IN FOOD SERVICE:
My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and ordered a taco. She asked the person behind the counter for 'minimal lettuce.' He said he was sorry, but they only had iceburg lettuce.
From Kansas City
IDIOT SIGHTING :
I was at the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport employee asked , 'Has anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge?' To which I replied, 'If it was without my knowledge, how would I know?' He smiled knowingly and nodded, 'That's why we ask.'
Happened in Birmingham , Ala.
IDIOT SIGHTING :
The stoplight on the corner buzzes when it's safe to cross the street. I was crossing with an intellectually challenged coworker of mine. She asked if I knew what the buzzer was for. I explained that it signals blind people when the light is red. Appalled, she responded, 'What on earth are blind people doing driving?!'
She was a probation officer in Wichita , KS
IDIOT SIGHTING:
At a good-bye luncheon for an old and dear coworker. She was leaving the company due to 'downsizing.' Our manager commented cheerfully, 'This is fun. We should do this more often.' Not another word was spoken. We all just looked at each other with that deer-in-the-headlights stare.
This was a lunch at Texas Instruments.
IDIOT SIGHTING :
I work with an individual who plugged her power strip back into itself and for the sake of her life, couldn't understand why her system would not turn on.
A deputy with the Dallas County Sheriffs office, no less.
IDIOT SIGHTING :
When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the drivers side door. As I watched from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked. 'Hey,' I announced to the technician, 'its open!' His reply, 'I know. I already got that side.'
This was at the Ford dealership in Canton, Missippi
STAY ALERT!
They walk among us... and the scary part is that they VOTE and
they REPRODUCE !
Sunday, March 23, 2008
7th day trip home / beach
This is what I look like while waiting for the Stagecoach (shuttle) at 2:45 in the morning. The flight we were on was too late to even be considered a "Red Eye." Our flight was not to leave until 5:10, but we had to be to the airport about 3:30 a.m. Lucky for us, after a slight delay, we left at dawn. Unlucky for me, there wasn't an opportunity for me to get bumped. We arrived back in Arcata about 10:15 a.m. to a cool northcoast welcome.
After we arrived home I took Ohmah down to the beach and made sure that everything was OK on this side of the world. It was.
Jim
6th day
Well, as you can see, again, we didn't get a lot done. We just spent the day soaking up the sun and marinating in the pool. It was all a neat memory and a place that was very special to us. The labyrinth was a new experience, so we left our own stone pile there. I, as I always do when we go to a new place, brought back a rock as a mnemonic device (not a physical device, merely a tactile device) to aid in remembering the experience.
Jim
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Today we were going to walk down to the bus stop to catch a ride to, well, where ever the bus goes, but we found out that the bus only goes by every hour. Yes, you're right, it took us an hour to figure that out and we missed it both times. By that time we had lost our incentive to "go where ever the bus goes" and stopped to get something to eat and came back to the pool. No use taxing ourselves, or stressing ourselves out, when we didn't really have a plan anyway.
The rest of the day (yes, we accomplished all that by 11:30) we spent by the pool holding the deck chairs down from slipping out from underneath us. You can see that we did leave our visible mark on the pool deck, but just like every other mark that man leaves, ut was soon just a distant memory.
Jim
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
3-18-08 4th day Tohono Chul State Park
Today we had too much planned; resting, relaxing, walking to and visiting a nearby park, resting, sitting by the pool, relaxing. Did I mention relaxing? Well, we were able to accomplish it all. Actually, I'm feeling pretty successful as we were able to do it all again. I guess that we're just 'overachievers.' We walked down to Tohono State Park, which is actually a microcosm of the nearby desert environment. It was a 10 on the 'cool scale.' There was even a docent to lead us around and made it much more interesting than just walking around by ourselves. With all the information that they shared with us, I'm just glad that there wasn't a test at the end! We completed the day by having lunch before we walked back and then mangaged to get in some more resting by the pool to top it off. Wheeewh...what a day.
Jim
3-17-08 3rd day 29TH Anniversary
Today was somewhat cool, but we did manage to pull some enjoyment out it, after all it was our 29th anniversary. It was kind of cool and so we were running in and out of our room all day. When there was a sunny period we would go out and sit in the chairs outside our room, and when the clouds came through we would come back in the room and wait for them to pass. We walked down to a small strip mall about 1/2 mile away and bought some groceries so we wouldn't be compelled to eat at the place we're staying.
In the evening we went to dinner though, and had a nice anniversary dinner complete with toasting with champagne at the precise time we were married. We figured out that I'd be 91 at our 2nd, 29th anniversary!
Jim
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
First day
Well, I must say, it was a successful day. We didn't have much planned, but we accomplished all of it! Mainly just walked around the grounds, ate breakfast, and laid by the pool. I dove in and mom said I looked like an otter, the ultimate compliment...I think. But, I did open up my eyes underwater for the first time in about 30 years...sans contacts!
They say it's suppossed to rain, but it just gets sort of cloudy, clears off and then gets cloudy again. Oh well, I guess it's just like home except for the fact that at home it doesn't clear off when it gets cloudy and it does rain. The temp is about 70*, which, I guess, also makes it different than home.
For being bumped I got a $600 voucher that is good anywhere in the US for one year.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
The weekend
This weekend, Sandi and I drove down to Novato to hear an author that we had been reading, speak. Eckhart Tolle was a very interesting and inspirational speaker.
I thought that this image was kind of interesting. It made me wonder since the toiletries are labeled so boldly, what would happen if you used them in the wrong place. Maybe, it's some type of subtle warning.
