Anatomy Lessons

   A few weeks ago I noticed a depression in my right bicep.  I've never been confused with Charles Atlas --  (that reference shows my age, but there's no way I'm going to refer to Arnold or any of the other contemporary bulging geeks) -- I've never been confused with Charles Atlas but heretofore my arms have bulged in a modest but pleasingly proper manner.  There's been no slacking off, no slumping, no dents where there should be bumps -- so a couple of months ago when I saw a dent in my upper arm I was suitably alarmed.  So much so that after a few weeks I mentioned it to dw who said "That's weird."  And still later I asked John G. (climbing partner and anatomy teacher/author) -- who looked at it and said "It looks like you've torn off the long head of your bicep". 
   Who knew.  The bicep is called a bicep instead of a unicep or monocep or cep, because it has two attachments on your shoulder.  I didn't know that and now I've had a learning moment -- I know even more about anatomy -- I know the bicep has a long head and a short head.   I know that neither the "bi" nor the "long head" nor the "short head" has  any sexual connotation whatsoever.  Regardless of what anyone might claim or think.  
   Since I waited so long to see a doctor about the problem it's really too late to re-attach the tendon, and it apparently isn't necessary anyway.  My arm cramps with little or no provocation but I'm seeing a physical therapist and getting some exercises which along with time should take care of the cramping. 
Several people have asked if it hurt when I tore it and it probably did but I must have ignored the event as another sign of aging and went on with my business.   I don't remember doing the damage.

   In other news there isn't much.  I'm getting ready to paint the house and have arranged with sons and grandsons for help.  I haven't chosen any colors yet.  dw said she trusts my taste and isn't interested in looking at colors.  (Her color choices:  "Think of shades of dirt.")  I'm leaning toward something similar to what we have now (redwood, with white and steel blue trim) but I'll go brighter than the steel blue trim. 

   I was asked if I had found out what the barge with white tents is all about.  I haven't, but if I ever do, I'll post it. 

   Books:  "The Autobiography of Mark Twain"  (ed.  Harriet Elinor Smith) At 700+ pages (volume 1) I plan to  some selective reading.  I read the early abridged version some years ago and to be frank it was a little dull.  I hope this is more interesting.  The 700 pages reminds me:  Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (upholding the fine intellectual traditions of English royalty) said -- on the occasion of receiving a copy of "The Decline and Fall Of the Roman Empire" -- "Another damned thick book! Always scribble, scribble, scribble! Eh, Mr. Gibbon?"
   And speaking of dull autobiographies by famous writers, Tennessee Williams' effort (I don't remember the title) just might be the prize winner.  A summary (as I recall):  "And then when I was in New Orleans I met this MARVELOUS young man who was SO GOOD LOOKING.  And then I went to St. Louis where I met this MARVELOUS young man who was SO GOOD LOOKING."  Casanova and Anais Nin wrote about their sex lives and made it sort of interesting (largely, I suspect, because they lied)  Most writers can't manage that trick.  At least Twain isn't likely to think we will be interested in what he did with his genitals.  And so it goes.  DA
  

Social Butterflies

   Yesterday dw and I topped off our social quota for the year by attending two events.  First we went to Lauri L.'s (one of my nieces)  house for a family party.  The event was to welcome back to the U.S.  her brother Greg L. who just finished three months larking about over-seas -- He's a military guy of some rank and oddly enough he wasn't in Afghanistan or Iraq -- Of course he didn't offer any proof of where he was, so he might have been hanging out in Paris or Minsk, but since his wife (Kristen) and daughter (Sara) --- also at the party --- took his word for where he was, the rest of us might as well.  Also present were Chris, another brother, and Rosemary and Gene -- parents and my sister and brother in law respectively -- We spent a pleasant couple of hours visiting and looked at some of Lauri's work (she does really nice bead jewelry and lately, leaded glass)
   After that we went to El Casa Matador, a good tex-mex place, for Mel M.'s 60th birthday party.  (He's one of dw's favorite co-workers)  In addition to Mel, his wife and two (adult) children, there were 20 or so people present.  It was very pleasant with the added fun of the cake (ordered by Jill -- manager) from Whole Foods having a typo.  It was supposed to say "Birthday Vigil" but actually said "Happy Birthday Vgil" and then they squeezed in an "i" so it finally read "Happy Birthday Vigil"  -- we could have used beer to re-baptize Mel so his name would match the cake but no one thought of it in time. 

