I've heard of a dog's life being easy, but is it easier than a cat's?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Can a cat relax...
...on a lap? You be the judge...
I've heard of a dog's life being easy, but is it easier than a cat's?
I've heard of a dog's life being easy, but is it easier than a cat's?
Surf chair...
... might be an interesting looking design, but do you think it would be comfortable? Would it cure your backache -- or give you one?
The mouse is on the floor, the keyboard is on your lap, the monitor is in your face (I hope the chair is sturdy or the monitor will wobble when you move), and if your monitor has a built-in camera, where part of your body is it pointing at?
To see comments made by others, go here.
The mouse is on the floor, the keyboard is on your lap, the monitor is in your face (I hope the chair is sturdy or the monitor will wobble when you move), and if your monitor has a built-in camera, where part of your body is it pointing at?
To see comments made by others, go here.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Hiking the Lake Fayetteville (AR) Trail
We hiked the 5.5 mile loop trail around Lake Fayetteville on this beautiful sunny, 57 degree day. We began with our winter coats on but soon removed them and enjoyed the sun's warming rays. Sure beats the weather back in Chicago! The trail passes Arkansas' largest Black Oak tree which has a circumference of 14 feet and a whole lot of large branches as you see below. Sure would have been fun to find it while I was a kid and loved climbing trees!
The eastern section of the trail, which is also the mountain biking trail, is rough singletrack and gives a nice wilderness feel even though you're in a large metropolitan area. The lake can be seen in the background of the next 2 photos...
The eastern section of the trail, which is also the mountain biking trail, is rough singletrack and gives a nice wilderness feel even though you're in a large metropolitan area. The lake can be seen in the background of the next 2 photos...
Bombastic Proverbs #2
Over three decades ago, I came upon an activity that I incorporated into the curriculum for my Advanced Reading class for college-bound juniors and seniors. Ten familiar proverbs had been re-written into lengthy sentences utilizing large words. My inclusion of the activity for my students was designed to show them 1) how NOT to write, and 2) as a vocabulary development exercise. A side benefit was teaching inference, for after defining several words in each sentence, they often could infer what the entire proverb was.
When I began the exercises, the students loved them, and related how they completed the assignment around the evening supper table with the entire family joining in and having a ball. And after we ran out of the sentences, the students sent me home with homework -- to create more of them, often using proverbs they suggested -- which I did until we had a bank of 75 proverbs to work with. Decades later, my students no longer seemed to relish the assignments anymore, because (as we determined) their parents were not using the proverbs and hence the students were unfamiliar with them.
Anyway, I came upon the handout recently as I sifted through some of my old teaching materials, and here, in my eighth year of retirement, I offer several to you for (hopefully) your enjoyment.
======================
Sample: Do not utter loud and passionate vocal expressions because of the accidental overturning of a receptacle containing a whitish, opaque, nutritive fluid.
Answer: Don’t cry over spilt milk.
======================
11. A gyrating geological specimen amasses a dearth of verdant flora.
12. That which initially advances upward apparently unendingly must in all eventualities return to the planet from which it originated its journey.
13. Any act, the completion of which is unnecessarily accelerated, invariably yields a resultant dissipation.
14. The masterful Supreme Being ofttimes endeavors to labor utilizing an enigmatic, inscrutable modus operandi.
15. It is prudent to ascertain unequivocally your locus and to predetermine and investigate the locale which is your ultimate destination prior to bounding thereto.
16. The state of emulating consummate immaculacy is an attribute in proximal juxtaposition to the Omniscient Supreme Deity.
17. Refrain from comporting oneself as either one who accrues with the implied consent or expressed intention of returning same, or as one who bestows for temporary usage on the contingency that the same or its equivalent is rebated.
18. Refrain from overzealous consumption of resources, for shunning insatiable usage will yield a plethora and ultimately preclude destitution, scarcity, and craving.
19. The utter absence of auditory stimulation is often regarded as analogous to a precious metallic element.
20. The absence of light is unfailingly the most pronounced immediately prior to the sun’s daily emergence over the eastern horizon.
ANSWERS:
11. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
12. Whatever goes up must come down.
13. Haste makes waste.
14. God works (moves) in mysterious ways.
15. Look before you leap.
16. Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
17. Neither a lender nor a borrower be.
18. Waste not, want not.
19. Silence is golden.
20. It’s always darkest just before the dawn.
When I began the exercises, the students loved them, and related how they completed the assignment around the evening supper table with the entire family joining in and having a ball. And after we ran out of the sentences, the students sent me home with homework -- to create more of them, often using proverbs they suggested -- which I did until we had a bank of 75 proverbs to work with. Decades later, my students no longer seemed to relish the assignments anymore, because (as we determined) their parents were not using the proverbs and hence the students were unfamiliar with them.