That night we drove back up to Fortuna so we could be in Ferndale early in the morning for the run we were to enter. We had plans to enter the Foggy Bottom Milk Run. This is a run that Randy and Andrew had run when they were about 10 and 12 years old. At the time Sandi and I didn't run in it. Well, this time it was our turn. Our 4.1 mile run was to start at 2:00 so we had plenty of time to scope the competition out. The bad news is that I lined up in the wrong place. All the cows had numbered tags so I thought that this would be a good place to start. But still I thought to myself, "I can outrun these heifers easily!" I soon figured out that maybe I was at the wrong starting line when all they wanted to do was chase me. Do I really look that much like a steer?
Well, after we found the real starting line we had to formulate a plan. I told Sandi that I probably couldn't run the entire 4.1 miles, in fact, so to pace myself and save my energy for a kick at the end, I'd warm up the first 4 miles by walking and then sprint the last .1 mile. I figured that since the only training I had done to prepare for this run was to walk to the starting line (quickly), that would be a prudent approach.
In a way it was somewhat like a dogsled race. If you're not lead dog, the view is all the same. Let's just say that I wasn't the lead of anything, so there was plenty views of what a dog sees if they're not the lead.
But, sometimes anger can serve to motivate a person, namely me. There was this older couple with white hair that were also running the race, at least I think they were a couple. No, there's nothing wrong with white hair, it's just that they were ahead of me for most of the run. I'd run for awhile and pass them, then I'd walk and they'd pass me. That went on for most of the race until I took matters into my own hands. I pulled a NASCAR move on the lady. All the NASCAR fans out there would be very proud. I waited for an inside corner and took the outside. I pulled in real close and knocked her into the ditch and rolled on out of there. I think it's called a 'bump and roll' in the NASCAR lingo. Anyway, I ran for a long time after that and crossed the finish line much before she did. That'll show some 70 year-old lady that she can't beat me.
Anyway, it was a successful day that was followed by a sore day, but that's OK, it was still a good weekend. Randy and Claudia invited us over for shish-ka-bobs. MmmMmmm good. One of those weekends where it's good to get back to work so I can get some much needed rest.
Jim
I thought that this image was kind of interesting. It made me wonder since the toiletries are labeled so boldly, what would happen if you used them in the wrong place. Maybe, it's some type of subtle warning.
That night we drove back up to Fortuna so we could be in Ferndale early in the morning for the run we were to enter. We had plans to enter the Foggy Bottom Milk Run. This is a run that Randy and Andrew had run when they were about 10 and 12 years old. At the time Sandi and I didn't run in it. Well, this time it was our turn. Our 4.1 mile run was to start at 2:00 so we had plenty of time to scope the competition out. The bad news is that I lined up in the wrong place. All the cows had numbered tags so I thought that this would be a good place to start. But still I thought to myself, "I can outrun these heifers easily!" I soon figured out that maybe I was at the wrong starting line when all they wanted to do was chase me. Do I really look that much like a steer?
Well, after we found the real starting line we had to formulate a plan. I told Sandi that I probably couldn't run the entire 4.1 miles, in fact, so to pace myself and save my energy for a kick at the end, I'd warm up the first 4 miles by walking and then sprint the last .1 mile. I figured that since the only training I had done to prepare for this run was to walk to the starting line (quickly), that would be a prudent approach.
In a way it was somewhat like a dogsled race. If you're not lead dog, the view is all the same. Let's just say that I wasn't the lead of anything, so there was plenty views of what a dog sees if they're not the lead.
But, sometimes anger can serve to motivate a person, namely me. There was this older couple with white hair that were also running the race, at least I think they were a couple. No, there's nothing wrong with white hair, it's just that they were ahead of me for most of the run. I'd run for awhile and pass them, then I'd walk and they'd pass me. That went on for most of the race until I took matters into my own hands. I pulled a NASCAR move on the lady. All the NASCAR fans out there would be very proud. I waited for an inside corner and took the outside. I pulled in real close and knocked her into the ditch and rolled on out of there. I think it's called a 'bump and roll' in the NASCAR lingo. Anyway, I ran for a long time after that and crossed the finish line much before she did. That'll show some 70 year-old lady that she can't beat me.
Anyway, it was a successful day that was followed by a sore day, but that's OK, it was still a good weekend. Randy and Claudia invited us over for shish-ka-bobs. MmmMmmm good. One of those weekends where it's good to get back to work so I can get some much needed rest.
Jim
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Today was a play day.
I left the house and 11 minutes later I was paddling out into Lake Earl to go exploring. I opened up a curtain that not too many people venture beyond. Minutes away, but yet a world away.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Life recharged.....again!
This last weekend was an opportunity for me to appreciate, sense, and enjoy the woods again. While Andrew and I were only getting wood not more than a 1/4 mile off Hwy. 199, when I am out of sight of the highway I can feel and understand the wildness of the outdoors. Wilderness and the out-of-doors is a medium for magic, much like water is for electricity. In this world of control, wilderness is a place of magic, a place where we are not in control.
The evening was a time of twilight mirage, a time where we can imagine without needing to prove our visions and revelations. A time to see without believing, a time to believe without proving.
The evening was a time of twilight mirage, a time where we can imagine without needing to prove our visions and revelations. A time to see without believing, a time to believe without proving.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
It's OK, my Carbon Credit footprint savings have been offset by Andrew's new, used (oxymoron) PU.
