Friday was spouse's day off. We hiked with the "Back By 11" hiking group - a big two miles in Rendija Canyon. I showed them the well or sinkhole or whatever it is. Saw a LL hiker go by in her bra - not sports bra but underwear bra! She's trying to make Vitamin D. Only in Los Alamos can a woman hike alone on a trail in her bra and not get accosted!
Spouse and I are on the hook to lead this group on Friday the 13th. I'm planning nearby hikes to do in case I get the old line about "Will we be back by 11?" Come on guys - be more dedicated than that!!
We went to Santa Fe afterward. The Sunflower Market stop included buying lots of melons, on sale for 88 cents a pound. We're having a melon marathon all this weekend!
After last night's big monsoonal rain, I noticed some moisture near the furnace vent pipe. Will have to call the roofer next week to ask him to check it out.
Today I hiked on the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail, over to the mesa east of the Industrial Park (the one leading to the Hamilton Mesa Trail). It's so neat that I finally have decent trails to hike without driving anywhere! Spouse and I will hike somewhere tomorrow.
Mountain mahogany's twisty, feathery seed heads are resplendent this time of year. Found a huge, dead bug to show grandson. He'll be at camp next week but I'm saving it in a jar of vinegar to show him next week.
After walking, I did time in the kitchen, making a huge eggplant stew and hummous. Spouse even had some and liked it.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Addicted to Pajarito Mountain
Another day, another explore...such a hard life! I got a late start - 11:40 am from the parking lot. There was a mix of dark clouds, white clouds and blue sky. Someone in the parking lot told me I was going to get wet. It did rain but not very hard and there was no lightning and then it stopped. I started up the Zero Road East from the Lodge and took a right at the side road near Boomer.
I went up the side road to where it intersected the Zero Road East higher up and then walked that for a short distance to another side road, turning right and then followed that to an intersection where yesterday I turned right but today I went left instead.
Truthfully, I don't know how much of this road system I'm learning because I wander here and there, back and forth. If I keep at it, I should eventually gain some familiarity.
I saw two deer bucks that bounded off diagonally down a ski slope when they heard me. I've seen a number of bucks on Pajarito, including a human one who didn't see me and was almost ready to unzip his fly until I made noises to warn him off!!
I was enchanted by a tall thistle with fading yellow flowers, laden with orange and black fritillary butterflies. There was even a bumblebee on it.
I saw two felsenmeers, one near Aspen Lift that I walked across - they actually lop off the young trees and use it as a ski run. Wouldn't the warning signs about obstacles, natural and man-made, be more truthful if they told skiers that huge rocks lay under the snow?
This reminds me that I saw the other day a tree with a plaque on it saying the tree belongs to Joel Prichard, who died in December 2000, and it thanks all who tried to save him. Sad.
I got up to Bruce's Blvd. West and saw all the connections it makes to the back of the mountain. The snow-making puddle is as ugly as ever and still unfilled.
I started to follow the Logging Road down the west side of the mountain but since the weather was still holding, I got waylaid by yet another side road that eventually went back to the Logging Road.
I got back to the car at 2:23 pm. and did a little over 4 miles. The sky was dark and cloudy and occasional thunder-rumbles could be heard - the second shift was coming! Back home, though, it never rained.
Pajarito is a very rocky mountain. That can be seen on all the road surfaces and the felsenmeers. Really, rather than being like an isolated, towering peak, it's more like a long, east-west ridge with a couple of over 10,000' bumps on it.
I'm beginning to recognize which ski lift is which - Lone Spruce and Mother are both blue and two seaters. Aspen is black and a 4 seater. I need to check out Townsight but haven't made it over there lately.
I went up the side road to where it intersected the Zero Road East higher up and then walked that for a short distance to another side road, turning right and then followed that to an intersection where yesterday I turned right but today I went left instead.
Truthfully, I don't know how much of this road system I'm learning because I wander here and there, back and forth. If I keep at it, I should eventually gain some familiarity.
I saw two deer bucks that bounded off diagonally down a ski slope when they heard me. I've seen a number of bucks on Pajarito, including a human one who didn't see me and was almost ready to unzip his fly until I made noises to warn him off!!
I was enchanted by a tall thistle with fading yellow flowers, laden with orange and black fritillary butterflies. There was even a bumblebee on it.
I saw two felsenmeers, one near Aspen Lift that I walked across - they actually lop off the young trees and use it as a ski run. Wouldn't the warning signs about obstacles, natural and man-made, be more truthful if they told skiers that huge rocks lay under the snow?
This reminds me that I saw the other day a tree with a plaque on it saying the tree belongs to Joel Prichard, who died in December 2000, and it thanks all who tried to save him. Sad.
I got up to Bruce's Blvd. West and saw all the connections it makes to the back of the mountain. The snow-making puddle is as ugly as ever and still unfilled.
I started to follow the Logging Road down the west side of the mountain but since the weather was still holding, I got waylaid by yet another side road that eventually went back to the Logging Road.
I got back to the car at 2:23 pm. and did a little over 4 miles. The sky was dark and cloudy and occasional thunder-rumbles could be heard - the second shift was coming! Back home, though, it never rained.
Pajarito is a very rocky mountain. That can be seen on all the road surfaces and the felsenmeers. Really, rather than being like an isolated, towering peak, it's more like a long, east-west ridge with a couple of over 10,000' bumps on it.
I'm beginning to recognize which ski lift is which - Lone Spruce and Mother are both blue and two seaters. Aspen is black and a 4 seater. I need to check out Townsight but haven't made it over there lately.
Death Camas Revisited
It turns out that wild onion also has long, flat, narrow basal leaves that are similar to the death camas. The wild onion's flower stem is round and stiff just like those of the death camas and not hollow like a green onion. This helps me understand how someone could confuse the two if they pick the plant in the early spring before the flowers appear.
On Pajarito Mountain today, I picked the basal leaves and flower stem of a death camas and sniffed but could detect no onion odor. I "washed" my fingers off on wet vegetation of golden banner since I didn't know which part of the death camas is poisonous.
Now I read in Wikipedia that all parts of the plant are poisonous.
On Pajarito Mountain today, I picked the basal leaves and flower stem of a death camas and sniffed but could detect no onion odor. I "washed" my fingers off on wet vegetation of golden banner since I didn't know which part of the death camas is poisonous.
Now I read in Wikipedia that all parts of the plant are poisonous.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Philosophical Musings
What does life mean? Is it just finding ways to entertain myself?
How will spouse's retirement work out with the constant sound of the TV on?
Wish I had a magic wand to change everything.
Feel like I'm marking time sometimes.
Appreciate sleep and dreams so much now.
When tired, feel hopeless.
Husband wants to know everything I write.