Anyway, I came upon the handout recently as I sifted through some of my old teaching materials, and here, in my eighth year of retirement, I offer several to you for (hopefully) your enjoyment.
======================
Sample: Do not utter loud and passionate vocal expressions because of the accidental overturning of a receptacle containing a whitish, opaque, nutritive fluid.
Answer: Don’t cry over spilt milk.
======================
11. A gyrating geological specimen amasses a dearth of verdant flora.
12. That which initially advances upward apparently unendingly must in all eventualities return to the planet from which it originated its journey.
13. Any act, the completion of which is unnecessarily accelerated, invariably yields a resultant dissipation.
14. The masterful Supreme Being ofttimes endeavors to labor utilizing an enigmatic, inscrutable modus operandi.
15. It is prudent to ascertain unequivocally your locus and to predetermine and investigate the locale which is your ultimate destination prior to bounding thereto.
16. The state of emulating consummate immaculacy is an attribute in proximal juxtaposition to the Omniscient Supreme Deity.
17. Refrain from comporting oneself as either one who accrues with the implied consent or expressed intention of returning same, or as one who bestows for temporary usage on the contingency that the same or its equivalent is rebated.
18. Refrain from overzealous consumption of resources, for shunning insatiable usage will yield a plethora and ultimately preclude destitution, scarcity, and craving.
19. The utter absence of auditory stimulation is often regarded as analogous to a precious metallic element.
20. The absence of light is unfailingly the most pronounced immediately prior to the sun’s daily emergence over the eastern horizon.
ANSWERS:
11. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
12. Whatever goes up must come down.
13. Haste makes waste.
14. God works (moves) in mysterious ways.
15. Look before you leap.
16. Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
17. Neither a lender nor a borrower be.
18. Waste not, want not.
19. Silence is golden.
20. It’s always darkest just before the dawn.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
On the road again...
I gained 39 degrees in temperature and lost 12-plus inches of snow cover today (pretty good trade!), and after 11.5 hours on the road, we made it to Ellen's in Arkansas. My navigator wasn't much help during the drive...
... as she kept falling asleep on the job, but more importantly...
... M&M didn't cause any commotion, other than changing from her seat to my lap every so often (and climbing onto my lap with her claws instead of jumping!)
The drive was uneventful, other than 1) seeing a number of magnificent hawks on poles, trees, or circling above, 2) paying only $1.39/gallon in central Missouri (today's tankful was under $35 instead of last summer's $80), and 3) spotting one of the Oscar Meyer Weinermobiles on I-44. Did you know they have been around since 1936? And back in the '90s, one of our Fremd HS grads who had been in my senior class the year before, brought one to school. It was her job to drive it for a year, so she stopped at school and took a few of her favorite teachers on a tour of the inside of her "ride." (It was just a large empty space with boxes full of Oscar Meyer hot dog whistles, promotional brochures, etc. -- and yes, I got one of the whistles and still have it as a memento.)
... as she kept falling asleep on the job, but more importantly...
... M&M didn't cause any commotion, other than changing from her seat to my lap every so often (and climbing onto my lap with her claws instead of jumping!)
The drive was uneventful, other than 1) seeing a number of magnificent hawks on poles, trees, or circling above, 2) paying only $1.39/gallon in central Missouri (today's tankful was under $35 instead of last summer's $80), and 3) spotting one of the Oscar Meyer Weinermobiles on I-44. Did you know they have been around since 1936? And back in the '90s, one of our Fremd HS grads who had been in my senior class the year before, brought one to school. It was her job to drive it for a year, so she stopped at school and took a few of her favorite teachers on a tour of the inside of her "ride." (It was just a large empty space with boxes full of Oscar Meyer hot dog whistles, promotional brochures, etc. -- and yes, I got one of the whistles and still have it as a memento.)
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Worthy Quotes #18
The question is not what you look at, but what you see.
--Henry David Thoreau
Tell the truth the first time, then you won't have to remember what you said.
--Sam Rayburn
For in the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we have been taught.
--Baba Dioum
They can because they think they can!
--Virgil
The universe is made of stories, not atoms.
--Muriel Rukeyser.
When you have something to prove, there’s nothing better than a challenge.
--Terry Bradshaw
We need the strongest men of the party in the cabinet. We need to hold our own people together. I had looked the party over and over and concluded that these were the very strongest men. Then I had no right to deprive the country of their services.
