Day #38: On my Bike...

A new phase.

After work I got on my Bianchi hybrid bicycle and headed down the hill from the hospital. It has been a few years since I used to commute to work on this thing. The bike seems to be working fine; it was tuned up well by the Oroville bike people.

In fact, it seems much too fast. Ian is right: biking is fast! The world spins by quicker than what I can process in my brain. I feel exposed. Vulnerable. I gingerly apply the brakes down the hill. These are new tires and I'm not used to them yet. Go slow Allan.

Traffic in the Napa Valley is busy today. And I am a wee, little bike sharing Highway 29 with people who have been wine tasting all afternoon---and are now on their way in their Lexxus, BMW's and Jaguars (all with much too much horsepower) to watch the Super Bowl. Chances are I'm the only person on the road who isn't liquored up. (I will remedy this soon.)

I arrive at the Library a bit sweaty, safe and happy.

Can a walking blog include bike trips? Yes! This blog is about getting outside under your own human power. Crawl, walk, use a wheelchair, ride a bike--it is all the same. Just get outside!

And so now I will get back on my bike, ride a few miles out of town to the Silverado Brewery, order some fresh rock salt broiled Dungeness crab and a beer (organic micro brew) and watch the end of the Super Bowl. Then back on the bike and up the hill to the hospital and the Monastic Dorm.

A new phase has begun! Now we start to train for the Wildflower 65!

Day #37: The Recall...

I brought my bike along to the Napa Valley for this week of work. My work comrade and friend, R.O. talked me out of riding my bike today. "Don't get your bike wet for your first ride", he said. "Ride it tomorrow when there isn't supposed to be any rain".

OK.

So after work, I took yet another stroll around St. Helena...and another quick walk through a vineyard. Stopped off at a grocery store to buy some soup and a bottle of wine for dinner.

This town is in the midst of an election campaign. Signs advertising "Yes" on Recall and "No" on Recall compete in next-door neighbor's front yards. The Recall is about throwing out four members of the current school board. Supporters of the Recall want to replace these board members with four new ones. Why do they want to replace the School Board? It seems that the new Superintendent of the school is seen as a sycophant of a prior Superintendent. There are other issues too---but in reading through the arguments for the Recall, it just seems like some folks have way too much free time on their hands. At least they aren't arguing over some Neanderthal issue such as teaching Evolution in schools. (I wonder if the increase in Homeschooling by Christian Conservatives has led to the demise of this issue?). Anyway, this Recall vote just looks like plain old Vengeance. An ax being ground.

The St. Helena School District has lots of money. Property taxes on these multi-million dollar properties means that St. Helena has lots of cash to spend on their public school system. Some families in other towns fake their addresses so that their kids can go to the schools in this wealthy community.

Democracy in action. I wonder how it will all play out?

Day #36: Forgetting...

I forgot to bring my camera to the Napa Valley.

And having only worked one day this year thus far, I had to try and remember how to be a Psych Nurse. Funny how quickly we lose skills when they aren't used. I also noticed that it has been around a month since I've actually talked with a psychotic person. I think most of us probably go through life and never really talk to someone who is not connected to reality. Today, I noticed just how strange this profession that I work in truly is; it all seemed odd. When you work in this gig a whole lot, psychotic behaviors and conversations start feeling normal. It is only when you step away that you notice just how bizarre this field can be.

So I found myself a bit tired after work. First off, I've been sleeping in--so getting up before sunrise was difficult. Secondly, being on my feet most of the day was a bit tough on my sore toes.

So down to St. Helena after work to walk in my favorite vineyard. The mustard is nearly waist high in the Napa Valley. It is raining, but it is a warm rain. Aromatic.

Day #35: With Thanks to Emerson....

Did the Short Loop with Angel this morning. While it is still cloudy with a hint of rain in the air, the temperature is warmer. Dare I say that Spring is in the air?

I finished Susan Cheever's American Bloomsbury last night. This book describes Concord, Massachusetts from 1840 to 1880. She attempts to describe what a dynamic town this was during this period, --which hailed Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau.

But special credit goes to Ralph Waldo Emerson who inherited money from the death of his first wife, and then wisely used the money to create an informal Artist's Community leading to some of the best literature ever created. All of the writers mentioned above benefited from Ralph Waldo's money. And support. In a sense, the modern environmental movement, feminism (from Margaret Fuller) and the creation of the "memoir" were made possible by Emerson's sharing of wealth.

Think about it: The Scarlet Letter, Little Women and Walden all came about because of friendship with Emerson. I think Emerson made a wise investment.

Time to drive to the Napa Valley for a week...

Days #33 and #34: Back on the Trail; Concow and Concord

My toes are better. Time to get into gear.

Angel and I walked the Long Loop today. First time I've walked it since returning from Costa Rica. Lots of trees are down from the high winds we had last week. And a new parcel is for sale. This is the parcel that (once upon a time) had the original farm house on it. The house was torn down a couple of years ago--as it had become a flop house for Bikers and Methheads. Now, just the property is for sale.

Actually two parcels are for sale on this Ridge that I have come to love. Makes me anxious as to who will buy it. This isn't a tight knit "off grid" community; most folks are escapists and a tad on the paranoid side. Yet, most are benign enough.

In a way, I wish Concow would become more like Concord. In the 1840's, Concord Massachusetts could boast that Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, H.D. Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Margaret Fuller lived there. All of these literary greats lived within spitting distance of each other. They took walks together. Borrowed each others books. Helped each other with their gardens. The only one who had any sort of recognition at the time was Emerson.

Concow could stand an infusion of "off grid" Artists Wannabees like Emerson or Thoreau.

All good things come to an end. I have only worked one day this year thus far. I've had thirty three days off. Tomorrow I return to the Napa Valley to earn my keep. My goal this year is to work to live; not live to work.

