The LaughingBear Journey has taken another step! At least on the web. I had always wanted to integrate the blog with the main site, the one that encompasses as much as possible of who we are.
Well, I finally took the plunge and installed Wordpress. THREE TIMES!!! Three different blogs to manage, although I'm only full responsible for two.
Without further ado, the LaughingBear Journey will remain here on Blogger, but will continue now at:
LaughingBear Journey on LaughingBear Ventures
I hope to see you there!
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Rio Milagro Navajo Churro Sheep Farm
Not too long ago I learned of a woman who runs a farm on the other side of the county. Her name is Jennifer and she should be seriously exhausted and drained. I've been to the farm and seen how much work is out there. Jennifer is just the opposite! She's vibrant and bubbly and full of life! I admit, I admire her.
My wife, who manages the local Tractor Supply Co. store, met Jennifer at work. After all, Tractor Supply Co. isn't only about tractors! There are a number of things Jennifer needs on a regular basis at TSC. One day she was in asking about electric fencing. I had watched the Zareba video and visited the web site. I got a text message from my wife asking what kind of system I would recommend! (ME?!?) Those that know me, know I've been a computer geek for the vast majority of my life. Now I'm being asked by a farmer to recommend a farm product?!? Ok, sure! I made my recommendation, with the disclaimer that it's only based on theory.
Suffice to say, Jennifer accepted the recommendation, along with the add-on sales from my wife, and installed a perimeter to protect her sheep from what appeared to be a local predator. The sitings, which were more "hearings" of growls and bleats, stopped! Jennifer was happy and I was relieved. I hate to give advice on something that I'm vaguely familiar with and then have the person come and say it either didn't work right, or worse, was a miserable failure and they're out all that money! So, yay! lol
You can see the plastic standoffs toward the left of this image. Those hold the line that carries the current of the fence. Oh yeah, you can also see the variety in these beautiful ewes, and a couple of the lambs. :)
It wasn't long after that we were invited to come visit. Ok, remember me, city boy? Yeah, I at least went out wearing a pair of farm-compatible boots. My wife wore her walking shoes. But you know, it's ok! I have a pocket knife and now a stiff brush. I can clean the sheep off our shoes! The aroma takes a little longer. In fact, I have a couple pair of shoes sitting on the porch right now that need attention.
Ewes in the foreground, rams in the background. Yes, the girls outnumber the boys pretty heavily.
Here's one of the new lambs, a baby ram. Look how full his fleece is already!
More variety than I would have ever expected from sheep, even after seeing the web site.
And babies (lambs) running all around the pen!
Our first visit was all about getting acquainted. Which we did! The sheep are amazing. They're beautiful. Their fleece is SO thick it's waterproof. So much so, they don't get water to their skin which means they stay warm even in snow and rain. They are without a doubt incredible creatures. It's fun to watch them. Just sit and watch. Our visit came after several lambs had been added to the herd, and yes, I'll say it, THEY'RE TOO CUTE!!!
Yes, that's my wife stepping in and picking up one of the little ones.
How could you not love such a little face!
We ended our visit to allow Jennifer to get back to work, but not until after sharing a cup of tea and looking at some of the shorn fleece. Washing to remove the dirt and some of the lanolin makes these former sheep-coats incredibly soft, dense and lustrous. Luster varies from sheep to sheep and is a sign of the Churro Sheep bloodlines.
My wife, who manages the local Tractor Supply Co. store, met Jennifer at work. After all, Tractor Supply Co. isn't only about tractors! There are a number of things Jennifer needs on a regular basis at TSC. One day she was in asking about electric fencing. I had watched the Zareba video and visited the web site. I got a text message from my wife asking what kind of system I would recommend! (ME?!?) Those that know me, know I've been a computer geek for the vast majority of my life. Now I'm being asked by a farmer to recommend a farm product?!? Ok, sure! I made my recommendation, with the disclaimer that it's only based on theory.
Suffice to say, Jennifer accepted the recommendation, along with the add-on sales from my wife, and installed a perimeter to protect her sheep from what appeared to be a local predator. The sitings, which were more "hearings" of growls and bleats, stopped! Jennifer was happy and I was relieved. I hate to give advice on something that I'm vaguely familiar with and then have the person come and say it either didn't work right, or worse, was a miserable failure and they're out all that money! So, yay! lol
You can see the plastic standoffs toward the left of this image. Those hold the line that carries the current of the fence. Oh yeah, you can also see the variety in these beautiful ewes, and a couple of the lambs. :)
It wasn't long after that we were invited to come visit. Ok, remember me, city boy? Yeah, I at least went out wearing a pair of farm-compatible boots. My wife wore her walking shoes. But you know, it's ok! I have a pocket knife and now a stiff brush. I can clean the sheep off our shoes! The aroma takes a little longer. In fact, I have a couple pair of shoes sitting on the porch right now that need attention.
Ewes in the foreground, rams in the background. Yes, the girls outnumber the boys pretty heavily.
Here's one of the new lambs, a baby ram. Look how full his fleece is already!
More variety than I would have ever expected from sheep, even after seeing the web site.
And babies (lambs) running all around the pen!
Our first visit was all about getting acquainted. Which we did! The sheep are amazing. They're beautiful. Their fleece is SO thick it's waterproof. So much so, they don't get water to their skin which means they stay warm even in snow and rain. They are without a doubt incredible creatures. It's fun to watch them. Just sit and watch. Our visit came after several lambs had been added to the herd, and yes, I'll say it, THEY'RE TOO CUTE!!!
Yes, that's my wife stepping in and picking up one of the little ones.
How could you not love such a little face!
We ended our visit to allow Jennifer to get back to work, but not until after sharing a cup of tea and looking at some of the shorn fleece. Washing to remove the dirt and some of the lanolin makes these former sheep-coats incredibly soft, dense and lustrous. Luster varies from sheep to sheep and is a sign of the Churro Sheep bloodlines.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
The Yard Beckons
For several months now, I've been looking at the piles of dirt, the holes left from last summer and the dead weeds covering the yard. Every time I thought I had the gumption to go out and deal with it, it would be too cold. Too cloudy. Too much work that I didn't really want to try to do. Well, today the temperature rose all the way to 70F/21.1C. Still I didn't go out. I took some stuff down to the basement. Organized a bit. Tested my mini-lanterns. Looked at the yard as I passed from the porch to the basement door. "I gotta get on that." I've told myself that every time I've gone outside for the last four months.
Well, this afternoon, practically evening, I looked out the door and something kicked me in the butt and I went out. I headed to the shed, which I've avoided because of all the "dead" goatheads, and retrieved my ground tools. The heavy duty rake, the mini leaf rake, the two short handle shovels, the hoe and the tamper. They're all leaning against the back of the house for the night, waiting for me to pay attention to them tomorrow.
I even put the mini leaf rake to work. Why would I need a mini leaf rake? It turns out that it's just about the ideal tool for gathering the rocks that are supposed to be the xeriscaping! I can drag them pretty easily into a pile, in this case a berm. I have a walkway from the porch to the basement door that is cleared of weeds and rocks now. That's how I'm going to start. Well sorta. I'm going to focus on the small patch between the house and my path. I have a plan that I think will work.
I have errands to run, my usual Friday trip to the post office and maybe a run to Walmart. Contemplating doing those early while it's still on the cool side. We'll see how my "plan" works.
Well, this afternoon, practically evening, I looked out the door and something kicked me in the butt and I went out. I headed to the shed, which I've avoided because of all the "dead" goatheads, and retrieved my ground tools. The heavy duty rake, the mini leaf rake, the two short handle shovels, the hoe and the tamper. They're all leaning against the back of the house for the night, waiting for me to pay attention to them tomorrow.
I even put the mini leaf rake to work. Why would I need a mini leaf rake? It turns out that it's just about the ideal tool for gathering the rocks that are supposed to be the xeriscaping! I can drag them pretty easily into a pile, in this case a berm. I have a walkway from the porch to the basement door that is cleared of weeds and rocks now. That's how I'm going to start. Well sorta. I'm going to focus on the small patch between the house and my path. I have a plan that I think will work.
I have errands to run, my usual Friday trip to the post office and maybe a run to Walmart. Contemplating doing those early while it's still on the cool side. We'll see how my "plan" works.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Time for Reflection and Introspection
Oh my. It's been over a year and a half. Not much has changed in that time. Except for one very important aspect of our lives here. Walmart no longer holds sway over us! About nine months ago, Ama left Walmart to become a store manager for Tractor Supply Co.
We have now lived through two summers and two winters. Our little cinder block house (that we rent) holds up quite well in the summer, thanks to efficient use of the wall air conditioner and several fans. Winter isn't so great though. I know for just about anybody north of us this has not been a good winter. As of right now, it still isn't. Having lived in Rhode Island, we understand. So when I say it's been cold, it's relative. Ok?
The are a couple of odd bits about the two seasons. Summer is the wet season here. They call the daily storms "monsoons". Reminds me a bit of living in Norcross. It rains in the afternoon, for less than an hour, then clears up. Mostly. Winter is mostly dry, with the occasional snow event. Mind you, the snow event here means MAYBE two inches. We had become accustomed to over two feet on a pretty regular basis. There's also very little rain in the winter. For that matter, there isn't much rain throughout the year. The average annual rainfall here is just over nine inches. All that is the preface to the energy cost. Winter is by far the more expensive time of year. We run one of the two gas heaters and a couple of electric space heaters. That along with the electric blanket for the bed runs the electric and gas bills to almost double what they are in the summer! In Rhode Island, they balanced out a bit as the gas bill would be high in the winter while the electric bill was high in the summer.
So back to the job change. She had replied to a posting on Monster. Hadn't heard anything from any of her applications for quite some time. Quite surprisingly then, she gets a call from the recruiter. Talks to him for about an hour. About a week later, she is scheduled to speak with the District Manager, for another District. She spends about an hour on the phone with him. A couple of days later, the local District Manager asks for a time to call. She tells him, "Any time." So when he calls at 1pm, I have instructions to take the phone in to her. She's still on Walmart overnights and still sleeping during the day. Yet again, about an hour on the phone.
Shortly thereafter, she is offered the position of store manager and told that she'll be required to go through 3-6 months of "tractorization". Basically, that means acclimating to the differences between Walmart and Tractor Supply. The kicker? The store in which she'll be receiving her training is in Alamogordo. Just over two and a half hours drive from home. She'll live out of a motel for the weekdays, then come home for the weekend. In essence turning me into a bachelor during the week and a spouse on the weekend. The other kicker (because we need two) is that she could get assigned to any store in the District. That means there's a possibility we'll be moving. Again. I am NOT looking forward to repacking all the stuff, and the new furniture, and hauling off to some remote spot in New Mexico.
The potential locations are El Paso (REALLY don't want to go there), Las Cruces (not as bad, but still too big), Deming (although that store just got a new manager), Hobbs, Carlsbad, Fort Stockton (middle of nowhere Texas), or Roswell. I'll be honest, none of those places has enough appeal to make me even like the idea of packing and moving. Yes, it's exciting for her to become a store manager. Yes, it's exciting to learn a whole new retail industry. Let's face it, by now, I could run a Walmart. Anyway, we begin the long slog of her leaving on Sunday afternoon, checking into the motel, working Monday through Friday, driving home on Friday night.
In my previous post, I mentioned that her doesn't have air conditioning. Not only that, but we discover during her Sunday afternoon runs east, that the cooling system isn't exactly in prime condition. She ends up stopping in Las Cruces every Sunday for about three weeks. The car wants to rest. Eventually, she comes across a local ad for a place the will check the cooling system. We decide to take advantage. I drive out Monday morning, drop my car at the Tractor Supply, take her car to the shop and walk back to TSC. Error! It's 90+ degrees! I have a bottle of water with me and the two mile walk about wipes me out. It certainly wiped out my bottle!
I survive and we spend less than $1000, anticipating twice that, to get her car air conditioned again. Ok, so why not look at mine? We drop the car off on a Saturday and head up to the space museum. While there, we get the call that my car is done. What? Really??? We go back to the shop and there was a valve that was leaking. They replaced the valve and my air conditioning works for $90! Well, these guys have been good to us, so we let them fix her door handle and electric locks. All is good.
I make a couple more trips out there to spend the weekend with her and decide that I want a trailer hitch on my little Saturn. I honestly don't even think it's possible, but the Uhaul web site confirms it is. I let the guys in Alamogordo do it and got a little screwed on the price of a couple parts. Lesson learned. When we decide to put one on her car, I'll take it to Uhaul in Las Cruces, have them do the minimum work possible, and get the rest of the parts at TSC. I know what's needed (now) and there's that whole employee discount.
She gets through her required training in less than 90 days. Her boss, the District Manager, tweaks some of the paperwork, making her eligible to attend the Annual Summer Meeting just outside Nashville. The tables are turned! Now SHE gets to deal with airports and security and connections. I give her all the tips and tricks I can, gathered from eight years of international travel. She comes back for the weekend only to turn around and go back the next week. She's home for the Monday and so stops into what is now her store to see how things are going. OH, I forgot to mention, during one of the weekly conference calls while she was in Alamogordo, she was informed that she was getting the Silver City store because the manager there had just quit! NICE! No moving! No packing!
So, she has her store. There have been some adjustments. They have to adjust to her management style, which is to say, they had to adjust to actually having a manager in the store that cares. She has had to make adjustments, too. But it's all working out, gradually. One of her first priorities was to win back some, if not all, of the customer base she had lost to the Deming store. How, you ask? Easily. The previous store manager apparently didn't treat either his team members or his customers very well. When an opportunity presented itself that seemed like a gift, she jumped at it. The Cliff - Gila County Fair rolled around and she put together a plan. By this time, I had my trailer and we loaded it up with all the trimming to equip a Fair booth. I'll just say it was a blast! Next year, we're going to sponsor an award to be presented in the judging building. This building is for all kinds of craft items, from canning to pies to school displays. Oh, when I say "we're" I mean she and I. Neither of us has ever been involved with a County Fair. It was so much fun, the people so kind, that we have to show our appreciation. We have even already decided on how to reward the "Best in Show".
