Postcards From A Cabin In The Woods

GOOD RIDDANCE

2009-01-20T20:12:00.005-05:00

RAHM, BUDDY,

YOU SAID IT ALL !

TIME TO GET IT RIGHT

MY CANDIDATE, Barack Obama !

2008-08-29T00:26:00.005-04:00

I am an older white woman from the South ( Alabama is really "South") and am totally not in the likely demographic to politically support the Democratic ticket, especially this year. I am the only person I know who does not support the Republicans....no one ! Not my friends or family here where I live.

However, I am so proud to support the candidate I heard speak tonight. Barack Obama.

Frustrating that tonight I am sure they were not even listening.

He was speaking for their benefit tonight, whether they acknowledge it or not.

TOMATO JUNGLE

2008-06-15T14:30:00.005-04:00

Last year, we had a drought and plants around the cabin barely survived. Thank goodness for our shade trees here, or a lot more would have been lost.

This year, it has been rain, rain, rain. Not that I am complaining.

But what it has done to my "victory garden" is amazing. Tomato plants 7-8 feet tall ! And this was a first year garden spot, with only about 4 hours of sun a day. I had to cut the tops off the plants to keep them from growing any taller. These plants are called "indeterminant" and are supposed to be controlled that way. I knew if I did not top them off, they would eventually fall over. They will now just fill in along the main stem and will be huge by August. I have already picked a few ripe tomatoes and there are lots of green ones coming on. And the eggplant, peppers and zucchini are coming along, too.

Umm, Umm, Good !

WHAT A SWEETIE !

2008-03-29T11:02:00.010-04:00

Welcome to our lives, little Sara !
You are so precious :)

How wonderful to have a grandchild ! And how quickly she has taken hold of our hearts. Each day she changes so much. Why does time have to pass so quickly?

She is so bright and alert. And such a good baby. Sara is barely a month old and already has figured out how to be the center of attention. What a doll !

Now, when can I have another one :)

EXPECTATIONS

2008-02-08T16:15:00.000-05:00

It's not fair . Poor child !

At first, we say " As long as it has all it's fingers and toes".

Once that has been established, we zoom right into the opposite of expectations " My baby will be a genius !" , wrapped in a more realistic wrapper of , I just want a " happy, productive, well balanced individual ".

This is a tough time for yet-to-be parents. Both of them, not just the one carrying the bowling ball around. Lots of decisions to be made, for the first time, for someone they will love beyond all their wildest expectations :)

And I am so proud of the parents of the newest Christensen/Boyce/Lightcap/Sears family member. Talk about an awesome set of parents !

We family members all go into this next few weeks wishing, and yes, expecting a wonderful presence to come into the lives of two deserving parents. Just remember to mark the days, as they are all too short !

A BIT OF THE WHITE STUFF

2008-01-19T13:41:00.000-05:00

Our favorite Wisconsin relatives were here to stay with us on the way to their beach condo, so I guess that's why we had snow today. They brought it with them. It stayed to about an inch for 30 minutes before it began to melt. Pretty but no driving or shoveling problem,,,just about right !

Here are some pictures:

HERE'S TO 2008

2007-12-31T16:11:00.000-05:00

WINTER YARD FLOWERS

2008 HAS GOT TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER 2007 !

My status:

No, I do not have a job as of yet :(

No, my house has not sold yet :(

But:

Yes, my granddaughter, Sara, is about to be born :)

Yes, it will be a year of change and adventure :)

Here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year !

2007-10-31T12:39:00.001-05:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!

MY BIKER TREAT

2007-08-26T21:28:00.000-04:00

THIS WAS REALLY FUN !

DAN, MARY ANNE & THE HARLEY

OPPORTUNITY?

2007-08-08T17:48:00.000-04:00

First of all, let me say that I had an absolutely awesome time in Utah. Rosey and Dan, thank you so much for letting me into your lives for a week. I enjoyed every minute, yes, even mucking around in the yard. Your neighbors may never get over the sight of a 60 year old spandex-wearing woman in your yard covered with dirt !

The flight home was a frustrating / interesting adventure. I was pulled out of the normal security checks at the Salt Lake Airport and given the "terrorist" treatment, pulling me way over to a side area. Something about having to change my airline at the last minute triggered an alert, I suppose. First they told me to unload my carry on baggage all over an open table, underwear and all, and then walk through a "puffer machine", which blew air up my blouse and pants legs, sniffing for radiation or bombs? They wanded everything in my carry on bag and purse, testing each wand in an ionization machine to see if it also contained bombs or radiation. About now I am really stressing that I will miss the flight on Frontier they had just made an heroic effort to transfer me to when my original flight was not going to make my Denver connection. These guys wore badges and were not about to be messed with, in typical government arrogance. Then they say, "repack and good luck,,I don't think I could get all that stuff back in there". Hummm. Peeved.

The flight to Denver in the tail of the plane was extremely rough and on landing we were not allowed to leave the plane for an hour due to lightening. They announce, "Not to worry, your connecting flights also can not take off". On release, I sprint to the train, hearing overhead my name being paged to report to my United connection. Running all the way, they chew me out for late arrival and fling me onto the full flight to Denver and tell me to sit anywhere, we are taking off. Not so. They decide there is again too much lightening, and now they boot me to Coach and we sit there 2 hours. So at 1:30 AM Monday morning I get into Birmingham, retrieve my car from a lot that had stayed open until I arrived ( bless them) and got to bed at 2 AM.

I had been warned while in Utah that the other Regional Manager doing a similar job for my company had been laid off the Friday before and that I should expect trouble. I was dreading the return to work all weekend and prepared to assume his duties, but not to be laid off myself. Yup, that is just what happened. So now I am a mostly retired 61 year old, not quite ready to retire but staring it in the face. So many decisions to be made right now. Financial decisions which, if made incorrectly, could really matter down the road.

