Nothing Knowing

Be Healthy and Make the World Better

2009-10-18T10:12:00.004-05:00

Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I believe we have the fundamental right to express our opinions so long as there is no direct harm put upon another leaving creature. We often dismiss and cast aside people who view the world differently than us and consider them ignorant, uninformed, stupid, and the list goes on. Listen to those who disagree with you as they will often challenge your beliefs, your foundation. Admit it or not, that challenge leaves an uneasy feeling. Isn't is easier to dismiss the uneasiness and associate with like-minded people? There is a reason we have a tendency to segregate ourselves.

Lately, I've been a good little solider and got sucked up into my own daily life that I forgot there is a whole world out there. The mainstream news stresses and depresses me so I tend to avoid watching it on television and listening to it on the radio. In addition, I grow tired of people fighting over one thing or another. Therefore, topics such as health care reform and the like haven't really gotten into my frontal lobes or anywhere between my ears and behind my eyes for that matter.

This morning, while slurping down a few cups of coffee, I stumbled across a fact that grabbed my attention. In a study done by the United Nations Children Fund (www.unicef.org) nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names. For those with rusty math skills, one thousand millions make up one billion. That's the number 1 followed by 9 zeros: 1,000,000,000. I read that sentence over and over again until my heart began to ache and the wheels in my head were set in motion.

To truly address the worlds woes, I feel we need to address the poverty issue. The issues on health and human rights overlap each other. Promoting and protecting health and respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights are linked. You cannot separate one from the other. A wide range of factors that are detriments to human health are a direct correlation to humans rights. Some examples of those factors are: safe food, safe drinking water, effective sanitation, adequate nutrition, gender and race equality, and healthy living and working conditions.

When I do catch the news the common themes I hear are crimes such as robbery, murder, drug possession, rape and violence against women and children. The other usual suspects such as education, rights to freedom, war, economy, and climate change are ever present. Then there is the big hot topic that has everyone all whipped up and surly, healthcare reform and universal healthcare.

It was not until today when I read the fact that nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names did the little light in my brain click on. If we as a people can address healthcare issues then we will directly address the human rights issues and potentially address the evils that are so ever present. Desperate people take desperate measures to survive. It's all intertwined and we must accept the social stratifications. Poverty is the root.

Healthy people make the world a better place. Healthy people who have access to affordable healthcare are able to contribute to society and the economy. Those who are able contribute to society have the potential to nudge the world a little towards improving.

Sure, there will be those who will and do abuse welfare systems, but what about those who don't abuse them and use them to transition into a better state. Sure, it's expensive to spend money on welfare but what about the costs associated to fighting crime and going to war?

Whatever the 'solution' is to healthcare reform we need to at least try to be open to the evolution to the revolution. For if we fail I worry we will continue on a path that will lead us to our demise. But if we succeed then we will truly move mankind to the next level.

I begun this post by stating that we all different and we all have different opinions and experiences that support those stances. We look different. We love differently. We hate differently. We are just as unique as the guy sitting next to you in the coffee shop. We are all individuals and that is what makes this such a beautiful place. All the freaky people really do make the beauty of the world. Today, I encourage you to genuinely listen when someone shakes your foundation and that uneasy feeling surfaces. Be respectful and introspective as it's through adversity in which we grow.

Overheard at the 10,000 Lakes Music Festival

2009-07-28T20:13:00.002-05:00

The 10,000 Lakes Music Festival was on the beam this year with a ton of excellent music and all around good times. My energy was restored from being submerged in a kind and non-censorious environment for 4 days. Old friends from long ago unexpectedly stood beside me and provided giant hugs and warm embrace. Camp neighbors quickly became new friends with the foundation of peace, love, and Panic (www.widespreadpanic.com). It's been years since I felt so content. I was home for a few days and forgot about all the responsibilities and hustle of life. My soul is still shining.

Every hour of every day was filled with laughter. The things I overheard walking around were jotted down in my trusty pocket notebook. Here are some of my favorites:

"Yeah, I've got a TON of glow-sticks. Oh my god, and I have tequila, too!"

