Importance of Being Lucky

I am listening to my 3 small children squabbling and at the same time looking at an old picture of me holding a 20 lb. steelhead on the banks of the Deschutes River (two truly mutually exclusive experiences). These things remind me that through a remarkable accident of birth I am able to indulge in these thoughts/pastimes and not eke out a subsistence life elsewhere in the world. We (I) are (am) stunningly lucky to dream about and occasionally even do those things that bring us the most pleasure and fulfillment in life. Mine are easy; fishing, road-biking, reading, cross-country skiing and running (all with my kids). The latter two I am working back into as my heart is not where it used to be ~ but I will get it there. I think I mentioned it before now in this Blog but coming up on two years ago I had my aortic heart valve replaced with a porcine (read, "It used to belong to a pig") valve because I had a congenital defect I knew nothing about. The alternative was, "You have 12 months to live", hence the "Lucky" part. Anyway, I can exercise but the hardest part seems to be getting into good enough shape to assimilate oxygen while exercising. It is simply harder to breathe than it used to be, although I am told that I can work up to it. We shall see .......................A

Depression

I suppose things could be worse, but the thought of four more Bush years has me dreaming of Canada and New Zealand. I have a haunting nightmare of the Red/Blue US electoral map - is it just me or does anyone else see the Union/Confederate comparison here? In my dream Carl Jung is explaining to an audience that, on average, the empirically determined IQ of the red states is 94, while the corresponding IQ value for the blue states is 132. The audience erupts into a kind of an academic riot (I later realize the presentation hall is on the Mississippi State campus). Everything disappears into a fog until I awake with my foot blown off on the front lines of the Civil War of 2005................. A thinks he maybe should start drinking again.

Hard to Believe

I suppose it's the excitement of the debates or the volume of email I am getting from MoveOn.org, but I have not made it to the keyboard. I will improve this weekend. Anyway, still thinking a lot about Don. His memory motivated me to call a couple people I hadn't spoken to in a long time. One is Ross Hawkins who is a very wonderful spirit - living up in Portland (where I met him ) and running an eclectic and equally wonderful publishing house (www.arnicapublishing.com). I also called another good friend, Tom Harper from Berkeley. Tom, Don and I worked together at the same small "science project" in Emeryville. Both doing well and new (old) threads to the tapestry. Definitely members of the tribe. Then there is Balch who is out there somewhere doing webcams and Putnam smoking a bowl and howling at the television. later .... A

Music and Poetry

A few years ago I read in an interview with Gary Snyder his answer to a question about the demise of poetry. His response was something like, "What do you think popular music is? Poetry is more popular than it has ever been". Now, to music. I am a true non-explorer of contemporary music of the past 20 years. I tend to listen to stuff I happen to hear on the internet or very obscure stuff. Being a big dead-head I tried Phish ... sorry, don't get it Trey. Then I bought a couple of Dave Matthews albums. I am as blown-away as seeing Terry Haggerty play up in Marin. Really good. and I am exploring. It's hard for me to believe that he's been playing for a dozen years and I hadn't bothered. Oh well. At least he's still alive an making music. Marian and I are listening right now. ....A

Marian and Dad

We are looking at the blog and trying to figure out what to do and what to write today.

Below the glacier 

Chugach I think 

Kenai - big Chinook - In my mind I see Charlie catching cutthroat under this tree. I have an extensive dream-life that ought to come out

How Does the Song Go?

Where Does the Time Go?

You would think I have been in prison or something, not having blogged for close to 3 weeks. Have kept up riding the bike and enjoying my family now that they have returned from Alaska. My daughter did at least get a shot of the Kenai (for my soul). All the 3 weeks they were there they had clear weather which I think may be some kind of a record. Denali was visible all of the time and I missed it. I will get some pictures up. Republican convention is coming up so look out for the FBI at your door! "'Scuse me sir but we just want to know what your intentions are when you're in New York for the convention." Must have something to do with the Patriot Act............. A

Next few of southern San Francisco Bay today

Trynig to get a cool reflection with a mini picsel pocketPC cam - In the distance are some of the old evaporation salt ponds. I grew up around here and 30 years ago this area was a dump and is now a "wilderness area". If you go down 2 feet in the mud you'll glow in the dark. I think there are more heavy metals here than in Iraq.

Another 

Next shot 

Next 

Baylands this morning 

Pulgas Water Temple (next few)

Inviting, eh?

another 

Family is near Denali, while August works and rides his bike

They are going ....

Here is where.... 

Wireless Blogging

Here I am blogging from the foothills of the California Coast Range. Now I need to figure out how to upload pictures from the device........A