the spout hike 2009

Most who visit this blog will know my good buddy Tom Loader, and they will likely have visited his blog (tomsimageblog.blogspot.com) to enjoy some of his fantastic photos. His most recent post included photos of our recent snowshoe trek to the famous Spout on the East Coast Trail via an overland route.

I thought that perhaps some friends and family might like to see Tom at work capturing some of his famous photos, therefore I've included a small video taken during that trip.

Amazing "Read"

I want to tell you about 2 things, they are related, but different. For the last 2 years I have been a major fan and customer of the site Audible.com.  The site is an audiobookstore, providing a subscription service allowing downloads of narrated audiobooks.  Since I first discovered it in 2004 I have purchased and downloaded about a hundred titles.   Now we come to an interesting question...when I want to tell somebody that I am listening to a certain title, is it incorrect to say "I am reading a book such-and-such" or is that being dishonest?  Should I say "I am listening to a book"?  That just sounds weird.  If you have an opinion, leave a comment.  In the mean time, check out Audible.com.  You might be able to download pirated auiobooks, but I am going to avoid that.  I find that price I've paid for the hours and hours of entertainment and education to have been money very well spent.

Now, the second thing I'd like to mention briefly is the book I just finished listening to (by the way, I do still read real books!  Audiobooks are so convenient to listen to while working...).  I just finished Adrift, by Steven Callahan.  It is the account of his 76 days adrift on the Atlantic after his sailboat sank just off the Canary Islands.  He drifted, alone, all the way across the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the West Indies, despite seeing 9 ships that did not see him, having to fend off sharks, damage to his raft and problems with obtaining fresh water and more.  I was forced to examine myself and to wonder how I might have fared in the same circumstance.  While it was a horrific time for him, the author describes his own transformation and appreciation he develpoed for life and the ocean and family, and how he has no regrets about the journey.  So I wonder, do I need to go through the same experience in order to develop the same epiphany?  Perhaps not, it requires only that I am willing to accepttruths as described and experienced by others.  Is this a legitimate approach?  I think it is, we use this approach in many arenas of our lives and I think when coupled with critical thinking and empathy, we can use the experience of others to our ownadvantage and education.

missing maggie

It has been 32 days since we said goodbye to our Mags. Like many who grieve, I find it challenging to adjust to the new reality. Maggie began a steady decline in health last June and we said a very tough farewell to her after Christmas. She was a not-so-little sparkplug of joy and energy. She's missed by many, Buster most of all.

Maggie, our boxer.
She loved with licks and kisses.
Side-saddle princess.

another first

Wow.  A first post on some chump's new blog.  How many gazillions of these have there been in the  history of the inter-web?  I feel I must do my part.  I'm not sure what I intend the focus of this blog to be, likely there will be no discernible focus.  Let's just set the dog free and see where she runs.  Hope you enjoy following her through the bushes and over the bog!