Sometimes when these things happen, there is opportunity to change your life. I have been a hard-driving person in my field for 45 years ( yes, I started working in a lab when I was 16) --is that still what track I want to be on? Or is life giving me a nudge, saying I should re-prioritize the next years of my life? I will not want for things to do. Sierra Club will fill up each second of my life, if I let it--not going to happen. And is my heart really here in Alabama now?--I don't think so. Should I go for a fun, part time job as a Naturalist for the next few months, or will this mess up my Social Security entitlement or unemployment insurance benefit, should I need to use it? I have no intention of working another job here as I have held before, missing out on the birth of my grandchild by having to start over again with no or very little vacation.

I am going to have to spend some serious time on the internet and reading all this retirement information my previous employer is going to send me. And there is not just myself to think about... how will my decisions impact those I am close to? It is just a good thing I am not the type who panics. This is opportunity and time to make lemonade :)

PS: I will post a picture here of me with Dan on the Harley as soon as I get the camera cable left in his car. That was a real treat, Dan :)

SO MANY NEW THINGS

2007-07-17T06:40:00.000-04:00

I have not written for awhile. My computer has been on the fritz a lot lately. Annoying as it is, I have to turn it off and on just to be able to keep the DSL connected long enough to check my email and blog reader. I think there is too much stuff running in the background or something...really bogging it down.

And I have been super busy with my Sierra Club duties. Last month I became chairperson of the group here in the center of the state. That translates into lots of meetings, events, training and conference calls. It is a wonderful experience and I will be writing here more here about it as I go along this path.

And my daughter is expecting her first child ! So this is on my mind constantly :) I will be going to Utah to see the "3 of them" next week and I am pretty excited about that.

So lots to keep me busy right now and a lot to look forward to as the year rolls along. More to follow..............

LIFE CAN ALWAYS GET MORE COMPLICATED

2007-06-13T04:16:00.000-04:00

Life seems to be really throwing complications into my path right now. Testing me to see how I handle the hills, so to speak. This is a little exciting and daunting at the same time, I especially relate to others who are going through personal challenges also. It just goes to show that no matter what your stage in life, it is good to have the opportunity to push back and give it all you have.

INFECTION IS A KILLER

2007-05-28T17:26:00.000-04:00

My computer was a disaster waiting to happen. I was not aggressive enough in protecting it, and it repaid me with just up and dying. I knew it was fatal when it tried to open 87 copies of Google..... of course just going into a bogged down stupor.

What to do? After considering my options ( and thanks to all who offered assistance, but I could not impose on offers from very busy people), and how miserable I can get without my computer for even one day, I opted for the Geek Squad. And I would do it again. The guy does pretty well, working 3 days a week, 12 hours a day. He was competent, focused and professional,,,right down to his official Geek Squad uniform, shoes (they even say "Geek Squad on the bottom of the heel) and badge.

Hope he was fairly compensated (after he gets his cut) for the 5 hours he spent removing 8,000 infected files and installing my Norton, all from right here at the cabin ( $250, are you kidding, compared to what the plumber charges?).

I am glad this 19 year old likes computers, doesn't mind living with his parents and likes driving a cool little VW bug !

IS GORE IN?

2007-05-28T16:34:00.000-04:00

Will Gore be the September surprise? Howard Fineman says "Yes", and this excites me. Fineman has always been one of the best reporters and not one to exaggerate. This week he says that Gore is likely to run. Seems that there is talk of a Gore/Obama ticket for the Democrats, and that appeals to me a lot more than the Hillary option. Will Hillary see this as her worst nightmare? I think so.

Time magazine made Gore the cover story last week, and in this issue there is a comment by Steve Jobs about the 20 foot hole we have dug ourselves into and how we need someone who knows how to build a ladder-Gore.

In Gore's new book, The Assault On Reason, he has once again correctly placed his hand on a vital problem: public apathy to demanding a government based on fact, reason and scientific policy. He has not been wrong on the Iraq war or Global Warming, and he is not wrong here as well. If we could just forget about the "lockbox" ( wrong, wrong, wrong) !

Will Gore run? Stay tuned.

OUR NATIVE SOUTHERN HYDRANGEA

2007-05-14T22:26:00.000-04:00

This time of year, a native plant puts on quite a show at the cabin. Oak Leaf, or "wild" hydrangeas are one of my favorite plants.

The cultivar "Snowflake" was developed in this city and is spectacular, with blooms each reaching a foot in length. As the blooms age and the whiteness fades, they turn a pink-beige color and the blooms stay on the shrubs until winter.

My hostas love the same growing conditions and the ferns are
happy at the base of the hydrangeas as well.

The hydrangeas live for years and to see plants of a dimension of 10 feet or more is not unusual. They like to grow in the shade, in acid soil, and they thrive under pine trees. This shrub is just a youngster at about 4 years old and is 7 feet high.

And because these plants grow wild around here, hiking trails are putting on quite a show right now. Spectacular !

THIRTY IS A MILESTONE :)

2007-05-02T00:49:00.000-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROSEY !!!

We shared a special day thirty years ago:

You were the calmest and prettiest baby I had ever seen !

And you had a sweet personality, raring to go, right from the start:

DON'T EVER CHANGE !

MY EVENT, ON STEROIDS

2007-04-23T21:13:00.000-04:00

When I am almost too busy to talk to my daughter I am way too busy ! And blogging has been lower on my list recently, too. But I asked for it.

My Sierra Club Conservation Committee of one (me :) on this issue is still just that. I worked last Sunday at the Earth Day in the Botanical Gardens here in town. I must have recounted the evils of the proposed construction of the elevated highway a thousand times that day, and handed out as many leaflets and bumper stickers. It is not hard to sell my point of view as this project is horrifying to anyone who hears the details ( tolls, blight, concentration of fumes from so many cars, just to list a few). My being able to answer questions and talk about alternatives has come from me attending several meetings and writing articles about the issue, which I am happy to do.

The bigger challenge ahead of me is my Global Warming event for the local Democrat group.

It may be headed for an event on steroids.