Blogging is a way to get published. Whether or not anyone reads it is beside the point!! ; D
How will spouse's retirement work out with the constant sound of the TV on?
Wish I had a magic wand to change everything.
Feel like I'm marking time sometimes.
Appreciate sleep and dreams so much now.
When tired, feel hopeless.
Husband wants to know everything I write.
Blogging is a way to get published. Whether or not anyone reads it is beside the point!! ; D
Yada, Yada, Ya - So Goes My Blog's Credo
Here is the now defunct credo for my now defunct Wild Child Woman blog:
For the feeling of longing and yearning and the revving of juices that I get while driving and a song comes on the radio that makes me turn up the volume and sing along. That is the undertone of my life but sometimes (a lot of times!), my Whine Child nature takes over.
It's defunct because I decided that I couldn't live up to being a Wild Child, even though it's true part of the time. The Whine Child part, I could easily live up to!
Some of the time, though, I'm just a tired and mildly depressed senior citizen. I know that I feel that way right now because I didn't sleep well last night. I know I'll feel better in the morning. Even though I had a beautiful hike today with a local group and enjoyed it, I now feel let-down and sad.
For the feeling of longing and yearning and the revving of juices that I get while driving and a song comes on the radio that makes me turn up the volume and sing along. That is the undertone of my life but sometimes (a lot of times!), my Whine Child nature takes over.
It's defunct because I decided that I couldn't live up to being a Wild Child, even though it's true part of the time. The Whine Child part, I could easily live up to!
Some of the time, though, I'm just a tired and mildly depressed senior citizen. I know that I feel that way right now because I didn't sleep well last night. I know I'll feel better in the morning. Even though I had a beautiful hike today with a local group and enjoyed it, I now feel let-down and sad.
Trail 113
This trail is variously called Bland-Frijoles or Alamos. I took our grandson on it. One hiker's GPS posted 5 miles and 900' elevation gain; in otherwords, it was a tough hike but 9 year old grandson made it!
Of course, he did a tiny amount of kvetching but that's understandable as his first choice of what to do today was to go to the Activity Center and play video games.
He didn't like that I insisted on stopping in the shade on the way up for water breaks - got querulous about that! He also told me how much he didn't like the uphill by saying that he wanted to jump off the trail into the canyon. He did agree at the end, though, that living through the hike was better than ending it all by falling into the canyon!
I took him to McD's for a wildberry smoothie - he earned it!! He's here now, vegging out, waiting for his Dad to come pick him up.
There were at least 14 people on the hike, 5 cars and 2 dogs (the dogs had a good dip in the stream at lunch). The weather was good but warm on the uphill - we all sweated a lot.
The hiking leader took us up to the gate into Pines, private property in the national forest that's a holdover from the homesteading era. As one hiker explained, any land that was flat wasn't included in the forest reserve in 1906 but was opened up for homesteading.
Some residents were at the gate and one talked with us. Says she's been walking the area for 35 years yet seemed in awe that we had walked down the trail we did. Said if she didn't have to get to lunch by 1 pm, would have taken us in to show us around (but oddly, didn't seem to want to answer any questions like how many buildings are behind the fence). Also "kiddingly" said that she had lots of guns and didn't want to have to shoot us - ha, ha!! She did give her contact info to the hiking leader. The hiking leader is very enthralled with Pines and would like to learn more.
What a deal to live in your own private reserve in the national forest - there are several neighbors that I would like to lock out and never have to deal with again. Sometimes modern life is like living in a fish bowl. How awesome to have your own private land in the midst of all the public land. Although, as a hiker, I absolutely hate it!! ; D
Afterward, we walked a little further down Cochiti Canyon to where Trail 113 resumes its travels, ascending steeply to Dome Road. There we had lunch by a stream.
On the drive back on FR36 and Dome Road, I had fond memories of past adventures and explores all along in that area. I was so grateful to be given a ride by a husband-wife pair who are inveterate mountaineers, hikers, bicyclists and cross country skiers.
Of course, he did a tiny amount of kvetching but that's understandable as his first choice of what to do today was to go to the Activity Center and play video games.
He didn't like that I insisted on stopping in the shade on the way up for water breaks - got querulous about that! He also told me how much he didn't like the uphill by saying that he wanted to jump off the trail into the canyon. He did agree at the end, though, that living through the hike was better than ending it all by falling into the canyon!
I took him to McD's for a wildberry smoothie - he earned it!! He's here now, vegging out, waiting for his Dad to come pick him up.
There were at least 14 people on the hike, 5 cars and 2 dogs (the dogs had a good dip in the stream at lunch). The weather was good but warm on the uphill - we all sweated a lot.
The hiking leader took us up to the gate into Pines, private property in the national forest that's a holdover from the homesteading era. As one hiker explained, any land that was flat wasn't included in the forest reserve in 1906 but was opened up for homesteading.
Some residents were at the gate and one talked with us. Says she's been walking the area for 35 years yet seemed in awe that we had walked down the trail we did. Said if she didn't have to get to lunch by 1 pm, would have taken us in to show us around (but oddly, didn't seem to want to answer any questions like how many buildings are behind the fence). Also "kiddingly" said that she had lots of guns and didn't want to have to shoot us - ha, ha!! She did give her contact info to the hiking leader. The hiking leader is very enthralled with Pines and would like to learn more.
What a deal to live in your own private reserve in the national forest - there are several neighbors that I would like to lock out and never have to deal with again. Sometimes modern life is like living in a fish bowl. How awesome to have your own private land in the midst of all the public land. Although, as a hiker, I absolutely hate it!! ; D
Afterward, we walked a little further down Cochiti Canyon to where Trail 113 resumes its travels, ascending steeply to Dome Road. There we had lunch by a stream.
On the drive back on FR36 and Dome Road, I had fond memories of past adventures and explores all along in that area. I was so grateful to be given a ride by a husband-wife pair who are inveterate mountaineers, hikers, bicyclists and cross country skiers.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Still Exploring Pajarito Mountain
I worked on learning some of the side jeep roads today. The side roads often turn into trails when they cross the ski runs. I still have lots more side roads to walk. I found a particularly good one that starts off Zero Road East (the third side road to the right from the Lodge, counting as the first the one that traverses across the Beginner Ski Run) and then meets it again further up, well below the antennas. It wasn't as rocky as some of the side roads.
Lots of death camas blooming on the ski runs. I'm not sure how death camas and wild onion are confused. Of course, I'm viewing a mature plant - what do the leaves look like when the plant is just coming up in the Spring? I like how the bottom third of the six white petals are kissed by green - pretty!
I saw toadstools popping but didn't yet notice any mushrooms that looked edible.
