Day 120: There You Go Again....

Kind of hard to see tragedy in a small, little life when a whole Gulf dies....

Took a walk with my friend R., fellow RN, fellow Psychiatric Nurse and co-conspirator. He is one of the best Psychiatric Nurses I've ever met. I steal his material...

But we were walking cause we've gone and gotten ourselves in trouble again. We needed to process. Reflect. Learn to feel good about ourselves again.

Walking is good for that...

Day 119: Looking for Mr. Backpacker...

Angel and I took a walk this morning. We are starting to train for our next big hike. In the process I am looking for a partner. I have one tentative "yes"---but seeing as his spouse is having a baby soon, that might not be good for his marital bliss.

So I posted this on Facebook:

Anybody interested in backpacking some of the ugliest parts of the Pacific Crest Trail from June 18 to the 23rd of June? I'm looking for a foolhardy, out of shape partner--who is clumsy and with unrealistic, grandiose ambitions...

No takers thus far...

So then I sent this out by e-mail to almost everyone I know, most everyone I don't know and their dogs:

Hello all,

I'm looking for a backpacking partner for June 18 to the 22nd. My foolhardy plan is to start on the Pacific Crest Trail at Belden, and then attempt to make it to the Lassen area (haven't fully researched the take out point yet). This part of the trail is our backyard. It is described as being very ugly: no views, very little water, logged over, lots of rattlers--in short, some of the worst the PCT has to offer. Which is why I want to do it!

J. and I have talked about doing it, but--seeing as he has a baby coming and all, it might be hard for him to take on this pursuit.

Anybody want to give her a try? Frankly, I am not in the best of shape. I will more than likely suffer terribly (like I did in Costa Rica)---but that is part of the charm of the experience. That which doesn't kill us (more than a possibility) makes us, well, I don't really know. But I want to find out.

Anybody interested? Or do you know someone (hopefully out of shape and with grandiose ambitions) who is? Feel free to forward this to anyone who might be interested...

Cheers!

allan

My brother wrote that he is too out of shape to do it. Otherwise, there has been a loud, resounding silence...

Any adventurous Readers out there?

Day 118: Some Words from Saint Ed...

A rainbow tonight...while Kylie and Joni watch the sunset in the rain....

A walk with Angel on this cold, rainy day. I ran across these words of Ed Abbey's while doing some morning surfing. I think it perfectly states why we get out and take these walks.

It comes from a speech to environmentalists in Missoula, Montana, and in Colorado, which was published in High Country News, (24 September 1976), under the title "Joy, Shipmates, Joy!"

"Do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am — a reluctant enthusiast... a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards." - Edward Abbey

And so I spent the day looking for friends to take a couple backpacking trips with me. Ed was a wise man...

Day 117: Rain and the Bibs...

Raining again. Angel and I decided to "risk it" by walking through some of the burned over areas from the great fire of 2008. I'll write another day about the connection between this forest destroying, crown burning fire and climate change (which was brought to light to me by McKibben's book: Eaarth).

No, today is a day for sloggenly marching through mud and hoping to avoid some widow makers. And all of this done in my Biboveralls.

Why? Because I have to pick up the girls from school today (Joni is working late this week) and they absolutely are mortified when I show up to their school wearing my Redneck Costume. Kylie and Jazzie see me in my Bibs and do everything possible to avoid having any connection to me whatsoever. They don't make eye contact. They run to the car. They don't acknowledge me. They treat me like I'm a Black man at a Tea Party Rally!

I live for their blushes. Their total embarrassment. Their wanting to get the hell out of there before their friends see me!

And then while safely in the car, they yell at me. "Why did you wear those to our school! You look sooooooooo stuuuuuupiiiiiiid in those things!".

I always non-chalantly drive away--and then I ask them if they would like to go to Paradise, Oroville or Chico to buy some supplies?

The girls look at each other weighing the tradeoffs in their eight and ten year old heads. If they go with me, they will be with someone totally uncool; yet, if they do go with me, they might get something they like? A book. Clothes. A treat. A visit to a malt shoppe.

I am evil. I live for this...

Day 116: Reflections on Poison Oak...

Angel and I wandered off to explore this morning. My thoughts turned to Poison Oak.

You see, we had quite a few visitors over the weekend, who braved the single lane gravel road to make it up to our Homestead. One of the visitors came down with a bit of Poison Oak on his ankle the next morning.

Yesterday we had some other visitors. Since I knew that on Friday, some visitors wandered into the stuff (and had a breakout), I showed them some Poison Oak and said they should avoid it.

