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Sketchy notes
Sep. 13th, 2004 10:38 amCamping Friday night was interesting. We seriously relaxed as we hung out around the fire - it was surprisingly cold because we were by the river and also, the 24-hr. sprinkler/irrigation of one plot was near us so the physics of evaporation were freezing us. We were talking about the times we were tent camping near Winnebago or even larger/fancier rigs, and it got me musing about differences in values. For all that we were slightly distainful (or at least I was) of the Winnebago people for missing out on the experience of living the camping life, surely the Winnebago people are distainful of the people who don't save and buy a big camper to avoid the harshness of camping. I like setting up camp, the fire, etc. For a brief period of time, I live an approximation of what Native American's, gypsies, etc. live/lived and it informs me in ways that I value, like: how precious drinkable water is, how hard you have to work to get it in some places, how the turning of the seasons changes how you need to adapt (brrr, again) and so on.
Okay that wasn't too sketchy, though I did skip how Bill Moyers on Fresh Air with Teri Gross today was talking about polarization and how it made me think about the camping thing, too. Now I will try for sketchy -
Rafting was way fun. Larry's out of practice but we made our way down okay. He let me, then Steve, river guide down Class II rapids at the end of the run. It was way fun. The river was running about 1,200 (cubic feet per second, I presume). They do the river guide training in May - full wetsuits and spring run off as high as 6,000 - 7,000 cfps. Yikes. I like the idea of doing the training but then again, dilletente.
Sunday: Tivoli Fair at my mother's community was fun. Danes & Danish stuff! Who knew about this? Not me/us. I bought a bunch of stuff. Best buy at their flea marker: large silver Revere bowl for $2. The stamps on the bottom look like it's sterling, not plate, too. Woo hoo!
Kat: are you still collecting yarn, knitting needles, etc. for your students? if so, box going out to you soon.
First birthday party later on Sunday for Thomas, son of a former backpacking buddy and his wife. Um. In which I learned that Thomas has a severe birth defect, which I will have to google later. His brain is smooth. Apparently, he will never have much presence of mind at all and there are a ton of physical problems related.
Katerina Bee, her sister and I were talking about liking to look at old cemetaries, how interesting they are, on the way back from the river. We noted that you can see a higher rate of infant mortality in old cemetaries.
Hearing the news about Thomas made me think about the people I know who have kids. Now, most of my friends live together instead of getting married and most don't have kids. But of the people I do know who have kids: there's Thomas; ES's son was born with a birth defect as a result of her pharmacist screwing up her prenatal vitamins and her taking way too much folic acid through her entire preganancy, although it sounds like that was fixed by surgery; JG's son is autistic; and I'm at work and have to run now. but I think there are more. I know 3 young men, in early 20's, who have manifested mental disorders that have required hospitalizations, coming to terms with the need to take medications probably for life, and the restructuring of their and their families lives to cope with it.
So, change in infant mortality rates be damned, advances in technologies be damned, life is still hard, and life is precious.
Okay that wasn't too sketchy, though I did skip how Bill Moyers on Fresh Air with Teri Gross today was talking about polarization and how it made me think about the camping thing, too. Now I will try for sketchy -
Rafting was way fun. Larry's out of practice but we made our way down okay. He let me, then Steve, river guide down Class II rapids at the end of the run. It was way fun. The river was running about 1,200 (cubic feet per second, I presume). They do the river guide training in May - full wetsuits and spring run off as high as 6,000 - 7,000 cfps. Yikes. I like the idea of doing the training but then again, dilletente.
Sunday: Tivoli Fair at my mother's community was fun. Danes & Danish stuff! Who knew about this? Not me/us. I bought a bunch of stuff. Best buy at their flea marker: large silver Revere bowl for $2. The stamps on the bottom look like it's sterling, not plate, too. Woo hoo!
Kat: are you still collecting yarn, knitting needles, etc. for your students? if so, box going out to you soon.
First birthday party later on Sunday for Thomas, son of a former backpacking buddy and his wife. Um. In which I learned that Thomas has a severe birth defect, which I will have to google later. His brain is smooth. Apparently, he will never have much presence of mind at all and there are a ton of physical problems related.
Katerina Bee, her sister and I were talking about liking to look at old cemetaries, how interesting they are, on the way back from the river. We noted that you can see a higher rate of infant mortality in old cemetaries.
Hearing the news about Thomas made me think about the people I know who have kids. Now, most of my friends live together instead of getting married and most don't have kids. But of the people I do know who have kids: there's Thomas; ES's son was born with a birth defect as a result of her pharmacist screwing up her prenatal vitamins and her taking way too much folic acid through her entire preganancy, although it sounds like that was fixed by surgery; JG's son is autistic; and I'm at work and have to run now. but I think there are more. I know 3 young men, in early 20's, who have manifested mental disorders that have required hospitalizations, coming to terms with the need to take medications probably for life, and the restructuring of their and their families lives to cope with it.
So, change in infant mortality rates be damned, advances in technologies be damned, life is still hard, and life is precious.