In the meantime, I've been expanding my knowledge of self-sufficiency. Or at least, as much as possible living in a rental. I've learned how to store food in mylar bags stored in 5 gallon buckets. I've expanded my knowledge and skills regarding camping and living off the grid. My next challenge is canning. I have a pressure canner now and need to start "putting up" some fruits and vegetables. Then there's the ongoing battle with the back yard, trying to turn it into a growing space. If mom were still around, she'd likely be bowing and shaking her head. She had the green thumb, mine was black. We'll see. I have built a pretty large support system online so maybe, just maybe, I'll have some success.
So why that title? Reflection and Introspection? I have to look back at my last eight years. I have to find the balance point between my spiritual nature and practical nature. Worse yet, every time I think I've found a place where I can connect with Spirit, a fire comes along and destroys a huge chunk of the Gila! I know that part of what's missing is the daily routine I had in Rhode Island, too. I need to assert myself over myself, and get back to that. I also need to discipline myself to my household duties. My list of chores is no different than it was in Fresno, although dusting seems to take more effort here. I also need to continue exploring the area. We found a beautiful place yesterday, while looking for the Wolf Sanctuary.
Ama will be heading back to Nashville at the end of this month for the BIG Annual meeting. She's a little nervous about leaving her store in the hands of a relatively new assistant manager. So she's been working her backside off trying to get everything and everyone up to speed.
I now have two different blogs to maintain. I'm doing well with the other one, so I guess I need to set calendar reminders for this one, too. I have list of projects to accomplish for the other, so one of my priorities this week may be to develop a project list here. Hmm, yes, I think I like that idea.
As always, I leave you, dear reader, with Blessings, Love and Peace
We have now lived through two summers and two winters. Our little cinder block house (that we rent) holds up quite well in the summer, thanks to efficient use of the wall air conditioner and several fans. Winter isn't so great though. I know for just about anybody north of us this has not been a good winter. As of right now, it still isn't. Having lived in Rhode Island, we understand. So when I say it's been cold, it's relative. Ok?
The are a couple of odd bits about the two seasons. Summer is the wet season here. They call the daily storms "monsoons". Reminds me a bit of living in Norcross. It rains in the afternoon, for less than an hour, then clears up. Mostly. Winter is mostly dry, with the occasional snow event. Mind you, the snow event here means MAYBE two inches. We had become accustomed to over two feet on a pretty regular basis. There's also very little rain in the winter. For that matter, there isn't much rain throughout the year. The average annual rainfall here is just over nine inches. All that is the preface to the energy cost. Winter is by far the more expensive time of year. We run one of the two gas heaters and a couple of electric space heaters. That along with the electric blanket for the bed runs the electric and gas bills to almost double what they are in the summer! In Rhode Island, they balanced out a bit as the gas bill would be high in the winter while the electric bill was high in the summer.
So back to the job change. She had replied to a posting on Monster. Hadn't heard anything from any of her applications for quite some time. Quite surprisingly then, she gets a call from the recruiter. Talks to him for about an hour. About a week later, she is scheduled to speak with the District Manager, for another District. She spends about an hour on the phone with him. A couple of days later, the local District Manager asks for a time to call. She tells him, "Any time." So when he calls at 1pm, I have instructions to take the phone in to her. She's still on Walmart overnights and still sleeping during the day. Yet again, about an hour on the phone.
Shortly thereafter, she is offered the position of store manager and told that she'll be required to go through 3-6 months of "tractorization". Basically, that means acclimating to the differences between Walmart and Tractor Supply. The kicker? The store in which she'll be receiving her training is in Alamogordo. Just over two and a half hours drive from home. She'll live out of a motel for the weekdays, then come home for the weekend. In essence turning me into a bachelor during the week and a spouse on the weekend. The other kicker (because we need two) is that she could get assigned to any store in the District. That means there's a possibility we'll be moving. Again. I am NOT looking forward to repacking all the stuff, and the new furniture, and hauling off to some remote spot in New Mexico.
The potential locations are El Paso (REALLY don't want to go there), Las Cruces (not as bad, but still too big), Deming (although that store just got a new manager), Hobbs, Carlsbad, Fort Stockton (middle of nowhere Texas), or Roswell. I'll be honest, none of those places has enough appeal to make me even like the idea of packing and moving. Yes, it's exciting for her to become a store manager. Yes, it's exciting to learn a whole new retail industry. Let's face it, by now, I could run a Walmart. Anyway, we begin the long slog of her leaving on Sunday afternoon, checking into the motel, working Monday through Friday, driving home on Friday night.
In my previous post, I mentioned that her doesn't have air conditioning. Not only that, but we discover during her Sunday afternoon runs east, that the cooling system isn't exactly in prime condition. She ends up stopping in Las Cruces every Sunday for about three weeks. The car wants to rest. Eventually, she comes across a local ad for a place the will check the cooling system. We decide to take advantage. I drive out Monday morning, drop my car at the Tractor Supply, take her car to the shop and walk back to TSC. Error! It's 90+ degrees! I have a bottle of water with me and the two mile walk about wipes me out. It certainly wiped out my bottle!
I survive and we spend less than $1000, anticipating twice that, to get her car air conditioned again. Ok, so why not look at mine? We drop the car off on a Saturday and head up to the space museum. While there, we get the call that my car is done. What? Really??? We go back to the shop and there was a valve that was leaking. They replaced the valve and my air conditioning works for $90! Well, these guys have been good to us, so we let them fix her door handle and electric locks. All is good.
I make a couple more trips out there to spend the weekend with her and decide that I want a trailer hitch on my little Saturn. I honestly don't even think it's possible, but the Uhaul web site confirms it is. I let the guys in Alamogordo do it and got a little screwed on the price of a couple parts. Lesson learned. When we decide to put one on her car, I'll take it to Uhaul in Las Cruces, have them do the minimum work possible, and get the rest of the parts at TSC. I know what's needed (now) and there's that whole employee discount.
She gets through her required training in less than 90 days. Her boss, the District Manager, tweaks some of the paperwork, making her eligible to attend the Annual Summer Meeting just outside Nashville. The tables are turned! Now SHE gets to deal with airports and security and connections. I give her all the tips and tricks I can, gathered from eight years of international travel. She comes back for the weekend only to turn around and go back the next week. She's home for the Monday and so stops into what is now her store to see how things are going. OH, I forgot to mention, during one of the weekly conference calls while she was in Alamogordo, she was informed that she was getting the Silver City store because the manager there had just quit! NICE! No moving! No packing!
So, she has her store. There have been some adjustments. They have to adjust to her management style, which is to say, they had to adjust to actually having a manager in the store that cares. She has had to make adjustments, too. But it's all working out, gradually. One of her first priorities was to win back some, if not all, of the customer base she had lost to the Deming store. How, you ask? Easily. The previous store manager apparently didn't treat either his team members or his customers very well. When an opportunity presented itself that seemed like a gift, she jumped at it. The Cliff - Gila County Fair rolled around and she put together a plan. By this time, I had my trailer and we loaded it up with all the trimming to equip a Fair booth. I'll just say it was a blast! Next year, we're going to sponsor an award to be presented in the judging building. This building is for all kinds of craft items, from canning to pies to school displays. Oh, when I say "we're" I mean she and I. Neither of us has ever been involved with a County Fair. It was so much fun, the people so kind, that we have to show our appreciation. We have even already decided on how to reward the "Best in Show".
In the meantime, I've been expanding my knowledge of self-sufficiency. Or at least, as much as possible living in a rental. I've learned how to store food in mylar bags stored in 5 gallon buckets. I've expanded my knowledge and skills regarding camping and living off the grid. My next challenge is canning. I have a pressure canner now and need to start "putting up" some fruits and vegetables. Then there's the ongoing battle with the back yard, trying to turn it into a growing space. If mom were still around, she'd likely be bowing and shaking her head. She had the green thumb, mine was black. We'll see. I have built a pretty large support system online so maybe, just maybe, I'll have some success.
So why that title? Reflection and Introspection? I have to look back at my last eight years. I have to find the balance point between my spiritual nature and practical nature. Worse yet, every time I think I've found a place where I can connect with Spirit, a fire comes along and destroys a huge chunk of the Gila! I know that part of what's missing is the daily routine I had in Rhode Island, too. I need to assert myself over myself, and get back to that. I also need to discipline myself to my household duties. My list of chores is no different than it was in Fresno, although dusting seems to take more effort here. I also need to continue exploring the area. We found a beautiful place yesterday, while looking for the Wolf Sanctuary.
Ama will be heading back to Nashville at the end of this month for the BIG Annual meeting. She's a little nervous about leaving her store in the hands of a relatively new assistant manager. So she's been working her backside off trying to get everything and everyone up to speed.
I now have two different blogs to maintain. I'm doing well with the other one, so I guess I need to set calendar reminders for this one, too. I have list of projects to accomplish for the other, so one of my priorities this week may be to develop a project list here. Hmm, yes, I think I like that idea.
As always, I leave you, dear reader, with Blessings, Love and Peace
Friday, June 8, 2012
Judgment Call
Questionable. It applies to the title. It applies to yesterday.
My stepson's birthday was Monday. It was his 18th. Walmart Silver City inventory was Tuesday. His mother, Ama, wanted to be there. Work intervened. So, she managed to schedule her vacation following inventory. She also had to work out her rotation. However, she got permission to be off Thursday night, making it possible to depart for California. That's where the boy is.
Leading up to all this, she knew this is what she wanted to do. However, thanks to the unstable nature of the management staff (meaning the bodies filling the positions were not solidly in place), it took time to get the appropriate approvals and the detailed knowledge of the schedule. There were basically three choices for transportation from Silver City to Bakersfield. Drive, fly, train.
It's roughly 800 miles from Silver City to Bakersfield. Not likely she would drive that far alone. She wouldn't be able to do it non-stop, as I would. She doesn't like driving. Her car doesn't have air conditioning. Driving is off the list.
There is an airport for Silver City. It's about 10 miles south of Bayard, which is 10 miles east of Silver City. There is ONE commercial airline serving Silver City. They fly to Albuquerque. Only. Twice a day. Twin engine turboprop. She hates small planes. Airlines serving Bakersfield only do so from a handful of airports. None of them between southern New Mexico and Bakersfield. As the saying goes, you have to around your butt to get to your elbow. Optionally, we could go to El Paso or Tucson to connect to a flight going roundabout to Bakersfield. El Paso is two hours away and Tucson is three hours away. The cost of all those hops and the gasoline to drive put the price over $500. Flying is off the list.
She was accustomed to taking the train from Fresno to Bakersfield. A two hour ride for under $50 each way, sometimes under $30. She likes the train. (I, the model railroader, have never ridden Amtrak. Go figure.) So we look at options. There are stations in Deming and Lordsburg. Deming would be the quickest and easiest drive. It's less than an hour south of us. This is where the fun starts.
We start looking at ticket prices in April. Round-trip, Deming to Bakersfield for about $110 each way. Ok, that's a bit steep, but manageable, and really not that bad for the distance. The schedule at the store is still in flux. Two weeks later the total has gone from $220 to $260. As tickets sell, the prices go up. This continued until the price got to $324. At this rate, if we wait much longer it'll be over $400! So I get online to purchase the ticket. All the way through the booking, ready to submit payment and the Amtrak website says the zip code doesn't match their records. Seriously? Bayard only has ONE zip code!!
She gets home from work and decides to try making the reservation on the phone. Same issue arises. It's a problem they know about! So forget web or phone reservations with Amtrak. Now I start looking at more details about the stations. Deming is a platform only station. Lordsburg is a platform only station. Basically, that means you must have ticket in hand and cannot check baggage. Even if we find a way to pay for the tickets and have them mailed, what an inconvenient way to travel! I decide to look at El Paso. Big fare jump! How about Tucson? Massive fare drop! I mean over 50%! Round-trip, Tucson to Bakersfield, for $117!!! Oh, and Tucson is a REAL station! Rather than wait to get to Tucson to purchase the ticket, we drive to El Paso, the closer REAL station, to buy her ticket. Sure enough we get there and the price is still available. Done deal Amtrak!
Ok, so we also got to visit the Saddle Blanket. Cool store, filled with lots of Indian/Mexican stuff. Over two acres of it, in fact. Not a bad drive either. Thanks to my frugal little car, down and back (over 200 miles one way) on less than a tank of gas. We also got to stop at what appears to be the closest Fuddruckers on the way back.
So now we have her tickets for the outbound and return trips. The train leaves Tucson at 7:35. It's a three hour drive. I figure we'll leave between 3:00 and 3:30. We have a couple extra stops to make thanks to Comcast "upgrading" our system. We leave Silver City Walmart right at 3:00. Did I mention this is pm? We're heading right into the afternoon sun. It's forecast to be 95 in Silver City and 101 in Tucson. My car doesn't have air conditioning either. Here comes that questionable judgment. Nearly 3 hours in I-10 heading into the sun crossing a high desert. Ok, she still seem to like running down the highway and is sipping nonchalantly at the gas. This is good. We're cruising along nicely at 75-80. (She really does like to run the highways.) I calculate. This is going to put us in Tucson shortly after 6pm. Ok, a little over an hour early isn't so bad. We can sit in the air conditioned station and cool off. That'll be good for her since the train is air conditioned, too. It'll be good for me so I can recover!
Somewhere after crossing the Arizona border I remember Arizona doesn't observe Daylight Savings Time. So Tucson is an hour behind us. We're going to arrive shortly after 5pm. In fact, we pulled into the station at 4:45pm. Damn. Oh, and she's catching up on her sleep. Potential sunburn and all. As we're entering Tucson, she wakes and I tell her of my error. We arrive at the station amidst the road construction in the area. That part wasn't so bad as I had looked at maps in Streets & Trips and on Google Earth. We pull into the parking lot and there's a two hour limit. Great. I can't stay the whole time. There's a restaurant, sort of, inside the station. We're both pretty much starving because we didn't bother eating yesterday. So we go in and it's air conditioned. I'm in heaven. She wants to sit outside. At least it's in the shade.