The bike trails that are all over the mountain are scarily steep. I like my knees too much to ruin them by walking down the bike trails but part of my explorations may one day include going up them. The side roads are lots more knee-friendly!
Lots of death camas blooming on the ski runs. I'm not sure how death camas and wild onion are confused. Of course, I'm viewing a mature plant - what do the leaves look like when the plant is just coming up in the Spring? I like how the bottom third of the six white petals are kissed by green - pretty!
I saw toadstools popping but didn't yet notice any mushrooms that looked edible.
The bike trails that are all over the mountain are scarily steep. I like my knees too much to ruin them by walking down the bike trails but part of my explorations may one day include going up them. The side roads are lots more knee-friendly!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Monsoon Here - At Last!
Woke at 7 am to go up to Pajarito Mountain Ski Area with spouse, where we would meet with my friend. Spouse took the lift up with her. She's old enough that they knew to stop the Aspen Lift at the top so she could safely disembark. They walked over to look at the snow-making retention pond - butt ugly with a chain link fence around it.
Meantime, I hoofed up to the back of the mountain via the Zero Road East and then back down to the Aspen Lift picnic deck where they were waiting for me (but not for long).
It rained some - my golf umbrella was wonderful as usual. Friend and I walked and talked together on the way down. Husband walked well ahead of us most of the time as he felt he couldn't walk downhill as slowly as we were.
Friend and I had hoped to scope out from "on high" the mysterious triangle of land between Cañada Bonita and Quemazon canyons that we hope to hike to some day. It's below and north of Pajarito Mountain and on a clear day, we'd have enjoyed studying the lay of the land with our binoculars but the overcast skies didn't permit that. As my friend said back at the parking lot, it was a walk filled with "atmosphere" (probably meaning in the literal sense, walking through clouds, as well as figuratively!) Afterward, my friend went over to FR181/American Springs Road to check on some invasive musk thistle growing alongside the road.
Meantime, I hoofed up to the back of the mountain via the Zero Road East and then back down to the Aspen Lift picnic deck where they were waiting for me (but not for long).
It rained some - my golf umbrella was wonderful as usual. Friend and I walked and talked together on the way down. Husband walked well ahead of us most of the time as he felt he couldn't walk downhill as slowly as we were.
Friend and I had hoped to scope out from "on high" the mysterious triangle of land between Cañada Bonita and Quemazon canyons that we hope to hike to some day. It's below and north of Pajarito Mountain and on a clear day, we'd have enjoyed studying the lay of the land with our binoculars but the overcast skies didn't permit that. As my friend said back at the parking lot, it was a walk filled with "atmosphere" (probably meaning in the literal sense, walking through clouds, as well as figuratively!) Afterward, my friend went over to FR181/American Springs Road to check on some invasive musk thistle growing alongside the road.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Big Tree Hug
Hiked Cañada Bonita Trail to find biggest spruce tree in Los Alamos county. Hiking buddy says her friend that volunteers at PEEC calls them "potato chip" trees because of the appearance of the peeling, gray scales on the tree bark. That's what we called them the whole day.
First we measured an aspen but she forgot to take its portrait which will mean another trip back but it's possible she'll go alone or the PEEC friend may accompany her.
Truthfully, I was ready to give the whole thing up because measuring the trunk circumference, the tree height and the branch spread (she has newly added that data point) seems so inexact and that upsets me. I didn't outright say "I quit!" but when I gently groused about the inexactness, she reassured me that we didn't have to be exact but the idea was just to get a grip on which tree species was the biggest we found. If the state big tree program wants to, she said, they will then come out and do precise measurements. I still don't want to do the big tree measurements but I was more laissez faire after that. Also, I let her do the business to "measure" the tree height - felt loads better not having to do that!
Then we wandered into the woods along the fence line that marks the boundary between the Santa Fe National Forest and the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Lots of huge stumps in that area! We went uphill and I would have liked to continue uphill along the fence line area as it was fairly easy to walk, having been cleared for a fireline. Instead, we headed downhill to find the spruces that another volunteer had given her the UTM's for.
The spruces were impressive and we did our "measurements". Part of our determining if we need to measure a tree is that we both "hug" it tightly from opposite sides to see how much our hands overlap - imagine seeing two old ladies in the woods, hugging a tree for all they are worth!
We started hearing thunder rumbling so we headed back but made a major boo boo in following the XC ski trail that tortuously wanders back to the main trail. Then it started to rain but not too hard and not too bad on the thunder. We eventually took a short cut trail to the main trail. Back at my car, we donned plastic grocery bags on our feet to keep mud off the rugs and headed back to town. We ate our lunch in the car on the drive down - Ginger Snap Lara Bars.
Notable: The purple Mariposa lilies were still putting on an amazing display. There were so many of them. Fritillary butterflies were also in abundance on their beloved sneezeweed flowers.
First we measured an aspen but she forgot to take its portrait which will mean another trip back but it's possible she'll go alone or the PEEC friend may accompany her.
Truthfully, I was ready to give the whole thing up because measuring the trunk circumference, the tree height and the branch spread (she has newly added that data point) seems so inexact and that upsets me. I didn't outright say "I quit!" but when I gently groused about the inexactness, she reassured me that we didn't have to be exact but the idea was just to get a grip on which tree species was the biggest we found. If the state big tree program wants to, she said, they will then come out and do precise measurements. I still don't want to do the big tree measurements but I was more laissez faire after that. Also, I let her do the business to "measure" the tree height - felt loads better not having to do that!
Then we wandered into the woods along the fence line that marks the boundary between the Santa Fe National Forest and the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Lots of huge stumps in that area! We went uphill and I would have liked to continue uphill along the fence line area as it was fairly easy to walk, having been cleared for a fireline. Instead, we headed downhill to find the spruces that another volunteer had given her the UTM's for.
The spruces were impressive and we did our "measurements". Part of our determining if we need to measure a tree is that we both "hug" it tightly from opposite sides to see how much our hands overlap - imagine seeing two old ladies in the woods, hugging a tree for all they are worth!
We started hearing thunder rumbling so we headed back but made a major boo boo in following the XC ski trail that tortuously wanders back to the main trail. Then it started to rain but not too hard and not too bad on the thunder. We eventually took a short cut trail to the main trail. Back at my car, we donned plastic grocery bags on our feet to keep mud off the rugs and headed back to town. We ate our lunch in the car on the drive down - Ginger Snap Lara Bars.
Notable: The purple Mariposa lilies were still putting on an amazing display. There were so many of them. Fritillary butterflies were also in abundance on their beloved sneezeweed flowers.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Way Too Short a Group Hike
Husband wanted to hike with BESC hiking group which entailed my getting up at 6 am to be at the meeting place by 8 am. That early time is not ideal but it certainly gets us on and off the trail before a thunderstorm. (Although...it's looked like rain all afternoon but no moisture has yet been pulled out of the clouds.)
