West · of · the · Mountains, · East · of · the · Moon

Burning Man was... indescribable -- you just have to experience it.  But my favor part came after, when I got into Reno and realized I hadn't touched my wallet in a week, even though I had given and received countless gifts and experiences -- a whole different way of thinking about community and self-sufficiency.  On the other hand, I was a wee bit overprepared -- anyone westcoastside need a couple of large tarps and a 7-gallon water jug?

Have reached my limit of alone-time and am morphing back into a social creature -- probably headed to the Bay Area in about a week if anyone is up for fun or trouble...

The potential is fabulous, and this time when I dive, it will be deep and sure.

mulderitsme

Was planning to hit KiteStorm near Burlington, VT on the way back, but JT was up at the new house in Clayton helping Dad renovate, so I came back to the 'Cuse yesterday and headed up there this morning so we could take the kite out.  We went out on French Creek Bay from the boat ramp by the boat museum -- it was very strange to literally be walking on water in a place I've only ever seen in the summer.  The bay was frozen solid -- there were tire marks and several ice huts further out; one was flying a flag, which helped with judging wind speed and direction.  JT practiced flying for a little while, then I strapped on skis and took some runs.  We switched over to him, and after getting the hang of not drifting downwind, he really got moving (I should have let him go first, 'cause he definitely got the stronger wind!) I even got to use the new ice screw!  We were out for a couple of hours, but he had to head back to Buffalo, so we ended the session.  I wish we could have stayed out all day!!!

On the way back, I checked out Chaumont Bay on Lake Ontario -- not any kiters out today, but the huge expanse of ice looks very promising.  Also saw someone out on Oneida Lake on the way back, so I stopped and checked out the access at Oneida Shores -- it looks like an easy walk out and it's practically off the highway, so I may shoot up there afterschool sometime this week if the wind is good.  Also discovered there is an Eclipse-sponsored event up there next weekend based in front of Borio's -- guess where I will be next Sat?

In other news, I tracked down a cell phone to replace the one that was chewed up by a certain chocolate lab who shall remain nameless.  However, I'm not crazy about it -- I hate the flip design and I keep accidentally hitting the speaker buttons -- and an am trying to buy the same phone that was destroyed on eBay.  Wish me luck (I've already lost one auction!)

Am sick of teaching.  It's fun while I'm doing it, but at the end of the day, there's no lasting satisfaction.   Suggestions for my next career?

Current Location:	Floor 5
Current Mood:	apathetic
Current Music:	stupid xmas crap

I do wish it got dark a little later -- today the dept meeting ran over and I didn't hit the path until "official" sunset time.  Luckily there was light for a good 45 minutes, and a wee bit of snow to reflect it, as well as the canal itself.  I'm a little uneasy running alone in the dark in such an isolated place, but I'd much rather do it there than on city streets; maybe I'll invest in some Mace.  Probably not...

Wegman's was closed when I went to get coffee this morning.  Closed.  Wegman's?  I might have been less non-plussed if I had not just merrily slid my car across their skating rink of a parking lot -- still, I managed to survive most of the day without coffee (finally gave up and had a coke around 1pm)  I hate how quickly i get hooked on caffeine, but that little extra boost when it's cold and dark helps SO MUCH!

I'm still waiting on some decent snow, but at least it's gotten cold and it actually feels like winter -- the highish temps and all the green grass were really starting to freak me out.  I've been knitting up a storm -- baby gift for a friend but it is definitely not going to be ready by the shower, so I decided to stop stressing over it.  I'm feeling more settled since the whack upside the head from M.  Maybe I will drink the Kool-Aid.

After a long dry spell of few marriages/ chil'rens, I'm staring down two winter babies and three spring/ summer weddings.  What's a girl to do when all she really wants is a good kite?

Heading into my major social season -- will be running back and forth to major metros for the next month, not to mention trying to get in some early runs.  Best way to keep out the Dark is to keep ducking and dodging and laughing and seeking out the Light.

Light in a time of Darkness,
Hope in a time of Fear,
Abundance in a time of Scarcity,
Joy and Blessings Upon Us All.

The colors are stunning, a full range of reds and yellows with a fair bit of green still in evidence, and only a few trees with their leaves already down. 

The trail around the upper lake was especially nice today -- soft turf with a layer of newly fallen leaves.  The whole way around, I could see the trees on the opposite side reflecting in the water.  The state is replacing the bathhouse at the park and has torn down the old one -- weird to see it go, since I remember changing there when I was 5 or 6 for a quick swim on the way home in the summer.

I love running places where I can see/ pass lots of people (best place ever is the Brooklyn Promenade), and it seemed like the whole world was out today for a last hurrah in the 60+ temps.  I tightened down my sneakers and my foot seems happy -- only time will tell if I'm really healed...