You would have thought I just introduced them to Hannibal Lecter!

One of the visitors tip-toed from the car to the house, asking all the way: "Did I step in any"?

Me? I kind of like this wiley plant. Whenever I get a fresh break out, I just scratch it to smithereens until the pain over comes the itch. Seems to work (but I don't advise anybody else to do this). Kylie, who at age ten gets into everything--God Bless Her---breaks out terribly from the stuff. We try all the remedies known to humankind on her.

But Kylie has learned to avoid Poison Oak. No break outs thus far this year (keep your fingers crossed).

But the fore-mentioned visitor's fear struck me. How can a little plant, that doesn't really move, snarl, bite, scratch or claw--strike such fear into a person? I told them that the best remedy I know is to avoid it (leaves of three, let it be) and to take a bath after running about in their territory (not that I take my own advice).

I sometimes wonder if that isn't the reason Thoreau took his daily wash up in Walden Pond? To ward off Poison Oak's cousin Poison Ivy that grows on the eastern part of our Country.

Back to Poison Oak. No need to be frightened. Just as there really isn't any need to be frightened of Mountain Lions (and I intentionally capitalize creatures names---a convention I wish all would adopt), Grizzly Bears, Black Bears, Rattlesnakes, Bison and a multitude of other creatures that I hope we learn to live with and restore their right to private property! Yes, Animals have property rights!

With adequate caution, we can live with all of creation.

Where does this fear come from? We fear what we don't know. I don't think we will really turn the tide and create more wild space until the percentage of kids who come down with a Poison Oak rash gets to ninety percent and they learn to love and respect the plant. But I fear the kidly breakout percentage gets less and less every year, as the computer and the Xbox, Wii, Ipod, Ipad, Iphone, and Ipoison get more and more of our youngster's attention.

And what is the lesson of Poison Oak to a child? A rather good one. You see, if a child wanders into traffic, they are dead before they learn the lesson that that is something you should not wander in. But if a kid wanders into some Poison Oak, well, then they learn the lesson that there are things out there that can hurt you---but without the modern day lethality of our more uncivilized, civilized dangers!

Poison Oak can be our friend...

Day 115: The FlatFlower 30...

"I love the smell of Roundup in the morning", I told my peers as we rode past our first orchard.

I'm a part of four nurses (one pulling his special needs twenty year old son) who rode the FlatFlower 30 today. One step up from the ChildFlower (a ten mile ride). The FlatFlower was a flat (hence the name) bike ride through northern California's ode to industrial agriculture: the northern Sacramento River valley. Frankly, we had a blast!

I've never participated in a group ride like this before. You could start anytime between 6 and 9 am. Adults could choose from one of four rides: The FlatFlower 30; The FlatFlower 60; The MildFlower 65 (very hilly); and the WildFlower Century (quite hilly). We chose the easiest ride.

People go ga ga over these events. It is a whole sub-culture I've never experienced before. Most were dressed in their road racing finest. R. chose shorts (with padded bike pants under the shorts) and sandals. I chose shorts (without padding), a t-shirt and my worn out hiking boots I wore to Costa Rica. M. looked at my shoes and said: "Are you going to replace those soon?"

J. (a neo-natal ICU nurse) gets ready for the ride.

Breathe and Ride. Breathe and Ride....

They had cool signs to point the way. My coworker M. leads the way...

Taking a break to stretch....

Mt. Lassen is barely discernible in this photo...but she stood guard over us all morning...

R. at the end of the ride, after pulling his son for thirty miles...(in sandals no less!)....

M. and J. finish the ride...success!! I sprinted ahead (to show off) in order to get their photos...

Four nurses (and R's Son) at the finish. My butt was sore (maybe I will buy some of those funny looking padded pants)...

Afterwards: a really good California Cuisine type lunch and Beer!!!

Day 114: Registration....

A quick walk along the Ridge with Angel this morning. Then I drove down to Chico to register for the Chico FlatFlower 30 mile Bike Ride....

I have no problem setting my sights a bit lower. I originally had planned on doing the WildFlower Century. Then I decided that maybe I should do the MildFlower 65. Then I got sick, didn't train, got lazy and I haven't been on my bike since February.

So a couple of my peers from work decided we would do the FlatFlower 30. As the sign says above: No Hills! I'm hoping there will be a bar along the course that we can duck into. It is always more fun to combine your vices with your virtues....

Day 113: More Thoughts on Eaarth...

A short walk today: getting ready for a barbeque tonight. Spring cleaning!