The hiking leader wanted to take us on a special trail in the Santa Fe National Forest that was made in honor of her deceased husband; but the trail now has a more prosaic name - Trail 121 because the forest service decided it was a no no to name the trail after her husband.
Husband and I drove by ourselves into the Jemez Mountains to the trailhead, about 13 miles from the Back Gate in Los Alamos. We didn't offer anyone a ride because they may have wanted to get back earlier and probably wouldn't have wanted to walk 4 miles like I do.
We got to the trailhead first and then watched as the hiking leader's Subaru whizzed past. The trailhead parking lot is small and comes up suddenly.
There were 5 people in her car. I knew 3 of them already and the other two were new to me. Women outnumbered men.
At first the trail is really distinct and we easily followed it but quickly ended up in a meadow with no obvious trail so we moseyed through the meadow, over to walk along the grazing fence, going as far as the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) boundary fence.
People commented on the fence signs which say that access is only with a valid permit. After the hike, the hiking leader planned to drive a 2 mile, bumpy road into the Preserve's Valle Grande Visitor Center to ask what in the world the signs mean when they are posted at the free VCNP trails - Valle Grande and Coyote Call. Last week, the group had turned away from walking the Valle Grande free trail because of these blasted signs!
I've started out on Trail 121 with another hiking group but they take off over a ridge and follow a path down into the popular Las Conchas-East Fork Trail area. That is a longer hike then the stroll we did today which was only a little over a mile.
Back at the cars, one of the hikers worried that she wouldn't get back to LA by 11 am. In addition to going to the visitor center, the hiking leader than wanted to hike some on the Coyote Call Trail to make up for the short hike. I'm not sure what transpired because husband and I went to the Corral Canyon Trail so I could finish my daily 4 miles.
Husband breathes really hard while hiking uphill at high altitude (around 8,300' but we live at 7,200') and other than his heavy breathing, not much talking goes on unless I do it. He stopped after about a mile in but I continued on to the intersection of FR282, Armijo Road (goes down into Peralta Canyon) and Peralta Road which is also called FR280.
I practiced what I would say if I ran into Elmer Armijo out tooling around on his ATV - "Hola, Elmer Armijo, mi amigo!!" I wonder if Elmer bought a house in Sierra de los Pinos and moved from Peña Blanca? His family has some beautiful acreage in Peralta Canyon.
Husband had agreed to walk back on the Calzada Trail but he wasn't impressed by my incompetent attempts to FIND the trail. The connector trail to it from Corral Canyon is overgrown. My first attempt shortly took me right back to Corral Canyon.
I was going to forget about it but being right there, on the ground so to speak, I really wanted to backtrack to try to figure out how to get on the Calzada Trail. As I poked around in the woods - a mess of downed trees - husband made the mistake of saying irritatedly to save it for another day. That only made me want to find it more, while I was there and the weather was holding beautifully.
After briefly checking the area, I did find the Calzada Trail sign and bid adieu to husband who continued back on the trail that brung him! (Seeing the overgrowth, I was having my suspicions that he wouldn't like the Calzada Trail - especially since he hadn't worn his hiking boots.)
Only problem was that it turned out that I was following the UPPER Calzada Trail which goes the opposite direction of where I WANTED to go. Because of all the vegetation growth, I somehow missed the LOWER Calzada Trail coming in.
For a while, though, I thought the trail was just following an uphill switchback and would eventually, sensibly, turn around and go in the RIGHT direction! When I finally admitted that I was only kidding myself, I didn't really care and just wanted so badly to continue following the Calzada Trail the WRONG WAY but I turned around. After some false starts, I eventually stumbled upon the lower trail by heading downhill toward Corral Canyon. I don't walk the trail often enough to remember its tricks!
I continued back uneventfully to where husband was gesticulating to me from the fenceline - he probably thought I was lost! - after waiting in the car for 20 minutes.
I know a woman, very busy, who may want to walk the Calzada Trail with me one day because now I HAVE to go back. Wonder if I could talk her into Las Conchas Canyon and Las Conchas Peak too?? ; D
Notable:
A small, gray bird, with white stripes on its tail feathers, that feigned a broken wing for my benefit in the middle of the trail to protect her progeny.
Butterflies, fritallaries, with lots of black speckles on their orange wings - feeding on sneezeweed flowers - chasing each other off as though the bumper crop of sneezeweed in Corral Canyon wasn't enough for all of them! Or, were they doing a mating dance?? ; D
The hiking leader wanted to take us on a special trail in the Santa Fe National Forest that was made in honor of her deceased husband; but the trail now has a more prosaic name - Trail 121 because the forest service decided it was a no no to name the trail after her husband.
Husband and I drove by ourselves into the Jemez Mountains to the trailhead, about 13 miles from the Back Gate in Los Alamos. We didn't offer anyone a ride because they may have wanted to get back earlier and probably wouldn't have wanted to walk 4 miles like I do.
We got to the trailhead first and then watched as the hiking leader's Subaru whizzed past. The trailhead parking lot is small and comes up suddenly.
There were 5 people in her car. I knew 3 of them already and the other two were new to me. Women outnumbered men.
At first the trail is really distinct and we easily followed it but quickly ended up in a meadow with no obvious trail so we moseyed through the meadow, over to walk along the grazing fence, going as far as the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) boundary fence.
People commented on the fence signs which say that access is only with a valid permit. After the hike, the hiking leader planned to drive a 2 mile, bumpy road into the Preserve's Valle Grande Visitor Center to ask what in the world the signs mean when they are posted at the free VCNP trails - Valle Grande and Coyote Call. Last week, the group had turned away from walking the Valle Grande free trail because of these blasted signs!
I've started out on Trail 121 with another hiking group but they take off over a ridge and follow a path down into the popular Las Conchas-East Fork Trail area. That is a longer hike then the stroll we did today which was only a little over a mile.
Back at the cars, one of the hikers worried that she wouldn't get back to LA by 11 am. In addition to going to the visitor center, the hiking leader than wanted to hike some on the Coyote Call Trail to make up for the short hike. I'm not sure what transpired because husband and I went to the Corral Canyon Trail so I could finish my daily 4 miles.
Husband breathes really hard while hiking uphill at high altitude (around 8,300' but we live at 7,200') and other than his heavy breathing, not much talking goes on unless I do it. He stopped after about a mile in but I continued on to the intersection of FR282, Armijo Road (goes down into Peralta Canyon) and Peralta Road which is also called FR280.
I practiced what I would say if I ran into Elmer Armijo out tooling around on his ATV - "Hola, Elmer Armijo, mi amigo!!" I wonder if Elmer bought a house in Sierra de los Pinos and moved from Peña Blanca? His family has some beautiful acreage in Peralta Canyon.
