To Fire One's Stern Guns

aka:  A fusillade from one's fundament. 
  " And in winter, under my greatcoat, I wrapped myself in swathes of newspaper, and did not shed them until the earth awoke, for good, in April.  The Times Literary Supplement was admirably adapted to this purpose, of unfailing toughness and impermeability.  Even farts made no impression on it.  I can't help it, gas escapes from my fundament on the least pretext, it's hard not to mention it now and then,  however great my distaste.  One day I counted them.  Three hundred and fifteen farts in nineteen hours, or an average of over sixteen farts  an hour.  After all, it's not excessive.  Four farts every fifteen minutes.  It's nothing.  Not even one fart every four minutes.  It's unbelievable.  Damn it, I hardly fart at all, I should never have mentioned it.  Extraordinary how mathematics helps you to know yourself."  "Molloy" -- Samuel Beckett. 
   And that's why I occasionally read things like "Fermat"s Last Theorem"  DA

An Event At The Rock Gym

   Which fortunately didn't include me or my climbing partner.   Bob D. and I had just completed one climb when we heard a loud thump from another part of the gym.  A couple (man and woman) were practicing falls and the woman dropped the guy.  He fell about forty feet.  I didn't actually see the fall, so I don't know whether she really screwed up and just dropped him or whether she couldn't control the fall.  In any case he was awake and able to move (the gym floor has padding) though obviously hurt.  EMT guys strapped him to a board for possible neck or back injuries.   I didn't go to assist (before the ambulance got there) because there were several people closer, and I didn't see anyone trying to do something stupid like moving him  -- I figured my 20-year-out-of-date first aid card wouldn't be useful.
   Both of the climbers were (are) better than I am, and at late 20's or early 30's, old enough to have outgrown the dumbs.  I've mixed feelings about practicing falls.  It certainly can be useful (although I don't do it -- intentionally anyway) but it's also an invitation to disaster.  Another reminder to be careful when climbing, even at the gym. 
   Riding the bike back home, I was passed by another cyclist -- not surprising in itself -- but this guy looked like an old, disreputable street-person.  He was riding a Trek commuter bike.  I admit I made an assumption regarding how he got the bike, but the interesting part of it all was the open tall-boy can of Millers in the water-bottle cage.  I haven't seen that before, but so it goes.  DA

Easter Bonnets

   Unfortunately (and unusually) I didn't actually see any.  I bicycled to the gym this morning, passing, both going and coming, several churches.  But I guess my timing was off because I missed any parade of ladies in their Easter Bonnets, a sight I've enjoyed in the past.  Even the LifeLine Church, a corner store-front church, which is usually good for some nice heavy bass thumping music, was quiet as I passed.  I could actually go to church and get the spectacle, along with (some might say) some needed religion but once again I failed to do so. 
   Speaking of bonnets, a few days ago, I heard a milliner interviewed on NPR.  She was speaking of Kate's (of Bill & Kate) preference for wearing "fascinators" -- a small beanie-like hat (without a propeller) frequently made of tinsel and sequins, or feathers.  I don't know what sort of feathers but I doubt they are from some chicken who gave it's all for buffalo wings and  fascinators.   It seems a bit twee to me, but I think a proper hat will keep the sun out of your eyes and the rain off your glasses. 
   The gym was more strenuous than usual.  My climbing partner (John G.) was having a health problem (of undetermined seriousness) so I down-climbed every climb.   Easing the strain on John (he didn't have to lower me) and nearly doubling my exertions.  (Easing the strain on John:  It doesn't help that I out-weigh him by 60 lbs. or so)  Anyway an unusually rigorous workout. 
   As a gym side-bar:  Part of the bike ride there is on Tillamook St.  -- It's an interesting street, with several blocks of small, working-class victorians -- most in poor to medium condition, but restorations are starting.  Mid-way on the south side of one block, some resident owns (or drives) a Mercedes sports-car, coupe.  (Not the 100+G model, but the 40someG -- nearly chump-change -- model)  It's always parked in the street, and the owner always puts an orange traffic cone by each corner of the car.  I can't really blame the driver, but if some toss-pot is going to side-swipe your car I doubt that traffic cones will help. 
   And leaving the library this afternoon, I found a dime on the sidewalk.  Only twenty-four more and I can buy a latte.  DA
  

At Home

   And everything is pretty much as it was when we left.  The drive from Alturas, through Klamath Falls, Willamette Pass and the freeway home was uneventful.  Heavy rain started at the summit of the pass and continued through Salem.  After that it faded away and Portland was largely dry.  Today (Sunday) has been sunny and a bit cool.  I mowed the lawn and washed the cars.  dw did laundry and some housework. 
   dw and I each have a hint of a tan but otherwise our normal lives have returned.  Oh boy.  DA

Goodbye Mr. Sun

   This evening we're in Alturas California well into our drive back to rain.  We got into some serious clouds at Reno and have been getting light to moderate showers since half-way to Susanville.  The route from Tonopah to Austin, which we haven't driven before, was pleasant, unexceptional, desert basin and range scenery.  At Austin we headed west on Hwy 50 (The Loneliest Road In America) stopping once near Middlegate at the site of the shoe tree. 
   The shoe tree was a large (3 foot trunk) cottonwood that over the years people have thrown shoes into -- laces tied together so they tangle in the limbs and hang like fruit.  The tree was started  some years ago,  reputedly by a couple of newlyweds who had an argument, one threw shoes into the tree, they reconciled and the other threw shoes, blah, blah, blah.  In any case it was a great piece of folk something-or-other with thousands of pairs of shoes hanging on it.  Until January 4, 2011 when somebody cut it down. 