--Abraham Lincoln (when asked why his cabinet included arch enemies and rivals)
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. But don’t complain.
-–Maya Angelou
They say such nice things about people at their funerals that it makes me sad to realize I'm going to miss mine by just a few days.
--Garrison Keillor
Do not do to others that which would anger you if others did it to you.
--Socrates
--Henry David Thoreau
Tell the truth the first time, then you won't have to remember what you said.
--Sam Rayburn
For in the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we have been taught.
--Baba Dioum
They can because they think they can!
--Virgil
The universe is made of stories, not atoms.
--Muriel Rukeyser.
When you have something to prove, there’s nothing better than a challenge.
--Terry Bradshaw
We need the strongest men of the party in the cabinet. We need to hold our own people together. I had looked the party over and over and concluded that these were the very strongest men. Then I had no right to deprive the country of their services.
--Abraham Lincoln (when asked why his cabinet included arch enemies and rivals)
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. But don’t complain.
-–Maya Angelou
They say such nice things about people at their funerals that it makes me sad to realize I'm going to miss mine by just a few days.
--Garrison Keillor
Do not do to others that which would anger you if others did it to you.
--Socrates
Biking Glenwood Canyon - 2008
In August, I had to blog on WordPress because Blogger had locked me out. So in "honor" of our current harsh winter weather, I've decided to move some of those warm-weather posts from WordPress to here.
============================
The Glenwood Canyon Trail travels about 14 miles east from Glenwood Springs through the lovely Glenwood Canyon, alongside the Colorado River and I-70. We parked near the east end and biked the eastern 7 miles round-trip, but since this was our first day at altitude, we satisfied ourselves with the round-trip of 14 miles.
Here's a shot of Ellen on the trail, with the river on the left and the elevated I-90 on the right.
The next day, we biked round-trip on the western section. Here's a shot exemplifying the drop-dead scenery of this canyon...
... and this shot shows the four modes of transportation through the canyon -- a freight train on the opposite bank of the Colorado River, rafters on the water, Ellen and I on the bike path, and behind us is Interstate 70.
Dozens of rafters and some whitewater kayakers were frolicking down the river today, enjoying the 80 degree sunny day...
This I-70 segment received the 1993 "Civil Engineering Achievement" Award. Its planning, design, and construction required 22 years, $500 million dollars, and an amazing tribute came from an adversary-conservationist who acknowledged after its completion that it was "A prototype for future highways in environmentally sensitive terrain." This Interstate does not conquer the canyon, it blends into the canyon. For more photos of this lower section of the trail, see my post from last year.
We also rafted the canyon as seen here.
============================
The Glenwood Canyon Trail travels about 14 miles east from Glenwood Springs through the lovely Glenwood Canyon, alongside the Colorado River and I-70. We parked near the east end and biked the eastern 7 miles round-trip, but since this was our first day at altitude, we satisfied ourselves with the round-trip of 14 miles.
Here's a shot of Ellen on the trail, with the river on the left and the elevated I-90 on the right.
The next day, we biked round-trip on the western section. Here's a shot exemplifying the drop-dead scenery of this canyon...
... and this shot shows the four modes of transportation through the canyon -- a freight train on the opposite bank of the Colorado River, rafters on the water, Ellen and I on the bike path, and behind us is Interstate 70.
Dozens of rafters and some whitewater kayakers were frolicking down the river today, enjoying the 80 degree sunny day...
This I-70 segment received the 1993 "Civil Engineering Achievement" Award. Its planning, design, and construction required 22 years, $500 million dollars, and an amazing tribute came from an adversary-conservationist who acknowledged after its completion that it was "A prototype for future highways in environmentally sensitive terrain." This Interstate does not conquer the canyon, it blends into the canyon. For more photos of this lower section of the trail, see my post from last year.
We also rafted the canyon as seen here.
==============================
Friday, January 9, 2009
Snowy Lakewood Hike
Traffic was snarled and driving times protracted, but the woods were adorned with a new 3 inch layer of pristine beauty, so Len and Marlene, Dave and Patti, and Carol and I ventured out and hiked 4 miles in 90 minutes.
The 30+ deer we saw blended into the scenery even better than usual with the white snow covering their torsos, and the ice hiding below the fluffy snow made for slippery walking at times, but the awesome eye-candy made it all worthwhile, as did the following sumptuous meal at Walker Brothers.