Husband had agreed to walk back on the Calzada Trail but he wasn't impressed by my incompetent attempts to FIND the trail. The connector trail to it from Corral Canyon is overgrown. My first attempt shortly took me right back to Corral Canyon.
I was going to forget about it but being right there, on the ground so to speak, I really wanted to backtrack to try to figure out how to get on the Calzada Trail. As I poked around in the woods - a mess of downed trees - husband made the mistake of saying irritatedly to save it for another day. That only made me want to find it more, while I was there and the weather was holding beautifully.
After briefly checking the area, I did find the Calzada Trail sign and bid adieu to husband who continued back on the trail that brung him! (Seeing the overgrowth, I was having my suspicions that he wouldn't like the Calzada Trail - especially since he hadn't worn his hiking boots.)
Only problem was that it turned out that I was following the UPPER Calzada Trail which goes the opposite direction of where I WANTED to go. Because of all the vegetation growth, I somehow missed the LOWER Calzada Trail coming in.
For a while, though, I thought the trail was just following an uphill switchback and would eventually, sensibly, turn around and go in the RIGHT direction! When I finally admitted that I was only kidding myself, I didn't really care and just wanted so badly to continue following the Calzada Trail the WRONG WAY but I turned around. After some false starts, I eventually stumbled upon the lower trail by heading downhill toward Corral Canyon. I don't walk the trail often enough to remember its tricks!
I continued back uneventfully to where husband was gesticulating to me from the fenceline - he probably thought I was lost! - after waiting in the car for 20 minutes.
I know a woman, very busy, who may want to walk the Calzada Trail with me one day because now I HAVE to go back. Wonder if I could talk her into Las Conchas Canyon and Las Conchas Peak too?? ; D
Notable:
A small, gray bird, with white stripes on its tail feathers, that feigned a broken wing for my benefit in the middle of the trail to protect her progeny.
Butterflies, fritallaries, with lots of black speckles on their orange wings - feeding on sneezeweed flowers - chasing each other off as though the bumper crop of sneezeweed in Corral Canyon wasn't enough for all of them! Or, were they doing a mating dance?? ; D
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Random Brain Noise
I don't live in a dollhouse. I don't drive an amusement park bumper car. My teacups and saucers are full size. I have all the trappings of a grown up but still feel like a child inside.
Even though my sister terms it God, I admire her belief in letting life play itself out as it will. I would call it Universe or Fate's Hands but will try to emulate her by putting more faith in letting life transpire as it will (with crucial interventions here and there, as appropriate!)
There is absolutely NO GUARANTEE that healthy eating will make me live longer or more disease-free but I do enjoy my pesco-vegan-way of nutrition!
I need to practice skipping and hopping. I tried to show my Grandson how to play Hopscotch (true, I tried indoors on carpet!) but find my skipper and hopper need fine-tuning!
Looking at dust on the top of the refrigerator, I wonder what good dusting will do as it will only get dusty again?
Sometimes the repetitiveness of daily life is so boring! (Please, Universe, I didn't mean that - don't take me yet!!)
I admired in the grocery store the other day a man who was carefully picking out mangos and avocados. Most men use the "blindman's bluff" method of produce selection and will pick any old, semi-rotten fruit just to get out of the grocery store! (Hopefully they don't pick woman with the same nonchalance!) Me - I gaze into the "eyes" of the produce and let it commune to me the perfection of its inner essence before gently nestling it in my cart! ; D (Then I cringe when the super-speedy checkout cashier blithely tosses it to the bagger!)
Don't mistake every thought as something worthy to write about!!
Don't make blogs too self indulgent!!
I need a cause bigger than myself. Then again, maybe I just need a hike!! Wait a minute - I had one today - up the logging road from the west on Pajarito Mountain, over to Aspen Lift and back down Rim Run - nice!
Even though my sister terms it God, I admire her belief in letting life play itself out as it will. I would call it Universe or Fate's Hands but will try to emulate her by putting more faith in letting life transpire as it will (with crucial interventions here and there, as appropriate!)
There is absolutely NO GUARANTEE that healthy eating will make me live longer or more disease-free but I do enjoy my pesco-vegan-way of nutrition!
I need to practice skipping and hopping. I tried to show my Grandson how to play Hopscotch (true, I tried indoors on carpet!) but find my skipper and hopper need fine-tuning!
Looking at dust on the top of the refrigerator, I wonder what good dusting will do as it will only get dusty again?
Sometimes the repetitiveness of daily life is so boring! (Please, Universe, I didn't mean that - don't take me yet!!)
I admired in the grocery store the other day a man who was carefully picking out mangos and avocados. Most men use the "blindman's bluff" method of produce selection and will pick any old, semi-rotten fruit just to get out of the grocery store! (Hopefully they don't pick woman with the same nonchalance!) Me - I gaze into the "eyes" of the produce and let it commune to me the perfection of its inner essence before gently nestling it in my cart! ; D (Then I cringe when the super-speedy checkout cashier blithely tosses it to the bagger!)
Don't mistake every thought as something worthy to write about!!
Don't make blogs too self indulgent!!
I need a cause bigger than myself. Then again, maybe I just need a hike!! Wait a minute - I had one today - up the logging road from the west on Pajarito Mountain, over to Aspen Lift and back down Rim Run - nice!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Group Hikes Getting to Me
I'm beginning to think that large group hikes are not my cup of tea. I didn't count how many hikers there were this morning but there were so many parked vehicles at the meeting place that I had to park across the street.
I was very grateful for the ride to the trailhead given me by the WRSC hiking couple. FR376 to San Antonio Hot Springs is a bladder-busting ride but the driver skillfully navigated the many rocks and uneven surface.
San Antonio Canyon was beautiful, of course, but the group stopped for lunch far short of the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) locked gate. In years past, they walked to the gate, walked under it and had lunch on a hillock in the Preserve (trespassing all the while - I was looking so forward to my annual civil disobedience!) Our much beloved, long-time hiking leader, though, has a serious, chronic disease which has sapped all her former energy.
On the way home, our driver told me the hike was almost 4 miles but I, not being the least bit hungry at 11:30 am, went further in search of the locked Preserve gate to take its portrait. I haven't lost my Wrong-Way Whine Child touch, though, because instead of turning left and paralleling San Antonio Creek, I continued straight and crossed the creek, ending up at the Preserve fence but not even near my desired destination, the locked gate! Oh, well - at least fording the stream was very refreshing and the cattle were friendly! I was right where FR106 comes into San Antonio Canyon from Mushroom Basin/Thompson Ridge.