It somehow has jumped from an evening of debate between knowledgeable panelists with impressive resumes to " How would you like Al Gore to come? I know his people. "

Wow ! The most I thought I would be organizing is a rally with booths of interested organizations and vendors, maybe a few auto dealers showing hybrid cars, and the debate. I guess he will either say "yes" or "no" and I will not lose sleep over it until I see which way it goes.

But if by some freaky chance he says "yes", I think I have my hands full !

A DAUGHTER'S EASTER

2007-04-07T13:22:00.000-04:00

A RABBIT'S TALE

(Trying to be brave, almost 2 years old)

Rabbits have always been in my daughter's life, as you can see.

(Easter egg hunt at our beach house, almost 3 years old)

When rabbits were not part of Easter, there was something missing...note the expression on her face !

( 6 and suspecting there was really no
Easter Bunny)

So I should not have been surprised when we adopted two male lop eared live rabbits one Easter and had a litter of baby flop ears very soon afterward!

Enjoy these pictures from the past and Happy Easter to you, daughter !

SPRING HAS SPRUNG !

2007-04-02T19:56:00.000-04:00

I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR !

ORCHID CLASS

2007-03-24T15:18:00.000-04:00

One thing I can say about living in the South...folks here really get into gardening because our growing season is relatively long, compared to some parts of the country. The folks who read my blog who live in Hawaii know how lucky they are :)

So I had the opportunity today to go to an Orchid Growing Symposium,. of all things. And I learned a lot. Those poor orchid plants that I had purchased in full bloom several years ago were never able to re-bloom. I learned today why, and I have feelings now of guilt and shame that I never learned the details earlier about their proper care. Shame on me ! I knew from raising a child that it is all in the details. Same with these plants...cover all their basic needs and they blossom and reward you many times over.

So wish me luck with the free specimens I received as part of the class today. They are lovely right now and I intend to see that they have a long, happy, and glorious life !

OUR FOOD, A FOGGY PICTURE

2007-03-18T18:01:00.000-04:00

My picture of the food sold to us is clouded. I wish I could say that because I am a scientist by training and career choice that I can separate what is and isn't true about what we are being told. But the issue of GMF, genetically modified food, is as obscure as a maze. And I think that it is intentionally so.

The article in a recent Time.com edition spells out the problem. We are told foods are "Organic" ( meaning what, exactly?) , and implying that these foods are pure from genetic modification. To further cloud the picture, can we make a sound, rational decision right now on whether genetically modified food is or is not in our best interest? Of course not, as there is so much pro and con information out there. I do search for this information with more -than -average tenacity. And I am not a purchaser of Organics, as I am not convinced that we benefit in the long run. There are too many articles out there on contamination due to time lags in distribution of the Organic foods, even if they may be "purer". I do support purchase of Organics from local farmers, but we are on faith here that what these farmers represent to us is the truth.

Scientists are aligned on both sides of the issue. Seems like this is similar to what I see in the approach to define Global Warming,,,scientists taking sides to back "their horse in the race". To get down to the truth, you have to dig into the background so far that most of us do not have the inclination or the time. Who benefits from their adopted point-of-view...what do they get out of their stand on the issue? Global Warming, thank goodness, is becoming clearer every day, and those who try to cloud the picture become rediculous in their ruse of credentials that do not hold up to scrutiny.

So we turn to the media to sort it all these food issues out for us, distressing as this is ! I think we are the 3 generation span that is going to be used as the guinea pig for this issue. Someday it will be clear as to what harm or not this genetically produced food is to our food chain. In the mean time, I hope we all keep asking questions about what is being told to us and sold to us by these food marketers.

It may be our children's children who look back on this time in food history and wonder what all the fuss was about.

I Asked For It, Now I Got It

2007-03-11T14:49:00.000-04:00

Blogging has had to take a back seat recently to my decision to jump into the fray.

Sierra Club: Believing myself to be joining the Conservation Committee, I now find out that I AM the Conservation Committee, and my project is to fight the construction of an multi-laned elevated highway through city congestion, no wilderness in sight. Hummm, hard to see where I am going on this one. Committee of one fighting several City Halls. Yeah, right.

Politics: Believing myself joining like-minded politically motivated folks in my area, I attended one of their committee meetings which was to set the agenda for the coming year. To my surprise, they just want to host events which will get them publicity. Publicity? They did choose to host an environmental event and I volunteered to be on the committee. Our focus is to be on recruiting nationally known global warming speakers and putting the event together. My State has almost no environmental laws on the books and the only global warming awareness here is from the speedway track heat generated at the NASCAR races. So maybe I will give this committee a shot. Maybe education can't hurt. I do not even belong to the political party of this group, so it is surprising to me that they even let me in the door.

To maintain my sanity, I have always retreated to working around my property. I recently bought a chipper-shredder. My heavily forested acre of land needs a good clean up. But putting the chipper together has been a challenge. No two screw holes align where they should. So my mulch-making is on hold until I can get the durned thing together.

I can't say right now which of these three activities will be the best use of my time. It will be interesting at the end of the year when I assess my achievements to see which one stands out. It would not surprise me if the chipper-shredder wins !

ONE MORE THING TO RECYCLE

2007-02-16T22:00:00.000-05:00

Now that more of us are buying these nifty little compact fluorescent bulbs for home and office, we will have to remember to not throw them into the trash should they break or eventually burn out.

They contain mercury. My community has an annual hazardous waste disposal day. Right now, finding such a resource in our towns is the best way to get rid of them. Some stores that sell them are being pressured into having a recycling program. Asking our home centers to do this seems a good idea, and if we all ask for this, maybe it will happen.

Most people do not seem to realize that the bulbs contain mercury. Nor do they see that one bulb would make any difference. And the bulbs themselves should last us a long time.

Lots of households means lots of bulbs will eventually be thrown out.

Lots of education work to do !