Hey, if countries of the world can buy and sell their alloted carbon credits, I guess, that I, as a citizen of Earth, should have some entitlement to do that too.
It's a 2004 Dodge Ram 4X4 Diesel with EVERYTHING, except butt-warmers. In spite of this, I did say that I'd offer to pull him out of any tight spots he gets into with my ZAP.
We went up to cut wood and even in 4 wheel drive backing up with a full load of wet wood (easily 3,000 lbs.) it didn't even rev up past an idle. His ashtray probably has more horsepower than the ZAP.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Getting wood in Andrew's truck
In case there's any question, I'm the one in front without the 'girlish' figure.
Jim
Monday, February 11, 2008
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Friday, February 08, 2008
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Bigfoot lives, at least my foot does
Just another great day with the love of my life!!!!!!! No, not Bigfoot. But, this does look somewhat interesting, doesn't it? Hey, be glad, it's not my bare arse!
HB and I went to Cave Junction to eat lunch and took the Wimer Road back. But, we had to turn around because of too much snow.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
An autobiography I wrote for the gallery newsletter.
Since I am the Artist of the Month at the Harbor Art Gallery I was requested to write an autobiography and submit two digital images of my work.
Every piece of art that I create reveals a history and conceals a mystery; a history of myself, and a mystery of what I, as the artist, am trying to express. Art for me is a feeble attempt to capture in a small degree the beautiful surroundings in which we live, and I, all too often take for granted. I believe that the creation of art allows me to speak from the very soul of my being; the unrealized, unspoken yearnings of my artist’s soul crying for expression.
Some people ask me if I’ve lived in Del Norte County all my life, and I must answer in all honesty, “no, not yet.” I’m 52 years young and I plan on putting in another 52 years. But, yes, I am a ‘lifer.’ I have been married for 28 years, and we have two grown sons. I took a short foray, of twenty years, in other occupations that culminated in me being where I am today. At one point I thought I wanted to be a professional photographer, and so attended Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. As a Del Norte denizen I have worked as a commercial fisherman, logger, and just about every other north coast job. Through an on-the-job injury recuperation period I found that I had a knack for making signs, that led to creating signs for businesses here in Crescent City for about 12 years. And, besides, it was fun.
A.H.S. (After Hooper Signs), I went to Humboldt State University and graduated with a degree in Art Education and a Multiple Subjects Credential. I am now a 5th grade teacher at Joe Hamilton Elementary School. Painting and art are relegated for me to being when the inspiration, motivation, and aspirations choose to collide. For the most part, it comes together, or rather, rises to a crescendo as soon as school gets out in June, and I paint like a person deranged until the feeling is satiated. My favorite art medium? Whatever makes a mark on my canvas or garage door. Whatever it takes for me to feel that it’s “right.”
Carpe diem,
Jim Hooper
Every piece of art that I create reveals a history and conceals a mystery; a history of myself, and a mystery of what I, as the artist, am trying to express. Art for me is a feeble attempt to capture in a small degree the beautiful surroundings in which we live, and I, all too often take for granted. I believe that the creation of art allows me to speak from the very soul of my being; the unrealized, unspoken yearnings of my artist’s soul crying for expression.
Some people ask me if I’ve lived in Del Norte County all my life, and I must answer in all honesty, “no, not yet.” I’m 52 years young and I plan on putting in another 52 years. But, yes, I am a ‘lifer.’ I have been married for 28 years, and we have two grown sons. I took a short foray, of twenty years, in other occupations that culminated in me being where I am today. At one point I thought I wanted to be a professional photographer, and so attended Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. As a Del Norte denizen I have worked as a commercial fisherman, logger, and just about every other north coast job. Through an on-the-job injury recuperation period I found that I had a knack for making signs, that led to creating signs for businesses here in Crescent City for about 12 years. And, besides, it was fun.
A.H.S. (After Hooper Signs), I went to Humboldt State University and graduated with a degree in Art Education and a Multiple Subjects Credential. I am now a 5th grade teacher at Joe Hamilton Elementary School. Painting and art are relegated for me to being when the inspiration, motivation, and aspirations choose to collide. For the most part, it comes together, or rather, rises to a crescendo as soon as school gets out in June, and I paint like a person deranged until the feeling is satiated. My favorite art medium? Whatever makes a mark on my canvas or garage door. Whatever it takes for me to feel that it’s “right.”
Carpe diem,
Jim Hooper
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Santa CRASHED!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been mentioning to Sandi that I wanted to sleep on the deck some night. Last night she called me on my 'bluff.' It was a perfectly clear night with no wind. There were a million stars out and a very bright moon. I saw meteors, listened to far off barking dogs, and slept very warm. There was frost on my bag, but inside it was warm and toasty. I feel I need to do things like this to really appreciate a nice warm bed and stove. It makes me feel alive!
Dec. 1 marks the first day of crab season, and I can't remember when there was such nice weather. Usually it's raining, blowing, and storming and everyone feels sorry for the miserable conditions that usually come with the season opener. We had our first crab last week, and it was every bit as good as we remembered. We're ready for more!
What a great day! I got to go fishing with Rachael and Andrew today and maybe Christmas Tree hunting with Randy and Claudia tomorrow. It's shaping up to be a great weekend. Sandi and I just got back from doing some Christmas shopping and it's always amazing the things you can buy at the stores. All kinds of new things. Case in point; do you there is a winery called Cleavage Creek Winery? It doesn't have a picture of a geology formation on the label either, it's the 'real deal.' Some of the money from the sales goes toward Breast Cancer research. I think that it is a very noble purpose considering it's just a bottle of wine. I don't even like wine, and it make me want to give my full support to it. Also, I think that it would be a very uplifting experience to be able to take part in supporting this cause. I may even buy two bottles just to show to show that I'm doing my part and assisting in the cause.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Luck is a relative thing.