We get our sandwiches, chips and tea. Hers is a light peach that she said had almost no flavor. Mine is a mint that was VERY refreshing. We eat. I sweat. We go into the station. She asks about checking her bag. They tell her all the way to Bakersfield. That's a relief for me. (Turns out she is grateful because making the transition from train to bus at Union Station LA would have been difficult.) She's set now. There doesn't seem to be much point in me staying until half an hour before departure. If I have to leave before she gets on the train, I might as well do it now. Besides, with the time change it may only take two hours to get there, but it will take four hours to get home.
I remember seeing a Shell and a Love's in Benson. It's actually pretty close to Tucson. That's my destination to refuel. (I had left home with about 90 miles already on the tank.) I fill the car, wash the windows, and just as I'm getting ready to pull out, she calls. I know it's her because of the ringtone. I answer and she's not there. I call her back. No answer. Panic starts creeping up my back. I'm still less than an hour from the train station. Watch me fly through rush hour traffic if I have to. I call again and she answers. She didn't realize she had managed to butt-dial me. Ok, heart rate returning to normal. I get back on I-10. I had bought an extra two bottles of the tea for the road. Glad I did because I needed the fluid and caffeine. What I didn't need was the headache that accompanied them. Too much heat plus too much caffeine equals headache for me. Apparently.
There isn't much along I-10 between Tucson and El Paso. Ok, there's Benson. And there's Lordsburg, Deming and Las Cruces. Benson to Lordsburg is a long time to drive with a headache. And it's still warm. Even after the sun finally goes down. I stop at the Chevron in Lordsburg, where we stopped to fuel the truck when we moved. I buy a bottle of water. I have Ibuprofen in the car. I'm a happy driver. Especially after I make the turn from US70 to NM90. It climbs pretty steadily and immediately out of Lordsburg. And the temperature starts to drop right away. It's also a two lane road with no lights, and next to no traffic. That makes for a pretty long drive.
I had sent a text a couple of hours earlier, in fact at departure time, if she was on the train. Just about the time I reach Walmart she replies. Ok, so she's at least on the train and had fallen asleep. I stop to pick up the mail and head home. The house has been closed up since 2:30. It's an oven. I turn on the air and the fans to get comfortable. Once comfortable I open all the windows, as I usually do at night. This is a high desert after all. It cools off nicely at night!
I had been up since 5:30am. You'd think I would fall asleep right away. I guess three bottles of mint tea negated that. That's why this morning when I woke up at 6:45am (the train pulled into Union Station LA), I debated coffee or a nap. The nap won. Yep, questionable judgment. But it will still be cheaper to make the two trips to Tucson than it would have been to depart from Deming. That's my justification. See, questionable judgment.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Transition
Blogger says it's been since October that I've been here. Wow. A lot has happened since then.
Halloween came and went. No big deal there. Except for yet another pair of birthdays in my family. I used to enjoy those.
Another Thanksgiving came and went, only this time it was far from pleasant. Nor was it a family gathering. I was reminded that Thanksgiving, as it is "celebrated" today, is a far cry from what the original was. Much of what the "first" Thanksgiving was about has been forgotten by the history books.
Christmas also came and went, but this time it bore news of impending change. I was engaged in what seemed endless hours of preparation. You see, at that time, we knew we were relocating. Again. Yes, it was another move prompted by Walmart. We actually had to make a choice, but even that was made for us. Other choices had to made, too.
The choice was between two stores in New Mexico: Taos, at almost the extreme northern end of the state and closer to "civilization" and Silver City, near the extreme southwestern end of the state and a LONG way from "civilization". That choice was made for us when the Silver City store came up with a "signing bonus" for her that paid for the move. They allowed her to take an advance on the bonus so we could pay for boxes and packing materials and a moving truck and gas.
We chose, however painfully for some, to keep the new location concealed until we arrived. We had our reasons. Nobody bothered to ask. That's ok, too. It is what it is. (Our new philosophy of life.) We left another choice in the hands of the one whom it would affect. He chose not to accompany us on this new journey. It would seem he made the right choice for himself. So be it.
I managed to pack 90% of our belongings. The last couple of days before the move, she was able to help. That actually made it a little tougher to keep track of what went where and we lost a frying pan in the process. There have probably been a few other things, too. We decided, for cost purposes, to go with a twenty foot truck and an auto carrier. My car went on the carrier because she has an agreement with my car: She won't drive it and it won't stall on her. (Manual transmission and she don't get along well.) Whenever I've moved myself, I've always had a twenty-four foot truck. I figured this time would be no different but deferred because of the cost difference. I'm no sure the extra four feet would have made that big a difference after all. We ended up leaving several items in Fresno, luckily most went to good homes.
On the Saturday before our departure, we got invaluable help from my daughter and her husband, and a few people from Walmart. I had laid out the garage and the second bedroom for loading into the truck. That plan worked really well, with all the helpers knowing what went where when. As the truck became more and more full, we began to realize it was not all going to fit. "Do you want that?" "Do you want this?" Like I said, good homes were found. I also threw out a BUNCH of crap as I was packing. Made several trips to Goodwill. Ok, more than several. But it was worth it to not haul all that STUFF halfway across the country.
Planning a trip like this, three states and just over a thousand miles, you rely on information provided by others. Like the company from whom you rent the truck. They tell you on their website that the truck gets almost 20mpg! What they don't tell you is that is with an empty truck. On level roads. With a tailwind. If you drive from Fresno to Bayard, NM, you WILL encounter uphill roads. You WILL encounter headwinds. You WILL have a serious load in the back, not to mention a two thousand pound car. All of that conspires to bring that 20mpg down to about 9mpg. That can seriously affect your calculations for where to stop for gas!
The Sunday of our departure, I had planned to hit the road around 11am. You know what they say about plans. Well, we hadn't "quite" finished packing. More like we still had about 4 hours of work to do. However, we were still going to make progress. Between my car, the cab of the truck, her back seat and trunk, we finished up with only a few items left homeless. I don't even recall what any of them were, just know that something (besides the frying pan) got left behind.
I've towed several cars behind my moving truck in the past. I don't ever remember hooking it up to the truck! That showed when I wanted to attach my car. Oh,sure it only took a couple of approaches to get the two vehicles lined up, and the hitch secured. But it was a bit frustrating. Our first stop was the gas station before getting on the road. The truck needed serious volume and her car needed topping off. The adventure begins! I plan my approach to the gas station to minimize the angle of the turns. I pull in the driveway and the auto carrier pops off the hitch, I don't know it and pull up the pump none the wiser. She comes up and points out that I'm now DRAGGING the auto carrier. Great. Now I have to finish filling the tank, then figure out how to get the two bits lined up and reattached. There goes another half hour of the "plan".
I have a couple of alternate routes to get through LA on a Sunday evening. I decide we'll take the slightly more direct route, over the Grapevine, and then the 210 out toward San Dimas. Hopefully, that will be our first gas stop. It worked! We pulled in, fueled the vehicles and ourselves, and pulled out. Pretty efficient stop. As part of the "plan", I had decided to keep walkie talkies in the vehicles. In part for emergency situations, in part for on-the-road communication. We decide that we should go ahead and stop in Blythe, CA for the night. There is gas and several hotels from which to choose. We picked a pretty neat little motel and rested well.
We got up early the next morning and stopped for gas to start the day. I think we went to breakfast somewhere in town, too. Part of our goal was to get into Silver City before the real estate office closed, so we could pick up the keys and not have to spend the night in another motel. I knew that her car would outlast the truck, even though she carried half as much gas. So the truck would be the deciding factor for stops. From Blythe, we barreled on through Arizona until we reached Casa Grande, between Phoenix and Tucson. Made a great place for a lunch and fuel stop since there was an In-N-Out. Probably the last time we'd see an In-N-Out for who knows how long.
Back on the road as quickly as possible, we motored on to Lordsburg. I was a little iffy about the ability of the truck to make it to Silver City so I stopped for gas. Glad I did, too. The road from Lordsburg to Silver City is a torturous mountain road. Torturous for a moving truck, that is. I pressed hard to make it before 5pm. We had left Lordsburg at about 4pm. We pulled into the real estate office at 4:45. Yards of dead tree later, we had keys in hand. I had studied both Streets and Trips, and Google Earth to know the route from the office to the house. We took our time, checking out the local scenery and businesses along the way. Oh, and Hwy 180 is also a bit of a mountain road. The truck was none too happy to be at 6000 feet with hills in the final stretch.
I knew which side of the street I wanted to be on and how to get there. I pulled up across the street, unloaded my car and the auto carrier, then went up the block and turned the truck around. I put the back door right at the edge of the driveway. We opened the door to the truck and the front door to the house. We carried the mattress and box in from the truck, the bedding from her car and we spent the first night in New Mexico IN our new home. I have to say, that was just about the best rest I'd had in a month!
Inside the truck was a placard that claimed we could get unloading help. Yeah, that didn't work out so well. So she called the place where we planned to drop off the truck and they said they new nothing about that but could send a guy over. Hmmm, ok. Well, he showed up. Yes, he. One man. But let me just say now that he was amazing! I stayed inside to direct and redirect. They would bring things from the truck and I would shuffle them into one of three rooms: kitchen, office, bedroom. The truck was empty before 1pm! She had planned to pay for up to four guys to help, so she gave the whole wad to him. He earned it. We were able to clean out the truck and get it back two days early.
That afternoon, we snuck into the Walmart to see what she would encounter as the new Assistant Manager. It's a super center, so it's big. There seem to be a lot of empty shelves. She'll have her work cut out for her. And so it has been. They started her on overnights, presumably to help clean up their stocking difficulties. Six months in and it's time to shuffle the Assistants, but she's not getting shuffled. She'll be staying on overnights for another year. So, it's still up to me to maintain the household and pay the bills. She works four on four off. It's a bit like living alone. During her "on" rotation, we see each other for a couple of hours in the morning and maybe an hour and a half in the evening. On her "Saturday", she still needs to sleep most of the day, having just spent all night at work. On her "Sunday", she'll nap most of the day so she can stay up all night getting back into "overnight" mode. In reality then, she works four nights, is off two nights and the other two nights are, well, a bit in limbo.
So here we are in Southwestern New Mexico. Walmart is the biggest thing in town. It's the only thing open 24 hours. NONE of the other big box stores, except a KMart, are within 100 miles. It's quiet. It's high desert pretty. We're within half an hour of a National Forest. All in all, we're happy here. And really, that's all that matters.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Learnaholic is not always a good thing
The specifics of my ancestry are uncertain at best. I know only the broad plain upon which my ancestors lived. In part, this is literally true. Part of my ancestry is Cree, from the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Another part, which resonates most strongly within me, comes from what is called the desert southwest. The beauty of the land that includes such places as Canyon de Chelley, Monument Valley and Window Rock, brightens my very soul every time I see it.
I am a self-avowed Learnaholic. I love to learn. I always have. It's a hunger that cannot be sated, a thirst that cannot be quenched. I know, too, the source of this affliction. My Mom. Biologically she was my maternal grandmother, but I didn't know that until I was 15. She always encouraged whatever academic endeavor I tackled. That also meant that I was pursuing several different disciplines at any one time. It probably explains why I sometimes I feel a bit scattered. :)
Since learning of my indigenous heritage, I have been consumed by my thirst for knowledge of my ancestors. Not my specific lineage, for that information is unavailable to me. No, I must be content to learn about the history, the culture, the spirit of them. Today was such a day. I spent some time cruising YouTube. Part of me calls it a mistake.
Mistake is really incorrect, however. So how did that word come out at all? Because what I've learned was painful. As it has been for so many descendants of the indigenous peoples of this land, history is filled with painful stories of how early "Americans" treated those who lived here first. Today was such a day for me. I knew about The Long Walk of the Navajo. I received a bit more information. I knew about the atrocities called "Indian Schools". I learned more today.
I also learned today about "Public Law 93531" initiated by President Ford, repealed, then reinstated by President Clinton. Just the thought makes my stomach churn. My ancestral home, known today as the Navajo "Reservation", is home to atrocities perpetrated by the US Government, on behalf of Corporate Greed, much the same as it is on other "reservations" on this continent. Because the Government wants the natural resources of the land of our ancestors, they wrote their treaties and pass laws, even today, that allow the Government to shove the indigenous people aside for the benefit of The Corporation. Public Law 93531 does just this. It is a forced relocation program to get the Dine out of the way for the mining interests of one of the worst polluters on the planet.
I'm not sure if I'm angry, depressed, shocked, sad or what. All of the above? I just know it doesn't feel good. Worse yet, I feel powerless to do anything about it. At this point, I'll do the best I can think of, and that's to raise my voice with others who feel the pain of this situation.
It's hard to love and respect those who seem to have no understanding of those two words.
I am a self-avowed Learnaholic. I love to learn. I always have. It's a hunger that cannot be sated, a thirst that cannot be quenched. I know, too, the source of this affliction. My Mom. Biologically she was my maternal grandmother, but I didn't know that until I was 15. She always encouraged whatever academic endeavor I tackled. That also meant that I was pursuing several different disciplines at any one time. It probably explains why I sometimes I feel a bit scattered. :)
Since learning of my indigenous heritage, I have been consumed by my thirst for knowledge of my ancestors. Not my specific lineage, for that information is unavailable to me. No, I must be content to learn about the history, the culture, the spirit of them. Today was such a day. I spent some time cruising YouTube. Part of me calls it a mistake.
Mistake is really incorrect, however. So how did that word come out at all? Because what I've learned was painful. As it has been for so many descendants of the indigenous peoples of this land, history is filled with painful stories of how early "Americans" treated those who lived here first. Today was such a day for me. I knew about The Long Walk of the Navajo. I received a bit more information. I knew about the atrocities called "Indian Schools". I learned more today.
I also learned today about "Public Law 93531" initiated by President Ford, repealed, then reinstated by President Clinton. Just the thought makes my stomach churn. My ancestral home, known today as the Navajo "Reservation", is home to atrocities perpetrated by the US Government, on behalf of Corporate Greed, much the same as it is on other "reservations" on this continent. Because the Government wants the natural resources of the land of our ancestors, they wrote their treaties and pass laws, even today, that allow the Government to shove the indigenous people aside for the benefit of The Corporation. Public Law 93531 does just this. It is a forced relocation program to get the Dine out of the way for the mining interests of one of the worst polluters on the planet.