Today's "snow event" which is predicted to be 9" by tomorrow morning is the 20th snowfall this winter - double the usual by this time. In that respect, I'm glad this was my final hike with the group, as I head south for the next 4 months. Check back here for photos of our exploits as Ellen and I cruise the Caribbean, and hike and bike and paddle in Florida.
The 30+ deer we saw blended into the scenery even better than usual with the white snow covering their torsos, and the ice hiding below the fluffy snow made for slippery walking at times, but the awesome eye-candy made it all worthwhile, as did the following sumptuous meal at Walker Brothers.
Today's "snow event" which is predicted to be 9" by tomorrow morning is the 20th snowfall this winter - double the usual by this time. In that respect, I'm glad this was my final hike with the group, as I head south for the next 4 months. Check back here for photos of our exploits as Ellen and I cruise the Caribbean, and hike and bike and paddle in Florida.
The Birds and the Cat
Such a beautiful, docile, innocently snoozing M&M, minding her own business, never bothering anyone...
Oh, look! Mourning doves at the bird feeder with snow placidly falling around them...
... and more doves in the tree...
... and even doves on the railing and huddling together against the snow and wind on the fencing behind the railing...
... but what's that? Is that the innocent princess, no longer snoozing, but rather contemplating...
... what, I wonder?
Oh, look! Mourning doves at the bird feeder with snow placidly falling around them...
... and more doves in the tree...
... and even doves on the railing and huddling together against the snow and wind on the fencing behind the railing...
... but what's that? Is that the innocent princess, no longer snoozing, but rather contemplating...
... what, I wonder?
A Decade of Progress: Lake County Forest Preserve District
(from The Daily Herald and their newspaper website)
In its first meeting of the new year, the Lake County Forest Preserve District's land preservation and acquisition committee on Thursday reviewed the purchases and improvements officials have made over the past decade.
The report was impressive, with more than 6,500 acres purchased and $219 million spent since 1999.
Here's a closer look at those acquisitions, by the numbers.
•16: New preserves established
•10: Preserves opened to the public
•$33,000: Average price, per acre, of land purchased
•$15 million: Amount of land grants the district has received from the state for those purchases
•2001: The busiest year for land acquisition during this time frame, with an estimated 1,600 acres added
•3.5 million: Annual visits to district properties
•26,892: Total acreage protected by the district*
•56: Total preserves*
*As of Thursday
Source: Lake County Forest Preserve District
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Denver's Cherry Creek Bike Trail
In August, I had to blog on WordPress because Blogger had locked me out. So in "honor" of our current harsh winter weather, I've decided to move some of those warm-weather posts from WordPress to here.
========================================
We parked at the Wheel Park/Olympic Park complex near our motel and biked 19 miles on both the Cherry Creek Spillway Trail and the connecting Cherry Creek Trail segment within the Cherry Creek State Park. The photo below shows some of Denver's tall buildings in the distance as seen from the high point on the Spillway Trail...
... and the prairie dog community along the Spillway Trail seen below.
We had been told that the paved bike trail circled the entire reservoir, but that was incorrect. The state park and reservoir are quite large, but the trail only nears the lake for a short time as seen below...
... but most of the time the reservoir is not even in sight. In fact, part of the ride is squeezed between the Interstate and the immense earthworks for the water impoundment dam.
Due to our rain-delayed start, we knew sunset was drawing near, and when we realized the trail didn't completely circle the lake, we worried about getting lost and being caught by darkness while still far away from the van. Fortunately, the combined satellite view of Google Maps with the iPhone's GPS feature saved the day, showing us the streets to take through a subdivision and then the unmarked dirt trails through the dog exercise area to get us back to the Spillway Trail and then back to the van. What an adventure!
========================================
We parked at the Wheel Park/Olympic Park complex near our motel and biked 19 miles on both the Cherry Creek Spillway Trail and the connecting Cherry Creek Trail segment within the Cherry Creek State Park. The photo below shows some of Denver's tall buildings in the distance as seen from the high point on the Spillway Trail...
... and the prairie dog community along the Spillway Trail seen below.
We had been told that the paved bike trail circled the entire reservoir, but that was incorrect. The state park and reservoir are quite large, but the trail only nears the lake for a short time as seen below...
... but most of the time the reservoir is not even in sight. In fact, part of the ride is squeezed between the Interstate and the immense earthworks for the water impoundment dam.
Due to our rain-delayed start, we knew sunset was drawing near, and when we realized the trail didn't completely circle the lake, we worried about getting lost and being caught by darkness while still far away from the van. Fortunately, the combined satellite view of Google Maps with the iPhone's GPS feature saved the day, showing us the streets to take through a subdivision and then the unmarked dirt trails through the dog exercise area to get us back to the Spillway Trail and then back to the van. What an adventure!