We need more laws.
On a recent trip out of town I learned some new things, and thought that in some instances there should be more laws on the books, not less. We were staying at a place that had a pool, and, of course there were people of all ages using the pool and doing the whale-thing lying by the pool. Me included. There were some younger people trying to impress some other younger people with either their swimming suits, or their bodies, I wasn’t really sure. There were even some older (and I mean older than me, older) men that were trying to do the same. Unsuccessfully.
What I’m getting at, is, I think that a man should have to show a photo ID to buy a Speedo swimming suit. Or maybe, stand behind a cardboard cutout of someone that looks good in one and if you have anything showing that protrudes from the cutout they can't be sold to you. Chances are this would eliminate about 99% of random purchases. Or, maybe, actually try in on in the store and see what you really look like in front of a mirror before jiggling out on a pool deck. Or, maybe, mandate a two week waiting period before the transaction can be completed. Somewhat like gun sales. Maybe they should only be sold to those over 21 and no older than 22. I don’t think those things should just be issued indiscriminately to just anyone. They should only be issued to…...well, I don’t they should be issued to anyone. I only have two emotions when I see something like this, either I’m totally embarrassed for the guy or the opposite extreme, I can’t stop laughing. Women wear things like this, but I think that they’re called one-piece swimming suits. I don't think the above ideas should apply to women. When you see some over-weight guy stuffed into something that would only have fit him when he was like twelve years old, something has to be done.
Then, while we were waiting in the airport for our flight we heard a voice a little louder than usual come on over the intercom, “IF THE MAN THAT LEFT HIS HEARING AIDES ON THE TOP OF THE URINAL CAN HEAR ME, YOU CAN PICK THEM UP IN THE TERMINAL OFFICE.” My bet is that the hearing aide is still in the office. I can just imagine the kid that found it, “Look, mom, it’s my lucky day, AGAIN!!!”
On a recent trip out of town I learned some new things, and thought that in some instances there should be more laws on the books, not less. We were staying at a place that had a pool, and, of course there were people of all ages using the pool and doing the whale-thing lying by the pool. Me included. There were some younger people trying to impress some other younger people with either their swimming suits, or their bodies, I wasn’t really sure. There were even some older (and I mean older than me, older) men that were trying to do the same. Unsuccessfully.
What I’m getting at, is, I think that a man should have to show a photo ID to buy a Speedo swimming suit. Or maybe, stand behind a cardboard cutout of someone that looks good in one and if you have anything showing that protrudes from the cutout they can't be sold to you. Chances are this would eliminate about 99% of random purchases. Or, maybe, actually try in on in the store and see what you really look like in front of a mirror before jiggling out on a pool deck. Or, maybe, mandate a two week waiting period before the transaction can be completed. Somewhat like gun sales. Maybe they should only be sold to those over 21 and no older than 22. I don’t think those things should just be issued indiscriminately to just anyone. They should only be issued to…...well, I don’t they should be issued to anyone. I only have two emotions when I see something like this, either I’m totally embarrassed for the guy or the opposite extreme, I can’t stop laughing. Women wear things like this, but I think that they’re called one-piece swimming suits. I don't think the above ideas should apply to women. When you see some over-weight guy stuffed into something that would only have fit him when he was like twelve years old, something has to be done.
Then, while we were waiting in the airport for our flight we heard a voice a little louder than usual come on over the intercom, “IF THE MAN THAT LEFT HIS HEARING AIDES ON THE TOP OF THE URINAL CAN HEAR ME, YOU CAN PICK THEM UP IN THE TERMINAL OFFICE.” My bet is that the hearing aide is still in the office. I can just imagine the kid that found it, “Look, mom, it’s my lucky day, AGAIN!!!”
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
America's favorite TV show, even before TV.
This will put your minds at ease. These are not the 'fires of hell.' But, I wonder how much philosophic debate has gone on simply staring at fires.
One of my favorite poems
This poem is one of the few things I have left from my youth. I had a poster of it hanging on my bedroom wall. Now that same poster is hanging on the back wall of my classroom.
Desiderata
-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --
Not "Found in Old St. Paul's Church"! -- see below
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Desiderata
-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --
Not "Found in Old St. Paul's Church"! -- see below
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Feeling the music, or not..........
Today was the last day of the science conference here in Long Beach. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot about teaching science. I also learned that they're a lot of lot smarter people than me in this world. Of course, I knew that already, this trip just really affirms it. Now there was no particular reason that I came to this realization other than some of the titles of the workshops. Workshops like, Using Fossil Models to Teach Paleontology and the Nature of Science, Sound and the Biophysics of Hearing, Themis and Fast Nasa Missions present Aurora and Earth's Magnetism. I didn't go to any of those workshops. I went to ones like Hands-on Electricity and Magnets for the 4th and 5th grade classrooms, Super! Neat! Wow! E! Science! with Dave Crowther, Let's Get Visual. I guess I'm more of a visual learner living in a textbook world.
Anyway, I'm excited about teaching science and I'm glad that I can teach two periods of it 3 days a week. The trouble is, it isn't until 3rd period that I feel really good about it. Oh well, wait til next year!
