Yahoo,
We made it to the end of Twenty-Ten. Or two thousand ten, however you prefer. It was an adequate year with its opportunities and availabilities, I suppose. Getting as long in tooth as I am now it doesn't take alot to satisfy me anymore. This year has brought more satisfaction than many years prior have accumulated. Once again, my standards have lowered on some accounts and have improved and become more accurate on others. So this year, as all, has had its ups and downs but in the whole scheme of things this one has actually been somewhat progressive. Let me elaborate.
The year began with a horrid wet and cold day. The kind of day that could make the rest of the year appear to be as foreboding as walking into the the Blair Witch Project naked. Well, it was a valid indicator of what was to come because January brought me the most trials and tribulations I have experienced in years. Luckily It didn't kill me but it came close. I started the year off behind the 8 ball without much promise for a prosperous future. I had a little run-in with the law that had me up against the wall til May, when everything was settled and I was absolved and able to put that hokie-pokie BS behind me. It was a minor offense with major implications. No I didn't kill anything I wasn't supposed to but I probably shouldn't have been where I was when I was there. Wrong place Wrong time Wrong result. Don't let me scare, I'm not a criminal in the definition of the word, but according to the Forest Service cop, I brought the wrong kind of hay onto Federal lands. I'll leave it at that.
Spring brought other challenges. One of them being winter-like weather thru April. I mean I have been a Bend resident as well as native for over 30 years and spring keeps coming later and later every year. That can make it a challenge when you have been clouded in for 4 going on 5 months and just hoping for a ray of sunshine. Well, the sunshine never came. Well, it did, just not as soon as I thought it should have. One of the other challenges was going back to school to get my degree(s). I haven't seen a classroom for over 20 years......Both challenges presented themselves the first day of Spring term. We received more snow in one day than we had had all winter long. Kind of a rude induction to spring, but I took the challenge. I was wait-listed for most of my classes and managed to only get into one of them. That was cool tho. I had realistic expectations and didn't want to conquer the world in one term alone. I got my one class, Timber Carnival sports......OK, the class is Timber Sports but you get to learn how to ROCK a Timber Carnival. I was throwing axes, climbing 30 foot poles, setting chokers, and overhand chopping my way to an "A". I was an great intro to the career I hope to be a part of.
Summer worked its way into the picture with alot of smoke and mirrors. The season itself came in like a lamb with a broken leg. It didn't reach 70 degrees but for the three days in May, until damn near June 20th. When it came it came in force. It got hot and so did my second term at COCC. This time I was able to pick-up some more valuable classes in my pursuit of the goal. These were cool classes. Learning what actually goes on in the forestry business. I had Perspectives and Map &Compass. Both of which were succumbed to my innate ability to learn what I already know. Yea, I "A"d them both. The weather did get better and the learning became easier when all you had to wear to school was a compass and a pair of shorts. Summer was cool as short as it was.
Autumn. The real challenge. I finally got into the rotation and was able to register as a returning student and have a better menu of classes to choose from. I filled my schedule with 15 credit hours and charged the castle. After being re-introduced to the scholastic ways I was ready to take on the world. So BAM, I was off and running. I have never been a scientist, but I play one at the bar all the time, and never taken any "ology" classes other than geology and I dont even remember when that class was. I had 2 "ology" classes this term and was as intimidated as Pee Wee Herman standing in front of DOG the bounty hunter after playing around in a Miami movie theater. It was scary. You all saw the posts on Dendrology. It's a weird little science but if you're a nerd like me, you'd love it! Then there was Ecology. The "GREEN" science. Personally I feel this is the science that must be taught to the world. We need to know our role in the ecological kingdom and be able to educate all up and comers to the errors of the past and the ways that can resolve those errors. People need to know their "cause & effect" on our planet and know how to manage it to a more prosperous angle and I think this planet will be around til the sun goes out. What a fun class. The ology's were fun and rather enlightening . Then there was MATH. I HATE math. "I severely dislike math" would probably be a better way of putting it but I still hate it. Needless to say, I gave that the 'ol college try' too and ramshackled the castle with the best of the Barbarians. Oh yea, computer class. The class that turned me onto this whole blogosphere we are in now. I didn't learn much there other than how to ...... uh...............let's see..............hmmm......oh yea,.......what did I learn here? The last class was an introduction into how to be a college student in the program that I am currently enrolled in. It was a P/F class so it didn't seem like a big deal. When all the classes totaled up it put forth an adventure I was bound to conquer. In hindsight, it wasn't as bad as it looked. I managed 3 A's, 1 B, and one P. All in all, a 3.71 gpa and a trip to the Dean's List. I haven't been to the Dean's list since I got caught on a ladder peeping into sorority girls windows back in '79. Oh wait, that was John Belushi....my bad. I guess I've never made the Dean's List, til now.