I finished Mckibben's Eaarth last night. Quite good--mostly. I liked the first half of the book much better than the second half. And of the second half, I mostly liked it.

Greentangle has written of his reservations about the book. Mainly, that it is much too human centric. I agree.

A couple of other things: First, I would have liked to have seen more than a page on the role of the US military---mainly, that we cannot afford it anymore.

Secondly, I think Mckibben pooh poohs the role of big government too much. You'd think the guy was a Tea Partier!

I stand with I.F. Stone--who believed up until his death that government can make big changes--fast! Imagine a Solar Panel program modeled after the Student Loan program? Zero percent interest with twenty year terms to anyone who owns a house! That would make for a quick change!

Government still can do that most wonderful thing called "social planning". It is up to the people to make sure that this planning is done on a more Green path---and not aligned with the Corporations as it is done now.

Green social planning by the Federal Government, local food, local economies, decentralized energy, sustainable building and more space for wilderness are not mutually exclusive. The Whole is always greater than the Sum of its parts.

Days 111 and 112: Eaarth Days....

Back across California yesterday, to reunite with the Homestead. Took an evening walk with Angel--and then a more substantial one today. I couldn't figure out why the camera didn't work. Turns out you need to put new batteries in the thing now and then. So you have to settle for a picture of Angel on my deck that is in the process of being scraped. The winter rains took a toll on the deck.

Too bad the camera didn't work. The first California poppies are blooming. As are the Mariposa lilies. This past week has led to an explosion of Flora on the Ridge.

And Fauna too.

Angel caught a baby jackrabbit the other day. Luckily, Angel didn't know what to do with the thing...and the bunny escaped!

I came home to a shipment of books from Amazon. Being that it is Earth Day--I read most of Mckibben's "Eaarth" (yes, that is the correct spelling) last night. This is an important book in my view. A must read! Mckibben adopts the view that we have created a new planet, hence the new spelling. Climate change has created a whole new era; things don't look good.

More when I finish the book... Happy Earth Day!

Days 109 and 110: New Goals...

Still working in the Napa Valley. Two lazy walks through the vineyard next to the library.

On Sunday, I will be riding a bike (if they got my registration in time) in the "Flatflower" in Chico. Only a thirty mile ride, to be done without any particular training. My friends R. and M. will be joining me. R. will be pulling his twenty year old son behind him in a trailer. That should even things up a bit.

R. and I decided that we just might have to stop at every bar that we pass on this ride. Make things a bit more interesting...

And plans are being made for another major backpacking adventure in September....

Days 107 and 108: A Bit of Cheer!!

The best time to visit the Napa Valley is in April when it isn't raining. The explosion of California poppies and lupine are magnificent! Everything is green! So on Saturday, I dropped into a winery. Bennett Lane Winery.

I decided to ship a few bottles to someone special for his birthday (and you'll be getting them soon!). Late, of course. Didn't stop me from tasting their marvelous wine. They have a white blend called "Maximus" which is unusual and quite good. They also have a red blend (also called "Maximus"--guess they ran out of names) which also is almost always unusually good. And they had a 93 point Syrah (and priced to go along with the rating) which was memorable. I bought a bottle of the white Maximus for my supper, finished my walk and headed back to the Monastic Dorm. Fell asleep by Seven pm.

Sunday. Tired. Just a jaunt around the crowded, upscale town of St. Helena. Tourists everywhere, flaunting their designer sun dresses and starched short sleeve shirts usually with a horse and rider insignia on them. California Yuppie Casual. Ducked into my favorite restaurant for a burger and a couple of Anchor Steams on draft and then back to my room. Fell asleep at Six o'clock.

Slept til three am this morning---waking up feeling disoriented; not knowing what day of the week, nor what time of the day it was.

Day 106: Walking and Literature...

A restorative walk in Calistoga today. Followed by a bit of a walk in a vineyard. I needed it (and it really is too bad I can't ethically write about my nursey activities). Suffice it to say that I have done way more medical nursing lately than I ever have had to do in my life. I'm getting good at it.

I read last night that Rousseau's best work was one on walking (I believe it was his last book--gotta put that on my reading list). Some have credited Rousseau with starting the modern environmental movement. He was a walker.

Rousseau walked. Thoreau walked. Muir walked. Abbey walked. Leopold walked. Krutch walked. Mills walked. Can you name others who either wrote essays about walking, or entire books?

It is a grand enviro-literature tradition.

Day 105: Warmth!