"Hey guitar guy!"

Girl: "Dude, what did you just say?"
Guy: "Ah, I said...uh...I said...um...uuuuuuuuh"

Early morning shout from a tent: "Arrrrrgh, go-go gadget arms!"

"Hey banana guy!"

"So then I told him, you are just too f*&%ing angry to be a hippie!"

"They're the red coats, dude. You gotta watch out for them, they're British."

"Wow, your name is Leah? That was the name of my first best friend! Well, my first best friend after Janelle, she was my first best friend."

Dude: "How about lube?"
Chick: "Oh! I brought lube, do you need some? I have plenty"

"Well then, Fine! Ok, how about a best friend IOU?"

"Dude this recession is bad. People can't even afford campfires anymore."

"That was your tent I crawled in? Oh, sorry."

From a kid in a banana suit: "I am an orange trapped in a banana's body. Would you like a Starburst candy?"

"Yes, well, sorry about the noise. But you need to realize we are 21 years old, and this is what we do. You should expect more of the same. It's just what we need to do."

From another person in a banana suit: "Do you find me appealing?"

"Do you think someone would buy this thing I found on the ground for a $100?"

Thanks for the good times. I'll see you next year.

Thoughts on the Beat

2009-06-20T10:43:00.005-05:00

"So in America when the sun goes down and I sit on the old broken-down river pier watching the long, long skies over New Jersey and sense all that raw land that rolls in one unbelievable huge bulge over to the West Coast, and all that road going, and all the people dreaming in the immensity of it, and in Iowa I know by now the children must be crying in the land where they let the children cry, and tonight the stars’ll be out, and don’t you know that God is Pooh Bear? The evening star must be drooping and shedding her sparkler dims on the prairie, which is just before the coming of complete night that blesses the earth, darkens all the rivers, cups the peaks and folds the final shore in, and nobody, nobody knows what’s going to happen to anybody besides the forlorn rags of growing old, I think of Dean Moriarty, I even think of Old Dean Moriarty the father we never found, I think of Dean Moriarty." Excerpt from Jack Kerouac's "On the Road"

Since I was seventeen years old, Jack Kerouac is someone I try to read little taste of every year. First discovering William S. Burroughs, I dug deeper into what's coined as the "Beat Generation" and found the 1950's intersection of jazz and literature. This movement of a postwar subculture is the ember glow of coals which were later stoked by the Vietnam war and the mournful, yet fortunate, backlash of the baby boomer generation.

America's history is what you chose to acknowledge and which glasses you want to place in front of your eyes. Hindsight truly is 20-20. Connections and interrelations of interceptions prove to be obvious when you get about 50 to 60 years away. The depression of the 1930's was abruptly diverted when in 1941 America picked up her gun and responded to the provocation by Japan. War has a way of escalating. In 1945 the war escalated to a point that left the delivery men wrapped with an undercurrent of guilt. Happy no longer a nation at war, we eventually come to terms in our own way with the violence both demonstrated and observed during the first half of the 1940's.

The 1950's couldn't have been more perfect and squeaky clean for the boomers whose parents wanted nothing but to wash out the sins of the world. On the surface, this was the best time for a child to grow up. Certain surfaces have a way of wearing out if you constantly polish with an abrasive agent. Children tend to notice and acknowledge things adults often want to ignore.

The 1950's brought us the start of the pharmacology revolution, enabling us to live better through chemistry. The 1950's brought us pills that delivered us from anxiety and depression. All across America, from Vermont to Iowa to Oregon, mother's little helper was stashed away in medicine cabinets. The need for a pill to take it away was just what the doctor ordered. We so badly needed that white picket fence and love of the American Dream.