==============================
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Hiking in Singing Hills
Most days, I get outdoors to bike, hike, or paddle. I don't make a blog post for every such occasion (though it may seem so to regular visitors) but rather only on days something noteworthy occurs. Today I hiked into Singing Hills Forest Preserve which borders our community, exploring the land added to the preserve this year, and I located the survey posts designating the property lines of the new additions (called "parcel 7.") The preserve now abuts Stone Orchard Golf Course's entire western edge.
I then continued over to my loop trail and did a bit of lopping and placed flagging on the last segment, making it easier to follow the trail around its entire loop. For only the third time in 4 years, I saw a deer. For years, this area was a licensed hunting preserve, so the deer remaining here are quite skittish, but at least I didn't hear any shotgun blasts as I did last week.
I then continued over to my loop trail and did a bit of lopping and placed flagging on the last segment, making it easier to follow the trail around its entire loop. For only the third time in 4 years, I saw a deer. For years, this area was a licensed hunting preserve, so the deer remaining here are quite skittish, but at least I didn't hear any shotgun blasts as I did last week.
Biking Topeka's Shunga Creek Trail - 2008
In August, I had to blog on WordPress because Blogger had locked me out. So in "honor" of our already harsh winter weather, I've decided to move some of those warm-weather posts from WordPress to here.
======================================
In 2008, we again biked the wonderful Shunga Creek Trail in Topeka - a trail we discovered last year and which I blogged about here. Last year we ate first, then biked, which put us on the trail as dusk fell, cutting our ride short. This year we biked immediately upon arriving in Topeka which allowed us to do the entire 15 mile round trip ride...
... and permitted us to play a bit on the BMX track along the trail. Here's Ellen attacking a group of moguls/hills...
... and below I finish up on the final series of "bumps." We joined about 6 teens and pre-teens who seemed amazed at the 2 old farts acting like kids and having a ball on the moguls!
See last year's post for more info on this trail, which is well-shaded, concrete in its entirety, and which has underpasses at all street crossings. I did notice on a map today that the name of the creek is actually Schunganunga - probably a Shawnee word since much in this area carries the name Shawnee.
======================================
In 2008, we again biked the wonderful Shunga Creek Trail in Topeka - a trail we discovered last year and which I blogged about here. Last year we ate first, then biked, which put us on the trail as dusk fell, cutting our ride short. This year we biked immediately upon arriving in Topeka which allowed us to do the entire 15 mile round trip ride...
... and permitted us to play a bit on the BMX track along the trail. Here's Ellen attacking a group of moguls/hills...
... and below I finish up on the final series of "bumps." We joined about 6 teens and pre-teens who seemed amazed at the 2 old farts acting like kids and having a ball on the moguls!
See last year's post for more info on this trail, which is well-shaded, concrete in its entirety, and which has underpasses at all street crossings. I did notice on a map today that the name of the creek is actually Schunganunga - probably a Shawnee word since much in this area carries the name Shawnee.
==============================
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Church Signs #9
In my driving trips across all 50 states, I often spot clever, amusing, and thought-provoking signs in front of churches of all denominations, and long ago I began jotting them down. I'll gradually post them here for your entertainment and edification.
1. Feed your faith and doubt will starve to death.
2. Don’t burn in Hades. Get son block.
3. To teach your kids well, learn from God.
4. Tend your heart well. It is God’s garden.
5. Bask in the warmth of God’s son.
6. Better than Stanley or World – the Cup of salvation.
7. Remember American ends with I CAN.
8. We pass the savings on to you.
9. You think it’s hot here? Signed, God
10. Home improvement: take your family to church.
11. Every home is a school. What does yours teach?
12. Good without God becomes O.
13. If you’re looking for a sign from God, this is it!
14. Tell the kids I love them. Signed, God
15. Life blah? Come in for a faith lift.
Hot Springs Pool of Glenwood Springs, Colorado
In August, I had to blog on WordPress because Blogger had locked me out. So in "honor" of our current harsh winter weather, I've decided to move some of those warm-weather posts from WordPress to here.
=============
This is this world's largest hot springs pool. The Ute Indians named the springs "Yampah" or "Big Medicine," and I remember as a child in the 1950s being told of the healing powers of the springs by my maternal grandfather, who rarely traveled but did come here for the springs. The spring flows at 3.5 million gallons daily, one of the largest in the world, emerging from the ground at 122 degrees and allowing the immense therapy pool to be kept at 104 degrees and the huge main pool (over 400 feet long) to be 90 to 93 degrees year around! I highly recommend this to all who travel here -- and here's their website info.
