Mini "Escape"

The weather is crappy and is predicted (they call it a forecast) to be so over the weekend. I am headed south. Well, actually, I'm headed 80 miles south to Chicago. I do some odd jobs to support my fiberglass addiction and one is to help organize continuing education conferences for health care professionals.

The boss of the organization with which I work wants me to see one of their events so I can get the flow of the process. This is a new area for me, and I am testing to see whether or not this old dog can learn a new trick.

So, I shall be gone over the weekend and will return on Monday when it should be 85 F. here. then I can sit out in the back yard with a cold one and watch the pigs fly.

Paddle safe...
DS

Dare I Believe?

So, yesterday, it being Wednesday, I went to the old neighborhood for my weekly volunteer session as a tutor. I work with a delightful 3rd grader who is doing very well...but I digress. As I enter the church where we meet there is the usual sign in sheet and the calendar for March.

A quick scan of the sheet, and my eyes lock on the March 26th week where, according to this publication, the Milwaukee schools will be closed and there will be no tutoring sessions. Why? For the life of me I couldn't figure out why they would just suddenly close the schools. I didn't think they could predict an evil snow storm that far in advance. How could I resolve this question? Easily, ask a 3rd grader.

Spring break, she tells me. Harp music appears out of no where and psychedelic colors (I had eaten a Slim Fast bar before leaving home) fill my visual fields. Angels silently glide down from where ever angels glide down from, and one whispers in my ear, "Dare to believe...dare to believe. Spring will come again."

The sound of ocean waves pounding a sandy beach replaces the harp music as a sensation of weightlessness washes over me. The faces of my ancestors appear, one after another, and each smiles kindly at me. As the moment passes, the stink of neoprene fills my nostrils as a feeling that all will be well fills my soul. Then we sat down and did math.

Paddle safe...
DS

x

A Philosopher and a Platypus...
(a Silbs' book club selection)

On our recent trip to Arizona, Pat let me read a book she had brought along. Its title: A Philosopher and A Platypus Walk Into a Bar. Sounds like a set up for a joke, doesn't it? Well, in a way it is.

Written by two philosophers, the book takes the reader through the various schools of thinking that have evolved over the ages. Written tongue in cheek, it is based on a conversation between two men, and the conversation is hilarious. Puns abound as do jokes to illustrate the teachings. At one point I drew the attention of others on the plane when my laughter became uncontrollable.

Each chapter takes on a school of philosophy. The two men have a (inane) discussion of the school of thought. Then the authors talk to us and offer up a story or two.

Nurse: "Doctor, there is an invisible man in the waiting room"
Doctor: "Tell him I can't see him"

Just a taste, and no where near the best one. Get this book, read and enjoy it, then pass it on to a friend. This may be the best antidote for winter yet.

Paddle safe...
DS

I'll Be Seeing You...
With Both Eyes

Indulge me today as I am a bit giddy with joy as I look at the blurry screen through my two artificially dilated eyes. I received good news in the past hour.

Four years ago I had cataract surgery on both eyes. At the time, there was a questionable spot on my left retina. Jump ahead to this past week, my blog and the blurring of vision in my left eye. The eye doctor say me on Saturday and thought the retina might have changed. This morning I saw the retinal specialist, the one who was once an intern under me (but I digress).

He had this amazing machine that used laser and low energy X rays to do a cross section of my retinas. Bottom line, they are good. They are fine. They are no problem. They look good. Did I mention that they are fine? In any event, on March 6th the doctor who did my cataracts will be doing a Yag Laser Capsulotomy on my left eye.

Apparently, when they do the cataract surgery, they remove the lens but leave the posterior (back sided) capsule in place to support the artificial lens they implant. That capsule can become clouded, and that is my problem. With the laser, they will blast a hole through the capsule, the capsule will contract some and the blessed light shall pour onto that good looking retina. Did I mention the retina is fine? Any way, I look forward to seeing you all soon, even the next day at Canoecopia.

Paddle safe...
DS

Just Because...My blog on colors seemed to draw some interest. Fine. Thing is, I am a bit bummed (I'll be fine), and I know that looking at colorful anything often helps.So, I guess this is all more or less for me.What the heck.I feel better already.