Jack Kerouac took a poetic stab at it. All the people tucked in and dreaming under the evening star. His line, "don’t you know that God is Pooh Bear?" resonates to a deeper statement hinting towards our need for something bigger than ourselves to keep us comfortable and content. Everything is going to be alright and we will have a place in eternity. There is an eternity, right? Boy, we sure hope so. Be carefree and joyous while we play and overindulge from the honey pot. Don't worry because America will prevail and be prosperous. After all, even if it's Pooh Bear, "In God We Trust" is our official motto.

It's the 58% that matters

2009-06-14T09:41:00.004-05:00

June is the month where our schedules are consumed with a vast array of social obligations. We run from graduation party to graduation party. We eat wedding cake. We grill hot dogs with friends and family. We complain about how busy we are, yet revel in the fact that we are loved enough to be overbooked and overextended.

Last night, the realization of 2009 being halfway through sunk in. This, my thirtieth year on this planet, is already fifty percent complete. This morning I sat down with a cup of coffee in hand to take inventory of my accomplishments over the past six months only to reach the conclusion that I work too much. Too much of my precious 24 hours is spent either working, thinking about work, or talking about work.

Today, this fourteenth of June, I will take a mid years resolution and make the commitment to pick up the mindset of where I left off some years ago before all the duties and habits of hard work consumed me. While I do love my job and take a personal responsibility to better the lives of people who work with me, I need to draw a line in the sand and prioritize. Work should not follow me home at night and whisper concerns into my ears.

Each day has 24 hours. Each week has 168 hours. A year has roughly 8,760 hours. Annually, I should spend 2,080+ hours working. That's it, just 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. In statistical speak, 24% of my life should be allocated to my career, 34% allocated to sleeping, and the remaining 58% for me to do with as I feel obligated to. It's the 58% that matters and I am looking forward to seizing it.

Me and Rocky

2008-05-18T09:21:00.004-05:00

The other afternoon, while I was out watering flowers, I heard this scared critter crying. It turns out he/she was trapped in between the the platform of my neighbor's shed and my fence, and could not get back under the shed to mom. I ran over to the little critter and gave him a little pet, he immediately began to make the cutest cooing sound. The siblings were under the shed nursing from mom when I picked up the guy so he could safely get back to mom. Yes, I know raccoons are nasty disease carrying critters with opposable thumbs who want nothing more than to break into your garbage. But nature has this way of making babies adorable so you don't have the heart to hurt them.

Christmas Rules

2006-12-03T10:58:00.000-06:00

"One of the amendments to the Constitution... expressly declares that 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press,' thereby guarding in the same sentence and under the same words, the freedom of religion, of speech, and of the press; insomuch that whatever violates either throws down the sanctuary which covers the others."
— Thomas Jefferson

Just as Christmas parties evolved into holiday parties, holiday parties are now evolving into "annual winter celebrations". I was a little discouraged by the recent invite I received stating just this: Annual Winter Celebration. Are you f*cking my leg here, or did I really just receive an invite to something actually titled "Annual Winter Celebration". Last year it was titled "Holiday Party", and a few years prior it was called a "Christmas Party". Being analytically caffeinated as I sometimes am, I began to try to look deeper into this.

Religious freedom is one of the most basic fundamental rights humans have. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic, Hindu, and so on are all entitled to coexist in America. Really, this should be expanded globally, but I'm just going to focus on the good ol' United States for now. Here comes my ramblings from what's on my mind:

Early on in the holiday season, the U..S Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program refused to accept donations of talking Jesus dolls from the company one2believe. They were concerned of offending a Jewish or Muslim recipient. Ok, I may understand if a company was trying to donate little Hitler dolls, there might be room for concern. But how is Jesus offensive? Toys for Tots requires that gifts are left unwrapped so that families and children may decline certain gifts, which then are gifted to other children. After much public outrage, the Corps has since reversed their decision, and are accepting the Jesus Dolls.

