Adventuring

If I hadn't of left my batteries in the cup holder in my car as I hopped into the car pulling the boat, I would have pictures of Dan, Demeri, Aaron, and me clambering into a boat, cruising around the Key Peninsula, exploring, trying edibles, climbing trees, bouncing in trees, sitting in trees, playing on drift wood, trying more edibles, chasing grass hoppers. I would have pictures of the undulating wake that reflected purples and blues and blacks and oranges and reds and pinks of the sky. Day's last gasps illuminating Mt. Rainier in deep hues of splendor. and orange good night kisses as the vibrant orb of energy tucked itself in under a cotton sheet of white and a comforter of pine.

But I left the batteries in the cup holder in my car as I hopped into the car pulling the boat, and so instead I spent the time living and seeing these things without a lense. I remember these images and share them with you so that indeed they are not fleeting and indelibly imprinted upon my mind as they are in my heart.


I haven't laughed that much in a long time.

In Waltz Time...or Weather and About Time

I needed today and I had it and now I am happy.

This morning I had a meeting over at Kopachuck and Ranger Matt and I played with rocks on the beach for a couple of hours...I mean...uh...we worked on a geology program. But really we *did* work on a geology program- a program that involves playing with rocks on the beach. It was totally cool. Not only did it only start drizzling as we were packing up our rock key, but I had fun *and* I learned built lots of new knowledge on my Wyoming-learned knowledge of rocks. Andesitic volcanics of 40-60 mya. Good times.

THEN I went to Penrose and Ranger Dan and I talked about several of my other programs amid the daily work of the park. Continued laughing and learning and being productive. It was drizzling/raining this afternoon and we NEEDed the rain. It was parched and now all of this green will sip greedily on the seeping gifts...the water cycle is just so neat. Weather.

As I drove home, it rained and my new windshield wipers worked hard and it rained. Actual drops of water that pooled on the windshield until those wipers earned their keep. I stopped several times to photographically document the fog; the juts of land in the distance across a sea and a sea of fog; the vibrant red of the blackberry stem as surface tension sported it's best moves. As I hopped back in my car after the second stop, I looked ahead and saw hints of light blue sky. For the last thirty minutes of my commute home I watched this thick fog push south and break up; watched the sun stretch it's limbs across the sky as if suddenly woken from a fulfilling rest; watched the firs and moss dance with this new exuberance of the late afternoon.

THEN I got home and talked to my mom who is visiting me!

THEN I checked my various electronic means of correspondence and heard from many wonderful people and promises of reunions past and reunions future combine with reunions of present and I’m so lucky.

THEN I made a fire and had homemade soup…well…homemade vegetable mush and milk. Which was really good.

THEN I finished this blog and read myself to sleep.

I’m not finished yet! As my truck meandered 106 and my eyes hopped between the out-coming sun and the oncoming street, I began to think (dangerous, I know). I thought of my favorite places I remember. In Pittsburgh. Across the country. In Washington? The NPR that had been background noise suddenly asserted itself to my conscious thought. Now I have never been a big fan of “There Are Places I Remember.” It was my choir’s senior song. I sang it at my high school graduation. I still, or therefore, have never been a fan. But the instrumental arrangement began right as I thought the words “places I remember.” I would say creepy; I would say beautiful; I would say that although I have never liked the song, I will not be able to now deny its place in my emotional repertoire.

*******

The driver seat of a 2003 Honda Accord when the other three passengers are two pretty girls and a plastic goat

The passenger seat of a tan Mazda 626 when the driver is a pretty woman and when Sister Act rings at the top of our voices


The middle bench of the white van full of gear and people and nature as mindy smith begged jolene as the fog hung over the pines and the passion and the beautiful sad

The Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mother

In front of the fireplace on Bayberry Lane by the creepy or interesting or emaciated iron dogs, surrounded by musical instruments singing to their heart’s and my heart’s content

The imagined sandbox-owl-puzzle-rolly-slide memory

The kitchen of any dear friend. Especially on a Tuesday

The Maple with the salmon stream seat

The 34th story co-ed bathroom where the smokers open the window and I go in after the smell is gone and just look out

The burn forest at the top of Clark’s Fork Canyon and on Mt. Rose and that place on Ellinor where I decided I didn’t want to ever get down if it meant going down that snow right there

The third beach at Penrose

Schenley Plaza watching D&Ks; eating Chinese and discussing FP; eating pancakes; looking at moon and stars. with no shoes. Definitely no shoes

The Top of the escalator at seatac that brings loved people to loved mountains and hugs

That corner of the friend’s couch with the big green and tan pillows with the concentric circles; or the plushy purple ones; or the neat orange ones I want to steal from the room with all of the stuff and next to the big kitchen; or the breaking Indian ones with the red one and the pink lights, or the one with a big stuffed wombat; or the ones that I haven’t met with

or where the heart is.