Timing is everything in life. Just as we (finally) get a dry, warm, spring day---I had to hop in the car and drive across California to go to work. I did manage to get a lovely romp with Angel the dog in. A glorious day!

Day 104: Purgatory..

If there is such a thing as purgatory, I am in it.

Another cold day with intermittent rain. A friend told me that we are having a "normal" year as to rainfall. That Paradise, the town--which is about 1 1/2 miles away across the canyon as the crow flies, is at 100 percent of normal for rainfall (with 60 inches of accumulation). By the way, they calculate rain fall totals beginning on July 1. So a season goes from July of the previous year to June 30th of the next year.

Another soggy walk.

Mental note: take two vacations during the rainy season. One in January and a second one in March.

Day 103: At last: Peak Oil....

Took my walk after reading the morning's news. Two reports have convinced me that:

1. Oil production peaked in 2005-2007.

2. The current economic crises, although mostly financial, was also partly caused by the increase in petroleum prices in the summer of 2008.

3. Peak Oil is here. We now start the downward slide; everything will change now.

4. Look for lots more walking going on.

One report was from the London Guardian (who once put me on their website) and the other was from Le Monde in France.

I've been watching this hypothesis for ten years. I've been hesitant about this issue (because everything seems Mark Twainish in the sensationalism of "stories about my death of been greatly exaggerated"). But these two reports have me reasonably convinced. I don't think it is hawkish propaganda because it was picked up by the European press. If the military wanted to spread some mass misinformation they would use their normal channels. The Joint Chiefs would be on CNN and other networks talking about mushroom clouds and all that other rot (although that may happen when we decide to invade Iran).

No.

These reports are from the subterranean military and energy intelligentsia who have finally been unearthed by a much more enlightened press corps than what we have here in the States.

Consequences of these reports? The Last Man Standing scenario popularized by Richard Heinberg.

1. We have Iran surrounded right now. Client States in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Look for more flexing of American Military Might within the region. I think there will be more war in the region. Pakistan is the symptom and not the problem. America wants to secure all the oil within the Middle East. A lack luster peace movement makes this possible.

2. A double dip in the economy. Look for a second recession in November (after the election).

3. Of course, there will be more drilling for oil. ANWR will be drilled (if not now, certainly within the next twenty years). Obama's announcement of more off shore drilling is no surprise. Scarcity means profits! We won't move on to a post carbon economy until every drop has been mined.

4. An opportunity for real change! This could mean an end to the American Empire; real investment in Green Energy; a thriving local economy and real conservation. All crises have opportunities: We are in the midst of one now.

5. Oil will not go down without a fight. Look for greater efficiency in products before a vast investment in renewables occur. Oil is just too profitable.

6. Tar Sands! Look for Canada to be dug up.

7. All politics for the next twenty years will be related to propping up the carbon industry. In fact, that has already started. Why else go to war so much in the Middle East?

8. Climate Change legislation is dead.

How bad will it get? That is anybody's guess. I'd say that things fall apart slowly. It takes years for a house to weather and fall down but some of the supporting beams have rotted. We still have time to build a new house before the old one rots. Better get to work!

Day 102: Move to Tuscon?

Another three inches of rain over the last day or two. Still cold.

This made me look up the weather in Tuscon, Arizona. 80 degrees. Sunny. Which prompted me to comment to Joni that I'm tempted to just hop in the car and drive there. As in now. ASAP! Like the little Gnome in the Travelocity commercial: "I gotta get out of here".

And then the sun came out.

Respite for just a brief amount of time. I took advantage of this reprieve from the rain and put on my soggy boots; slogged through a walk with Angel. All the while, dreaming of someday escaping the mind numbing rainy season of northern California in order to enjoy the winter warmth and sun of Tuscon.

Day 101: Cabin Fever and David Brooks

Rain today. A cold, drenching rain. This has been a long winter.

We had to get out of it, so it was down to Chico to Calskate for some roller skating. Part of our pantheon of activities when you just can't stand the rain anymore. The other activities are the library and bowling. We don't go to the Mall much; in fact, I can't remember the last time I went to one. Depressing places: I'd rather stay home in the rain.

But Angel and I did manage to stumble out for a walk. All the while contemplating an op/ed by David Brooks of the New York Times. I read the thing yesterday after a friend recommended it to me. It is supposed to be "optimistic".

I found it disconcerting.

What Brooks finds as optimism, I find to be bad news: Increasing birth rates amongst Americans in their twenties (they are having larger families!); increasing immigration; a population increase of (at least) one hundred million by the time I'm scheduled to exit the planet (in 2050--I'm being optimistic given my poor health habits!). This is all bad news.