I do understand the backlash against Christianity. "Whereas Christianity was once synonymous with charity, compassion and love for one’s neighbor, today it is more often equated with partisan politics, anti-homosexual rhetoric and affluent mega-churches. But unlike many Christians today, Christ did not engage in politics, identify with the government or attempt to push an agenda through governmental channels. Indeed, Christ spoke truth to power and made it abundantly clear that his kingdom was not of this world." (John W. Whitehead) Greed, power, selfishness, and money are essentially raping Christianity (and other religions) on some levels. The charity, compassion, love for one's neighbor do most certainly exist, but are at times a bit overshadowed by the negative side of it.

Several weeks ago as I was driving into work, I noticed something which made me laugh out-loud. A Buick a few lanes over inadvertently cut off a Honda CRV. It was not by any means accident causing, just a little absentmindedness on the driver of the Buick. Instead of the Honda driver accepting he was cutoff, and just letting it go, he had express his frustration to the Buick driver. So Mr. Honda pulled up alongside Mr Buick, and proceeded to honk his horn, raise his middle finger, shake in anger, and scream at him. This went on for approximately 1/2 a mile, when I recognized the Honda driver as a parishioner at my church. Even better, he had the mantra of Jesus stickers on the CRV's bumper. So yeah, I see the hypocrisy all the time, both in myself and in others.

Elementary school for me was not that long ago; I attended public k-5 from 1984 until 1989. I loved the Christmas concerts we presented for our parents and families. Ranging from Santa to Jesus, we covered all the classics. It's sad to know that only a decade and a few years into the future, such concerts don't exist as widely as they once did. Just as courthouses and other government buildings get in trouble for Christmas decorations, so do public schools for pledging allegiance.

I think we are misconstruing the idea of freedom of religion to freedom from religion. We as role-models to our children need to realize every action we take, every comment we make, are being absorbed by the eyes of our future leaders. Why not embrace all people and their diversity? Remember, Jesus ran with a pretty tough bunch, but he loved them all. His main message was to love thy neighbor as thyself. We don't have to bash Christianity to protect other religions; I think all religions have the ability to play nice in the sandbox. If everybody tried to understand and accept how wonderfully similarly different we all are, maybe we really could end poverty, wage peace, and protect each other and the planet we live on.

Masterbating Cat

2006-07-14T14:50:00.000-05:00

This past winter I walked in on something I'd rather forget happened. Oscar, our orange and white cat, was rubbing himself all over my fleece blanket. At first, I did not know what exactly was going on. The second he started to quiver, I abruptly took my blanket away from him and threw it into the washing machine. An acquaintance of mine is an animal behaviorist, so I casually brought the topic up to him in hopes that he would not confirm my fear. But he did indeed confirm it by saying "oh yeah, your cat is TOTALLY a masturbator !". Shocked, I asked him why this would happen because Oscar is fixed. I guess fixed or not fixed, some animals just like to do it because it feels good.

Months go by without either my husband or I witnessing Oscar pleasuring himself. Then, last Saturday, I woke up to the most blatant episode of cat self-love. Normally, I would have laughed and walked away, but not that day. Why? Because he was on top of me doing it! I screamed and jumped out of the bed. Oscar just looked at me like I ruined a good moment for him. My cat likes me too much, I'm freaked out.

Fern

2006-06-22T19:17:00.000-05:00

Grand Portage Dock

2006-06-22T19:14:00.000-05:00

Ain't we lucky we got 'em...

2006-05-26T19:36:00.000-05:00

Television is not something that is frequently on at our house. But when it is, or at least lately, the television shows that I tend to watch are the old ones from the 60's and 70's. I have been known to check out Good Times, but my all time favorite is All in the Family, with Archie Bunker. There's a ton of people who don't like the show because of the racism and sexism that shows through. To me, Archie was just like anyone else and had his opinions. At the core of it all, Archie was a pretty good guy. You might not agree with his statements, but he's human. I wonder if a show like All in the Family would survive today. Honestly, I think there would be too many people furious and demanding the show be removed from the air. Which, if so, begs the question "are we really that more liberal or have we shifted our intolerance to a different perspective?".

