Sunday, September 13, 2009
A week of Firsts
So this was a week of firsts for me -- first SLR camera, ever, first single digit day/month/year passed, first blog started, first time ever on Palomar mountain -- camping.
It's a curious phenomenon that when you shake things up in your life a little bit -- it rejuvenates you -- makes you feel more alive. Writing on this blog and the other one I created, will definitely enrich this writing/reflection experience.
So I saved up for the DSLR camera for a very long time. It is soooooo exciting to have it. How many times did I wish I had a camera when I was out and about and noticed the beauty surrounding us and yearned to capture it -- like time in a bottle. Now, I can do so -- there is a learning curve though, which I am reluctant to admit I am a little impatient about. I realized that this morning when I was up at dawn trying to capture the moment, realizing at the same time that I fell short of my goal as my skill with the tool (camera) was sorely lacking. I must remember that anything worth learning takes time to master. And master the camera, I will. I hope to share some of my photos on this site and on the other blog and encourage others to do the same.
The blog experience is definitely proving to be interesting. It was germinating for awhile -- as I have been talking to friends about my wish for a "salon" of sorts. Because I know that everyone is sooooo busy these days, I thought it might be better doing it online when people can grab a few moments here and there. Unfortunately the response has not been exactly overwhelming. I was telling a friend the other day that it feels like I threw a big party, invited a whole bunch of people and noone came. The purpose of that other blog was to really listen to what others are thinking about and to share the synergy of group dynamics -- that cannot be done by me alone. Now this blog, can be about me, because it is my thoughts and experiences and it does not matter to me at all if anyone responds to it or not. Again, patience is not my strong suit. My friend suggested that maybe a lot of my friends do not like to blog or know how to. He could have a point there. Oh well. It does exercise my writing skill and creative juices are extracted, so that must be a good thing. And maybe, even if people don't comment, they may at least read and think about some of the topics that will be shared. In the mean time, I will be using this blog to empty the mind of thoughts and reflections that may or may not be of value to anyone reading it.
Camping! Wow! What a thrill it was -- OK, it wasn't all fun -- waking up 3-4 times during the night in pain, was not, for example. But the rest was fantastic! I have several friends who have told me their wives choose not to go camping -- they don't like it. I now realize I am just not the typical female. I enjoy it. The dirt and sleeping in a tent are fun! Cooking on a coleman stove is an adventure. But being outdoors, breathing in the fresh air is incredible. The sights and sounds fill the soul. Early morning bird calls wake you up the way no alarm clock ever could. The starry sky is brilliant and reminds us in a constant way how very small we are in the universe -- keeps us humble. I saw and heard woodpeckers, saw redwood trees and pines and felt the cool mountain breezes brush against my cheeks. I saw an incredible sunset and even more incredible sunrise high up above the clouds that obsured Oceanside. Yesterday night I met a guy and gal who stopped with their horse trailer on the side of the road where I was taking pictures all alone. He is a stunt man/actor and she the owner of the horses. They had been filming with a large crew in some nearby meadows. He had been in a medieval costume and was still wearing the steel mesh pants. Not something you see everyday. He took incredible pictures with his iphone -- I was so impressed with his vision! He took a few shots with my camera and I will be sending them to him. They were really nice, nice people. Also strange how you can meet someone randomly and they can touch your soul, creating memories. He complemented me on my beautiful eyes and smile. I can't remember anyone in my life having ever told me that -- and here was a total stranger sharing that moment with me. I will carry it forever. It brings a smile to my face when I think about our sunset encounter.
Camp at Polomar mountain was interesting. A whole group of boy scouts - 12 of them and many, many adults. There was only one other woman there -- an athlete. I find it interesting how I am so much more comfortable around men -- maybe because I am married and have 3 boys. It is probably very unfair of me to say so, but I have had very challenging and unhappy relationships with women. They seem to expect so much -- sit in judgement if they find you lacking and they never, ever FORGET! It seems like they keep score and bring every past hurt and slight in a laundry list to the table. I prefer dealing with men -- they do get upset, but when they do, they quickly get over it and MOVE ON!! I really understand why men have difficulty with relationships in which women expect too much from them and let them know in every single way how much they (the men) do not meet the expectations of those women. Men like things simple -- a note to women, to get and keep a man -- keep it simple, love them unconditionally, and don't expect too much. They will respond in kind. Anyhow, it was a very noisy weekend, but lots of fun! Last night we sat around a non-existent campfire and talked. No campfires, charcoal or fire making device of any kind was allowed due to the constant fire danger. So we all sat around a glowing coleman lantern.