SALAMANDER HEAVEN

2007-02-04T18:19:00.000-05:00

Communities are waking up to the concept of preserving parcels of undeveloped land within their city boundaries for the benefit of all. My city and one adjoining have each set aside forest preserves in the last 5 years and I visited the adjoining one today. This plot of land has a 5 mile creekside walking track and now is adding 33 acres of forested trails. This area is famous for being an excellent salamander habitat, home to 7 different subspecies. Rosey, you would have loved exploring this familiar-yet-new territory and the Swedish guide named Hans who gave our group real insight to both the salamander habitat and city politics.

On our trek today through the steep hillside trails of the preserve, sadly we did not see any salamanders. They are hibernating and will not appear until the first warm shower of the season. But is it nice to know that when they do awake, they will not be greeted with bulldozers. The city leaders said a loud "NO" to developers :)

Counting my hike in the perserve and the 5 miles I also completed on the walking trail today, my Sunday total walking is 7 miles. And my total for Friday night through today is 19 miles ! My total for the week is 29 miles and I really feel great. So tonight I am having wine with my veggies as a reward :)

HOLDING MY BREATH FOR BIDEN

2007-02-04T11:43:00.000-05:00

What a shame that Senator Joe Biden keeps inserting foot into mouth, as he did this past week with his comments about Obama .

But if we can listen to him when he is not munching on his shoe, we can hear something extraordinary. He has the best plan for getting out of Iraq, and even Republicans are starting to recognize this. Sunday talk shows this week reflect the acknowledgment that his plan makes sense. Everyone around him in both political parties is floundering around with multiple plans and timetables for withdrawal. He alone says let's partition Iraq into ethnic regions, let them each have their own local governments and share in the power. The country of Iraq itself would still exist, but have 3 seats of government, each represented equally. It may not be the permanent arrangement, but at least would give each region a chance to succeed or fail on it's own terms and without our interference. If it could keep open warfare from spreading into Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia, bringing them all into the fray, it would be monumental. and his plan does follow most closely with the recommended proposals by international committees for a resolution. We should listen.

Biden is one of the best informed politicians on foreign policy that Washington has and is well recognized as one of the best thinkers and communicators. But in speaking in his unguarded, frank way, he offends in his bluntness. I hope we can listen to him and that as the days and weeks pass in this new Bush surge plan, his idea balloon on the final solution for the US will rise to the top.

OK, So Far

2007-02-03T20:05:00.000-05:00

Well, I went on my first hike today with a group in my home state. I have not really hiked with a group since my days with the Wasatch Mountain Club some 30+ years ago. I was not really in shape to do this until recently and was not sure how I would hold up or keep up.

Granted, today was an easy 6 mile hike. Not too many hills. Start small, I told myself. But after today, I won't have to tell myself that ever again. Hooray !

I watched some of those around me huff and puff when walking a brisk pace, taking rest stops when there was a pause. It took all my patience to stay with the group, and in fact I had to go to the front with some younger fellows that were going at a pace more like my own. Wow, I thought, look at me ! I tried to think that maybe the ones behind me were a lot older and I should cut them some slack.

One of the gray-haired women looked familiar but when we compared notes, we could not figure out why and she did not seem to recognize me. I told her I had recently joined the Sierra Club and would hike with them too and work on environmental issues. I mentioned an example--something like if a chicken processing plant was throwing chicken parts into the river--they could count on me writing letters in protest. I don't know why I used that example. But at my childhood camp this did happen to our camp river and I never forgot the disgust of seeing that stinky mess. She remarked that the same thing had happened at her camp. Finally, we had hit upon our shared history. We had been Girl Scouts and camp counselors together for 15 years !

Great as it was to reminisce with her, I could not help but notice how much older she looked and acted than me. Lugging appx. 50 extra pounds on the trail, she was winded and took every opportunity to rest. She had already retired from teaching and in between huffs and puffs told me that she was having both knees replaced soon. She doesn't exercise at all and only goes on these hikes about once or twice a month. When we compared our ages, she was 2 years younger than me ! She kept remarking how fit I was and how young I looked and I just didn't know what to say, but it did make me feel good.

I realized then that a lot of the people on that hike might be my age, or not that much older. I just felt a lot younger than them. A few years ago I would probably have been in that group, or even further behind, or not even out there at all. Now I was observing that most were not able to keep up with me. And I know that on a hike rated this easy, the trail blazers were not even present and I would see them shortly on other, more challenging hikes. Then I would feel more humble. I did enjoy meeting the people on this hike, but now I know I probably won't be going on many of the hikes rated easy--moderate is more my capability as a starting point. I guess the 25 miles a week I have been putting in walking is paying off.

Hooray for me, again !

MOTIVATIONAL CANDY

2007-01-28T09:09:00.000-05:00

"I am such a sucker for buying this", I tell myself as I leave the store with my just-purchased Nike + iPod Sport Kit. But after reading an article about it, it seemed like fun and for the low cost of the thing...hey, what have I got to lose? ( Besides 18 more pounds)

I have had a few false starts with the device, but mainly because I tried to do it on the cheap. I did not need new shoes and I was sure I could figure out how to make it work without that added expense. The kit is just a small transmitter button that goes into your shoe and a plug-in receiver that fits into the bottom slot of the Nano.

Problem #1: The button in the shoe kept slipping around--sometimes laying in a spot where it was comfortable, but then occasionally it would shift and Ouch ! So I tried to hollow out a pocket in the sole of my left sneaker under the removable insole using a utility knife, but those soles are a lot tougher than they look. I gave up after about an hour of fruitless chiseling. I broke down and ordered the shoe with the built in pocket from Nike. ($$)

Problem #2: The mileage it was recording was way off. I soon figured out that the instructions do not tell you to wear the Nano on your left side and I had it on the right, so it was only picking up the signal occasionally. ( The button goes into the left shoe, they do tell you that). So to make it work optimally, I will get the armband to use for workouts, as my nifty little leather clip-on case will not work with the sensor attached to the bottom of the Nano. ($$)

Problem #3: Right out of the box, the device is pre-set to function, but is not calibrated to your gait, walking surface, incline or temperature. The calibration instructions are easy enough to follow, but I want to make sure that what I preset as a mile on the device is actually a mile on the ground. I have found a track at my city recreation center which is marked exactly so after paying my $10 to join, I can now perform the calibration. I will enjoy having another indoor facility to walk in on rainy days, anyway. ($$)

So, did I do this on the cheap? No. Nike got me to buy more of their stuff, just like they knew I would do. But I am enjoying this little device a lot and I think it is worth it. I now know just how far I am walking and how many calories I am burning with each different trail around town. Before Rosey and I were just estimating the distances. And when I get home from my walk, I can plug the Nano into iTunes and it tracks my progress with calories and distance and pace, so I can see improvement over time. If I set it to give me instant feedback, the device talks to me while I am on the trail, telling me when I have completed each mile and how much further I have to go to reach my preset goal. The music keeps playing, just mutes a little so I can hear the short message.