I'm not sure if I'm angry, depressed, shocked, sad or what. All of the above? I just know it doesn't feel good. Worse yet, I feel powerless to do anything about it. At this point, I'll do the best I can think of, and that's to raise my voice with others who feel the pain of this situation.
It's hard to love and respect those who seem to have no understanding of those two words.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
September 11
For most Americans, today is a day of reflection. Many are moved to tears, remembering the horror of that morning ten years ago. Some probably feel emotions of a darker nature. Both are understandable. People around the world are remembering, too. The impact is different depending on where they are and, perhaps, where they were.
Today in Fresno is a gray, cloudy day, with the possibility of thunderstorms. Usually, a summer day here starts out on the cool side, with comfortably low humidity. Today started a little warmer and a bit on the sticky side. The weather could easily contribute to a darker mood, but I welcome the change. It will still get hot this afternoon, but the morning feels somehow quieter through the open windows.
There are ducks moving about in the "river" outside the living room window. Do they feel the emotional turmoil of the humans around them? We anthropomorphize so many of our brothers and sisters without a clue whether it's appropriate. Perhaps they are, as many will say, simply animals, with no concern or social consciousness. But if we are to believe, as I do, that our thoughts can be, and are, emanations into our surroundings, then surely on a day of such strong and less-than-bright emotions, we are sending out that same kind of energy.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't feel what we feel. On the contrary, if it is still part of your life or your grieving process, I won't deny you that. The loss of loved ones is a profound and long-lasting impact. Besides, it's the nature of the human animal to have the emotions that we have. I think the key is to be aware of them and realize how they can affect our judgment and our actions.
On that surreal day ten years ago, my first reaction was shock and disbelief. Initially, it felt as though Orson Welles had pulled another one on us. (For the young among us, if Orson Welles is unfamiliar to you, look up "The War of the Worlds". Not the movies, the radio broadcast.) Then the second tower was hit. This was no longer an elaborate "scare tactic". I was sitting at my computer in North Richland Hills, TX watching the Today Show. I started flipping through all the networks and the cable news networks. Everybody had this story. It was real. How could it be? Who would do such a thing?
As the news unfolded over the next couple of months, we learned that terrorists had taken minimal flight lessons, commandeered the aircraft and flown them into buildings. By that time, I had moved to Rhode Island and begun traveling. Extensively. Another surreal experience as, instead of simply picking up my tickets and walking to my gate, I encountered a gauntlet of security measures. Those measures continued to become more invasive and pervasive as the following eight years progressed. I had a trip to Georgia in March of 2003. We were all still talking about the collapse of the Twin Towers. I had the Flight Simulator installed on my laptop. I showed the class, during a break of course, how even without a joystick, I could launch a commercial jet from La Guardia, circle it around and plow into the Tower. Flying a plane is not that difficult. Taking off is even easier. Landing is the really tough part and these guys didn't need that knowledge! Really, then, they didn't need flight lessons and their tracks would have been even more difficult to trace.
We had become an angry nation. Our leaders determined that the proper response was to hunt down those responsible and "make them pay". Personally, I agree. However, the truth was/is that an organization was responsible. As such, "we" needed to wipe out the organization. Thousands of members across nearly every continent and protected by an elaborate "stealth" system. They could hide in plain sight. Because we couldn't develop a covert, undercover operation to discover the identities and locations of this organization, a simple and comprehensive military assault system was devised. Part of the result was that we "got" some of the leadership. In the process, we also destroyed the live and livelihoods of innocent civilians.
I've heard many argue that none of them could be "innocent" because they held the same religious belief system. Let's face it, war is not a pretty thing. It's not a terribly accurate thing either when your weapons are designed to to obliterate entire buildings. "Collateral Damage" is the term that gets spouted in such instances. Yes, the terror attacks on September 11 were not carried out against military targets. Ok, two were. Of the four planes that were used as weapons against The United States, one was aimed at the heart of government (it went down in Pennsylvania) and the other at the heart of our military leadership. The others, as would be logical in a war scenario, were aimed at our financial stability. Do not think for a moment that if this country decided there was an enemy state which posed a real and present danger our leaders would not exercise the same tactical options. Our military technology, however, makes it possible to bring down such institutions without the use of a commercial airliner filled with civilians. Would it really be any different? Would it not then be logical for our "enemy" to respond that all Americans need to "pay" because they all believe the same thing?
You may be getting the impression that I don't agree with this country's choice of "retaliation". You would be correct. I don't agree. Not entirely. I know, it sounds absurd to agree with only part of a military action, or "war on terror". So call me absurd, call me naive, call me whatever names you like. That's your prerogative. You're not going to offend me. I believe what I believe, I feel what I feel. No words are going to change that. I'm not trying to change the belief or felling of any other person, either. I'm simply sharing my viewpoint.
My bottom line is simple. We will never have peace on this planet until we figure out how to stop quarreling over beliefs, lines on a map and greed. Put all those things aside and remember two things: 1) Our Creator instructs us to Respect All Living Things and 2) Christians are supposed to Love Everyone. Neither of those concepts leaves any room for "unless", "but" or "except". They are very simple instructions. There are no "do this don't do that" clauses. Just the very simple Respect and Love directions. While I haven't done exhaustive research into other belief systems, I do know that the ones I've looked at, even briefly, share similar concepts. Faith, belief, spirituality, whatever you want to call it, does not call upon us to damage each other. Ever. If you think of your life from that perspective, you'll see that many of the things we do today would NOT happen in the first place, leading to the dire predicaments in which we find ourselves.
I pray, on a daily basis, that everyone learns these two simple rules. I pray that those who already understand this will stand up and spread the word. I pray that you can be the change the world needs.
Today in Fresno is a gray, cloudy day, with the possibility of thunderstorms. Usually, a summer day here starts out on the cool side, with comfortably low humidity. Today started a little warmer and a bit on the sticky side. The weather could easily contribute to a darker mood, but I welcome the change. It will still get hot this afternoon, but the morning feels somehow quieter through the open windows.
There are ducks moving about in the "river" outside the living room window. Do they feel the emotional turmoil of the humans around them? We anthropomorphize so many of our brothers and sisters without a clue whether it's appropriate. Perhaps they are, as many will say, simply animals, with no concern or social consciousness. But if we are to believe, as I do, that our thoughts can be, and are, emanations into our surroundings, then surely on a day of such strong and less-than-bright emotions, we are sending out that same kind of energy.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't feel what we feel. On the contrary, if it is still part of your life or your grieving process, I won't deny you that. The loss of loved ones is a profound and long-lasting impact. Besides, it's the nature of the human animal to have the emotions that we have. I think the key is to be aware of them and realize how they can affect our judgment and our actions.
On that surreal day ten years ago, my first reaction was shock and disbelief. Initially, it felt as though Orson Welles had pulled another one on us. (For the young among us, if Orson Welles is unfamiliar to you, look up "The War of the Worlds". Not the movies, the radio broadcast.) Then the second tower was hit. This was no longer an elaborate "scare tactic". I was sitting at my computer in North Richland Hills, TX watching the Today Show. I started flipping through all the networks and the cable news networks. Everybody had this story. It was real. How could it be? Who would do such a thing?
As the news unfolded over the next couple of months, we learned that terrorists had taken minimal flight lessons, commandeered the aircraft and flown them into buildings. By that time, I had moved to Rhode Island and begun traveling. Extensively. Another surreal experience as, instead of simply picking up my tickets and walking to my gate, I encountered a gauntlet of security measures. Those measures continued to become more invasive and pervasive as the following eight years progressed. I had a trip to Georgia in March of 2003. We were all still talking about the collapse of the Twin Towers. I had the Flight Simulator installed on my laptop. I showed the class, during a break of course, how even without a joystick, I could launch a commercial jet from La Guardia, circle it around and plow into the Tower. Flying a plane is not that difficult. Taking off is even easier. Landing is the really tough part and these guys didn't need that knowledge! Really, then, they didn't need flight lessons and their tracks would have been even more difficult to trace.
We had become an angry nation. Our leaders determined that the proper response was to hunt down those responsible and "make them pay". Personally, I agree. However, the truth was/is that an organization was responsible. As such, "we" needed to wipe out the organization. Thousands of members across nearly every continent and protected by an elaborate "stealth" system. They could hide in plain sight. Because we couldn't develop a covert, undercover operation to discover the identities and locations of this organization, a simple and comprehensive military assault system was devised. Part of the result was that we "got" some of the leadership. In the process, we also destroyed the live and livelihoods of innocent civilians.
I've heard many argue that none of them could be "innocent" because they held the same religious belief system. Let's face it, war is not a pretty thing. It's not a terribly accurate thing either when your weapons are designed to to obliterate entire buildings. "Collateral Damage" is the term that gets spouted in such instances. Yes, the terror attacks on September 11 were not carried out against military targets. Ok, two were. Of the four planes that were used as weapons against The United States, one was aimed at the heart of government (it went down in Pennsylvania) and the other at the heart of our military leadership. The others, as would be logical in a war scenario, were aimed at our financial stability. Do not think for a moment that if this country decided there was an enemy state which posed a real and present danger our leaders would not exercise the same tactical options. Our military technology, however, makes it possible to bring down such institutions without the use of a commercial airliner filled with civilians. Would it really be any different? Would it not then be logical for our "enemy" to respond that all Americans need to "pay" because they all believe the same thing?
You may be getting the impression that I don't agree with this country's choice of "retaliation". You would be correct. I don't agree. Not entirely. I know, it sounds absurd to agree with only part of a military action, or "war on terror". So call me absurd, call me naive, call me whatever names you like. That's your prerogative. You're not going to offend me. I believe what I believe, I feel what I feel. No words are going to change that. I'm not trying to change the belief or felling of any other person, either. I'm simply sharing my viewpoint.
My bottom line is simple. We will never have peace on this planet until we figure out how to stop quarreling over beliefs, lines on a map and greed. Put all those things aside and remember two things: 1) Our Creator instructs us to Respect All Living Things and 2) Christians are supposed to Love Everyone. Neither of those concepts leaves any room for "unless", "but" or "except". They are very simple instructions. There are no "do this don't do that" clauses. Just the very simple Respect and Love directions. While I haven't done exhaustive research into other belief systems, I do know that the ones I've looked at, even briefly, share similar concepts. Faith, belief, spirituality, whatever you want to call it, does not call upon us to damage each other. Ever. If you think of your life from that perspective, you'll see that many of the things we do today would NOT happen in the first place, leading to the dire predicaments in which we find ourselves.
I pray, on a daily basis, that everyone learns these two simple rules. I pray that those who already understand this will stand up and spread the word. I pray that you can be the change the world needs.
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Empty Polling Booth
The Empty Polling Booth is not a science fiction story nor a tale of a post apocalyptic geopolitical construct. It is instead an idea for change. It was presented to me today by a very dear friend. There is a possibility that some internet-scouring organization of the political establishment may read this article and label me with one of the dirty words they are sworn to suppress. No, I'll not put those words to this screen, that would be equivalent to shouting them out. You, dear reader, may discern one or more of those words as the idea unfolds.
Our tale starts with the history of a country now 235 years old. Really quite young compared to many others around the world. It started as an escape route, a haven, a paradise to be built. There were grand ideals set forth by the founding fathers in documents intended to keep those ideals alive and inviolate. For a time those documents stood resolute and strong. The people rejoiced in their freedoms and responsibilities as citizens. These documents were the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. I encourage all citizens of this nation to read these documents, including the Additional Amendments.
As time passed and society evolved, additional amendments, now numbered eleven through twenty-seven, were added and ratified by the governing body. Some of these amendments have been controversial, both in the time of their creation and today. Some have been undeniably necessary and morally correct. The one undeniable fact over the last 235 years is that the governing body should represent The People. It seems to me that within my lifetime, if not longer, this has changed. What with Political Action Committees, Special Interest Groups, Lobbyists and the rest, all of whom seem to have influential and deep pockets, the interests of The People have taken a back seat!
The Empty Polling Booth is an idea that will fall on deaf ears. I know there are not a lot of people who read my musings, but maybe, just maybe they can spread the word a bit. The deaf ears will be those who probably don't read my pages anyway. Those who live well above the middle class have no need to see changes to the system as it waddles its way through future history. Everyone else, those who are directly responsible for the infrastructure of this country, those are now most negatively affected by the flatulence of government, those who are being crushed by the weight of a bloated Budget, they are the ones that I feel will grasp this idea.
So now I'll address my commentary to those people, the ones for whom this country still holds the potential to be the greatest country on earth once again, if only it could regain its original values. Are you happy with your government (the legislative branch)? Are you happy with the legal system (the judiciary branch)? Are you happy with the leadership (the executive branch)? I have a feeling that a large number of people I would call friend would answer NO to all three questions. Of course, we've all heard the answer to these questions: Then change it! At this point, almost everyone will say something like, "There just aren't any good options on the ballot!" So we are relegated to choosing the lesser of two evils. I can't tell you how many times I heard that in 2008, on a variety of ballot choices.
It seems like it has been that way for over 20 years now! How sad is it that among the populace of this country we cannot find a candidate to truly represent the will of The People. Forget representing the will of The People, that's almost become a pipe dream. There are too many of us and we're all too different! How about representing the best interest and the good of The People. Anybody have a representative like that? Keep in mind all the constituents of their area. Is there anyone out there "pleasing most of The People most of the time"?
Since we seem to rarely have a positive choice to make at the polls, and a negative choice (lesser of two evils) isn't a great option either, can we send a different message? Can we send a message that says, "Not only are we disappointed with your performance, we're becoming angry. Enough nonsense from you and your colleagues." Since we don't like the choices, DON'T CHOOSE! Don't make a choice based on which is least distasteful. Sure, go ahead and voice your opinion on bond issues or road taxes, but don't give the power to someone you don't think deserves it!
Of course that begs the question, "What happens if nobody gets a single vote?" Does the incumbent retain the post? I would hope not, because in essence it's a dead heat tie! Is another election required? Presumably. But if the candidates are the same, then the result would be the same, IF WE STICK TO OUR GUNS. If we could make this happen, across ALL socio-political-economic barriers, the result just might be a change for the better.