Of course Brooks minimizes the perils that might befall us. No mention of Peak Oil. No mention of the hazards of monoculture. No mention of climate change. Ignore the man behind the curtain please...

East Coast Well-Educated Token Republicans writing for the New York Times forget one thing: Nature Bats Last...

Day 100: Bushwhacking and Enos Mills...

Lately I've been bushwhacking more on these walks. Straying off roads, off trails and exploring how a forest recovers from a devastating fire.

The forest falls apart in sections. Yes, an occasional entire tree falls, but mostly the trees break off from the top down. Half the tree still stands, while the tops fall and decompose.

I ran across a couple of abandoned cars. Without motors.

This Chevy pickup was in pretty good shape. No motor though. You have to be a little careful bushwhacking; pot farms and meth labs are in the area. Supposedly they sometimes booby trap their camps. I very gingerly approached this camp (and then had Angel go first!). A couple of my neighbors never go hiking without a side arm. I think that is more Concow Bluster than anything really necessary.

Enos Mills never went hiking with a gun. Sniffing around the Monastic Dorm's library I found this book from 1919. The book (The Grizzly) interested me because California still had a few Grizzlies in 1919. The last California Griz was killed in 1922.

Simply stated, this book is wonderful! It is a compassionate plea for the conservation of the lower 48's Grizzlies (obviously, the plea was not heeded).

Enos Mills was the founder of Rocky Mountain National Park. He lived in a cabin in what was to become this National Park for forty years. He was a bit of an itinerant and a nature lover. The story goes that Enos wanted to see the Pacific Ocean. He made his way across the west and when he got to the ocean he went to a beach. Perplexed by Kelp, he stopped a stranger on the beach to ask him what it was.

That stranger was John Muir.

This synchronicity started a lifelong friendship between the two. And Muir's influence on Mills writing is evident. Approachable. Descriptive. Kind. Eloquent. Passionate. Informative.

Mills didn't consider the Grizzly to be a dangerous animal. Hence, he trailed Grizzly Bears for days on end, without carrying a weapon. He also believed that the Grizzly Bear's solitariness was an adaptive feature that the bear did in order to survive the wide spread slaughter of his species. Before hunting, Mills believed that Grizzlies were much more social.

Maybe most people are glad that the California Grizzly is gone. We have way too much fear of anything that can kill us (although the Ursus' diet consists of mainly small mammals, roughage and insects). After reading this eloquent book, I am sad that Mills' peers didn't have the foresight to save this creature.

I think the Griz and I could have learned to co-exist on the ridge.

Day 99: Basketball...

Had a rousing game of basketball with Kylie.

Kylie said: "I didn't know you could play basketball". I went on to tell her about how much I played as a kid. About how we would spend hours at the park shooting baskets.

Kylie then said: "But you are old now"...

Days 97 and 98: Home!

I drove across California yesterday afternoon. Stopped to admire some elk and then took an evening walk with Angel.

Today, Angel and I wandered off to a meadow. I wanted to see if any new wildflowers were blooming. Nope.

But it is good to be home. I now have eight days off to fight off this virus and maybe get some work done on this house.

And the good news? Seems that the hospital is reconsidering their decision to close the Monastic Dorm to those of us who need a place to sleep now and then. It seems that the Powers That Be had no idea just how many employees use the building as a place to crash. That gave them pause--and, for now, it remains open to us.

Day 96: Just Sittin' There...

Still struggling with the Monster Bug, I went to a quiet place after work to sit and enjoy the solitude of a vineyard. I went just to unwind. Reflect. Let the Outdoors heal me.

A Nurse friend got fired today. This hospital certainly has no problem with terminating someone. Psychiatric Nurses tend to be an odd breed. They tend to be a bit on the irreverent and anti-authoritarian side of the ledger. They also tend to get fired at the hospital I work at. Seven Nurses fired in the last year--many had been there five years or more.

So does this stop me from rabble rousing a bit given the loss of my housing? Nope. I carried the fight through channels today. One by one going up the ladder. The Director of Human Resources has promised to "look into the situation" and to "get back to you". Sounds like a blow off.

My position: Create a Hostel for the three to five Nurses who daily use temporary Hospital housing. The hospital has the empty houses. Seems like a good PR move for them. We shall see.

Onward!

Days 94 and 95: Good Bye Monastic Dorm

Worked Easter. Off to bed.

Called in sick for today as I continue to wrestle with this demon bug. Jim Beam is no match for it.

