Tuesday, October 25, 2005
The last few days have been a pain. Hard to concentrate. Somewhat obsessing about my 4Runner. Apparently seasonal affective disorder is starting to kick in. Time to get serious about getting regular sleep, meals, exercise and the rest. Need to get more organized and stay busy; can't let things get behind or start to build up!
Friday, October 21, 2005
Sublime
Taking a moment to reflect on life, it occurs to me that things are rarely as they seem; sometimes things are far less complicated than they appear. Sometimes an avalanche of events can be the result of just one small thing. Say you came home one day and discovered that your house had been completely destroyed--all because of a small leak in your gas line that filled the house until the pilot light ignited a huge explosion; a small hole in a metal pipe levels a building and turns your life upside down...the complex mayhem is traced back to one simple small hole.
On the other hand, even some of the most seemingly insignificant things can have intricate complexity--a plethora of minute details. The seemingly primitive one-celled protozoa is an amazing biological machine whose mechanisms of genes and proteins and chemical structures cannot be duplicated by human creation. Some of the most basic biological and physical phenomenon have underlying causes that elude a real understanding.
Life is wonderfully sublime.
Thinking about the journey thus far, I am thankful for a road that has been far from straightforward. Rocky paths, deep ravines, high mountains, cold rivers, scorched deserts, icy blizzards, rainy jungles, cutting winds, sticky mud, tangled brambles, lazy streams, shady trees, sunny glades, crisp snow, gentle rain, glistening dew, rustling leaves, echoing caverns, rolling waves, fluffy clouds, and starry nights are just a few of the things to experience along the way. Each experience teaches something different: to walk gently, to look heavenward, to look beyond your feet, to wait, to dive in, to rest, to be prepared, to swat the bugs, to shield yourself, to endure, to be patient, to relax, to listen, to soak in the warmth, to breath deeply, to laugh, to dance, to reach out, to run, to sing, to really live...
On the other hand, even some of the most seemingly insignificant things can have intricate complexity--a plethora of minute details. The seemingly primitive one-celled protozoa is an amazing biological machine whose mechanisms of genes and proteins and chemical structures cannot be duplicated by human creation. Some of the most basic biological and physical phenomenon have underlying causes that elude a real understanding.
Life is wonderfully sublime.
Thinking about the journey thus far, I am thankful for a road that has been far from straightforward. Rocky paths, deep ravines, high mountains, cold rivers, scorched deserts, icy blizzards, rainy jungles, cutting winds, sticky mud, tangled brambles, lazy streams, shady trees, sunny glades, crisp snow, gentle rain, glistening dew, rustling leaves, echoing caverns, rolling waves, fluffy clouds, and starry nights are just a few of the things to experience along the way. Each experience teaches something different: to walk gently, to look heavenward, to look beyond your feet, to wait, to dive in, to rest, to be prepared, to swat the bugs, to shield yourself, to endure, to be patient, to relax, to listen, to soak in the warmth, to breath deeply, to laugh, to dance, to reach out, to run, to sing, to really live...
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Fixing 4 Wheels
I worked a bit on my 4Runner, got most of the dent out of the roof and put the spare tire on the rear (still need to get two replacement rims/tires)... I'm feeling much more positive about this. I think things might actually work out so the 4Runner will be back in business after some possibly expensive repairs.
I remember how discouraged I was when I rolled it...torturing myself thinking how things might have been "if only I had..." Such fruitless mental discouragements. I guess I'm still pretty disappointed about it, but at least it doesn't haunt my dreams or anything. Still, I doubt I shall soon forget the experience and I'll have a nice scar on my hand to remind me for quite some time.
I remember how discouraged I was when I rolled it...torturing myself thinking how things might have been "if only I had..." Such fruitless mental discouragements. I guess I'm still pretty disappointed about it, but at least it doesn't haunt my dreams or anything. Still, I doubt I shall soon forget the experience and I'll have a nice scar on my hand to remind me for quite some time.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Adventure
My poor 4Runner has become a cripple. Coming back from camping Saturday night I swerved to miss Michael and Marci's car (which had slid out and stopped on the gravel at a corner) and ended up sliding, then fishtailing, and then going into the ditch and rolling over completely once. I think the extra 4-500 lbs of weight of people and camping gear in the back contributed to making the 4Runner fishtail. Fortunately nobody was seriously injured. Carl didn't have his seatbelt on but he only got a badly bruised shoulder. There were other bumps and bruises and I got a bit of my hand scraped off but it's still amazing. And my laptop got flung through my window and survived with only some dents...