The Empty Polling Booth aka: What if They Held an Election and Nobody Came?
Our tale starts with the history of a country now 235 years old. Really quite young compared to many others around the world. It started as an escape route, a haven, a paradise to be built. There were grand ideals set forth by the founding fathers in documents intended to keep those ideals alive and inviolate. For a time those documents stood resolute and strong. The people rejoiced in their freedoms and responsibilities as citizens. These documents were the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. I encourage all citizens of this nation to read these documents, including the Additional Amendments.
As time passed and society evolved, additional amendments, now numbered eleven through twenty-seven, were added and ratified by the governing body. Some of these amendments have been controversial, both in the time of their creation and today. Some have been undeniably necessary and morally correct. The one undeniable fact over the last 235 years is that the governing body should represent The People. It seems to me that within my lifetime, if not longer, this has changed. What with Political Action Committees, Special Interest Groups, Lobbyists and the rest, all of whom seem to have influential and deep pockets, the interests of The People have taken a back seat!
The Empty Polling Booth is an idea that will fall on deaf ears. I know there are not a lot of people who read my musings, but maybe, just maybe they can spread the word a bit. The deaf ears will be those who probably don't read my pages anyway. Those who live well above the middle class have no need to see changes to the system as it waddles its way through future history. Everyone else, those who are directly responsible for the infrastructure of this country, those are now most negatively affected by the flatulence of government, those who are being crushed by the weight of a bloated Budget, they are the ones that I feel will grasp this idea.
So now I'll address my commentary to those people, the ones for whom this country still holds the potential to be the greatest country on earth once again, if only it could regain its original values. Are you happy with your government (the legislative branch)? Are you happy with the legal system (the judiciary branch)? Are you happy with the leadership (the executive branch)? I have a feeling that a large number of people I would call friend would answer NO to all three questions. Of course, we've all heard the answer to these questions: Then change it! At this point, almost everyone will say something like, "There just aren't any good options on the ballot!" So we are relegated to choosing the lesser of two evils. I can't tell you how many times I heard that in 2008, on a variety of ballot choices.
It seems like it has been that way for over 20 years now! How sad is it that among the populace of this country we cannot find a candidate to truly represent the will of The People. Forget representing the will of The People, that's almost become a pipe dream. There are too many of us and we're all too different! How about representing the best interest and the good of The People. Anybody have a representative like that? Keep in mind all the constituents of their area. Is there anyone out there "pleasing most of The People most of the time"?
Since we seem to rarely have a positive choice to make at the polls, and a negative choice (lesser of two evils) isn't a great option either, can we send a different message? Can we send a message that says, "Not only are we disappointed with your performance, we're becoming angry. Enough nonsense from you and your colleagues." Since we don't like the choices, DON'T CHOOSE! Don't make a choice based on which is least distasteful. Sure, go ahead and voice your opinion on bond issues or road taxes, but don't give the power to someone you don't think deserves it!
Of course that begs the question, "What happens if nobody gets a single vote?" Does the incumbent retain the post? I would hope not, because in essence it's a dead heat tie! Is another election required? Presumably. But if the candidates are the same, then the result would be the same, IF WE STICK TO OUR GUNS. If we could make this happen, across ALL socio-political-economic barriers, the result just might be a change for the better.
The Empty Polling Booth aka: What if They Held an Election and Nobody Came?
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Where? How? Why?
As much as I might want it otherwise, I am lost. I have been lost for over three months now. It might be longer, I can't be sure. I look around for the familiar, the comfortable, and cannot find them. The only stability that remains is Ama Shash and even she is feeling the stress of our changed life. Some important things in our lives have gone missing. No matter how we search, they are nowhere to be found.
We have both lost parts of our Spirit. I'm pretty sure I know why. We moved here in a haze of delusion. The reasons we moved were, in our minds, good and strong. Turns out they were merely hopes upon which we put too much faith. The plans we had were built of sticks instead of bricks. It seems there are people on the east coast that would be very happy if we returned. Truth be told, if it were possible to go back to the life we had there, we would be sorely tempted to do so.
Our connections to who we had become were stronger. Those connections have all but disappeared here. It was easy to connect there. We were surrounded by easily discovered "special" places. Here, we are surrounded by asphalt and concrete and "civilization." Sure, we've found a couple of spots. One is in a California State Recreation Area, which is regularly overrun by apparently uncaring and unconnected people. The disrespect with which these people treat the land and the water is palpable and distasteful. Another is near the end of the world in Kings Canyon National Park. During summer, similar people inhabit the campsites. Even so, it's possible to walk for five minutes and escape their influence.
It was during one such walk last month that I found myself at peace. It wasn't the same kind of peace I experienced in Rhode Island, but it came close. Once all the schools are back in session, I think it may be more likely. Sequoia National Park has the same potential. We have the equipment for both of us to go camping for any of her three day off respites. I also have the equipment to do the same by myself. I keep telling myself I need to do it, but I don't want to leave her alone here. Today was a good example of why.
Since moving here, her car has been broken into, my car has been broken into twice, and this morning, we found the garage door open. It seems a pair of heavy pliers are enough muscle open the doorknob on the apartment side of the garage. Here's the crazy part. Only my belt sander and drill motor were taken. The cabinet was rummaged but nothing removed. The table saw, scroll saw, drill press and grinder remained. Tomorrow I'll look into the mandatory renter's insurance that is part of our lease to see what my options are. In the meantime, I've purchased a lockset with a dead bolt. I can't install the dead bolt because my drill is gone.
Temperatures in the summer here run in the upper 90s to low 100s for about four months. Humidity stays low making it almost bearable. After 8 years in Rhode Island, neither of us will complain on that issue. However, without air conditioning in either car, any travel is extremely uncomfortable. When I ride my bike, I try to leave no later than 8am. I guess my O.L.D. keeps me from riding in the heat like I did in Texas. I still cannot fathom how I pulled that miracle, considering it would be over 100 with humidity at or above 50%. If I want to work in the garage at all, the same conditions apply. I must get out there before the sun rises and starts baking the south wall of the garage.
Yes, I'm complaining. Yes, I'm miserable. Ama is miserable, too. She said to me the other day that she made a mistake taking this job. I reminded her that it was not her decision alone. We agreed. We try very hard to not do anything upon which we do not agree. I know, how weird are we, the couple that talks and agrees. So maybe we're unique. Well, a little. I know of at least one other couple that is very similar to us. I'm just finding it harder and harder to maintain the "It is what it is" attitude, or to be thankful for the trials and tribulations we endure. Perhaps part of the reason is that I can no longer reach out my Spirit to touch Nature's Spirits all around me. Lately it seems the only spirits around here are either criminals who want our "stuff" or coworkers (hers) who seem to leave their brains in the parking lot.
And yes, I'm back on the hunt for a job. I just don't see myself as the Program Director for KinderCare.
We have both lost parts of our Spirit. I'm pretty sure I know why. We moved here in a haze of delusion. The reasons we moved were, in our minds, good and strong. Turns out they were merely hopes upon which we put too much faith. The plans we had were built of sticks instead of bricks. It seems there are people on the east coast that would be very happy if we returned. Truth be told, if it were possible to go back to the life we had there, we would be sorely tempted to do so.
Our connections to who we had become were stronger. Those connections have all but disappeared here. It was easy to connect there. We were surrounded by easily discovered "special" places. Here, we are surrounded by asphalt and concrete and "civilization." Sure, we've found a couple of spots. One is in a California State Recreation Area, which is regularly overrun by apparently uncaring and unconnected people. The disrespect with which these people treat the land and the water is palpable and distasteful. Another is near the end of the world in Kings Canyon National Park. During summer, similar people inhabit the campsites. Even so, it's possible to walk for five minutes and escape their influence.
It was during one such walk last month that I found myself at peace. It wasn't the same kind of peace I experienced in Rhode Island, but it came close. Once all the schools are back in session, I think it may be more likely. Sequoia National Park has the same potential. We have the equipment for both of us to go camping for any of her three day off respites. I also have the equipment to do the same by myself. I keep telling myself I need to do it, but I don't want to leave her alone here. Today was a good example of why.
Since moving here, her car has been broken into, my car has been broken into twice, and this morning, we found the garage door open. It seems a pair of heavy pliers are enough muscle open the doorknob on the apartment side of the garage. Here's the crazy part. Only my belt sander and drill motor were taken. The cabinet was rummaged but nothing removed. The table saw, scroll saw, drill press and grinder remained. Tomorrow I'll look into the mandatory renter's insurance that is part of our lease to see what my options are. In the meantime, I've purchased a lockset with a dead bolt. I can't install the dead bolt because my drill is gone.
Temperatures in the summer here run in the upper 90s to low 100s for about four months. Humidity stays low making it almost bearable. After 8 years in Rhode Island, neither of us will complain on that issue. However, without air conditioning in either car, any travel is extremely uncomfortable. When I ride my bike, I try to leave no later than 8am. I guess my O.L.D. keeps me from riding in the heat like I did in Texas. I still cannot fathom how I pulled that miracle, considering it would be over 100 with humidity at or above 50%. If I want to work in the garage at all, the same conditions apply. I must get out there before the sun rises and starts baking the south wall of the garage.
Yes, I'm complaining. Yes, I'm miserable. Ama is miserable, too. She said to me the other day that she made a mistake taking this job. I reminded her that it was not her decision alone. We agreed. We try very hard to not do anything upon which we do not agree. I know, how weird are we, the couple that talks and agrees. So maybe we're unique. Well, a little. I know of at least one other couple that is very similar to us. I'm just finding it harder and harder to maintain the "It is what it is" attitude, or to be thankful for the trials and tribulations we endure. Perhaps part of the reason is that I can no longer reach out my Spirit to touch Nature's Spirits all around me. Lately it seems the only spirits around here are either criminals who want our "stuff" or coworkers (hers) who seem to leave their brains in the parking lot.
And yes, I'm back on the hunt for a job. I just don't see myself as the Program Director for KinderCare.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Today is ... Tuesday
Time, and life, have a way of slipping silently by like the gentle stream in a mountain meadow. Even with a National Holiday just yesterday, I had to think for a moment what day of the week it is. It's a side effect of two things.
First, my hunny usually has an unusual schedule. Three days on, three days off, can put a "weekend" right in the middle of a calendar week. Let me just say that has its benefits, too. Second, I'm no longer part of the American Rat Race. I don't adhere to the rigorous scheduling of life that is part of Corporate America. My days are my own. Such as they are.
My sense of time, that nagging ticking of the clock that propels us through this existence, has changed. At almost every powwow I've attended has arisen the phrase, "Indian Time". What this means, at least at a powwow, is that Grand Entry is "scheduled" for noon, but usually happens some time between noon:10 and noon:45. Ish. In other words, it happens when it happens. It is acknowledged that we don't have that much control. More importantly, it's accepted. I get up in the morning and say, "I want to have X, Y and Z accomplished by 2pm. It doesn't always happen. In fact, it rarely happens. I have too many "things" on my plate and set unrealistic expectations of myself. Then, being a good American, I kick myself for not "doing".
Life is not a goal to be reached, but a journey to be experienced. And appreciated.
First, my hunny usually has an unusual schedule. Three days on, three days off, can put a "weekend" right in the middle of a calendar week. Let me just say that has its benefits, too. Second, I'm no longer part of the American Rat Race. I don't adhere to the rigorous scheduling of life that is part of Corporate America. My days are my own. Such as they are.
My sense of time, that nagging ticking of the clock that propels us through this existence, has changed. At almost every powwow I've attended has arisen the phrase, "Indian Time". What this means, at least at a powwow, is that Grand Entry is "scheduled" for noon, but usually happens some time between noon:10 and noon:45. Ish. In other words, it happens when it happens. It is acknowledged that we don't have that much control. More importantly, it's accepted. I get up in the morning and say, "I want to have X, Y and Z accomplished by 2pm. It doesn't always happen. In fact, it rarely happens. I have too many "things" on my plate and set unrealistic expectations of myself. Then, being a good American, I kick myself for not "doing".
Life is not a goal to be reached, but a journey to be experienced. And appreciated.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Earth Day Approaches
Yes, it has been a while since I've been here. Sometimes it's difficult to put together all the thoughts running through my head. I think I've found the analogy for what happens in my head. I have warm air rising rapidly and cold air falling rapidly and the result is a tornado of thought that needs to draw in some cooling rain to take the strength out of the chaotic vortex. (Saw that on the Weather Channel today as they followed the line of storms through North Carolina.)
However, today, April 16, 2011, was a day wherein I found myself challenged. Today the California State Parks Foundation sponsored a work day to prepare for Earth Day. PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric) is the primary sponsor, with Home Depot, Starbucks and Dannon providing funding and support. I was one of a handful of lone volunteers standing ready to do my part for my local State Park, known as Millerton Lake State Recreation Area. Located less than half an hour north of most of Fresno, the lake is the result of a dam filling up a canyon. During late Spring, Summer and Early Autumn, this place is packed. There is a campground on the northwest shore of the lake. There are day use areas across the south and east sides. The lake itself meanders northward providing extra opportunities for water sports or just plain exploring. There are also hiking trails throughout the park.
Too many times, I have visited places of such grandeur and beauty as to make me stop and remember to breathe. Millerton Lake is one such place. Many decades ago there was a community where the lake now sits. Before that, there were aboriginal people enjoying a peaceful life. It was a truly beautiful place then, filled with trees and plants of a wide variety, wildlife enough to support the people, and weather that was neither too harsh in the winter nor too hot in the summer. No, there are no historical records of this. I have felt it. I have sat along the shore of the lake and felt the presence of those who were there. Surprisingly, their spirits are not saddened by the creation of the lake. They are, instead, quite content that their resting place will not be disturbed as so many around our land have been.
So today, a group of people gathered together to help keep this a place of beauty and peace, to help keep it safe for those who will utilize the area for recreational purposes. I don't begrudge the people who come with their families, or individually, their presence here. The spirits of those forgotten find reason to smile with many of the visitors. However, they do not smile when they see one of the reasons our group was there today. The group in which I chose to participate was tasked with picking up trash along the south shore.