This morning everyone bailed so quickly after breakfast, I could barely believe it -- although the peace and quiet was most welcome. What were they all in such a hurry to get to?? Their television sets? Football games? The heat in El Cajon? They electronic gaming systems? We did not, though. We lingered. We visited the Palomar observatory. How fascinating and beautiful against the blue sky. We overheard the tour guide talking about Carolyn and Gene Shoemaker and the discover of the Shoemaker-Levy comet. Wow, talk about synchronicity and being transported back in time. I remember sitting in Gene Shoemaker's house with his wife Carolyn and children, along with my parents in their home near Flagstaff, Arizona. What an incredible man he was -- so brilliant, so charismatic, with that gleam in his handsome eyes. I think I may have had a crush on him! I saw him so often during the summers in which we traveled to Flagstaff so that Gene, my dad and other scientists from the USGS would conduct scientific experiments with the astronauts from the Apollo space program out on the crater fields - Sunset crater and Meteor craters near Flagstaff. I remember him taking us out to the craters and educating us about them. I remember the bolo ties, he, my dad and other USGS scientists wore -- so geeky! :-) But most of all, I remember the twinkle of humor and intelligent enthusiastic gleam he always had in his eyes. What a tragic loss when Gene was killed in a horribly tragic accident while with his wife in Austrailia! I know I could not stop crying for days when I found out. Isn't it strange how some people can have such a strong and lasting impact on our lives even while the time spent with them was minimal.
Wow, maybe blogs are not such a great device for me to utilize. I seem to write so much -- more than people want to read, I'm sure. Hopefully I will learn to practice some brevity.
Until next time...
Embrace life with joy, live every day in grace and give more than you get. Live your best life!
(mission statement created by CB on May 31, 2003)
It's a curious phenomenon that when you shake things up in your life a little bit -- it rejuvenates you -- makes you feel more alive. Writing on this blog and the other one I created, will definitely enrich this writing/reflection experience.
So I saved up for the DSLR camera for a very long time. It is soooooo exciting to have it. How many times did I wish I had a camera when I was out and about and noticed the beauty surrounding us and yearned to capture it -- like time in a bottle. Now, I can do so -- there is a learning curve though, which I am reluctant to admit I am a little impatient about. I realized that this morning when I was up at dawn trying to capture the moment, realizing at the same time that I fell short of my goal as my skill with the tool (camera) was sorely lacking. I must remember that anything worth learning takes time to master. And master the camera, I will. I hope to share some of my photos on this site and on the other blog and encourage others to do the same.
The blog experience is definitely proving to be interesting. It was germinating for awhile -- as I have been talking to friends about my wish for a "salon" of sorts. Because I know that everyone is sooooo busy these days, I thought it might be better doing it online when people can grab a few moments here and there. Unfortunately the response has not been exactly overwhelming. I was telling a friend the other day that it feels like I threw a big party, invited a whole bunch of people and noone came. The purpose of that other blog was to really listen to what others are thinking about and to share the synergy of group dynamics -- that cannot be done by me alone. Now this blog, can be about me, because it is my thoughts and experiences and it does not matter to me at all if anyone responds to it or not. Again, patience is not my strong suit. My friend suggested that maybe a lot of my friends do not like to blog or know how to. He could have a point there. Oh well. It does exercise my writing skill and creative juices are extracted, so that must be a good thing. And maybe, even if people don't comment, they may at least read and think about some of the topics that will be shared. In the mean time, I will be using this blog to empty the mind of thoughts and reflections that may or may not be of value to anyone reading it.