They have 2 water slides. We purchased a special package providing admission, a free drink, and 8 rides each on the slides. We did try the Blue Comet slide, which you travel through on your back and butt, as Ellen is embarking down in this photo...
... but we preferred the green slide which you ride through while on an inflated tube. This shot shows me (or at least my feet) as I am about halfway down the twisting course on flowing water...
... and which abruptly plunks you down in the landing pool at the bottom as Ellen demonstrates below...
We spent about 3 hours here, first in the hot pool, then swimming, sliding the slides, sunning, relaxing, and of course people-watching. This is a wonderful family outing, and seeing the young children frolicking and diving and screeching with delight inside the slides brought back happy recollections of bringing Scott and Steve here several decades ago. Do they even remember our times here?
=============
This is this world's largest hot springs pool. The Ute Indians named the springs "Yampah" or "Big Medicine," and I remember as a child in the 1950s being told of the healing powers of the springs by my maternal grandfather, who rarely traveled but did come here for the springs. The spring flows at 3.5 million gallons daily, one of the largest in the world, emerging from the ground at 122 degrees and allowing the immense therapy pool to be kept at 104 degrees and the huge main pool (over 400 feet long) to be 90 to 93 degrees year around! I highly recommend this to all who travel here -- and here's their website info.
They have 2 water slides. We purchased a special package providing admission, a free drink, and 8 rides each on the slides. We did try the Blue Comet slide, which you travel through on your back and butt, as Ellen is embarking down in this photo...
... but we preferred the green slide which you ride through while on an inflated tube. This shot shows me (or at least my feet) as I am about halfway down the twisting course on flowing water...
... and which abruptly plunks you down in the landing pool at the bottom as Ellen demonstrates below...
We spent about 3 hours here, first in the hot pool, then swimming, sliding the slides, sunning, relaxing, and of course people-watching. This is a wonderful family outing, and seeing the young children frolicking and diving and screeching with delight inside the slides brought back happy recollections of bringing Scott and Steve here several decades ago. Do they even remember our times here?
Monday, January 5, 2009
Volo Bog hike
Another sunny, crisp, calm 20 degree winter day, so Patti, Dave, and I hiked about 6 miles, seeing only 1 other person the entire 2 hours. The floating walkway over the bog was frozen in place, but in places frozen on an angle. Fortunately the ice on the walkway had mostly melted, so no mishaps today.
The forest and prairie sections were mostly on frozen ground, with few snow areas remaining. But as much as I enjoy these winter hikes, even through snow and ice, I am still looking forward to leaving on Sunday for Arkansas, and then with Ellen, heading down to Galveston to catch our cruise boat to 8 days in the Caribbean. After that, it's 5 weeks in Florida before heading back to Arkansas.
The forest and prairie sections were mostly on frozen ground, with few snow areas remaining. But as much as I enjoy these winter hikes, even through snow and ice, I am still looking forward to leaving on Sunday for Arkansas, and then with Ellen, heading down to Galveston to catch our cruise boat to 8 days in the Caribbean. After that, it's 5 weeks in Florida before heading back to Arkansas.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Poem #44: Our Misses
Many are the Misses we all court and woo,
granting them power as we speak and do.
Multitudinous Misses, muddling our lives,
some mere dalliances, others wedded wives.
Perpetual mistresses worming their way
into habit and utterance, night and day.
Alluring, intoxicating, of varying name,
intertwined in our being, yet all are the same.
We know they in-dwell us, we invariably find
these Misses control us, infecting our mind.
So here’s a brief tour down memory lane,
of noteworthy Misses, all Misses of shame.
Miss Judge and Miss Behave, too often we heed,
Miss Place, Miss Direct, Miss Label, and Miss Lead.
Miss Interpret and Miss Hear lead to Miss Understand,
Miss Conduct and Miss Manage often govern our land.
Miss Communicate, Miss Represent, Miss Read, Miss Construe,
Miss Giving, Miss Handle, Miss Inform - we all do.
Miss Calculate, Miss Demeanor, Miss Arrange, Miss Quote,
Miss Use and Miss Chief are others of note.
This multitude of Misses flit and flutter about,
flirting, cajoling, creating self-doubt,
murky and lethal, they wound and destroy
friendships, relationships, our loves, and our joy.
So banish and exile these Misses galore,
find them, acknowledge them, and show them the door.
