Mountain Majesty

Today I said good riddance to the frozen tundra; city of lakes and flew to the west coast.  Clouds obscured my view most of the way.  But once we came to the backbone of our continent, the Rocky Mountains, the clouds were pierced and started to dissipate.  The Rockies are mountain majesties but they were more blue and gray and white than purple.  Next came the Grand Canyon which had quite a bit of snow around the edges.  I was on the driver side of the plane so I didn't really see the sun at all until we banked north.  And there was the beautiful sun shooting long rays across the horizon poised just above the Pacific Ocean.  As I watched the sun plopped down into the water and was gone.  What a lovely ride I had.  I had music (American The Beautiful) in my head most of the way until we got to the coast.  Then a new song popped into my noggin.

Leaving The Frozen Tundra

I am leaving this frozen tundra for a week and it's none to soon, let me tell you.  I just about froze walking to the light rail from my favorite vacation parking spot.  And wouldn't you know it?  My tote bag broke in the airport for the second time this year.  I go through tote bags faster than deodorant.  I should probably start buying better tote bags.  In any case, I'm off on a new adventure.  I've got two great novels (a Barbara Kingsolver and a William Kent Kruger) in my new tote bag.  My queasiness is 90% improved.  Life just doesn't get any better than this.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Junot Diaz's novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao won the Pulitzer prize for fiction in 2007.  This story tells the tale of Oscar as he grows up in New Jersey with his mother and sister. Oscar is the kind of guy who never fits in.  As immigrants from the Dominican Republic, it's hard to fit in but Oscar never gets anywhere close.  Bullied and tormented by the kids his age he can't understand why he should make any changes.  I listened to this book on compact disc.  Enough of the book is in Spanish, so much than when I went to lift the 50 pound bag of chicken feed out of the trunk of my car I exclaimed, "Dios Mio!"  Diaz's story gives me a better understanding of the Dominican Republic including the politics. I liked Oscar and his sister Lola.  Oscar's mother and Oscar's friend Junior (say it yoon-yore) are not as likeable.  It was a great story though.  

Queasy

Saturday was supposed to be a spectacular day for me.  I had the Minnesota Ornithological Union paper session training at the Bell Museum from 8 until 4:30 and then I had a dinner party to go to.  And most of the day was spectacular.  The bird speakers were engaging and I learned a lot.  We celebrated the end of the five year project - the Minnesota Breeding Bird atlas and I got to meet some of the other priority block holders.  I was really having a great day until about 2:30 when I took a big swig of Bell Museum water fountain water and, "Oh, oh!" a queasy feeling came over me.  I thought it was the water so I didn't drink anymore.  When I got to the dinner party I was served a delicious meal of appetizers, salad, vegie chili, cornbread and pumpkin cheese cake.  I was just dabbling at the food because I wasn't feeling the best.  I didn't want to be rude and not eat any but what difference does it make if you only take two bites? 

We were talking and having a good time when my stomach sent an urgent message to my head.  I heard the message but I didn't believe it because it has been 25 years since my last upheavel.  It was a good thing I excused myself and headed to the bathroom because sure enough, upheavel; driving the porcelain bus, blowing chunks.  I hate to say ralph because that is the name of one of my hosts so I'll say upchuck instead.  And then I felt better.  I washed my face and rinsed my mouth and rejoined the group.  "Cheesecake?" I was asked.  "Just a tiny sliver, " I replied trying to pretend I was okay.  I moved it around on my plate.  An hour and a half later upheavel happened again.  As discreetly as one can be when hurling, I hurled and ended the evening.  I felt fine in the car driving home.  I brushed my teeth three times and went to bed. I woke up a half hour later for more upheavel.  I was up every couple hours.  There comes a point when there is nothing left to heave so you just go through the disgusting motions.  Yikes.  I've been upheavel free for 13 hours now so maybe the worst is over.  I've got a busy week ahead and I don't have time for queasiness! 

Party Party

 

Last night I went to a holiday party and tomorrow I am going to another one.  How lucky can I get?  At this time of year I love to go to parties.  If anyone takes the trouble to organize a party and open their home to me I just can't see not going.  The party last night was in a very nice home in Ham Lake.  All the partiers were Master Naturalists.  Thinking back to my decision to join the Master Naturalists back in 2007, I know I made a good decision.  I've made friends with so many interesting people.  Last night we talked about travel, state parks, volunteering with school kids, various naturalists we know, what speakers we want in the coming year, degrees of sleep for animals (hibernation, torpor, dormancy, and estivation), the breeding bird atlas, the Christmas bird count, national wildlife refuges, Limburger cheese, snowshoes, skiing, seasonal affective disorder, pow wows, bears, corkscrews, opening wine bottles with a cordless drill and a deck screw, the color red, white water rafting, Wisconsin, bull snakes, boa snakes with lavender coloring, the lucrative business of breeding reptiles, Blanding turtles, predacious diving beetles, buckthorn, garlic mustard, binoculars, nature hikes, eating wild game, smoking fish, the quarry in Sandstone, pets, children, the Herpetological Society, work, retirement, photography, mushy brains, getting older, the movie "Gravity," snowy weather and bad roads, and gingko trees.  Fascinating conversations!  I'm glad I went.  I was lucky to be invited.

Can't Stand It

Yesterday I read an article in the Star Tribune that made my blood boil.  Here is the link:http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/234337801.html

So the elected representatives in our state legislature said the reason they can't get along and get much work done is because they can't enjoy a free lunch together.  They are proposing to change the laws that allow them to attend banquets put on by various lobby groups.  If they could attend banquets and free meals, then they could do the job they're paid to do.

 

The opinions on this free lunch debate are not partisan in nature.  It's strictly party goers and people who don't go to parties.

 

I just can't stand it. 

 

How can people be so outrageously selfish and expect to be reelected? 

 

Kindergartners are expected to get along.  And they have to bring or buy their own lunch!

 

I have to stop thinking about this or I will blow a gasket. 

Negative Motivation

Oh my bed was so cozy and comfy this morning.  I shut off the alarm and snuggled back under the covers for just a few minutes.  At least I thought it was just for a few minutes.  I heard a sound that made me want to get up and get moving.  The sound was the dreaded snow plow clearing the corner by my bedroom.  Then the plow backed up "Beep Beep Beep" and took another run at the corner.  Ugh!  How did 30 minutes go by so quickly?  Well, negative motivation to get up and get to work is effective if not pleasant.  I swear, someday I am moving south for the winter where there is no beeping of the snow plow, no slip sliding away on the roads, no throwing chicken grit under your tires to make it into the garage, no spending 75 minutes of hard labor after work clearing the driveway and no spending 10 minutes sweeping the precipitation off your vehicle before you can drive away.  Someday I'll be free of the negative motivation to get up in the morning

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