There are wide expanses of beach along the south shore of Millerton Lake. Some of the shore is dotted with formations of sandstone and granite. We are after all at the foothills of the mighty Sierra Nevada. For so many of us who grew up in Southern California, we never thought twice as children about running out onto the sand in our bare feet and scampering away from the edge of the encroaching Pacific Ocean. It would be unwise to do so today. Our coastal beaches and our lake beaches are fouled with the presence of humans. Take a look around. Drive down a street. You'll see it. The refuse of a "throw-away" society. It doesn't matter what it is, "someone else will clean it up". Nowhere is this more evident, nor more painful to see, than at a "recreation" area.
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted within the California State Park system. As I'm sure you can guess, the one thing I picked up the most of was broken beer bottles. There was the occasional aluminum soda can and the odd candy or snack wrapper. I was not alone in this task. There was a small army of people scouring the sands and rocks and scrub looking for the evidence of humanity that should not have been there. In particular, were two young boys. They had come to the park to volunteer with their grandmother. As I stood next to the Ranger's truck awaiting dispersal, the boys joined me. Grandma made sure they each had a cell phone to use in case of emergency. She looked to me to watch over the boys and I readily agreed.
When I say young, I estimate their ages at 8 and 5, maybe 6. We, those on the trash detail, were all given our on plastic bag. I could go on and on about the two hours the three of us spent chatting and combing the landscape, but suffice to say that these two boys were as hard working as anyone there. Leo, the younger of the two, took great pride in pointing out that his bag was getting heavy and more full than either Johnny's (his brother) or mine. They were also quite pleased that we were following another group and finding things they had missed. I made sure, when we all returned to the tables, to let Grandma know that the boys did an awesome job.
I have determined that I will visit the lake more often and always carry my gloves and a trash bag or two. There has not been a single visit where I couldn't have done some cleanup. It's a small thing, but it's good to get out into the fresh air, enjoy the gifts of Creator and Mother Earth, and give bag a little in appreciation. Another benefit will be that I'll be able to spend some time listening. I can listen to the Spirits of the lake: the ducks, the geese, the eagles. I can listen to the Spirits of the People, too, as they share how beautiful their lives were. In this way I can honor them.
Oh, and that challenge I mentioned at the beginning? Physical. I am reminded that I'm not as young as once I was. Again. It seems my knees are not particularly fond of crawling across rocks, trudging through mud and sand, and climbing even relatively small hills. I guess that means I need to do it more, and often.
However, today, April 16, 2011, was a day wherein I found myself challenged. Today the California State Parks Foundation sponsored a work day to prepare for Earth Day. PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric) is the primary sponsor, with Home Depot, Starbucks and Dannon providing funding and support. I was one of a handful of lone volunteers standing ready to do my part for my local State Park, known as Millerton Lake State Recreation Area. Located less than half an hour north of most of Fresno, the lake is the result of a dam filling up a canyon. During late Spring, Summer and Early Autumn, this place is packed. There is a campground on the northwest shore of the lake. There are day use areas across the south and east sides. The lake itself meanders northward providing extra opportunities for water sports or just plain exploring. There are also hiking trails throughout the park.
Too many times, I have visited places of such grandeur and beauty as to make me stop and remember to breathe. Millerton Lake is one such place. Many decades ago there was a community where the lake now sits. Before that, there were aboriginal people enjoying a peaceful life. It was a truly beautiful place then, filled with trees and plants of a wide variety, wildlife enough to support the people, and weather that was neither too harsh in the winter nor too hot in the summer. No, there are no historical records of this. I have felt it. I have sat along the shore of the lake and felt the presence of those who were there. Surprisingly, their spirits are not saddened by the creation of the lake. They are, instead, quite content that their resting place will not be disturbed as so many around our land have been.
So today, a group of people gathered together to help keep this a place of beauty and peace, to help keep it safe for those who will utilize the area for recreational purposes. I don't begrudge the people who come with their families, or individually, their presence here. The spirits of those forgotten find reason to smile with many of the visitors. However, they do not smile when they see one of the reasons our group was there today. The group in which I chose to participate was tasked with picking up trash along the south shore.
There are wide expanses of beach along the south shore of Millerton Lake. Some of the shore is dotted with formations of sandstone and granite. We are after all at the foothills of the mighty Sierra Nevada. For so many of us who grew up in Southern California, we never thought twice as children about running out onto the sand in our bare feet and scampering away from the edge of the encroaching Pacific Ocean. It would be unwise to do so today. Our coastal beaches and our lake beaches are fouled with the presence of humans. Take a look around. Drive down a street. You'll see it. The refuse of a "throw-away" society. It doesn't matter what it is, "someone else will clean it up". Nowhere is this more evident, nor more painful to see, than at a "recreation" area.
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted within the California State Park system. As I'm sure you can guess, the one thing I picked up the most of was broken beer bottles. There was the occasional aluminum soda can and the odd candy or snack wrapper. I was not alone in this task. There was a small army of people scouring the sands and rocks and scrub looking for the evidence of humanity that should not have been there. In particular, were two young boys. They had come to the park to volunteer with their grandmother. As I stood next to the Ranger's truck awaiting dispersal, the boys joined me. Grandma made sure they each had a cell phone to use in case of emergency. She looked to me to watch over the boys and I readily agreed.
When I say young, I estimate their ages at 8 and 5, maybe 6. We, those on the trash detail, were all given our on plastic bag. I could go on and on about the two hours the three of us spent chatting and combing the landscape, but suffice to say that these two boys were as hard working as anyone there. Leo, the younger of the two, took great pride in pointing out that his bag was getting heavy and more full than either Johnny's (his brother) or mine. They were also quite pleased that we were following another group and finding things they had missed. I made sure, when we all returned to the tables, to let Grandma know that the boys did an awesome job.
I have determined that I will visit the lake more often and always carry my gloves and a trash bag or two. There has not been a single visit where I couldn't have done some cleanup. It's a small thing, but it's good to get out into the fresh air, enjoy the gifts of Creator and Mother Earth, and give bag a little in appreciation. Another benefit will be that I'll be able to spend some time listening. I can listen to the Spirits of the lake: the ducks, the geese, the eagles. I can listen to the Spirits of the People, too, as they share how beautiful their lives were. In this way I can honor them.
Oh, and that challenge I mentioned at the beginning? Physical. I am reminded that I'm not as young as once I was. Again. It seems my knees are not particularly fond of crawling across rocks, trudging through mud and sand, and climbing even relatively small hills. I guess that means I need to do it more, and often.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Pain of Old School
Honestly, I almost wish I had done this sooner. Realistically I did. The first one was "hollowed" with a gouge. That was also when I learned that leather gloves aren't enough to protect against a gouge that has slipped. You might be surprised at how much that huge thumb muscle on your palm can bleed. I know I was.
Today, I sanded the the first hand-bored body. Yes, that was a challenge. I know a little about working with wood. Very little. I do know that when sanding you start with a coarse grit and move up in stages to a fine grit. 60 grit is pretty much like having little tiny pebbles glued to the paper. That is, until you apply said sandpaper to a rounded surface one inch in diameter. The pebbles come off and you rub them against the wood with a piece of paper. Not very effective. Moving up to 100 provided a better smooting.
There are some splinters and a few divots (I'm still getting the hang of this gouge thing) so I decided to try filling them. I used plain white glue. I figured it's only lightly toxic (it's used in elementary schools, after all) and when it dries on my finger I can just peel it off. Put a drop in front of the splinter, draw a finger along the line and voila, filled splinter. Same technique to the divots. It's sitting in the garage drying now. I'll bring it in the morning. Maybe tonight. It's supposed to start raining for two days.
I have two bodies from which to remove a considerable amount of wood. The first one I tackled is the one that isn't sideways. That's a configuration I'm more familiar with. So I gouge out the Slow Air Chamber and the blow hole. That part went pretty smoothly. The Sound Chamber though provided some exercise. Toward the foot of the body there is a knot. It's not terribly big but the thing has practically turned to amber. It released a not unpleasant aroma, too. I get it smoothed out and the rest of the 18 inches gouged out. Doesn't look too bad. I'm learning how and where to apply pressure to the gouge.
Now for the other side. I look toward the end and the surface of the knot I encountered already is HUGE on this side. I can see that it goes through to the outside. It's less than half the size on the outside so maybe it's a nice tight funnel shape. As I begin to dig through it, I realize it's no funnel. It's more like a cancerous growth waiting for oxygen to spur it on like a wildfire. This thing is HARD! I'm worried now about the edge on my gouges. Rather than tackle this thing immediately, I go back and finish off the rest of the Sound Chamber, above and below the knot. Five minutes later I realize that was a bad mistake. First, I now have this "mound" sitting in the middle of my flute barrel. Why is that a problem? Because now when the edge of the gouge cuts through it invariably digs itself into the already shaped sides! On top of that, the deeper into this thing I get, the harder it seems to get. It's not like slicing layers of wood now, it's more like shaving granite! I get about two-thirds of the way through it and notice moisture. Ooze.
Not only is the color beautiful, like a golden honey, it smells richly of wood and it's making my right arm hurt from the should down to my fingers! That's when I notice that in one section of it, I've dug too deeply. There's going to be an odd bulge at the foot of this flute. I don't dare sand the outside down to round like I usually do. Sanding probably wouldn't affect this thing anyway. With my luck, it will laugh at me and shatter the whole end of the flute.
I never even got to the sideways monster. Depending on the agenda for her first day of vacation, I may work on it inside. She'll probably want to get some sewing done, so I better bring in one of the powwow tables.
Guess I better go out and get the materials. Just in case the rain starts and is heavier than forecast. I don't need open flute cores absorbing moisture. One of them is already warped a bit. Like me.
So, always work the knot first. Less pain that way. Pay very close attention to the depth. Yep, another learning experience.
Today, I sanded the the first hand-bored body. Yes, that was a challenge. I know a little about working with wood. Very little. I do know that when sanding you start with a coarse grit and move up in stages to a fine grit. 60 grit is pretty much like having little tiny pebbles glued to the paper. That is, until you apply said sandpaper to a rounded surface one inch in diameter. The pebbles come off and you rub them against the wood with a piece of paper. Not very effective. Moving up to 100 provided a better smooting.
There are some splinters and a few divots (I'm still getting the hang of this gouge thing) so I decided to try filling them. I used plain white glue. I figured it's only lightly toxic (it's used in elementary schools, after all) and when it dries on my finger I can just peel it off. Put a drop in front of the splinter, draw a finger along the line and voila, filled splinter. Same technique to the divots. It's sitting in the garage drying now. I'll bring it in the morning. Maybe tonight. It's supposed to start raining for two days.
I have two bodies from which to remove a considerable amount of wood. The first one I tackled is the one that isn't sideways. That's a configuration I'm more familiar with. So I gouge out the Slow Air Chamber and the blow hole. That part went pretty smoothly. The Sound Chamber though provided some exercise. Toward the foot of the body there is a knot. It's not terribly big but the thing has practically turned to amber. It released a not unpleasant aroma, too. I get it smoothed out and the rest of the 18 inches gouged out. Doesn't look too bad. I'm learning how and where to apply pressure to the gouge.
Now for the other side. I look toward the end and the surface of the knot I encountered already is HUGE on this side. I can see that it goes through to the outside. It's less than half the size on the outside so maybe it's a nice tight funnel shape. As I begin to dig through it, I realize it's no funnel. It's more like a cancerous growth waiting for oxygen to spur it on like a wildfire. This thing is HARD! I'm worried now about the edge on my gouges. Rather than tackle this thing immediately, I go back and finish off the rest of the Sound Chamber, above and below the knot. Five minutes later I realize that was a bad mistake. First, I now have this "mound" sitting in the middle of my flute barrel. Why is that a problem? Because now when the edge of the gouge cuts through it invariably digs itself into the already shaped sides! On top of that, the deeper into this thing I get, the harder it seems to get. It's not like slicing layers of wood now, it's more like shaving granite! I get about two-thirds of the way through it and notice moisture. Ooze.
Not only is the color beautiful, like a golden honey, it smells richly of wood and it's making my right arm hurt from the should down to my fingers! That's when I notice that in one section of it, I've dug too deeply. There's going to be an odd bulge at the foot of this flute. I don't dare sand the outside down to round like I usually do. Sanding probably wouldn't affect this thing anyway. With my luck, it will laugh at me and shatter the whole end of the flute.
I never even got to the sideways monster. Depending on the agenda for her first day of vacation, I may work on it inside. She'll probably want to get some sewing done, so I better bring in one of the powwow tables.
Guess I better go out and get the materials. Just in case the rain starts and is heavier than forecast. I don't need open flute cores absorbing moisture. One of them is already warped a bit. Like me.
So, always work the knot first. Less pain that way. Pay very close attention to the depth. Yep, another learning experience.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Going Old School
I am trying to make flutes. I have had some success. The last two that are finished look very pretty. They just don't play as well as I would like. They're both a bit touchy with the amount of breath that goes into them and the tuning is just a hair off. It's all a learning experience.
I was in the process of trying to figure out how to get my wood pieces centered accurately on my inexpensive router table when I thought, "Why not start with the router, even if it's not centered, and finish with the gouge." After all, that's what started this. In Rhode Island, I was almost finished with a branch flute. Well, I thought I was. After the few I've made here, I realize I had a long way to go. When move time came, the two pieces of the branch had warped so badly that it couldn't be salvaged. Another learning experience. So I took the piece I had routed as a centering test and put the gouge to it. It opened up to just over an inch diameter main bore.
I followed that with gouging out the Slow Air Chamber. Then I realized I had no way of accurately gauging how round it was. Back to the computer. I had bought this plastic material to make templates. Why not make a template to test the shape of the bore? Sure enough it was a simple task. It also showed just how much more I needed to take out! That initial test body is now ready for sanding. Once it's sanded, I can start the Slow Air Chamber Exit Hole and the True Sound Hole.
Today I decided to continue in this vein. I have two more bodies measured and marked. Got way ahead of myself thinking about the specifications of the two critical sound holes. I drew in the shape and position. Then I realized those are usually done on the top of the two halves. What I ended up with was rotating my split plane 90 degrees. It will make getting the angles of the holes a little easier, but it also means I have to do them VERY accurately. Once that part is done, they get glued together and I find out how difficult it is to adjust for mismatched sides. Oh, then I get to drill the tuning holes along the seam. Which then means I'll be making tuning adjustments in wood AND glue. I see another learning experience on the horizon.