The 4Runner, though, didn't fare as well. It's gonna take some major work if it's going to ride again...
The 4Runner, though, didn't fare as well. It's gonna take some major work if it's going to ride again...
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Slide and Roll
Grey gravel
Dark trees
Red lights
Blur and swerve
Slide shake wander
As the world quickly slows
Airborn floating glass
Tumbling and rolling
Stop
Dust settles
Landing upright
The world is upside-dow
Dark trees
Red lights
Blur and swerve
Slide shake wander
As the world quickly slows
Airborn floating glass
Tumbling and rolling
Stop
Dust settles
Landing upright
The world is upside-dow
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Myster College Theater 5000
Have you seen Tyler Webster and Lance Ivy in "Mystery College Theater 5000"? If you haven't, then it's too late... Anyway, it's essentially just Tyler and Lance watching "Plan 9 From Outer Space" and giving a commentary throughout. Incidentally, "Plan 9 From Outer Space" is apparently sold only by its reputation as the worst movie ever made. I have little reason to disagree.
On a similar but entirely different note, I had a good time with the lovely Kristen. For some reason I ended up talking a lot, which seems odd considering I'm an introvert. But then shyness and introversion are different things, I suppose. The downside is that I didn't have as much opportunity to find out a lot about Kristen. I guess I'll have to do that next time!
On a similar but entirely different note, I had a good time with the lovely Kristen. For some reason I ended up talking a lot, which seems odd considering I'm an introvert. But then shyness and introversion are different things, I suppose. The downside is that I didn't have as much opportunity to find out a lot about Kristen. I guess I'll have to do that next time!
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Snow In October
No camping. Day hike. We went up to Oregon Butte and it was awesome. Well, I liked it at least. The drive was great, nice windy gravel roads with puddles to splash through. My 4Runner is muddy to prove it. Anyway, it was drizzling when we got to the trailhead and the trail was pretty muddy which made the climb all the more strenuous. (My new Kelty backpack seems to be doing pretty well. I loaded it up and decided to see how well it fit, and do a little conditioning too...) Once we got up farther the rain turned to snow and the pessimist of our number mentioned we might think of heading back... *ha*ha*ha* ...turn back...riiight... so we kept going.
There's this lookout shack/hut? at the top of Oregon Butte, but it's locked up since the fire season is pretty much over. It'd probably be fun to camp out up there sometime if the weather is good. Anyway, the snow was falling really well up there with nice big flakes. It was only about 1-2ºC (35ºF) so the snow probably won't stay. Even so, I'm looking forward to a promisingly snowy winter.
Good weekend so far...I should see if I can get another date with that hot girl from last night...
There's this lookout shack/hut? at the top of Oregon Butte, but it's locked up since the fire season is pretty much over. It'd probably be fun to camp out up there sometime if the weather is good. Anyway, the snow was falling really well up there with nice big flakes. It was only about 1-2ºC (35ºF) so the snow probably won't stay. Even so, I'm looking forward to a promisingly snowy winter.
Good weekend so far...I should see if I can get another date with that hot girl from last night...
Camping, Raining, Blind Date
I went on a group blind date after Friday vespers. I was originally going to leave to go backpacking but the rain and forecasts of rain dampened that plan. The date thing was fun but I forgot something important; one good way not to impress someone is to have it on your mind that you want to impress them. It really puts you in a foreign situation because you end up not being yourself, maybe a pseudo-impersonation of someone similar to you but not yourself.
Yeah. So I probably flummoxed somewhat. C'est la vie? It was still fun and I can say I had a hot date instead of a rained out tent.
Yeah. So I probably flummoxed somewhat. C'est la vie? It was still fun and I can say I had a hot date instead of a rained out tent.