I took a portrait of the sign on the fence which says "Access Only with a Valid VCNP Permit". That's incredibly misleading because the sign is even posted on areas that require NO special access permit, like the free Valle Grande Trail.
After the hike, I spoke to the receptionist at the BESC. She said her hiking group was dissuaded last Friday from going on the free Valle Grande Trail due to the sign implying there was no access to the FREE Valle Grande Trail without a VCNP permit!! I told her to not believe that sign - the trail is open and we hiked on it last week with my sister. It's a beautiful trail that takes you right to the edge of the Valle Grande.
Back to my dissatisfaction with group hikes: It's safest for me to go on the ones to which I can drive myself and then if I want to go further, I'll go further. These long drives for a short hike are not satisfactory to me!!
I was very grateful for the ride to the trailhead given me by the WRSC hiking couple. FR376 to San Antonio Hot Springs is a bladder-busting ride but the driver skillfully navigated the many rocks and uneven surface.
San Antonio Canyon was beautiful, of course, but the group stopped for lunch far short of the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) locked gate. In years past, they walked to the gate, walked under it and had lunch on a hillock in the Preserve (trespassing all the while - I was looking so forward to my annual civil disobedience!) Our much beloved, long-time hiking leader, though, has a serious, chronic disease which has sapped all her former energy.
On the way home, our driver told me the hike was almost 4 miles but I, not being the least bit hungry at 11:30 am, went further in search of the locked Preserve gate to take its portrait. I haven't lost my Wrong-Way Whine Child touch, though, because instead of turning left and paralleling San Antonio Creek, I continued straight and crossed the creek, ending up at the Preserve fence but not even near my desired destination, the locked gate! Oh, well - at least fording the stream was very refreshing and the cattle were friendly! I was right where FR106 comes into San Antonio Canyon from Mushroom Basin/Thompson Ridge.
I took a portrait of the sign on the fence which says "Access Only with a Valid VCNP Permit". That's incredibly misleading because the sign is even posted on areas that require NO special access permit, like the free Valle Grande Trail.
After the hike, I spoke to the receptionist at the BESC. She said her hiking group was dissuaded last Friday from going on the free Valle Grande Trail due to the sign implying there was no access to the FREE Valle Grande Trail without a VCNP permit!! I told her to not believe that sign - the trail is open and we hiked on it last week with my sister. It's a beautiful trail that takes you right to the edge of the Valle Grande.
Back to my dissatisfaction with group hikes: It's safest for me to go on the ones to which I can drive myself and then if I want to go further, I'll go further. These long drives for a short hike are not satisfactory to me!!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
In Love with Pajarito Mountain
Today I wanted to walk the grand tour on Pajarito Mountain but didn't start up the mountain until around noon and dark clouds were already hanging over the top of the peak.
I started up anyway - taking the jeep road from the Lodge, under the Town Sight lift. I made it past the snow-making retention pond (it sounds so scary when rain is falling onto its plastic liner - still not filled up) and was starting uphill to go over to the Mother Lift but one big crack of thunder convinced me to turn tail and go back down the way I came up.
On the way down, there was a little rain but it didn't rain really hard until right as I got back to the car. Imagine me at the car, the rain coming down hard, balancing my golf umbrella while trying to open the backpack's zipper (first I opened the wrong one!) and get the car keys out - all the while sure that Thor would strike me down before I could get inside the car's metal shell!
I honestly think I could have made the full route today as the lightning didn't develop as severely as I thought it would. I'll try again Thursday but start earlier.
I tried to sing The Sound of Music on the walk down - I really did but I can't carry a tune. I sang what I know of When You're Sixteen but I don't know much. Best I could manage was the Do, Re, Mi song but for some reason, the "Mi, a name I call myself..." part made me want to cry...sometimes I'm not entirely sure who "Me" is...
I had so many thoughts on my hike and while driving back home that I'd like to write about - philosophical type of stuff - but by the time I sit down to the computer, I forget most everything.
I'll make one comment though - rain makes me want to be holed up somewhere with a loved one - don't know why that is...
It was so beautiful on Pajarito Mountain today - as green as I imagine the Isle of Eire!
Oh, yes - I have found where the hermit thrush lives and sings its song on Pajarito Mountain - at the four-way intersection, in sight of the red tower. Such a beautiful, haunting melody to grace my ears on a rainy day!
Memorable songs I heard while driving today: Uncle Kracker's Follow Me, Diana Ross and the Supremes's Where Did Our Love Go and Adam Lambert's Whataya Want From Me.
Running out of time - need to start supper - salmon, cauliflower, corn on the cob and lots of summer fruit!!
I started up anyway - taking the jeep road from the Lodge, under the Town Sight lift. I made it past the snow-making retention pond (it sounds so scary when rain is falling onto its plastic liner - still not filled up) and was starting uphill to go over to the Mother Lift but one big crack of thunder convinced me to turn tail and go back down the way I came up.
On the way down, there was a little rain but it didn't rain really hard until right as I got back to the car. Imagine me at the car, the rain coming down hard, balancing my golf umbrella while trying to open the backpack's zipper (first I opened the wrong one!) and get the car keys out - all the while sure that Thor would strike me down before I could get inside the car's metal shell!
I honestly think I could have made the full route today as the lightning didn't develop as severely as I thought it would. I'll try again Thursday but start earlier.
I tried to sing The Sound of Music on the walk down - I really did but I can't carry a tune. I sang what I know of When You're Sixteen but I don't know much. Best I could manage was the Do, Re, Mi song but for some reason, the "Mi, a name I call myself..." part made me want to cry...sometimes I'm not entirely sure who "Me" is...
I had so many thoughts on my hike and while driving back home that I'd like to write about - philosophical type of stuff - but by the time I sit down to the computer, I forget most everything.
I'll make one comment though - rain makes me want to be holed up somewhere with a loved one - don't know why that is...
It was so beautiful on Pajarito Mountain today - as green as I imagine the Isle of Eire!
Oh, yes - I have found where the hermit thrush lives and sings its song on Pajarito Mountain - at the four-way intersection, in sight of the red tower. Such a beautiful, haunting melody to grace my ears on a rainy day!
Memorable songs I heard while driving today: Uncle Kracker's Follow Me, Diana Ross and the Supremes's Where Did Our Love Go and Adam Lambert's Whataya Want From Me.
Running out of time - need to start supper - salmon, cauliflower, corn on the cob and lots of summer fruit!!
An Alimentary Canal
Sometimes I feel just like a huge, pink alimentary canal! So much of life is food related and I love to eat, of course, but I can't help but see my similarity to a wooly bear caterpillar which is, basically, an alimentary tube - put in leafy vegetation at one end and see what comes out the other? Frass! (Really - Google it!!)