Anything I can do to keep me motivated with my exercise program is a plus for me. I had to give up my daily doses of dearly loved chocolate to lose this weight :( So my Nano and this little device will have to do as a substitute.

CORNEY IDEA

2007-01-27T20:36:00.000-05:00

My Great Uncle Glenn, a dairy and cattle farmer from Wisconsin, came through town in typical snowbird fashion last week heading for his time-share Florida vacation condo. I always enjoy my conversations with him because he is not only a great fellow and a lot of fun, but he is a wealth of information about a more rural America that is not part of my experience. He knows I am interested in conservation and safe food production and so is he. So hearing his side of the corn-to-ethanol effort now underway as a means of reducing gasoline demand is taking the issue to a corn expert. He has either grown corn, sold corn, or fed corn to his livestock his entire life.

Glenn says the price of corn is going way up. Whereas just a few years ago corn was sitting in graineries wasting due to over production, now demand is surging. Farmers are selling not only the corn but the sileage (stalks and leaves) to be burned by local processing plants and turned into ethanol for fuel additives. Of course the farmers are excited that they are finally getting the price for their corn that they have wanted for years. Glenn has even invested in corn futures on the stock market as he sees this is a sure bet. But is this fuel additive a corney idea for anyone else besides the farmers?

Glenn is a really clever guy and owns multiple farms, sits on the board of the local bank and owns several businesses in the town. He did not get where he is today by letting details slip by him. So he watches his investment like a hawk because he knows this whole idea of ethanol as a fuel alternative could go bust quickly. The corn is burned and then distilled to produce the ethanol by current methods, and a lot of fossil fuel is used to do this. Then the ethanol has to be trucked from the Midwest to the East and West coasts where most of the gasoline is consumed in this country, using more fuel. So even though the dependence on foreign fuel is reduced, the final product is more expensive than regular gasoline and greenhouse gas emissions have not been reduced by using this technology. Ethanol from corn is not the only additive being considered--turning coal into liquid to add to gasoline is an even worse idea, and it would only make the coal producers smile.

Glenn is a realist. And he is a loyal Republican and proud Bush supporter. But he knows that Bush's new energy plan is full of holes and that corn, at least, is not the answer in the long run. But he is more than willing to play along, make all the profit he can while corn futures surge upward, and just smile when Bush says his plan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When are other politicians going to speak up, as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has done, and call this plan putting lipstick on a pig? The pig's name is ConAgra, and right now it is smiling pretty big as it can finally dump all the corn it can find into these fuel programs.

Am I Ready?

2007-01-23T21:16:00.000-05:00

I think I am at a crossroads. I can tell because I pace the house on the weekend. My old activities no longer seem to satisfy or challenge me like they used to. I have too much energy left over on Sunday night. Is it time to get out of my rut?

I have done the hard work over the last 4 years to improve my weight and fitness level. I have lost 120 pounds, started exercising regularly, become a vegetarian and gotten rid of almost all the medication I have been taking for the last 20 years. My mind is so much clearer and my body is so much stronger now. So what do I do with it?

I have been looking at what would combine my interests in the environment, politics and fitness and also to what I could contribute using my 60 years on this planet that would make a difference. I decided tonight that the Sierra Club is probably the closest thing to fit all those parameters. Maybe I will find like-minded people there and hopefully I will not embarrass myself on their hikes. Surely there is room there for someone like me who is tired of pacing on the weekend.

FEELIN' STUPID

2007-01-17T20:10:00.000-05:00

The office supply store, Staples, is running a commercial on TV lately showing a stupid kid working in an office who comments that the printer is out if ink. He is holding up the cartridge. His co-workers say "shake it", meaning the cartridge. So he picks up the printer and shakes it.

Usually when my cartridge quits at work, I just pop another out of the foil packaging and insert the fresh one into my printer without a thought. But today, as the cartridge was on it's last, faint effort, I thought, well, why not "shake it" and see if I could get more out of it. So I shook it for all it was worth, re-inserted it and was rewarded with a much improved image. I was pleased with my effort at thrift until I looked down at my favorite lavender sweater. Covered in black ink! As was my hands, chin, my shoes, my pants and the floor.

At that point, I thought the stupid kid on the commercial had actually done something smarter than I had :(

Ode To Ralph

2007-01-16T23:03:00.000-05:00

I read in the paper that the Whale Shark at the Georgia Aquarium, Ralph , quit eating and died last week.

Wonder why? This is worse news on top of bad, as their Beluga Whale rescued from Mexico who had been suffering from previous inferior care also died last month. He was not on display when I visited the Aquarium in December.

Way too bad.

STING HAS IT RIGHT

2007-01-11T19:08:00.001-05:00

Sting is one of my favorite singers. I like his lyrics. One thing he says in his song, “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You” really hit me today on my walk. It goes "…you could say I have lost my faith in the politicians…they all seem like game show hosts to me”.

Last night we heard the President speak about his plans to send 20,000 more troops to Iraq, even though his Generals, Congress, the public and his Baker Advisory Panel all say this is a mistake. So if he is not listening to this chorus , what kind of game is he playing? Could it be that we did not hear his more subtle message… that it is not really the troops at all?

