| Dream fragments |
[Jan. 23rd, 2010|08:44 am] |
Last night I was in my old home in South Dakota, talking with Mom about something and knowing that I needed to go outside right away. Somehow my mind was able to include that Dad is no longer there, so upon reflection I find that somewhat reassuring.
As I was exiting, I picked up 4 little black puppies. They were not much bigger than my hands and thus I could carry them all. They had fairly straight hair that was maybe an inch long, thick, and silky. They were calm and looked at me the whole time like they knew I was doing something to help them. They had that dog shampoo smell about them... a faint coconut.
I carried them out through the garage and couldn't shake the idea that something was wrong. I felt very protective of the puppies.
Outside, I heard a noise and looked up to see an old Cessna 152, which is a tiny 2 seat aircraft and in which I taught for about 30 hours or so. This is the ultimate economy compact airplane and if you're too large, you can't even fit. I normally had to sit with one arm over the back seat so there was shoulder room for my student. Yeah.
Anyway, the airplane was doing something odd, coming down at a sharp angle in what looked like a very low stall recovery. It disappeared from my view behind the house and I ran to the corner so I could see what happened. I was sure there would be a crash. I got there in time to see the airplane coming right at the house with the wings level. I stayed there for a second to judge its trajectory and then jumped to the side at the last moment. The plane hit the house in a level attitude and got hung up in the tree that was once outside my bedroom (Mom just had it cut down 3 months ago).
I was on the ground, cradling the puppies and shielding them from the crash. The wing came to a stop just touching my neck but leaving me unharmed. I made sure the puppies were fine as I was waking up. |
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| I am a curmudgeon |
[Dec. 26th, 2009|07:56 pm] |
Just so you know. I wouldn't want there to be any doubt.
I certainly didn't spend 3 hours outside today with all the kids in my sister's neighborhood digging a series of snow caves for them. I also did not make a snow slide leading to the mouth of one of the cave entraces (with steps along side for the small ones).
Clearly the darkness of these imaginary tunnels would be a little much for all the little people. This would have been just fine with me because I am a curmudgeon (see title) and would savor their fear like sweet sweet nectar. I most certainly would *not* have fixed the problem using christmas lights embedded in the walls to illuminate the network. This would make them all excited and call their friends to come over and that would greatly annoy me so I would not have done it.
Most absolutely I would not have built a snow castle for a snow princess. Or crafted a tiny snow princess because doing so would require heat from my hands, they would get cold, and I certainly am not about to do things like that just because it would make a 3 year old laugh and clap her hands. I would not craft a snow moat and bridge for her. Or make a winding lane with snow trees to make a snow forest.
Here is an artist's rendition of what I would have done had I done those things I didn't do. Because I'm foul tempered and mean.
( Not real )
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| New traditions, old memories |
[Dec. 24th, 2009|08:47 pm] |
Just musing. This isn't exactly meant to be depressing; more nostalgic. That said, you may want to save reading this for later depending on your current mood.
( Cut for length )
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| Warning to travellers |
[Dec. 22nd, 2009|07:47 am] |
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If you're traveling out of SeaTac, be advised: there are mimes and carolers wandering the hallways.
I'm not trying to be curmudgeonly and perhaps this is all caused by desensitization, but I completely forgot it was Christmas twice this morning. It threw my stuff off when I turned a corner to find a mime dressed as a toy soldier doing his best to mock everybody walking by.
Later, as I sat surfing the free wi-fi that Google gave the big airports, some people dressed up in great outfits from the 1800's wandered by singing. I didn't hear them til they got close (because I focus like that) and once again I was utterly confused for a moment. The world had gone crazy! Oh, no, it's a holiday thing.
Right, so, there you have my PSA for the week. Also, if you're a totally flippant traveler like I am, give yourself an extra 15 mins on your usual arrival time. One hour would have been kinda tightish, it took me a total of almost 45 to get through and over to my gate. Also? Get your people to drop you off in the Arrivals section. Traffic was backed up to the higher-speed area for Departures but Arrivals was a ghost town. It's easy enough to go up two flights of escalators. |
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| Remembering Running |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|08:34 pm] |
I had to give up running a little over 11 years ago. The jolting would send bolts through me that wouldn't allow me to control my body anymore. Sometimes I'd forget and get away with a step or two... then I'd get reminded.
( Read more... ) |
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| This morning |
[Nov. 25th, 2009|07:50 am] |
I had occasion to be up very early this morning and at the airport. I took these two shots as the sun came up and thought you all might like to see them.
( Decently big pics )( Read more... ) |
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| List of descriptors |
[Nov. 19th, 2009|05:21 pm] |
This one hadn't been used to describe me until recently. It isn't one I would have imagined:
"You! You are the avatar of my terror." |
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| No, seriously |
[Oct. 30th, 2009|09:30 am] |
When I said it was better than sex I wasn't exaggerating.
Here's an A6 doing one of my favorite things up in the Cascades.