So much of my life is involved with buying food, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing food, consuming food, thinking about food, etc., and then starting all over again. I can understand why someone who's very busy (a working Mom with a lot of hungry kids, for instance) would succumb to convenience foods! Eating healthy (especially fresh fruits and vegetables!) requires some time for prep work!!
If anyone asks me my nutrition plan, it's basically to eat as many fruits and vegetables as humanly possible with some fish, beans, whole grains and nuts thrown in here and there! Just today, I bought so much fruit at Smith's that it will be a race for spouse and I to eat it up before it spoils (don't worry - I'll freeze it before that happens!) but I'm up to the task!! I bought peaches, nectarines, a cantaloupe, bing cherries, blueberries, mangos, on the vine tomatoes, green onions and avocados! Yay - yummy, summer fruit season is in full swing!!
Apparently I'm not the only one who adores summer fruit. In Smith's today, I met a charming, young Asian woman who was as fruit crazy as I, piling her cart with bing cherries and blueberries! She says she sometimes eats just fruit for supper and feels so good! We both got a good laugh at ourselves! Seriously, though, fruit is a true convenience food - wash it off and it's good to gobble!
No matter how ludicrous the idea of me being a giant alimentary tube may be or how repetitive the food cycle is, I don't think I'll quit eating anytime soon! Like I said, I love eating!!
So much of my life is involved with buying food, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing food, consuming food, thinking about food, etc., and then starting all over again. I can understand why someone who's very busy (a working Mom with a lot of hungry kids, for instance) would succumb to convenience foods! Eating healthy (especially fresh fruits and vegetables!) requires some time for prep work!!
If anyone asks me my nutrition plan, it's basically to eat as many fruits and vegetables as humanly possible with some fish, beans, whole grains and nuts thrown in here and there! Just today, I bought so much fruit at Smith's that it will be a race for spouse and I to eat it up before it spoils (don't worry - I'll freeze it before that happens!) but I'm up to the task!! I bought peaches, nectarines, a cantaloupe, bing cherries, blueberries, mangos, on the vine tomatoes, green onions and avocados! Yay - yummy, summer fruit season is in full swing!!
Apparently I'm not the only one who adores summer fruit. In Smith's today, I met a charming, young Asian woman who was as fruit crazy as I, piling her cart with bing cherries and blueberries! She says she sometimes eats just fruit for supper and feels so good! We both got a good laugh at ourselves! Seriously, though, fruit is a true convenience food - wash it off and it's good to gobble!
No matter how ludicrous the idea of me being a giant alimentary tube may be or how repetitive the food cycle is, I don't think I'll quit eating anytime soon! Like I said, I love eating!!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Thinking Obituary - Mine!
While walking one hot day on the Rogue Trail, several weeks back, feeling sorry for myself for all my supposed woes, I started thinking about obituaries and how inadequate they sometimes seem if they're a woman's. Yes, "she was a consummate birder" - big deal, everyone's thinking; in otherwords, she was a housewife, a nobody.
Whereas a man's obituary is often a long compendium of what he did, accomplished or published, etc., as though the measure of our life equates with our resumé - the lengthier, the better.
The only true measure is that we lived and loved and that we are (hopefully!) dearly missed by our family and friends. Nothing else matters in the end.
Whereas a man's obituary is often a long compendium of what he did, accomplished or published, etc., as though the measure of our life equates with our resumé - the lengthier, the better.
The only true measure is that we lived and loved and that we are (hopefully!) dearly missed by our family and friends. Nothing else matters in the end.
Few People Know or Care
Few people know or care that I'm half Syrian. When I was a child, growing up in the rural sticks of Canton, OH, my classmates seemed to care but in a pejorative way - calling me Eagle Beak (my brother was called brother of Eagle Beak), hunky, Olive Oyl. I looked different from them. I remember once in gym class locker room, a girl asked why I had a tan on my stomach. I told her it was from wearing my Mom's two piece bathing suit. This was true but I also paraded around in midriffs and shorts all summer, becoming the proverbial "brown as a berry".
My mother's family cared because that meant we were half-bloods and not real Syrians like they were. We got part of the good, dark Syrian looks but not the thick, long, black eyelashes of my cousins and most of all, not the legitimacy of being "true" Syrians.
Years after both my Mom and Dad had died, at a family get-together in Canton, another uncle, demented and ill by then, told me that his Mom asked my Mom "Where did you drag that in from?" when she met our father, a non-Syrian of German extraction. At that same get together, my Mom's sister expressed contempt for my Dad. I don't know why they heaped all that on me when I had traveled to visit the family - perhaps I reminded them too much of my father. Even though others at the get-together were very kind to me, I cried throughout the evening each time I remembered anew the cruel words about my father and by inference, me, and also when I thought about all the years that had passed without my visiting Canton and being a part of my Syrian family.
My daughter seems to identify completely with her Dad's side of the family - the Russian, Polish and Jewish background. That's probably because I've had little to do with the Syrian side all of her 32 years so she doesn't know them.
People where I live now don't know or care that I'm half Syrian. They are an international cast of characters themselves!!
Yet, at the library, I saw the DVD The Syrian Bride on display. My husband and I had seen the movie at a theatre in Santa Fe. I felt such a swelling of pride at seeing the word "Syrian" in the title. I took it out and watched the special features. The movie centers around the events leading up to the bride leaving the Golan Heights to marry a Syrian man. The conflict is that she must forever leave her family who are living in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights. There is a lot of humor involved. Coincidentally, my family says our Syrian ancestors were from Mount Hermon near the Golan Heights.
Anyway, even though few people know or care that I'm half-Syrian, I'm very proud of my Syrian heritage!
My mother's family cared because that meant we were half-bloods and not real Syrians like they were. We got part of the good, dark Syrian looks but not the thick, long, black eyelashes of my cousins and most of all, not the legitimacy of being "true" Syrians.
Years after both my Mom and Dad had died, at a family get-together in Canton, another uncle, demented and ill by then, told me that his Mom asked my Mom "Where did you drag that in from?" when she met our father, a non-Syrian of German extraction. At that same get together, my Mom's sister expressed contempt for my Dad. I don't know why they heaped all that on me when I had traveled to visit the family - perhaps I reminded them too much of my father. Even though others at the get-together were very kind to me, I cried throughout the evening each time I remembered anew the cruel words about my father and by inference, me, and also when I thought about all the years that had passed without my visiting Canton and being a part of my Syrian family.
My daughter seems to identify completely with her Dad's side of the family - the Russian, Polish and Jewish background. That's probably because I've had little to do with the Syrian side all of her 32 years so she doesn't know them.
People where I live now don't know or care that I'm half Syrian. They are an international cast of characters themselves!!