I was in the process of trying to figure out how to get my wood pieces centered accurately on my inexpensive router table when I thought, "Why not start with the router, even if it's not centered, and finish with the gouge." After all, that's what started this. In Rhode Island, I was almost finished with a branch flute. Well, I thought I was. After the few I've made here, I realize I had a long way to go. When move time came, the two pieces of the branch had warped so badly that it couldn't be salvaged. Another learning experience. So I took the piece I had routed as a centering test and put the gouge to it. It opened up to just over an inch diameter main bore.
I followed that with gouging out the Slow Air Chamber. Then I realized I had no way of accurately gauging how round it was. Back to the computer. I had bought this plastic material to make templates. Why not make a template to test the shape of the bore? Sure enough it was a simple task. It also showed just how much more I needed to take out! That initial test body is now ready for sanding. Once it's sanded, I can start the Slow Air Chamber Exit Hole and the True Sound Hole.
Today I decided to continue in this vein. I have two more bodies measured and marked. Got way ahead of myself thinking about the specifications of the two critical sound holes. I drew in the shape and position. Then I realized those are usually done on the top of the two halves. What I ended up with was rotating my split plane 90 degrees. It will make getting the angles of the holes a little easier, but it also means I have to do them VERY accurately. Once that part is done, they get glued together and I find out how difficult it is to adjust for mismatched sides. Oh, then I get to drill the tuning holes along the seam. Which then means I'll be making tuning adjustments in wood AND glue. I see another learning experience on the horizon.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Discipline is Remembering What You Want
A friend from Rhode Island posted this. It's one of those random status lines that you can get by visiting an application. They call themselves funny statuses, but I don't think this one is. In fact, it's a potent reminder and kick in the backside that I needed to hear.
To me it means, keep your goal in mind and you'll be ready to put forth the effort. Today has been a day of such reminders. I have a great deal of work to do for the business side of the Ventures. Some of it is already complete. A small some in relation to other parts. I have a couple of pretty big computer projects to complete, and soon. I still have four flutes in progress out in the garage.
What I want requires me to ensure I nourish myself properly, stay organized, stay focused on the task at hand, and follow through. Yep, that all sounds like a great deal of discipline.
Thank you, Diane, for the reminder. :)
Blessings, Love and Peace!
To me it means, keep your goal in mind and you'll be ready to put forth the effort. Today has been a day of such reminders. I have a great deal of work to do for the business side of the Ventures. Some of it is already complete. A small some in relation to other parts. I have a couple of pretty big computer projects to complete, and soon. I still have four flutes in progress out in the garage.
What I want requires me to ensure I nourish myself properly, stay organized, stay focused on the task at hand, and follow through. Yep, that all sounds like a great deal of discipline.
Thank you, Diane, for the reminder. :)
Blessings, Love and Peace!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Long Distance
Cold and dark
Electric sun inadequate
Hot tears that won't be dissuaded
Taillights fading in distance
Familiar routine of loneliness
Distance increases through travel
by a means not meant for human
Same time zone, different time zone
Same continent, different continent
Yet still connected
Endless travel to fascinating places
Routine of work, not so different
Meals alone
Sleeping alone
Thoughts of home
Saturday, January 8, 2011
What is Powwow?
Some people hear the word "powwow" and think it's a gathering of heathens. Savages jumping around wildly in the dirt. I have heard there are people who consider it occult or dark. Neither of these concepts could be farther from the truth. The web site powwows.com offers a brief article describing some of the explanations of powwow at What is a Powwow? The Internet encyclopedia site Wikipedia offers its rather extensive description of Pow-wow .
What's more important is what it means to an individual that attends. The theories about the origin of the event or the name are irrelevant. Ask anyone who goes regularly. Even for a first-timer, a powwow can be a special moment in life. For the Native American, or Indian, or First Nations, or whatever you want to call us, when we are at powwow, we are renewed. In many ways, powwows for us are like church for other religions. But I think we have more fun. :)
My soulmate has a five year old granddaughter. Her heritage includes the Quechan people, who now reside on the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation which is mostly in California but stretches slightly across the Colorado River into Arizona, just above the border with Mexico. Her paternal great-grandmother lives there and is approaching her time to cross over. Ten months ago, when my partner moved here, she learned of a powwow coming up in Tollhouse. You'd be hard-pressed to find this community, nestled in the foothills of the mighty Sierra Nevada mountains. But it had been too long since my hunny had been to powwow. The opportunity arose and she was able to take her granddaughter, along with my middle daughter, to their first powwow. I wish I had been there. To see the face on a child of four, to see the stirring within of an ancient inspiration. Yes, this is what was described to me. More accurately, "She had a blast!" No, it wasn't her tribe, it wasn't her homeland. (Of course, at just under 69 square miles, the reservation in no way represents what the Quechan would consider their homeland.) The point is, at powwow the Spirit knows. The Spirit of a person knows when it is among friends and relatives.
Relatives. There's a term that means something different to us as well. The Lakota Sioux have a phrase that represents our beliefs succinctly. Mitakuye Oyasin. Translation is a little, um, mushy. English doesn't exactly convey the meaning, or the feeling, behind those words. All Are Related. For here is where the peoples who inhabited this land long before the arrival of the Europeans differ in their belief. We believe that Creator brought life to everything. We believe that our Mother Earth supports us, gives us life, nurtures and nourishes us. Beyond that, all things around us are living things and deserve our respect. Mother Earth is a living entity. We know this in our hearts. We can feel her heartbeat. We know it at powwow. The drum echoes the heartbeat of our Mother.
One of my favorite phrases from American culture of the last half century has become "tree hugger". Back in the day, it was a derogatory term for those who expressed concern for the environment and the planet. Now it means something very different for me. For I am a tree hugger. Literally. I can feel the pulse of Mother Earth when my arms are wrapped around a tree. There is a connection that goes deeper and farther than most can imagine. The same is true of the grass. Stand in the grass without covering on your feet and you can feel your way around the land.
All Are Related. We come from the same stuff. We have the same source. We have a common history. We all have a Spirit given us by Creator. Watch the animals. You can see that they do not mindlessly move through their lives. And if you listen carefully, with an open heart, you can hear them. All Are Related. The two-leggeds are making a mess of Mother Earth and only now are beginning to think something needs to be done. It may be too late. For the two-leggeds. Our Relations will go on for they follow the path set before them by Creator. So long as the two-leggeds don't continue to destroy their homes.
Two-leggeds, four-leggeds, wingeds, swimmers, crawlers. Everyone who reads knows which families those words represent. If I say, however, the standing people and the silent people, is the same true? You may have gotten a clue about the standing people earlier. The trees and plants are the standing people. And if you've ever stood in a forest or a grove, you know they are not silent. It is said that you should never tell your secrets in the presence of trees, for they will spread that secret. A breeze or wind will rise that they can share amongst themselves and eventually to one who may use it against you. I find it best to keep no secrets. Then speaking with trees carries only peace. Who then are the silent people? They are becoming more and more difficult to find, at least in America. Rocks! We have ripped them up and replaced them with malls and parking lots and office buildings and skyscrapers and apartment complexes. They have seen everything we have done. They can speak of their sorrow to those who can hear.
Powwow then is the way we remind ourselves of all these things. It's good to gather together and celebrate the lives we've been given, the gifts given freely to us. We are reminded by the beat of the drum that we are walking with our Mother Earth. We are reminded to be thankful. We are reminded by the songs and regalia to be joyful, in our diversity and even in our adversity. Challenges we face are merely opportunities for improvement. Live in balance and harmony with All Our Relations and we will Walk the Red Road.
Blessings, Love and Peace
What's more important is what it means to an individual that attends. The theories about the origin of the event or the name are irrelevant. Ask anyone who goes regularly. Even for a first-timer, a powwow can be a special moment in life. For the Native American, or Indian, or First Nations, or whatever you want to call us, when we are at powwow, we are renewed. In many ways, powwows for us are like church for other religions. But I think we have more fun. :)
My soulmate has a five year old granddaughter. Her heritage includes the Quechan people, who now reside on the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation which is mostly in California but stretches slightly across the Colorado River into Arizona, just above the border with Mexico. Her paternal great-grandmother lives there and is approaching her time to cross over. Ten months ago, when my partner moved here, she learned of a powwow coming up in Tollhouse. You'd be hard-pressed to find this community, nestled in the foothills of the mighty Sierra Nevada mountains. But it had been too long since my hunny had been to powwow. The opportunity arose and she was able to take her granddaughter, along with my middle daughter, to their first powwow. I wish I had been there. To see the face on a child of four, to see the stirring within of an ancient inspiration. Yes, this is what was described to me. More accurately, "She had a blast!" No, it wasn't her tribe, it wasn't her homeland. (Of course, at just under 69 square miles, the reservation in no way represents what the Quechan would consider their homeland.) The point is, at powwow the Spirit knows. The Spirit of a person knows when it is among friends and relatives.
Relatives. There's a term that means something different to us as well. The Lakota Sioux have a phrase that represents our beliefs succinctly. Mitakuye Oyasin. Translation is a little, um, mushy. English doesn't exactly convey the meaning, or the feeling, behind those words. All Are Related. For here is where the peoples who inhabited this land long before the arrival of the Europeans differ in their belief. We believe that Creator brought life to everything. We believe that our Mother Earth supports us, gives us life, nurtures and nourishes us. Beyond that, all things around us are living things and deserve our respect. Mother Earth is a living entity. We know this in our hearts. We can feel her heartbeat. We know it at powwow. The drum echoes the heartbeat of our Mother.
One of my favorite phrases from American culture of the last half century has become "tree hugger". Back in the day, it was a derogatory term for those who expressed concern for the environment and the planet. Now it means something very different for me. For I am a tree hugger. Literally. I can feel the pulse of Mother Earth when my arms are wrapped around a tree. There is a connection that goes deeper and farther than most can imagine. The same is true of the grass. Stand in the grass without covering on your feet and you can feel your way around the land.
All Are Related. We come from the same stuff. We have the same source. We have a common history. We all have a Spirit given us by Creator. Watch the animals. You can see that they do not mindlessly move through their lives. And if you listen carefully, with an open heart, you can hear them. All Are Related. The two-leggeds are making a mess of Mother Earth and only now are beginning to think something needs to be done. It may be too late. For the two-leggeds. Our Relations will go on for they follow the path set before them by Creator. So long as the two-leggeds don't continue to destroy their homes.
Two-leggeds, four-leggeds, wingeds, swimmers, crawlers. Everyone who reads knows which families those words represent. If I say, however, the standing people and the silent people, is the same true? You may have gotten a clue about the standing people earlier. The trees and plants are the standing people. And if you've ever stood in a forest or a grove, you know they are not silent. It is said that you should never tell your secrets in the presence of trees, for they will spread that secret. A breeze or wind will rise that they can share amongst themselves and eventually to one who may use it against you. I find it best to keep no secrets. Then speaking with trees carries only peace. Who then are the silent people? They are becoming more and more difficult to find, at least in America. Rocks! We have ripped them up and replaced them with malls and parking lots and office buildings and skyscrapers and apartment complexes. They have seen everything we have done. They can speak of their sorrow to those who can hear.
Powwow then is the way we remind ourselves of all these things. It's good to gather together and celebrate the lives we've been given, the gifts given freely to us. We are reminded by the beat of the drum that we are walking with our Mother Earth. We are reminded to be thankful. We are reminded by the songs and regalia to be joyful, in our diversity and even in our adversity. Challenges we face are merely opportunities for improvement. Live in balance and harmony with All Our Relations and we will Walk the Red Road.
Blessings, Love and Peace
Thursday, December 30, 2010
More Noise Tubes
I now have a second and third tube of wood that make noise. Well, kinda. I've chosen to use two different specifications on them. Tube 1, which actually looks like a flute, is sitting in the bedroom with the rest of my flutes, waiting for me to make a fetish for it. I'm a little hesitant to start that project because I'll be using a new power tool. Anything with moving blades gives me pause.
Tube 2 I have decided follow traditional tuning methods. Right now, all six holes make a different sound. It is VERY sensitive to air pressure. In fact, the top three holes are next to impossible to not overblow. I want to shorten up the length of it before I try tuning it. That will bring it closer to a full traditional design.
Tube 3 is following design specifications from yet another flute creator. The north, or mouthpiece, end of mine is somewhat shorter than his specs, so I'm not sure how that affects the tuning. Here's the bizarre part. The bottom three holes seem to have absolutely zero effect on the sound. The top three holes change the pitch. I don't get it. Yet. Hopefully, when I shorten that one, there will be a change in its behavior as well.
The fourth and fifth tubes are sitting on the bench filled with glue and covered in clamps. The glue I use says it only needs about four hours to cure, but I like to let it sit for at least 24 hours before I touch it again. It'll be nearly 48 hours for these, since my hunny has today and tomorrow off. Better to be inside with her than out in the cold garage. :)
Come Saturday, when she goes back to work, I'll cut down 2 & 3, probably 4 & 5 as well, drill 4 & 5, then try tuning the whole group. The tuning process is time consuming because I am a bit of a perfectionist. I found a nifty app for my gadget that performs as an electronic tuner. Make a noise and it tells you what pitch it is. It, too, is VERY sensitive. How that affects the tuning is that I can see that the frequency of the note I want is less than 5 Hz (cycles per second) off. If I want to tune each hole accurately in relation to the others, I'll spend hours removing very small quantities of wood from the holes. Four flutes, six holes each. That will probably take most of the day.
In the meantime, I have plenty of deerskin with which to make medicine pouches. That process turned out to be relatively painless. I have a fair amount of deer leather thong to make drawstrings for them. I'll bring in my woodburning tools and choose a design or two to put on the leather. I have already tested the technique on the rawhide. I need to do a test on this thinner material.
I also have plenty of beadwork projects to tackle. I need to practice on wrapping "sticks" and putting designs on fabric or leather.