Paddle safe...
DS


x

Roll, Roll, Roll Your Boat

The pool session went well yesterday. I did my usual thing, but I realized the greatest pleasure from helping others. One paddler, who has been in kayaks a little over a year, was there with his wife. They each have a reliable half-c-c-half-sweep-roll, and I am proud to have helped them get to where they are. Yesterday, he asked if he could use my Greenland stick. Of course he can.

I sat in my boat (we were in water too deep to stand) and explained what he needed to do to execute a sweep. He did it 98% through, then went back down when he tried to sit up too soon. We talked about getting onto the back deck and how to go into a low brace when finally sitting up. Bang, he hit it...and again and again. Then, I set him up for an angel roll, drew a word picture of what he would do and watched as he gave it a try. Again, 98%, but he came up with the sweep roll. Again, we talked about getting onto the back deck and then applying a little pressure on the paddle when sitting up. Bang, he hit it, and again and again.

About this time, the wife (who had, apparently, been paying close attention) took the boat and the stick and performed a nice sweep roll on her first try. I told them that it was time for me to leave the county since my work here was done.

I don't know what it is about rolling and why we get such pleasure from it. I don't know why, now that some of my rolls are "bomb proof" I continue to do them over and over. On the other hand, I don't need to know why. Just being able to roll, in my judgment, gives one confidence in their boat, relaxes them and, in the end, makes it less likely they will need to roll.

Paddle safe...
DS

The Eye has It

or
Here's Looking at You...or not
or
It Depends On How You Look At It

I don't mind admitting it, I am worried this morning. It's my eyes or, rather, my eye. The left one (o.s. for my physician friends...but I digress). For a few days now, the vision in my left eye has changed. My right eye (o.d.) sees pretty much like the picture above appears. My left eye, however, sees it like this:Part of my concern is that I know too much (ophthalmology was a big part of being a flight surgeon...but I digress...again). In addition, there I have a remote family history of glaucoma, although I don't think that is what is going on. So, why haven't I gotten this looked at?

Well, until this morning I thought I needed a change in glasses. In fact, I had noted for the past few days that I could see better without my glasses. A few days ago, I ordered a new pair. It was only this morning that I picked up on the difference between the two eyes.

It is not yet 7 am here. I will try to call my friend the eye doctor in a few hours and see (at least from my right eye) if he can see me today.

Paddle safe...
DS

x

Kayak Art?

This picture of Gary Simon's Romany reminds me of the new color schemes and decorations we're seeing on kayaks. Originally, I suspect, you could get a glass kayak in any color you wanted...as long as it was white. Now, only one's imagination limits what is available.
Even JB's Explorer makes for a cheerful sight out on the ice. Now, of course, you can get all sorts of mixed designs and patterns for your dream boat. Everything from mixed colors to stars and stripes are appearing on boats. They look fresh and new and catch one's eye, but I have to wonder what is the motivation for it all...other than eye appeal.

Have we become so bored with the white hull, are we feeling that we're in such a rut that we need to spray paint our boats to re stimulate our interest? After all, after the first million strokes, braces and rolls paddling becomes awfully repetitious. After lugging the boat out of the garage and hefting up onto the car roof for the zillionth time, perhaps we need some eye candy to keep up our mojo.

The joke about the original ford car was that you could have it in any color as long as it was black. I suspect that the first car of color caused a lot of talk when it first appeared, just like has happened with the kayaks. In the end, it's all good and it's fun. As long as we're out there feeling good we may as well look good. Besides, who could stand just paddling a solid white or, for that matter, black kayak year after year?
Paddle safe...
DS

Behind Bars

Some say that prison, or the fear of it, is not a deterrent. I think differently. Just having spent the winter (up to now) "behind" bars, I already feel deprived of my freedom, my ability to go out as I please and do what I want to do. My access to the lake is no longer under my control or available when the whim strikes me. I am, in a small way, a prisoner of winter.

Yes, I know it will pass. Yes, I know I could squeak out some time and head south if I were only motivated enough. Still, it makes me wonder how I could possibly handle it all if it were for years and I was really unable to go outside. The mere thought of it makes me shudder.