Black Jetta

2006-05-09T21:08:00.000-05:00

On Monday, after work, I went to Target to pick up some various household items. I realized that I must have had too long a day at work because I was standing in the deodorant isle, starring at all the different brands for several minutes. There is a huge amount of deodorant out there. At any rate, after shopping I returned to my car only to discover that someone had scraped my back bumper. I thought to myself, "#$@&*@&&@!!$$" and I proceeded to unsuccessfully rub out the scuffs. I then went to pop the trunk open but my friggin' key would not work. Utterly frustrated, I grabbed ahold of the trunk and tried to yank it open as I swore under my breath. That's when I made a startling discovery; I saw a can of Coca Cola sitting in the cup holder. It's a rare occasion that I'll have a soda and this particular can was not mine. In fact, my seats are grey, not black like this car. I drive a Jetta TDI, not a Jetta 1.8 Turbo. This was not my car after all. Quickly, I surveyed the parking lot to make sure no one noticed and took off to my car which was hiding on the other side of a gigantic Chevy Suburban. There are too many black Jettas out there.

Afton State Park and Tent Caterpillars

2006-05-07T22:05:00.000-05:00

We camped overnight at Afton State Park on the St. Croix River. It was nice to get out again and not have to deal with the daily doings of life. We encountered a couple of trees that had tent caterpillars on them; it was completely gross and my skin is still crawling. If left alone, they can completely defoliate a tree. The trees will not die because the types of trees the caterpillars live on are deciduous, so they will they re-grow their leaves. What will happen is a reduction in growth; if the caterpillars attack for 4 or more seasons in a row, the tree might die then.

Old Crow Medicine Show

2006-05-04T17:57:00.000-05:00

Check out Old Crow Medicine Show

Dust My Broom

2006-05-04T17:42:00.000-05:00

The Chicago Blues Festival is coming around the corner and I believe that a small road trip is in order. I've never checked it out so I figured there's no time like now. My buddy, Dave, informed me that Honey boy Edwards, Robert Jr., Homesick James, and Henry Townsend are playing on Saturday. Honey boy was playing with Robert Johnson the night he was murdered. These dudes are all in their 90's so get your tickets now. You just don't get a change to hear, see, and feel history like this too often. I'm a guitar player and one of the things that has always fascinated me about the blues is that it has its own scale. There is no rock scale, no pop scale. The blues is something that gets into your soul and grabs on tight.

Moo Cows

2006-05-03T20:11:00.000-05:00

These cows live outside of Caledonia, MN on the way to Beaver Creek State Park. I did not realize until after I got home that the word "DEAD" is framed within the spaces of leaves. It struck me as a bit morbid and a bit funny all at the same time. Luckily, these are not beef cows so they won't have to worry about being butchered anytime soon. These cows are straight up Holstein that are used for milk. I read that the average Holstein cow in the United States produces nearly 28,000 pounds (3,250 gallons) of milk annually. All I can think is "those poor teats". Seriously, try tugging on your nipples and see how much you enjoy it....you can stop now...really, you might be getting the wrong idea.

Cousin Jeremiah and Me

2006-04-25T19:29:00.000-05:00

My husband, Dan, was excited to get this shot because of how the color and light played on the subjects. The man in the photo is Dan's cousin Jeremiah. Jeremiah is tall, really tall. It was Easter Sunday and naturally, I had to strike a pose appropriate for the occasion. Danny was not completely happy with my pose but whatever, I think we look like rock-stars and that's awesome.

South Shore of Lake Superior

2006-04-22T17:10:00.000-05:00

Tracks and driftwood on the south shore of Lake Superior where the Brule dumps out.

Things that suck are worth getting excited over

2006-04-16T23:49:00.000-05:00

Ok, it's official. I have reached a juncture in life that I'm going to have to accept as being alright. I went to Sears, purchased a Dyson vacuum, and became intoxicated over its cleaning abilities. Once my new friend and I got home, I instantly tore it out of the box and proceeded to vacuum every sqaure inch of the house. Not only was I completly enjoying myself, I had to stop and call my family and friends to inform them about this new found love. Oh and yes, it gets more pathetic. Later on in the day I was chatting it up with a friend about paint colors and the horrors of wallpaper removal. What has happened to me? Not that I ever thought I was wicked cool but really, this is sad. Oh well, I'm off to bed...Dan won't let me bring the Dyson in with us but maybe if I wait for him to fall asleep he won't notice.