Honesty and integrity pave the road we should take,
for embracing these Misses is one huge Miss Take.
granting them power as we speak and do.
Multitudinous Misses, muddling our lives,
some mere dalliances, others wedded wives.
Perpetual mistresses worming their way
into habit and utterance, night and day.
Alluring, intoxicating, of varying name,
intertwined in our being, yet all are the same.
We know they in-dwell us, we invariably find
these Misses control us, infecting our mind.
So here’s a brief tour down memory lane,
of noteworthy Misses, all Misses of shame.
Miss Judge and Miss Behave, too often we heed,
Miss Place, Miss Direct, Miss Label, and Miss Lead.
Miss Interpret and Miss Hear lead to Miss Understand,
Miss Conduct and Miss Manage often govern our land.
Miss Communicate, Miss Represent, Miss Read, Miss Construe,
Miss Giving, Miss Handle, Miss Inform - we all do.
Miss Calculate, Miss Demeanor, Miss Arrange, Miss Quote,
Miss Use and Miss Chief are others of note.
This multitude of Misses flit and flutter about,
flirting, cajoling, creating self-doubt,
murky and lethal, they wound and destroy
friendships, relationships, our loves, and our joy.
So banish and exile these Misses galore,
find them, acknowledge them, and show them the door.
Honesty and integrity pave the road we should take,
for embracing these Misses is one huge Miss Take.
copyright 2009 by Chuck Morlock
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Family time...
...today before I leave on my 4 month escape to the southern climes. We assembled at Scott and Sarah's and talked a bit with Steve and Kasia...
... and checked out Scott's progress on his basement model railroad layout. Here's one of the railroad yards. He is modeling the Denver and Rio Grande Western line in the vicinity of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Today he began the benchwork for the center peninsula and next he'll construct the second and third levels which will be built above the rail yard...
Next we drove over to his new model railroad club. For something like 17 years, he had been a member of the 30-year-old Lake County RR Club, but the hour-plus drive from his home grew tiresome, so he found a rather new organization just 10 minutes from home. The Prairie Scale Model Railroaders in Lombard have an immense 7200 square foot former 8 lane bowling alley for their home and are constructing what will be a 2000 foot long rail line. Below is Scott showing us their progress...
They just began laying track on the completed benchwork and have about 100 linear feet down, quite a bit for many layouts, but compared to the eventual 2000 feet they envision, they still have much work to go. Then the scenic elements have to be added, so they'll have plenty to occupy their time for years to come. Their club's website has diagrams of the proposed layout, as well as info and photos here.
Here are Steve, Kasia, Sarah, and Scott posing for photos...
...and even I got into one with my two sons...
Since I'll be gone for all four of their birthdays, I took them to Front Street Cocina in Wheaton as a "down payment" on their upcoming birthday gifts (and thus got a fabulous Mexican dinner for myself, too!)
... and checked out Scott's progress on his basement model railroad layout. Here's one of the railroad yards. He is modeling the Denver and Rio Grande Western line in the vicinity of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Today he began the benchwork for the center peninsula and next he'll construct the second and third levels which will be built above the rail yard...
Next we drove over to his new model railroad club. For something like 17 years, he had been a member of the 30-year-old Lake County RR Club, but the hour-plus drive from his home grew tiresome, so he found a rather new organization just 10 minutes from home. The Prairie Scale Model Railroaders in Lombard have an immense 7200 square foot former 8 lane bowling alley for their home and are constructing what will be a 2000 foot long rail line. Below is Scott showing us their progress...
They just began laying track on the completed benchwork and have about 100 linear feet down, quite a bit for many layouts, but compared to the eventual 2000 feet they envision, they still have much work to go. Then the scenic elements have to be added, so they'll have plenty to occupy their time for years to come. Their club's website has diagrams of the proposed layout, as well as info and photos here.
Here are Steve, Kasia, Sarah, and Scott posing for photos...
...and even I got into one with my two sons...
Since I'll be gone for all four of their birthdays, I took them to Front Street Cocina in Wheaton as a "down payment" on their upcoming birthday gifts (and thus got a fabulous Mexican dinner for myself, too!)
Bushwacking, but not Bushwacked
Our townhouse development now abuts Singing Hills Forest Preserve, thanks to several recent purchases to expand the preserve. Today I again bushwacked from my place across the prairie and through the forest over to the loop trail I roughed out 3 years ago.