Deep breath. Pool session at the end of the week. Weekend after that, Canoecopia and seeing lots of paddlers and bloggers. Weekend after that and after that I have plans and things to do, and they are all outside the walls of my home. Then it will get warm, and the symposiums will begin along with classes. Thinking of all that makes me feel better. It instills a bit of optimism into my soul. It's almost like the governor called and pardoned me.

Paddle safe...
DS

Where Are They?

I have a soft, maybe weak, spot that won't let me watch a movie or documentary in which children and/or animals suffer. As for the first, I guess I subscribe to the poem that tells us that the world belongs to the children and that the children belong to us all. I believe most of us would do anything necessary to protect a child at risk.

The other day, while walking Ansel, I gazed down the frozen river and remembered the night we saw cayotes playing out there on the ice. The other day I saw one of the local squirrels scurrying across the phone lines. Both of these events came to mind as I wondered where all the animals were and how they were managing to survive this unusually harsh winter.

Ok, I know about Darwin and the thinning of the herd and all that. And I do have some knowledge of what these animals actually do to get through this tough season. This concern I have, however, is more an emotional than an intellectual one. Regardless of the tools Mother Nature has given them, many of these animals are suffering out there. I know, too, that I am not expected to do anything about it and that there is, in fact, little I could do.

So, it is for more than selfish reasons that I look forward to warmer days. In addition to access to the waters around here, spring brings with it the cheerful sounds of song birds, many unseen. It brings the flocks of sassy crows that often greet me in the morning. The local fox and cayotes emerge from heaven knows where, and the mammals that live along the shores of the river get busy getting ready for another season.

Then there is the sense of rebirth as Mother Earth sprouts trees, flowers, bushes and food. It is then that I, too, begin to feel alive and a bit younger. I do so look forward to spring but, mean while, I wonder where they all are.

Paddle safe...
DS

Missing It All

It's the weather, dude. This winter will go into the books as an unusual one and one not friendly to paddlers (at least not around here...but I digress). If it isn't the sub zero (F) temps it's the shore ice conspiring to keep us ashore. And I miss it. I miss the paddling and just being out on the water. More over, and what I've come to realize, I miss the group's energy.

Usually, when weather keeps us ashore, we still meet for coffee. This past weekend, however, even that wasn't to be as slick ice covered our roads, and we all felt it would be safest not to wander out. Missing the weekend gathering reminded me of how important my paddling partners are in my life. They are, one and all, fine people, and I would enjoy their company whether or not they paddled.

I've floated in calm waters and bashed waves with this group. We've sat together around cafes, and some of us have sat together around camp fires. We've eaten new year's day chili together and rolled in pools together. Missing all this has been the hardest part of this winter. Still, JB sends encouraging e mails and reminds me that Canoecopia is just around the corner. Come to think of it, there is no reason I can't have coffee with him during the lunch hour.

Paddle safe...
DS

The disconnect

(the blank spaces represent where blogpsot refuses to upload pictures)

I look out my window and see snow, slush and fog. It is damp. At 37 degrees F. it would be good paddling if there were a safe launch site. That's what I see. What I think about, on the other hand, is teaching.

It is around the corner, and soon classes will form and symposiums held. There will be folks there looking to learn to paddle, and those of us who teach will once again demonstrate, explain and correct. We will do whole-part-whole and use other techniques to get our points across. If you are anything like me, you have stolen teaching points from the folks who taught you and put together your own little menu and way of teachings. Chances are that over time you have come up with a scenerio that you repeat with each class. You feel comfy with that scenario, and it works. That is what I am particularly thinking about.

Are my classes becoming stale? If I do the same thing over and over too many times will I lose my passion and will that loss be obvious to the students? The answer to both is probably yes, and I should assume it is so. Thinking about it in those terms will wake me up to trying new things when I teach.

It can be as simple as presenting things in a different order just to make me more mindful of what I am doing. It might mean adding some playful things to what is (for me) a generally serious presentation. Sure, safety comes first, but I can get them there in more than one way. Do I need to change other methods, add something, leave something out? At this point, I am not sure, but that's what I am thinking about now so that I will be fresh and ready when classes start.

Paddle safe...

DS

The Weather Man,

if nothing else,

Is Predictable

(This is where there is

usually a picture.