Mouse

2006-04-13T14:56:00.001-05:00

I feel like such a loser, I really thought I was tough but today that self image has been shattered. I'm home from work today doing some remodeling of the house. While waiting for the drywall mud to dry I figured I'd keep myself busy and look for more projects. The closet door needed some polyurethane, which we have a can of in the garage. So I headed out to grab the poly when, to my horror, I heard sqeaks and squeals. From the corner of my eye darted a small and fearful mouse. I screamed bloody murder, jumped about 3 feet into the air, landed and ran into the house. Somewhat embarassed, I gathered what was left of my ego, picked up my cat Oscar, and went to wage battle in the garage. Oscar had no clue what I wanted him to do and we did not find the mouse, only mouse poop. Have you ever looked close at mouse poop? It is sort of cute. Well anyway, I'm waiting for things to mellow out, maybe he'll come back so I can stab him with a cross-country skipole. Although the more I think about it, the more I feel guilty. The Secret of NIMH has obviously left a mark on my conscience.

King of the Delta Blues

2006-03-20T18:19:00.000-06:00

A friend once asked me, while we were sitting around a campfire, if I could meet one musician - alive or dead - who would it be and why. The first who popped in my head was Robert Johnson, the King of the Delta Blues. Such little is known about this man yet his music continues to influence us. Johnson recorded a mere 29 songs and died at the age of 27 years. There are only two known photographs of him. Although I am a white girl from a Minnesotan suburb, when I listen to his music I feel like I'm sitting on the front porch somewhere in Mississippi. Rumor has it, thanks to Son House, that Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads of Hwy 61 and Hwy 49 to learn how to play guitar. No one is certain exactly how he died, the speculation is that his whiskey was poisoned by a jealous husband. If you have never heard Robert Johnsons music, he's worth a listen.

St. Patricks' Bathroom Lesbians

2006-03-20T16:17:00.000-06:00

Ever walk into a situation that catches you off guard? For some reason, I have a tendency to encounter such situations more frequently than others. This past Friday, St. Pats Day, while having dinner with Dan and his parents downtown at The Melting Pot, my bladder filled up and I had to go relieve myself. I opened the door to the ladies room and caught two middle-aged drunk chicks making out. I quickly said something along these lines "I'm sorry, just ignore me, I don't see anything" and hopped into the stall. The next thing I hear is some slurry voice garble out "It's...nun...nun...nunya damn business, b**ch!" and they left. I was mid-stream and upset that I could not even defend myself! Why was such a label given to me? After all, I just had to pee and they were in my way. Once I finished, I washed my hands (yes mom, for 20 seconds) and left to go find the affronting lesbians. They were no where to be found; no Subarus or Jettas were peeling off with middle fingers hanging out of the windows. Now all I can do is keep a look out, my public bathroom experience will never be the same.

Follow-up to Felix and Food

2006-03-18T05:57:00.000-06:00

This is how I eat my meals. He stares at me.

Happy Birthday L__h!

2006-03-18T05:39:00.000-06:00

Our cat, Felix, loves to eat. We put him on a diet the other month because he was joining the league of the obese. Not appreciating this new adjustment to his diet, Felix started to raise hell. He broke into my birthday cake and licked the "e" and the "a" from my name. He broke into Grandma's homemade cookies and ate half of one. He again broke into my birthday cake and ate half a piece. We had a paper towel on the counter that had been used to soak up raw chicken, he ate half that too. It wasn't much of a surprise when he got sick and had to go to the veterinarian. The determination was acute pancreatitis from all the rich foods he had gotten into. The diagnosis was not made quickly, it took $350 to reach it. I left my arm and leg with the doctor as I took the little a**hole home. He's worth it, I suppose, as he's adorable and provides hours of entertainment. The best useless fact I learned during this whole ordeal is that cats cannot actually taste sweets, they have no taste buds that register sugar.