   In other news, dw has been doing graphic designs using MS-Paint.  I was going to post a couple of them, but she says she isn't ready for her public debut.  (I pointed out that while a ton of people could read this blog not many actually do -- it made no difference) -- A temperamental artist -- And half-joking she said I would need to help her write an artist's statement.  I pointed out that writing a statement is really easy:
Exploring -- blah, blah
By means of -- blah, blah, blah
Refer to exploring color and form or the absence of color and form
Refer to exploring unusual tools or combination there-of :  hammers and feathers or termites
If possible include or refer to something disgusting
Two of the final three are usually sufficient
Voila: an artists statement

Books: "Secret Knowledge" (David Hockney -- the painter) It's a large art book with lots of color illustrations.  Hockney presents his theory that the old masters actually used  cameras obscura (a room sized pin-hole camera) or a combination of mirrors and lenses (similar to an opaque projector) to assist them with their drawing.  It's a very interesting book and he makes a good case.  It makes me feel good since I use similar techniques -- on my best day, my draftsmanship is mediocre at best.  Thanks to modern technology I haven't needed to convert an entire room into a camera, but just think --- Rembrandt, David and me:  we're almost like triplets -- DA

What The Hell!?

   Thursday I took the bicycle to do some errands and shopping.  The first leg of the ride was to Jantzen Beach's Michaels to get some two inch wooden balls  (insert your own joke here: _____________)  which I needed -- oddly enough -- to finish a painting.  Part of the ride circles around a sewage treatment plant, which occasionally smells bad enough to stun a buzzard, but Thursday was just slightly rank.  After circling the plant and passing an assortment of installation art pieces (most of them are quite nice),  the route crosses a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the Columbia Slough.  Of interest to me was a new port-a-potty stationed at the end of the bridge.  -- Put there because the odor stimulates the foot/bicycle traffic? --  It's nice that it's there but really -- would the occasional whiz in the bushes make all that much difference?  Also at the far end of the bridge is a one or two acre holding pond for treated (I assume) effluent.  On this occasion a small boat was floating in the liquid.  Purpose unknown but I doubt that anyone was going to water ski.
   (As a side bar devoted to all those people opposed to covering Portland's water storage ponds:  Consider the ducks and geese which paddle around in this sewage pond and then fly over to paddle around in our drinking water)

   Which brings us to What The Hell Is That Thing Floating In The River?   I wrote about this first example last January 20.  I still don't have a clue as to what it might be.  It seems to be a radar dome of some sort but it's not military (or probably not, since the military might not like me taking a picture with my trusty Kodak).  It seems to be a research vessel but it's sure odd.  (maybe it's the Navy equivalent of an AWAC plane)  But the real inspiration for What the Hell!? is the second photo which I took on the ride to Jantzen Beach.  And that thing leaves me with no possible explanation.  -- A camping trip/pleasure-boat for giraffes?  Regarding the scale, the little boat on the left is the same size as the Canby 6-car ferry.  I'm absolutely clueless about it.  There's nothing in the tents.  There are no open (or closed) hatches visible.  The masts have no rigging to use as cranes or davits.  It's just ----- What the hell IS it? ----
   In other news, the guy who was dropped at the Portland Rock Gym (I wrote about the accident on April 27) was back climbing when I was last at the gym.  I was surprised to see him back so soon as I thought his injuries were bad enough to keep him out for longer than three months.  The woman who dropped him was also back although they weren't climbing together.  I didn't notice if anyone was being belayed by the dropper. 
   Finally, yesterday dw and I met John W. (dw's bro) Jan W. (John's wife) Laurel (Jan's mother) and dw's aunt Dee, for dinner at El Indio a tex-mex place in far NE Portland.  The occasion was a celebration of John's 60th B-day.  (dw's dad Bob footed the bill.  Too bad he couldn't be here)  It was good food, and we had a nice time.  The event was slightly dampened by the absence of cousin Craig who is having some health issues.  It was tough, but we honored John's insistence that we NOT tell the waiter it was a birthday celebration -- so we missed out on a clutch of wait people singing Happy Birthday in both Spanish and English.
   Books:  "Genghis Khan" (John Man).  It's the history of Genghis Khan and accounts of Man's experiences in Mongolia and China.  I'm not finished but so far it's a good read. 

Happy Feet

   I bought a new pair of walking (running, except I don't run any more) shoes.  New Balance, for anyone who's keeping score.  I don't mind naming the shoe since it makes no difference at all.  The different brands are all equal with some variation in how they look.  Buy what feels good.  New Balance shoes are usually a bit wider than other brands so that's what I wear.  The model I got is the same as my last two pairs, so I bought a second pair -- figuring that N.B. is due to discontinue the shoe.  And now my feet are very happy.  So happy I considered posting a picture of myself dancing in my new shoes -- Then I decided that no one wants to see that.  Including me.  Instead of a photo just imagine my feet covered with felt pen smiley-faces.  My new shoes celebration was a five mile walk which went well if no faster than usual. 
  From several different people I heard that, in my last post, I may have offended people who want to have, have had or have an RV.  Oops. 
   Books:  Just one this time.  "Beau Geste" (Percival Christopher Wren)  I don't think I've ever read the book and I only vaguely remember the movie.  I'm surprised that the book is a "locked room" mystery (Three Cheers for Ft. Zinderneuf!!) with a missing Sapphire thrown in for good measure.  I had thought it would be a Boys' Own Adventure sort of novel but it's a mildly interesting novel for grownups.  Who knew.  DA

Smith Rocks Again

"Did I push the damn self-timer button  or not?"