Yet, at the library, I saw the DVD The Syrian Bride on display. My husband and I had seen the movie at a theatre in Santa Fe. I felt such a swelling of pride at seeing the word "Syrian" in the title. I took it out and watched the special features. The movie centers around the events leading up to the bride leaving the Golan Heights to marry a Syrian man. The conflict is that she must forever leave her family who are living in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights. There is a lot of humor involved. Coincidentally, my family says our Syrian ancestors were from Mount Hermon near the Golan Heights.
Anyway, even though few people know or care that I'm half-Syrian, I'm very proud of my Syrian heritage!
Annual Beheading of NM Locusts on Route
This year, my modus operandi was to step on the little buggers (so they can't run away - ha, ha!) and saw them off at the base with my handy-dandy snaggle-toothed garden saw - what fun (not really)! Last year I pulled them out by the roots but that required wearing heavy gloves to protect against the thorns. It doesn't matter which method I use since they'll grow back profusely anyway but the beheading method is easier than yanking them out by the roots! ; D Don't worry - there are plenty more NM locusts in the woods - I merely chopped off the ones that had the temerity to rear their thorny heads in my pathway!
Went to senior center this morning for 10 am talk by Bandelier Ranger Tom Betts aobut his time at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. I enjoyed the talk. I started wishing that I had become a national park ranger - the scenery is unparalleled! Tonight I told husband that we need to visit all the national parks in his retirement!
I checked the library for books on Wrangell-St. Elias but found none.
I am going to die from the heat in this house!
Went to senior center this morning for 10 am talk by Bandelier Ranger Tom Betts aobut his time at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. I enjoyed the talk. I started wishing that I had become a national park ranger - the scenery is unparalleled! Tonight I told husband that we need to visit all the national parks in his retirement!
I checked the library for books on Wrangell-St. Elias but found none.
I am going to die from the heat in this house!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Cure for the Common Routine
When I hear a song from my past on the radio, like today when they played "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", it somehow distills the culmination of my longings and yearnings to break out of my usual routine. (I'm certainly the master of setting up routines. Mastered it in my teens.)
When I hear these songs on the radio, it's not even a conscious thought process - it's more a feeling that runs through me - of wanting to break away - hit the road and keep on going!
So much of life is filled with marking time. Maybe what happens is that the song makes a direct connection to something in my brain and forcibly pulls me into the present, the Now, to use Eckhart Tolle speak. Goodness knows that I often need to be pulled into the Now!
When I hear these songs on the radio, it's not even a conscious thought process - it's more a feeling that runs through me - of wanting to break away - hit the road and keep on going!
So much of life is filled with marking time. Maybe what happens is that the song makes a direct connection to something in my brain and forcibly pulls me into the present, the Now, to use Eckhart Tolle speak. Goodness knows that I often need to be pulled into the Now!
Minor Grievances
Here's more whining I thought of today: Why does our realtor, after showing us a house, start his pickup truck engine remotely as though to tell us the visit is over? It's not like we talk and talk and take up his time. It's rude.
Why did I have so many malapropisms while my sister was visiting the last week (like saying flush when I meant to say fluff)? Perhaps early Alzheimer's or some other yet unidentified dementia? The visit was stressful at times and maybe when I'm stressed, the blood flow to my brain diminishes? How long can I use the excuse that I need more sleep (true)? I wish I had a crystal ball to see how my brain will age!
Regarding neighbor's work buddies, family or whoever they were yesterday evening, they weren't so much saying F-U as F-ING this and F-ING that. Unpleasant in either case. What was she thinking?
Also regarding the grousing session at neighbor's, to hear them complain about their co-workers makes me realize that no one ever really knows for sure if someone likes them or can't abide them. We're all two-faced in our fashion!
I wonder if homeless people become homeless to escape the million little irritations involved in maintaining a home? There is so much in homeownership that I could do without. Why does shelter have to be so complicated?
Grandson is here for a sleepover. Right now he's watching Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds with husband. His Mom and step-Dad are at a concert.
Why did I have so many malapropisms while my sister was visiting the last week (like saying flush when I meant to say fluff)? Perhaps early Alzheimer's or some other yet unidentified dementia? The visit was stressful at times and maybe when I'm stressed, the blood flow to my brain diminishes? How long can I use the excuse that I need more sleep (true)? I wish I had a crystal ball to see how my brain will age!
Regarding neighbor's work buddies, family or whoever they were yesterday evening, they weren't so much saying F-U as F-ING this and F-ING that. Unpleasant in either case. What was she thinking?
Also regarding the grousing session at neighbor's, to hear them complain about their co-workers makes me realize that no one ever really knows for sure if someone likes them or can't abide them. We're all two-faced in our fashion!
I wonder if homeless people become homeless to escape the million little irritations involved in maintaining a home? There is so much in homeownership that I could do without. Why does shelter have to be so complicated?
Grandson is here for a sleepover. Right now he's watching Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds with husband. His Mom and step-Dad are at a concert.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Arrgh!!
Why did I see a 4 wheeled, license-less Kawasaki (it looked like a crunched jeep) - not once but twice on Pipeline Road? The gate is triple locked yet the tire tracks go right under the gate. I'm too lazy to call the forest service to track down what's the story. Who else but the forest service would have a key anyway?
Our neighbor across the street had guests in her garage saying F-U this and F-U that for several hours this evening. It almost sounded like they were rehashing work. I hope the church people at the end of the street tell them to stop. I don't so much care about the F-U's but the neighbor has a loud, shrieky voice and they all were rather loud! How long can they stand, talk and drink in her garage after all? Too long, apparently!
Looked at a townhome in Quemazon. Not for me - way too many windows. It was pretty though with all the light. My main problem would be my bedroom - how would I make it dark when there are ceiling high windows?
Why won't my brother-in-law pay back the $10,000 we loaned him 12 or 13 years ago?
Ex-son-in-law posted photos of daughter's ex-cat that recently got eaten by a coyote. (Photos of when she was alive, that is.) She was a beautiful cat!
Our neighbor across the street had guests in her garage saying F-U this and F-U that for several hours this evening. It almost sounded like they were rehashing work. I hope the church people at the end of the street tell them to stop. I don't so much care about the F-U's but the neighbor has a loud, shrieky voice and they all were rather loud! How long can they stand, talk and drink in her garage after all? Too long, apparently!
Looked at a townhome in Quemazon. Not for me - way too many windows. It was pretty though with all the light. My main problem would be my bedroom - how would I make it dark when there are ceiling high windows?
Why won't my brother-in-law pay back the $10,000 we loaned him 12 or 13 years ago?
Ex-son-in-law posted photos of daughter's ex-cat that recently got eaten by a coyote. (Photos of when she was alive, that is.) She was a beautiful cat!
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