Can you help me discover more music that I'll like?

2006-03-17T16:25:00.000-06:00

Pandora.com is one of the coolest and most addictive sites I have stumbled across in quite a while. As some of you may know, I have a slight obsession with music and this discovery will not help matters. Seriously, this is worth playing around with.

Arsenic Flavored Chicken

2006-02-18T09:03:00.000-06:00

Thank goodness that my husband and I eat organic food almost exclusively. My mother informed me that chickens are fed arsenic as a form of an antibiotic. Being freaked out, I did some research on the matter which led me to be more freaked out. Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that can be found in the earths crust and now, thanks to science, can also be found on your dinner table. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture report that American chicken consumers may be taking in more arsenic than previously suspected. The joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization have determined that on average we consume well below the recommended amount of arsenic through chicken. However, groups that ten to eat more chicken (children, over age 55, and African Americans) are likely to eat 10 times the amount of the average American. Foods such as seafood, rice, mushrooms, and poultry contain some of the highest reported arsenic levels. Special interest groups such as the National Chicken Council claim that the amounts of arsenic used are safe and are nothing to worry about. My question is why do we have to tamper with our food so much that we are willing to put toxic chemicals into it as means of antibiotics and preservatives? Friends ask us why we eat organic because it is "so much more expensive". We reply simply that yes, it is more expensive but its for your body, your health, the health and well-being of the animals, and the health and well-being of those who work with the plants and animals. Why would you not want to buy organic and be informed?

Rodent Sitting Available

2006-02-15T21:17:00.000-06:00

While on a walk the other week in Saint Anthony Village I caught this advertisement for rodent sitting. The advertiser is quite clear on what she will and will not care for. Apparently, ferrets and rats are not her forte. Did something traumatic happen with a ferret that would case her to exclude them from her business plan? Or, did her parents have influence on what they will allow in their house? At a $1.50 per rodent, per day, she might be rolling in some cash. Plus, if the mouse is pregnant, her income could multiply in a matter of three weeks due to the short gestation period. Unfortunately, rodents do not live long so I hope she has some sort of liability waiver drafted up.

Frozen Cattails

2006-02-13T20:36:00.000-06:00

These cattails were photographed while I was on a hike around one of my favorite lakes in the area.

Bath Time

2006-02-12T22:08:00.001-06:00

This is Felix getting a bath. Cats do not like water and therefore do not like baths. But when certain cats decide to step in litter box treats, they are going to get a bath.

Inflatable Deer

2006-02-01T22:09:00.000-06:00

Leaf Shadow

2006-01-31T05:39:00.000-06:00

Leaf Confined

2006-01-26T20:58:00.000-06:00

Here is some useless information for you. Tannins in oak trees are polyphenols that cause the brown color that leaves develop in the fall. The word tannin is Celtic for oak but it is derived from the French word tanin, which is related to the word tan.

Ice Shadows

2006-01-25T20:05:00.000-06:00

Galaxie

2006-01-24T19:04:00.000-06:00

I have the song "Galaxie" by Blind Melon stuck in my head. Matt, an old friend of mine, was doing odd jobs in and around Lafayette, Indiana several years ago. He wound up doing some home maintenance for a kind woman who had a broken down Galaxie in the backyard. When Matt asked her about it, she said that the car belonged to her son, Richard Shannon Hoon. Small world, huh? The front-man of Blind Melon died of a cocaine overdose in October of '95. I clearly remember sitting around a bonfire with some friends on the banks of the Mississippi River discussing what a waste of life and talent for him to have gone out like that. I did anger some people with my opinion that he brought it upon himself and there's no use feeling bad for some dead junkie. See, it's not so much the maladies of addicts that saddens me, it's the lives that they destroy on their way out. It was just by happenstance that Matt was facing his own demons at that time; I hope his life straightened out.