Winter is back as are the challenges the new winter brings. Another season of variable weather, unsettled economy, and nothing to do but think positive about the new year to come. I don't necessarily celebrate calendar holidays. I follow the sun, moon, earth, and stars. So the Solstice was my official New Year but all in all we all tend to be close in what's relative. Hope for the best, achieve more than you thought you could, and go beyond anyone's expectations. Most of all be true to thy own self, bring good karma, and climb the ladder being weary not to step on the fingers of those who got you there....
Love you all and thanks for reading once again. The Sage and Cowgirls are still arguing a collective bargaining agreement and the commissioner is still in Hawaii. So I will bring you up to date with their story as soon as negotiations begin again......Take care, be safe, be good to yourself, and love the ones who make you feel good.
Carmen, ooooooooooot!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Sometimes it snows. Sometimes we cant see the trees through the forest...
Vision obscurity themes this rant through the ever fertile grounds of the blogmosphere. I have coined myself a blogtometrist a time or two for good reason. Blogging is an art and you have to use stupid words like blogmosphere and blogtometrist to sound cool in this environment but one thing stands true. Good writing. You have to write well and with a good sense of the nature of your post. There are your Tech Tales for the week....
Haha, snuck that one in ya. This blog goes out to all the lovely ladies (& Scottie O & Grindstaff who appear to be following this nonsensical trip through the ethosphere) who keep my spirits up and make this thing worth writing. Love you all, or as we do down south, love y'all. I know I'm not unlocking any of the great secrets of life in this foray through never-neverland but I hope to make someone aware of something they may not have considered being aware of before coming across this. I'm NOT preaching mind you. This is simply an opinion with room for argument and lot's of room to roam. WOW, room and roam made me think of buffalo. Deer and antelope come to mind, too. Buffalo are bad ass. They're big strong cattle that dont know what the hell a fence is. I love Buffalo. They're kinda like smart cattle but like stupid elk at the same time. I'll let you work that one out. It is true tho.....So once again this ship has navigated out of its shipping lane and I have lost all track of thought. Something about roaming and room... Not sure what that means right? You all are smart, you'll figure it out.
A cold snap came over the C.O. in the last few days and things have gotten "as cold as a nickel in a witches purse." Not sure what that means either but I thought it sounded better than "colder than a witches nipple in a cast iron bra." Anyway, it's cold outside. The roads are skating rinks, just the skaters are 3500 pound vehicles with rubber skates on. They're kinda scary. Especially the ones with CALIFORNICA license plates. Yea, I said Californica. I'm not ashamed, I was born here in Oregon, Bend to be precise, and I've seen more Californication than Los Angeles over the last 30 years. OK, back on track....The roads are greasy, and the temp is cold, the days are short and fall term is getting old. Turkey day is on the way and the cows are in the barn, so fix yourself a stiff one and burn the logs to warm. I know barn and warm dont rhyme but it was the best I could do on such short notice. Y'all have a happy, healthy, and safe turkey day. Much love to all who read this, all 6 of ya!!!
On the day cowgirls and sagebrush met the earth, there were some bargains to be made. Sagebrush had an issue with the cowgirls and the cowgirls had an issue with the Sage. Something had to give. Lots were swapped across the land, Sage had Cowgirl not driving her herd over the brush and Cowgirl had the Sage hold its word to not knock her off her horse, Sage carried on about being too far from its neighbor sage and cowgirl kept on about how many sage were getting in her way, and the battle raged into the dark hours of morning. The results of that battle are yet to come.....stay tuned.
Carmen oooooot..............
Oh yea, it snowed and I can't see the trees through the forest...or the cat................
No this wasn't me but I think seeing that in person would have added a couple of new grey hairs and a little extra weight to my skivvies......