Days #30, #31 and #32: John Barleycorn...

The computer is still in the shop.

Outdoor activities have been limited to walks with the dog and a little work on the house. This vacation has been good for me. Spending large amounts of time away from paid labor makes a person appreciate just how much working for pay takes out of a person. Now, after only working one day in the last thirty days, I'm starting to feel like myself again.

And I've been reading. A lot. I finished "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer. Climbers seem to know how to write books. This is a tragic adventure story about the 1996 expedition to Everest that ended in half a dozen deaths. Climbers still march past the bodies that are forever entombed on Everest's slopes.

And last night I finished Jack London's "John Barleycorn". Written in 1913, essentially this book is about Jack London's alcohol use (and abuse). Jack London died from alcoholism three years later. "John Barleycorn" is London's word for alcohol. London admits he voted for women's suffrage because he thought once women had the vote, they would vote for Prohibition. As long as alcohol was legal, Jack London said he would always drink. London helped Prohibition's cause by writing this alcoholic memoir. It fueled the movement. Ironic that Jack London never liked the taste of spirits. He considered himself a social drinker--although towards the end of his alcoholic dance he needed alcohol from morning til night. A good read.

And I brought my bike into the shop to be serviced. Soon we shall start training for the Wildflower 100. But I haven't decided whether I'll do the "Mildflower 65".

Days #29 and #30:

The computer is still in the shop.

A nice day yesterday--we worked on the house and enjoyed a walk in the sun with the dog. Finally, got work got done. With the sun out, I'm ready to get this house finished.

Rain today. Off to the Rollerskating rink.

Day #28:Sunny! Howard Zinn and Dunkin Donuts

The last two days have brought something novel in the atmosphere: A view of the Sun! We have had enough rain over the last three weeks (of which I was gone for nine days) to go from way below normal rainfall to 120 percent of normal! Good for the reservoirs; bad for our roof.

Yup. The roof leaked water in our new Addition. Time to bring out the tar. Man vs. Tin Roof.

Outdoor activities? It is impossible to stay inside after three weeks of rain.

Toe status? The second Great Toe's nail fell off. Talk about ugliness.

Computer status? Anyday now for a return of the Gateway.

And Howard Zinn passed away yesterday. I never met the man--but I've certainly appreciated his work. I can't pass by a Dunkin Donuts without thinking of the man. Why? Because Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky would meet at the local Dunkin Donuts to have coffee. The idea of these two Radicals meeting at a chain Donut Shop for coffee---blows my mind. You'd think they would pick something less corporate; something more high brow that welcomes the intellectual Uniform of Tweed Jackets. Nope. Dunkin Donuts for two of the premier People's Radicals.

I'm betting these two intellectual greats walked to the Donut Shop. I think I'll step out and get a donut and some coffee to celebrate Zinn's memory.

Day #27: The Homeless and Oroville...

Down to Oroville this morning. Once again, I got the time wrong for an appointment and had a couple hours to kill.

Walking around downtown Oroville, more shops are shuttered. Seems that about half of the businesses in this beautiful downtown are closed. Quite a few more than the last time I walked down here. Too bad really. Oroville has a quaint downtown that dates from the late 1800's. It is the sort of place where the Intelligentsia would love to sit and have a cup of coffee. Which I did.

Then off to Oroville's new Riverbend park. Again, another great place for the area's increasing Homeless population to wile away a few hours. Lots of people hanging out after having spent the night sleeping in their cars. You can tell by the pillows, blankets and sleeping bags visible in the rear seats of the autos. The park boasts an item that is harder and harder to find in our cities: a public bathroom. For a homeless person, the chance to potty and wash up in peace-- is a gift.

I sit here at the Public Library which is open for six hours today. I got here in time to wait in line for the place to open. Half the Folks had alcohol on their breath, as I waited with twenty other Folks for (again) one of the last places where you can be in Public for free. All the Computers are quickly snatched up. Looking around I see a few folks checking out Job Sites.

I guess we always have to have a place for Simon and Garfunkel's "Ragged" people to go. But in this recession, the Ragged folks are more numerous...with many of us having fears we will join their ranks.

So what is Obama expected to do tonight? Put a cap on Public Spending for Medicare, Medicaid and Food Stamps. All the while, the biggest Piggy in the Public Trough (The Department of Defense) doesn't get a hit to their budget.

Nope. We have wars to wage. Meanwhile, the war on poverty is being lost. Look around: the evidence is all around us. How long must we put up with these misplaced priorities?

The Gateway Update: My hard drive is toast. Hopefully, the computer will be fixed by tomorrow.

Days #23-#26: Rain and the Computer Dark Ages...

The Gateway remains in the shop.

I write this post in that great Socialist institution--the public library. Although securing a computer at the library is much like fighting for bread in Auschwitz. Just another sign of the decline of the American Empire. The public Library's hours have been greatly curtailed. Budget cuts. Essentially, the only folks who can make a trip to the library these days are those without a job. Of which there are plenty in Butte County.

I don't understand why that great stimulus package, that was passed last spring, didn't include making sure every public library is open 7 days a week for a reasonable amount of hours.

Rain. It has been raining since I returned from Costa Rica. I'm on vacation (had to use up a bunch of unused hours), with grandiose plans of doing this and finishing that. This January rain puts a crimp in such plans. It is the sort of rain, in the hypothermic 40 degree range, that chills you to the bone.

And vacations are for regeneration--not hypothermia. So my outside time has been limited to brief walks with the dog. Inside time has been spent reading. The best book I've devoured was Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild". A very good read about an interesting (and impulsive) young man who should have brought a map with him to the wilds of Alaska.

Good news! My left great toe finally shed it's nail. This has reduced pain and makes working towards a new goal possible. And what will that goal be?