Actually, I thought I've done pretty good. I never did embarrass myself. Of course, in my own company, I can put up with a lot of personal embarrassment without showing it. If someone had been with me they would probably have pointed out numerous occasions that I should have been embarrassed.
I made another observation tonight. As a culminating activity they let us tour the Long Beach Aquarium this evening with a dance to follow. Whheeeeeeeee. As soon as they asked for requests I walked over and asked for any ZZ Top song. I thought to myself, "I'm going to listen to one song and leave." I stayed for about 15 minutes waiting for that one song. They didn't play it. But, after a three days of honing my observational skills (as any good science teacher should do) at this conference,I did notice one thing, the ratio of women to men on the dance floor was about 6:1. I wonder how that would fly it I put that on my report to the school district: Observational skills honed. Actually, it was pretty easy to figure out the ration as there were only 14 people on the floor at the max in that 15 minute period.
There was this a couple that walked onto and past the dance floor and I could barely hear the conversation. The woman couldn't hold herself back and was swaying to the music, the man was totally engrossed in the aquarium display.
(her) "Come on, honey, let's dance.'
(him) "Wow, can you believe the color of these fish?"
(her) "Isn't the music great? Just let it move you."
(him) "Those bubbles are really cool. I wonder if they do it to aerate the water?
(her) "Would you dance if I got you another beer?"
(him) "No thanks, I've already had five. Can you believe the size of the Grouper? He
must weigh about 200 pounds. Besides, I think my gizzard is starting to act up again. You remember what happened last time, don't you?"
Meanwhile, during this entire conversation and for a period of about 10 minutes that I couldn't hear, she couldn't hold herself still, just moving and grooving to the sound of the music. He was, what you might say, 'stoic and reserved.' She probably thought he was an ass and close to death. Whatever she thought, it appeared that he didn't score any points tonight.
I'm convinced that at one time in the long and distant past more men liked to dance, but it was a LONG time ago. Possibly, after a successful mammoth hunt, or when a male child was born, or maybe, before a hunt. I think for the most part, men unbeknownest to even themselves are waiting for the return of the woolly mammoth so they can again 'cut a rug." Don't get me wrong, I love live music, just as long as I don't have to dance to it. I'm one of those that are waiting for that mammoth to step out of the past.
Jim
Anyway, I'm excited about teaching science and I'm glad that I can teach two periods of it 3 days a week. The trouble is, it isn't until 3rd period that I feel really good about it. Oh well, wait til next year!
Actually, I thought I've done pretty good. I never did embarrass myself. Of course, in my own company, I can put up with a lot of personal embarrassment without showing it. If someone had been with me they would probably have pointed out numerous occasions that I should have been embarrassed.
I made another observation tonight. As a culminating activity they let us tour the Long Beach Aquarium this evening with a dance to follow. Whheeeeeeeee. As soon as they asked for requests I walked over and asked for any ZZ Top song. I thought to myself, "I'm going to listen to one song and leave." I stayed for about 15 minutes waiting for that one song. They didn't play it. But, after a three days of honing my observational skills (as any good science teacher should do) at this conference,I did notice one thing, the ratio of women to men on the dance floor was about 6:1. I wonder how that would fly it I put that on my report to the school district: Observational skills honed. Actually, it was pretty easy to figure out the ration as there were only 14 people on the floor at the max in that 15 minute period.
There was this a couple that walked onto and past the dance floor and I could barely hear the conversation. The woman couldn't hold herself back and was swaying to the music, the man was totally engrossed in the aquarium display.
(her) "Come on, honey, let's dance.'
(him) "Wow, can you believe the color of these fish?"
(her) "Isn't the music great? Just let it move you."
(him) "Those bubbles are really cool. I wonder if they do it to aerate the water?
(her) "Would you dance if I got you another beer?"
(him) "No thanks, I've already had five. Can you believe the size of the Grouper? He
must weigh about 200 pounds. Besides, I think my gizzard is starting to act up again. You remember what happened last time, don't you?"
Meanwhile, during this entire conversation and for a period of about 10 minutes that I couldn't hear, she couldn't hold herself still, just moving and grooving to the sound of the music. He was, what you might say, 'stoic and reserved.' She probably thought he was an ass and close to death. Whatever she thought, it appeared that he didn't score any points tonight.
I'm convinced that at one time in the long and distant past more men liked to dance, but it was a LONG time ago. Possibly, after a successful mammoth hunt, or when a male child was born, or maybe, before a hunt. I think for the most part, men unbeknownest to even themselves are waiting for the return of the woolly mammoth so they can again 'cut a rug." Don't get me wrong, I love live music, just as long as I don't have to dance to it. I'm one of those that are waiting for that mammoth to step out of the past.
Jim
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Things learned while Sandi's been gone...
While Sandi has been gone for a few days I learned a few things:
Chocolate chip cookie sandwiches for lunch are really good. Thanks Rach!
There's no such thing as an old leftover, some are just more experienced than others. And, they're all fair game.
Chocolate chip cookie sandwiches for lunch are really good. Thanks Rach!
There's no such thing as an old leftover, some are just more experienced than others. And, they're all fair game.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
The Fishing Rocks
I recalled this story over the weekend when Randy, Andrew and I went up to the Klamath River on a guys camping trip. I wrote this short story about six years ago for a new book that was coming out when they were taking submissions. The book, Chicken Soup for the Fishermen's Soul, was published sans this story. I found that there are nine levels before being chosen for the book. This story reached the eighth level before being cut.