Much fear and gnashing of teeth here at the hospital. Quite a few Nurses and other health professionals stay at what I affectionately call "The Monastic Dorm". No more.

When I arrived at my room, I discovered that it had new carpet (really ugly), new artwork (unbelievably bad) and fresh paint (much too dark). The Powers That Be have decided to increase revenue by turning this old dormitory into an outpatient residence for people in recovery from substance abuse.

Which means that I will no longer have housing. They gave us all of two weeks notice.

Of course, many of us have complained. Since the hospital owns some 70 houses in the area, my proposal is to create a Nurse Hostel for those of us who travel. And also for all those Nurses who double back and don't want to risk the highways in an exhausted state.

Oh, there will be some rabble rousing around this! Probably to no avail. I have asked Security where I could pitch a tent for the summer (and since one of their employees also is affected by this)--they were sympathetic and will scour the grounds for my campsite. My own homeless camp.

Or will I sleep in my car?

Will the hospital decide that a 130 year tradition of housing Nurses on the grounds come to an end? Will a few upstart RN's affect the closing of one of the more compassionate aspects of this hospital for its workers? Stay tuned.

This could be interesting...

Day 93: Off to the Napa Valley

Looks like the Jim Beam worked. A little. Took a walk with Angel just prior to leaving for the Napa Valley. I brought the Jim Beam along with me for medicinal purposes only.

It snowed last night. Snow! Meanwhile, Vermont is having 80 plus degree weather. Massachusetts is underwater, after two non-hurricane induced, once in a century storms within a couple of weeks. Minnesota didn't have any snow in March (for the first time in 150 years). And Washington DC got more snow last winter than anybody could have predicted.

As Joni says: "It is called Climate Change". Yup.

There is no normal with the new normal...

Day 92: Drastic Measures and Jim Beam Black

I took my dog and my virus for a walk today. A short walk along the bulldozed fire trails (which has become my new thing).

Still sick (called in sick for tomorrow too), it is time for drastic measures. Since mucinex, benadryl, ibuprofen, emergen-C and chicken soup aren't working--time to change the approach. I drove down to the dome store and picked up my new flu fighting weapons: potato chips and Jim Beam Black.

Jim Beam Black is aged an additional four years. Eight years total. It has a more mature, smokey look to it. I'd like to say what it tastes like, but unfortunately, taste buds don't operate with this amount of sludge in the nasal canals.

My Nursey reasoning to this approach? What is bad for the body, must be bad for the bug! This should kill most anything preying upon my system.

Cheers!

Day 91: Year of the Goat...

Today would normally be a travel day for me. Not today. Still struggling with this feisty bug, I called in sick to work for tomorrow. I took a short walk with Angel on some of the bulldozed trails from the fire of 2008.

Joni and I have both been ill over the last week. Two middle, middle aged people sharing both our viruses and this 350 square foot cabin. We get out of the house to fill the water buckets and to walk the dog. These activities generally lead to a two hour nap.

And we watch TV. Joni opts for the Criminal Minds type shows (I've never watched the show before--but now I can say that I've seen at least 24 episodes); I like the usual Lefty Egghead stuff: Free Speech TV, Democracy Now, MSNBC with just a dash of the Food Network for some spice. (Although I'm so stuffed up I can't taste anything). Torture!

When not sleeping or watching the Tube, we read. Joni is reading Michael Pollan's book on building a cabin.

Last night I finished "The Year of the Goat" by Margaret Hathaway. Put this one into the I-think-I'm-gonna-be-a-Homesteader-and-raise-goats-and-children sort of book. Homesteading literature.

The book reminds me of Joni and myself, if we were twenty-five years younger. Margaret and her boyfriend (and soon to be husband) Karl, while living a Yuppie lifestyle in New York City, somehow get it into their heads that they want to live in the country and raise goats.

So they spend a year traveling the country to learn everything they could about goats. There is a fine line between having a hobby and having an obsession. How to determine the fine line is a matter of whether you are the person with the obsession or not. This couple became obsessed with goats.

But the book isn't really about goats. It is about the people who love goats. It is Hathaway's gift to describe these people with kindness and verve. The journey changes her.

The book is a good read. Urban, Farmer's Market loving, Solartopian types love to dream about having a farm. This couple did it--and wrote a decent book about their preparation for the experience. This is an approachable couple who even have a website about their experience. With their invitations for visits and their website, they remind me of Scott and Helen Nearing's hospitality.

I'm planning on reading their sequel. We too, would like to have a goat or two running around.