Neither the pic upload nor

spell check works on blogspot

this lovely morning)

So horendous was the threat, so big was the storm to come that Midwest Airlines (based here in Milwaukee) suspended their rules to allow others, like myself, scheduled to return on Sunday to re-book on earlier flights. The airports, as we all knew from the weather "forecast", would be buried under 13 inches of snow.

The weather guy, always predictable, got it wrong...as usual. Right now, it is above freezing and water is dripping off the icicles on the eaves. Yes, it may snow later today. We may even get some freezing rain. Anyway, better safe than sorry. Better home and snug.

Paddle safe...
DS

Saturday's blog early

When Nature

Gives You

The Finger

Because an impending snow storm may close the Milwaukee airport on Sunday, we are flying early tomorrow to return home. I thought that cactus was laughing at me when I took its picture. Little did I know then, it was flipping me off.

Paddle safe...

DS

Images

of the

Desert

As I was saying, it is hard for me to "see" a new environment, to actually get a feel
for the place. One thing I've learned is to start early and grab one or two token sunrise shots

The color helps while the cacti give a sense of place. And this place is magic when someone who does know it well is there to teach.These little guys will leave you with painful barbs if you get anywhere near them. Interestingly, you can knock of a piece (which Bill did), burn off the barbs (which Bill did) and slice it open to eat the pulp (which mowe all did). It "asted" like a tasteless melon. The natives in the area used to eat the stuff which is, as it tuns out, an excellent (and their only) source of vitamin C. Not one of us got scurvy while out there.

Other wise, it has been surprisingly cool. We have heard that an impending snow storm may prevent our return home on Sunday. More tomorrow.

Paddle safe...

DS

Settling In

Just back from a sunrise visit to the sesert with an interesting guide. I will have more on that tomorrow. It is cool here and even cold up in the desert. Our anxiety level was raised when we learned there is to be a snow storm Sunday in Milwaukee...the day we hope to return. I will let go of that for now and enjoy where I am and editing the photos I shot this morning.

I will say that the beauty of the desert takes a bit to see. It was all new to me, but I found myself warming upn to it quickly. Bill, our guide, was a big part of that. As I said, more tomorrow.

Paddle safe...

DS

A closer Look

When in a new place, and bored, I look to my camera to get my mind into the place. I remember a famous photographer telling me that the secret to getting fabulous scenery or landscape images is to visit a place over and over. This is my first time here.

Another expert's advise was to always get closer. That works for me. Another thing that works for me is to look at the plants that are distinctive to the area or, at least, not found up in Siberia where I live. The aloe plant (I think) is an example. Of course, the dull flat light did not make for a flattering image. So, I cropped and worked on the sensuous shapes and shades and came up with a satisfying image.

Now, I feel a little more alive and into this place. So...I'm going out to play.

Paddle safe...

DS

At Ease

In Arizona and just straightened out the wireless here. Will make every effort to get out, do some photography and have something worthwhile to post soon.

Paddle safe...

DS

Outta' Here

I checked, and the weather man is pretty certain that the temps will not see much of anything above the freezing mark for the next week. It sucketh. So, Lady Linda and I...along with our friends and neighbors Pat and Fred...are leaving tomorrow for Arizona.

We plan to snooze, read, go out into the landscape around Phoenix and generally waste time and warm our bones. As we have a rather early flight out in the morning, I may be away from this site for a day or two. I do plan on taking a camera (or two) and a lap top. I understand there is wireless where we are staying, so maybe I can show you some shots of sand kayaking...if there be such a sport.

You all stay warm.

Paddle safe...

DS

Today

is

Mental Health Day

(at my house)

Enough dwelling on the cold weather and frozen water. I recently talked about photo albums and photos in boxes, and it is time to pull some out to remind me of the terrific days I had on the water in 2007 and the possibilities for the upcoming season (yes, I am in reruns...but I digress)

It is time to think of paddling in (dare I say?) Farmer Johns and (be still my heart) shorts. It is time to think about Canoecopia, just around the corner. It is time to think about symposiums and camping and trips, oh my. It is time to ignore the torture of those south of here who keep thumbing their warm noses at us (I am not naming names, but we do have an open border with New Zealand :)).It's time, too, to think of teaching and the joy of seeing new paddlers being born onto the water. And, it's time to be grateful for the youngest and eldest in my family and they joy they bring me.

Paddle safe...

DS