It’s not often that a fishing trip turns into a journey down memory lane, but, sometimes life has a way of surprising you at the proper times. Being a parent of two boys has allowed me an opportunity to relive my youth. Having been adopted when my mom was 46 and my dad 53 I had the advantage of parents and grandparents all wrapped up in one neat package. They didn’t let me get away with much since they had already raised a set of kids, and they were on to pretty much all the tricks that a child tries on their parents, but they also knew the things that were important to a child.
As a child I felt I led a pretty carefree existence. What may have been normal to some children, were odd to me. I missed swimming lessons at the pool, missed Little League baseball, I even missed 4th of July until I was about 12 years old. Instead, I learned to swim underwater in a small creek that at best was about 12 inches deep. I learned to play baseball by throwing stones up in the air and batting them into the river with a broken off tree branch. And, 4th of July, I was too busy being a little boy doing the important thing that make up much of many little boys lives, fishing. I spent my growing up summers car camping on a ‘mining claim’ next to the broken down remains of a cabin along a small creek with my mom and brother. My dad would stay at home to work during the week and come to be with us on the weekends.
Immediately after school was out in June, my mother would load up the car full of blankets, food, camping gear, and canning supplies and head over to the mining claim with my brother and I. What would be an all day trip to get there, I was later to find out, could be made in 3 hours by a slightly different route. Mom did not like windy mountain roads. I guess the length of the trip added to the mystique of our yearly pilgrimage.
"So, just what exactly is normal about your childhood," you may ask?
The summers of my youth slipped by camping out of a car, picking blackberries before the sun got too hot, and fishing. Since we had a small creek on our mining claim site my brother and I felt it our duty to ‘stock’ it with fish. After we finished picking blackberries each morning our reward was being able to go fishing. The Klamath River, a river that drains the northern section of California, is a river well-known for its historic salmon runs. Hence, the draw for my brother and I to go fishing every morning. My brother is a lucky fisherman, I am a good fisherman, at least it makes me feel better thinking so. I was continually to be reminded of in fishing at least, luck beats skill about 99% of the time. My mom would walk us down to the river and watch us from the bank as my brother and I skipped, hopped, and jumped from rock to rock in search of the best stretch of river in which to catch those elusive fish. Our feelings were that if we could get just a little further out into the river we stood just a little better chance of catching more fish.
Oddly, most of the time when I would look up to see my mom I would see her with her head bowed down instead of watching us. Yet, in spite of not keeping on eye on us, she would insist on accompanying us each time we went fishing. Meanwhile, as soon as we would catch a fish we would put it into a coffee can and sprint the ½ mile back to our creek so we could ‘stock’ it.
The annual trip was one to be looked forward to each summer until we got too ‘cool’ to go with Mom, yet she continued to go every summer. The blackberries bloomed, the river ran past, the seasons came and went, yet the fishing rocks remained waiting.
As my boys got older I yearned to share a little of my youth with them and maybe live my childhood again vicariously through them. We went to the ‘cabin’ on a ‘guys trip’ and I tried to tell them of what it was like camping out all summer, listening to the bears pawing around at night, picking blackberries so we could enjoy them on our pancakes in the winter, throwing rocks at yellow jacket nests as we were leaving for the final time of the summer, and fishing. Fishing from the rocks along the bend of the river.
I took them to the rocks along the bend of the river and while my sons skipped, hopped, and jumped carefree from rock to rock searching out the best vantage point from which to fish, I relived for a short time my youth while I crawled from rock to rock. I had lost something, yet I had gained more. While it was somewhat surprising that my body not able to do what it did in my youth, I had something better,my boys. Watching them I realized then why my mother had her head down and not watching us, she was praying for our safety and future.
The rocks along the bend in the river remain a favorite place for me to go fishing with my sons. It is a place where I can view a younger image of myself as I watch my sons scampering from rock to rock and fishing from the very same rocks that I did as a child, still trying to catch those elusive fish. It is also a place where I can look into the past, and if I look really hard, I can still see my mother up on the bank with her head bowed. Now I understand why.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
That would be 48.5" since Jan. 1, 2007
The good news is, that, at this point in the year last year, we had 57" of rain. Yaaaaaaaa..................
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
THe weather is always good in Crescent City, it's just that it rains at times.
Word was, last weekend, that it was to starting raining soon. So, I mowed the yard, picked apples from place I've picked apples at before (yes, I asked beforehand), juiced apples, and smoked fish. Yes, a busy weekend. And, yes, it rained, but the weather was still good. One of those weekends where it was good to go back to work so I could get some rest.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Bounty of the season
Sunday was spent smoking and canning tuna. Like everything, you must take advantage of the season's bounties at the proper time. This will taste good this winter. I think I feel the need to do this hearkens back to a time before time when this one done for survival, not necessarily enjoyment.
Monday, October 08, 2007
A great day for a paddle
HB and I went for a paddle to a small lagoon just south of CC. It was really small, probably no more than about 2 acres in size. Still pretty cool to go to a place so close to CC.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
I've still got it!!!!!!!
I went kayaking last night to the Sand Hole and there was a herd of bovines out in the field. I had to try. I had to see if I could still call them in. It worked. They came running...right up to the fence. Maybe I was a farmer in a previous life, or maybe a bull!
Saturday, October 06, 2007
The Super Duper Long Handled Hoppity Hooper Apple Plucker
To the uninitiated eye this may look simply like a coffee can duct taped to a piece of PVC pipe, but to the discerning eye it is a step of the evolutionary process of picking apples. With this device one no longer needs to bother with a ladder, and thus the process of plucking apples is safer, more efficient, and quicker. See, there are uses of coffee cans other than to hold dog food.