Haha, snuck that one in ya. This blog goes out to all the lovely ladies (& Scottie O & Grindstaff who appear to be following this nonsensical trip through the ethosphere) who keep my spirits up and make this thing worth writing. Love you all, or as we do down south, love y'all. I know I'm not unlocking any of the great secrets of life in this foray through never-neverland but I hope to make someone aware of something they may not have considered being aware of before coming across this. I'm NOT preaching mind you. This is simply an opinion with room for argument and lot's of room to roam. WOW, room and roam made me think of buffalo. Deer and antelope come to mind, too. Buffalo are bad ass. They're big strong cattle that dont know what the hell a fence is. I love Buffalo. They're kinda like smart cattle but like stupid elk at the same time. I'll let you work that one out. It is true tho.....So once again this ship has navigated out of its shipping lane and I have lost all track of thought. Something about roaming and room... Not sure what that means right? You all are smart, you'll figure it out.
A cold snap came over the C.O. in the last few days and things have gotten "as cold as a nickel in a witches purse." Not sure what that means either but I thought it sounded better than "colder than a witches nipple in a cast iron bra." Anyway, it's cold outside. The roads are skating rinks, just the skaters are 3500 pound vehicles with rubber skates on. They're kinda scary. Especially the ones with CALIFORNICA license plates. Yea, I said Californica. I'm not ashamed, I was born here in Oregon, Bend to be precise, and I've seen more Californication than Los Angeles over the last 30 years. OK, back on track....The roads are greasy, and the temp is cold, the days are short and fall term is getting old. Turkey day is on the way and the cows are in the barn, so fix yourself a stiff one and burn the logs to warm. I know barn and warm dont rhyme but it was the best I could do on such short notice. Y'all have a happy, healthy, and safe turkey day. Much love to all who read this, all 6 of ya!!!
On the day cowgirls and sagebrush met the earth, there were some bargains to be made. Sagebrush had an issue with the cowgirls and the cowgirls had an issue with the Sage. Something had to give. Lots were swapped across the land, Sage had Cowgirl not driving her herd over the brush and Cowgirl had the Sage hold its word to not knock her off her horse, Sage carried on about being too far from its neighbor sage and cowgirl kept on about how many sage were getting in her way, and the battle raged into the dark hours of morning. The results of that battle are yet to come.....stay tuned.
Carmen oooooot..............
Oh yea, it snowed and I can't see the trees through the forest...or the cat................
No this wasn't me but I think seeing that in person would have added a couple of new grey hairs and a little extra weight to my skivvies......
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Too many good pics.... Thank you Mike Grindstaff for packin a camera (and using it!!!)
...had to add some captions....
L to R Gilli, BT, Lakemon, and one of the young guns, call him NextGen. This is what it looks like when we all get back to the rigs and haven't gotten a shot off all day and decide to line up to shoot the sh*t outta of the sky! OK, we weren't aiming at the sky, per sa, but we resorted to throwing a bottle in the air. We thought shooting at it might actually simulate a bird-hunt. Let's just say the bottle would have lived a long healthy life......
a picture says a thousand words.....two pictures tell a story.
Why did this guy have to show up....? I swear, all the chics left after this guy arrived.....I probably shouldn't have stuck around either...
Ol Eagle Eye and the Queen
Much love Chris Lakemon for putting this shin-dig together. I raise my glass to you! Thanks Mike for all the great pics I poached to make this lil essay have a point. BT, thanks for all the everything. I'm glad we made it happen for you this year! Everyone else at camp, it was an awesome time. The biggest impression left on me was definitely the fact someone is coming up behind us and it is up to us to show them the right way to go about things. B. Lib. you get mad props for your work with NextGen and teaching well. The youth are us in 30+/- years....
Carmen oooooot.....
Dude with the cross photo was not one of Grindstaff's. God forbid we put that on him.......and God forbid we credit ANYONE with that pic
Empty Game Bag and an Empty Freezer
Let's get Tech Tales out of the way now. I went to computer class and learned about Google Documents (Docs). It's a cool place holder for files on the web and in the 'cloud' (what ever the heck that is.) Check it out if you need mobile storage accessible online anywhere. There's your Tech Tales.
Now on to bigger business.
Not only has the year 2010 failed to provide me with a working wage job, it has also kept my freezer as bare as Old Mother Hubbard's cupboard. I'm not complaining, I'm just getting hungry....lol. This years hunting success (or lack there of) can be attributed to various reasons, one of them, being enrolled in school full time. The others are probably like, too many road sodas to find the hunting grounds, deer not coming onto winter range early enough, my f'd up boots, and the giant Bigfoot who keeps eating all my prey. It's been a tough year, to say the least. The cool thing is I have seen my prey, so I know it is still around, other than the deer Sasquatch keeps eating. I guess I'm just jealous he's eating and I'm not. Don't get me wrong, I'm eating fine. Pan-handling @ 3rd and Greenwood pays a good 42K a year ($17-$34 an hour,) so by no means am I in the poor house. I just hate my job and would rather hunt all day.