As I trudged through the remaining snow, shotgun blasts echoed all around me. My immediate impulse turned me toward the sounds to investigate, because shooting is not allowed on forest preserve property. But after a dozen steps, as I neared the meadow, I stopped, realizing I had no bright clothing on, and I might be mistaken for a critter or hit by an errant shell. The lands recently purchased had for years been signed as a "licensed hunting preserve" and the signs still hang on trees in the area, though hunting is no longer permitted because it is now preserved land. But putting myself in the position of possibly getting shot while alone in the woods is not intelligent behavior, so I retreated out the far side of the woods and returned via home the Millennium Trail.
As I hiked the Millennium Trail, our local Coopers hawk was circling overhead, searching for lunch. What a magnificent creature! (I sure hope the hunters weren't aiming for him!)
As I trudged through the remaining snow, shotgun blasts echoed all around me. My immediate impulse turned me toward the sounds to investigate, because shooting is not allowed on forest preserve property. But after a dozen steps, as I neared the meadow, I stopped, realizing I had no bright clothing on, and I might be mistaken for a critter or hit by an errant shell. The lands recently purchased had for years been signed as a "licensed hunting preserve" and the signs still hang on trees in the area, though hunting is no longer permitted because it is now preserved land. But putting myself in the position of possibly getting shot while alone in the woods is not intelligent behavior, so I retreated out the far side of the woods and returned via home the Millennium Trail.
As I hiked the Millennium Trail, our local Coopers hawk was circling overhead, searching for lunch. What a magnificent creature! (I sure hope the hunters weren't aiming for him!)
Rafting Glenwood Canyon
We rafted with Glenwood Canyon Rafting out of West Glenwood, Colorado. The 10 mile paddle ended at their property along the Colorado River, making a bus ride back unnecessary. Our guide, Betty, was fantastic -- one of the finest I've had in my several dozen raft trips across the country. I've driven I-70 through Glenwood Canyon many times and biked the trail several times, and looking from those vantages, I always thought this more of a float trip than a whitewater trip, but I was incorrect. Even in mid-August, the beginning section, called Shoshone Rapids, still has class 2 and 3 rapids and we got soaked by the very cold water many times, especially when the river was in shadows from the canyon walls. It was wonderful!
When Betty learned we had rafted before, she put Ellen and me in the front positions. Here's a shot just before we hit the standing wave at Man-eater Rapid...
... and then as we are inundated by the wall of water...
Besides rafts, you could also do the lower section of the trip (after Shoshone Rapids) in an inflatable kayak or "duckie" as seen here...
Just before the take-out point, the city re-engineered the river, adding a "wall" to create a 4 foot drop and a resulting wave for the whitewater kayakers. Here's a shot looking back after we went over the rock wall. (You can see some kayakers on the right.)
Friday, January 2, 2009
Hiking' the Hollows Again..
...on another beautiful, crisp winter morning. The six miles and 2+ hours passed quickly thanks to sparkling conversation covering the past week's activities and the upcoming trips we'd be on. Below are Len and Dave as we pass some flowing water even though it's only 25 degrees out. No deer sightings today, but we were surprised at seeing two Bluebirds mixed among the usual winter avian residents.
And here the group tops one of the hills as we near the end of the hike. Ellen has gone ahead to visit relatives in Missouri and then on to Arkansas to re-open her place after an absence of several months. I'll be rejoining her there in a a week or so.
After the hike, we enjoyed a wonderful meal and more conversation at Colonial Cafe in Crystal Lake.
And here the group tops one of the hills as we near the end of the hike. Ellen has gone ahead to visit relatives in Missouri and then on to Arkansas to re-open her place after an absence of several months. I'll be rejoining her there in a a week or so.
After the hike, we enjoyed a wonderful meal and more conversation at Colonial Cafe in Crystal Lake.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Back in the Year 1908...
Many are happy to see Year 2008 go away. Though many have suffered greatly during 2008, here's a reminder of what we do have available now to improve our lives, compared to what was available a hundred years ago. Perhaps there is much for which we should be grateful.
The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
The average wage in 1908 was 22 cents per hour.
Sugar cost only four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
But the average worker only made between $200 and $400 per year. ( A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.)
Ninety percent of all doctors had no college education. (Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as “substandard.")
More than 95 percent of all births took place at home.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Five leading causes of death were pneumonia and influenza, tuberculosis, diarrhea, heart disease, and stroke.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.
The American flag had 45 stars.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30.
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write.
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. (Back then pharmacists said, “Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health.”)
Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help. There were about 230 reported murders in the entire USA.
This post was pasted from an email and has traveled around the world in a matter of seconds. Now try to imagine what life may be like another 100 years from now in 2108.
IT STAGGERS MY MIND!
IT STAGGERS MY MIND!
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