One small step for mankind, one large step for womandkind. I think Johnny Appleseed would be very happy.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Got Endorphins?
I’ve been thinking about this for the past week. Last weekend I had some fairly strenuous exercise. Now, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t running a 20K or playing basketball all afternoon. I’m referring to the 6 mile hike Sandi and I took, followed by cutting and loading a pickup load of wood by myself. Yes, I worked up a sweat. Yes, I was tired. But the odd thing was that I haven’t felt that invigorated in a long time. No legal or illegal drugs, no alcohol. Maybe it was a sense of dementia setting in; after all, I did go skinny-dipping on the way home too.
No, I think it was the endorphin production that my body was experiencing. Now, I’ve heard peripherally about endorphins, but don’t know a whole lot about the subject. I can look back and see where I have experienced feelings of euphoria and yet calmness. Whenever I go for a hike in the woods, it is for the most part, as Sandi would term it, “like the Bataan Death March.” Which I must disagree too, but I do enjoy just going, and do push myself, but it’s all in the name of enjoyment. And, to a degree that I don’t understand, almost a crazed addiction. I crave that feeling. I want to see, to experience, to be part of the natural world. Getting out in the woods affords me an opportunity to a small degree, the ability to “scratch that itch.”
The release of endorphins lowers the blood pressure, a major indicator in heart disease, and has even been implicated in the fight against cancer. Also, endorphins are best known to those who exercise a lot, and give rise to what is known as the 'runner's high.’ The release of endorphins also has been found to lower blood pressure, a major cause of heart disease. Evidently, they’re released whenever there is a certain amount of pain involved. Maybe though that is the key; to encourage the release of endorphins while staying just outside of the pain or injury range. Whenever I lift weights I have this same good feeling, because whenever I’m done, I feel great. Weightlifting’s purpose is to microscopically tear muscle tissue to grow back as increased muscle mass.
I found that Endorphins are a class of neurotransmitters produced by the body and used internally as a pain killer. This class of compounds are similar in their action as opiates, attaching to some of the same receptors in the brain. Now, I haven’t taken opium, but I have to believe that there are similar reactions to endorphins and opium. They are a strong analgesic, and thus are the bodies own built in pain-killer, and, the best thing, give a pervasive sense of happiness.
I guess the good news is that while I can’t experience a sense of euphoria from exercise all the time, chilies can also release these compounds without too much strain or stress on the bod. I know, I know, too much thinking.
No, I think it was the endorphin production that my body was experiencing. Now, I’ve heard peripherally about endorphins, but don’t know a whole lot about the subject. I can look back and see where I have experienced feelings of euphoria and yet calmness. Whenever I go for a hike in the woods, it is for the most part, as Sandi would term it, “like the Bataan Death March.” Which I must disagree too, but I do enjoy just going, and do push myself, but it’s all in the name of enjoyment. And, to a degree that I don’t understand, almost a crazed addiction. I crave that feeling. I want to see, to experience, to be part of the natural world. Getting out in the woods affords me an opportunity to a small degree, the ability to “scratch that itch.”
The release of endorphins lowers the blood pressure, a major indicator in heart disease, and has even been implicated in the fight against cancer. Also, endorphins are best known to those who exercise a lot, and give rise to what is known as the 'runner's high.’ The release of endorphins also has been found to lower blood pressure, a major cause of heart disease. Evidently, they’re released whenever there is a certain amount of pain involved. Maybe though that is the key; to encourage the release of endorphins while staying just outside of the pain or injury range. Whenever I lift weights I have this same good feeling, because whenever I’m done, I feel great. Weightlifting’s purpose is to microscopically tear muscle tissue to grow back as increased muscle mass.
I found that Endorphins are a class of neurotransmitters produced by the body and used internally as a pain killer. This class of compounds are similar in their action as opiates, attaching to some of the same receptors in the brain. Now, I haven’t taken opium, but I have to believe that there are similar reactions to endorphins and opium. They are a strong analgesic, and thus are the bodies own built in pain-killer, and, the best thing, give a pervasive sense of happiness.
I guess the good news is that while I can’t experience a sense of euphoria from exercise all the time, chilies can also release these compounds without too much strain or stress on the bod. I know, I know, too much thinking.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Reflecting is great.
As a teacher there are always meetings that teachers have to go to as Continuing Education and / or training for specific programs that will so be implemented. Today I had to attend training for a Mentor Teacher position where I will be giving support for a new Beginning Teacher at Joe Hamilton.
The trainer asked an interesting question that made me stop and think for a minute. We were talking about if we can remember a situation in which we were to have been observed by a principal early in our teaching career, because the trainer wanted us to recall the fear and anticipation of the observation process. Typically, the principals observe teachers to watch their effectiveness in the classroom to see if they will be hired back the following year, and, yes, you can imagine the nervousness that this process brings about.
Generally what happens is that at the meeting after the observation there is a one-on-one meeting with the principal and they try to couch the bad things they see with a few positive comments. At the end of the meeting the only thing I wanted to ask the principal after his review, was, “Do you know if that job at McDonalds is still available?” The entire process is meant for the teacher to be reflective in their teaching, but all too often you don’t really walk away with a lot of confidence, because it seems like we always remember all the negative things and not the positive things.
When the trainer asked us if we remembered anything good about the process, no hands went up, which told me that quite a few people had a bad experience. I immediately raised my hand with my response. Everyone was surprised that something good came of my meeting and not theirs.