   People have started throwing shoes into a nearby cottonwood (we contributed to the effort) but it'll take time to create the same spectacle. 
   In Fallon we got a pulled pork  sandwich at Susie's BBQ --- a good sandwich -- the guy who took our order asked if we wanted bread on that sandwich.  ----  We did. 
   Here in Alturas we're staying at the Hacienda Motel, and had a burger at the Bear Creek Cafe.  Both good places, neither exceptional.  Possibly we'll be home tomorrow -- barring coming across something interesting enough to delay the drive.  DA

Yeah, the shoe tree was definitely the highlight of the day.  Flying by at 70 mph and cruise control I saw the cottonwood with tied-together pairs of shoes and screeched to a halt.  Dennis was coughing up a lung after inhaling a bit of food and said "what?!"  I said "you'll see" and returned to the tree.  There in the ditch was the cut-down old one surrounded by piles and piles of tied together shoes - mostly hiking boots and running shoes - very few, if any, high heels - weird.  But new life emerges from the old and a nearby tree was accumulating shoes.  Someone made a small shrine and there were notes of condolence on the stump of the downed tree.  Two official Nevada trucks pulled in and three men observed the tree wreckage.  One mentioned that the person who cut it down knew what they were doing because a 3 foot diameter tree is not offed with a weekend warrior chainsaw - you need a logging chainsaw to down a tree that big.  They still haven't found the perp and I find that very hard to believe because eventually someone is going to brag.  It was sad and inspiring at the same time.  We pulled out pairs of shoes, not an easy task as they were very tangled being tied together, and threw them on the new tree.  Nice to be part of a new endeavor. 

The sun is gone and the memories remain (plus a tiny tan on my forearms).  It's all good.  dw

Anniversary Day -- 20 Years

   I have been instructed to wax poetic about the Delights and Wonders of the Last Twenty Years: ( because today is our 20th wedding anniversary! dw)
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered --"  hmmm, that doesn't seem to fit the bill.  --- "The stag at eve had drunk his fill --- "  --- not relevant --- "Jack and Jill --- " also not relevant -- my crown is still intact and we are dandd not JandJ -- Oh well, waxing poetic isn't my strong suit.
   We got an early start (for us) -- bathed, fed, packed and on the road by 9:15.  Our first stop was Valley of Fire State Park.  It far exceeded our expectations.  State parks are always OK, but often just OK.  The Valley of Fire was exceptional.  A cornucopia of color:  red, pink, orange, tan and mauve.  Rocks large and small heavily pitted with solution holes.  Slick rock slopes and zebra striped rocks.  Well worth a side trip.  While there we took a short hike down to the site of an old film set and back.  The park would be worth a longer visit than we gave it.  

   After the park, we drove the Extraterrestrial Highway.  Stopping at Rachel for a photo of the only surviving store (the Alien Cowpoke is closed ).  We looked and looked but didn't see any extraterrestrials  (although we did see two suspicious black cows).
   Today's drive ended in Tonopah, NV at the Jim Butler Inn and Suites -- a small local motel.  It's nice enough with the expected features and we like to buy local.   Dinner at The Sidewinder, a new family-affair restaurant.  We walked in and were greeted by the hostess --"Hi, may I seat you?"  She's some one's pre-teen daughter and with her co-worker bus-boy -- some one's pre-teen son represent the youngest generation.  Both cute and enthused (sorry about the "cute",  young man, if you read this).  dw had three very good fish tacos with sweet potato fries and avocado aioli sauce.  I had a burger with fries -- both very good and made from scratch.  They were a little too cool -- I think the kitchen needs to work on it's timing but I would recommend the place, a strong thumb's up.  Tomorrow we'll go through Austin -- driving the road we meant to take going south and should end the day somewhere in southern Oregon.  DA

Happy Anniversary to us.  Twenty years and looking forward to the next twenty!  Lovely sunny warm and windy day as we left Las Vegas.  This may be the last sun we have in awhile judging from the newspaper weather reports of pretty much every place north of here.  It's been lovely and the Valley of Fire was a pleasant final tourist site.  The wildflowers were in bloom too.  All in all a wonderful vacation.  dw

Last Day In Vegas

   Today we spent more time driving than we meant to.  We went to Mt. Charleston (NW of Vegas) which was a pleasant but definitely  missable experience,  and a 100 mile round trip to boot.  After that we returned to Red Rocks and took a short hike -- with a real 5.1 climbing section (5') -- to look at the Black Corridor.  Another place I've climbed with David N.  The Corridor is a short slot canyon with thirty or so climbs on either side -- all of it in two hundred feet.  We also stopped at the visitor center (new -- 2000 -- and very nice) where dw took the time to tell a bronze snake who was boss.
   After that we again stopped at the Red Rocks Casino for more truffle fries and this time a plate of hummus.  We both lost $2 and then came back to the motel and our books. 
   Some incidentals:  A cell phone can erase key cards (oops).  And Wynn's casino is also a Maserati / Ferrari dealer.  For $10 you can go into the showroom (Maserati/Ferrari owners get in free) and get your picture taken with -- possibly sitting in -- a Ferrari.  I wonder if they put a rubber sheet on the seat to keep a bit of separation between the common and the Ferrari.  And finally, at the Atomic Museum one interactive exhibit featured a Geiger counter, a couple of radioactive objects and several bits of screening material (the goal was to see what things would block radioactivity).  It proved to my satisfaction that lining your hat with aluminum foil won't work, but leaded vinyl will work fine.  DA