So anyway, I had the pleasure to go on a trip to EO (redkneck [that's how I spell it] for Eastern Oregon) to chase some of the west's most wily prey. The notorious Red-legged Partridge a.k.a. Chukar. I've always liked hunting chukar. It is a challenge and those lil birdies put all of your skills to the test. I figure at the ripe ol age of 24, I need the exercise, too. I mean who doesn't want to wake up at the crack of dawn, throw on some cold damp clothing you forgot to pull into the tent last night or at least leave by the fire pit, and go climb a 700' slope with an incline of 18%?? I know how it sounds and it truly sounds worse than it is. We were camped by a hot spring, so it softened the blow quite a bit. Once again I have driven this train off the track and should get back to the point here and now. So minus all the diversity (if you wanna call it that) I had one of the best times hanging out with old friends and meeting some new friends. Hunting camp always bonds a situation and renders things down to a common denominator. So there is no pretension, no bullshit, and everyone is focused on a common goal and there to enjoy the time spent in that environment. So, I think you can see why I would just like to hunt all day, everyday. There are some pics above if you want to see the beautiful country I got to explore this last weekend. Pics, compliments of Mike Grindstaff, one of the only photog's I know that can capture that land in all of its glory.
BTW, Sagebrush and Cowgirls were created on the same day. When the big Man (or Woman for you Goddess folk), threw down the mountains, he/she thought that they needed some decorations. Nothing fancy, just rough, raw, and rugged, much like the mountains themselves. This decor came in the way of sagebrush and cowgirls. *To Be Continued*
Carmen, ooooot
Now on to bigger business.
Not only has the year 2010 failed to provide me with a working wage job, it has also kept my freezer as bare as Old Mother Hubbard's cupboard. I'm not complaining, I'm just getting hungry....lol. This years hunting success (or lack there of) can be attributed to various reasons, one of them, being enrolled in school full time. The others are probably like, too many road sodas to find the hunting grounds, deer not coming onto winter range early enough, my f'd up boots, and the giant Bigfoot who keeps eating all my prey. It's been a tough year, to say the least. The cool thing is I have seen my prey, so I know it is still around, other than the deer Sasquatch keeps eating. I guess I'm just jealous he's eating and I'm not. Don't get me wrong, I'm eating fine. Pan-handling @ 3rd and Greenwood pays a good 42K a year ($17-$34 an hour,) so by no means am I in the poor house. I just hate my job and would rather hunt all day.
So anyway, I had the pleasure to go on a trip to EO (redkneck [that's how I spell it] for Eastern Oregon) to chase some of the west's most wily prey. The notorious Red-legged Partridge a.k.a. Chukar. I've always liked hunting chukar. It is a challenge and those lil birdies put all of your skills to the test. I figure at the ripe ol age of 24, I need the exercise, too. I mean who doesn't want to wake up at the crack of dawn, throw on some cold damp clothing you forgot to pull into the tent last night or at least leave by the fire pit, and go climb a 700' slope with an incline of 18%?? I know how it sounds and it truly sounds worse than it is. We were camped by a hot spring, so it softened the blow quite a bit. Once again I have driven this train off the track and should get back to the point here and now. So minus all the diversity (if you wanna call it that) I had one of the best times hanging out with old friends and meeting some new friends. Hunting camp always bonds a situation and renders things down to a common denominator. So there is no pretension, no bullshit, and everyone is focused on a common goal and there to enjoy the time spent in that environment. So, I think you can see why I would just like to hunt all day, everyday. There are some pics above if you want to see the beautiful country I got to explore this last weekend. Pics, compliments of Mike Grindstaff, one of the only photog's I know that can capture that land in all of its glory.
BTW, Sagebrush and Cowgirls were created on the same day. When the big Man (or Woman for you Goddess folk), threw down the mountains, he/she thought that they needed some decorations. Nothing fancy, just rough, raw, and rugged, much like the mountains themselves. This decor came in the way of sagebrush and cowgirls. *To Be Continued*
Carmen, ooooot
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