Generals are being replaced with military that will follow his lead, and will not speak out about it. Deals are being made to beef up the military in exchange for the General's silence. We should be asking ourselves…”What are the plans for this beefed up military?” Bush watchers ( Chris Matthews, Keith Olberman, Tim Russert, Howard Fineman, Joe Scarbrough, Pat Buchanan) decoded the message last night and they heard something which alarmed them greatly. IT IS NOT ABOUT THE TROOPS ! You could see it dawning on them as they reviewed the speech. The troops are a means to an end. It is really about striking at Iran before Bush and Cheney leave office. And to do that they need obedient Generals and a beefed up Army.

So, the game is afoot. And once again, the public and the soldiers are the pawns in the game. And the game show host thinks he knows best what we need. What arrogance !

Prepared?

2007-01-10T19:20:00.000-05:00

Because I work in Risk Management, Environmental Health & Safety, Security and Disaster Recovery as part of my job, I sometimes get to participate in those types of activities in my community as well. This was the case in the past year. The health and social welfare organizations in my city, county and state are concerned with our ability to respond to and manage possible scenarios, such as acts of terrorism, pandemic / bird flu, hurricanes and other types of natural and man-made disasters. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has organized a review process to help assess the ability of the community to protect the public and spot weaknesses and deficiencies, and I was lucky enough to be asked to join such a group of planners.

Participants came from groups such as Homeland Security, United Way, Catholic Social Services, State and County Health Departments, Services for the Homeless, Mayors of several cities, Sierra Club, Professors of Engineering, Medical School, and Pharmacy, American Red Cross, Hospitals and Laboratories, Fire and Police Departments from across the State, Family Court Judges, Hispanic and Asian Support, Physicians and Nurses…even the Post Office.

Over several workshops and planning sessions throughout the year, our group was able to outline and describe strengths and weaknesses. Getting a reality check from so many diverse representatives attending the sessions was fascinating and daunting at the same time. The impact to the medical system in our state was no surprise to me, as I work in that field and am well aware of what a crisis can do to a system that is already often over extended. But factored into this in a real crisis situation will be other weaknesses in our communities caused by chronic lack of financial and other support applied to solving problems. Among the types of problems we identified are these: : weak mental health structure, crime opportunists, declining education levels and adolescent programs, increasing negative attitudes toward police and others of authority, increased poverty, unemployed and uninsured populations, increased non-English speaking immigrants, lack of elder care support networks, poor mass transportation, easily polluted drinking water systems, telecommunication, software, hardware and database deficiencies. There were many more…in fact so many that we will be working on them very hard in 2007 also.

The first step is defining the problem, and the group has done this part of the job. Now we must address the solutions. Funding and fair distribution to agencies can only be done when the whole picture of need is applied. Representatives from CDC who were present at our sessions now understand our concerns and can help obtain the funding and resources that are needed.

No one believes this will happen overnight, but it is a start. I am grateful to be invited to participate, give my views and interact with such a diverse group of leaders.

Go, Joe Biden !

2007-01-05T20:28:00.000-05:00

Can we all go back and take a hard look at what got us into this war or how it was terribly mis-administered, or will this be another episode of finger pointing with little truth revealed?

Am I being way too optimistic to believe that if truth is revealed the public at large will listen and evaluate? Can they turn away from the Fox Network talking points long enough to think for themselves? Can they consider that the military can be best supported by valuing each soldier's life enough to demand that the unnecessary campaign to rescue Bush's legacy be abandoned?

I truly hope that Senator Joe Biden can frame his upcoming Senate investigations into the Iraq "messopotamia" in a way that former and present war supporters will at least question their mind set.

Biden has a way of cutting to the truth, sometimes to his disadvantage. And revealing the truth does not always change things. Can the news media get the message out without getting weak-kneed? Can the politicians do what is right instead of what is politically expedient and in their own self interest? Will we even pay attention? Or will the "W" stickers on so many SUVs I see going to work continue to flaunt themselves in my face, so long after the election, reflecting the delusion of their vehicle owner who ardently believes that he or she is being patriotic?

PS: Biden would make a great President, and he could be the best candidate if he does not screw up these hearings :)

SMALL STEPS

2007-01-03T20:21:00.000-05:00

All things considered, 2006 was not a bad year for getting a few things accomplished.

The cabin is newly stained and painted as of this fall, windows were reglazed, and 3 new copper light fixtures were installed out on the deck, all by me! I saved mucho dinero :)
I finally got a cell phone. ( spent the $$ I saved, above, on the phone)
The neighbor lady has given up helping herself to the tools in my garage. ( will it last?)
I lost an additional 40 pounds and began an exercise program that is fun.
I became a vegetarian and have not been tempted to return to my cheese addiction.
Due to my coercion, my Mother and Brother are back on speaking terms. ( will it last?)
I began this personal blog. Feeling OK about that, I created a family blogsite which has been met with enthusiasm, even by first time, reluctant bloggers.
Most all the light bulbs in the cabin are fluorescent now. Another step toward "green living".
I am enjoying my French lessons using Rosetta Stone.
I sold stuff on eBay for the first time and did not "lose my shirt".
My Norwegian ancestry cloud has lifted somewhat, as I was able to research my G-grandmother Severine Thoresdatter's genealogy all the way back to the 1600's.
Utah and I have been re-acquainted. ( what an awesome trip )

Of course, an exercise like this also brings to mind things which did not get done. If the above list was shorter, I might beat myself up about the deficiencies. I have a habit of not looking back very often, but maybe at the end of each year I should take stock. After all, at my age, each year takes on more and more meaning.

A FISH CALLED ALICE

2006-12-26T19:01:00.000-05:00

Why do we feel a need to give cutsie names to large mammals and fish in captivity? I know I should just rejoice that wildlife is being appreciated, preserved, studied and hopefully protected by this endearment. Now that this is out of the way, let me say that I really enjoyed my recent trip to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.

Seeing 8 million gallons of fish and whales and water in one spot is overwhelming. And throw in appx. 4000 gawking tourists makes it even more so. 120,000 animals, we are told, and over 500 species. Yipes ! Not to mention all the delicious gourmet pizza and pasta, gift shop mania and photo opportunities that can be crammed into a city center attraction during the Christmas holiday season. It is not to be missed !