Decision 1: Ice Cream

Last night I read "The Partly Cloudy Patriot" by Sarah Vowell...and then fell asleep on the couch. I am going to preempt my exhaustion this evening and write this *before* I start reading.

Had an interesting day today full of apathy and emotion, hot sun and freezing house; anger and exuberant joy. I feel at the same time slightly conflicted and very peaceful. I have made some decisions and now hope to implement those in my life. In the following days perhaps I will document how those decisions are playing out. For now, decision 1: ice cream.

Interesting amphibians meander sourly over rough& relentless years- joy on every landing.

Talk About Stuff

19 kids for a Junior Ranger program today. That was by far the highlight of my day; everyone was there about ten minutes early, and so while we waited until 3, I learned everyone's name. Ranger Joel rolled up on his bike just in time to watch me name everyone for him, and so that became somewhat the talk of the afternoon...which was cool. I know all of the parents appreciated it; I just knew I wanted to know everyone's name! We played some games and talked about some of the neat things in the park. I had tons of fun, and I think the kids did too.

Most of them were from one big group (of 120) camping at the park, and so everyone was busy at dinnertime, and unfortunately, there wasn't an audience for the evening save Joel and wife, Mona. Instead, I had talked through my program with the rangers and then had a really good and productive conversation. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed (if you couldn't tell by the two-sentence blogs), but I think it'll look up soon. I guess that's as much as I'll say here.

Tomorrow we are having a staff party in my front yard...that I found out about today :0). Which means tomorrow morning I will be cleaning and mowing and chopping the 3 tomatoes that cost me 7 dollars.

Gas ranges from 4.09 to 4.39 (I think Happy Hollow needs to 'get hip' to the competition...) What is it like around the country?

I had some really interesting discussions today- about our human impact. Mona said that National Geographic had an article about the footprint of burials, which I got excited about because of J&B's friend. I am still deciding if these conversations are productive beyond pure intellectual fulfillment. I always feel both full and empty afterwards, for on one hand I am excited that people are talking about stuff, and on the other- it's so scary and daunting it would be easy to sink into a depression and give up. When *my* energy is shot it is a telling tale...REDUCE people! Hmmm...I meant to use people as a form of address, but perhaps to use it as a noun...

There are several things I will still kick and scream about and I hope one of them is giving up. We can't ignore this stuff. Put whatever you are passionate about into the "this stuff" category. Whatever you are passionate about. Talk. talk about it. listen. listen to everyone else's "this stuff." It is entirely unproductive to utter "don't they know?" 'cause I'm pretty sure they don't. Maybe we've never been around someone with your perspective. Yes, we are padded with ignorance in our cushy lives, but I have a feeling that if we challenge each other, we will meet the challenge. TALK ABOUT STUFF.

I will not dumb it down. I may articulate it in a clear and understandable way. But I will not dumb it down because I still want to believe the average person is not dumb. we may be ignorant. but that we can fix. Talk about stuff.

and if I ever refuse to listen to your "stuff," remind me of July 26th's uneloquent rant, 2008.

We have such power of communication: human power and technological power. Please talk about stuff.

A wise person once said...

I promise I'll post more soon, I must first find the energy.

The highlight of today was quite exciting! Today I met the Governor, Christine Gregoire. I don't know if I'm allowed to talk about political views, so I'll just give you the facts: She has been a huge supporter of Parks. and was very nice. She came to talk about her efforts to restore the health of Puget Sound and encourage the 4 million people that live on the Sound to join her. and I shook her hand. three times I think. and all these little kids were around and they knew a lot about the Hood Canal too. and I met her. and she asked me about my school, etc. and loves Parks. and is adorable.














On a serious note;
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/07/25/obit.pausch/index.html

Watch his lecture if you ever have an hour and sixteen minutes.



Should I go back to school?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/19/AR2008071900962_4.html?sid=ST2008071900998&pos=

http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Ocean/Moore-Trashed-PacificNov03.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVwuPSLx2Xc

*Sigh*

WONDERFUL day of resting, reading, gardening, walking, running, birding, sitting, eating, talking. I sent in a job application, finished the Return of the King, spent two hours finding the back patio under pine needles and invasive weeds, and went for a run at the Wetlands. Met Don and Barbara there and we spent a relaxing sunset talking, taking pictures, watching the swallows and blackbirds, and, um, relaxing. Sleep now beckons, and so I listen.