Camping! Wow! What a thrill it was -- OK, it wasn't all fun -- waking up 3-4 times during the night in pain, was not, for example. But the rest was fantastic! I have several friends who have told me their wives choose not to go camping -- they don't like it. I now realize I am just not the typical female. I enjoy it. The dirt and sleeping in a tent are fun! Cooking on a coleman stove is an adventure. But being outdoors, breathing in the fresh air is incredible. The sights and sounds fill the soul. Early morning bird calls wake you up the way no alarm clock ever could. The starry sky is brilliant and reminds us in a constant way how very small we are in the universe -- keeps us humble. I saw and heard woodpeckers, saw redwood trees and pines and felt the cool mountain breezes brush against my cheeks. I saw an incredible sunset and even more incredible sunrise high up above the clouds that obsured Oceanside. Yesterday night I met a guy and gal who stopped with their horse trailer on the side of the road where I was taking pictures all alone. He is a stunt man/actor and she the owner of the horses. They had been filming with a large crew in some nearby meadows. He had been in a medieval costume and was still wearing the steel mesh pants. Not something you see everyday. He took incredible pictures with his iphone -- I was so impressed with his vision! He took a few shots with my camera and I will be sending them to him. They were really nice, nice people. Also strange how you can meet someone randomly and they can touch your soul, creating memories. He complemented me on my beautiful eyes and smile. I can't remember anyone in my life having ever told me that -- and here was a total stranger sharing that moment with me. I will carry it forever. It brings a smile to my face when I think about our sunset encounter.
Camp at Polomar mountain was interesting. A whole group of boy scouts - 12 of them and many, many adults. There was only one other woman there -- an athlete. I find it interesting how I am so much more comfortable around men -- maybe because I am married and have 3 boys. It is probably very unfair of me to say so, but I have had very challenging and unhappy relationships with women. They seem to expect so much -- sit in judgement if they find you lacking and they never, ever FORGET! It seems like they keep score and bring every past hurt and slight in a laundry list to the table. I prefer dealing with men -- they do get upset, but when they do, they quickly get over it and MOVE ON!! I really understand why men have difficulty with relationships in which women expect too much from them and let them know in every single way how much they (the men) do not meet the expectations of those women. Men like things simple -- a note to women, to get and keep a man -- keep it simple, love them unconditionally, and don't expect too much. They will respond in kind. Anyhow, it was a very noisy weekend, but lots of fun! Last night we sat around a non-existent campfire and talked. No campfires, charcoal or fire making device of any kind was allowed due to the constant fire danger. So we all sat around a glowing coleman lantern.
This morning everyone bailed so quickly after breakfast, I could barely believe it -- although the peace and quiet was most welcome. What were they all in such a hurry to get to?? Their television sets? Football games? The heat in El Cajon? They electronic gaming systems? We did not, though. We lingered. We visited the Palomar observatory. How fascinating and beautiful against the blue sky. We overheard the tour guide talking about Carolyn and Gene Shoemaker and the discover of the Shoemaker-Levy comet. Wow, talk about synchronicity and being transported back in time. I remember sitting in Gene Shoemaker's house with his wife Carolyn and children, along with my parents in their home near Flagstaff, Arizona. What an incredible man he was -- so brilliant, so charismatic, with that gleam in his handsome eyes. I think I may have had a crush on him! I saw him so often during the summers in which we traveled to Flagstaff so that Gene, my dad and other scientists from the USGS would conduct scientific experiments with the astronauts from the Apollo space program out on the crater fields - Sunset crater and Meteor craters near Flagstaff. I remember him taking us out to the craters and educating us about them. I remember the bolo ties, he, my dad and other USGS scientists wore -- so geeky! :-) But most of all, I remember the twinkle of humor and intelligent enthusiastic gleam he always had in his eyes. What a tragic loss when Gene was killed in a horribly tragic accident while with his wife in Austrailia! I know I could not stop crying for days when I found out. Isn't it strange how some people can have such a strong and lasting impact on our lives even while the time spent with them was minimal.
Wow, maybe blogs are not such a great device for me to utilize. I seem to write so much -- more than people want to read, I'm sure. Hopefully I will learn to practice some brevity.
Until next time...
Embrace life with joy, live every day in grace and give more than you get. Live your best life!
(mission statement created by CB on May 31, 2003)
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