The Aquarium is divided into world aquatic regions : Cold, Tropic, Ocean, Local Georgia River and Coastal exhibits, much as other large aquariums I have visited in the last 10 years.

What makes this one special is the scale, both in
the size of the exhibits themselves, and the number and variety of species to view.

Surprisingly, the species that unexpectedly "blew me out of the water" was one of the smallest that I saw that day. I just stared in disbelief at one appx. 3500 cubic foot tank containing Australian Weedy Sea Dragons and Leafy Sea Dragons, slowly swimming among the sea weed and kelp. These floating oddities, so graceful in their subtle movements, had me so mesmerized I could not move away.

The River exhibit was so very unexpected but so logically approached. Who would not like to view a river from underneath rather than from above? This is the presentation here, and done with great effect. You view the enormous creatures from a vantage point below, complete with tree roots and filtered sunlight. All very natural, but because of dim light, hard to capture in photographs.

This was the best exhibit I had seen of Beluga Whales, as the tank was impressive in size and the whales were very active and playful. But in even this very large environment you still feel that they belong in the wide open spaces and it is a little sad to see them confined.

I actually liked this exhibit better than the Whale Shark exhibit as you could see all 4 Belugas at the same time and their interaction with each other and individual personalities made it hard to walk away. My favorite view of them was floating upside down, scratching the backs of their heads against the rocks with their 11 feet bodies being maneuvered by their tails. Too bad there is not a way to just open a folding chair and sit in that spot for the afternoon. Japanese tourists would not appreciate that impediment to the flow of the crowds, I suppose :)

Approaching the super large tank, you go through the tunnel leading underneath and for the first time see the immense shadow pass overhead as the Whale Shark glides by.

The window is enormous, and the tank is more than you can take in by studying it from the small bench area provided. The tank is so large, in fact, that even through there are 4 Whale Sharks present, you never see more than one at a time. All types of fish inhabit the tank with the Sharks and none seem to feel threatened by their size. And can I say that I saw which one was Alice, or Trixie, or Norton, or Ralph?...No. Who cares. They grow 6 feet a year, so next visit I would not recognize them, anyway. And I will go back and maybe take the "behind the scenes tour" next time. My photos, I am sure, will need to be re-shot as it is hard to do this place justice.

The Grinch Stole My Christmas (Weather)

2006-12-17T16:51:00.000-05:00

How can it almost be Christmas when the temperature around here has been running 75 degrees during the day and 50 degrees at night? It is just eerie. Last week in Utah I was in the snow (more like winter ought to be) and this week at the cabin it feels like spring. Al Gore said it would be this way !

This did not start out to be a political posting, as Rosey had asked me to write about home at the holidays and add a few pictures of the cabin. So in thinking about how atypical the weather seemed to be while writing about Christmas, my mind turned to global warming, and thus to Gore. And sitting by the computer is my just-purchased copy of my favorite Christmas movie, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Somehow The Grinch and Gore juxtaposed . Now how do I add in Rosey's request to this post? I guess it will work itself out as I type.

Gore and The Grinch do have something in common. They both stole something from me. The Grinch is clearly to blame for stealing my Christmas weather. "Who" else would it make sense to blame it on? I guess I will just have to adjust my expectations and get out the shorts.

But what did poor Al Gore steal from me? Wasn't he the guy who had something rather monumental stolen from him? Yes, indeed, that happened and I have still not thrown away my yard sign from the election, thinking I might need it again some day, Ha ! (my Kerry sign, however, went into the trash). It appears that needing it again will not be the case in the next round of elections, however, and this is what Gore has stolen from me. By all appearances at this early date, Gore will not run unless he is "asked to do so". What is that all about? You took from me my first choice on the Democratic ticket! (I'm an independent, but hey, I like to have a choice!) How many more years will this happen to me? And "who" is going to ask you, politely, to step into the fray? Come on, Gore, suck it up! Don't look at the polls, showing you are in 4th place of likely candidates. Can't you see that we need a grown-up in Washington to throw all the balls into the air that have been kicked into the dark corners? Don't pout like a kid! Make your case as to why we need you and see what happens. Worse case, you will go home and do just what you are doing now. But use the chance to have a meaningful platform for your environmental ideas, and get us back to diplomacy instead of guns and cowboys. Don't be The Grinch "who" stole from the people the most experienced candidate, even if your ego is bruised.

Rosey, here you go with the requested pictures and a big MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and Dan and all the folks in Whoville! You are not missing a thing here, except watching The Grinch for the hundredth time because , even though it is a stupid movie, I like it.

Utah, Unforgettable Trip !

2006-12-17T08:18:00.000-05:00

Last week was like using the "way-back machine", returning to Utah after 27 years. Utah for me was a place I loved living, thought about a lot and hated to leave. Some things have not changed- the beautiful snow covered mountains and canyon streams are as I remembered. But to access them now is made more difficult because of overloaded freeways and urban sprawl. What a shame to see the smog overlay ( optimistically referred to as "mist" on a sign in the airport ). Way too bad. But the place was not the purpose of my trip. And luckily Spanish Fork was my destination.

My reason for coming was to see Rosey and to get to know Dan. Thanks, guys, for letting me come to stay with you ! I appreciate so much all you did to make my stay comfortable.

Here are some of the highlights of my time there:

Dan is quite the chef and he treated us to Teriyaki chicken and steamed vegetables. I soon discovered that the ideal job for me in his kitchen was dishwasher, Ha !

Rosey and I had a cold, frosty hike / jog along a Provo canyon trail early the next morning. What a super way to stretch my legs after my flight the day before. I kept saying, " I just can't believe I am here !" The canyon was awesome.

Mother-daughter shopping trips are always fun for us, and we did our share on this trip. and now Rosey has a coat that fits !