"I know we all can't stay here forever So I want to write my words on the face of today And then they'll paint it." - Shannon Hoon

Sunflower

2006-01-23T21:15:00.000-06:00

January can be a grey month. This might cheer you up some.

The Evolution of Cat

2006-01-21T05:26:00.000-06:00

This is Oscar, one of our two cats. Up until recently, this is the posture he'd assume if he wanted to get a different perspective on life. Dan and I found this highly amusing and bizarre. Whose cat does this sort of thing? Things got even more strange, like the time I came home from work and Oscar walked by on his hind legs and asked for a beer while he complained about not having opposable thumbs.

Time of my life

2006-01-20T18:44:00.002-06:00

St. Elmo, Colorado, outside of Buena Vista, is supposedly a haunted ghost town. After camping in the San Juan Mountains with our friends Pete and Cass, we decided to take our time to get back to Denver and explore the various mountain passes. The town is eerily depressing when you walk upon dead streets adjacent to lonely buildings. With the exception of a couple hundred hummingbirds and a large population of chipmunks, this place is downright creepy. The population peaked at more than 2000 during the late 1800's when the mines proved plentiful. As the mines began to fail, people left and looked for riches elsewhere. Convinced that the town would soon again thrive, one family by the name of Stark stayed and began to buy up property. Legend has it that the ghost of Annabelle Stark keeps a watchful eye over the town. She must not be doing that terrific of a job because there have been some fires that have leveled the place. All that's there now are beat-up buildings, some General Store for tourists and a 4-wheel rental place. As I walked around I got to thinking what would happen if our cities of today essentially dried up and people moved on. Ruins of memories and concrete would forever be locked in a decaying environment, only to allow the occasional passerby a glimpse at what once was. One definition of time is that it is the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole. Time really is arbitrary, we might as well enjoy the treats that get tossed our way.

Wild turkeys couldn't drag me away

2006-01-19T20:19:00.000-06:00

I have been chased on two occasions in my life by wild turkeys. One time involves me stumbling upon a herd while working for the county parks; apparently, turkeys do not like power tools near their young. This photo was taken just prior to my second encounter with our national birds runner-up. My husband Dan and I were at the Duluth Zoo, a place where it is common to see birds walking, flying, and hanging around unrestricted. It was strange to see this turkey as it was the only one that was free to be outside of its cage (note the fence in the background). Childlike as I sometimes am, I assumed that this turkey must be "the nice one" and this assumption was confirmed by the nice, clucking noises the bird was making towards me. She even fluffed her feathers! I knelt down and began sweet-talking the bird as I focused my camera and snapped the shutter. Dan, who had wandered a 100 yards away from me and was oblivious to what his lovely wife was doing with the turkey, turned around and yelled "Leah, what are you doing? Get away from it now!". I looked down, slowly stepped back and the turkey waggled. Suddenly, the realization that this was NOT a friendly bird hit me and fear pumped through my body. In a panic, I began to sprint, the bird lunged and grabbed onto my jeans. Shaking my leg and screaming for help, I freed myself and she chased me about 300 yards to shelter. I later discovered that wild turkeys can reach speeds of 50 miles per hour. Dan kept laughing and could not believe what I had gotten myself into. The worse part is that she was stalking me from outside of the building. I felt like a forth grade kid who was about to get her butt kicked by the Lucy the Bully. Except "Lucy" was symbolic of "wild turkey". Thinking quickly, I took off my red pullover, put on my sunglasses and strolled to safety. She did not even recognize me! Thanksgiving dinner was especially satisfying that year.

Me

2006-01-18T16:53:00.000-06:00

2006-01-17T16:13:00.000-06:00

Winter can be beautiful if you look at it right.

More to come...

2006-01-17T14:07:00.000-06:00

I'm test driving this so please be patient and keep an eye open. Most likely, something profound is bound to emerge.