“Yes, mine was great. It was canceled.”
The trainer asked an interesting question that made me stop and think for a minute. We were talking about if we can remember a situation in which we were to have been observed by a principal early in our teaching career, because the trainer wanted us to recall the fear and anticipation of the observation process. Typically, the principals observe teachers to watch their effectiveness in the classroom to see if they will be hired back the following year, and, yes, you can imagine the nervousness that this process brings about.
Generally what happens is that at the meeting after the observation there is a one-on-one meeting with the principal and they try to couch the bad things they see with a few positive comments. At the end of the meeting the only thing I wanted to ask the principal after his review, was, “Do you know if that job at McDonalds is still available?” The entire process is meant for the teacher to be reflective in their teaching, but all too often you don’t really walk away with a lot of confidence, because it seems like we always remember all the negative things and not the positive things.
When the trainer asked us if we remembered anything good about the process, no hands went up, which told me that quite a few people had a bad experience. I immediately raised my hand with my response. Everyone was surprised that something good came of my meeting and not theirs.
“Yes, mine was great. It was canceled.”
Friday, September 14, 2007
A fleeting experience
Pictures, memories, imagery of anything is never as good for me as the real thing. That is why I must always remind myself to 'carpe diem.'
Last night was a prime example. The pictures do not do the experience justice. I always love it when I'm able to just be there, and many times I don't realize how special it was until the experience is over. I find that I love to out on the water paddling the kayak. There is such a sense of peace, power, and my sense of 'smallness' in the universe. For now, for me, 'carpe weekend.'
Monday, September 03, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
There were no winners....
Today was a fitting end to summer and perhaps to a small degree a sense of closure to a difficult time in our lives. No, closure is too strong of a word. With Mary Lou not here, there never will be a sense of closure to the fact she is no longer here. Today the court system of Sonoma County rendered a sentence in the case of Arnold Silva, the man that killed Mary Lou in January of 2006. The justice system played out all of its legal proceedings and sentenced him to 43 years in prison. There is truly no justice as nothing that the legal system can do, will bring back the life of Mary Lou. One irresponsible person is off the road system and not able to inflict harm to anyone else until he is 75 years old at the earliest. It truly is sad, the cost of irresponsibility, and the extent to which it effects other people. One person’s choice can affect so many people, positively or negatively.
It is really a bittersweet joy that we have experienced these last few days. Almost like the birth of a child and the death of a parent. On Wednesday, Rachael, Andrew’s new bride just accepted a third grade teaching position at the same school where she did a long-term substitute position last fall. With their recent marriage and both having contracts as credentialed teachers this fall the future indeed appears bright for them. By contrast, a future without the physical presence of Mary Lou gives a feeling of the fact that something is missing, which indeed it is.
I do believe there is justice in the Universe, but not necessarily when, how, and where I want. It really is a good thing that I am not God, as I may not let life play out as it should. I must believe that it will play out for the good, and I would hope that the loss of Mary Lou will have some good come from it. In the short term, I don’t see it. In the long term I can only hope.
Here is a link to the Press Democrat article:
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20070824/NEWS/708240357/1033/NEWS01
It is really a bittersweet joy that we have experienced these last few days. Almost like the birth of a child and the death of a parent. On Wednesday, Rachael, Andrew’s new bride just accepted a third grade teaching position at the same school where she did a long-term substitute position last fall. With their recent marriage and both having contracts as credentialed teachers this fall the future indeed appears bright for them. By contrast, a future without the physical presence of Mary Lou gives a feeling of the fact that something is missing, which indeed it is.
I do believe there is justice in the Universe, but not necessarily when, how, and where I want. It really is a good thing that I am not God, as I may not let life play out as it should. I must believe that it will play out for the good, and I would hope that the loss of Mary Lou will have some good come from it. In the short term, I don’t see it. In the long term I can only hope.
Here is a link to the Press Democrat article:
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20070824/NEWS/708240357/1033/NEWS01
Monday, August 20, 2007
Andrew's birthday
Today was Andrew's b'day. He wanted to go fishing, so he, Rachael, and I went down to the Klamath this morning to see if we couldn't catch a salmon. Long story short; we did, we couldn't. There were about 50 other bank fishermen there as well as about 20 gillnetters fishing. We saw one salmon netted. But, as we were getting in the kayaks to paddle from the mouth to the launching ramp a guy offered us about a 10 pound steelhead as he couldn't sell it. We said yes, and so we didn't come home empty handed. Sandi and I grilled it tonight and it was as they say in Mexico, "muy bien."
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Toes at Tahoe
Hey, haven't I seen those toes somewhere else? We just spent a week at South Lake Tahoe and the lake really is as beautiful as people say it is.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Jellyfish Sailors
These jellyfish always intrigue me. If I happen upon them in time they have a very beautiful blueish purplish cast to their bodies. If I'm a little late, they're just plain clear. Sometimes the neatest things to see at the beach are only to seen by looking very closely near your feet.
Velella velella - “By-the-wind sailor”
Dark blue, flat float keeps them at the surface. A membrane extends up from the float like a sail. Underneath the float is a colony of tiny brownish jelly-like animals (hydroids). Often seen floating in large patch resembling a raft. May be washed ashore. Size: float is usually less than 3 inches. No sting
Friday, August 03, 2007
Just a beautiful rose looking at beautiful woman!
I'm not sure who was attracted to whom first, but they both seem to be enjoying the other.
This was at the Jackson and Perkins Rose Garden in Medford just before we went to the reunion.
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