Have spent the weekend checking things off my to-do list:  car inspected, new radio (since the CD player and the FM transmitter both died), more yarn purchases, cleaned out the closet, rearranged the apartment (good-bye dining table, hello desk!), and spent a lot of time just enjoying the peace and quiet.

Feel like I'm finally in the place I've been chasing for forever, and it's weird to be content.  Kind of a whole-life version of my first semester at JD, when I kept waiting for something to blow up and it never did -- the idea that I'm where I should be, without needing a hare-brained scheme about the what-next to prop me up, puts me a little on edge.  Things I' m learning -- I can like, even love, my job without having it consume my life; there really is such a thing as too much yarn, ditto for clothing; sometimes it's nice to leave things unfinished; the moon is always beautiful (already knew that, but it needs reiterating); I am not my mother, and I cannot live out her dreams; it's hard to live away from the people you love; there is such a thing as too much chocolate, ditto caffeine, but you can never eat too many tomatoes.  Sweating is fun, when done properly, and if you don't procrastinate, you have time to do the things you really want to do without feeling guilty about them.

Current Location:	apt 523
Current Mood:	content
Current Music:	on-the-go-playlist "Spring"

Of course, it would help if I could get myself back on a regular sleep/ exercise cycle instead of napping when I get home and then staying up 'til all hours.

Am still marveling at all the six-degrees lately... I think a guy I went to elementary school with is running for town council in the suburb where I teach... it scares/ excites me that people I grew up with are starting to move into "running the world" kind of positions, whether local or global.

Must highly recommend Supercapitalism (check it out at: search.barnesandnoble.com/Supercapitalism/Robert-B-Reich/e/9780307265616/), especially in light of the current American economic "crisis" (is it really a crisis if you could see it coming from miles and years away?)  It's one of those books that just put it together for me -- as Americans have gained power as consumers and investors, we've lost it as citizens and workers.  It's past time for a correction to the systems that have gotten us here.

As for "free" markets -- the competition within them and the barriers to entry should be free-ish, but the whole point of the market itself is that it should have rules of operation (regulation, anyone?).

Saw the best bumper-sticker evah recently: Abolish Corporate Personhood.  'Nuff said.

Current Location:	the Loft
Current Mood:	sick

Friendly warning -- expect homemade Christmas presents.

If you haven't registered to vote, do it NOW!!!  (and vote for Obama!!!)

Fab weekend at the river -- JT came up and we took the boat out all three days. The water was as close as it gets to really warm and the sky was mad blue most of the time,

although I was awakened at 7am today by a freighter in a fogbank.

Gotta luv it! Went drifting on Sat & Sun, then actually checked in Mon; wandered around Gananaque w/ the fam, then stopped at Beau Rivage on the way home (haven't been there in about 15 years...)

Have found unanimous (sp?) agreement among Americans and Canadians that the whole "can't anchor if you haven't checked in" thing is total crap (as is the new law that you can't drink on a boat in Canada that moored unless it has a kitchen and a bathroom -- apparently they can take your driver's license (although cross-border enforcement seems like it would be a bitch...)

And, of course, life wouldn't be complete without a gorgeous island sunset:

Oh, and thanks to the efforts of mulderitsme , I now have a facebook account, so feel free to look me up there!

Also hiked up to the AT via a path that could only be described as brutal, both up and down.  And the real bitch was that you can't swim in the pond at the top because it's one of the natural wonders of New Jersey.... NJ?  And yet, loved it!

Note to self -- must spend even more time playing outside... if only I could find a career that allowed me to do this all the time (without forcing me to subsist on Ramen and store-brand pasta sauce).

On the upside, after I plotted to get my 6th-period class into one of the two air-conditioned areas of the school, the power went out.  Our own little rolling blackout.  Joy, joy, joy.  At least I didn't have to do the Algebra II review session I had scheduled.

Went hiking yesterday at highland forest right after a thunderstorm.  It was like being in a rainforest -- damp, sticky, and by the end I had no idea what was rain vs. sweat vs. condensation from the humidity.  And I enjoyed it... bizarre!

Running is on the back burner until the temperature dips below 70 for more than two hours of the day, which is okay since the heat has killed my appetite and I'm living on frozen juice bars and iced coffee.  On the plus side, my apartment has AC and I'm not afraid to use it.

Have been in a trouble-making mood for the last week, the kind when you want to go prowling, find a cute boy/man, club him over the head, and drag him back to your cave, or just dance for 6 hours straight, or climb straight up a cliff, then jump off, just because you can.  I fear for myself when I get this way -- it's like I have so much lust for life that I'm afraid channeling it is going to hurt me or someone else.

So, I usually love thunder and lightning.  It was fine the first time last night, around 1am -- some rumbling, some flashing, a little rain.  The repeat at 4am when the storm was directly overhead for 15 minutes and I couldn't get back to sleep -- not so much!  Plus, today was about 90 degrees and my classroom is one of the hottest in the building during 6th period.  Going to find a cool lake to jump in.