</div>
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| Does that qualify as hitting on me? |
[Oct. 21st, 2009|03:50 pm] |
I went to the bank today and the teller, a cute young lady with a severe haircut and obvious proclivities that mark her as at least sympathetic to awesome people (if not one of them - you can't just tell by looking), totally hit on me... I think.
She started out by asking how my day was going, which is what you do if you're a bank teller. It's small talk so I don't have to focus on the fact that I'm watching you hit keys and slide checks through a scanner. Most of the time they don't care but I always answer honestly. I told her my day was going great, I love the weather, and I think I'm going to get some lunch so that's always a happy event.
She then told me her day was dragging and she really wanted to be out looking for Halloween ideas. She wanted to know what I was going to be for the holiday and told me what she was considering. She then told me I look like Robert Englund "in the really cool way, not in the burned up face kind of way" and that she bets I could pull off Freddy really well. My transaction ended about the time I was relating earlier what I was doing for lunch. I was getting antsy to get out of there.
Does that qualify? I never know about these things. In any case, she was very pleasant. And I look like a murderer. So I've got that going for me... |
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| a pilot's life for me |
[Oct. 19th, 2009|10:50 pm] |
I had an unexpected drop in today in the form of an old friend. He's an airline pilot now and found himself routed through Seattle and forced to take an overnight. Fortunately, he knows somebody here and gave me a call.
We bummed around, talked about what we had been up to lately, and covered a wide range of subjects. He has been a friend for a long time but we don't see each other much, so this was a nice way to catch up. I was co-best man at his wedding some 8 years ago so we were pretty close. While we aren't as close now as we were then, we fell right back in to the old patterns and comfort with each other.
T'was nice.
G'night! |
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| Ultra massive black holes |
[Oct. 15th, 2009|07:26 am] |
This this probably information that black hole buffs already know, but it's presented in awesome ways. It's about 20 minutes and filled with beauty and wonder.
</div>
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| Dream snippets |
[Oct. 14th, 2009|06:59 am] |
I rarely write down my dreams. Often they fade within minutes after I wake up so if I don't do it immediately they're gone... and I don't really get up in time to have a spare half hour each morning. This morning was different - I woke early, got up and then paused by the computer on the way to the shower. I decided to write what I had last night, so here it is.
( Cut for longness ) |
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| A million words - by Dave Barry |
[Oct. 3rd, 2009|12:10 am] |
A friend brought this to my attention tonight. She thought of me when she read it and thought I could maybe use it. I don't think she knew just how close a lot of this got to my experience.
It has been 6 months.
( A quick read ) |
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| Attention! |
[Oct. 1st, 2009|06:59 pm] |
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) daemonwolf !
Merry Christmas.
I'd post a picture of the cake I got for you but it's what they call "obscene". I'm sure you can imagine it well enough. |
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| Drive by updating |
[Sep. 29th, 2009|03:26 pm] |
I'm back from California! It's hot! Ick.
Thank you, Seattle, for having cool air and protective clouds. Your greenery is also much appreciated.
UPS: I do not ever use you if I can. I am held hostage when others do. Your customer service people are brainwashed but I am not fooled. It's sad that I have to escalate any situation to have your packages actually delivered to a place where I can get them without spending an hour in my car and 30 minutes in a line. The amount of suckitude associated with sitting in my front lobby for 45 minutes while waiting so you wouldn't "miss" me is not to be underestimated. I'll send you a bill for my time later, when I control the Earth.
How is it that I still have playa dust on things? I've washed and washed but I'll never get clean... never....
Speaking of, I am going to do that BM update. Serious. I guess I'm still so traumatized by it that I'm avoiding going back there in my mind. I dream of it and wake screaming in the night. I'll tough through for you though, my dear internets. For you. |
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| Ted: How I harnessed the wind |
[Sep. 23rd, 2009|10:24 am] |
You're going to need to watch this. It's just under 6 minutes, you have time.
Inspiring is not a good enough word to describe this young man's story.
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| Retriever tackle |
[Sep. 9th, 2009|09:31 pm] |
I'm too tired to get back in to the BM write up but will do so shortly.
I just got home from a nice night with some friends I haven't seen in a long while. We ate and talked and drank tea, so it was on par with excellent.
I parked about a block from my door and was walking in the dark down the sidewalk. About a block past my door a golden retriever was walking with her person. She saw me and jerked the leash out of the lady's hand, turned around to pick up the leash, and then ran full-tilt at me. I put down what I was carrying and received the (gentle at the end) charge and proceeded to receive lickings while administering scratchings. Eventually there was a massive belly rub. Her mom was surprised that she picked me out in the dark at such a long distance, especially since I was wearing all black and under no lights.
I get dogs. I think they get me in some ways. I like it. |
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| Burning Man Report: Part 1 |
[Sep. 8th, 2009|09:00 pm] |
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This is going to be a fairly long post and will certainly qualify as tl;dr for most who don't want to read this newbie's report on his Burning Man experience.
( words aplenty )
More soon!
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