Dan took care of the entertainment on Friday night by getting opening night tickets to Ballet West's production of The Nutcracker. What a treat. The dancers, music and sets were a delight. We finished the evening with dinner and fun conversation.

But now for the big surprise: Dan says to pack an overnight bag for a trip to Zion National Park ! Wow. I had no idea this would be a possibility. I had traveled a lot in Southern Utah years ago and was dying to see it again. I wish I could say that on our hike to the Overlook that afternoon in the park I went zooming up the trail. My body cooperated just fine but my breathing left something to be desired. Rosey and Dan kicked my butt toward the summit but I enjoyed the hike tremendously anyway. I discovered something about how patient Dan is on this part of the trip :)

That night we had dinner outside on a patio at Oscar's. We ate our meal under tall gas heaters surrounded by Christmas trees and lights. Christmas carolers from the town added the touch of the unexpected. Fantastic ! We had the luck to find comfortable rooms at the Canyon Ranch Motel, and I was able to get a 3 mile walk before the sleet and rain set in at dawn the next morning.

And yet another surprise: Going home by way of Bryce Canyon ! Snow was in the forecast and it was uncertain that we should attempt it. I was traveling with adventurous companions, lucky me ! The more elevation we gained that morning the heavier it snowed. It was fortunate for us that Dan had driven so much in snow while living in Wisconsin and Utah. By the time we reached Sunset Point Overlook, there was about 2-3 feet of snow on the ground and quite a blizzard was blowing into our faces, making viewing the canyon a problem. What a treat to have this beautiful experience in the park. I will never forget it. And my thanks to Dan, especially, who drove all weekend to make this trip possible.

Sunday night was family time at Dan's house. Dan cooked spagetti and vegetables and his sisters came bringing their families and more food. Everyone had a good time that evening, playing with the kids, talking and playing pool. What beautiful children ! Dan is a lucky man to have this family. It was easy to see that they are his treasure.

Rosey took off from work Monday and we spent the day working on a photography display project. We had converted some of their travel photos to black and white format and after several trips to Kinkos there was a variety of possibilities to put into 16X20 frames. This was an experiment and there was no guarantee of success but I think Dan and Rosey were pleased with the outcome. Now they can easily display their travel photos by rotating the display when they choose. Cool !

We topped off the trip with dinner at The Bombay House. I have to say that the mango ice cream here was memorable...yummy !

All too soon it was time to board the plane. Thanks, guys, for the invitation and for making this trip so special for me. I will never forget my time with you. Except for the episode of having my electric toothbrush going off inside my suitcase and being pulled aside for a security search :( I had a fantastic, unforgettable trip !

Re-posted,
Sorry, Dan. Your comment was wiped out with the re-posting.

Nano, Nano

2006-12-01T23:18:00.000-05:00

Santa dropped down the chimney at the cabin early this year and brought me an "Apple green" Nano ! Actually, Best Buy and my ATM card had something to do with it. After spending an agonizing afternoon coaxing my computer back to life from freezing up on me, I can sit here with my glass of wine and enjoy this amazing little gadget.

I think very soon it will be like my Blackberry..I will wonder why I took so long to get one.

Library Love

2006-12-01T09:06:00.000-05:00

Yes, indeed, I love the library sitting in the valley below the cabin. And what I like most about it is not within the walls of the building itself.

It is the on-line features that make it so wonderful. I do acknowledge that these features are provided to me through the efforts of real, very helpful people and a fat city budget. My tax dollars are very apparent here :)

Interesting to me is the fact that the library, in order to give us what we want, when we want it, leases multiple copies of newly released books to meet the demand of the reading public! So when I go to the library website and request a book, they search all libraries in the surrounding area, find my book, have it sent to my library and hold it for me just steps inside the front door. Even just released books appear within a few days. Fantastic! Easier, even, than finding a copy in the bookstore.

I admit to being somewhat greedy about the number of books I have checked out at any given time; I count 8 books scattered about the cabin, all in various stages of completion.

My favorites right now:

Mindless Eating, Why We Eat More Than We Think by Brian Wansink
Self-Made Man, One Woman's Journey Into Manhood and Back Again by Norah Vincent
(Outrageous ! Yes, she lives as a guy for 18 months and gives surprising insight)
You're Wearing That?, Understanding Mothers and Daughters In Conversation by Deborah Tannen
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins ( Not a book in great demand here in the South, I would imagine )
Field Notes From a Catastrophe, Man, Nature and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert
( the Silent Spring for this era, update on Al Gore's work)
Failed States, The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy by Noam Chomsky
I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron ( women getting older and trying to stop the clock)

As if this was not enough, I can brush up on my Spanish and French from my computer by using the library link to Rosetta Stone. How super to feed my brain sitting here at night in my PJs. Only 20 more available languages to go!

It is fantastic to have this library as a resource, and too bad more folks here are all wrapped up in football and do not take advantage of it.

Turkey's Revenge

2006-11-26T18:10:00.000-05:00

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving Holiday. No turkey here for me as I am a vegetarian. But I did send my pardoned turkey on an errand to Washington. His postcard to the cabin is included here...good job, turkey !

And, by the way, if you thought this blog would be a series of woodland notes, think again.....

THE FIRST PATH

2006-11-23T10:52:00.000-05:00

Thus begins my first post from the cabin which I call home. This little cedar house I share with three dogs, who love to roam the property, and an elderly mother who doesn't roam much beyond the endless football games on her TV. The third, youngest dweller has flown the coop to begin a new life out West, and a link to her blog, Yodame, will appear here, with her permission. All within the cabin miss her :)

The season now is fall and acorns which have escaped from the jowls of marauding squirrels hit the cabin roof, kerpow ! The hundreds of trees seen from the cabin windows have put on quite a display this season, and the gift of leaves covers the deck, driveway and garden areas. Leaves are welcome here - not to be carted off by the city to feed a landfill, but turned into rich compost and mulch.

Today is Thanksgiving, and I give thanks for this little cabin in the woods which has sheltered three generations of women and every critter which the youngest dweller could persuade to live here.

Life is good !