   Thursday, (L to R) Bob D., myself, and John G. took another climbing trip to Smith Rocks.  It went pretty well with four climbs done before it got too hot and we  lost interest.  I felt much stronger than I did on our last two outings so it was particularly satisfying for me.  The day was clear and sunny and got far too hot by early afternoon.  (When we stopped, even the younger generation was quitting for the day).  We'll probably get out once or twice more this summer -- Which will be the most frequently I've climbed in ten years or so. 
   On this trip dw was interested in a short getaway herself, so she and I drove down  Wednesday and spent the night in Redmond.  We drove hwy 224 between Estacada and Detroit (Oregon's Detroit: pop. 15, and at that much bigger than nearby Idanha),  which I haven't been on for years beyond reckoning (20 or more).  The drive is really pretty as the road follows the Clackamas river for the entire distance.  Steep canyon, ripples and rapids, cliffs and etc.  -- a lovely drive.  We had lunch at K.C.'S in Detroit.  A burger for me and a dog for dw, iced tea and split the fries.  It was alright.  We stopped at Sisters and poked around a bit:  dw looked for a particular sort of top she wanted and I cruised the main street and looked at some books (Paulina Springs Bookstore) but neither of us found anything we had to buy. 
   Thursday we met Bob and John at the Smith Rocks parking lot.  We three went climbing and dw went to Bend to look around and shop -- again not finding something to buy.  (Neither one of us is very good at supporting the modern consumer culture)  After the climbing we met up at the Pump House (?) in Terrebonne where we weren't interested in eating so we  got something to drink and then took off for Portland.  Bob and John returned the usual way:  hwy 26 over Mt. Hood.  dw and I headed north out of Madras through Maupin to The Dalles.  We stopped for a bit in Hood River where dw found a satisfactory top and we each got a book from the Artifact, where I embarrassed myself by leaning too heavily on a shelf and breaking it.  Books didn't avalanche but still -- I hate being the clumsy old guy. 
   At the motel dw asked the clerk about the upcoming Redmond Oregon National RV Convention. (10,000 are expected)  The clerk was nonplussed about the prospect and didn't seem very interested.  dw and I, on the other hand, lie awake at night: images of RV horrors filling our minds.  Central Oregon roads and passes full of endless trains of waddling RVs, sometimes moving as fast as 25 mph.  The passing lanes full of RVs moving 26 mph.  All visible from Google Earth.  All like clusters of rednecks converging on the smell of BBQ and Bud Lite.  (None of the above refers to family or friends.  Particularly any family or friend on a continent-spanning road trip.)
   Books:  "Dave Barry's Money Secrets"  Typical Dave Barry.  Sophomoric and sometimes really funny.  And "India Calling" (Anand Giridharadas) an analysis of modern India.  DA

Lions And Tigers and BEARS Oh My!

   Today I took another walk in Forest Park.  Instead of  Leif Erickson this time I  went four miles on the Wildwood Trail -- which pretty much parallels L.E. -- but is an actual trail rather than a closed road.  The Wildwood has more ups and downs than L. E. so is a bit more rigorous, but scenically they're much the same. 
   Fairly early in the walk I passed two older women and their (leashed, surprisingly enough) dogs.  Some time later I went up a side trail (yes, to take a whiz) and when I returned to the main trail they had caught up and I startled them (the two trails converged at a blind corner).  "Oh! You surprised us! We thought you were a bear!" -- with hands to hearts --  "Oh, dear" I said.  "It's a good thing I'm not."  And the three of us chuckled at the repartee and the dogs were happier than anything.  
   Now it can be noted that I use crutches when I walk so it might be said that I'm a quadruped, but I think the visual is definitely bi-pedal.  My hair and beard are definitely white and I was wearing a purple t-shirt.   However their mistake was one anyone could have made.
      I never saw a purple bear,
      And hope that there can't be one.
      But if there is a purple bear,
      I'd rather see than be one. 
   With a nod to Gelett Burgess (purple cow writer)
   Books:  I finished "The Ghosts of Cannae" (Robert L. O'Connell) It's about Hannibal slaughtering Romans until he met his Scipio.  It is a good read but be prepared --- butchery abounds.   And I'm half way through "Nothing To Be Frightened Of" (Julian Barnes).  It's Barnes' thoughts on religion, faith, art and mostly death.  A very good read.  A year or so ago I read his book "Flaubert's Parrot" which didn't do much for me.  It was good enough that I finished reading it but I remember very little about it.  This book is much more appealing to me.  I might even return to it at a later date.  DA