All the craft projects will be pointless if I don't get the web site design completed AND get the business license I'll need. Guess I better find out how much THAT will cost. Then there's shipping to explore. Oh yay fun.
Blessings, Love and Peace to you all.
Tube 2 I have decided follow traditional tuning methods. Right now, all six holes make a different sound. It is VERY sensitive to air pressure. In fact, the top three holes are next to impossible to not overblow. I want to shorten up the length of it before I try tuning it. That will bring it closer to a full traditional design.
Tube 3 is following design specifications from yet another flute creator. The north, or mouthpiece, end of mine is somewhat shorter than his specs, so I'm not sure how that affects the tuning. Here's the bizarre part. The bottom three holes seem to have absolutely zero effect on the sound. The top three holes change the pitch. I don't get it. Yet. Hopefully, when I shorten that one, there will be a change in its behavior as well.
The fourth and fifth tubes are sitting on the bench filled with glue and covered in clamps. The glue I use says it only needs about four hours to cure, but I like to let it sit for at least 24 hours before I touch it again. It'll be nearly 48 hours for these, since my hunny has today and tomorrow off. Better to be inside with her than out in the cold garage. :)
Come Saturday, when she goes back to work, I'll cut down 2 & 3, probably 4 & 5 as well, drill 4 & 5, then try tuning the whole group. The tuning process is time consuming because I am a bit of a perfectionist. I found a nifty app for my gadget that performs as an electronic tuner. Make a noise and it tells you what pitch it is. It, too, is VERY sensitive. How that affects the tuning is that I can see that the frequency of the note I want is less than 5 Hz (cycles per second) off. If I want to tune each hole accurately in relation to the others, I'll spend hours removing very small quantities of wood from the holes. Four flutes, six holes each. That will probably take most of the day.
In the meantime, I have plenty of deerskin with which to make medicine pouches. That process turned out to be relatively painless. I have a fair amount of deer leather thong to make drawstrings for them. I'll bring in my woodburning tools and choose a design or two to put on the leather. I have already tested the technique on the rawhide. I need to do a test on this thinner material.
I also have plenty of beadwork projects to tackle. I need to practice on wrapping "sticks" and putting designs on fabric or leather.
All the craft projects will be pointless if I don't get the web site design completed AND get the business license I'll need. Guess I better find out how much THAT will cost. Then there's shipping to explore. Oh yay fun.
Blessings, Love and Peace to you all.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Country Blues
Sounds like a mix of Nashville and New Orleans, right? I almost went that way when I first read it. But then I realized where TMB is and how that could apply. You see, she is an urbanite. Part of her year she spends in Southern California. The other part she spends in Israel, and what she is experiencing is the lack of urbanity. I know, that's probably not a word, but hey, it's my blog.
I told her that I understand. Many years ago, I moved from Los Angeles, where I grew up, to the San Jose area. It was a change of pace. San Jose was a bit slower than LA. Then I moved, with my burgeoning family, to Sacramento. Yet again, a change of pace toward the slower side. After that it was back to LA for a few years. Then off to Georgia, where the pace depended, like California, on how close you were to the major metro. Three and a half years later, off to North Texas, and the Fort Worth area. Many people drawl Fort Worth together with Dallas, thanks to the location of the huge international airport, which sits smack dab in the middle, straddling the county line. Fort Worth is a whole different animal from Dallas. Much like the difference between Los Angeles and Sacramento. North Richland Hills, a little northeast of downtown Fort Worth is a pleasant community, with all the amenities you'd expect in an urban sprawl. It is, however, not dictated by the pace of the major metroplex mentality. I kinda liked it, except for the humidity combined with the heat. My last summer there, we had 46 straight days over 100. The humidity is generally around 60%. So, the next stop was Rhode Island. Specifically, moved into Warwick, VERY near the airport, which is called Providence Airport but is really about 15 miles from Providence, then to North Kingstown. Rhode Island is a state that is just over 1/3 the size of Los Angeles county. (Many of my Angelino friends just made a confused face.) It is also a place of extremes. NK is a pretty town (they're all towns, no cities) that is comfortably paced. Warwick, not so much. Providence I can't stand, never did, never hid that.
So coming to Fresno, city of my birth fifty-some years ago, was something I anticipated. I was only here for the first couple of years of my life. I don't remember any of it. All I know is we lived on Harvey. I looked at the map. Harvey has been broken into chunks now thanks to the 180 freeway. I don't know the street number, so I wouldn't have a chance of finding the old place anyway. But the pace here is a bit slower. Unless you're on West Shaw or North Blackstone on a Saturday. Then it's retail competition hell. You can find that anywhere though. Like Route 2 in Warwick.
So what was TMB asking for? How to cope with mom being a grump. She titled the entry "Time to Snow Some Love". There's apparently a sense of isolation and perhaps lack of "things to do" where she is. So how does one adjust from living in a place like LA/Orange Counties to living in "the country"? Here is how I replied on her blog:
I told her that I understand. Many years ago, I moved from Los Angeles, where I grew up, to the San Jose area. It was a change of pace. San Jose was a bit slower than LA. Then I moved, with my burgeoning family, to Sacramento. Yet again, a change of pace toward the slower side. After that it was back to LA for a few years. Then off to Georgia, where the pace depended, like California, on how close you were to the major metro. Three and a half years later, off to North Texas, and the Fort Worth area. Many people drawl Fort Worth together with Dallas, thanks to the location of the huge international airport, which sits smack dab in the middle, straddling the county line. Fort Worth is a whole different animal from Dallas. Much like the difference between Los Angeles and Sacramento. North Richland Hills, a little northeast of downtown Fort Worth is a pleasant community, with all the amenities you'd expect in an urban sprawl. It is, however, not dictated by the pace of the major metroplex mentality. I kinda liked it, except for the humidity combined with the heat. My last summer there, we had 46 straight days over 100. The humidity is generally around 60%. So, the next stop was Rhode Island. Specifically, moved into Warwick, VERY near the airport, which is called Providence Airport but is really about 15 miles from Providence, then to North Kingstown. Rhode Island is a state that is just over 1/3 the size of Los Angeles county. (Many of my Angelino friends just made a confused face.) It is also a place of extremes. NK is a pretty town (they're all towns, no cities) that is comfortably paced. Warwick, not so much. Providence I can't stand, never did, never hid that.
So coming to Fresno, city of my birth fifty-some years ago, was something I anticipated. I was only here for the first couple of years of my life. I don't remember any of it. All I know is we lived on Harvey. I looked at the map. Harvey has been broken into chunks now thanks to the 180 freeway. I don't know the street number, so I wouldn't have a chance of finding the old place anyway. But the pace here is a bit slower. Unless you're on West Shaw or North Blackstone on a Saturday. Then it's retail competition hell. You can find that anywhere though. Like Route 2 in Warwick.
So what was TMB asking for? How to cope with mom being a grump. She titled the entry "Time to Snow Some Love". There's apparently a sense of isolation and perhaps lack of "things to do" where she is. So how does one adjust from living in a place like LA/Orange Counties to living in "the country"? Here is how I replied on her blog:
Tech-Free
Another blogist of my acquaintance, PB, has asked if it's possible for us in the Facebook world to go tech-free for one day a month. She doesn't use the reference of "going green", but rather as a day to simply be and experience. Get simpler and go back to a time when people talked to each other in the face. Go for a walk, for crying out loud. Ok, some parts of the country right now that may not be a pleasant thought. Guess what, there are other things you can do!
One of the comments she got back went right to that "other things" side. With work schedules, travel schedules, family, children and all the demands put on us, it may not be that simple. Who says you can't plan for something like that though?!? One of the things I've been saying for some time now is that we move too fast. I loved the traffic jams in Rhode Island. It gave me a chance to look at the side of the road and see the wildflowers growing there. I had the opportunity to see wild turkeys roaming along the highway. You don't get to see that stuff when you're flying low at 70mph in the 55 zone. Stop and smell the roses has never been more important, in my opinion.
The discussions that followed went two ways. She has it posted in two different locations. One thread was very positive, looking for all the ways to tune out the every day world and tune in to the natural world. Given that opportunity, I can tell you one of the things you'll find. YOU are part of that natural world. Go sit in a park for a couple of hours. Hold the hand of your partner. Spread out a blanket, if the weather cooperates, and lie next to each other staring at clouds and birds and trees. Don't talk about work or bills or schedules. Just breathe. Let go of what is expected. Let the unexpected come to you. It will!
The other thread is apparently populated with people who don't understand being unplugged, or are at least severely resistant to not "being in touch." PB suggested turning off the computer and the cell phone, at the very least. Someone asked if that included the television. PB, in her generous nature, said that it's a personal project and each should proceed with what is comfortable. For my part, television is out. Radio is out. CD, iPod, stereo, out. Gas and electric, well that depends on where you live. If you're in New England right now, definitely NOT out! Even the Central Valley of California would be a difficult place to stay without power right now. Now a place like Sydney, Australia, you might get by. However, you might need the air conditioner unless you can spend the day at a beach. :)
One of the ways that I'll be able to enjoy the tech-free day is my flute. It requires no power other than me and can create such a peaceful space in which to be free. If I'm lucky enough to spend this day with my hunny, which I plan to be, I know she'll enjoy the flute as well. Does this tech-free mean no books? I think it should. That's my view because part of the goal here is to focus on relationships. Whether with your mate or your family, get rid of the distractions. Board games, card games, sure! Those are things that can bring you together.
Do I despise technology and what it's done to our society? Yes and no. Technology has been my bread and butter for over 30 years. But I don't think it should be as important as it seems to have become to such a large portion of the population. Can I do without? For a day, yes. Maybe even a week. But the time is coming, I hope, that I will be dependent on it from a financial perspective. An online business is in the works. Why? Because if I manage it right, I'll have tech-free time, too.
Can you go tech-free for a day a month?
Blessings, Love and Peace to you all.
One of the comments she got back went right to that "other things" side. With work schedules, travel schedules, family, children and all the demands put on us, it may not be that simple. Who says you can't plan for something like that though?!? One of the things I've been saying for some time now is that we move too fast. I loved the traffic jams in Rhode Island. It gave me a chance to look at the side of the road and see the wildflowers growing there. I had the opportunity to see wild turkeys roaming along the highway. You don't get to see that stuff when you're flying low at 70mph in the 55 zone. Stop and smell the roses has never been more important, in my opinion.
The discussions that followed went two ways. She has it posted in two different locations. One thread was very positive, looking for all the ways to tune out the every day world and tune in to the natural world. Given that opportunity, I can tell you one of the things you'll find. YOU are part of that natural world. Go sit in a park for a couple of hours. Hold the hand of your partner. Spread out a blanket, if the weather cooperates, and lie next to each other staring at clouds and birds and trees. Don't talk about work or bills or schedules. Just breathe. Let go of what is expected. Let the unexpected come to you. It will!
The other thread is apparently populated with people who don't understand being unplugged, or are at least severely resistant to not "being in touch." PB suggested turning off the computer and the cell phone, at the very least. Someone asked if that included the television. PB, in her generous nature, said that it's a personal project and each should proceed with what is comfortable. For my part, television is out. Radio is out. CD, iPod, stereo, out. Gas and electric, well that depends on where you live. If you're in New England right now, definitely NOT out! Even the Central Valley of California would be a difficult place to stay without power right now. Now a place like Sydney, Australia, you might get by. However, you might need the air conditioner unless you can spend the day at a beach. :)
One of the ways that I'll be able to enjoy the tech-free day is my flute. It requires no power other than me and can create such a peaceful space in which to be free. If I'm lucky enough to spend this day with my hunny, which I plan to be, I know she'll enjoy the flute as well. Does this tech-free mean no books? I think it should. That's my view because part of the goal here is to focus on relationships. Whether with your mate or your family, get rid of the distractions. Board games, card games, sure! Those are things that can bring you together.
Do I despise technology and what it's done to our society? Yes and no. Technology has been my bread and butter for over 30 years. But I don't think it should be as important as it seems to have become to such a large portion of the population. Can I do without? For a day, yes. Maybe even a week. But the time is coming, I hope, that I will be dependent on it from a financial perspective. An online business is in the works. Why? Because if I manage it right, I'll have tech-free time, too.
Can you go tech-free for a day a month?
Blessings, Love and Peace to you all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
It’s also a time to prepare. Spring will come and the seeds of the new year must be ready for planting. The times of going out to meet friends again, whether from nearby or far away, will arrive sooner than we think. So we spend some of this time creating, to share of ourselves with each other. Some will create artifacts, some will share old family recipes.
As winter forces us to reduce our activity, we must remember that there are reasons and not forget to look forward as well.
I admit it's something I struggle with, too. It's tough to slow down when you've spent the better part of half a century running full steam ahead to be an American. Now is my time to be an Indian. On the powwow circuit, there is always a scheduled start time. The Grand Entry will be at noon. Or 11. Or 1. Those are the typical times. The real times are 12:05-12:30, 11:15-11:40, 1:00-1:20, on average. Why? Because, as it was explained to me, and is usually announced at the powwow, "We do things on Indian time." What does that mean? Not that we don't care about time. It means that things happen when they happen. Schedules are not part of the Indian way of life. We have things to do. They get done. Don't ask when, or set a deadline. Seasons come and go and we know what needs to be done in and for each. If it's a long term goal, it could take a day or a week. Sometimes, instead of taking an anticipated four months, a project takes just over two years. But that is an unusual situation that I was more than willing to wait for, and it was very much worth it.
Can we change modes, from city life to country life? Of course. It only takes time. How much time depends on the person. The longer you've lived as a city-dweller, the longer it will take to adjust. Usually. I say that because sometimes the adjustment is made easier by a change in the heart. That happened to me. When my heart changed to see things from a very different point of view, the hustle and bustle no longer held any appeal. Can my friend make the change? I'm sure she can. Eventually. I think her situation will make that difficult though. I believe she'll be headed back to suburbia before she can fully acclimate to rural life. If she stayed, I know she could. She's a strong lady, intelligent and wise. She also has a big heart that, I think, can accept the change and grow with it.
Can you do it? Have you done it? And which way? Either transition can be traumatic.
Blessings, Love and Peace to you all.